Sony Masterworks & Frank Wildhorn Announce New Venture; WONDERLAND Recording First Up, 3/30March 29, 2010SONY MASTERWORKS partners with Tony®-nominated composer/producer Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Civil War, Dracula and Victor/Victoria) and Soul Bear Records on the marketing, promotion, and distribution of Wildhorn's national and international theatre recordings. Within this partnership, SONY MASTERWORKS and Wildhorn will create a home to find, nurture, develop, and market new talent. Wonderland: Alice's New Musical Adventure, the first recording to be released through this partnership, will be available through all major digital service providers on March 30.
Michael Ball Pays Tribute to Stephen SondheimMarch 29, 2010Stephen Sondheim is widely acknowledged as the most innovative, most influential, and most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway history. He is the winner of an Academy Award, numerous Tony Award, multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Some of his other accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors (1993), the National Medal of Arts (1996), the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Gold Medal for Music (2006) and a special Tony Awardâfor Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (2008).
Adam Lambert to Perform at GLAAD Media Awards, 4/17March 29, 2010The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD) announced today that recording artist Adam Lambert will perform at the 21st Annual GLAAD Media Awards Presented in Los Angeles by ABSOLUT® Vodka on April 17, 2010 at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza.
Lansbury, Nunn, Front & Logan on Sondheim's LegacyMarch 29, 2010Stephen Sondheim is widely acknowledged as the most innovative, most influential, and most important composer and lyricist in modern Broadway history. He is the winner of an Academy Award, numerous Tony Award, multiple Grammy Awards and a Pulitzer Prize. Some of his other accolades include a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Kennedy Center Honors (1993), the National Medal of Arts (1996), the American Academy of Arts and Letters' Gold Medal for Music (2006) and a special Tony Awardâfor Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (2008).
Ian McKellen, Jude Law et al. Win Jameson Empire AwardsMarch 29, 2010The U.K.'s Independent reports today that Sir Ian McKellen has been honored with the Empire Icon Award for his work on screen at the 2010 Jameson Empire Awards. Said McKellen on his win: 'I couldn't be more surprised or delighted. Middle-earth rejoices!' Also honored at the ceremony was Jude Law with the Empire Hero Award for his role of Dr. Watson in Sherlock Holmes.
STAGE TUBE: Lister-Jones, Wein, White, LaChanze et al. in 'Breaking Upwards' FilmMarch 29, 2010The upcoming indie film, Breaking Upwards, is shaping up to be a stage star show, as Tony-winning actors Julie White, Andrea Martin and LaChanze, in addition to Peter Friedman, Olivia Thirlby, Ebon Moss-Bachrach, and Pablo Schreiber join filmmakers Zoe Lister-Jone and her real-life boyfriend Daryl Wein in the new flick. BroadwayWorld brings you the film's trailer below.
NEXT TO NORMAL Launches National Tour in Los Angeles Nov. 2010March 29, 2010The Producers of Broadway's most acclaimed new musical, Next to Normal, announced today that a National Tour will launch in Los Angeles in November 2010. Performances at the Center Theatre GroupAhmanson Theatre will begin November 23 and run through January 2. Winner of three Tony Awards - Best Score, Best Actress in a Musical, and Best Orchestrations - Next to Normal features music by Tom Kitt, book and lyrics by Brian Yorkey, and direction by Michael Greif.
STAGE TUBE: Bloomberg, Snooki, 'The Situation' on Stage with HAIR Tribe at Inner Circle BenefitMarch 29, 2010New York City saw a different side of its typically conservative Mayor, Michael Bloomberg, when he donned extensions and hippie garb on stage with Broadway's cast of Hair at the Inner Circle fundraiser dinner on Saturday, March 27, 2010 at The Hilton Hotel. Also joining the cast on stage in celebration were Jersey Shore cast members Snooki and Mike 'The Situation' Sorrentino. Watch the clips of the performances below!
STAGE TUBE: GLEE's Sylvester on Lambert, Harris & 'Sneaky Gays'March 29, 2010The countdown to the return of GLEE on April 13 has officially begun and FOX has released the latest installment of the 'Sue's Corner' promo for fans. In this clip, Sue Sylvester (played by Golden Globe nominee Jane Lynch) provides her insight on 'sneaky gays,' with a particular emphasis on Adam Lambert and Neil Patrick Harris. Check out her comedic rant below!
Tharp, COME FLY AWAY Cast, Tartaglia et al. Set for Macy's Flower Show Launch, 3/28March 26, 2010On Sunday, March 28, Macy's Herald Square will launch the 36th annual Macy's Flower Show, wherein visitors will experience a floral sanctuary as the main floor of the world's largest store is transformed into a massive living garden, beginning on March 28th. The launch event will begin with a fitting salute by choreographer Twyla Tharp and the cast of Come Fly Away in an official ribbon-cutting ceremony to kick off the pets on parade fashion show hosted by Lady Bunny. The festivities begin at Macy's Herald Square at 11:00am.
Blanchett-Led 'Robin Hood' to Open 63rd Cannes Film Festival, May 12March 26, 2010Variety reports today that Cate Blanchett's latest film, Robin Hood, directed by Ridley Scott and co-starring Russell Crowe, will be the opening film at the 2010, 63rd Annual Cannes Film Festival on May 12. The announcement does not come as a surprise to most, as the action-drama had been a top contender for the coveted placement for some time. The film will not play in competition at the festival, though it will mark its world premiere.
MARY POPPINS National Tour Celebrates First AnniversaryMarch 26, 2010The North American tour of MARY POPPINS celebrated its one year anniversary yesterday having opened in Chicago at the Cadillac Palace Theatre on March 25, 2009. During the past year the production has generated over $52 million at the box office and welcomed more than 762,000 theatergoers in eight cities, making it the best-selling and most attended new touring Broadway show in 2009.
Kansas Church to Protest Hillsdale's LARAMIE PROJECT; Counter Protests Planned 3/27March 26, 2010Kansas-based fundamentalist Westboro Baptist Church members have announced their intent to picket Hillsdale High School in San Mateo, California in a religious protest against the school's production of The Laramie Project, the Tony-Award winning play about the aftermath of a brutal anti-gay murder in Laramie, Wyoming. Hillsdale High School students who have organized a 'Lovefest' counter protest to show unity and tolerance for diversity within the community and to confront hate speech. Director Allison Gamlen chose this play to educate Hillsdale students about the need to accept people's differences.
Stage Actor William McIntyre Dies at 80March 26, 2010Stage actor William McIntyre passed away on March 19 in his hometown of in Englewood, N.J. at the age of 80. He died of natural causes, according to published reports.
Lloyd Webber: "Television shows have considerably increased theatre-going" March 26, 2010In the midst of filming his new BBC reality show, Over The Rainbow, in which he searches for the perfect 'Dorothy' for the upcoming West End production of The Wizard of Oz, Andrew Lloyd Webber reflects on the positive impact television reality specials have had on live theater, and how the small screen has helped him reach new fans.