Hottest Articles on BWW from Thursday, Feb. 21

1) Jeremy Jordan to Join Anna Kendrick in THE LAST FIVE YEARS Film?

A film source has confirmed to BroadwayWorld that SMASH and NEWSIES star Jeremy Jordan has likely been cast opposite Anna Kendrick in Richard LaGravanese's upcoming film version of THE LAST FIVE YEARS. We're also told that a deal is 'very likely, but not yet inked' (more...)

2) LES MISERABLES Hit Status Leading To WICKED Movie At Universal?

The worldwide $380+ gross of the feature film adaptation of the international stage hit LES MISERABLES at the box office has put a movie musical take on the hit Oz-themed WICKED closer to becoming a reality. (more...)

3) Ben Foster to Replace Shia LaBeouf as 'Treat' in Broadway-Bound ORPHANS

The producers of the Broadway production of ORPHANS, Lyle Kessler's play, directed by Daniel Sullivan, announced today that Ben Foster will join the cast immediately in the role of "Treat." Producers Frederick Zollo and Robert Cole said, "We are delighted that Ben will join Alec Baldwin and Tom Sturridge when rehearsals commence at ORPHANS tomorrow morning. He is an extraordinarily gifted actor." (more...)

4) Jeremy Jordan Tweets He Is LAST FIVE YEARS Film Lead!

NEWSIES and SMASH star Jeremy Jordan has just Tweeted that he is indeed going to be portraying the lead male role of Jamie in the new feature film adaptation of THE LAST FIVE YEARS by Jason Robert Brown. (more...)

5) STAGE TUBE: Betsy Wolfe Sings 'Goodbye Until Tomorrow' from THE LAST FIVE YEARS

In the video below, watch Wolfe sing through 'Goodbye Until Tomorrow' accompanied by composer Jason Robert Brown! (more...)

6) Photo Flash: BOSOM BUDDIES Holland Taylor, Tom Hanks & More Reunite at ANN!

Emmy Award winner Holland Taylor received a commendation by Texas Governor Rick Perry making her an honorary Texan on January 10, 2013, for her play Ann about late Texas governor Ann Richards. Ann, a new play written and performed by Emmy Award-winning actress Holland Taylor, began previews on Broadway at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street) on Monday, February 18 and will open Thursday, March 7, 2013. Last night there was a 'Bosom Buddies' reunion backstage at ANN- Tom Hanks and Peter Scolari came to see Holland Taylor and Bob Boyett's. Check out phtoos from the reunion below! (more...)

7) Anne Hathaway to Sing in New Film SONG ONE?

According to the Daily Mail, Anne Hathaway will sing a specially written song in the new film Song One, set to begin production later this year for release in 2014. Song One is written and directed by Kate Barker-Froyland. (more...)

8) InDepth InterView: Craig Zadan & Neil Meron Talk 2013 Academy Awards, Scoops, Broadway, Hollywood, Future Projects & More

Largely responsible for the movie musical revolution of the 21st century, setting the stage first with their mega-successful work on TV in the 1990s like GYPSY, CINDERELLA and ANNIE, then, with their feature film entries since - beginning with CHICAGO and continuing with HAIRSPRAY and many more - executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have bridged the gap between Broadway and Hollywood like no other producers - and, all the while, on their own terms. Opening up about a vast array of projects, ranging from the aforementioned modern classic TV musicals all the way through to the films and stage shows - successful revivals of PROMISES, PROMISES and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING included - and their affiliation with NBC's musical drama series SMASH, Zadan and Meron paint a vivid portrait displaying their fierce dedication to the performing arts and desire for excellence in all of their many, many endeavors. Plus, most importantly, Zadan and Meron clue us in on what we can anticipate from this Sunday's Academy Awards telecast, which they are producing - such as their experiences collaborating with controversial triple-threat host Seth MacFarlane, amassing the starriest assortment of musical performers in Oscar history (Barbra Streisand, Adele, Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Hudson among the performers announced so far), creating spectacular tributes to both James Bond in his fiftieth year on film and the modern movie musical revolution (showcasing no less than the reunions of cast members from CHICAGO, DREAMGIRLS and this year's multi-nominated hit LES MISERABLES) as well as what will make this show truly unique. Additionally, Zadan and Meron shed some light on their current and future plans and productions, among them: a BONNIE & CLYDE miniseries for the History Channel starring Emile Hirsch; the currently-running second season of NBC's musical drama series SMASH; two original movie musicals in development and original stage projects, too. All of that, memories of the remarkable LIFE WITH Judy Garland: ME & MY SHADOWS, Lifetime's record-breaking broadcast of a new STEEL MAGNOLIAS, comments on DROP DEAD DIVA's recent cancellation, news on the upcoming e-book edition of Zadan's peerless SONDHEIM & CO. biography, the NBC TV version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC starring Carrie Underwood and much, much more! (more...)

9) Ryan Silverman and Hannah Elless Join Marc Kudisch for SOMEWHERE IN TIME's Portland World Premiere

Producers announced today that Ryan Silverman (Passion, The Phantom of the Opera) and Hannah Elless (Godspell, Mamma Mia!) will star as Richard Collier and Elise McKenna in Portland Center Stage's (PCS) upcoming world-premiere production of the new musical Somewhere in Time, based on the novel by renowned author Richard Matheson (I Am Legend, What Dreams May Come) and the subsequent hit film starring Christopher Reeve, Jane Seymour and Christopher Plummer. (more...)

