STAGE TUBE: IDOL Finalist David Archuleta Preps to Serve Mormon MissionDecember 21, 2011David Archuleta is one of the American Idol's most famous runners up. The Season 7 second place finisher has since been building his independent music career and touring the country...a routine which will come to an end tomorrow. Following the close of his current holiday tour tonight, December 21, at the Vilar Performing Arts Center in Beaver Creek, Colorado, Archuleta will be taking a two year hiatus from music to become a Mormon missionary.
Photo Flash: AMERICAN IDIOT Hosts Public Preview Performances Upstate, Dec. 21 & 22December 21, 2011The North American tour of Green Day's AMERICAN IDIOT kicks off in Toronto on December 28 and run through January 15 before continuing on to 14 other markets across the United States. As a warm up the company will play two public preview performances tonight, December 21, and tomorrow, December 22 at the Stanley Theatre in Utica, New York before heading north to prep for the December 28 premiere. Check out the company in rehearsal below!
BWW EXCLUSIVE: THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN Revival Gets New Life with New Reading; Sutton Foster & Marc Kudisch StarDecember 20, 2011As first reported back in the Spring of 2010, Sutton Foster and her ANYTHING GOES director Kathleen Marshall had teamed up on a reading presentation of THE UNSINKABLE MOLLY BROWN, which could be gunning for a Broadway revival in the near future. In 2010, Foster starred alongside Craig Bierko in the role of James Joseph 'J.J.' Brown. Michael Riedel had reported in the New York Post at the time that Reba McEntire was being courted for the famous role of 'Molly'.
Weinstein Company Greenlights FINDING NEVERLAND Musical Following Successful London ReadingsDecember 20, 2011The New York Times reports today that a FINDING NEVERLAND musical has been greenlighted by The Weinstein Company for further development following successful readings in London last week. The project was last workshopped in New York this past spring and was scheduled to premiere at the La Jolla playhouse this fall. The Weinstein's pulled the project at the last minute (which was replaced at La Jolla by the Startford Festival's Jesus Christ Superstar, currently running) to develop further. Tony Award winner Rob Ashford helms the project, which has Broadway apsirations. The project marks the first musical on which the Weinstein company is lead producer.
Broadway's MAGIC BIRD Finds Its 'Magic'; Kevin Daniels Leads CastDecember 20, 2011MAGIC BIRD has found its "Magic". Producers of MAGIC BIRD, Fran Kirmser and Tony Ponturo report that the most widely asked question throughout the MAGIC BIRD process has been who is going to play Magic Johnson. On December 9th while the basketball fan learned the details of the newly announced NBA Season, in walked actor Kevin Daniels to the Magic Bird audition room.
STAGE TUBE: Hunter Parrish Records 'Beautiful City' for GODSPELL Cast Album - Inside the Studio!December 20, 2011The New Broadway Cast Recording of the revival of GODSPELL is being released digitally today, December 20, 2011 on Ghostlight Records. Produced by Stephen Schwartz, Michael Holland and Kurt Deutsch with Executive Producer Ken Davenport, the CD will be available in stores on Tuesday, January 31, 2012. Click below to go inside the recording studio to hear Hunter Parrish's rendition of 'Beautiful City'.
TV: Las 'Primeras Damas' Argentina!December 19, 201140 coreutas, un maestro de ceremonia, dos bailarines, una veintena de músicos y un Gran Rex lleno. Y ellas, por supuesto. 22 mujeres que dejaron todo en el escenario para demostrar por qué son las Primeras Damas del Musical.
David Hyde Pierce Opens in MTC's CLOSE UP SPACE Tonight, Dec. 19!December 19, 2011The Manhattan Theatre Club world premiere of CLOSE UP SPACE, by Molly Smith Metzler, directed by Leigh Silverman began previews Thursday, December 1 and opens Monday, December 19 at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street). Actor David Hyde Pierce will visit "LIVE!" on Monday December 12th to talk about his play "Close Up Space.' Check your local listings.
