SOUND OFF: The Tell-Tale 2012 Tony Nominationsby Pat Cerasaro - May 5, 2012This Tuesday marked the second most exciting day of any given year for Broadway babies - the Tony Award nominations. The actual awards ceremony on CBS - Broadway’s night of nights - is still a few weeks off, but now is certainly an ideal time to size up the competition(s) and see who will most likely walk away with Tony gold come June 10 - and this year‘s ceremony, more than most before, could very well be as surprising as this season was; or Tuesday’s nominations themselves were, for that matter. While the 2011-2012 Broadway season certainly fell far short of the heady promise many ascribed to its prospects way back last Summer, we certainly saw the fulfillment of some big dreams for some notable names if not an all-in-all banner year for Broadway when collectively considered. The highly-praised Off-Broadway critical darling LYSISTRATA JONES landed with a thud early in the season, as did the re-jiggered, gender-bending revival of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER and its star Harry Connick, Jr., and, even the lauded and relatively successful revival of Stephen Sondheim’s peerless masterpiece FOLLIES failed to make any money and closed. GODSPELL did not fare much better, though it is still running. The two highly-anticipated revivals of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s classic early successes JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and EVITA were met with indifferent reviews - with the latter receiving some nasty press for its stars, neither of whom received Tony nominations - but receptive audiences so far. THE GERSHWINS’ PORGY & BESS could take Best Revival, after all - but will NICE WORK’s Kelli O’Hara edge out four-time Tony recipient Audra McDonald? New plays did not fare much better than the measly crop of musicals, but OTHER DESERT CITIES and VENUS IN FUR seemed to hit their target demographics squarely, but CLYBOURNE PARK looks to be the frontrunner for Best Play despite all that. We shall see. Mike Nichols may take home another Best Director for his sensitive, if workmanlike revival of Arthur Miller’s DEATH OF A SALESMAN, as conceivably could Philip Seymour Hoffman and Andrew Garfield. John Lithgow is offering up some fierce competition in THE COLUMNIST, though. The acting races are tight, for sure, in both plays and musicals, with more newcomers and first-time nominees than any season this century. (more...)
Steppenwolf's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? to Preview on Broadway Sept. 27, 2012; Understudy EPAs Set for Jun. 5by BWW News Desk - May 17, 2012According to an Equity Audition notice, the Steppenwolf's production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf will begin previews on Broadway on September 27, 2012 in anticipation of its previously announced October 13, 2012 opening at a Shubert Theatre to be announced. Pam Mackinnon will continue to helm the project. Jerry Frankel, Jeffrey Richards Susan Q. Gallin and Mary Lu Roffe will produce. (more...)
SOUND OFF: SMASH Bares Its Big, Beautiful Bombshellby Pat Cerasaro - May 15, 2012The words we’ve all been breathlessly waiting to hear - “You’re going on as Marilyn tonight,” - were finally uttered by the director of the show-within-the-show, Derek (Jack Davenport), on SMASH’s “Bombshell” season finale last night: Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) nabbed the coveted role. Despite seemingly all of the bets being placed early in the season against Karen by viewers and critics alike insofar as her likelihood in donning the peroxide wig and beautymark - she seemed a Norma Jean but rarely an expected choice for Marilyn; certainly no match in the classic idea of the screen siren as far as the vivacious and curvaceous Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) was concerned. While many were quick in giving Ivy Lynn the upper hand - or upper skirt, as the case may be - it was evident from the first moment of the series that Karen, the underdog, is who we were largely meant to be rooting for above all others; the naïve Iowa girl singing “Somewhere Over The Rainbow” on a stage of glitterring stars, so close and yet so far away. Ivy surely made a fast and furious impression soon thereafter with “The National Pastime” in SMASH’s pilot, but Karen had already been quite clearly established as our most central protagonist - perhaps with Julia (Debra Messing) equally as prominent. As the fourteen subsequent episodes have progressed, SMASH has revealed itself to be a true ensemble piece with the emphasis on the collective journey of all of the characters and how that has had an effect on the burgeoning Broadway musical at the show’s core, but Karen and Julia still have remained the two given the most screen-time and exposure. Megan Hilty has nonetheless emerged as a force to be reckoned with and her performance in the role is the finest of all on the series, outshining all in her songs and scenes. The various highways, byways and alleyways by which we have journeyed on the road of SMASH from the beginning to last night has unquestionably been leading to the BOMBSHELL first preview performances and the reveal of who would ultimately win the part of a lifetime in the show-within-the-show - and, on that count, the SMASH season finale bared all. And, as if all of that were not enough - cameos from Broadway heavyweights Bernadette Peters and Nick Jonas, too! (more...)
