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Photo Coverage: Backstage at Variations on Shakespeare

This Monday, August 4th, the New Globe Theater presented VARIATIONS ON SHAKESPEARE: An Evening of Songs Inspired by the Bard. This concert highlighted songs from musicals based on the works of William Shakespeare with performances by some of Broadway's hottest stars.

The evening was hosted by Tony Award winner Mark Rylance, the first Artistic Director of Shakespeare's Globe in London who is currently treading the boards in the hilarious hit revival of Boeing-Boeing, with appearances and performances by Broadway and TV Star Tom Cavanagh (Some Americans Abroad, TV's Ed, Urinetown, Shenandoah), Anthony Rapp (Some Americans Abroad, original cast of RENT, You're A Good Man, Charlie Brown), Emmy Award nominee George Wendt (Norm in TV's Cheers, Hairspray), Tony Award nominee Martha Plimpton (upcoming Pal Joey, Top Girls, Cymbeline, The Coast of Utopia), Tony Award winner Christian Hoff (Jersey Boys, upcoming Pal Joey), Tony Award nominee Alice Ripley (Side Show, Next to Normal), Barrett Foa (The Drunken City, Avenue Q, 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Tony winner Denis O'Hare (Sweet Charity, Assassins, Take Me Out), Autumn Hurlburt (MTV Finalist "Legally Blonde: Search for the Next Elle Woods", Legally Blonde), Kate Shindle (Legally Blonde, Cabaret, Jekyll and Hyde, and Miss America 1998), Darius de Haas (Rent, Marie Christine, Kiss of the Spiderwoman), Alexander Gemignani (Les Miz, Sweeney Todd, Sunday in the Park With George), Garrett Long (South Pacific, The Spitfire Grill), and more The evening was directed by Igor Goldin with musical direction by David Andrews Rogers.

The works of William Shakespeare have always served as a true inspiration for many playwrights and composers over the years, with some of the most famous musical theatre pieces inspired by the Bard's plays. Kiss Me, Kate inspired Cole Porter to transform the classic Taming of the Shrew, and gave us such great songs as "Too Darn Hot" and "So In Love." The Comedy of Errors was the play that inspired Rodgers and Hart to pen the hit musical The Boys From Syracuse and the most famous musical of them all, West Side Story, is a beautiful musical re-telling of Romeo And Juliet set in 1950's New York City.

Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

George Wendt, Anthony Rapp, Tom Cavenaugh, Alice Ripley, and Clarke Thorell

Tom Cavenaugh

Anthony Rapp, Tom Cavenaugh, and Alice Ripley

Robert Cuccioli

Robert Cuccioli and Denis O'Hare

Robert Cuccioli and Clarke Thorell

Barrett Foa

Garrett Long, Barrett Foa, and David Andrews Rogers

Barrett Foa and Mamie Parris

Barrett Foa and Clarke Thorell

Barrett Foa, Kate Shindle, and Clarke Thorell

Barrett Foa and Kate Shindle

Christian Hoff, Alexander Gemignani, and Martha Plimpton

Christian Hoff and Alice Ripley

Erik Keiser and Saea Michelle Valencia

Kenita Miller

Autumn Hurlbert

Mamie Parris

Martha Plimpton

Martha Plimpton and Christian Hoff

Denis O'Hare and Martha Plimpton

Martha Plimpton and Alexander Gemignani

Anthony Rapp and Tom Cavenaugh

Alice Ripley

Mark Rylance

Mark Rylance and George Wendt

Kate Shindle

Clarke Thorell

Clarke Thorell and Barrett Foa

George Wendt

George Wendt and Alice Ripley

George Wendt and Martha Plimpton

Backstage at the New Globe Theater

The Staff

Clarke Thorell

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As a 14 year old youth, Walter was transfixed by his first Broadway Show, the original production of 'GREASE'. His Journey to celebrity photojournalism began that fateful night. Meeting, photographing and getting to know the cast inspired him to spend his professional life doing what he loved. Walter moved to Manhattan and for a leading role as a Photographer & Photo Researcher. Currently headlining in New Jersey with his partner Richard and family members Dali (Jack Russell) & Gala (Schnoodle). Recently he made his Broadway debut sharing the stage with Hugh Jackman in 'Hugh Jackman on Broadway' as well as receiving the Actors' Equity Association Gypsy Spirit Award. Walter McBride Photography is syndicated worldwide by Corbis/AP.

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