Bernie Telsey News

According to an audition notice, the musical revival of CARRIE will hold a development lab at MCC from May 25, 2011 through June 7, 2011. Stafford Arima will direct, Matt Williams will choreograph, and Mary Mitchell-Campell will musical direct.

To celebrate the release of her new book Rock the Audition: How to Prepare For and Get Cast in Rock Musicals (Hal Leonard Books, May 24th) Sheri will performing in concert at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street) on the evening of the book's release - May 24th at 8:00pm.

Culled from as A-list a list as you are ever likely to acquire - Steven Spielberg, Robert Greenblatt, Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Michael Mayer, Theresa Rebeck and Marc Shaiman/Scott Wittman onwards - SMASH is the adult answer to riveting dramatic musical entertainment coming with heart, laughs, unforgettable characters and some of the biggest twists this side of the starry stages on the Great White Way. Oh, yeah, and those hallowed Broadway halls, too. Plus, SMASH provides a great new opportunity to showcase the unbelievable talent on display on the stages of Broadway and Off-Broadway and beyond, particularly given the fact that it is shot in New York and it is being cast by the biggest casting director on Broadway, Bernie Telsey. Consider the theatre-centric casting LAW & ORDER times seventy six (trombones). All of New York is the talent pool from which the stage of SMASH shall be set. And, what exactly is SMASH about, anyway? Well, SMASH is all about Broadway and what makes a musical tick - from the very inception of the show's idea by the songwriters, through writing, rehearsals and the road; all the way to the big Broadway opening where dreams are made - and nightmares born - on one magnificent, momentous night. As viewers, we are taken inside the ticking clock of the show and we experience each and every one of the multitude of machinations enacted by everyone from the stars - Marilyn Monroe, and the actress playing her, Ivy; and, more importantly, her alternative, Karen - to the overworked director (Derek), harried songwriters Tom and Julia, and the speculative and cutthroat producer behind it all, Eileen.

Legends in their own time, ascending to the top ranks of the Hollywood and Broadway songwriting landscape, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman have accomplished and climbed to heights most of what many film fans, Broadway babies and general entertainment junkies only dream of witnessing and ascending to. Marc Shaiman's work with Trey Parker and Matt Stone on SOUTH PARK: BIGGER, LONGER & UNCUT prompted Stephen Sondheim - as he told me himself - to cite it as one of the best musicals of the era. And, it is - as is their Tony-winning Best Musical HAIRSPRAY, based on the film by Pope of Trash John Waters. Featuring John Travolta, Michelle Pfeiffer, Zac Efron, Queen Latifah and an all-around-amazing cast of triple-threats, the stunning Craig Zadan/Neil Meron-produced film version of HAIRSPRAY may be the greatest cinematic Shaiman and/or Wittman accomplishment so far. Then, there is CATCH ME IF YOU CAN - one of the snappiest new scores on Broadway in a strangely strong season of original scores - boasting boss Sinatra blues and sizzling Shirelles riffs and everything else that's swingin' in between. Up next for the team - onstage and off - is a stage adaptation of Roald Dahl's CHARLIE & THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY directed by Oscar-winning director Sam Mendes, in addition to what is perhaps the most exciting prospect on their impossibly cluttered horizon: the new Steven Speilberg/Craig Zadan/Neil Meron musical/comedy/drama series SMASH which has just been picked up for the Fall season on NBC! In this exclusive, extensive and exhaustive conversation we cover it all from HAIRSPRAY to CATCH ME to CHARLIE to all about SMASH and far, far beyond!

To celebrate the release of her new book Rock the Audition: How to Prepare For and Get Cast in Rock Musicals (Hal Leonard Books, May 24th) Sheri will performing in concert at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street) on the evening of the book's release - May 24th at 8:00pm.

Today we are talking to one of the stars of the smash hit Broadway revival of Frank Loesser's HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, co-starring Daniel Radcliffe, Tammy Blanchard and John Larroquette, at the Al Hirschfeld Theater, this actor can also be seen in the just-concluded final season of HBO's BIG LOVE and in a recurring role on ABC's BROTHERS & SISTERS - Mr. Christopher J. Hanke! Discussing everything from HAIR and hippies to business suits and HOW TO SUCCEED, as well as a thorough analysis of his CRY BABY experience and even a little IN MY LIFE, Hanke opens up about his co-stars, characters, collaborators and even shares a few audition stories.

It's one of the most common rejections on American Idol: 'Sorry, but you're better suited for Broadway.' But as we've seen over the past ten years, American Idol and the Broadway stage are not mutually exclusive - not by a long shot! In fact, it's the opposite: every single season of the show has either borrowed talent from the New York theatre or created stars that have rocked musicals on Broadway and/or on national tours across the country.

MCC Theater today announced that Associate Artistic Director Will Cantler has been promoted to the position of Artistic Director, effective immediately.

From the Cast of ANYTHING GOES and SPIDER-MAN, to the Ladies of THE VIEW, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand, Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters, Susan Boyle, Kelsey Grammer, GLEE and everyone in between...it's the BroadwayWorld.com 2011 Valentine's Day Special! Its Biggest Ever!

