Top Stories You Missed on BWW This Weekend

1) REBECCA Producer Says Now Clear That Four Investors 'Never Existed'

According to the New York Post, Ronald Russo , lawyer for producer Ben Sprecher has now said that "Sprecher had been led to “Abrams” by shadowy Long Island businessman, Mark Hotton, who told him Abrams died before he could hand over the dough, sources have said. There also were three other investors Hotton told Sprecher about who supposedly promised another combined $2 million for the show, the sources have said. But “following an extensive search over the last week, I can now confirm that there is no evidence whatever that “Paul Abrams” or any of the other three investors brought to this production by Mr. Hotton, ever existed,” said Sprecher’s lawyer, Ronald Russo. The lawyer said they conducted an investigation in both the US and England." (more...)

2) Photo Flash: Saturday Intermission Pics, October 6 - Part 2 - PHANTOM Supports PBS, Hello from Paper Mill's A CHORUS LINE and More!

BroadwayWorld collected all of yesterday's evening Saturday Intermission Pics to bring you Part 2 of our October 6th SIP round-up! Yesterday's evening photos featured the cast of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA supporting PBS, the NEWSIES' new fashion sense, Paper Mill Playhouse's A CHORUS LINE's first intermission pic, and EVITA's Max von Essen prepping for Halloween, plus pictures from ALLEGIANCE, KINKY BOOTS, PETER AND THE STARCATCHER, THE BOOK OF MORMON National Tour, MARY POPPINS National Tour, BRING IT ON, WICKED and THE ADDAMS FAMILY National Tour and a slew of regional productions! (more...)

3) Lifetime's Original Movie STEEL MAGNOLIAS Debuts Tonight, 10/7

The world-premiere of the highly anticipated Lifetime Original Movie Event, STEEL MAGNOLIAS, is set to debut tonight, October 7 at 9pm ET/PT on Lifetime. (more...)

4) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 10/7- Alfred Drake

Happy Birthday, Alfred Drake! He is best known for his leading roles in the original Broadway productions of Oklahoma!; Kiss Me, Kate; Kismet; and for playing Marshall Blackstone in the original production of Babes in Arms, (in which he sang the title song) and Hajj in Kismet, for which he received the Tony Award. His 1964 stage performance as Claudius in the Richard Burton Hamlet was filmed live on the stage of the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. His final stage appearance in a musical was in 1973 as Honore LaChaisse in Lerner and Loewe's Gigi. Two years later he starred in a revival of The Skin of Our Teeth. (more...)

5) Stephen Anthony and Merritt David Janes Lead CATCH ME IF YOU CAN National Tour, Opening in RI Today, 10/7

Troika Entertainment, LLC kicks off the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN national tour at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI tonight, October 7. (more...)

6) Exclusive Photos: SPIDER-MAN Cast Records 'Carols For A Cure'

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. A full track list for this year's 14th edition has not yet been announced, but the cast of Broadway's SPIDER-MAN was already hard a work this week recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below! (more...)

7) SOUND OFF: THE X FACTOR Boot Camp & GLEE's Big Break-Up(s)

This week on Week Four of THE X FACTOR, the first round of contestants to make it into the competition for the $5 million recording contract were let go at boot camp - and, on GLEE, romantic walking papers were issued willy-nilly as four long-standing relationships between central characters came to a conclusion (at least for now). (more...)

8) Donna McKechnie, Kelly Bishop, and More Set for Marvin Hamlisch Tribute at Paper Mill Playhouse Tonight, 10/7

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee- Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) has announced that the New Jersey Theater will tribute A Chorus Line composer Marvin Hamlisch at the official opening of the show tonight, October 7th at 7:00pm. (more...)

9) THIRTEEN's Broadway: The American Musical Returns to PBS Tonight, 10/7

Today, with musicals such as The Book of Mormon enjoying phenomenal box office success, revivals like The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess delighting new generations, and musical stage versions of popular films such as Once and Newsies dominating the Tony Awards, Broadway is proving yet again that its vitality and magic endure. Nominated for five 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards and winner of two, including Outstanding Nonfiction Series, THIRTEEN's landmark Broadway: The American Musical returns tonight, October 7 at 10 p.m., and continues on six consecutive Sundays through November 11 (check local listings). (more...)

10) Alice Ripley, Heidi Blickenstaff, Patrick Page and More Star in SING ALONG Short Film

"Sing Along," the short film musical starring an all-Broadway cast began production yesterday, October 6th, for a six-day shoot. The film will be shot entirely in Midtown Manhattan except for its first two days, which will be filmed at a high school in Summit, New Jersey. (more...)

