Hottest Articles on BWW 2/12/2013 - 2/19/2013

1) Broadway's Kevin Gray Dies at 55; Starred in PHANTOM, THE LION KING, SHOWBOAT, SPIDER WOMAN & More

BroadwayWorld.com has just learned the sad news that Kevin Gray, who most recently was seen in New York at the 25th Anniversary Gala for The Phantom of the Opera, passed away suddenly of a heart attack last night at the young age of 55. Gray leaves behind his wife, Dodie Pettit, who he met while starring in Broadway's Phantom. (more...)

2) Julian Fellowes Says DOWNTON ABBEY S4 Picks Up 6 Months Later

DOWNTON ABBEY creator and forthcoming ROMEO & JULIET film screenwriter Julian Fellowes has revealed much in a new interview with the New York Times - perhaps most importantly that the many of the events of 'A Journey To Highclere', the Season 3 finale episode that aired stateside last night, were dictated by the neccessities of the departing cast. (more...)

3) BWW Interview: Ramin Karimloo on His Toronto Homecoming in LES MISERABLES in Fall of 2013

Ramin Karimloo was first bitten by the theatre bug upon seeing Colm Wilkinson in the original production of The Phantom of the Opera in Toronto in the late 80s. Since then he has gone on to play the title role in both The Phantom and Love Never Dies in London's West End, and now will come home to Toronto for the first time in the Mirvish Production of LES MISERABLES which was just announced for their 2013-2014 season. BWW spoke with Ramin about how he feels about coming home, the pressures of the role of Jean Valjean, Sheytoons, protecting his voice and more. (more...)

4) BWW Review & Photo Coverage: Kristin Chenoweth Hits a BULLSEYE for AMERICAN SONGBOOK Series

Forget 'defying gravity' … Kristin Chenoweth defies everything, including the laws of nature, in a brand new show conceived specially for Lincoln Center Presents THE AMERICAN SONGBOOK. (more...)

5) VIDEO: 60 MINUTES Spotlights 'Downton Abbey's Maggie Smith

Every bit as cantankerous as her character on 'Downton Abbey,' Dame Maggie Smith gave a rare and 'spiky' interview to CBS's 60 Minutes. Check out clips from last night's feature below! (more...)

6) BREAKING: Samantha Barks Confirmed to Perform at The Oscars

According to The Daily Mail, Samantha Barks will officially be performing at the 85th Annual Academy Awards. Though it's expected that the entire cast of Tom Hooper's adaptation of LES MISERABLES will be joining Barks on stage, no others have come out and confirmed that they will appear. (more...)

7) Photo Flash: First Look at RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA on Broadway!

It's Valentine's Day, so a perfect time to get a first look at production photos from the new production of the Rodgers + Hammerstein romantic musical CINDERELLA! (more...)

8) Anna Kendrick to Star in Film Adaptation of Off-Broadway Musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS

In a recent interview with Collider.com, 'Beautiful Creatures' director Richard LaGravenese revealed that he is currently working on an indie film adaptation of the off-Broadway musical THE LAST FIVE YEARS. The show appeared off-Broadway in 2002 and will be revived at New York's Second Stage Theatre this April. (more...)

9) BWW TV Flashback: Kevin Gray's Last Interview at PHANTOM's 25th Anniversary Gala

Here, just two weeks ago Gray and his wife talked to BroadwayWorld's Richie Ridge at the Phantom Gala, looking back at their time in the show. Our condolences go out to all who loved, worked with and learned from this lovely man. (more...)

10) VIDEO: Jennifer Hudson Sings 'Home' from 'The Wiz' on SMASH

Below, check out a clip of Jennifer Hudson belting out the show stopping number 'Home' from Broadway's 'The Wiz' on an upcoming episode of SMASH. On this season of the NBC musical drama, the Academy Award winning actress portrays Veronica Moore, a Tony Award-winning Broadway star. (more...)

11) Photo Flash: SIPS, Feb 16 - NEWSIES Photobomb Extravaganza & More!

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up. Today's photos feature a slew of photo bombs (Homeland, Django Unchained, The Heiress, Jurassic Park, Downton Abbey and more!) using NEWSIES' new 'Photo Booth' app, THE BOOK OF MORMON's intermission snack, a water break for the ladies of NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, a 'sensible boob shot' from the stars of ROCK OF AGES, a goodbye to Aaron Carter at THE FANTASTICKS off-Broadway, and photos from the West End's TOP HAT, plus SPIDER-MAN, MARY POPPINS, JERSEY BOYS, BUNNICULA, FANCY NANCY, FLASHDANCE, WEST SIDE STORY and many more! (more...)

