Jessica has worked in theater for nearly ten years. She has worked in theatrical production for the producers of STOMP, DAMN YANKEES, NUNSENSE, DINNER WITH FRIENDS and more, and for over 5 years has been involved in the Whoopi Goldberg-produced White Noise, having discovered the production at the 2006 New York Musical Theatre Festival. She has since helped foster its growth through multiple large-scale workshops and two major commercial productions as an Associate Producer. After dedicating many years to theatrical and live entertainment production work that has taken her all over the world in 2009 she assumed the post of Senior Managing Editor at BroadwayWorld.com, the largest theater site on the net, for which she controls operations, routinely interviews Broadway's A-list talent and films/edits a bulk of the sites popular BWW TV content. She is a graduate of Brown University and has worked professionally in production for the Brown University Department of Theatre, Speech and Dance, Rights and Reasons Theatre, the New York Theatre Workshop and more.
 Roundabout Theatre Company to Present World Premiere of BAD JEWS This Fall
April 19, 2012
The Roundabout Theatre Company has announced the world premiere production of Bad Jews by Joshua Elias Harmon and directed by Daniel Aukin for the fall season. Bad Jews will begin preview performances on October 5, 2012 and will open officially on Tuesday, October 30, 2012. This is a limited engagement through December 16, 2012. All tickets for Roundabout Underground productions are $20.
 Sara Jean Ford, Stephanie Rothenberg are New 'Smitty'/ 'Rosemary' in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, Feb. 28
February 24, 2012
BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Sara Jean Ford (THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA) will step into the shoes of 'Smitty' in HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. Ford will be replacing Mary Faber, who originated the role in the revival.
Additional cast changes over a the Al Hirschfeld Theatre will also take effect on February 28 for the role of 'Rosemary Pillkington' when current star Rose Hemingway takes a leave from the production through April 29. No reason for her hiatus has been announced. Hemingway's understudy, Stephanie Rothenberg, will assume the role on her absence.
 BWW TV: Want a Broadway Body? Train Like a Ninja and Prepare to Be 'Snatched'
January 10, 2012
My first introduction to Mark Fisher Fitness was this photo. A friend and colleague had just completed a several month stretch of fitness training with the muscle toning guru and posted this shot on Facebook. It is the photo I at least have always wanted; my regular, normal-looking self transformed into a perfectly healthy, perfectly sculpted version of model proportions, only this wasn't Photoshopped.
 BWW Exclusive Video Coverage of BROADWAY DREAMS' THIRD ANNUAL NYC BENEFIT
November 26, 2011
If you're a BWW.com regular, you know that we have taken a shine to a relatively new not-for-profit group, The Broadway Dreams Foundation.
We saw first-hand, last summer, in Philadelphia and were pretty much blown away. Monday night served as an explosive showcase for the group, who came from all over the country and the evening was put together by Director, Richard Jay-Alexander and Artistic Director, James Kinney. Now, as promised, we have assembled exclusive footage shot by BWW, for you, to see and feel, firsthand, the excitement of Broadway Dreams and what it's like.
 Happy Thanksgiving! Daniel Radcliffe & Broadway's Best Celebrate at the 85th Annual Macy's Day Parade Today!
November 24, 2011
Today, November 24, New York celebrates Thanksgiving with the 85th annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade. The famed festival, which began in 1924, is the second-oldest Thanksgiving parade in the United States along with America's Thanksgiving Parade in Detroit.
Ready for it 85th Anniversary edition, the Parade of wonder will feature 15 giant character balloons; 44 novelty/ornament balloons, balloonicles and balloonheads; 27 floats; 1,600 cheerleaders, dancers and performance group members; 800 clowns; 11 marching bands; a host of celebrity performers, and the one-and-only Santa Claus. The fun begins at 9am and lasts the morning through 12:00pm. As usual, Broadway will be well represented with performances from Anything Goes, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, Priscilla How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Sister Act, and Newsies, in addition to appearances by Godspell's Hunter Parrish, Relatively Speaking's Steve Guttenberg and Laura Bell Bundy!
