Hottest Articles on BWW from Saturday, Dec. 29

1) LES MISERABLES Film Soundtrack Expected to Hit Top 10 on Billboard 200 Chart by Next Week

According to Billboard.com, 'Les Miserables: Highlights From the Motion Picture Soundtrack' is zooming up the charts and on track to hit the Top 10 on the Billboard 200 chart by next week. The album is estimated to reach 100,000 copies sold by December 30. (more...)

2) What's Playing on Broadway New Year's Week 2012-'13

What better way to celebrate the New Year than with a Broadway show? Before heading out, plan ahead and take note of the special holiday playing schedule for the week of December 31 thru January 6. Some shows will be dark on Monday, New Year's Eve, while others will take New Year's Day off. (more...)

3) FLASH SPECIAL: Will LES MISERABLES Lead To MISS SAIGON Onscreen For Mackintosh In 2013? The Heat Is On!

With the resounding success of the page-to-stage-to-screen adaptation of LES MISERABLES in movie theaters this week - having already grossed more than $100 million since its Christmas Day debut, the biggest ever opening in movie musical history - the eyes of many entertainment enthusiasts are on mega-producer Cameron Mackintosh for what he will do next as a follow-up, as the box office receipts begin to pile up. More than a merely spurious notion, his next project seems to be set in stone should LES MIZ journey on to mega-hit movie musical status (and it very well might) - according to Mackintosh in a recent promotional interview, if the film version of LES MIZ actually breaks the half-billion mark he will indeed proceed to produce a film adaptation of another Boublil/Schonberg hit mega-musical from the 1980s that he originally presented to the world - the Vietnam-set, MADAME BUTTERFLY-inspired MISS SAIGON. While the film adaptation of LES MISERABLES virtually has set a new standard insofar as the realism and grittiness achievable in a modern movie musical - coming particularly as a result of the entirely live, onset singing; as well as the extended, extreme POV shots and overall minimal artifice - MISS SAIGON touches upon much more recent history and thus explores themes and topics much closer to home for many of us, to say nothing of the story, which largely concerns an American GI and his doomed romance with a bar girl in the last days of Saigon before it falls and Ho Chi Minh City rises. Then, there is the seedy and slimy Engineer who sets the wheels in motion and greases up the cogs of the dramatic motor on more than one occasion - and stops the show for a knock-out fantasy sequence before the final denouement, too. The casting possibilities for the four central male roles - The Engineer, Chris, John (his friend) and Thuy (Kim's cousin) - provide unique and compelling roles for the more capable singing actors amongst the vastly talented flock on Broadway and Hollywood who could potentially more than fill the fatigues and fill out the leisure suits or uniforms necessary for those roles, but what about the titular leading lady? Well, Mackintosh apparently has already got that covered - as BroadwayWorld reported, as a matter of fact - since auditions have apparently already begun in one form or another, with preliminary auditions being held for the role of Kim in Manila, Philippines, just a few weeks ago, though that was reportedly exclusively for a future theatrical mounting (a 2014 West End revival, perhaps?). Thanks to the boffo box office of LES MIZ, MISS SAIGON could very well arrive just in time for Christmas 2013 if all goes well, so now is just as good a time to speculate on the logistics as any until we know more. The heat is on! (more...)

4) LES MISERABLES Character Card: COSETTE

The highly-anticipated film version of LES MISERABLES is now in theaters! To celebrate the release, BroadwayWorld brings you an in-depth look at the characters and the actors who portray them. Today, it's all about Cosette (Amanda Seyfried)! (more...)

5) Photo Flash: Saturday Intermission Pics, Dec 29 - New Year's Edition - NEWSIES Ushers in 2013 and More!

It's Saturday, and that means it's time for BroadwayWorld's 'Saturday Intermission Pics' round-up! Today's photos feature the cast of NEWSIES ringing in the New Year, CHAPLIN channeling LES MISERABLES, last #SIPs from BRING IT ON and A CHRISTMAS STORY, plus shots from THE BOOK OF MORMON, JERSEY BOYS, SPIDER-MAN, EVITA, NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, WEST SIDE STORY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC at Paper Mill Playhouse, ELF, THE WIZARD OF OZ in previews in Toronto, and more! (more...)

6) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 12/29 - Jude Law

Happy Birthday, Jude Law! In 1995, Law starred in The National Theatre transfer of Broadway's Indiscretions at the Barrymore Theater. In May 2009, Law returned to the London stage to portray the title role in Shakespeare's Hamlet at the Donmar Warehouse West End season at Wyndham's Theatre. In September 2009 the production transferred to the Broadhurst Theatre in New York. (more...)

7) BWW's On This Day - December 29, 2012

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on December 29 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

8) Photo Coverage: Jamie deRoy & Friends at the Metropolitan Room

Cabaret performer Jamie deRoy hosted an evening of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie deRoy & friends, on Friday, December 28th (7PM) at Manhattan's cabaret hot-spot Metropolitan Room. Joining Jamie on this holiday evening were Broadway favorite Loni Ackerman; Singer, performer and concert sensation Michael Amante; two-time Emmy Award-winning comedian Judy Gold; Tony Award-nominated actress and singer Valarie Pettiford; Broadway veteran and Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins and London's own stage, TV and cabaret star Giselle Wolf. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the concert below! (more...)

9) Grandmaster Ip Ching Joins IP MAN THE MUSICAL Creative Team; Musical in Development in Singapore

Ip Man The Musical, the world's first Chinese concept-based musical with martial art elements, is strategically designed to target both the overseas and China Mainland markets, aiming to perfect the combination of artistic and commercial elements into one theatrical production created for a global release. (more...)

10) CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF's Scarlett Johansson to Grace ELLE UK's February 2013 Cover

ElleUK.com has revealed the magazine's February 2013 cover, featuring Scarlett Johansson, star of the Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof. (more...)

11) Theatre, TV and Film Producer J. Mark Travis Passes Away

According to Variety, theatre, film and TV producer J. Mark Travis passed away Tuesday, December 25, 2012, after a short illness. He was 61. (more...)

12) Rick Elice Writes About Thomas Schumacher and Matthew White's Surprise Thanksgiving Wedding

Peter and the Starcatcher's Rick Elice just posted a heartfelt Huffington Post blog about his experience in the Berkshires this November 24th, when he witnessed the wedding of his friends, longtime partners producer Thomas Schumacher and director and actor Matthew White. An excerpt follows. (more...)

13) New Year's Honours: SPAMALOT Offers Free Tickets To Knights And Dames!

The producers of the West End hit Spamalot, are offering free entry to all Knights of the Realm - and Dames - following the announcement of this year's New Year's Honours List. (more...)

14) Twitter Watch: Andrew Lloyd Webber-'Had to Come Back to the UK for a Back Operation'

On Twitter Watch, Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote 'Unfortunately had to come back to the UK for a back op. It's apparently been successful - didn't want to interrupt my work next year. ALW.' (more...)

15) April Hava Shenkman and Jason Jenn Present HAPPY HAPPY REBEGIN DAY at Spirit Studio Silverlake Tonight

The Happy Happy ReBegin Day Celebration, a New Year's-themed performance art event for all, created and performed by April Hava Shenkman and Jason Jenn, is slated for tonight, December 29, 2012, 7-11pm, at the Spirit Studio Silverlake (2601 Hyperion Ave, Silverlake, Calif.). Tickets are $13, which includes a free cake and champagne toast, plus snacks and bar drinks available for purchase. (more...)

16) New Year's Honours: Gongs for Phillips, McGregor, Lester, Redmond And More!

As always, the performing arts are well rewarded in this year's New Year's Honours List. (more...)