12) BWW Interviews: BUNHEADS' Sutton Foster Talks Co-Star Hunter, Ukuleles & Upcoming 'Broadway Audition'

Sutton Foster spoke exclusively to BWW about working with real-life brother Hunter, what's ahead for her character and why there's 'a lot of Broadway love' going on the set of the show! (more...)

13) BWW's 2013 Valentine's Day Spectacular! 750+ Stars Tell Us 'What is the Most Romantic Broadway Love Song Ever?'

From Kristin Chenoweth to Deborah Cox to Idina Menzel to Barbra Streisand to Michael Crawford to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Patti LuPone, Raul Esparza, Alan Menken, Lea Salonga, Bernadette Peters, Laura Osnes, Victoria Clark, GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2013 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever! (more...)

14) Photo Coverage: Westminster Dog Show Winner Banana Joe Makes Broadway Debut in THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD!

Westminster Kennel Club Dog Show 'Best in Show' winner Banana Joe made his Broadway debut last night in Roundabout Theatre Company's critically acclaimed new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The first affenpinscher to win Best in Show, Banana Joe performed the role of 'Macaco,' usually played by Macaco, a 5-year old, 3 ½ lb Maltese/Yorkie mix, who generously agreed to take the night off to offer this once in a lifetime experience to Banana Joe. (more...)

15) BWW TV: On the Scene with Megan Hilty, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman at BOMBSHELL Signing!

NBC and Columbia Records just released the soundtrack for Bombshell, the musical within NBC's Golden Globe-nominated series television hit 'SMASH' (Tuesdays, 10-11pm ET), on February 12. In celebration of the release, Tony and Grammy-award winning music creators Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman and show star Megan Hilty participated in a meet-and-greet album signing at the NBC Experience Store in Rockefeller Plaza earlier this week. BroadwayWorld's Randy Rainbow was on the scene to chat with Shaiman, Wittman and Hilty about the release, and you can check out what they had to say below! (more...)

16) Photo Coverage: Willemijn Verkaik Takes First Bow as WICKED's 'Elphaba'

Dutch star musical theatre star Willemijn Verkaik joined the cast of Broadway's Wicked last night as 'Elphaba' at the Gershwin Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for her first curtain call and you can check out full photo coverage below! (more...)

17) Bill Clinton to Present Barbra Streisand with Chaplin Award on 4/22

The Film Society of Lincoln Center announced today that President Bill Clinton will present the 40th Chaplin Award to Academy Award-winner Barbra Streisand, the first American woman artist to receive credit as writer, director, producer and star of a major feature film (YENTL), during a Gala Ceremony held at Lincoln Center on the evening of Monday, April 22, 2013. (more...)

18) Review Roundup: DEAR WORLD with Betty Buckley and Paul Nicholas

The British premiere of Jerry Herman's musical Dear World, starring Betty Buckley and Paul Nicholas and directed and choreographed by Gillian Lynne, opened 13 February and runs through 30 March 2013. (more...)

19) BWW TV: Chatting with the RAGTIME Concert Cast- Norm Lewis, Kerry Butler, Matt Cavenaugh, Patina Miller & More!

Manhattan Concert Productions will present a special concert performance of Ragtime at Avery Fisher Hall on Monday, February 18, 2013. The cast will include: Michael Arden as Younger Brother, Phillip Boykin as Booker T. Washington, Kerry Butler as Evelyn Nesbit, Matt Cavenaugh as Henry Ford, Tyne Daly as Emma Goldman, Jarrod Emick as Willie Conklin, Manoel Felciano as Tateh, Dick Latessa as Grandfather, Norm Lewis as Coalhouse Walker Jr., Jose Llana as Harry Houdini, Michael McCormick as J.P. Morgan, Howard McGillin as Father, Patina Miller as Sarah, Lea Salonga as Mother Lilla Crawford as The Little Girl and Lewis Grosso as The Little Boy and NaTasha Yvette Williams as Sarah's Friend. The full cast met the press just yesterday and you can check out what they had to say about the special concert below! (more...)

20) LES MISERABLES Deluxe Soundtrack Set For 3/18 Release

A more complete recording of the score as represented in the hit film adaptation of the international stage sensation LES MISERABLES will be released on March 18 according to a new listing on Amazon UK. (more...)