Jessica Lewis - Page 2

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.

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!

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!

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, José Rivera, David Adjmi and a play written by Academy-Award nominee Jesse Eisenberg (The Social Network).

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.

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!

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller and the cast of the new Broadway musical SISTER ACT introduced the new musical to the press today, March 2. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you a first performance preview below!

Splash's Musical Mondays is proud to present a very special edition of CURTAIN CALL with Broadway's Lavon Fisher-Wilson. On February 21st, directly following the video clip extravaganza, host Emily McNamara welcomes Lavon as she makes her CURTAIN CALL debut

AsianInNY, New York's premier online destination for multicultural networking and entertainment, is partnering with the Greater Chinatown Community Association (GCCA) to present a festive celebration of Lunar New Year on February 5, 2011, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, at the Chinese Community Center Auditorium, 62 Mott Street, in Chinatown. We have gathered an exciting lineup of Asian and Asian American talent to bring guests a night of comedy, music, and fashion. There will be great live performances, two fabulous fashion runway shows, foot-stomping music, a top martial arts and dance group, and amazing drinks. The night will be a fun, unforgettable celebration to start the Year of the Rabbit. This will also give everyone a chance to see what people do to celebrate the most important holiday in Asia and provide a venue for Asians to share the amazing night together.

Ben Vereen is back. And he's brought his bowl of cherries. On February 18, 2011, the legendary song and dance man will perform his concert, Stepping Out With Ben Vereen, at Town Hall in celebration of the release of his corresponding album. In the concert, recorded live during its recent Hartford engagement, Vereen highlights his stage career and delivers American Standards with his signature 'razzle dazzle' as only he can.

AsianInNY, New York's premier online destination for multicultural networking and entertainment, is partnering with the Greater Chinatown Community Association (GCCA) to present a festive celebration of Lunar New Year on February 5, 2011, 7:00 PM to 11:00 PM, at the Chinese Community Center Auditorium, 62 Mott Street, in Chinatown. We have gathered an exciting lineup of Asian and Asian American talent to bring guests a night of comedy, music, and fashion. There will be great live performances, two fabulous fashion runway shows, foot-stomping music, a top martial arts and dance group, and amazing drinks. The night will be a fun, unforgettable celebration to start the Year of the Rabbit. This will also give everyone a chance to see what people do to celebrate the most important holiday in Asia and provide a venue for Asians to share the amazing night together.

The New York Post reports this morning that at long last, the former Times Square Theater, which has stood vacant for nearly two decades on 42nd Street, may get a new lease on life. The 30,000 square foot space, which is located at 217 W. 42nd Street between 7th and 8th Avenues, will become what will be known as Broadway 4D, a multimedia venue which allegedly an insider describes as'a kind of Las Vegas version of Broadway past and present.'

The New York Philharmonic will present Stephen Sondheim's groundbreaking Company, with an all-star cast led by Neil Patrick Harris, star of the hit television series, How I Met Your Mother, on April 7-9, 2011. The award-winning musical will be produced and directed by Lonny Price, who directed and co-produced last season's SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert!, and will be conducted by Sondheim specialist Paul Gemignani, with the original orchestrations for a 35-piece orchestra by Jonathan Tunick. More details will be announced at a later date.

Lisa Brescia from the hit Broadway musical Mamma Mia is the newest spokesperson for our I AM THIS LAND video contest on diversity. She has joined stars like Micheal Urie (Ugly Betty), Sharon Jones (Sharon Jones and the Dap Kings), Ishmael Beah (author and activist) and DJ Spooky to support this new initiative by Breakthrough.

This year's shortlist for the 56th Annual London Evening Standard Theatre Awards have been announced, placing LEGALLY BLONDE'S Sheridan Smith as one of the nominees for the Natasha Richardson Award for Best Actress. The LES Theatre Awards will be presented by Stephen Fry on Sunday, November 28 at The Savoy Hotel.