Did You Know That These Broadway Shows Originally Had Different Names?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - May 17, 2026
Perhaps the most well-known instance of a show changing titles during the development process belongs to the groundbreaking 1943 phenomenon, Oklahoma! The Rodgers and Hammerstein musical that changed the art form in terms of subject matter, integration of elements, and more was originally titled Away We Go! when it went out of town for a New Haven tryout. Oklahoma! is far from the only instance where a musical changed its title along the development road.
A History of Musicals About Friendship
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - May 10, 2026
Friendship is nearly always a side element in musicals. From the comic sidekick of the leading character to the backup pals who provide background vocals, friends are part of the fabric of many shows—but rarely are they the main event.
Review: HAIRSPRAY at Scherr Forum Theatre
by Cary Ginell - Oct 13, 2025
What did our critic think of HAIRSPRAY at Scherr Forum Theatre? 5-Star Theatricals' production of Hairspray, which opened October 10 at the Scherr Forum Theatre in Thousand Oaks, is the bubbly, effervescent morality tale about civil rights in Baltimore in the early ’60s that won Tony awards for best musical, book, and score.
Review: BYE BYE BIRDIE at TexARTS
by Sabrina Wallace - Jul 15, 2025
TexArts’ Bye Bye Birdie leans into its vintage charm with a wink. Outdated? Yes, Entertaining? Absolutely! And sometimes that is what we need! Musical comedy with a twist of self-awareness and a solid cast. #ATXTheatre #BWW
15 Broadway Musicals with Multiple Movie Adaptations
by Josh Sharpe - Jul 19, 2025
For years, Broadway musicals have spawned multiple film adaptations, from the early days of cinema to Steven Spielberg's remake of West Side Story. Take a look at our list of 15 musicals that have danced their way to the screen more than once!
BYE BYE BIRDIE Comes to The 5th Avenue Theatre
by Stephi Wild - May 16, 2025
The 5th Avenue Theatre Company has announced its new production of Bye Bye Birdie, the Tony Award-winning musical that captures the spirit, style, and humor of 1960s America.
Broadway Musicals for Every US State
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Apr 13, 2025
This time, the reader question was: There are only three states in America without known Broadway musicals set within their borders. Can you guess which three? WE're breaking it down state by state.
Review: HAIRSPRAY Revivals in São Paulo with a Beautiful Message of Acceptance
by Claudio Erlichman - Oct 15, 2024
A girl achieves her dream of performing on a TV dance show in 1960s Baltimore — and works to integrate the show — in this musical version of the John Waters film. Outside of traditional beauty standards, she faces many prejudices, become an instant celebrity, and fight against racial segregation promoting inclusion of everyone in the city.
Review: BYE, BYE, BIRDIE at Kennedy Center
by Elliot Lanes - Jun 12, 2024
The latest entry into Kennedy Center’s Broadway Center Stage series is one that you don’t see produced professionally very often which is a good thing. The 1960 Charles Strouse/Lee Adams/Michael Stewart musical Bye, Bye, Birdie was at one point the most produced musical by high schools and community theatres but strangely it has had very few large-scale revivals. Roundabout Theatre Company’s production in 2009 marked the last time the show was seen on Broadway in a major production.
What Is a Rock Opera?
by Jennifer Ashley Tepper - Jun 22, 2024
This time, the reader question was: What is a rock opera, and what is their history on Broadway?
Interview: Kennedy Center's Musical Director on Why BYE, BYE, BIRDIE's Orchestrations Sound Better Than Ever
by Elliot Lanes - Jun 10, 2024
Nowadays orchestra size has become more and more of an issue for me. Even when seeing productions of classic Broadway musicals, there is a tendency to reduce the size of the orchestra for more in the way of production elements. It’s even worse when a production “reimagines” the charts completely and wipes away the work of Robert Russell Bennett, Don Walker, and even Jonathan Tunick. The latter should be deemed sacrilege.
Wake Up With BroadwayWorld June 7, 2024
by - Jun 7, 2024
Rise and shine, BroadwayWorld! It is June 7, 2024 and it's time to catch up on all of the theatrical happenings you may have missed in the last 24 hours.