11) BWW's On This Day - October 7, 2012

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on October 7 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

12) Suzanne Vega, Cast of AVENUE Q and More Set for Lincoln Square BID's WINTER'S EVE, 11/26

Lincoln Square Business Improvement District (BID) hosts the 13th annual Winter's Eve at Lincoln Square, New York City's largest outdoor holiday festival on Monday, November 26th from 5:00PM - 9:00PM. (more...)

13) Tony Shalhoub, Roberta Reardon & More to Attend 2012 HOLA Awards Tonight, 10/8

Attending the 13th Annual Hispanic Organization of Latin Actors (HOLA) Awards presented by Delta Air Lines tonight, October 8, 2012 will be SAG-AFTRA elected leadership reps that include national SAG-AFTRA Co- President, Roberta Reardon and national SAG-AFTRA Co-Treasurer and Co-Secretary, Amy Aquino. Also joining the celebration will be Tony Plana, Tony Shalhoub, Brooke Adams and CNN's Jane Vélez-Mitchell. A special tribute to the late Lupe Ontiveros will be given by Latin Heat Editor and co-host of "HOLA L.A." Bel Hernández. Odalys Molina and Jorge Ramos will serve as the Masters of Ceremonies of this year’s HOLA Awards. (more...)

14) AMERICAN IDOL and HAIR's Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young Set Wedding Date for June 1st

According to The Hollywood Reporter, American Idol's Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young have set their wedding date for June 1st in Los Angeles. The couple has also revealed that Young's proposal, which took place during the season 11 finale, was a complete surprise to DeGarmo. (more...)

15) TAKEN 2 Leads Box Office Weekend of 10/7, Followed by HOTEL TRANSYLVANIA & PITCH PERFECT

Taken 2 - 20th Century Fox - $50.0M, Hotel Transylvania - Sony - $26.3M, Pitch Perfect - Universal - $14.7M, Looper - Sony - $12.2M (more...)

16) 'Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Vol. 3' Set for Release 12/4

GLEE, is once again, ready to adjust their tunes for the holiday season! Glee: The Music, The Christmas Album Volume 3, is set for release Tuesday, Dec. 4. (more...)

17) Mitch Jarvis, Michael Cunio & More Set for THE ROCKAE Encore Performance at NY's Le Poisson Rouge, 10/7

Prospect Theater Company, one of America’s leading producers of new musical theater, will kick off its 2012-2013 season with a one-night-only concert presentation of The Rockae, a hard rock musical based on Euripides’ The Bacchae featuring music and lyrics by Kleban and Fred Ebb, Award-winning writer Peter Mills, and a book by Mills and Cara Reichel (Illyria, Golden Boy of the Blue Ridge, upcoming Death For Five Voices). The performance will take place at New York's Le Poisson Rouge tonight, October 7th. (more...)

18) Holland Taylor, Luke Macfarlane, and More Set for '8' Reading at ACT Tonight, 10/7

American Conservatory Theater (A.C.T.), in association with the American Foundation for Equal Rights (AFER) and Broadway Impact, announced today the casting for the one-night-only staged reading of “8” taking place tonight, October 7, 2012, at 7 p.m., at A.C.T.’s Geary Theater (415 Geary Street, San Francisco). The landmark marriage equality play, written by Academy Award–winning screenwriter (Milk) and AFER Founding Board Member Dustin Lance Black, chronicles the historic trial in the federal constitutional challenge to California’s Proposition 8. Proceeds from the reading benefit AFER and LGBTQ youth participating in A.C.T.’s ACTsmart (formerly known as ArtReach) program, which offers free student matinee tickets and theater-based pre- and postshow workshops at no cost to 23 public high schools in the Bay Area (including all 18 San Francisco public high schools) with large populations of underserved, low-income students who otherwise would have little exposure to the arts. Tickets range in price from $50 to $100. A limited number of $250 seats are available and include premium seating and access to a postperformance reception with the cast. Tickets are on sale now and may be purchased online at act-sf.org or by calling 415.749.2228. (more...)

19) Broadway's Tituss Burgess Performs His Songs from Gospel Album WELCOME at Middle Collegiate Church, 10/7

Tonight, October 7 at 6 pm at Middle Collegiate Church, Broadway and television actor Tituss Burgess (Jersey Boys, The Little Mermaid, Guys and Dolls, and NBC’s 30 Rock) will perform the songs from the new gospel album Welcome with the Middle Community Chorus. Burgess composed the music and lyrics as a gift to Middle Church. (more...)

20) Farah Alvin, Adam Kantor, Corey Mach and More Set for Broadway Impact Hosts 2012 Marathon Team Fundraiser WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER, 10/7

What does equality sound like to you? Come support the 2012 Broadway Impact ING NYC Marathon team’s fundraiser WHEN LOVE TAKES OVER to find out. Hosted by Sara Haines from NBC’s The Today Show, the party starts at 10pm ET/PT tonight, October 7th, 2012 at NYC’s Le Poisson Rouge. (more...)