THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: November 17-23

The cast of The Lion King. Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski

Broadway’s landmark musical event The Lion King celebrated its 15th Anniversary Sunday evening with a one-night only celebratory performance benefitting The Actors Fund. Virtually the entire creative team, who collectively won six Tony® Awards for their work on the show, reunited for the sold out performance. For more photos from the celebration, click here.

Shirley Herz, Tyne Daly, Lucie Arnaz, Jan Buttram, Lesley Gore. Photo Credit: Jennifer Broski

Abingdon Theatre Company – which has produced more than 77 new American plays in its 20-year history – just held its 20th Anniversary Gala and dinner, November 19 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street). The event honored Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Tyne Daly (GYPSY, MASTER CLASS, "Cagney & Lacey"). Click here for more photos from the event.

James Wooldridge, Heather Headley & Lloyd Owen

Heather Headley and Lloyd Owen lead the cast in new musical The Bodyguard, directed by Thea Sharrock. Based on Lawrence Kasdan’s 1992 Warner Bros. film, this brand new musical of The Bodyguard, with book by Alex Dinelaris, opens at the Adelphi Theatre on December 5 2012. Click here for more production shots!

Cast of NEWSICAL. Photo Credit: Michael D'Angora

Earlier this week, Tony nominee and Broadway’s original Annie, Andrea McArdle, joined the cast of NEWSical The Musical. The ever-evolving musical of all the news that’s fit to spoof welcomed celebrity gossip guru Perez Hilton last month as the show’s inaugural guest star. Ms McArdle joins the cast through December 2nd. NEWSical the Musical is described as the forever changing, completely un-sanitized musical mockery of all the news that’s fit to spoof. For more shots of her in action, click here.

Erin Ortman, Alexander Gemignani, Derin Altay, Paul Gemignani and Augie Dannehl. Photo Credit: Linda Lenzi

The York Theatre Company just honored legendary Broadway Music Director and Conductor Paul Gemignani with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre at the 21st Annual Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala. Click here for complete coverage from the event!

John Bolton, Dan Lauria, Johnny Rabe, Erin Dilly, Zac Ballard & Company. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

A Christmas Story, The Musical arrives on Broadway at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre just in time for the 2012 holiday season. Based on the 1983 movie perennial, the musical plays and eight-week limited engagement through December 30. The show opened on November 19th and BroadwayWorld.com was there. Click here for full coverage.

Dequina Moore, Kelly Felthous, Emily Padgett & Rachelle Rak. Photo Credit: Walter McBride

Full casting has been announced and rehearsals have begun for the upcoming national tour of FLASHDANCE – THE MUSICAL, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation. Joining the previously announced Broadway stars Emily Padgett as Alex, Matthew Hydzik as Nick and Rachelle Rak as Tess. Click here for more photos of the cast.