On Your Toes

A major cast change in a long-running musical means it's time for a return visit! The latest Wicked cast took over on 24 July, and BroadwayWorld chatted to several of them after a recent performance (more...)

Due to an overwhelming demand, Berkeley Rep has announced that the world premiere musical of Ain't Too Proud-The Life and Times of The Temptations will extend for two additional weeks. Originally scheduled to close on October 8, the popular musical will now run through Sunday, October 22. (more...)

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater announces the complete company for The Pajama Game directed by Alan Paul in his Arena Stage debut, with music and lyrics by Richard Adler and Jerry Ross, and book by George Abbott and Richard Bissell. (more...)

Producers James L. Nederlander, Estefan Enterprises, Inc and Bernie Yuman have announced complete casting for the First National Tour of the Broadway musical ON YOUR FEET!, starring Cuban-American Broadway actress Christie Prades as seven-time GRAMMY-winning international superstar Gloria Estefan, and acclaimed stage and television actor Mauricio Martinez, playing her 19-time Grammy-winning producer and husband Emilio Estefan. (more...)

Marilyn D'Honau is not only the youngest surviving cast member of the original production of West Side Story, she was also the youngest when the show opened in 1957. D'Honau was a sixteen- year-old high school senior when she was cast as Clarice, one of the Jet girls. Though she'd been performing professionally since she was twelve, she credits having good ballet training for her successful audition. (more...)

The Schimmel Center presents American Dance Spectacular! on Saturday, October 21 at 7:30 p.m., exploring the history of American popular dance throughout the 20th century, including the Charleston, Lindy hop, jitterbug, twist, voguing, and more. The performance is directed, co-written and created by Daniel C. Levine (Broadway's Les Mis rables, Chicago, and Mamma Mia!) with choreography by Al Blackstone (Fox's So You Think You Can Dance), music direction by Bryan Perri (Broadway's Wicked and Next to Normal), and book by Susan Batten (Lifetime's Showing Roots) together with six Broadway dancers backed by three vocalists and a live band. (more...)

Melissa Errico is no stranger to Stephen Sondheim. She played Dot/Marie at The Kennedy Center in the first revival of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, Clara in PASSION in 2013 Off-Broadway, and, most recently, Leona in New York City Center's production of DO I HEAR A WALTZ?. Three shows and many performances later, Errico has become a major interpreter of the composer's work, daring but reverent, and hyper-focused on all of the minutiae and layers found per page of just one song. On June 3, she will bring her MELISSA ERRICO SINGS STEPHEN SONDHEIM to Feinstein's/54 Below for its New York debut, following raves from its original incarnation in Washington, D.C. In between rehearsals prior to the show, we discussed her subliminal start on Sondheim, the composer's 'warmth [and] ruthlessness,' and how his work may or may not be a religion. (more...)

The UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television (UCLA TFT) announced today the production of Carrie the Musical, directed by three-time Ovation Award-winning director Nick DeGruccio, with choreography by four-time Ovation Award winner Lee Martino. The musical is set to open Friday, June 2, 2017 at UCLA TFT's Little Theater, featuring acting students from the UCLA TFT Department of Theater's Ray Bolger Musical Theater Program, and caps off a highly successful 2016-17 Theater Season at UCLA TFT. (more...)

Dina Merrill Hartley (born Nedenia Marjorie Hutton; December 29, 1923-May 22, 2017) was an American actress, businesswoman and philanthropist.  She died peacefully at home surrounded by her family. (more...)

San Diego Musical Theatre (SDMT) announced today the complete cast and creative team for its upcoming production of Damn Yankees. (more...)

The last Comedy Night of Season Eight at Playhouse on Park is upon us! Tickets are now on sale for the show on Saturday, June 3. Hosted by Dave Sheehan, Comedy Night features two co-headliners, Pam Werts and Rob Steen. (more...)

Karson Cook said, 'We've had no challenges whatsoever, other than me trying not to break character every time one of my fellow cast members opens their mouth,' He said. (more...)

Critically acclaimed Broadway and cabaret star, Christine Andreas, returns to The Pheasantry with her show 'Here's to the Ladies', written in collaboration with composer Martin Silvestri. The show is a tribute to the great ladies of the theatre, as she interprets classics from Funny Girl, South Pacific, Showboat, The King and I, Mame and many more. With her thrilling voice and startling grasp of character, the golden age of musicals is brought back to vibrant life.  (more...)

Bay Area Cabaret presents two-time Tony Award-nominee Christine Andreas in Venetian Room debut performing her dazzling one-woman show, be-Mused. In a show that left the New York Times 'thunderstruck,' Christine takes songs that are already incendiary and makes them shine that much brighter. She celebrates some of the greatest collaborations spanning the last century: Arlen & Garland, Jobim & Gilberto, Van Heusen & Sinatra, the Bergmans & Streisand, Bacharach/David & Dionne Warwick, Monnot & Piaf and more. (more...)

