Rent 2002 - Articles Page 14

To kick off the New Year, actor Taye Diggs and Idina Menzel attended the Strip's favorite show ABSINTHE on January 1, 2012 to enjoy the raucous comedy from The Gazillionaire, Penny Pibbets and the rest of the eccentric gang.

Today in 1972, Broadway veteran Taye Diggs was born. In 1996, he originated the role of the landlord Benny in Jonathan Larson's Tony Award- and Pulitzer Prize-winning Rent, which also starred his future wife, Idina Menzel. After Rent he appeared as Mr. Black alongside Idina Menzel's character of Kate in Andrew Lippa's off-Broadway production of The Wild Party. Diggs also played The Bandleader in the 2002 film version of the long-running Broadway revival of Chicago and filled in as Billy Flynn on Broadway. He also temporarily filled in for Norbert Leo Butz (an original Rent standby) as the love interest Fiyero of Idina Menzel's Elphaba character in Wicked.

2012 is quickly approaching, and in celebration of the new year, BroadwayWorld will celebrate 2011 with lists of our biggest features of the year! Below are BroadwayWorld.com's most popular videos from 2011 (in no particular order)! Catch up below on anything that you might have missed from the past year on BroadwayWorld.com!

The Old Globe will open its 2012-13 Winter Season with the World Premiere of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Kuo, the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II.

The Old Globe will open its 2012-13 Winter Season with the World Premiere of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Kuo, the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II. Directed by Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz, West End premiere of Ragtime), the production features musical direction and arrangements by Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Company) and choreography by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Godspell, South Pacific). Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), television and film icon George Takei ("Star Trek," "Heroes") and Telly Leung (Godspell, Rent) will star.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announces the cast and creative team for the "hysterically funny" (New York Post) new musical The Toxic Avenger.

Alley Theatre Artistic Director Gregory Boyd announced the cast and creative team for their production of The Toxic Avenger. In a new production, which features several new songs and revised book by the Tony Award-winning creative team of Memphis, Bon Jovi founding member and keyboardist David Bryan and Joe DiPietro, Tony-nominated Constantine Maroulis takes center stage as the righteous superhero in the title role. John Rando (Tony Winner for Urinetown) returns to the Alley to reinvent his hilarious 2009 Off-Broadway staging of The Toxic Avenger following his smashing Alley productions of The Man Who Came to Dinner, Mrs. Mannerly and Be My Baby.

MCC Theater has announced the complete cast for the newly reworked and fully re-imagined production of Carrie, the musical. Carrie features music by Michael Gore, lyrics by Dean Pitchford (Academy Award winning composer and lyricist for the original film Fame) and a book by Lawrence D. Cohen (who also adapted the 1974 novel by Stephen King for the 1976 Brian DePalma film). Directed by Stafford Arima, performances for Carrie begin January 31, 2012, at the Lucille Lortel Theatre (121 Christopher Street, NYC). The official opening night is set for March 1, 2012.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

American Theater Company (ATC) announces a limited-run of Escape, a subscriber-only theatrical event featuring three recently-discovered short plays written by Tennessee Williams and three modern dances choreographed by DanszLoop Chicago Artistic Director Paula Frasz.

American Theater Company (ATC) announces a limited-run of Escape, a subscriber-only theatrical event featuring three recently-discovered short plays written by Tennessee Williams and three modern dances choreographed by DanszLoop Chicago Artistic Director Paula Frasz.

HAIRSPRAY opened in 2002 on Broadway and had 2,642 performances at the Neil Simon Theatre. With music by Marc Shaiman, Lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Williams and book by Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, HAIRSPRAY and its feel-good, upbeat score includes the songs 'Good Morning Baltimore,' 'Mama, I'm a Big Girl Now' and 'You Can't Stop the Beat.'

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 10/30 for Boston

American Theater Company (ATC) announces a limited-run of Escape, a subscriber-only theatrical event featuring three recently-discovered short plays written by Tennessee Williams and three modern dances choreographed by DanszLoop Chicago Artistic Director Paula Frasz.

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 10/16 for Boston

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 10/09 for Boston

J.D.'s varied career has encompassed Broadway, opera, concert work and 17 Encores! shows.

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 10/02 for Boston

The winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' was 2002's most awarded new show on Broadway.

Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced the complete cast for its upcoming production of the new musical THE BLUE FLOWER: Sebastian Arcelus (Buddy in Elf, Wicked, Jersey Boys), Marc Kudisch (Three-time Tony Award nominee for 9 to 5, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Meghan McGeary (The Blue Flower at A.R.T.), Joseph Medeiros (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Julia Osborne (National Tour of South Pacific), Graham Rowat (Guys and Dolls), Aaron Serotsky (August: Osage County), and Teal Wicks (Elphaba in Wicked).

TriArts Sharon Playhouse produces the feel-good musical Hairspray, beginning performances on August 4.

On Thursday, July 21, and Thursday, August 4 audience members at the new, Tony Award Nominated Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will get the chance to chat up the young star Aaron Tveit, who stars as Frank Abagnale, Jr. Immediately following the 7pm performance, Mr. Tveit will host an on stage post-show talk back and Q&A. Tickets for these performances can be purchased through Ticketmaster.com and at The Neil Simon Box Office (250 West 52nd Street). Only ticketholders for that evening's performance will be able to attend the Talk Back.

TriArts Sharon Playhouse produces the feel-good musical Hairspray, beginning performances on August 4.

The winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, 'Thoroughly Modern Millie' was 2002's most awarded new show on Broadway.

Executive Producer Lou Spisto today announced The Old Globe's presentation of a developmental workshop of Allegiance - A New American Musical.