This isn't a review; this is a remembrance of the most special night of my Broadway-loving life. A few days ago, I was twittering about opening nights on Broadway. There were several coming up, and I was dreaming of what it must be like to attend. I asked my friends on Twitter to send me descriptions of the parties they'd attended. as well as the performances they had seen, on opening nights. And even within their 140-character responses, I got a pretty good idea of how magnificent and glamorous these A-list events could be.

MCC THEATER (Robert LuPone, Bernard Telsey, Artistic Directors; William Cantler, Associate Artistic Director; Blake West, Executive Director) today announced that they will team with director Stafford Arima (Altar Boyz, West End production of Ragtime) to develop the little seen but widely known musical Carrie for an upcoming season.

Paper Mill Playhouse is presenting Hairspray, directed by Matt Lenz, with choreography by Michele Lynch, at the Millburn theatre from September 22 through October 24, 2010. On September 26, the company celebrated the show's official opening night. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you after-party coverage below!

This afternoon I had the pleasure of speaking to Lesley Gore, the iconic 60s pop star and legendary recording artist of 'It's My Party', 'You Don't Own Me' and more, who will be appearing in MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET for one night only on Friday night, September 24, 2010. In our discussion we touched upon the work her brother Michael Gore , the accomplished Oscar-winning songwriter best known for FAME and FOOTLOOSE, has been doing on his 1980s musical version of the Stephen King novel and Brian De Palma film CARRIE. Gore exclusively confirms to BroadwayWorld that plans are indeed afoot to bring CARRIE back to Broadway in a big, beautiful, brilliant new way with a slew of new songs! Be sure to check out the complete SOUND OFF SPECIAL INTERVIEW with Lesley Gore coming later this month!

This afternoon I was lucky enough to score some talk-time with legendary recording artist, Oscar-nominated songwriter and the most iconic female pop singer of the 60s, Ms. Lesley Gore. She will be appearing in Broadway's hit jukebox musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET one night only on Friday night, September 24th, but in this SOUND OFF SPECIAL INTERVIEW she opens up about her illustrious and accomplished career in the studio and on the stage - and also onscreen in an oh-so-classic BATMAN with Julie Newmar - as well some breaking news about her new biographical musical using both the stacks of hit songs she is so famous for and some newly written compositions. As if all that - and compelling recollections of time spent with Liza Minnelli, Jerry Lee Lewis, Quincy Jones, Laura Nyro (almost) and many more - weren't enough, we also have some breaking news about the future of her brother, a world-famous songwriter in his own right due to FAME, Michael Gore's infamous Broadway musical CARRIE may be making its way back to the boards very soon - which is the epitome of good news for Broadway babies who have wanted to know! Bloody lucky Broadway will be to have CARRIE - and the disarmingly warm and exceptionally delightful Lesley Gore!

Two students were presented with JimmyTM Awards for Best Performance by an Actor and Actress on Monday, June 28 at Broadway's Marquis Theatre at the 2nd Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA), presented by Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances LLC. Alexandria Payne of the Tri-Cities High School in Atlanta won for her performance as ‘Ti Moune' in Once on This Island and Kyle Selig of Huntington Beach High School in Long Beach, CA won for his turn as ‘Don Lockwood' in Singin' in the Rain. Each student received $10,000 to further their education and they are eligible for four-year merit and need-based scholarship assistance to attend the NYU Tisch School of the Arts Department of Drama, Undergraduate at New Studio on Broadway: Music theatre and Acting, contingent upon acceptance into the program.

Last night, June 28, the 2nd Annual Jimmy Awards were held at the Marquis Theatre, home to COME FLY AWAY. Kathie Lee Gifford hosted and presenters included nine time Tony-winner Tommy Tune, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka of A Little Night Music, and Krysta Rodriguez and Adam Riegler of The Addams Family. BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the celebration.

Kathie Lee Gifford will host the 2nd Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) on Monday, June 28 at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). The NHSMTA is a national celebration of outstanding student achievement recognizing individual artistry in vocal, dance and acting performance by high school students. Forty-four young performers will compete for the coveted JimmyTM Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance of an Actress, as well as merit scholarships and professional opportunities.

Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances LLC announced today Kathie Lee Gifford will host the 2nd Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) on Monday, June 28 at the Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway).

The hit revival is Ashley's 8th Broadway show, but her first since she became a mom.

Last night, Monday, March 1, MCC Theatre hosted its starry Miscast Gala at The Hammerstein Ballroom. In attendance were Jordan Ballard, Jackie Burns, Raul Esparza, Sutton Foster, Kelsey Fowler, Montego Glover, Alison Horowitz, Anastacia McCleskey, Marin Mazzie, David Miller (Il Divo), Aaron Tveit, and Tom Wopat, host Mo Rocca, honoree Julianna Margulies, plus special guests Judith Light, Josh Charles, Quincy Tyler Bernstein, Sami Gayle and Isaac Mizrahi.