Susan Hilferty News

After record breaking runs in 2006, 2008 and 2011 WICKED will return to Ft. Lauderdale this month for a limited 3-week engagement.

Full disclosure: I'm not fond of updating operas. Most of them simply don't work, because the directors appear to have a disdain for the art form or, at least, for the particular opera they're staging. They assume that trashing 'Un Ballo in Maschera,' 'Don Giovanni' or 'La Sonnambula' is the only way to get anyone under 50 into an opera house. On the other hand, Michael Mayer, the Broadway director best known for his work on the musical 'Spring Awakening,' seems to actually like opera and is making his splendid Metropolitan Opera debut with the bold and brassy new production of Verdi's RIGOLETTO, which opened on January 28.

Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer will make his Met debut with a new production of Verdi's Rigoletto, in a staging that moves the opera's tragic events from a decadent 16th-century Italian court to the glitzy, depraved setting of the Las Vegas strip circa 1960.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents its annual 2013 Spring Gala "A Celebration of Your Favorites" emceed by Alan Cumming (Cabaret) on Monday, March 11th, 2013 at the Hammerstein Ballroom (311 West 34th Street, NYC). The evening will be a celebration of the company's artistic achievements under Artistic Director Todd Haimes' 30 years of leadership and the future ahead.

A day-of-performance lottery for a limited number of orchestra seats will be held for WICKED, which is returning to Broward Center for the Performing Arts with performances from January 30th to February 17th. Two and one-half hours prior to each performance, people who present themselves at the Broward Center box office will have their names placed in a lottery drum; thirty minutes later, names will be drawn for a limited number of orchestra seats at $25 each, cash only. This lottery is available only in-person at the box office, with a limit of two tickets per person. Lottery participants must have a valid photo ID when submitting their entry form and, if chosen, when purchasing tickets.

Tony Award-winning director Michael Mayer will make his Met debut with a new production of Verdi's Rigoletto, in a staging that moves the opera's tragic events from a decadent 16th-century Italian court to the glitzy, depraved setting of the Las Vegas strip circa 1960.

Votes are cast, polls are closed, and results have been tabulated! This was our BIGGEST year yet! After a record number of voters in over 30 regions worldwide, BroadwayWorld is VERY excited to announce the 2012 Atlanta Winners! Thanks to all who voted and HUGE congrats to all the winners!

American Airlines is the official airline of the new critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Annie. Cast members from the production performed a selection of songs from the show at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport as part of American Airlines' JFK concert series on Friday, December 21. Check out 'You're Never Fully Dressed Without A Smile', 'Little Girls' and 'Tomorrow' below!

After breaking Columbus box office records in 2007 and 2010, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, will return to the Ohio Theatre June 5-23. Tickets for the return engagement will go on sale to the public at 9am on Thursday, April 4.

After breaking box office records in the three previous engagements, WICKED, Broadway's biggest blockbuster, has once again set records at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. WICKED grossed $2,755,070 for the week ending December 30. The total was not only a new house record at the Fabulous Fox Theatre, but also the highest gross for a week of performances in North American touring history.

Voting is now underway for Atlanta and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

Roundabout Theatre Company's American Premiere of Nick Payne's If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, directed by Michael Longhurst, will end its limited run today, December 23 at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, Laura Pels Theatre (111 West 46th Street). If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet features Annie Funke as "Anna," Jake Gyllenhaal as "Terry", Brian F. O'Byrne as "George' and Enid Graham as "Fiona".

American Airlines has been announced as the official airline of the new critically acclaimed new production of the Tony Award-winning musical Annie. Cast members from the production will perform a selection of songs from the show at Terminal 8 at John F. Kennedy International Airport as part of American Airlines' JFK concert series on Friday, December 21 at 2:15 PM and 2:45 p.m.

In a historic ceremony on Monday, December 17th, the blockbuster musical WICKED's iconic Elphaba costume, hat and broom were inducted into the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History. Tony Award-winning costume designer Susan Hilferty was on hand to sign the deed of gift as well as Broadway cast members Donna Vivino and Tiffany Haas who sang a selection of song from WICKED to commemorate this significant event. The costume elements will join objects from the musicals King and I, Rent and The Lion King in the museum's permanent entertainment collections.

Lilla Crawford, star of the new Broadway production of Annie will perform live on ABC's 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' between 9:00AM-10:00AM EST this Tuesday. In the New York area, 'Live! With Kelly and Michael' airs on WABC Channel 7. Check your local listings. Tune in to see Lilla Crawford perform 'Tomorrow.'

Voting is now underway for Atlanta and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has announced a special performance from the award-winning musical Wicked to mark the donation and display of Elphaba costume at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History today, Dec. 17 at 11:15 a.m. in Flag Hall. The museum is located at 14th Street and Madison Drive.

The cast of the new Broadway production of ANNIE will perform live on ABC's "Good Morning America" between 8:30AM-9AM EST this Thursday. In the New York area, "Good Morning America" airs on WABC Channel 7. Check your local listings. Tune in to see Anthony Warlow, Lilla Crawford, and company members from ANNIE perform "I Don't Need Anything But You."

The Smithsonian's National Museum of American History has announced a special performance from the award-winning musical Wicked to mark the donation and display of Elphaba costume at the Smithsonian's National Museum of American History on Monday, Dec. 17 at 11:15 a.m. in Flag Hall. The museum is located at 14th Street and Madison Drive.

Roundabout Theatre Company's limited run of If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet plays through December 23. The limited run of If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet will have played 30 previews and 99 regular performances at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre / Laura Pels Theatre (111 West 46th Street). BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge just chatted with the cast about returning to the show after a brief hiatus, the new meaning that the impact of Hurricane Sandy brought to the play. Check out what they had to say below!