10) 3 Editions Of LES MIS DVD/Blu Hitting Retailers 3/22

Fans of the hit movie musical adaptation of LES MISERABLES will have not one, not two, not three, but four options as to how deluxe of a DVD/Blu-ray experience they desire to have when the film hits shelves and online retailers on March 22. (more...)

11) Van Zandt's THE RASCALS: ONCE UPON A DREAM to Play 15 Performances on Broadway at Richard Rodgers Theatre; Opens 4/18

Producers Steven Van Zandt and Maureen Van Zandt have just announced that THE RASCALS: ONCE UPON A DREAM will premiere on Broadway this spring for 15 performances only. Directed by Steven Van Zandt and Marc Brickman, with music by Felix Cavaliere and Eddie Brigati, THE RASCALS: ONCE UPON A DREAM has stage, video and lighting design by Brickman and has music production and is written by legendary guitarist Van Zandt. Performances begin Monday, April 15th at Broadway's Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street), and will play through Sunday, May 5th. Opening night is set for Thursday, April 18th. Larry Magid and Base Entertainment are executive producers of THE RASCALS: ONCE UPON A DREAM. (more...)

12) Shia LaBeouf Tweets Approval Of Ben Foster In ORPHANS

Volatile Hollywood actor Shia LaBeouf was scheduled to make his Broadway debut in ORPHANS, co-starring Alec Baldwin and Tom Sturridge, but pulled out of the production earlier this week, citing 'creative differences'. (more...)

13) National Theatre Live to Broadcast THE AUDIENCE, Starring Helen Mirren, June 13

According to the Daily Mail, The Audience, which just began performances in the West End starring Helen Mirren, will be filmed and broadcast live from the Gielgud Theatre for National Theatre Live on June 13, 2013. The production has already brought in nearly £4 million in ticket sales before its opening on March 5. The play is running through June 15. (more...)

14) Photo Coverage: Marla Mindelle & Ann Harada Unveil CINDERELLA Glass Slipper Sundae

Earlier today, Cinderella stars Ann Harada and Marla Mindelle unveiled the Cindrella Sundae at Serendipity3 (225 East 60th St). The treat is a life-sized 'glass slipper' made of glittering white chocolate filled with 3 wickedly big scoops of ice cream covered in chocolate and caramel sauce for dreamers and ice creamers of all ages. It's topped off with a delightfully romantic cloud of whipped cream and beautifully colored rock candy that is the finest in all of the kingdom, candy pearls and a life-sized tiara and a Cinderella Mirror Compact complete the royal treatment for the sundae based on the musical that's impossible to resist. BroadwayWorld was there for the unveiling and you can check out photo coverage below! (more...)

15) BWW Blog: Tory Ross of KINKY BOOTS - Halloween Party Fun

Happy Thursday faithful blog readers! Hope you had a lovely Presidents' Day. Over at Kinky Boots... we've been refining the details, massaging our arches and belting crazy high notes (well, Ellyn Marie Marsh has because of Stephen Oremus' GENIUS arrangements) in anticipation of MOVING INTO THE HIRSCHFELD TOMORROW. I was having mild amounts of anxiety about what to write about yesterday because I don't want to give too much away before we get back into our Kinky Northampton factory and then my gaze was distracted by a silly dance in the corner of the room. Yeup... Annaleigh Ashford. (more...)

16) Photo Flash: First Look at Ryan Silverman, Melissa Errico and Judy Kuhn in Classic Stage's PASSION!

Ryan Silverman as Giorgio, joins acclaimed, award-winning actresses Judy Kuhn (as Fosca) and Melissa Errico (as Clara), in Classic Stage Company's new production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical, directed by John Doyle (director of the acclaimed Broadway revivals of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd and Company). Passion is currently in previews at CSC (136 East 13th Street), with an official press opening scheduled for Thursday, February 28. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below! (more...)

17) STAGE TUBE: Elaine Stritch Celebrates 88th Birthday on THEATER TALK!

THEATER TALK just celebrated the 88th birthday of the great star Elaine Stritch. Also included in the episode were music director Rob Bowman, and actor Hunter Ryan Herdlicka who appeared with Stritch in 'A Little Night Music' on Broadway. In a freewheeling conversation, Stritch reminisces fondly about a number of people and things of significance including Stephen Sondheim, Bela Lugosi, and the gift basket that Alec Baldwin sent her after she injured her hip. Check it out below! (more...)

18) NY Phil Transfers Vast Music Archives Online

The vaunted NY Philharmonic is in the process of porting over a stupefying collection of sheet music, conductor's scores and other musical memorabilia according to new report. (more...)

19) Broadway Couple Leslie Kritzer & Vadim Feichtner to Tie the Knot Tomorrow!

Theatre couple Leslie Kritzer and Vadim Feichtner will tie the knot tomorrow, February 22 in a private ceremony in the Grand Tier Mezzanine Lobby of NY's City Center. Leslie and Vadim met there in the lobby at the closing night party for the Encores! production of On The Town in November 2008. (more...)

20) THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS Headed to the Young Vic; Performances to Begin October 18

As reported by the Daily Mail, the Tony Award nominated musical The Scottsboro Boys is headed to the West End's Young Vic (artistic director David Lan), directed and choreographed by Susan Stroman. Performances are slated to begin on October 18. (more...)