Hottest Articles on BWW from Friday, Jan. 25

1) SOUND OFF: GLEE's Role-Reversing Return

Last night, GLEE made its big Winter return on FOX with Episode 11 of Season Four, titled "Sadie Hawkins" and a virtually (and sonically) dizzyingly plot-packed and music-bedecked episode written by Ross Maxwell and directed by Bradley Buecker. New characters were introduced, romances were born and furthered and a lot of songs were sung - all in all, a GLEE just right for the midway point of the year. (more...)

2) Photo Coverage: SMASH Billboard Towers Over Times Square

SMASH makes its long-awaited return to the NBC lineup for a second season on Tuesday, February 5 (9-10 p.m. ET) and will continue in its regular time slot on Tuesday, February 12 (10-11 p.m. ET). Season two will feature a slew of new talent, including Jennifer Hudson, Jeremy Jordan, Andy Mientus, Krysta Rodriguez, Sean Hayes, Jesse L. Martin, Liza Minnelli, Bernadette Peters, Nikki Blonski, and more. Check out the SMASH billboard that just went up on 42nd Street below! (more...)

3) Breaking News: Oscars to Pay Tribute to CHICAGO, DREAMGIRLS & LES MISERABLES on Broadcast!

"The musical as a motion picture genre has had a remarkable renaissance in the last decade," said producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. "We are excited to showcase three musical films -- 'Chicago,' ‘Dreamgirls' and ‘Les Miserables' -- on our Oscar show." (more...)

4) BWW TV Exclusive: Mitchell Jarvis & ROCK OF AGES Cast Tribute Film Classics in A ROCKWORK ORANGE

After completing 23 episodes of the backstage web-series known as 'Rock of Ages Productions', Mitchell Jarvis has completed the final work in the series, 'A Rockwork Orange'. This dark and zany parody of 5 of Jarvis' favorite films, is shot exclusively at intermissions of actual Broadway performances of 'Rock of Ages'. From their tiny dressing rooms tucked away in the bowls of the Helen Hays Theatre, the entire cast is represented in this tiny epic. Check it out below! (more...)

5) Arielle Jacobs, Perry Young to Lead IN THE HEIGHTS at Westchester Broadway Theatre- Full Cast Announced!

Opening on February 7th at the Westchester Broadway Theatre in Elmsford, the 2008 Tony Award winning musical In the Heights takes a local stage for the first time. Directed by Westchester's own John Fanelli and presented by his Standing Ovation Studios, the production features a blend of talent and crew from Broadway and the national tour with regional performers. (more...)

6) STAGE TUBE: Video Tribute to CINDERELLA's Laura Osnes!

The celebrated musical RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella, originally written for television in 1957 by the legendary musical theatre duo Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II, will begin performances on Broadway tonight, January 25 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street). To celebrate the show's first night of performances, BroadwayWorld tributes the fabulous leading lady with a compilation of our favorite Laura Osnes performances. Check them out below! (more...)

7) STAGE TUBE: Joe Cassidy, Kendra Kassebaum, Andrea Ross and More in ATC/San Jose Rep's NEXT TO NORMAL - Highlights!

A Co-Production between Arizona Theatre Company and San Jose Repertory Theatre, Next to Normal is opening tomorrow, January 10, in San Jose, CA. The show features the talents of Joe Cassidy, Kendra Kassebaum, Mark Farrell, A.J. Holmes, Andrea Ross, and Jonathan Shew. BroadwayWorld has highlights of the show below. (more...)

8) Bill Pullman to Join Cast of The Other Place as 'Ian', 2/5

Manhattan Theatre Club announced that Bill Pullman ("1600 Penn;" The Goat, or Who Is Sylvia?) will join the cast of The Other Place starting Tuesday, February 5 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). Pullman will assume the role of Ian. (more...)

9) Review: HAPPY FACE SAD FACE Makes Clever and Thought-Provoking Premiere at Elephant Stages' Lillian Theatre

Life -- is it a comedy or a drama? The answer is 'Yes!' in HAPPY FACE SAD FACE. The brilliantly simple concept is played out in two acts with the first being a drama and the second a comedy. The hook is, they are the same story but told from polar opposite perspectives. (more...)

10) R+H's CINDERELLA Begins Previews on Broadway Tonight!

