BroadwayWorld announced yesterday that Lauren Ambrose has landed the coveted role of Fanny Brice in FUNNY GIRL in the first Broadway production of the musical since it originally opened in 1964. FUNNY GIRL, which features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Bob Merrill and book by Isobel Lennart, will be directed by Tony Award-winner Bartlett Sher.
The news came as a surprise to many, as Ambrose - while a screen favortie and sometimes stage star - is not a regular in the big musical circuit. In fact, the announcement had many asking...can she sing?
Ambrose, in fact, has powerhouse vocals and has been singing since childhood. She is the lead singer of jazz, swing and ragtime-style Leisure Class band, and in trained in opera at the Boston University Tanglewood Institute. Many may also recall Ambrose's famous belt-out of the 'Rainbow of Reasons' gag in a 2006 episode of Six Feet Under. The theater world certainly has a lot to look forward to when this soulful songstress reimagines Fanny onstage.
On Tuesday, June 28 THE ADDAMS FAMILY welcomed stage and screen star Brooke Shields in the role of Morticia. Ms. Shields joined current Broadway cast members Roger Rees as Gomez, Brad Oscar as Fester, Rachel Potter as Wednesday, Jackie Hoffman as Grandma, Zachary James as Lurch, Adam Riegler as Pugsley, Heidi Blickenstaff as Alice Beineke, Adam Grupper as Mal Beineke and Jesse Swenson as Lucas Beineke. Click below for performance highlights of Shields & co. in action!
On Tuesday, June 28 THE ADDAMS FAMILY welcomed stage and screen star Brooke Shields in the role of Morticia. Shields joined current Broadway cast members Roger Rees as Gomez, Brad Oscar as Fester, Rachel Potter as Wednesday, Jackie Hoffman as Grandma, Zachary James as Lurch, Adam Riegler as Pugsley, Heidi Blickenstaff as Alice Beineke, Adam Grupper as Mal Beineke and Jesse Swenson as Lucas Beineke. Last night, Shields officially opened in THE ADDAMS FAMILY. Hear what she and her costars have to say about the celebratory night!
The all new production of 'Les Misérables,' featuring glorious new staging and spectacular re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, just opened at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on Friday, June 17, 2011. Performances will continue through July 31, 2011.
Broadway's hit musical comedy THE ADDAMS FAMILY welcomes stage and screen star Brooke Shields in the role of Morticia beginning tomorrow, Tuesday, June 28 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre. Shields will play opposite Roger Rees, who stars as Gomez. Shields is replacing Bebe Neuwirth, who originated the role. Click below for the new ADDAMS FAMILY commercial featuring Shields!
The all new production of 'Les Misérables,' featuring glorious new staging and spectacular re-imagined scenery inspired by the paintings of Victor Hugo, just opened at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre on Friday, June 17, 2011. Performances will continue through July 31, 2011.Click Below to go inside of opening night!
This new musical comedy, direct from Broadway, is based on the hit movie and features Dolly Parton's original hit title song along with her new Tony Award® and Grammy-nominated score. The book is by Patricia Resnick (co-writer of the original screenplay). The touring production will be directed and choreographed by Tony nominated, Jeff Calhoun. Diana DeGarmo stars as Doralee, and recently performed on Good Morning Texas. View her performance below!
Stage and screen star Brooke Shields will join THE ADDAMS FAMILY in the role of Morticia beginning Tuesday, June 28 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). Two-time Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth will play her final performance in the role on Sunday, June 26. Ms. Shields will play opposite Roger Rees, who stars as Gomez. Access Hollywood got a first look at the star getting into costume!
Last night, the Broadway cast of AMERICAN IDIOT took their final bows at the St. James Theatre. In the videos below, director Michael Mayer and producers of the show give closing night speeches, and Green Day gives a surprise post show concert. Click below to check it out!
The Tony-Award winning original cast of GOD OF CARNAGE celebrated opening night at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles on April 13, 2011. Click below for a look at the evening's red carpet!
The Druid and Atlantic Theater Company production of Martin McDonagh's darkly humorous 'The Cripple of Inishmaan' just opened at the Center Theatre Group/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. The darkly humorous piece, directed by Druid's Artistic Director and Tony Award- winner Garry Hynes, has been receiving critical praise as the production tours across the country. Check out footage from opening night below!
'Burn This' by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lanford Wilson recently opened at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Directed by Nicholas Martin, performances of 'Burn This' continue through May 1. This production is dedicated to Lanford Wilson.
'Burn This' by Pulitzer Prize-winner Lanford Wilson opens this Sunday, April 3, 2011, at the Center Theatre Group/Mark Taper Forum. Directed by Nicholas Martin, performances of 'Burn This' continue through May 1. This production is dedicated to Lanford Wilson.
February 9th marked the opening night for the five-time Tony nominated production of '33 Variations' with Jane Fonda at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. '33 Variations,' written and directed by Moisés Kaufman, continues through March 6, 2011. Watch the coverage of opening night at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles below!
The five-time Tony-nominated production of '33 Variations,' with Jane Fonda, opens this Wednesday, February 9, 2011, at 8 p.m. at the CTG/ Ahmanson Theatre. Written and directed by Moisés Kaufman, performances continue through March 6 for this compelling new piece. In the clip below, Writer/Director Moises Kaufman, actor Zach Grenier and musicologist Dr. William Kinderman give background on the play. Click below to check it out!
Tony Award winner Alice Ripley is prepping a new solo recording for Sh-K-Boom Records, the same label that released her 2000 debut album Everything's Fine and the acclaimed original cast recording of Next to Normal. Daily Practice: Volume 1 will feature acoustic covers of songs from artists like Bruce Springsteen, Sting, Carole King, Alanis Morissette, Carly Simon and U2. 'It's a collection of songs that I play every day,' Ripley told Broadway.com in an exclusive chat about the new CD. 'I pick up my guitar every day, especially at times where I don't know where I am or who I am. My guitar reminds me... Reminds me of why I wanted to sing and who I am and what I have to say.'
Preview performances began this Sunday, January 30, for the five-time Tony nominated production of '33 Variations' with Jane Fonda at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. '33 Variations,' written and directed by Moisés Kaufman, opens February 9 and continues through March 6, 2011.
The original Broadway cast of the smash hit comedy GOD OF CARNAGE comes to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles for six weeks only! Hear what Jeff Daniels, Hope Davis, James Gandolfini and Marcia Gay Harden have to say about the play, which took New York by storm last year.
BroadwayWorld TV was bigger than ever in 2010, covering the world of theatre from GLEE to the Hollywood Bowl to Broadway to London and Beyond! Take a look back at some of 2010's most watched videos!
The world premiere of Randy Newman's 'Harps and Angels' opened at the Center Group/Mark Taper Forum at the Los Angeles Music Center on Sunday, November 21. Performances continue through December 22, 2010. Click below for a look at the production onstage!