Will Chase News

Today we look back at Elton John & Tim Rice's Tony Award-winning rock musical AIDA.

Following a highly successful tour in 2014, stars of ABC's “Nashville” will once again hit the road in an eight-city spring concert tour.

One of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, is already a huge hit here on BroadwayWorld, and, now we bring you an exclusive chat with an elemental figure in the creation of the project, choreographer and director Joshua Bergasse, all about the hotly anticipated evening. As part of our conversation, Bergasse offers up a slew of new details on what plans are currently in place for the unprecedented SMASH reunion as well as share first reactions to the wildly successful Kickstarter campaign that has already racked up more than $315,000 in donations in less than two weeks, having begun with a goal of $50,000 when the event was first announced. Additionally, Bergasse parses the finer points of the BOMBSHELL score and outlines what fans can expect from the songstack on the evening as well as preliminary staging and presentational plans and also what the momentum engendered by BOMBSHELL could lead to in the future, near and far - a HIT LIST concert or perhaps a night featuring the other musicals-within-the-series. Plus, Bergasse also comments on his contributions to two new mainstage musicals this season byway of ON THE TOWN and GIGI as well as looks ahead to the La Jolla Playhouse premiere of the new musical by the FROZEN team of Robert Lopez and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, UP HERE, while also glancing back at his Broadway debut in THE LIFE. All of that and much, much more!

BOMBSHELL is huge smash!

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this week, producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will present a concert presentation of the musical created within the NBC TV series 'Smash,' Bombshell, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, co-directed by Joshua Bergasse and Scott Wittman with choreography by Joshua Bergasse. The one-night only landmark event benefitting The Actors Fund is set for Monday evening, June 8, 2015 at The Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway).

BOMBSHELL is already a big, fat SMASH!

A BOMBSHELL, indeed - and a SMASH, too!

We're so grateful for your support! You're all STARS and we're your biggest fans! In less than one day our community has helped The Actors Fund to raise close to $200,000 from nearly 1,300 generous backers for this one-night-only benefit concert of Bombshell. We cannot thank you enough for your incredible support. Your generosity will assure that the funds raised from the production will not only assure that the show will go on, but will also assure that the funds raised from the benefit will go to help those in need, crisis or transition in our entertainment and performing arts community.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: THE KING AND I and the NEW YORK SPRING SPECTACULAR start performances!

SMASH is a smash once again!

It was announced today that producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron will present a concert presentation of the musical created within the NBC TV series 'Smash,' Bombshell, with music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, co-directed by Joshua Bergasse and Scott Wittman with choreography by Joshua Bergasse. The one-night only landmark event benefitting The Actors Fund is set for Monday evening, June 8, 2015 at The Minskoff Theatre (1515 Broadway).

Last week was a whirwind of backstabbing, WTF moments, and OMGs... in true NASHVILLE style, of course. Jeff Fordham is where the majority of us want him to be... screwed over and left with (almost) nothing. Except the opportunity to expose and humiliate Teddy, that is. Layla has been signed to Rayna's label, Highway 65, though what can come of that is anybody's guess. Sadie Stone has finally come clean to Rayna regarding her past, and the label has stepped up and in to hopefully solve all problems- though we know that's most likely not the case. Lastly, Gunnar, Avery, and Scarlett have temporarily reunited their band- to everybody's satisfaction- but especially the Bluebird Cafe's. The record labels' worlds are flipped upside down, but for the first time in a while, things at the Bluebird- and for Gunnar, Avery, and Scarlett, and their band, are right-side up.

It's cloudy and grey in Nashville today, which is perhaps fitting as people from all over gather to mourn the passing of Bernie Arnold, the matriarch of the first family of Nashville theater. But being mournful is the last thing you can come up with when remembering Bernie and her late, devoted husband, Henry Arnold (known as 'Buddy' to his legions of fans, students and admirers). Rather, any memory of the revered pair of theatrical talents is limned with joy, amazement and unbridled admiration.

On the next episode of ABC's NASHIVILLE titled "That's the Way Love Goes" - Rayna's anniversary of her induction into the Grand Ole Opry is cause for celebration and guest starring cameos by country stars Vince Gill and Lorrie Morgan as themselves.

ast week's episode- albeit insanely fast paced- dropped a lot of information without resolving too much. Sadie Stone, hiding from her abusive and violent ex-husband, is now armed with a gun. Will Chase is turning the wedding that didn't happen into a PR stunt (when he's not lashing out at Rayna), Rayna and Deacon are attempting to sort out their feelings for one another while Deacon secretly (against Scarlett's wishes) battles with his newfound, potentially terminal issue. Avery and Juliette, who we want to turn into the cutest and happiest newlyweds of all time, are slowly but surely trying to iron out some of their many petty issues. Gunnar confronts Micah about the truth regarding his paternity, and Layla and Will are (seemingly) off the hook for their incriminating reality show, following Layla's near overdose. With so much being squeezed into last wee's 45 minutes, here's hoping tonight the NASHVILLE writers slow it down a bit, and dive into the nitty gritty of the show's most intriguing story arcs.

Today we are talking to one of Broadway's best baritones all about his accomplished career in musical theatre that began nearly 20 years ago with a memorable turn in MISS SAIGON, the thoughtful and debonair Matt Bogart. In addition to looking back at his arrival on Broadway during the mega-musical era, Bogart also comments on subsequent starring roles in Broadway productions ranging from Elton John and Tim Rice's Tony Award-winning AIDA to Frank Wildhorn and Jack Murphy's THE CIVIL WAR and far beyond. Additionally, Bogart sheds considerable light on projects he has participated in over the years in regional productions and workshops, including THE BAKER'S WIFE, CAMELOT, ACE and more. Most importantly, Bogart offers the full 411 on this weekend's hotly anticipated evening of music from famous rock concept musical CHESS and clues us in on what we can expect from the starry evening, directed by Scott Coulter. Furthermore, Bogart shares stories from the set of SMASH, outlines some of his favorite musical theatre songs to date and details the process in bringing his previous solo albums to fruition along with JAY Records executive producer John Yap, looking ahead to the release of a brand new release set for later this year. All of that, a thorough analysis of participating in 2500 performances of long-running Tony Award-winning Broadway super smash JERSEY BOYS, appearing in the international broadcast and DVD edition of SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, memories of the legendary 2002 Kennedy Center Sondheim Celebration and much, much more!

On the next NASHVILLE, rumors start to fly surrounding Rayna and Luke's breakup but Rayna's determined not to let them bring her down and finds a way to return to the public eye on her own terms.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Musical television series abound! Also special nights for 'Allegro' and 'Reefer Madness,' that Dolphin show at Annoyance, Mercury's 'Addams Family,' a big children's premiere, the return of 'Option Up!' and a surprising, real live 'Beauty!'

Another Broadway veteran will soon be heading to NASHVILLE.

Barbara Cook's Spotlight features NASHVILLE and Broadway star Will Chase tonight, January 9 at 7:30 p.m. at the Kennedy Center's Terrace Theater.