Bye Bye Birdie

Streaming Musicals has announced the virtual world premiere of Cockroaches & Cologne, a new 14-minute musical short film from the critically acclaimed writing team behind Marry Harry (staged Off-Broadway at the York Theatre Company in 2017 and filmed and released in 2020 by Streaming Musicals)

A loving send-up of the 1950s, small-town America, teenagers, and rock & roll, Bye Bye Birdie remains as fresh and vibrant as ever. Teen heartthrob Conrad Birdie has been drafted, so he chooses All-American girl Kim MacAfee for a very public farewell kiss. Featuring a tuneful high-energy score, plenty of great songs to walk away singing, and a hilarious script, Birdie continues to thrill audiences around the world.

The review follows five groovy gals as they come of age during those glorious days that made England swing. Traveling in time from 1960 to 1970, SHOUT! chronicles the dawning liberation of women, from the rise of Dusty Springfield, Petula Clark, and Cilla Black as independent women with major careers, to their American counterparts, redefining themselves in the face of changing attitudes about gender. With a shimmy and shake, the songs are tied together by hilarious sound bites from the period – from '60s advertisements to letters answered by an advice columnist who thinks that every problem can be solved with a “fetching new hairstyle and a new shade of lipstick.

With Women in Theatre Through the Decades, we will be highlighting the vital role that women have played in theatre history, showcasing those who paved the way and who continue to make history today. This week, we are highlighting the accomplishments of women in theatre throughout the 1960s and the 1970s!

Multi-talented Broadway actor and singer Robi Hager has quickly become an Arden Theatre Company favorite, having been featured in productions such as NEXT TO NORMAL, FUN HOME and RAGTIME. Hager also is an accomplished composer and lyricist who will be bringing his musical talents to the screen this spring with a new cabaret showcasing his original music.

We're rounding up 27 tweets from the week of 2/22/2021 to 2/26/2021 from Broadway stars and theater fans!

For oh-so many reasons, it seems there is finally a feeling of optimism in the air as we emerge from the dark days of 2020. San Francisco’s 42nd Street Moon has decided to capitalize on that with their star-studded virtual Gala You Can’t Stop the Beat, which streams on Sunday, February 28th beginning at 6:00pm PST. You Can’t Stop the Beat will be hosted by Broadway actor and beloved “Moonie” Jason Graae and feature performances from a number of Tony winners and nominees. Musical theatre luminaries Liz Callaway, Michael Maguire, Faith Prince and Emily Skinner, plus dozens of other musical theater artists from the Bay Area and beyond will perform numbers from favorite musicals such as Hairspray, Come From Away, Bye Bye Birdie, Hamilton and many more. All proceeds from the virtual gala will support programs that are critical to the expansion of Moon’s programming and continuation of their mission - including MoonSchool’s education and outreach programs and the renovation of their home at the Gateway Theatre. To learn more about the event or to make a donation, visit www.42ndstmoon.org/annualgala. BroadwayWorld recently caught up with Daniel Thomas, who shares duties as Moon’s Co-Executive Director with Daren A.C. Carollo. Thomas’ current hopefulness and gratitude for having made it through a difficult year is palpable. Putting this particular gala together has clearly been a joy, and Thomas is confident that Moon audiences have much to look forward to in the coming year.

Each year, Porchlight Music Theatre celebrates an individual who has made an exceptional and lasting contribution to the state of the art of Chicago music theatre with the prestigious Guy Adkins Award. This year, Felicia P. Fields is the recipient.

Today's top stories: Seyi Omooba's claims of religious discrimination by Leicester Curve were rejected by an employment tribunal,  Andrew Lloyd Webber talks Cinderella, his campaign to get theatres open safely, and more, plus Celia Rose Gooding and Lauren Patten reuinte in a conversation from TDF.

On Tuesday, March 9, Dress Circle Publishing will release of THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY, VOLUME 4, the latest in a series by acclaimed historian and producer Jennifer Ashley Tepper. Can't wait to get your hands on it? Let BroadwayWorld hold you over with a special sneak peek from a chapter all about The Imperial Theatre.

If you’re anything like me (And if you’re a theatre person, you probably are), you’re a sucker for a good cabaret. And a sweet love story. And (of course) musicals. Need I say more? A.D. Players has jumped back into the digital theatre space with their timely production of A SPECK-TACULAR EVENING OF STORIES AND SONGS following the lives, love story, and leaps of faith of A.D. Players’ Executive Director Jake Speck and his wife Emily Tello Speck.

