Photo Flash: First Look at PORGY & BESS on Broadway!January 10, 2012The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starring Audra McDonald as Bess, Norm Lewis as Porgy and David Alan Grier as Sporting Life. Production shots have just been released and below we bring you a first look!
TV: Check Out Adam Pascal as 'Huey' in MEMPHIS; New Performance Footage!January 10, 2012This past fall, Rent vet Adam Pascal stepped into the shoes of Tony nominee Chad Kimball as Broadway's newest 'Huey Calhoun' in MEMPHIS. Production footage of Pascal performing the show's 11th-hour number, 'Memphis Lives in Me' and the show's finale 'Steal Your Rock and Roll' has just been released and we bring it to you below!
STAGE TUBE: Unpacking The 'Marilyn' Musical in SMASHJanuary 10, 2012For all of those who can't get enough of SMASH, check out this new video below that details the making of the Marilyn musical within the series, written by Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (Hairspray, Catch Me If You Can), featuring interviews with team members and more!
UP ON THE MARQUEE: REBECCA!January 9, 2012REBECCA, based on the classic novel by Daphne Du Maurier novel, will open on Broadway Sunday, April 22 at The Broadhurst Theatre. Previews will begin Tuesday, March 27. The Broadway marquee is up and BroadwayWorld brings you a look below!
TV: Goodbye BILLY! BILLY ELLIOT Takes Final Bow on BroadwayJanuary 9, 2012BILLY ELLIOT played its final performance on Broadway last night, January 8, 2012 after three fantastic years and countless memories. For the final show, the current cast of Billys (and Michaels) alternated scenes in the show. The audience was filled with fans, family members, alumni of the cast and other special guests, and BroadwayWorld was there to capture the final emotional curtain call. Click below for video highlights from the final farewell!
TV: Behind the Scenes of THE TOXIC AVENGER with Constantine Maroulis, Joe DiPeitro, David Bryan and More!January 6, 2012The Alley Theater's production of The Toxic Avenger, starring American Idol and Rock of Ages alum Constantine Maroulis alongside Nancy Opel, begins previews on January 13, in anticipation of a January 20 opening night. With books & lyrics by Joe DiPietro, music & lyrics by David Bryan, based on the film The Toxic Avenger by Lloyd Kaufman, and directed by John Rando, the production will run through Sunday, February 12, 2012. Click below to get the behind-the-scenes scoop from the shows creators and get a sneak peek of rehearsal footage!
TV: Sneak Peek of IT IS DONE at The Mean FiddlerJanuary 6, 2012It is Done, the dark and dirty comedy/thriller by award-winning playwright Alex Goldberg about the secrets we keep, returns for a limited run at The Mean Fiddler Bar & Grill in midtown Manhattan on January 18, 19, 22, 23 & 24, 2012 only. Want a sneak peek at the production? Click below!
TV: First Look at Erin Davie, Ron Bohmer et al. in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE!January 5, 2012The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) opened Sunday in the Park with George, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts last night, January 4. The production will run through January 29, 2012. Get a first glimpse at the production with the video below!
Kennedy Center Cancels New PAL JOEY Production Scheduled for 2012January 5, 2012According to a notice from Actor's Equity, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has cancelled its planned production of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart's Pal Joey, which was to feature a new book by Terrence McNally. No official reason for the cancellation has been provided by the Kennedy Center today.
Photo Flash: Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony Concert Preview!January 5, 2012As previously reported, Idina Menzel's new PBS concert special, Idina Menzel Live: Barefoot at the Symphony, will exclusively premiere on Chicago's PBS affiliate WTTW on January 9 at 9:00 pm CST. Idina will be live in their studio to discuss her concert as part of a pledge drive for the station during its airing. The rest of the US will be able to tune in to their local PBS affiliate beginning March 3 for the special - check your local listings at PBS.ORG.
Want a sneak peek at the broadcast special? Check out stills from the concert featuring the Wicked star and maestro Marvin Hamlisch below!
Bono, Edge on SPIDER-MAN's Record-Setting Box Office: 'It Just Goes to Show That You Can't Keep a Good Superhero Down'January 5, 2012SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark rang in the New Year as the highest grossing show on Broadway, shattering the record for the highest single-week gross of any show in Broadway history. The total gross for the record-breaking week ending Sunday, January 1 was $2,941,790.20, besting the previous record of $2,228,235 set by Wicked in 2011. Playing to 17,375 audience members (100.02% capacity of The Foxwoods Theatre), SPIDER-MAN also enjoyed the highest single-week attendance by any show in Broadway history (playing a standard 9-show holiday schedule).
Hugh Jackman on Playing 'Valjean': 'It Just Feels Like a Pinnacle'January 5, 2012As BroadwayWorld reported Tuesday evening, Taylor Swift (Eponine) and Amanda Seyfried (Cosette) are the latest additions to the all-star cast of the upcoming Les Miserables movie musical adaptation, joining the previously set Hugh Jackman (ean Valjean), Russell Crowe (Javert), Sacha Baron Cohen (Thernardier), Eddie Redmayne (Marius), Aaron Tveit (Enjolras), Anne Hathaway (Fantine) and Helena Bonham Carter (Madame Thenardier).
Jackman recently spoke to New York Magazine about his upcoming stint in the famous role, revealing how getting this opportunity feels like the apex of his professional career.
2012 Poised to Usher In a New Golden Age for Movie Musicals; WICKED, AMERICAN IDIOT, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR & More in DevelopmentJanuary 5, 2012Variety reports today that despite an absence of movie musicals in multiplexes around the country this past year, 2012 is poised to usher in a record number of musical adaptations on the big screen. The season of musical films will begin with Joyful Noise (Warner Brothers), starring Dolly Parton, Queen Latifah and Broadway's own Jeremy Jordan, set for release on January 13. Throughout the year, musical lovers can expect cinematic renditions of the highly anticipated Rock of Ages (June 1), starring A-listers Tom Cruise, Catherine Zeta-Jones, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin and more, and Les Miserables (December 7) with the likes of Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Anne Hathaway, Taylor Swift, Amanda Seyfried, Broadway's Aaron Tveit and others.