Hottest Articles on BWW from Sunday, Dec. 23

1) What's Playing on Broadway Christmas Week 2012, Dec. 24-30

Whether you're escaping the hustle and bustle of the holiday season or simply feel the need to unwind and take in a show, Broadway is the perfect holiday treat for tourists and locals alike! Check out what's playing during Christmas Week 2012, December 24-30! (more...)

2) Hugh Jackman Approached by Cameron Mackintosh for MISS SAIGON Film Next?

In an interview with the New York Post, LES MISERABLES star Hugh Jackman confirmed that director Cameron Mackintosh has approached him for a potential movie adaptation of MISS SAIGON. Jackman said he has never seen the musical but is 'all for it.' (more...)

3) Photo Flash: Saturday Intermission Pics, Dec 22, Part 2 - Holiday Edition - DROOD's Bieber Christmas Wish and More!

BroadwayWorld collected as many of yesterday's evening Saturday Intermission Pics as we could to bring you Part 2 of our December 22nd SIP round-up! Yesterday evening's photos featured holiday-themed shots from EVITA's Max von Essen, A CHRISTMAS STORY, Dr. Seuss' HOW THE GRINCH STOLE CHRISTMAS tour, PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, WHITE CHRISTMAS tour, HELLCAB in Chicago, THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD--all the Men's Ensemble wants for Christmas is Justin Bieber, THE LION KING and lots of regional shows (more...)

4) ART's PIPPIN Honing Current Run; Still Eyeing Broadway in 2013?

Pippin began performances earlier this month at The American Repertory Theater (A.R.T.) surrounded by Broadway buzz. But according to a report by the Associated Press, the show's cast and creative team are keeping their focus to making the current run stand on its own before Pippin officially opens on January 3rd. (more...)

5) BWW TV Exclusive: LES MIS Producer Eric Fellner on Chasing Tom Hooper, Watching the Finished Film, and More!

LES MISERABLES might not open in movie theatres until Christmas day, but you need not wait that long to get the inside scoop on the highly anticipated new film. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was invited to chat with producer Eric Fellner about adapting the musical for film, persuing director Tom Hooper, finding an all-star dream cast, and so much more! Check out the full interview below! (more...)

6) Hugh Jackman Hopes LES MISERABLES Film 'Leads to More Movie Musicals' - With Him!

In an interview with the New York Post, Hugh Jackman commented on the possibility of a forthcoming Miss Saigon movie adaptation saying, 'I hope 'Les Miserables' leads to more movie musicals � but, selfishly, only if I can be in them!' Read the full interview here, in which he discusses reading Victor Hugo's epic of a novel to prep for the film, his first experience seeing Les Mis on stage, Cameron Mackintosh's request for Jackman to play 'Javert' on stage, working with Joan Lader, the difficulties of singing 'Bring Him Home' for the movie, Anne Hathaway and more! (more...)

7) SOUND OFF: LES MISERABLES - On Film, On Its Own

Christmas Day 2012 marks the biggest and best day of the year for many Broadway babies around the world, but the anticipatory fervor has little to do with the man with the beard in red and white from the North Pole - you see, the guy in question in this equation is more apt to be seen in red and black and his origins are decidedly a bit more Gallic than Jolly Old St. Nick. The man whom I speak of is, of course, Jean Valjean, the protagonist of Victor Hugo's spellbinding 1862 historical epic LES MISERABLES, a novel which was subsequently adapted into a 1980 concert spectacular and ultimately a 1985 full-fledged stage musical, painstakingly developed through the shepherding of uber producer Cameron Mackintosh, alongside the talents responsible for breathing song into the story - original French composer/lyricist team Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil (along with Jean-Marc Natel), to whom Mackintosh addEd English lyricist Herbert Kretzmer (and also contributor James Fenton). Through a special partnership with the Royal Shakespeare Company, LES MISERABLES: THE MUSICAL premiered at the Barbican Theatre in the West End soon thereafter under the direction of Trevor Nunn and John Caird and opened to largely negative reviews, albeit ecstatic, ebullient audiences. Broadway was next, where it went on to win Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Actor, Best Featured Actress & Actor and even more (eight total). LES MISERABLES onstage was a hit like few others from then on and the rest, ze say, is history - or, in this case, l'histoire. Yet, on Christmas Day, the next step in the evolution of the worldwide phenomenon commonly and colloquially known as LES MIZ will occur - just days after the Mayan-predicted end of days, no less - and the movie musical adaptation of the stage show will finally become a reality, featuring an all-star cast comprised of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, Samantha Barks, Aaron Tveit, Sacha Baron Cohen and Helena Bonham Carter, among others. The time has come to hear the people sing onscreen at long, long last. But, first, how is the film? (more...)