FOX Renews FAMILY GUY, AMERICAN DAD Thru 2014by BWW News Desk - May 11, 2012FOX has ordered additional 22-episode seasons of its animated veterans FAMILY GUY and AMERICAN DAD. (more...)
The Public's FEBRUARY HOUSE Begins Performances 5/8by BWW News Desk - May 1, 2012The Public Theater will begin previews for the world premiere production of FEBRUARY HOUSE, with music and lyrics by Gabriel Kahane and book by Seth Bockley, on Tuesday, May 8 in The Public’s Martinson Theater. Directed by Davis McCallum, FEBRUARY HOUSE runs through Sunday, June 10, with an official press opening on Tuesday, May 22. Tickets are on sale now at (212) 967-7555, www.publictheater.org, or in person at The Public Theater box office. (more...)
BWW Interviews: Onstage at the Barn: Memories From the First 45 Years with Lane Wrightby Jeffrey Ellis - Mar 6, 2012In recognition of The Barn’s 45 years of bringing the magic of live theater to the stage, we continue our special series of Onstage at The Barn: Memories from The First 45 Years, with actor Lane Wright, one of Nashville’s most easily recognizable actors, who most recently starred in The Rainmaker and right now is onstage at Nashville’s Z. Alexander Looby Theatre in The Disappearance of Janey Jones, presented by Tennessee Women’s Theater Project (which is directed by Maryanna Clarke, herself a Barn alum). (more...)
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Welcomes Danu, 3/17by BWW News Desk - Mar 6, 2012Danú, a leading traditional Irish ensemble, will play this St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at 8 p.m., at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on the UConn campus in Storrs. (more...)
BWW Interviews: BILLY ELLIOT's Leah Hocking Talks Life on the Roadby Kathy Strain - Mar 27, 2012Today I am joined by Leah Hocking who is currently touring with BILLY ELLIOT playing the role of Mrs. Wilkinson. Leah performed with the original Broadway cast of BILLY ELLIOT as Billy’s Mum. This time, she goes out on the road playing the role of Mrs. Wilkinson. (more...)
Off Broadway Alliance Announces THE FESTIVALS Seminar for 4/1; Feat. Hunter Bell, Elena K. Holy & John Capoby BWW News Desk - Mar 26, 2012The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off-Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold another in its series of seminars focused on the culture, business and history of Off-Broadway on Sunday, April 1st. (more...)
Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts Welcomes Danu, 3/17by BWW
News Desk - Mar 17, 2012Danú, a leading traditional Irish ensemble, will play this St. Patrick’s Day, March 17, at 8 p.m., at Jorgensen Center for the Performing Arts on the UConn campus in Storrs. (more...)
The Grand Theatre Announces Evening in Paris, 3/31by BWW News Desk - Mar 14, 2012Evening in Paris, the next World Music and Dance event produced by The Grand Theatre. Local talent is being brought together for a night of entertainment on the big stage. (more...)
Will Ferrell, Zach Galifianakis to Present at 84th Annual Academy Awards, 2/26by BWW
News Desk - Feb 26, 2012Will Ferrell and Zach Galifianakis will present at the 84th Academy Awards ceremony, telecast producers Brian Grazer and Don Mischer announced today. Ferrell and Galifianakis recently wrapped shooting for "The Campaign." (more...)
