Hottest Articles on BWW 8/21/2012 - 8/28/2012

1) Photo Coverage: Remembering Phyllis Diller

Comedian and Broadway veteran Phyllis Diller passed away on August 20th in her Los Angeles home. She was 95 years old. BroadwayWorld remembers Diller's long and exceptional career with the photo collection below. (more...)

2) FLASH SPECIAL: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Splashes Back

Slipping and sliding back into Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide for an encore engagement on August 22 in honor of its sixtieth anniversary, the iconic and legendary 1952 movie musical masterpiece SINGIN' IN THE RAIN makes its grand return to the silver screen in a brand new HD remastering that any movie musical fan, film fanatic or Broadway baby will definitely want to experience first hand - especially on the very night before Gene Kelly's 100th birthday. A special event presented by Turner Classic Movies - also featuring an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary hosted by Robert Osborne and spotlighting original film star Debbie Reynolds - this Wednesday's encore showing of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is one more enduring entry in a continuing series of classic releases shown in HD for the first time in Fathom-equipped movie theaters across the country - past highlighted films have included SCARFACE, WEST SIDE STORY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CASABLANCA and many more. So, in celebration of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN splashing its way back to the silver screen one more time, today we are going to take a look back at some of the most well-known and best-loved scenes from the film - boasting a star-studded cast led by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Conner and Debbie Reynolds; directed by Kelly and Stanley Donen, with songs by Nacio Herb Brown and movie musical magnate Arthur Freed - as well as partake in the many famous and infamous homages paying tribute to the rightly well-regarded movie musical gem over the years since its release. Gene Kelly to Gwyneth Paltrow to Kurt Browning to Usher; GLEE to THE MUPPET SHOW to FAMILY GUY; A CLOCKWORK ORANGE to FAME to SPAMALOT and far, far beyond; this retrospective look at one of the most important and influential - and just plain fun - American movie musicals ever produced certainly has it all; and then some! Ain't it great to stay up late (again)? (more...)

3) Photo Coverage: Taylor Trensch, Jason Hite and Elizabeth Judd to Lead BARE at New World Stages - Meet the Full Cast!

Award-winning producers Randy Taradash, Paul Boskind and Martian Entertainment, and Gregory Rae announced complete casting today for the original musical BARE. The company will feature Taylor Trensch (Peter), Jason Hite (Jason) and Elizabeth Judd (Ivy), with Gerard Canonico (Matt), Jerold E. Solomon (Father Mike), Barrett Wilbert Weed (Nadia) and Missi Pyle (Sister Joan). They will be joined by Casey Garvin (Zack), Ariana Groover (Vanessa), Sara Kapner (Madison), Nick Laughlin (Swing), Alice Lee (Diane), Megan Lewis (Swing), Justin Gregory Lopez (Beto), Michael Tacconi (Nick) and Alex Wyse (Alan). (more...)

4) BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: Constantine Maroulis & Deborah Cox Dish Together for the First Time on the JEKYLL & HYDE 'Revisal,' Returning to Broadway & More

In this edition, Richard chats with the Broadway-bound duo about starting the rehearsal process, doing 8 shows a week on the road, and so much more! Click below to watch the full interview. (more...)

5) STAGE TUBE: Behind the Scenes of A VERY POTTER SENIOR YEAR with Darren Criss and Team Starkid!

Team StarKid, the musical theater troupe and YouTube phenomenon, just debuted their highly anticipated sequel to the parody musicals A Very Potter Musical and A Very Potter Sequel at LeakyCon on August 11, 2012. Catch an inside look at the show with Broadway veteran Darren Criss, who plays Harry Potter himself, below! (more...)

6) Breaking News - JEKYLL & HYDE to Open on Broadway in April 2013 at the Richard Rodgers Theater!

According to the show's star, Constantine Maroulis, on Twitter, the Broadway theatre has now been revealed as the Richard Rodgers Theater (currently home to THE GERSHWIN'S PORGY & BESS) with an opening planned for April of 2013. (more...)

7) Photo Flash: Meet the Cast of Roundabout's THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD!

Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full cast this July for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block as Edwin Drood. Meet the whole cast in the video and bios below! (more...)

8) STAGE TUBE: New Trailer Released for Queen Latifah-Led STEEL MAGNOLIAS Film

A new trailer for Lifetime's all-African-American remake of STEEL MAGNOLIAS has just been released by the cable network. Golden Globe and Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Queen Latifah has signed on to star in and executive produce the television adaptation of the iconic play and 1989 film of the same name, reuniting her with her producing duo Craig Zadan and Neil Meron, from the Oscar and Golden Globe winning Chicago and Hairspray. (Zadan and Meron also produce Lifetime's Drop Dead Diva and Smash.) She will take on the role of ‘M'Lynn' and star alongside an all-star cast that includes Tony Award winner Phylicia Rashad as ‘Clairee,' Golden Globe and multiple Emmy winner Alfre Woodard as ‘Ouiser,' Grammy winner Jill Scott as ‘Truvy,' Adepero Oduye as ‘Annelle,' and Condola Rashad as ‘Shelby.' Get a first look at the upcoming film below! (more...)

9) STAGE TUBE: BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL Performs on 'America's Got Talent'

Last night's live results show of NBC's "America's Got Talent" featured the cast of Broadway's BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL performing the dynamic number, "Cross the Line." Check out the high-flying appearance below! (more...)