 BWW TV: Welcome Aboard Stephanie J. Block; First Look at the Star in ANYTHING GOES
November 4, 2011
As previously reported, Stephanie J. Block will join the Tony Award winning company of Anything Goes performing the role of 'Reno Sweeney' while Sutton Foster is filming the television pilot, Bunheads, for 3 weeks beginning tonight, November 4. Block will fill the famed tap shoes though November 22. BroadwayWorld caught up with Block this week and was treated to a sneak peek of the star in costume as 'Reno'. Below, we give you glimpse!
 BWW TV: Guns A Blazin' - First Look at BONNIE & CLYDE in Rehearsal!
October 4, 2011
BONNIE & CLYDE will play at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, beginning previews on Friday, November 4th and opening on Thursday, December 1st. The company met the press today and treated the audience to a sneak peek performance preview. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at BONNIE & CLYDE in rehearsal!
 BWW TV: Prepare Ye - First Look at GODSPELL in Rehearsal!
September 26, 2011
Directed by Daniel Goldstein and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Christopher Gattelli (South Pacific), GODSPELL begins preview performances at Circle in the Square Theatre on Thursday, October 13, 2011. Opening Night is Monday, November 7 (7 p.m.).
The company met the press today, September 26, and BroadwayWorld brings you the very first look at the show in rehearsal below!
 BWW TV: Chatting with Samuel L. Jackson, Angela Bassett & The Company of THE MOUNTAINTOP!
September 20, 2011
Yestersay, the company of The Mountaintop, including stars Samuel L. Jackson (Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.,) and Angela Bassett, met the press to talk all about Katori Hall's highly anticipated new work. Directed by Tony Award nominee Kenny Leon (Fences, A Raisin in the Sun), the play features original music by Grammy Award-winner and Tony Award nominee Branford Marsalis. BroadwayWorld was there and introduces you to the crew below!
 BWW TV: Broadway Unites for Encore Performance of 'New York, New York' in Honor of 9/11
September 9, 2011
Today, September 9, The Broadway League presented a special 9/11 Tribute in Duffy Square, for which the Broadway community united for an encore rendition 'New York, New York' in honor of the iconic performance that took place one decade ago when Broadway performers helped inspire New Yorkers to return to normalcy with a landmark outdoor sing-a-long to the same tune. Click below to watch!
 BWW TV: BroadwayWorld Goes Inside NEWSIES Preview Day; Meet the Company!
September 3, 2011
This week, September 1, the compeny of Paper Mill Playhouse's Newsies delivered their first performance preview to the press. BroadwayWorld was on hand and spoke with the cast and creative team following the performance. Click below to meet the company and see new performance footage!
 BWW TV: NEWSIES Performance Preview - First Look!
September 1, 2011
The cast of Paper Mill Playhouse's premiere of Disney's Newsies delivered their first performance preview to the press today, September 1. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you a first look at the show!
 BWW TV: DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY Plays Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
August 4, 2011
BroadwayWorld brings you the performances of Death Takes a Holiday from Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
 BWW TV: JERSEY BOYS Plays Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
August 4, 2011
BroadwayWorld brings you the performances from Jersey Boys in Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
 BWW TV: WICKED Plays Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
August 4, 2011
BroadwayWorld brings you the performances from WICKED at Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
 BWW TV: RENT Plays Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
August 4, 2011
BroadwayWorld brings you the performances from Rent at Broadway in Bryant Park 2011!
 BWW TV: BroadwayWorld Meets the New Cast of RENT!
August 2, 2011
Yesterday, August 1, BroadwayWorld visited New World Stages with Richie Ridge to meet the new cast of Rent! Previews for this revival production off-Broadway began on July 14 in anticipation of an August 11 opening. To meet the players filling these iconic roles, click below!
