Stephen Bienskie News

Broadway's best filled a sold-out Al Hirschfeld Theatre with laughter, tears and cheers during the unforgettable ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards on Monday, March 24, 2014, raising a record-breaking $423,182 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.

The ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards, a one-night-only performance produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and benefiting BC/EFA and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York, took place last night. This year's special event featured the talents of Michael Berresse (Kiss Me, Kate; A Chorus Line), Tony winner Beth Leavel (Elf, The Drowsy Chaperone), Tony winner Debra Monk (Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, TV's 'Girls'), Ken Page (Ain't Misbehavin', Cats), Tony winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), Tony nominee Andrew Rannells(The Book of Mormon, TV's 'Girls'), Tony nominee John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, TV's 'Johnny and the Sprites.'), and more This year's edition of Broadway Backwards (#bwaybackwards) was held at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 W 45th Street, NYC), current home to the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots. BroadwayWorld was there for the after party festivities and you can check out photo coverage below!

A limited number of $40 rush tickets for the much-anticipated ninth annual edition of Broadway Backwards will be released for sale at 6:30 PM Monday, March 24, 2014. The rush tickets will be sold outside the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street). They will not be available at the box office. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, cash only and are limited to two tickets per person. The show begins at 8 PM.

The roster of stars continues to expand for Broadway Backwards with today's additions of Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, TV's 'Scandal'), Roger Rees (co-director of Peter and the Starcatcher, The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby), Julie White (Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, The Little Dog Laughed), and Rachel York (Encores! Little Me, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels).

Last night, Roundabout Theatre Company honored Sam Mendes with the Jason Roberts Award for Excellence in Theatre. The criterion for this award is to have made an 'indelible impact on the theatre world.' The award was named after the founder of Roundabout and is given each year in remembrance of his own impact on the theatre world. BroadwayWorld wa sthere for the special night and you can check out photos from the star-studded red carpet arrivals below!

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite webseries, attracted more viewers than ever before with the season premiere episode of its highly anticipated third season on March 3. Premiering exclusively here on BroadwayWorld.com to over 35,000 viewers in its first 24 hours, the first episode of season three had more than seven times the viewership than the first episode of season two.

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite webseries, is back with its highly anticipated third season! The next seven episodes will premiere every other Monday at 9 PM and will also be available for on-demand viewing beginning the next day.

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, Richard chats with Submissions Only creators Kate Wetherhead and Andrew Keenan-Bolger about the third season, which exclusively premieres on BroadwayWorld.com tomorrow, March 3.

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite webseries, is back with its highly anticipated third season on Monday, March 3. Tune in exclusively to BroadwayWorld.com any time between 9 PM -10 PM that evening to view the first episode of Season 3. Starting Tuesday, March 4th, at 10 AM, the premiere episode will be available on demand to watch on BroadwayWorld.com at any time. The following seven episodes will premiere every other Monday at 9 PM and will also be available for on-demand viewing beginning the next day.

'Submissions Only,' Broadway's favorite webseries, is back with its highly anticipated third season. Season Three will be comprised of eight episodes spread over a 16-week period, and will air exclusively on BroadwayWorld.com beginning March 3, 2014.

Today we are talking to a familiar face to theatre fans who has appeared in a number of memorable roles on Broadway and elsewhere, in roles ranging from LES MISERABLES to THE FIX to A TALE OF TWO CITIES and beyond - the passionate and thoughtful Natalie Toro. Discussing many of the details in the painstaking process in bringing her spectacular new holiday-themed album to life, song selection to overall style and sound, Toro shares stories from the studio as well as from her own life, having spent the better part of the last year preparing, recording, mastering and now finally releasing the album to the world - along with a few music videos, too. Speaking of which, Toro shines a light on the talented guest stars and collaborators that appear on the release, including Jon Secada and Ryan Kelly, with whom she stars in the new music video for "Baby, It's Cold Outside". Additionally, Toro also casts a look back at some of her most celebrated roles to date and tells colorful tales from participating in the national tour of CATS, the American premiere of Dana Rowe and John Dempsey's THE FIX and the original Off-Broadway production of ZOMBIE PROM as well as LES MISERABLES on Broadway, A TALE OF TWO CITIES and more as well as illuminates her involvement with the recent workshop of the new musical by Dana Rowe and Michal Aman, FRIDA. Plus, Toro looks ahead to her holiday-themed Birdland show in promotion of JUST IN TIME FOR CHRISTMAS and much, much more!

'Submissions Only,' the popular web series which aired its second season on BroadwayWorld.com to much acclaim, and major growth, will soon launch its highly anticipated third season. Season Three is 'coming soon,' and will be comprised of eight episodes. The star-studded season will boast such guest stars as Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Will Swenson, Malcolm Getz, Joanna Gleason, and many more. Series regulars for Season Three will includeKate Wetherhead, Colin Hanlon, Donna Vivino, Santino Fontana, Stephen Bienskie, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Max von Essen, and Marilyn Sokol. Last night, the team celebrated the launch of the new season and you can check out photos from insde the party below!

'Submissions Only,' the popular webseries, has announced today the return of the show for its third season. After a very successful and record breaking Season 2 on BroadwayWorld.com, in which episode traffic was double to triple its previous YouTube incarnation, it was announced today that Tony Award-Winning Broadway producer Kevin McCollum has attached himself to the project.

The choices I have made are based solely on the plays and performances that I actually saw. I cannot see all the great talent that is out there in LA; it is physically impossible, as there exist far too many theatre/cabaret performances for one person to cover. So if a choice of yours is not on my list, chances are, I did not see that play or performance...or, it just did not make the final cut. I also do not separate Equity from Equity waiver; I consider all the productions/performances I select to be of top-of-the-line quality/professionalism.

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up! Today's photos feature Annie star Lilla Crawford doing a dead-on (although red-headed) impersonation of President Lincoln, the casts of The Public Theater's GIANT, NEWSIES, EVITA, A CHRISTMAS STORY, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY, SILENCE! THE MUSICAL, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD, ONCE, SPIDER-MAN, CHAPLIN, CHICAGO, WICKED, SCANDALOUS, THE BOOK OF MORMON and many more joining together to support the third season of webseries 'Submissions Only', and quite a few pics from regional shows!

Off-Broadway's sellout sensation Silence! The Musical will celebrate its 400th performance today, November 18th at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.).

Off-Broadway's sellout sensation SILENCE! The Musical will celebrate its 400th performance at the 3 PM matinee this Sunday, November 18th at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.) Winner of the 2012 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical, SILENCE! The Musical is the unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs, with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli. After opening at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews, the show immediately became a sold-out phenomenon and was selected by Time Magazine as one of the year's Top 5 Musicals.

The Halloween party continues through Sunday at Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical. Their special Halloween combo package deals are still available for all performances through November 4th at the new Elektra Theatre at Times Scare, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.)

Off-Broadway's sellout sensation SILENCE! THE MUSICAL is celebrating Halloween with special combo package deals for all performances through this Sunday, November 4th at the new Elektra Theatre at Times Scare, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.)For only $79, one can purchase a ticket to SILENCE! THE MUSICAL plus a delicious 3-course dinner.

Original cast member Stephen Bienskie is set to return as serial killer Buffalo Bill in Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical Halloween night at the new Elektra Theatre in Times Square.