In December, Broadway lost one of its brightest stars in Ann Reinking, who sadly passed away at the age of 71. Her legacy live on though, as dancers from the Broadway and National touring companies of Fosse and Chicago have reunited to tribute her memory.

Where to Begin was originally released in 2017 and has been remixed by Devin Lewis.

Jefferson Performing Arts Society brings its third production of the new year to the Jefferson Performing Arts Center with the timeless 1940s dark comedy Arsenic and Old Lace from February 26-March 7, 2021. 

San Francisco’s 42nd Street Moon (Daren A.C. Carollo and Daniel Thomas, Co-Executive Directors) is pleased to announce a virtual 2021 Gala, YOU CAN’T STOP THE BEAT - an evening of uplifting performances and optimism for the future of the arts. 

This week's Theater Stories features the Shubert Theatre! Learn about one of the longest running Broadway shows of all time, A Chorus Line, the incredibly successful production of To Kill a Mockingbird, the star-studded revival of Hello, Dolly! and more.

Stars in the House continues tonight (8pm ET) with an Ann Reinking Celebration with Bebe Neuwirth, Rick Elice, Rob Fisher, Greg Butler, Maria DiDia, Caitlin Carter, Jim Borstleman, William Whitener.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced Chicago Sings Rock & Roll Broadway, premiering Saturday, March 20 at 7 p.m. CDT.

Broadway legend Chita Rivera celebrated her 88th birthday on January 23rd. With a stage career spanning over half a century, this triple threat deserves to have her name shouted from every theatre geek’s rooftop. 

Stars in the House continues tonight (8pm) with Chita Rivera's birthday celebration! An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Chita Rivera has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and received five additional Tony nominations. Most recently, she appeared on Broadway in Kander & Ebb's musical The Visit (2015). In 2018, she was awarded a special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in Theatre.

At Home Artist Project Presents: A Short Play Festival, featuring three short length plays. At Home Artists Project is a virtual space for new work.

Just last month, Broadway lost one of its brightest stars in Ann Reinking, who sadly passed away at the age of 71. Ann, or Annie and she was called by those closest to her, leaves behind a legacy of greatness. 'We've lost a big icon in our craft...' said her friend and colleague Chita Rivera. 'But somewhere there is a light that shines, and that light is Annie. Now she shines within us and we have to keep that alive. We have to talk about her and think about her.'

Actor Jesse Borrego, who starred on the television series Fame will be the featured guest on the January 22, 2021 episode of Chicago radio’s It’s Showtime with Rikki Lee. The radio program airs every Friday at 3 PM Central on 101.5 FM.

Recipients to be honored at the 43rd annual national celebration of the arts are: multi-disciplinary artist, choreographer, and actress Debbie Allen; singer-songwriter and activist Joan Baez; country singer-songwriter Garth Brooks; violinist Midori; and actor Dick Van Dyke.

While The Rep’s planned production of Bye Bye Birdie was unfortunately canceled due to the pandemic, the initiative to recruit and train local teen talent began in the fall of 2019. To cast the Teen Ensemble, the company hosted free audition workshops for hundreds of teens in public high schools across Pulaski County.

In the first part of a collaboration between the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra and Paper Mill Playhouse, Broadway veteran Rema Webb and an NJSO string quintet give an at-home performance of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s “You’ll Never Walk Alone” from Carousel tonight, January 5, at 7 pm.

The Family Film Awards announced the nominees for its 24th ceremony honoring the best of Family Television, Film, and Music and its telecast presented by DYF Entertainment. Nominees and award winners in each category are selected by a Blue Ribbon Panel made up of entertainment industry executives.

The Family Film Awards announced the nominees for its 24th ceremony honoring the best of Family Television, Film, and Music and its telecast presented by DYF Entertainment.

Quarantine Cabaret and Cocktails, produced and hosted by entertainer and LML Music founder, Lee Lessack, and actor and frequent SNL regular, Robert Bannon, made its debut during isolation on YouTube, and they have had nothing but star studded shows every week in the approximately hour long show, and the humor quotient has been very high, along with the music.

Read what theatre stars from across social media are saying about the passing of Ann Reinking.

Earlier this year, Ann was interviewed by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge from her home in Arizona. During the hour of storytelling, she opened up about how she fell in love with dance as a young girl, recounted stories of her career on stage and screen, working with Bob Fosse, teaching young dancers across the country, and so much more.