8) BroadwayGirlNYC: Road Show: Broadway Music for Travel

A night in the theatre can seem to go by in an instant. A fabulous cast album can have the same effect � which is why I never travel without an ipod loaded up with lots. I asked via twitter: 'What are your favorite cast albums when you're traveling?' Responses flowed in. Needless to say, I'm not the only one who depends on cast recordings when I have a long trip ahead of me! Depending on my mode of transportation, my listening criteria vary. Here are my favorites! (more...)

9) STAGE TUBE: MISS SAIGON's Lea Salonga, Joan Almedilla and Rona Figueroa Tribute Lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr.

MISS SAIGON's leading ladies Joan Almedilla, Rona Figueroa and Tony Award winner Lea Salonga recently gathered to pay tribute to the musical's lyricist Richard Maltby, Jr. Click below to watch an excerpt from PhilDev's benefit concert at Lincoln Center's Alice Tully Hall! (more...)

10) Last Chance to Enter the LES MIS Essay Contest & Win the Ultimate Fan Prize Pack!

To celebrate the upcoming release of the highly-anticipated film version of LES MISERABLES, BroadwayWorld invites you to share your most vivid 'Les Mis' experience for a chance to win the ultimate fan prize package! Today is your last chance to enter so get your essay in before it's too late! (more...)

11) Countdown to Christmas 2012 (Broadway Style)- Day 2

It's December at last, and BroadwayWorld is celebrating the season with a special countdown which will include our favorite holiday-themed Broadway performances. Composed of Christmas songs from the very best performers of the Great White Way, this feature will get you into the holiday spirit just in time for December 25th . Don't forget to check back later to view the full list! (more...)

12) Exclusive Photos: ROCK OF AGES Cast Records 'Carols For A Cure'

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. The cast of Broadway's ROCK OF AGES was already hard a work yesterday recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below! (more...)

13) STAGE TUBE: ELF's Jason Testa Tips Hat to CHAPLIN

Broadway's Elf The Musical and Chaplin share an upcoming closing date�January 6, 2013�and Elf's Jason Eric Testa made a special little video to commiserate. Click below to watch! (more...)

14) STAGE TUBE: Krysta Rodriguez Performs 'I Wish You A Merry Christmas' at Joe Iconis CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR

Krysta Rodriguez performed 'I Wish You A Merry Christmas' on December 15 as part of The 5th Annual Joe Iconis Christmas Spectacular at 54 Below. Click below to watch her sing! (more...)

15) STAGE TUBE: VIVA FOREVER Writer Jennifer Saunders Talks About Meeting The Spice Girls!

Viva Forever writer Jennifer Saunders tells BBC One's The Graham Norton Show about meeting the Spice Girls - before they were famous! (more...)

16) STAGE TUBE: Cheyenne Jackson's Songwriting Series, Episode 1 - Holiday Edition!

TV and stage star Cheyenne Jackson took a break during his Kennedy Center rehearsal for 'Music of the Mad Men Era', slated for New Year's Eve in D.C., to record the first episode of his 'Songwriting Series'. The holiday edition features the new song, 'Squeeze Me, It's Christmas'. Watch below! (more...)

17) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 12/23 - ROMEO AND JULIET

Today in 1935, Romeo and Juliet opened at the Martin Beck Theatre. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers. (more...)

18) STAGE TUBE: Harvey Fierstein Reads 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Harvey Fierstein read the poem 'Twas the Night Before Christmas' at XL Nightclub and Cabaret during SPARKLE, a benefit show for The Actors Fund, on December 17. Click below to listen to his signature voice gracing the words of the Christmas classic! (more...)

19) Roundabout Closes IF THERE IS I HAVEN'T FOUND IT YET Today

Roundabout Theatre Company's American Premiere of Nick Payne's If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, directed by Michael Longhurst, will end its limited run today, December 23 at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre, Laura Pels Theatre (111 West 46th Street). If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet features Annie Funke as "Anna," Jake Gyllenhaal as "Terry", Brian F. O'Byrne as "George' and Enid Graham as "Fiona". (more...)

20) Lincoln Theater Center Closes Twice-Extended DISGRACED Today

The Lincoln Center Theater/LCT3 production of DISGRACED, the new play by Ayad Akhtar, directed by Kimberly Senior, closes today, December 23 at the Claire Tow Theater (150 West 65 Street). (more...)