Tom Viola News

At 6:30pm, on Monday, April 8th producer Marty Richards' feast of friends and loved ones will gather in celebration of his extremely accomplished life at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street) where they will be served a magnificent four-course dinner and be entertained by a star-studded retrospective of show-stopping numbers from Mr. Richards' acclaimed Broadway musicals including Chicago, On The Twentieth Century, The Life, Grand Hotel, Sweeney Todd, La Cage Aux Folles, Sweet Smell Of Success, The Will Rogers Follies and Chita Rivera: The Dancer's Life.

From Kristin Chenoweth to Deborah Cox to Idina Menzel to Barbra Streisand to Michael Crawford to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Patti LuPone, Raul Esparza, Alan Menken, Lea Salonga, Bernadette Peters, Laura Osnes, Victoria Clark, GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2013 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

For one night only, Chita Rivera - a theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents - will offer a star-studded event in honor of her 80th birthday.Chita: A Legendary Celebration, directed by Graciela Daniele, will take place Monday, October 7 and will be produced by and benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Check out photos from the big announcement below!

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. A full track list for this year's 14th edition has not yet been announced, but the cast of Broadway's MAMMA MIA! was already hard a work yesterday recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below!

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's most remarkable breakout stars to have crossed over into Hollywood with an impressive film career following his superlative work in the Mike Nichols-directed HBO production of Tony Kushner's Pulitzer Prize-winning ANGELS IN AMERICA in 2002, the affable and incredibly talented Patrick Wilson. While looking ahead to Monday's BROADWAY BLOWS BACK benefit concert in aid of Hurricane Sandy relief, Wilson and I take a look back at his career onstage and onscreen thus far, with an emphasis on the diverse range and commendable dedication to character he has displayed since his memorable first starring roles on Broadway - from BRIGHT LIGHTS< BIG CITY to OKLAHOMA! to THE FULL MONTY, BAREFOOT IN THE PARK and ALL MY SONS onstage to his aforementioned Joe Pitt in ANGELS to roles in HARD CANDY with Ellen Page, LITTLE CHILDREN with Kate Winslet, WATCHMEN with fellow recent InDepth InterView participant Carla Gugino to last year's YOUNG ADULT and this year's PROMETHEUS, Wilson can clearly do it all. Additionally, Wilson reflects on his work with Andrew Lloyd Webber on THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA as well as shares thoughts on other roles he would enjoy playing someday (Joe Gillis in SUNSET BOULEVARD perhaps?) and shares stories from the set of GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY creator Ryan Murphy's first feature film, RUNNING WITH SCISSORS. Plus, thoughts on how Broadway has changed thus far in the new century, immediate plans for the future and much, much more!

The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball was held on December 3, 2012 at Capitale, and James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, accepted the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) received the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. Check out photos from the event below!

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball tonight, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater.

Primary Stages last night held their annual Gala on Wednesday at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honored Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, featured performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). BroadwayWorld was there for the event and we bring you coverage from inside the event below!

Primary Stages last night held their annual Gala on Wednesday at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honored Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, featured performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). BroadwayWorld was there for the event and we bring you full photo coverage below!

Primary Stages previously announced program details for their annual Gala tonight, November 14, 2012 at 6:30PM at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honors Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, features performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). Speakers will include Julie Halston (Anything Goes, Olive and the Bitter Herbs), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and screenwriter Michael Cristofer (The Shadow Box, The Witches of Eastwick), and Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) Tom Viola. The Gala Chairs are Barry Feirstein and Tom Kirdahy.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) will receive the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. According to Barbara Fleischman, Gala Chair, Harriet Harris(Thoroughly Modern Millie, upcoming in Cinderella) and Dr. Kate Levin, Commissioner of New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, will present the awards; Jim Dale will host, Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, upcoming in Giant) will perform and tributes will be offered by Angela Lansbury, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Dana Ivey, Hamish Linklater, Joe Dowling, Director of The Guthrie and Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Washington's Shakespeare Theater. Four hundred guests complete an industry-filled audience of producers, directors, entertainers and other notables including The Honorable Thomas Kean, record producer Clive Davis,director/choreographer Susan Stroman, TV personality Pia Lindstrom, Juilliard President Joseph Polisi, composerMary Rodgers Guettel and The Broadway League's Charlotte St. Martin. Tickets from 212-258-3111.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS announced today that a portion of proceeds currently being raised by Broadway, Off-Broadway, and national touring companies during the six-week fall fundraising efforts will be donated to three relief agencies committed to immediately helping victims of Hurricane Sandy.

BUCKS COUNTY CABARET, a one-night-only concert featuring stage and screen stars Bebe Neuwirth and Malcolm Gets, raised an inspiring $162,100 in its first edition produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) have announced program details for their annual Gala on Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at 6:30PM at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which will honor Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, will feature performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). Speakers will include Julie Halston (Anything Goes, Olive and the Bitter Herbs), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and screenwriter Michael Cristofer (The Shadow Box, The Witches of Eastwick), and Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) Tom Viola. The Gala Chairs are Barry Feirstein and Tom Kirdahy.

Stage and screen stars Bebe Neuwirth and Malcolm Gets will join forces today, October 13 for BUCKS COUNTY CABARET, a one-night-only concert to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening of Broadway standards and other popular songs will be held at the newly renovated, historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA 18938).

The spirit and generosity of the theatre community once again shined as brightly as the autumn sun as the 26th Annual Broadway Flea Market & Grand Auction blew past all previous record totals to raise a spectacular $681,892 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. A full track list for this year's 14th edition has not yet been announced, but the cast of Broadway's NEWSIES was already hard a work yesterday recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below!

Meet Alan Cumming, Tom Viola and Rivka S. Katvan tonight, September 12, 6 to 8 p.m., at Soho Photo Gallery (located at 15 White St. in NYC). Join us for a conversation about fine-art photography, Broadway theater, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS's fundraising work for critically needed services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families nationwide. The conversation will be moderated by Randy Gener, New York editor/writer.

Meet Alan Cumming, Tom Viola and Rivka S. Katvan on Wednesday, September 12, 6 to 8 p.m., at Soho Photo Gallery (located at 15 White St. in NYC). Join us for a conversation about fine-art photography, Broadway theater, and Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS's fundraising work for critically needed services for people living with HIV/AIDS and their families nationwide. The conversation will be moderated by Randy Gener, New York editor/writer.

Stage and screen stars Bebe Neuwirth and Malcolm Gets will join forces Saturday, October 13 for BUCKS COUNTY CABARET, a one-night-only concert to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening of Broadway standards and other popular songs will be held at the newly renovated, historic Bucks County Playhouse in New Hope, PA (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA 18938).