Those Were the Days

The Broadway production of Ragtime was a glorious accomplishment, a riveting testament to the original American musical and to all that America itself could be. The show ran for 834 performances at the Ford Center, closing in the final year of the 20th century. It was nominated for 13 Tony Awards, taking home four.

The idea of the concept album took flight at the same time as the idea of the rock musical. A concept album introduces audiences to the score of a musical by deliberately releasing an album of the songs before any live production exists at all. The concept album ostensibly stands on its own terms.

It's one of those dream shows, you know? From the second that I first encountered it, I saw myself in it, and it became an aspiration to be in that show, to tell that story. It's always had this pull to it.

The collection documents songs that made it into Sondheim’s musicals, and it also documents cut or unused songs that were edited out of shows before they opened. Rarest of all, it documents songs that were never finished. These are not the rarities that made it into Marry Me a Little or a Sondheim compilation album. Rather, they are sketches of songs that provide a window into Sondheim’s process while creating a score and show him developing characters and determining the details of what are now iconic musicals.

BroadwayWorld is here with your fall 2025 guide to all the shows lighting up New York’s stages. From world premieres to long-awaited revivals, this season’s Off-Broadway lineup delivers something for every kind of theater fan!

Multiple lost Broadway theaters intersect with the Hammerstein family. This follows since Oscar Hammerstein I was a theater owner and builder. In addition to Hammerstein’s which was named after him and is now the Ed Sullivan, and the New Victory which he originally built, there is also the Hammerstein Ballroom. Read more here!

BroadwayWorld and Immortal Icons of Dance invited alumni who’ve been part of A Chorus Line’s history to share personal reflections about how the show shaped their lives and careers. Here we highlight ten of those voices whose intimate stories form a portrait of what this show has meant to those fortunate enough to be a part of it.

Brian Wilson, musical genius and founder of the Beach Boys, died today (Wednesday, June 11, 2025), so in honor of him, here is an article of the 40 greatest Beach Boys songs that I wrote for Broadway World two years ago.  Love & Mercy, Brian!

Next month, 54 BELOW will present some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond, including Tracie Thoms, Jenn Colella and more. See the full lineup here!

BroadwayWorld recently caught up with Richard Green, director of a new documentary about stage and screen star Catherine Coulson. In the interview, Green talked about capturing Coulson's legacy in the film, her love of the stage, and working with the late David Lynch.

I'll tell you why I decided to do it; then I'll tell you about the toughness, but I read this about 1999, and just loved it. It made the hairs on my arms stand up, especially visualizing the very last scene with the entire cast swaying back and forth, and giving the illusion of them not swaying. You're not sure if they are or not.

Previews are now underway for The Jonathan Larson Project and fans who have checked out the new musical already have intel on the more than 20 undiscovered songs, as audiences are treated to a brief breakdown as they leave the Orpheum Theatre. BroadwayWorld is excited to share an exclusive, in-depth version of the story behind each song, courtesy of the show's conceiver, Jennifer Ashley Tepper.

Gretna Theatre and Imaginary Friends puppet theatre will present a new musical to life that looks at the effects of bullying from the victim's perspective and how being bullied can get passed on to those you care about.

For 24 years, the Anchorage Symphony Orchestra has found the cure for those cold, dark January days – Silent Film Night. Learn more about Bugs Bunny at the Symphony here!

A wonderful singer, wonderful Jimmy Van Heusen melodies, and Jon Weber as M.D.: An ideal combination. What can I say about Marissa Mulder's June 2 performance of SWINGIN' ON A STAR at the Cutting Room? In a word, bravo.

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.

“People know me as this light, fun person. They have a hard time seeing me play a character like that because it’s so different from (who I am).” Deon Releford-Lee

The Suwannee Roots Revival has announced its initial lineup for 2024, which includes Old Crow Medicine Show, Yonder Mountain String Band, Donna the Buffalo (4 days), and more. The 8th Suwannee Roots Revival takes place Thursday, October 10 - Sunday, October 13 at the renowned Spirit of the Suwannee Music Park (SOSMP) in Live Oak, Florida. More artists to be announced soon!

Guthrie Theater will present a rotating repertory of Shakespeare's History Plays. Dive into the rich tapestry of historical dramas on stage.

Ann Richards was probably the luckiest politician in Texas history. The incumbent State Treasurer (not exactly a high-profile partisan office) in 1990, she was the Democrats choice to run for Governor.

Of all the films on IMDB's list of the 1000 highest-grossing movies of all time, 31 have been adapted into Broadway musicals. Check out a guide to each those musicals below, along with musicals that are in development or ones that have not yet made their way to Broadway.

A long-time collaborator with Charles Nelson Reilly, Paul Linke has co-written It’s Only a Show!, performing as the popular comedian in his one-man tribute to Charles Nelson Reilly. This solo show directed by Edward Edwards opens January 13, 2024 at the Ruskin Group Theatre, 5pm curtain, in tandem with John Colella’s An Extraordinary Ordinary Man at 8pm. Paul managed to find some time before starting tech to answer a few of my queries.

Find out what's headed to auction with “JULIEN'S AUCTIONS AND TCM PRESENT: HOLLYWOOD LEGENDS” taking place Thursday, December 14th, Friday, December 15th, Saturday, December 16th and Sunday, December 17th in Beverly Hills and online here!

Matt Chait’s A Family Business world premieres November 17, 2023, at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre (with previews November 15th and 16th). Brian Shnipper directs the cast of Eric Stanton Betts, Alli Brown, Michelle Jasso, Lindsay G. Merrithew, Bruce Nozick and Julie Pearl. I had the chance to throw out a few questions to Matt, the playwright and man integral to Los Angeles Theatre history.

The Perelman Performing Arts Center will present Is It Thursday Yet?, The March, and Motion/Matter: Street Dance Festival at the new performing arts center at the World Trade Center site in Lower Manhattan.