Denzel Washington and Ryan Reynolds-Led SAFE HOUSE Gets Blu-Ray Release, 6/5by BWW News Desk - Apr 9, 2012Academy Award-winner Denzel Washington (Training Day, Unstoppable) and Ryan Reynolds (The Change-Up, Green Lantern) star as unlikely allies up against an unknown enemy in SAFE HOUSE, which will be available June 5, 2012, on Blu-ray. (more...)
Photo Flash: First Look - Jonathan Groff in Starz Series BOSS by BWW News Desk - Apr 27, 2012Joining the ensemble cast of BOSS as series regulars this season is Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, "Glee") as Ian Todd, a smart and ambitious young advisor to Kane. (more...)
THREE KINDS OF EXILE, THE JAMMER, et al. Set for Atlantic Theatre Company in 2012-13by BWW News Desk - Apr 26, 2012Atlantic Theater Company has just announced four of its 2012-2013 Season productions, featuring world premiere plays from Olivier and Tony Award® winner John Guare and Obie Award winner Melissa James Gibson and New York premieres from Olivier Award winner Simon Stephens and Emmy Award® nominated writer Rolin Jones. (more...)
Debra Monk, Sue Jean Kim and More Set for Page 73 Readings, 4/25by BWW News Desk - Apr 24, 2012Off-Broadway’s Page 73 Productions will present a series of readings by their 2012 P73 Playwriting fellow Max Posner. On Wednesday, April 25 at 8:00pm at MTC’s Creative Center (311 W. 43rd Street, 8th Fl) will be Mr. Posner’s THE THING ABOUT AIR TRAVEL, directed by Kerry Whigham, and on Monday, May 21 at 7:30pm and Tuesday, May 22 at 4pm at the Roundabout Rehearsal studio (32 E. 31st Street, 4th Fl) will be Mr. Posner’s SNORE AND OTHER SORTS OF BREATHING, directed by Trip Cullman. (more...)
Lady Gaga Among Stars Set for Guest Appearances on FOX This May by BWW News Desk - Apr 23, 2012Cate Blanchett, Lady Gaga, Lindsay Lohan, Whoopi Goldberg, Fergie, Justin Long, Rashida Jones, Bryan Cranston, Olivia Wilde, Anna Kendrick, NeNe Leakes, Fred Willard, Eric Roberts, Wayne Brady, Ryan O'Neal, Phylicia Rashad, Patton Oswalt, Treat Williams, George Stults, Steve Coogan and Werner Herzog make guest appearances in all-new episodes of shows on FOX. (more...)
Travel Channel Announces Launch of 'Destination Summer'by BWW News Desk - Apr 23, 2012Travel Channel announces today the launch of Destination Summer, a multi-platform programming initiative that embraces all the fun and adventure that the season offers. As part of the Network's continued mission to inspire its travel-centric viewers, seven new original series will roll out this summer, and will be complemented by multiple on- and off-air programming events. (more...)
BWW Interviews: Christopher Sieber Talks LA CAGE AUX FOLLES Tour & More!by Kathy Strain - Apr 23, 2012Christopher Sieber is currently playing the role of Albin/Zaza in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on tour. Christopher's career has been unique and diverse. He has been on TV and Broadway and brings his own life's experiences to the role of Albin/Zaza. Christopher was also priviledged to play the role of Georges on Broadway. He is the only actor who has ever played both lead roles in LA CAGE. He shared his experiences and lessons he has learned over the years as a performer and details of his current role as Albin/Zaza. (more...)
Jonathan Groff Joins Season 2 of BOSS Premiering 8/17by BWW News Desk - Apr 11, 2012The STARZ Original Series BOSS is set to premiere its second season on Friday, August 17th at 10pm ET/PT. Joining the ensemble cast as series regulars this season are Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, "Glee") as Ian Todd, a smart and ambitious young advisor to Kane. (more...)
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