Today in 2002, Hairspray opened at the Neil Simon Theatre, where it ran for 2642 performances. Hairspray is a musical with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Scott Wittman and Shaiman and a book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, based on the 1988 John Waters film Hairspray. In 1962 Baltimore, Maryland, plump teenager Tracy Turnblad's dream is to dance on The Corny Collins Show, a local TV dance program. When Tracy wins a role on the show, she becomes a celebrity overnight. She then launches a campaign to integrate the show. Hairspray is a social commentary on the injustices of parts of American society in the 1960s.
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Sheryl Lee Ralph will guest star on NBC's Smash season two as Cynthia, mother of Jennifer Hudson's character Veronica Moore. Ralph starred as Deena Jones in Broadway's Dreamgirls in 1981.
As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, Broadway veteran Sean Hayes has signed on to star in a multi-episode arc on NBC's SMASH this season. As the focus of the show will switch from Marilyn musical, 'Bombshell,' to a new production, Hayes will play 'Terrence Falls, a comedic television and film star who is making his Broadway debut in the musical "Liaisons," based on the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses." Due to a series of comic circumstances, he becomes a major thorn in the side for Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) and other characters.
Emmy Award-winning actor Sean Hayes (NBC's "Will & Grace") will guest star in a multi-episode arc on NBC's SMASH as Terrence Falls, a comedic television and film star who is making his Broadway debut in the musical "Liaisons," based on the novel "Les Liaisons Dangereuses."
Get a first look at Jennifer Hudson giving Katharine McPhee some sage advice in SMASH season two in the new NBC fall 2012 promo montage below! Academy Award winner for Dreamgirls, Hudson will appear in a multi-episode arc as Veronica Moore, a Tony Award-winning Broadway actor who influences both Katharine McPhee's Karen and Megan Hilty's Ivy.
According to a report by EW.com, Daniel Sunjata will join SMASH Season 2 on NBC in a recurring role as the new love interest of Debra Messing's character Julia.
Just yesterday, 54 Below held a special press preview for its upcoming engagements, which included Tony Award nominee Chad Kimball (Memphis, The Civil War, Into the Woods), 2010 Bistro Award-winner Hilary Kole (Our Sinatra, Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, Rainbow Room), from "Sondheim Unplugged" Sarah Rice ('Johanna' in the original 1979 production of Sweeney Todd, The Fantasticks, A Little Night Music, Candide), compay members from Sing, Harlem, Sing! (created by Vy Higginsen and directed by Ken Wydro,).
BroadwayWorld was there for the sneak peek and we bring you photos from the event below!
Troika Entertainment, LLC is pleased to announce initial casting for the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN national tour, which officially kicks off at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI on October 7.
On August 26th a benefit concert entitled Cancer's Expensive! will be held at the Laurie Beechman Theatre to help benefit Hairspray star Carly Jibson's mother, who is suffering from stage four lung and bone cancer. Renee Zimmerman is 55 years old and has no health insurance.
Last week, the stars came out to 54 BELOW to catch Jenifer Lewis with Marc Shaiman, Andrea McArdle and Lea Delaria. Visitors included Academy Award winner Whoopi Goldberg, the legendary Bette Midler, Tony Award winners Nathan Lane, Tommy Tune, Dick Latessa and Cady Huffman, Emmy Award winner John Turturro, star of Broadway's Gore Vidal's The Best Man Cybill Shepherd, Dreamgirls and SIde Show composer Henry Krieger, Miss Abigaiil's Guide and 'The Brady Bunch' star Eve Plumb, McArdle's Annie successor Shelley Bruce, and star of the upcoming Broadway production of Rebecca Karen Mason.
54 BELOW, New York City's new performance, venue kicks off their Summer Jazz Brunch series with RENT's Marcus Paul James, today, July 29th at 1 pm (doors open 12pm). There is a $30 cover charge and a $25 food & beverage minimum or a $45 pre fixe. Reservations suggested. For tickets visit: www.54below.com or call 866.468.7619.
54 BELOW, New York City's new performance, venue kicks off their Summer Jazz Brunch series with RENT's Marcus Paul James, Sunday, July 29th at 1 pm (doors open 12pm). There is a $30 cover charge and a $25 food & beverage minimum or a $45 pre fixe. Reservations suggested. For tickets visit: www.54below.com or call 866.468.7619.
According to TVLine.com, Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson will appear in three of the first four episodes of SMASH's second season on NBC. The new season will also feature Broadway's Jeremy Jordan, who was nominated for a Tony Award for his performance in Newsies.
Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it, the first national tour of the high-flying Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will launch in Providence, RI at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) for a limited engagement, October 7-14, 2012.
Following a twenty year absence from the New York cabaret scene, Jenifer Lewis returns to the Big Apple for seven performances only at 54 Below. From Broadway's Eubie to Hairspray, television's Jackie's Back to Strong Medicine, and film's What's Love Got to Do With It, Beaches, Cars and The Princess and the Frog, Jenifer Lewis, one of Bette Midler's most infamous Harlettes, is a force of nature whose voice is as distinctive as her take no prisoners sense of humor.
Earlier today, Lewis and Shaiman met the press, and you can check out a photo preview from the festivities below. Be sure to check back later for full coverage!
A packed house of 1,100 audience members at the Zeiterion Theatre in New Bedford leapt to their feet before the final button of New Bedford Festival Theatre's current production of HAIRSPRAY.
For more than six years on Broadway and in the popular 2007 film adaptation, Hairspray delighted audiences the world over by transporting them to a candy-colored 1960's Baltimore, where the 50's are out-and change is definitely in the air. Now this throw-back to the classic musicals of yesterday comes to Tuacahn for the very first time, running now through September 4 and September 8 to October 20, 2012 at the Tuacahn Amphitheatre in Ivins, Utah. Get a first look at the production in the photos below.