 BWW TV: Same-Sex Couples Say 'I Do' at HAIR!
July 26, 2011
Tonight, July 25, several same-sex couples from the Broadway community wed onstage at the St. James Theatre immediately following this evening's performance of HAIR. These unions are among the very first in New York State, following the landmark bill recently passed by state legislators. The event is being arranged by HAIR and Broadway Impact. SCOTTSBORO BOYS' Colman Domingo officiated the ceremonies. BroadwayWorld was on hand and takes you inside the St. James for the event below!
 BWW TV: SISTER ACT Plays Broadway in Bryant Park!
July 7, 2011
The best of Broadway is being presented FREE on six consecutive Thursdays this summer with '106.7 Lite fm Presents Broadway in Bryant Park 2011' - the annual lunchtime series that began today, Thursday July 7th on the Bryant Park Stage. Sponsored by Bank of America, and Clean Air NY, and hosted by Lite fm's on-air personalities, the eleventh annual presentation of open-air, On- and Off- Broadway lunch hour performances runs through August 11th.
106.7 Lite fm's Victor Sosa emceed todays event, which featured performances from the casts of BABY IT'S YOU, STOMP and SISTER ACT. Zarkana cast members were also on hand to entertain the crowd as they braved the heat. Below, we bring you the presentation from the SISTER ACT Company!
 BWW TV: CATCH ME IF YOU CAN Promotes New Cast Album Release!
June 30, 2011
On Tuesday, June 28, the stars of CATCH ME IF YOU CAN celebrated their cast album release at Barnes & Noble with an in-store performance and CD signing. The cast album is out under Ghostlight Records. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you complete coverage of the event, including the performances by Aaron Tveit, Norbert Leo Butz, Kerry Butler and Marc Shaiman!
 BLAZING SADDLES, SPACEBALLS Musicals Up Next from Mel Brooks?
June 27, 2011
Screenjunkies.com reports today that despite Mel Brook's last struggle on Broadway with Young Frankenstein (the production has fared well locally but opened to harsh criticism on Broadway), the funnyman has every intention of continuing to expand his brand on Broadway.
 BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: DEATH TAKES A HOLDAY Cast Weighs in on the Best of Yeston!
June 23, 2011
Roundabout Theatre Company is presenting the world premiere of the new musical Death Takes a Holiday, directed by Tony winner Doug Hughes (Doubt), adapted by Tony-winning writers Peter Stone (1776) and Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray), and composed by Tony winner Maury Yeston (Nine, Titanic). Death Takes a Holiday is based on the dramatic play by Alberto Casella, rewritten for the American stage by Walter Ferris, and originally produced by Messrs. Shubert.
BroadwayWorld recently meet up with the cast and company to weigh in on their favorite Maury Yeston song in Death and in his greater body of work. See what the crew has to say below and in the accompanying video clip!
BroadwayWorld recently meet up with the cast and company to weigh in on their favorite Maury Yeston song in Death and in his greater body of work. See what the crew has to say below and in the accompanying video clip!
 BWW TV Exclusive: PRISCILLA in Rehearsal at the Tonys with Paul Shaffer & Martha Wash!
June 11, 2011
As previously reported, the cast of PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT will be performing the show stopper 'It's Raining Men' at the Tony Awards ceremony on Sunday, June 12. The performance will be broadcast as part of the ceremony on CBS. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the rehearsal run with special guest performers Paul Shaffer (who wrote the tune) and Martha Wash (the song's original songstress). Click below for a video preview of Sunday's production number!
 Jesse Eisenberg's ASUNCION to Premiere at Rattlesnake Theater in 2011-2012; Season Announced!
June 2, 2011
Rattlestick Playwrights Theater today announced its roster of plays for 2011-12, the award-winning company's 17th season. The all world-premiere season will feature new works by Dan Klores, Dael Orlandersmith, Daniel Talbott, Jos Rivera, David Adjmi and a play written by Academy-Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network).
 BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: Philip William McKinley Talks Creating SPIDER-MAN 2.0!
June 1, 2011
SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark, the most ambitious production ever undertaken on Broadway with original direction by Julie Taymor and music by U2's Bono and The Edge, is currently in previews at the Foxwoods Theatre on West 43rd Street. After struggling to find its voice since beginning previews in the fall of 2010, director Philip William McKinley, writer Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa, and choreographer Chase Brock were brought onto the creative team by lead producers Michael Cohl and Jeremiah J. Harris to help implement new staging, book rewrites, and additional choreography, respectively. The show is on track to open on June 14, 2011 after several delays.
Yesterday, May 31, BroadwayWorld got some one-on-one time with McKinley, the newest captain of the SPIDER-MAN ship, entrusted with revamping Julie Taymor's original vision into the worldwide commercial success the team hopes the show will become. Speaking candidly, McKinley reveals the pros and cons of reworking the troubled project, his new approach, additions and changes audiences can expect, and why the cast has been the key to the show's longevity to date.
 BWW TV: Meet the Angels of ANYTHING GOES!
May 10, 2011
Anything Goes stars Tony Award winner - and now 2011 Tony nominee - Sutton Foster as 'Reno Sweeney' and Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey as 'Moonface Martin.' Anything Goes is directed & choreographed by Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall. Recently, BroadwayWorld stopped by the Stephen Sondheim theater to meet the ladies that give Ms. Sweeney her wings. Below, meet the Angels of Anything Goes!
 BWW Interviews: CATCH ME's Rachelle Rak - 'Sas' Is Back and Talks Mitchell, O'Brien, Tveit & More
April 25, 2011
The 'Sas' is back. Rachelle Rak (better known to the Broadway community as 'Sas'), has had a career as a Broadway dancer to be envied. Having worked on Broadway for ten straight years in the original companies of Cats, Fosse, Starlight Express, and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels (among others) and the revival company of monster hits such as Oklahoma!, it seemed Rak had not only 'made it,' but found a home as the consumate chrous girl. Until 2006.
 MATILDA to Make West End Transfer This Fall
April 1, 2011
The producers of the Royal Shakespeare Company's MATILDA have announced that, as suspected, the show will be making a West End transfer this fall. Details are scarce at the moment, but as Broadwayworld reported back in January, Broadway producers including Barry Weissler, Stuart Thompson, Sonia Friedman and others all flocked to see the show when it played the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon from November through January this winter. Venue specifics and dates have yet to be announced, however, patrons can see tickets on sale as early as May.
 BWW TV: Backstage with the New ADDAMS FAMILY!
March 31, 2011
THE ADDAMS FAMILY welcomed five new principal cast members beginning Tuesday, March 8 at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street) when Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show]) assumed the role of Alice Beineke, Adam Grupper (Brighton Beach Memoirs) the role of Mal Beineke, Brad Oscar (Tony-nominated for The Producers) as Fester, Rachel Potter (Wicked nat'l. tour) as Wednesday Addams and Jesse Swenson (Spring Awakening) as Lucas Beineke. Original cast members Nathan Lane, Kevin Chamberlin, Terrence Mann, Carolee Carmello, Krysta Rodriguez and Wesley Taylor will give their final performances on Sunday, March 6.
 Liza Minnelli Comments on Elizabeth Taylor's Passing
March 23, 2011
Dame ElizaBeth Taylor has passed away this morning at the age of 79 due to heart failure. According to ABC News, all four of her children were with her when she passed.
 Charlie Sheen Hits the Road: National Tour Launches in Detroit, 4/2
March 11, 2011
As reported on Deadline.com, troubled actor Charlie Sheen is hitting the road with his touring show, 'My Violent Torpedo of Truth/Defeat is Not An Option Show.' Sheen first announced the tour via his twitter.
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