Broadway mainstay Christine Andreas showcased her impeccable vocal abilities in her new show Cabaret show at The Colony in Palm Beach last night and BroadwayWorld was there. (more...)

The Muny announced today 21 principal cast members for its 99th season. Full company casting will be announced throughout April. The 2017 Muny season opens with Jesus Christ Superstar followed by Disney's The Little Mermaid and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. The season continues with the premiere of All Shook Up! and a newly re- envisioned The Unsinkable Molly Brown. Season 99 closes with A Chorus Line and the much- anticipated Muny debut of Newsies. (more...)

???????Joan Copeland and Diane J. Findlay headline The Ziegfeld Society of New York City's Thou Swell! Thou Witty!: The Songs of Rodgers & Hart, written and hosted by Aaron Gandy with musical direction and special arrangements by Mark York, at Lang Concert Hall at Hunter College (69th between Park and Lexington) on Saturday afternoon, March 25th, at 2pm.  (more...)

Drury Lane Theatre announces casting for its electrifying new production of Chicago, featuring a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. (more...)

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company's 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company's commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region. (more...)

Opera Saratoga's Artistic and General Director Lawrence Edelson announced today complete casting for the three exciting new productions that will comprise the company's 2017 Summer Festival, which will build on the company's commitment to producing masterpieces from the operatic cannon, important American works, and works in which dance plays an integral role. In addition, a wide variety of free and ticketed concert events will be presented from May 28th through July 16th at venues throughout the region. (more...)

Opera Saratoga presents a new production of Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, directed and choreographed by Lawrence Edelson, and conducted by noted Maestro John Mauceri (company debut), who has been responsible for many significant operatic restorations, including Blitzstein's Regina. (more...)

Dana Moore, having appeared in twelve Broadway musicals, is the true embodiment of a 'Broadway Gypsy.' She's worked with some of Broadway's most influential choreographers including Michael Bennett, Bob Fosse, Tommy Tune, Twyla Tharp, and Graciela Daniele. Dana currently teaches musical theater dance in New York City at Marymount Manhattan College and Steps on Broadway. (more...)

GOOD MORNING, LAGUNA BEACH!  Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce the first show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 98th season with the effervescent musical, HAIRSPRAY, book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, musical direction by Michael Ferrara and directed and choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan. "We are opening our season with just the perfect show for a Laguna Beach Summer," comments Laguna Playhouse Executive Director Ellen Richard.  Adds Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham "We welcome Paula Hammons Sloan and the "nicest kids in town" back to our stage for this nostalgic musical confection. Talent abounds on our stage this Summer!"  HAIRSPRAY will begin previews on Wednesday, July 5; will open on Sunday, July 9 at 5:30pm and will run through Sunday, July 30, 2017 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. (more...)

Alison Luff talks about beach towns and Buffett songs. She is currently performing in ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE at the La Jolla Playhouse through July 9th. (more...)

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on June 12 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

"The Bridges of Madison County" captured the nation's attention in 1992 as a best-selling novel, then again in 1995 as a major motion picture.  It is a compelling, two-time Tony Award-winning musical now on stage at Peninsula Players through August 13.  "The Bridges of Madison County" is the touching story of Francesca, a lovely Italian woman who married an American soldier to flee war-ravaged Italy. She is looking forward to a rare four days alone on her Iowa farm as her family heads to the 1965 Indiana State Fair when ruggedly handsome, National Geographic photographer Robert Kincaid pulls into her driveway seeking directions. What happens in those next four days may very well alter the course of Francesca's life. (more...)

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on July 25 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to announce that the first show in the Laguna Playhouse 2017-2018 and 97th season, their smash-hit, critically-acclaimed musical, HAIRSPRAY, book by Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell, music by Marc Shaiman, lyrics by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, musical direction by Michael Ferrara, directed and choreographed by Paula Hammons Sloan is EXTENDING through SATURDAY, AUGUST 5th at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach. (more...)

Berkeley Repertory Theatre today announced the full casting and creative team for the world premiere of AIN'T TOO PROUD-THE TEMPTATIONS MUSICAL. The musical stage production will be directed by Tony Award winner Des McAnuff. Berkeley Rep presents the show by special arrangement with Ira Pittelman and Tom Hulce (American Idiot, Spring Awakening). (more...)

Four dynamic, award-winning Broadway musical stars -- Andrea McArdle (Broadway's original 'Annie'), Maureen McGovern (#1 Gold record 'The Morning After'), Christine Andreas (Oklahoma!, On Your Toes) and Faith Prince (Tony winner Guys & Dolls) -- come together in concert for an evening of song, laughter and memories in 4 Girls 4, coming to Mayo Performing Arts Center today, January 14, 2017 at 8 pm. (more...)

