TV Special: BroadwayWorld.com to Kick Off 2014 with a Bang! Announces 10th Anniversary Shows & Year-Long Concert Series at Joe's Pub

BroadwayWorld.com is very excited to announce that we will be returning to Joe's Pub at The Public Theater in 2014, kicking off a year-long celebration of the community and our 10th anniversary with regularly scheduled concerts, live streams and special events. The concert series will launch on January 20, 2014 with BROADWAYWORLD VISITS OZ, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander & Marybeth Abel and with musical direction by Mary-Mitchell Campbell. Tickets will go on sale on October 15, 2013 at 1pm for two shows at 7 and 9:30pm. Below, watch a VERY special 10th Anniversary look back at the site's original concert series, supporting Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS and read as founder, CEO and Editor-in-Chief Rob Diamond looks back on how it all began. Additional details, dates, special offers and more will be announced shortly.

Like most careers, some things simply can not be planned or foreseen. Back in my days at Syracuse University, I had my earliest theatregoing experiences. The one that most knocked me out, was hearing Michael Crawford in THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA. I quickly researched his career and, in my naiveté, decided to build a fan site in tribute (not too geeky!). Shortly thereafter, I heard from Mr. Crawford's charitable fan association, threatening me for violating numerous copyright laws and demanding the site's immediate removal from the Internet. My response was simply, "Don't threaten me, hire me." And the rest, as they say, is history. Of special note: That same Charitable Fan Association has since raised nearly $1 million for children's charities, that Mr. Crawford supports and are well-worth checking out at www.mcifa.com.

Fast forward to 2003, and that passion for theatre gave way to the creation of BroadwayWorld.com. Now, here we are, 10 years later. So many stories, so much drama, so much joy and...so much growth! BroadwayWorld.com is currently celebrating its 10th anniversary and what has happened over those years, is that, not only has it become a 'fan site' for an industry, but, as I got to know the industry, it even became family.

The bedrock of BroadwayWorld.com was/is Broadway, and, over the years, we have expanded to cover all areas of live performing across the globe. But, the core community is still those 12 blocks of concrete that house the most famous theatres in the world. There is only ONE Broadway. Various contributors to BroadwayWorld.com had wanted to get involved with the community, and that's when we built ties with Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, Tom Viola and BroadwayCares.org. Broadway is one of the most generous communities, taking care of their own, and we started getting involved and raising money in our own way, back in 2004. Another key player in this equation was Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, and the great people down there who understood what we were trying to do.

As we assembled the MUST-WATCH video (with special thanks to Nicole Rosky), looking back at our past shows, I was personally stunned at the caliber of what we did....and how many talented people contributed to our successful evenings, both onstage and backstage.

So, to kick off our new year-long series of Special Events for 2014 and content on the web site, January 20, 2014 we will return to Joe's Pub (where it all began), with what is sure to be a fantastic evening, we are calling - BROADWAYWORLD.COM VISITS OZ.

I can't tell you much more about it yet, but I asked Richard Jay-Alexander & Marybeth Abel to direct, and Mary-Mitchell Campbell to be our Musical Director. Happily, they all said 'yes'. Anticipating demand, we are scheduling two shows at 7 and 9:30 PM. Tickets will go on sale at 1pm on Tuesday, October 15th. We strongly advise purchasing early, because this will sell out fast. I promise you that it will be a great way to start a great year for BroadwayWorld.com.

- Robert Diamond, September 17, 2013

Check out a sampling of footage from our past shows, including: Michael Crawford, Marc Shaiman, Sheila Kay Davis, Leilani Jones, Jennifer Leigh Warren, Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Sarah Uriarte Berry, Felicia Finley, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Nikke Renee Daniels, Michael Arden, Laura Bell Bundy, D'Jamin Bartlett, Laila Robins, Natascia Diaz, Andrea Burns, Christine Pedi, Melba Moore, Craig Schulman, Susan Egan, Mackenzie Mauzy, Brooks Ashmanskas, Nicolette Hart, Lea Salonga, Hugh Panaro, Jill O'Hara, Jason Tam, Alice Ripley, Joey Dudding, Natalie Toro, Josh Walden, Josh Young, Forever Plaid cast, Jane Monheit, Matt Cavenaugh, Ellen Greene, Howard McGillin, Jennifer Rae Beck, Crista Moore, Mandy Gonzalez, Steven Brinberg, Eden Espinosa, Ruben Flores, Stephanie J. Block, Andrea McArdle, Liz Callaway, Jennifer Holliday, Billy Porter, Richard Jay-Alexander, Kristoffer Cusick, Shoshana Bean, Rob Maitner, Michael McKean, The Broadway Boys, Richard Ridge, Jenna Leigh Green, Rob Evan, Robert Diamond, Eddie Varley, Paul Castree & more!