Skeptics of musical theater like to ask, 'But how do they know the song?' when characters join in during a musical number. One of the virtues of HAIRSPRAY is that the audience itself actually does this: the songs are so catchy that we start singing along. This is appropriate, given the show's message of inclusivity and empowerment of the ordinary. Marc Shaiman (music and lyrics) and Scott Wittman (lyrics) are responsible for the irresistible score of this show, set in Baltimore in the 1960s, that follows plucky, overweight teenager Tracy Turnblad's quest to integrate the 'Corny Collins Show,' an AMERICAN BANDSTAND-style teen dance party that she adores. Along the way, she falls in love with one of its stars, locks horns with another, makes new friends who are black and have a different perspective and a different way of dancing, and finds a place for herself on the show and in life. And her mother Edna and best friend Penny also benefit from Tracy's widening world.
Leonard Bernstein's CANDIDE has had more lives than that proverbial cat--the latest being New York City Opera's new take on it, opening on January 6 for a ten-performance run at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Rose Theatre. It is, once again, helmed by director Hal Prince and choreographer Pat Birch, who were responsible--with librettist Hugh Wheeler and conductor John Mauceri--for the resuscitation and renovation of the once-considered unproducible work, more than 40 years ago.
Last night, NBC aired an encore telecast of HAIRSPRAY LIVE! The broadcast delivered a 0.5/2 rating in the 18-49 demographic as well as 2.5 million viewers overall from 10-11 p.m. ET.
Yesterday BroadwayWorld was saddened to report the passing of Tony Award Winner Dick Latessa, who is fondly remembered for his timeless Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning performance as Wilbur Turnblad in the original Broadway production of Hairspray. Latessa was a veteran of the stage and screen. He was most recently seen on Broadway in the revival of Promises, Promises and The Lyons.
As BroadwayWorld sadly reported last night, Tony Award Winner Dick Latessa, who is fondly remembered for his timeless Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning performance as Wilbur Turnblad in the original Broadway production of Hairspray, has passed away.
BroadwayWorld is saddened to report the passing of Tony Award Winner Dick Latessa, who is fondly remembered for his timeless Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning performance as Wilbur Turnblad in the original Broadway production of Hairspray.
Join a voyage through America's past in Mercury's next multimedia-infused concert American Skies on Saturday, January 14 at 8 p.m. at the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater.
Join a voyage through America's past in Mercury's next multimedia-infused concert American Skies on Saturday, January 14 at 8 p.m. at the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater.
This January, the legendary Broadway visionary Harold Prince returns to New York City Opera to direct a new production of Leonard Bernstein's Candide. The production, choreographed by Emmy Award-winning and Tony Award-nominated choreographer Patricia Birch, brings together a versatile cast of Broadway veterans and rising opera stars to tell the story of Candide's adventures and tribulations in the "best of all possible worlds."
Religion & Ethics NewsWeekly, THIRTEEN's much-honored and highly acclaimed series covering religion, spirituality, and ethics in America and around the world, will end its run as its 20th season on PBS draws to a close on February 24, 2017,
The gratitude and nostalgia run deep for the cast of Hairspray Live!, who are continuing to share their thoughts about the special experience on social media. Today, Jennifer Hudson (Motormouth Maybelle) posted an Instagram of her with the live musical's producers, Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, thanking them for believing in her and giving her an opportunity to be a part of Hairspray Live! On the heels of her post, we received a mega thank you photo of the entire cast and members of the creative team. One thing's for sure: we'll be feeling the beat from Hairspray Live! for some time to come!
It's only been three days since NBC's latest installment in their series of annual live musical events, Hairspray Live!, but the stars of the production are already being hit hard with nostalgia! Several members of the cast, including Ephraim Sykes (Seaweed), Ariana Grande (Penny), and Tracy herself, Maddie Baillio, have taken to Instagram to express their post-Hairspray feelings. BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the most adorable posts below-let us know which ones we missed, and fingers crossed Ephraim keeps his promise to flood our timelines with more precious behind-the-scenes memories!
Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Lythgoe Family Panto are thrilled to announce a very special holiday event, Cozi Zuehlsdorff ("Dolphin Tale" Films), Joely Fisher (Broadway: Cabaret, "Desperate Housewives"), Barry Pearl ("Grease"), The Book of Mormon's Benjamin Schrader, Jeff Sumner (Genie in Disney's Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular), "American Idol" finalist Vonzell Solomon and Conor Guzman (Pasadena Playhouse; The Fantasticks) starring in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, book by Kris Lythgoe, choreography by Spencer Liff, musical supervisor Michael Orland, musical direction by Michael Sobie and directed by Linda Goodrich. "Last year's holiday confection returns with an all-new Lythgoe Family Panto event on our stage!" comments Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham. Remarks Becky Lythgoe, "We are delighted to be back at the Playhouse with our second show and with this extraordinary cast for a truly magical holiday show!" SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT will begin performances on Wednesday, December 7; will open on Friday, December 9 at 7:30pm and will run through Friday, December 30, 2016 at the Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.
Yesterday, Ariana Grande, who starred as Penny Lou Pingleton in NBC's HAIRSPRAY LIVE!, turned to Instagram to share an emotional message with the cast and crew of the musical
Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Lythgoe Family Panto present a special holiday event, Cozi Zuehlsdorff ('Dolphin Tale' Films), Joely Fisher (Broadway: Cabaret, 'Desperate Housewives'), Barry Pearl ('Grease'), The Book of Mormon's Benjamin Schrader, Jeff Sumner (Genie in Disney's Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular), 'American Idol' finalist Vonzell Solomon and Conor Guzman (Pasadena Playhouse; The Fantasticks) starring in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, book by Kris Lythgoe, choreography by Spencer Liff, musical supervisor Michael Orland, musical direction by Michael Sobie and directed by Linda Goodrich.
NBC has just released early ratings results for last night's broadcast of HAIRSPRAY LIVE! BWW will be updating these results as more numbers become available.
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