Verona Videos

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. Tonight, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, welcomes Norm Lewis (who will become the first African-American performer to star as The Phantom in the New York production) and Sierra Boggess to the cast. In the special interview below, the best Broaday buddies chat about reuniting on stage, what it means to them to join (and rejoin) the cast, and so much more . Check out the full interview below!

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, Broadway's new bad guy, Will Swenson, talks all things Les Miserables- plus he shares stories about how he got his start in theatre, his past Broadway roles, and more. Check out the full interview below!

Today in 1957, The Taming of the Shrew openend at the Phoenix Theatre, where it ran for 23 performances. A comedy by William Shakespeare, the play is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591. The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, and Katherina, the headstrong, obdurate shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship, but Petruchio tempers her with various psychological torments-the 'taming'-until she becomes a compliant and obedient bride. The subplot features a competition between the suitors of Katherina's more desirable sister, Bianca.

Hey there, reader! Hope you're doing well. Me? I'm doing alright, thanks for asking. A few days ago? Not so great. I either had a stomach bug or food poisoning, which sucked!!! Luckily it happened on our day off so I did not vomit on my cast mates (I'm sorry to give you that visual...so disgusting) but we did come up with a fun game; throughout last night's show we tried to find the most hilarious moments for an unfortunate puking accident. It turns out that our inner musicians shined really brightly at this game because it was either always in rhythm or on the button of a song. For example, we do the song 'Saturday Night' by the Bay City Rollers so in our game it would go 'S-A-T-U-R-D-A-Y *barf*'

Happy Birthday Stockard Channing! In 1971, she made her Broadway debut in Two Gentlemen of Verona - The Musical, working with playwright John Guare. She also appeared on Broadway in 1973 in a supporting role in No Hard Feelings. In 1978, at the age of 33, she took on the role of high school teenager Betty Rizzo in the hit musical Grease. Additional Broadway credits include: They're Playing Our Song, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation, Woman in Mind, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, and The Lion in Winter. She is currently starrign on Broadway in Other Desert Cities at the Booth Theatre.

Happy Birthday, John Guare! He is best known as the author of The House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation, and Landscape of the Body. Guare has also been involved with musical theatre. His libretto with Mel Shapiro for the musical Two Gentlemen of Verona was a success when it premiered in 1971 and was revived in 2005 at the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park. It won the two men the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Book of a Musical. He wrote the songs for Landscape of the Body. In 1999, he revised the book of the Cole Porter musical comedy, Kiss Me, Kate for its Broadway revival. He also wrote the book for the Broadway musical Sweet Smell of Success.

It's Frozen-mania! In recent weeks, many YouTubers have posted their own cover of Let It Go, the most successful song of the brand new Disney movie FROZEN. The song, written by Robert Lopez (Avenue Q, The Book Of Mormon) and Kristen Anderson-Lopez, has caught the attention of performers all over the world and - thanks to the web, which allows us to find these hidden gems - today we put you before this 'Pop Male Version' made by Daniele Carta Mantiglia, a promising young Italian performer.

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent conversation featured Broadway favorite Norm Lewis, moderated by Broadway World's Richard Ridge. Check out the conversation below!

Aladdin, which will open on Broadway at the New Amsterdam Theatre on March 20, is currently playing at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre (formerly the Canon), where it will run through January 5, 2014. Opening night there is November 21, 2013. Below, go inside rehearsals with the cast as they prepare the show for the stage!

On last night's THE COLBERT REPORT on Comedy Central, the multi-talented Stephen Fry talks about atheism, activism, and his Broadway debut in Shakespeare's 'Twelfth Night.

International film star Orlando Bloom will make his Broadway debut alongside Tony Award nominee Condola Rashad, as Shakespeare's star-crossed lovers in a new Broadway production of the timeless love story ROMEO AND JULIET, directed by five-time Tony Award nominee David Leveaux. In anticipation of opening night, slated for Thursday, September 19, 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, the duo stopped by GOOD MORNING AMERICA today. Check out their interview below!

