Will Chase News

Today we are presenting a specially-focused InDepth InterView centering upon Audra McDonald's sensational new solo album, GO BACK HOME, which is available now and will be accompanied by a PBS TV special tonight, featuring the five-time Tony Award-winning performer at her very, very best. McDonald and I parse the finer points of GO BACK HOME, analyzing the song selection process itself as well as the meanings behind the myriad masterful musical moments present on the new release and what inspired her exquisite performances of these songs by Broadway's absolute best. McDonald also shares stories and insights into composers covered on GO BACK HOME, including frequent collaborators Stephen Sondheim, Michael John LaChiusa and Adam Guettel as well as Kander & Ebb, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jule Styne, Comden & Green and many more. In addition to all about GO BACK HOME, McDonald and I also discuss the two brand new compositions on the album originating in the new specially-penned solo musical written expressly for her by LaChiusa, MARLENE DIETRICH'S ABC, and what the future potentially holds for that fascinating stage endeavor and take a look back at her other LaChiusa musicals, MARIE CHRISTINE, SEND (WHO ARE YOU? I LOVE YOU) and specialty material included. Also, McDonald fills us in on her recent and upcoming film appearances, such as last year's RAMPART with Woody Harrelson and the upcoming I FOUGHT THE LAW. Plus, McDonald expresses her enthusiasm for her continuing role as host of LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER, reveals her opinions on the current movie musical renaissance and the popularity of GLEE, as well as clues us in on her iPod favorites, practicing playing the piano to relax and the possibility of even accompanying herself onstage someday, reflections on Laura Nyro and other favorite pop artists, future plans to pursue more Shakespeare onstage (and musings on what parts), the distinct possibility of essaying the title role in GYPSY sometime soon, appearing on the web series IT COULD BE WORSE - and much, much more!

Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood closed on Broadway in March and was recently nominated for five 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical and nods for stars Stephanie J. Block and Will Chase. Watch the video below to see how Block and Chase are preparing for Tony night - coming up in just a few weeks on June 9!

Voting opened on May 2, 2013 and runs through May 31, 2013 for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/22 with just 8 days to go in voting!

Coming up at 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher is the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more, including: stage and television star Laura Benanti, High Fidelity in Concert, WGBO Jazz Series: Karrin Allyson Quartet, Tony winner Frances Ruffelle, Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band, Sondheim Unplugged and Simply Streisand.

Voting opened on May 2, 2013 and runs through May 31, 2013 for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/18 with just 12 days to go in voting!

Voting opened on May 2, 2013 and runs through May 31, 2013 for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/17 with just 13 days to go in voting!

Voting opened on May 2, 2013 and runs through May 31, 2013 for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/13 with just 17 days to go in voting!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet, will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher is the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more:

Winner's Tally for 2 or more: Pippin 7; Kinky Boots 3; Matilda The Musical 2; My Name Is Asher Lev 2 ;The Nance 2; Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike 2;

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tonys Meet & Greet on May 1, 2013, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Anna Louizos, a nominee for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Check out what she had to say below!

Five months…  FIVE MONTHS after their previous musical comedy, Jumbo, opened at the Hippodrome, the trio of Richard Rodgers, Lorenz Hart and George Abbott had a brand new one at the Imperial.  But far from seeming a rush job, their 1936 On Your Toes can easily be argued to be a huge step forward in refining musical comedy into a sophisticated art form.

Our featured composer of the week is Jonathan Reid Gealt. Here is an exclusive video of powerhouse performer Katie Thompson, who recently starred in the musical Giant at the Public Theater, singing Jonathan's song 'No Reason at All' at our Cutting-Edge Composers concert at the Canal Room.

Voting opened on May 2, 2013 and runs through May 31, 2013 for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/9 with just 21 days to go in voting!

Voting opened on May 2, 2013 and runs through May 31, 2013 for the 11th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/4 with just 26 days to go in voting!

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 67th Annual Antoinette Perry'Tony' Awards were announced on Tuesday by Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Sutton Foster. Check out the full list of Tony nods here, and meet the nominees below!

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 67th Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced on Tuesday at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM. Check out the full list here, and meet the nominees below!

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for THE 67th ANNUAL TONY AWARDS were announced today by stage and screen actor Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Tony Award-winning actress Sutton Foster at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement.

Last night, April 29, The New York Pops marked its 30th birthday with a grand gala evening honoring the musical talents of songwriters Frank Loesser and Jule Styne, and the centennial of legendary entertainer Danny Kaye. Paula Zahn, host of NYC ARTS on PBS, hosted the evening. See the starry performances below!

Last night, April 29, The New York Pops marked its 30th birthday with a grand gala evening honoring the musical talents of songwriters Frank Loesser and Jule Styne, and the centennial of legendary entertainer Danny Kaye. Paula Zahn, host of NYC ARTS on PBS, hosted the evening. See the red carpet photos below!