Walter Bobbie News

The Touring company CHICAGO will welcome NFL Legend and Heisman Trophy winner Eddie George to the role of "Billy Flynn."

Chicago is continuing its North American tour with a slew of new dates announced across the country! Check out the list below to see when the smash hit is coming to your city...and all that jazz!

Chicago will appear at Detroit's Fisher Theatre, October 16-21, 2018. Tickets start at $39 and go on sale Sunday, August 5. Purchase tickets online at www.broadwayindetroit.com or www.ticketmaster.com, or by phone at 800-982-2787. Starting Monday, August 6, tickets may be purchased at the Fisher Theatre box office.

The Summer Festival, August 9-19, 2018, is the culmination of 5 weeks of preparation by Young Company students and their professional Directors, Music Directors, Choreographers, Stage Managers, and Design Team. Performed by actors in grades 4-12, The Young Company Summer Festival includes 6 fully staged productions: family friendly Madagascar Jr., upbeat and classic Footloose, and the hilarious Shrek. High School Students continue the fun with the heartwarming musical Big Fish, as well as The Great and Terrible Wizard of Oz-a modern take on the classic, beloved story, and finally the extraordinary adventures of Pippin!

Alexandra Burke will join the West End cast of CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre, playing the role of Roxie Hart from Monday 13 August through to Saturday 14 October 2018. She will join Martin Kemp as Billy Flynn, Mazz Murray as Mama Morton, Josefina Gabrielle as Velma Kelly and Paul Rider as Amos Hart. Martin Kemp will be staying in the London production of CHICAGO until 1 September 2018.

Today's subject Rob Berman is currently living his Theatre Life as the Musical Director for the world premiere of Dave at Arena Stage. The production, based on the 1993 film and directed by Tina Landau, runs through August 19th in Arena Stage's Kreeger Theatre space.

Chicago announced today that actor, comedian & TV personality John O'Hurley will return to the Broadway company in the role of "Billy Flynn" beginning Monday, July 23

Alberta Bair Theater has added four additional shows since the season preview for its stakeholders on May 24:  for fans of 60's rock: Felix Cavaliere & Gene Cornish's RASCALS with special guest Carmine Appice on drums on Friday, September 7 at 7:30; for fans of 80's rock and Broadway musicals: ROCK OF AGES on Monday, November 19 at 7:30;  for a fun ladies night out during the holidays: 'Twas a Girls Night Before Christmas on Friday, December 14 at 7:30;  and for family entertainment at its best the multi Tony awarded THE SOUND OF MUSIC on Monday, April 8 and Tuesday, April 9, both at 7:30.

Mazz Murray will join the West End cast of CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre, playing the title role of Mama Morton from Monday 2 July. Also joining the cast on 2 July will be the previously announced Martin Kemp as Billy Flynn. They will join Sarah Soetaert, Josefina Gabrielle and Paul Rider as Roxie Hart, Velma Kelly and Amos Hart respectively.

Footloose is based off of a story about Ren McCormack moving to a small town where the local government has banned dancing and rock music, and how he leads his classmates around the law and Reverend Shaw Moore to have a real senior prom. The music is by Tom Snow(among others), the lyrics by Dean Pitchford (with additional lyrics by Kenny Loggins), and the book by Pitchford and Walter Bobbie.

It was exactly three years ago that I first spoke with Audrey Cardwell. At that time, she was in the ensemble of CINDERELLA on tour, often stepping in for the title character opposite her boyfriend, Andy Huntington Jones (who later starred in CATS on Broadway). Since then, her life has continued to play out like the fairytale she performed, now bringing her back into town as the leading lady of the new Broadway musical, BRIGHT STAR.

The 80s Top 40 film never sounded so good, boasting the original songs audiences have loved for decades, and more. A throwback to teen romance, angst and, of course, the need to dance, Footloose celebrates the wisdom of listening to young people, guiding them with a warm heart and an open mind.

The Tony Award-winning, record-breaking hit musical Chicago, (Barry & Fran Weissler, producers) will welcome Israeli Pop Star and “The X Factor Israel” television personality Shiri Maimon – in her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart – beginning Friday, September 21, 2018 through October 5, 2018 at the Ambassador Theatre (219 W. 49th St.). The announcement was made last night in Times Square at the NY Israeli Embassy's “Celebrate Israel” 70thanniversary block party event.

Manhattan Theatre Club's new Broadway production of Saint Joan written by Nobel Prize in Literature and Academy Award winner Bernard Shaw and directed by Tony Award winner Daniel Sullivan is now in its final two weeks of performances. The production is produced in association with Eddie Marks/Ostar. Today, Wednesday May 30, marks the Feast Day of Saint Joan - which celebrates her life and her sainthood.

Martin Kemp will star as smooth-talking lawyer Billy Flynn in the multi award-winning CHICAGO at the Phoenix Theatre in London's West End from Monday 2 July for a limited season until Saturday 1 September 2018. The rest of the cast who will be appearing alongside Martin Kemp are still to be announced.

Condola Rashad has received a portrait at Sardi's! BroadwayWorld attended the unveiling of the portrait, yesterday. Check out photos from the exciting event below!

In Broadway by Design, BroadwayWorld is shining a spotlight on the stellar designs of this Broadway season, show by show. Today, we continue the series with Scott Pask, Christopher Ash, and Jane Greenwood, who acted as scenic, projection and costume designers for MTC's epic Broadway revival of Saint Joan.

The title character of George Bernard Shaw's Saint Joan was burned at the stake nearly 500 years before the play premiered at Broadway's Garrick Theatre in December of 1923, but for many viewers there may have been a sense of topicality to the proceedings.

'I feel so liberated,' said Condola Rashad following her opening night bow in Saint Joan. 'Stepping into this particular character's shoes has really done something for me as a person, not just as an actor.'