Susan Blackwell News

The 2013 Festival opened earlier this week and BroadwayWorld wants to keep you in the loop on highlights of this season. Check out some of the most buzzed-about productions below!

Last week, NYMF presented a special preview of the 2013 featuring musical selections from: Julian Po, The Water Dream, Mother Divine, Marry Harry, Crossing Swords, Legacy Falls, Standby, Volleygirls and Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue Presents The Brontes. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photo coverage from the special event below!

Now in its tenth year, the The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) is the largest musical theatre event in America. BroadwayWorld.com is once again proud to be the leading theatre web site sponsor of the festival, a role that we've played since the festival's inception. This year's festival features Julian Po, The Water Dream, Mother Divine, Marry Harry, Crossing Swords, Legacy Falls, Standby, Volleygirls and Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue Presents The Brontes. BroadwayWorld was there for the opening celebration last night and you can check out photos below!

NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL (NYMF), MONICA RAYMUND of SISU THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, and CAVE 76 PRODUCTIONS are pleased to announce that after being on sale for only ten days, the world premiere production of VOLLEYGIRLS starring [title of show]'s Susan Blackwell is the first 2013 NYMF show to sell-out, allowing them to add two more performances to accommodate audiences. The new performances will beTuesday, July 23 at 5 p.m. and Saturday, July 27 at 1:30 p.m. at The Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre (The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street, NY, NY 10036).

Just yesterday, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) presents a special preview of the 2013 featuring musical selections from: Julian Po, The Water Dream, Mother Divine, Marry Harry, Crossing Swords, Legacy Falls, Standby, Volleygirls and Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue Presents The Brontes. BroadwayWorld wa sthere for the special event and you can check out full photo coverage below!

SMASH and First Date star Krysta Rodriguez recently joined Broadway Artists Alliance to lead a master class. Rodriguez provided feedback to the students on their audition material and participated in a Q&A. Scroll down for photos!

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL, MONICA RAYMUND of SISU THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, and CAVE 76 PRODUCTIONS are pleased to announce the world premiere production of VOLLEYGIRLS, with book by Rob Ackerman (Tabletop - 2001 Drama Desk), lyrics by Sam Forman (book for F#%king Up Everything), music by Eli Bolin (I Sing, Roller Boogie TV: Sesame Street), musical supervision by Matt Castle, choreographed by Ryan Kasprzak (TV: Smash Tour: Billy Elliot), musical direction by Mike Pettry and directed by Neil Patrick Stewart (LA theatre: The Elephant Man - Ovation Award nominations). VOLLEYGIRLS will play a limited engagement at Romulus Linney Courtyard Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street, NY, NY 10036). Performances begin Monday, July 15 and continue through Saturday, July 27. Opening Night is Monday, July 15 (9 p.m.).

Cutting-Edge Composers is in the studio with Eli Bolin exclusively on Broadwayworld.com. We caught up with Eli to find out about his upcoming productions of Found at NY Stage and Film, and Volleygirls, starring Susan Blackwell, at NYMF. Check out the video below for insight into Eli's writing process, and a sneak peek at two songs from two of his latest musicals! You might even see a surprise guest performance from Volleygirls cast member Jennifer Johnson.

New additions include Georgi James, starring on Broadway in Annie; 30 Rock's Todd Buonopane; Rory O'Malley, opening soon in Nobody Loves You at Second Stage; Shaina Taub, featured in the new musical Natasha & Pierre & The Great Comet of 1912; and Godspell alum Grace Capeless.

MONICA RAYMUND of SISU THEATRICAL PRODUCTIONS, CAVE 76 PRODUCTIONS and THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL (NYMF) are pleased to announce that [title of show]'s Susan Blackwell will return to the 10th Anniversary New York Musical Theatre Festival in the world premiere production of VOLLEYGIRLS. Blackwell will play a disgraced Olympian coaching an oddball team of high-school volleyball players in this new girl-powered musical with book by Rob Ackerman (Tabletop - 2001 Drama Desk), lyrics by Sam Forman (upcoming Bway Sleepless in Seattle, book for F#%king Up Everything), music by Eli Bolin (I Sing, Roller Boogie TV: Sesame Street), choreographed by Ryan Kasprazak (TV: Smash Tour: Billy Elliot) and directed by Neil Patrick Stewart (LA theatre: The Elephant Man - Ovation Award nominations). Television star Monica Raymund of NBC's Chicago Fire is making her debut as a lead produce because she believes in, and is inspired by, the show's positive message of self-acceptance and empowerment for young women.

The New York Civil Liberties Union (the New York State affiliate of the ACLU) today announced a star-studded lineup of award-winning performers for 'Broadway Stands Up for Freedom,' its annual benefit show, to be held Monday, July 22 at the NYU Skirball Center for Performing Arts.

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, took place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Monday night, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm). BroadwayWorld was there for the special evening and you can check part one of photo coverage from the performances below!

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, took place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Monday night, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm). BroadwayWorld was there for the special evening and you can check part two of photo coverage from the performances below!

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, took place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) last night, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm). BroadwayWorld was there for the special evening and you can check out photo coverage below!

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) tonight, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm).

Vineyard Theatre's annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary, will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Monday, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktails at 6:00pm, dinner at 7:30pm and performance at 8:30pm). Single tickets (starting at $750) and tables of 10 are available by contacting The Vineyard's Development Office at 212-353-3366 x242 or development@vineyardtheatre.org. Balcony-level tickets to the performance only are $125 each (which includes an open bar) and are available by contacting (212) 353-3366 x227 or development@vineyardtheatre.org.

MCC Theater presented its annual Miscast gala last night, March 4, 2013 at The Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street). Miscast 2013 honored Tony Award winner Judith Light (Other Desert Cities) for her illustrious screen and stage career (appearing on Broadway this year for her third straight season, this time in Richard Greenberg's upcoming The Assembled Parties), her work with MCC Theater (acclaimed performances in Colder Than Here and Wit), and her impassioned advocacy of several causes, including Arts in Education. BroadwayWorld was there for the special evening and you can check out photos of the arrivals below!

On Sunday, February 24 at 6:00pm, The New Group offers the next event in this season's continuing series Dark Nights at The New Group: "Stand-Up Center Stage" with Janeane Garofalo, Mario Cantone and Judy Gold in a discussion moderated by Susan Blackwell. Reservations required at seats@thenewgroup.org (space is limited). Suggested donation: $20. Free for New Group subscribers.

The Vineyard Theatre has announced its annual Gala, this year celebrating the institution's 30th Anniversary. This milestone event will take place at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) on Monday, March 18, 2013 beginning at 6:00 p.m. (cocktail reception at 6:00 pm, dinner @ 7:30 pm., and performances beginning at 8:30 pm). Single tickets (starting at $750.00) and tables of 10 are available by contacting The Vineyard's Development Office at 212-353-3366 ext. 242 or development@vineyardtheatre.org. Balcony-level, performance-only tickets will go on sale March 1st.

Krysta Rodriguez performed 'I Wish You A Merry Christmas' on December 15 as part of The 5th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular at 54 Below. Click below to watch her sing!