Boston's Commonwealth Shakespeare Company 2013 Apprentices take a break with a Harlem Shake... speare. For more information about the CSC Apprentice program and this Summer's Free Shakespeare on the Common 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona' Visit commshakes.org

Chicago Shakespeare Theater (CST) announces William Shakespeare's Henry VIII, the first professional Chicago production in 400 years since its debut at Shakespeare's Globe in London. Staged by Artistic Director Barbara Gaines in CST's Courtyard Theater April 30-June 16, 2013, Henry VIII features a celebrated company of artists that includes Gregory Wooddell in the title role and Christina Pumariega as Anne Boleyn. The Acting Company features an ensemble of veteran CST actors which includes Kate Buddeke, David Darlow, Kevin Gudahl, Scott Jaeck, Ora Jones, David Lively and Mike Nussbaum. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production highlights below.

Sunnyside Films and Windrider Entertainment present the brand new web series '80/20' co-created, written and starring Vayu O'Donnell (Golden Boy, Man and Boy) and Christopher Oscar Peña with music by Evan Olson, whose music has been featured on 'Sex And The City,' 'Law & Order,' 'Ugly Betty,' 'Friday Night Lights' and MTV's 'The Hills.' The Season One trailer is now available online in anticipation of the Monday, March 18 season release. Watch it below!

Every year, the YoungArts program of the National YoungArts Foundation offers 15- to 18-year-old emerging artists from around the country the chance to be mentored by some of the world's greatest artists in an intimate environment. In this all-new YoungArts MasterClass presentation, three student writers join Tony Award-winning playwright John Guare for a once-in-a-lifetime workshop in Rome, Italy when the HBO Family documentary special John Guare: A YoungArts Masterclass debuts TUESDAY, MARCH 4 (7:30-8:00 p.m. ET/PT) on HBO. Get a sneak peek of the special in the trailer below!

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents the five-time Tony Award winning masterpiece Man of La Mancha, running now through March 10 at the Hobby Center for The Performing Arts. Click below to watch highlights from the show!

Today in 1957, The Taming of the Shrew openend at the Phoenix Theatre, where it ran for 23 performances. A comedy by William Shakespeare, the play is believed to have been written between 1590 and 1591. The main plot depicts the courtship of Petruchio, a gentleman of Verona, and Katherina, the headstrong, obdurate shrew. Initially, Katherina is an unwilling participant in the relationship, but Petruchio tempers her with various psychological torments-the 'taming'-until she becomes a compliant and obedient bride. The subplot features a competition between the suitors of Katherina's more desirable sister, Bianca.

Happy Birthday Stockard Channing! In 1971, she made her Broadway debut in Two Gentlemen of Verona - The Musical, working with playwright John Guare. She also appeared on Broadway in 1973 in a supporting role in No Hard Feelings. In 1978, at the age of 33, she took on the role of high school teenager Betty Rizzo in the hit musical Grease. Additional Broadway credits include: They're Playing Our Song, A Day in the Death of Joe Egg, The House of Blue Leaves, Six Degrees of Separation, Woman in Mind, Four Baboons Adoring the Sun, and The Lion in Winter. She is currently starrign on Broadway in Other Desert Cities at the Booth Theatre.

Opera Colorado opens its 30th Anniversary Season with Charles Gounod's classic French opera Romeo and Juliet at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House at the Denver Performing Arts Complex. Soprano Ava Pine, who made her Opera Colorado debut last season in The Marriage of Figaro, stars alongside Italian tenor Giuseppe Varano, making his Opera Colorado debut, as the ill-fated young lovers from Shakespeare's tragic tale. This production is conducted by RoBert Wood and directed by Bill Murray. Click below to watch interviews with the cast and creative team!

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) presents the five-time Tony Award winning masterpiece Man of La Mancha, running Feb. 26 - March 10 at the Hobby Center for The Performing Arts. Click below to watch a trailer for the show!