How to Satisfy Your Theater Cravings on July 4, 2011!

It's summer's most festive day. When you're not at a BBQ, on a sandy beach or watching the annual Macy's 4th of July Fireworks over the Hudson or the accompanying performances from Beyonce and Brad Paisley, consider checking out these events to satisfy your inner theaterlover!

A CAPITOL FOURTH CONCERT
Feat. Kelly O'Hara, Matthew Morrison, Jimmy Smits, Steve Martin, Jordin Sparks and More!

The live PBS broadcast of America's favorite Independence Day tradition, will feature unrivaled performances from some of the country's best-known musical names topped off by the greatest display of fireworks anywhere in the nation. Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actor Jimmy Smits will host the all-star line-up that includes: Grammy and Emmy Award-winning actor and musician Steve Martin performing with the Steep Canyon Rangers; multi-platinum recording superstar Josh Groban; Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe nominated star of stage and screen who has just released his debut self titled album Matthew Morrison (Glee); American Idol winner Jordin Sparks; Rock 'N Roll legend Little Richard performing with the cast of the Broadway smash hit Million Dollar Quartet; three time Tony-nominated Broadway star Kelli O'Hara; DWTS Mark Ballas and Chelsie Hightower; and the National Symphony Orchestra under the direction of top pops conductor Jack Everly.

A CAPITOL FOURTH will capture the pyrotechnics from every vantage point with twenty TV cameras stationed around the city - including the U.S. Capitol, the White House, the Washington Monument and across the Potomac River. In celebration of America's 235th birthday, the show will be capped off with a rousing rendition of Tchaikovsky's "1812 Overture" complete with live cannon fire provided by The U.S. Army Presidential Salute Battery, an audience favorite and now an A CAPITOL FOURTH tradition. Also participating in the event will be The Choral Arts Society of Washington, along with The U.S. Army Herald Trumpets, The U.S. Army Ceremonial Band, the U.S. Air Force Band Ceremonial Brass, Members of the Armed Forces carrying the State and Territorial Flags and the Armed Forces Color Guard provided by the Military District of Washington, D.C.

The event will air in HD from the West Lawn of the United States Capitol on Monday, July 4, 2011 from 8:00 to 9:30 p.m. ET (check local listings) before a concert audience of hundreds of thousands, millions more at home, as well as to service members around the world on the American Forces Network. A CAPITOL FOURTH can also be heard live in stereo over NPR Member stations nationwide. A companion web site at www.pbs.org/capitolfourth features a comprehensive viewer's guide to the 2011 concert.

BROADWAY:

Most Broadway shows are dark on Mondays, and those that routinely play a Monday show will be taking off in honor of the holiday.  You can still catch THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, however, at the Magestic Theatre at 8:00pm.

PHANTOM stars Hugh Panaro (The Phantom), Sara Jean Ford (Christine), Kyle Barisich (Raul), Michele McConnell (Carlotta), Jessica Bishop (Meg Giry), George Lee Andrews (Monsieur André), David Cryer (Monsieur Firmin), Marilyn Caskey (Madame Giry) and Evan Harrington (Piangi). At certain performances, Marni Raab plays Christine.

On Broadway, since its debut on January 26, 1988, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has grossed over $812 million, making it the highest-grossing show in Broadway history. Total attendance is over 14.3 million and it is the winner of 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical. The production reached milestone performance #9,500 in November 2010 and celebrated its 23rd Anniversary in January 2011. Now in its phenomenal 24th Year, the Broadway production remains a box office camp and continues to play with no end in sight.

Based on the classic novel Le Fantôme de L'Opéra by Gaston Leroux, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA tells the story of a masked figure who lurks beneath the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, exercising a reign of terror over all who inhabit it. He falls madly in love with an innocent young soprano, Christine, and devotes himself to creating a new star by nurturing her extraordinary talents and by employing all of the devious methods at his command.

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and is directed by Harold Prince. Lyrics are by Charles Hart (with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe) and the book is by Richard Stilgoe and Andrew Lloyd Webber. THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA has production design by the late Maria Björnson, lighting by Andrew Bridge and sound design by Mick Potter with original sound by Martin Levan. Musical staging and choreography is by Gillian Lynne. Orchestrations are by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.

For more information, visit www.thephantomoftheopera.com.

OFF BROADWAY:

CLICK HERE for a listing of some of Off Broadway's best to check out their performance schedules!

ALSO ON TV:

Be sure to catch some Broadway favorites making their rounds on the talk show circuits:

 

Julie Andrews visits Regis & Kelly on ABC (9am EST)
Vanessa Williams stops by The View on ABC (11am EST)
Liza Minnelli Talks to Gayle King on OWN, 10am EST

 

AROUND TOWN IN NYC:

B.B. Kings Presents a Beatles Tribute featuring The Cast of Beatlemania, 7:00pm.  

The "Cast" recreates the sights and sounds of The BEATLES so faithfully that you will recall when the world was engulfed in the most pleasant fever of all: BEATLEMANIA! The "Cast" continue in their show as The BEATLES changed in their careers. Three different costumes coincide with the changing music and times. Theirs is the first, original and only complete representation of the musical force called The BEATLES. The "Cast" features former members who starred in the Broadway production and have performed in all fifty states and over twenty foreign countries, including Canada, England, Mexico, Brazil and Japan. The "Cast" was individually selected from thousands of musicians who auditioned from all over the U.S. for the Broadway show, BEATLEMANIA.

Visit http://www.bbkingblues.com/bio.php?id=722 for tickets and more info.!

Birdland Presents Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland, 9:30pm.

Hosted by Jim Caruso, with the Cast Party "Symphony Orchestra""No one can call themselves a true New Yorker until they've been to the 'Cast Party,' which is to Broadway what the Conde Nast cafeteria is to publishing. Divas and dapper-dans insouciantly sip cocktails while watching each other sing and perform at the open-mic event during Broadway's dark night." (Next Magazine) Broadway impresario Jim Caruso hosts a combination open-mic, networking event and party in which the biggest stars on Broadway relax on their night off by performing their favorite songs in an informal setting.