Once in a generation, if we are lucky, an extraordinary talent like no other arises - one who can ceaselessly, effortlessly caress the loftiest heights of comedy and drama onstage (and sometimes onscreen), while, simultaneously, imbuing musical theatre roles with the same skill set, plus a powerhouse, quintessentially unique and resplendent vocal instrument; and, of course, that indescribable 'it' factor, too - such is the tale of Broadway's grand dame, Patti LuPone. Ms. LuPone is a part of that great pantheon of leading ladies of lore led by Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters - that is, musical theatre royalty. Taking a look back at many moments in her long and varied career thus far, LuPone candidly opines about a vast array of topics and opens up about many of the remarkable figures who have played roles in her astounding time spent on Broadway, in Hollywood and on TV - among them: Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Steven Spielberg, David Mamet, Ryan Murphy and many more. Most importantly, LuPone discusses various aspects of her ever-expanding new solo show upon which her sensational live album, FAR AWAY PLACES, is based - the songs, the stories, the themes, the collaborators and her future plans for the piece (such as her series of 54 Below shows coming up in February). Additionally, LuPone addresses appearing on GLEE, reflects on working with Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham on PARKER, shares her thoughts on her favorite films of the year, expounds upon what roles she would like to pursue and teases about her concert with David Yazbek and the debut of her new Carnegie Hall concert as well as a return to London where she made her mark with her Olivier-winning original Fantine in LES MISERABLES - all of that and much, much more!
For the entire month of March, Joel Trinidad ('Crush Hour,' 'Defending the Caveman') returns to the Repertory Philippines's (Rep) stage with 2012 BroadwayWorld PH Award nominee Carla Guevara-Laforteza ('Nine,' 'You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown') in Douglas J. Cohen's 'No Way to Treat a Lady,' described as a 'theatrically-charged musical comedy thriller,' based on the bestselling book by William Goldman.
Over the course of 2012, BroadwayWorld's Pat Cerasaro interviewed many among the best and brightest of stage and screen. Whether you missed an interview the first time around or just want to look back at some of the stars' insights, take a look back at 2012's InDepth InterViews below!
Ghostlight Records has announced the debut digital release of the Original Cast Recording of the acclaimed musical No Way To Treat A Lady today, December 18.
Weddington Street Productions in association with Summerwind Productions presents Christmas My Way - A Sinatra Holiday Bash! starring Luca Ellis, Jason Graae, Heather Lee and Beth Malone; directed by David Grapes with musical direction by Vince di Mura. The holiday celebration will be tonight, December 15 - December 31, 2012, with a special New Year's Eve performance on December 31, at the historic El Portal Theatre Mainstage in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA.
Ghostlight Records has announced the debut digital release of the Original Cast Recording of the acclaimed musical No Way To Treat A Lady on Tuesday, December 18.
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Castle Rock Entertainment and Playhouse Productions present the world premiere of MISERY at Bucks County Playhouse. Tony Award nominee JohAnna Day (Proof, August: Osage County) stars as writer Paul Sheldon's number-one fan, 'Annie Wilkes' alongside Daniel Gerroll (Enchanted April, High Society) as 'Paul Sheldon' and James Demarse (The Orphans' Home Cycle, Dividing the Estate) as 'Buster.' BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Castle Rock Entertainment and Playhouse Productions present the world premiere of MISERY at Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street, New Hope PA) this fall. Written by two-time Academy Award-winner William Goldman (who wrote the screenplay for Misery as well as The Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), based on the acclaimed novel by Stephen King and directed by Will Frears (Coach, Year Zero), MISERY will play a limited developmental engagement of 11 performances only, tonight, November 24th through December 8th.
Weddington Street Productions in association with Summerwind Productions proudly presents Christmas My Way - A Sinatra Holiday Bash! starring Luca Ellis, Jason Graae, Heather Lee and Beth Malone; directed by David Grapes with musical direction by Vince di Mura. The holiday celebration will be December 15 - December 31, 2012, at the historic El Portal Theatre Mainstage in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA.
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Castle Rock Entertainment and Playhouse Productions announced today complete casting for the world premiere of MISERY at Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street, New Hope PA). Tony Award nominee Johanna Day (Proof, August: Osage County) will star as writer Paul Sheldon's number-one fan, 'Annie Wilkes' alongside Daniel Gerroll (Enchanted April, High Society) as 'Paul Sheldon' and James DeMarse (The Orphans' Home Cycle, Dividing the Estate) as 'Buster.'
The Film Society of Lincoln Center and the Academy of Motion Pictures Arts and Sciences announced today the participants of a cast reunion as part of the 25th Anniversary presentation of THE PRINCESS BRIDE during the 2012 New York Film Festival.
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, Castle Rock Entertainment and Playhouse Productions announced today that they will present the world premiere of MISERY at Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street, New Hope PA) this fall. Written by two-time Academy Award-winner William Goldman (who wrote the screenplay for Misery as well as The Princess Bride, Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid), based on the acclaimed novel by Stephen King and directed by Will Frears (Coach, Year Zero), MISERY will play a limited developmental engagement of 11 performances only, November 24th through December 8th.
HBO and Comcast are proud to announce the return of a favorite Washington summertime tradition, Screen on the Green. Marking its 14th year, the festival will kick-off July 16th with the 1969 classic 'BUTCH CASSIDY AND THE SUNDANCE KID.
Today we are taking a look at the very best theatre-related entities in a variety of different categories - books, music, television, film, and, of course, theatre - as we look back on 2011 and all of the many marvelous moments of excitement, passion, joy and exultation that only theatre and theatre-related projects can possibly hope to provide. From Stephen Sondheim's LOOK, I MADE A HAT on the bookshelves of every Broadway baby worth their weight in sequins to Neil Patrick Harris and Patti LuPone in Sondheim's COMPANY on the big screen courtesy of Fathom to the stunning Broadway revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters and its tremendous new cast album, all the way to the thrills and chills of Andrew Lloyd Webber's PHANTOM OF THE OPERA LIVE AT THE ROYAL ALBERT HALL on the big screen and Blu-ray to the BOOK OF MORMON breaking Broadway records and even TV's best drama and comedy, both from mastermind Ryan Murphy - GLEE and AMERICAN HORROR STORY. Plus, we also have top film picks in the categories of Drama and Comedy, as well as the best of the best of them all, with Lars Von Trier's apocalyptic masterpiece MELANCHOLIA, George Clooney's play adaptation THE IDES OF MARCH and the 80s music video stylized thriller/drama DRIVE topping the list. All of that and a whole lot more awaits in this all-encompassing look back at the theatrical highlights in all entertainment realms in 2011, as well as a look ahead to what we cannot wait for in 2012!
Modern-day master of musical theatre Stephen Sondheim is about to release the second book of his complete collected lyrics - covering mostly everything written in the last three decades and in this one so far - titled after a line from what may very well be his ultimate masterpiece, the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - LOOK, I MADE A HAT; Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany. So, today, we are going to be taking a look at a litany of the finest moments from Sondheim's post-SWEENEY TODD musicals that are highlighted in LOOK, I MADE A HAT and perhaps discover a few of the many reasons why Sondheim's musicals - whether late-period or early on- are the best of the best Broadway has to offer - now or ever. And, what an absolutely mind-blowing list it is - and what a masterpiece of a book!
When I'm not at a show, I keep my eyes and brain busy by learning as much as I can about Broadway from my favorite books on the subject. My current favorites range from fiction to memoir to history. Here are the books that I'm currently keeping close by.