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Musical Theatre Lab will present further staged readings of Gotta Getta Girl, a 1930s musical romp with book and lyrics by Peter Charles Morris and music by David Caldwell. (more...)

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on January 1 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

Audiences have a final chance to 'Seize the Day!' - tickets are now available for Disney's Newsies: The Broadway Musical!, playing in U.S. movie theaters for three days only on Thursday, February 16 at 7:00 p.m., Saturday February 18 at 12:55 p.m. and Wednesday, February 22 at 7:00 p.m. (all local times). Captured live at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre earlier this year, the event reunites original cast members Jeremy Jordan, Kara Lindsay, Ben Fankhauser, Andrew Keenan-Bolger. Below, Keenan-Bolger joins BroadwayWorld as a guest author to explain why this second chance at Crutchie was so important to him... (more...)

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced new casting for the national tour of Sam Mendes (Spectre, American Beauty) and Rob Marshall's (Into the Woods and Chicago, the films) Tony Award-winning production of CABARET. (more...)

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on February 5 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

Four dynamic, award-winning Broadway musical stars -- Andrea McArdle (Broadway's original 'Annie'), Maureen McGovern (#1 Gold record 'The Morning After'), Christine Andreas (Oklahoma!, On Your Toes) and Faith Prince (Tony winner Guys & Dolls) -- come together in concert for an evening of song, laughter and memories in 4 Girls 4, coming to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 8 pm. (more...)

BroadwayWorld.com is sad to report the death of actor George S. Irving at 94 years old.  (more...)

Scroll down for Mayo Performing Arts Center's just-announced lineup for January through March! (more...)

Epic Theatre Company's second pop-up show has arrived! The next show is this Today, December 16th at 8pm at Theater 82 in Cranston. (more...)

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Musical Theatre Lab will present further staged readings of Gotta Getta Girl, a 1930s musical romp with book and lyrics by Peter Charles Morris and music by David Caldwell. (more...)

Katie Davis, a recent graduate from Belmont University's Musical Theatre program, is portraying the featured ensemble member 'Star To Be', a young and optimistic actress who just moved to the dazzling 'NYC'. Davis has been noted as being a 'standout' ensemble member from the Chicago Theatre Review. I was lucky enough to sit down and check in with Katie on how her experience being on the Annie National Tour is going. (more...)

See what's going on in January at the Verge Theater! (more...)

Epic Theatre Company's second pop-up show has arrived! The next show is this Friday, December 16th at 8pm at Theater 82 in Cranston. (more...)

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on August 7 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with Broadway alum Ilana Levine, who makes her entrance onto the podcast stage with her new show Little Known Facts. Ilana's unique brand of celebrity interview, 'Podcast Verite,' is unfiltered, raw, honest and uniquely funny. (more...)

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on August 14 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

BARBECUE is a play about which one cannot say too much without ruining its considerable effect. Here's the minimalist FYI, things you need to know but that won't give anything away. It is written by Robert O'Hara, directed by Summer L. Williams, and features an ensemble cast of ten actors who all give great performances and disappear into their richly drawn characters. Taking place on a raised pavilion in a pastoral park, the lovely setting belies the serious nature of the subjects (substance abuse, family dysfunction, race) that BARBECUE serves up on a platter. And one more thing - it's a comedy. (more...)

Those wacky denizens of Lowake, Texas - members of the Turnover clan - return to the stage tonight in search of their daddy's last will and testament in The Larry Keeton Theatre's production of Del Shore's chicken-fried comedy Daddy's Dyin'…Who's Got the Will? Running through May 6, the raucous, downhome comedy features a cast of Nashville favorites including Tonya Pewitt, Memory Strong-Smith, Natalie Royal Herb, Jonathan Hunter, Benny Jones, Linda Speir, Drew Dunlop and Natalie Lewis. (more...)

From the moment the strains of Verdi's La Traviata were heard in the wings and Edward Gero as Supreme Court Justice Antonin Scalia entered through a part in the curtain pretending to conduct the orchestra in a joyously bemused state, I sensed we were in for a treat. How right I was! In and around the courtroom ... a perfect place for passion and theatrics, this is John Strand's The Originalist, a somewhat factual play set in Washington from 2012-13. The piece boasts intelligent writing, and a grande performance from Gero as Scalia, as well as great work from Jade Wheeler and Brett Mack, all of whom leave an indelible mark by making us think. You actually leave the theatre refreshed ... and somewhat hopeful about the future of our political system. (more...)

Acclaimed Karen Carpenter sound-alike and look-alike Sally Olson will appear in concert on Saturday, April 29 at 9:30 pm at the famed Triad Theatre on Manhattan's Upper West Side. The show will include signature covers and hits by the Carpenters, such as 'We've Only Just Begun,' '(They Long To Be) Close To You,' 'Rainy Days and Mondays,' 'Superstar,' and more. (more...)