As BroadwayWorld sadly reported yesterday, Broadway legend Ann Reinking has passed away, via the star's sister-in-law Dahrla Reinking. She was 71 years old.

Legendary dancer and fellow Fosse aficionado, Chita Rivera, reacted to the news of Ann Reinking's passing.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that Broadway legend Ann Reinking has passed away. She was 71 years old.

Brennin Hunt, known to Broadway audiences as the first replacement of Edward in 'Pretty Woman' and Roger Davis from the 2019 FOX production of 'Rent: Live,' recently released his new mental health-centric single, 'Heaven's on the Way.'

Take a holiday trip back to the 1940’s with the Missoula Community Theatre during It’s a Wonderful Life: A Live Radio Play, Dec. 10-20. In the old days, families would sit around the radio to ‘listen’ to a show. This December, you can gather with your families around a computer or television to ‘watch’ Bedford Falls come to life, as this show will be presented exclusively as a streamed performance. The only in-person seating will be in the comfy living rooms of the audience!

Featuring new performers with every show, the weekly, award-winning Piano Bar Live! streams tomorrow Tuesday, November 17th at 7:15 pm ET, with host Scott Barbarino. PBL! is continuing the long-established tradition of the piano bar-that special place where we can gather, entertain, support and create, as we connect with live music.

Today (November 16) in live streaming: Lillias White sings with Seth Rudetsky, Alice Ripley in concert, and so much more!

Although the show only ran for 105 performances at the Bernard B. Jacobs theater in 2008, the legacy of the show still lives on today. Enough so, that Netflix is in the process of adapting the show for the screen.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team of its 23rd annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas!, which this year will be presented by KPBS Radio in San Diego as a free audio-only production. Due to the ongoing pandemic, The Old Globe is unable to produce the San Diego favorite on its stage this year.

Award winning cabaret performer and member of the 92Y Music Faculty, Michael Kirk Lane will welcome Chita Rivera to 'Cabaret Conversations,' an online series of talks, on Monday, November 16, 6-7 pm ET.

BroadwayWorld put together a list of all the live action musicals you can stream on Netflix, Hulu, HBO Max, BroadwayHD, and Disney Plus. Are you looking for something to get your mind off… all of this? So are we. Because everyone needs some escape,

The Old Globe announced today that its 23rd annual production of Dr. Seuss's How the Grinch Stole Christmas! will be presented by KPBS Radio in San Diego as a free audio-only production. Due to the ongoing pandemic, The Old Globe is unable to produce the San Diego favorite on its stage this year.

The video stars Cameron Amandus, Bryan Batt , John Bolton, Liz Callaway, Carolee Carmello, Taylor Crousore, Jackie Hoffman, Chris Anthony Giles, Jason Graae, Amy Hillner Larsen, Kristen Mengelkoch, Brad Oscar, Christine Pedi , David Hyde Pierce, Lance Roberts, and Chip Zien.

The Broadway Podcast Network will present an all-star Halloween party to benefit the Broadway Cares Covid-19 Emergency Assistance Fund on October 28th at 9p.m. EST. Tune into the Dracula, A Comedy of Terrors Broadway Halloween Party.

Today, October 26th, the first season of Broadway and Beyond TV series launches in major airports in NORTH AMERICA and the UK on ReachTV. Hosted by Tony and Olivier Award-winning producer, Catherine Schreiber, this new series of exclusive interviews gives an insider's look at the creation of Broadway shows and focuses on the importance of theatre.

Jason Alexander chats about his new film Faith Based, reveals the passionate reactions he received for his role in Pretty Woman and discusses his experience working with Stephen Sondheim in Merrily We Roll Along.

I am here with my first BWW Blog Post to share with you all the best theatrical/musical content available right at your fingertips! 

Broadway vet John Treacy Egan and Metropolitan Opera regular Jason Simon's popular children's book, 'Ingredients for a Witch', originally released in print in 2019, was released as an e-book on September 15th, 2020.

Nathan Motta, the Artistic Director of Cleveland's Dobama Theater states, 'Needless to say, the 20/21 season is going to look different. However, while the Dobama stage will be dark, there are many opportunities for extraordinary engagement. First, we will be collaborating with Resident Filmmaker Brian Devers and Endeavors Productions to create high-quality, filmed theatre performances that will reach a broad online audience. Second, we are leaning in to our mission of producing important new scripts through the commission and development of three world premiere plays. Finally, Dobama staff and artists will use this time of suspended in-person productions for expanded engagement with members, supporters, and the larger community through masterclasses, Q&As, happy hours, and more.'