R+H's CINDERELLA begins previews, tonight, January 25, at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd Street). (more...)

11) POLL: What is Your Favorite Song from THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA?

New BroadwayWorld.com Poll - What is your favorite Phantom Song? (more...)

12) VIDEO: IDOL Contestant BurNell Taylor Sings Stirring Rendition of 'I'm Here' from 'The Color Purple'

Mariah Carey was brought to tears last night when AMERICAN IDOL hopeful BurNell Taylor sang a stirring rendition of 'I'm Here,' from Broadway's The Color Purple. Burnell was the final contestant on last night's auditions from Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Check out his performance below! (more...)

13) BroadwayGirlNYC: One Night Stand (the film)

Have you heard of the 24 Hour Plays? It's a simple concept that is ridiculously complex to pull off. Every year, a big group of actors, playwrights, and directors volunteer a single day -- 24 full hours -- in which they create a night full of original theatre. It started in 1995 as a group of young theatre-makers who set out toput on a show where, as founder Tina Fallon explains, 'opening night and closing night could be at the same time, so our friends would actually show up'. (more...)

14) Review: Sophie B. Hawkins Becomes Janis Joplin in ROOM 105 at Macha Theatre

I am not really sure where to begin with my praise for Sophie B. Hawkins after seeing her commanding performance as Janis Joplin in Gig Gaston's new musical 'Room 105 - The Highs and Lows' which ended its 4-month run tonight at the Macha Theatre in West Hollywood. I will start by saying that Hawkins is not playing Janis Joplin - she IS Janis from the moment she literally crawls onto the stage and belts out her first number. (more...)

15) THE HEIRESS Moves Final Performance to 2/9

The producers of the new Broadway revival of THE HEIRESS have announced that the production will now play its final performance on Saturday, February 9 at 7:00 p.m. (note the new early curtain time). The previously scheduled Sunday, February 10 closing performance has been cancelled to enable Jessica Chastain, who plays the title character, to attend the BAFTA Awards (the British equivalent to the Academy Awards) where she is nominated for Best Actress on Sunday, February 10th in London. Ms. Chastain is nominated for an Academy Award and has already received Golden Globe and Critics Choice Awards for her performance in the film Zero Dark Thirty. THE HEIRESS is currently playing at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W. 48th St. NYC). (more...)

16) STAGE TUBE: First Look at Highlights of NOW AND FOREVER: THE MUSIC OF Andrew Lloyd Webber

The Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive in Lincolnshire, presents an all-star cast in the World Premiere of NOW AND FOREVER: The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber, featuring the legendary composer's greatest musical treasures. The production, which launches the 2013 season, opened January 23 and runs through March 17. BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights from the show below. (more...)

17) GLEE-PEAT: Miss 'Sadie Hawkins Dance'? Watch All the Performances Here!

On last night's episode of GLEE, The girls of the glee club organized a Sadie Hawkins dance at McKinley High, in which the girls asked out their dates, leading to interesting couplings among the members of New Directions. Meanwhile, Sam was convinced that the Warblers cheated at Sectionals, and he made it his mission to find the evidence. Also, Kurt attempted to find his niche at NYADA. Miss the episode? Catch up on all the performances below! (more...)

18) STAGE TUBE: Stars of Virginia Stage's Broadway-Bound FROG KISS Perform on WGNT

FROG KISS stars Stephanie Rothenberg, who plays Princess Clementine, and Curtis Holbrooke, who plays the frog, were in the WGNT studio recently to perform selections 'live' from the musical, now running in a pre-Broadway production at Virginia Stage Company. Watch below! (more...)

19) STAGE TUBE: Stars of MAMMA MIA! Perform on IMUS IN THE MORNING

The Broadway stars of Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' smash hit musical Mamma Mia!, 'Dynamos' Judy McLane, Lauren Cohn and Felicia Finley, performed the ABBA hits 'Dancing Queen' and 'The Winner Takes It All' live yesterday morning, January 24 on 'Imus in the Morning' on both television and radio nationwide. Click below to watch the performances! (more...)

20) 2012 BWW NYC Dance Awards - Last Chance to Nominate Your Favorites!

After the successful launch of BroadwayWorld Regional Awards in 2010, we have expanded, updated, and are ready for this year's awards! (more...)