10) Alicia Silverstone to Join Cheyenne Jackson and Henry Winkler in THE PERFORMERS; Opening Set for 11/14

Producers Robyn Goodman, Scott M. Delman and Amanda Lipitz just announced that Alicia Silverstone is joining Cheyenne Jackson, Ari Graynor, Daniel Breaker, Jenni Barber and Henry Winkler in THE PERFORMERS, completing the cast of David West Read's new Broadway comedy. THE PERFORMERS will begin preview performances October 23 prior to its official opening night November 14 at the Longacre Theatre (220 W. 48 St.) in New York City. (more...)

11) Photo Flash: Saturday Intermission Pics, Aug 25 - Goodbye MAMMA MIA! and SISTER ACT, Hello CHAPLIN!

In the words of EVITA's Max von Essen, "Holy ?#SIP? it's Saturday!!!", and that means its time for BroadwayWorld's "Saturday Intermission Pics" round-up! Today's photos feature EVITA's Michael Cerveris and Ricky Martin with an Saints tribute, a hilarious parody of The Lord of the Rings from BOOK OF MORMON and some face-time with Jared Gertner on tour, BRING IT ON's muscular men's ensemble, the usual antics from NEWSIES, a NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT bridal shower, a first SIP for CHAPLIN (now in previews), farewell SIPs from MAMMA MIA!'s national tour, a first and last SIP from SISTER ACT, the swings of PORGY AND BESS, Goodspeed's CAROUSEL and much more! (more...)

12) Photo Flash: Inside the First Rehearsal for KINKY BOOTS with Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Mitchell and More!

Kinky Boots, the highly anticipated new musical that brings together four-time Tony® Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy® Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Music & Lyrics), will begin preview performances on Broadway at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) on Tuesday, March 5, 2013, with an official opening night set for Thursday, April 4, 2013. The cast and creative team just gathered for their first rehearsal, and you can check out photos from the big event below! (more...)

13) STAGE TUBE: Sierra Boggess in the Recording Studio for Rodgers & Hammerstein AT THE MOVIES!

Broadway veteran Sierra Boggess will be featured on the upcoming Rodgers & Hammerstein At The Movies CD, singing "I Have Confidence" from THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Watch the video below for footage of Boggess recording at the legendary Abbey Road Studios in London with John Wilson and The John Wilson Orchestra, plus interviews with the actress and other featured soloists from the album! (more...)

14) Review Roundup: BOOK OF MORMON National Tour

Let's see what the Denver critics had to say... (more...)

15) Breaking: 2004 Cast of Roundabout's ASSASSINS to Reunite for Dec. 3 Benefit Reading; Cerveris, O'Hare, Kudisch, Harris, Barbour, Cantone & More!

Reuniting for one night only are the stars of the 2004 Tony Award winning production: Becky Ann Baker (Sara Jane Moore), James Barbour (Leon Czolgosz), Mario Cantone (Samuel Byck), Michael Cerveris (John Wilkes Booth), Mary Catherine Garrison (Lynette "Squeaky" Fromme), Alexander Gemignani (John Hinckley), Neil Patrick Harris (Balladeer/Lee Harvey Oswald), Marc Kudisch (Proprietor), Jeffrey Kuhn (Giuseppe Zangara) and Denis O'Hare (Charles Guiteau). (more...)

16) 2012 Equity Jeff Award Nominations Announced

The Jeff Awards Committee announced 197 nominations in 34 categories for Chicago Equity theatrical productions, which opened between August 1, 2011, and July 31, 2012. The Jeff Awards judges attended opening nights of 118 Equity productions offered by 55 producing organizations. From these openings, 96 productions were "Jeff Recommended," which made them eligible for award nominations. (more...)

17) Photo Flash: THE BOOK OF MORMON Tour Launches in Denver - Gavin Creel, Jared Gertner and More in Performance!

The First National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON launched earlier this month in Denver, running through September 2 at The Ellie Caulkins Opera House. Original Broadway cast member Jared Gertner stars as Elder Cunningham, along with Gavin Creel as Elder Price. Samantha Marie Ware joins as Nabulungi, as well as Grey Henson as Elder McKinley and Kevin Mambo as Mafala Hatimbi. View photos below! (more...)

18) POLL: Which Upcoming Fall Broadway Musical Are You Most Excited For?

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - Which upcoming Broadway musical are you most looking forward to? (more...)

19) BOOK OF MORMON Offers More Seats Thru June 2 at Bank of America Theatre - Tickets on Sale 9/21

Broadway In Chicago and the producers of the new musical THE BOOK OF MORMON, winner of nine Tony Awards® including Best Musical, announced today the addition of more seats for THE BOOK OF MORMON at the Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe). Individual tickets for added weeks go on-sale Friday, Sep. 21, 2012 at 10 a.m., for performances through June 2, 2013. (more...)

20) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 8/21- LA CAGE AUX FOLLES

Today in 1983, La Cage Aux Folles opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 1761 performances. With a book by Harvey Fierstein and lyrics and music by Jerry Herman, it is based on the 1973 French play of the same name by Jean Poiret. The original 1983 Broadway production received nine nominations for Tony Awards and won six, including Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book. The success of the musical spawned a West End production and several international runs. The 2004 Broadway revival won the Tony Award for Best Revival, the 2008 London revival garnered the Laurence Olivier Award for Best Musical Revival. The 2010 Broadway revival was nominated for eleven Tony Awards, winning the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. La Cage aux Folles is the only musical which has won the Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical twice and the only show that has won a Best Production Tony Award (Best Musical or Best Revival of a Musical) for each of its Broadway productions. (more...)