Lea Salonga, George Takei & Telly Leung Lead Broadway-Bound ALLEGIANCE for The Old Globe Next Winter!December 16, 2011The Old Globe will open its 2012-13 Winter Season with the World Premiere of Allegiance - A New American Musical. Created by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione with music and lyrics by Kuo, the original musical tells the story of a Japanese American family forced into an internment camp during World War II. Directed by Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz, West End premiere of Ragtime), the production features musical direction and arrangements by Lynne Shankel (Cry-Baby, Company) and choreography by Christopher Gattelli (Newsies, Godspell, South Pacific). Tony Award-winning actress Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon, Les Miserables), television and film icon George Takei ("Star Trek," "Heroes") and Telly Leung (Godspell, Rent) will star.
AUDIO Special: SEASONS GREETINGS: A JERSEY BOYS CHRISTMAS Radio Special - Part 3 December 17, 2011Now, Rhino has created a 1-hour radio show about "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas." The radio show features New Music From "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boy's Christmas" and exclusive interviews with Bob Gaudio, original founding member of The Four Seasons, the group's principal songwriter, and also the producer of the musical and Christmas CD; Ron Melrose, Musical Director, Associate Producer, and also arranged music for the Jersey Boys musical and Christmas CD; Michael David, President of the Jersey Boys Production Company; and Ryan Malloy & Tony Award Winner John Lloyd Young, Members of the Jersey Boys cast featured on "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas".
Below, BroadwayWorld brings you Part 3 of the radio segment. Click here to revisit Part 1 and here for Part 2.
AUDIO Special: SEASONS GREETINGS: A JERSEY BOYS CHRISTMAS Radio Special - Part 2December 16, 2011Now, Rhino has created a 1-hour radio show about "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas." The radio show features New Music From "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boy's Christmas" and exclusive interviews with Bob Gaudio, original founding member of The Four Seasons, the group's principal songwriter, and also the producer of the musical and Christmas CD; Ron Melrose, Musical Director, Associate Producer, and also arranged music for the Jersey Boys musical and Christmas CD; Michael David, President of the Jersey Boys Production Company; and Ryan Malloy & Tony Award Winner John Lloyd Young, Members of the Jersey Boys cast featured on "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas".
Below, BroadwayWorld brings you Part 2 of the radio segment. Click here to revisit Part 1 and check back tomorrow for Part 3!
Photo Flash: LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE Celebrates 900 Performances Off-BroadwayDecember 16, 2011Love, Loss, and What I Wore's newest cast members Emily Dorsch (Lincoln Center's In The Next Room) and Tony Award-winner Daisy Eagan (The Secret Garden) joined returning cast members Sonia Manzano (Maria on "Sesame Street"), Loretta Swit (Hot Lips Houlihan on "MASH") and Myra Lucretia Taylor (Broadway's Nine) to celebrate the production's 900 performance last night, December 15.
Photo Flash: Edward Gero and Patrick Andrews in RED at Arena StageDecember 16, 2011Edward Gero and Patrick Andrews star in Red at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater, produced in association with Goodman Theatre. John Logan's Tony Award-winning play ran at Goodman Theatre September 17-October 30, 2011, including a weeklong extension due to popular demand. Now bringing his production to Arena Stage for its D.C. premiere is Tony Award winner and Goodman Theatre Artistic Director Robert Falls (Broadway's Death of a Salesman, Long Day's Journey into Night, Talk Radio). Red runs January 20-March 4, 2012 in the Kreeger Theater. Check out production shots below!
AUDIO Special: SEASONS GREETINGS: A JERSEY BOYS CHRISTMAS Radio Special - Part 1December 15, 2011Now, Rhino has created a 1-hour radio show about "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas." The radio show features New Music From "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boy's Christmas" and exclusive interviews with Bob Gaudio, original founding member of The Four Seasons, the group's principal songwriter, and also the producer of the musical and Christmas CD; Ron Melrose, Musical Director, Associate Producer, and also arranged music for the Jersey Boys musical and Christmas CD; Michael David, President of the Jersey Boys Production Company; and Ryan Malloy & Tony Award Winner John Lloyd Young, Members of the Jersey Boys cast featured on "Seasons Greetings: A Jersey Boys Christmas". Below, BroadwayWorld brings you Part 1 of the radio segment. Check back the rest of the week for Parts 2 and 3!
Nicholas Hynter's ONE MAN, TWO GUVNORS Transfers to Royal Haymarket in 2012December 15, 2011Nicholas Hytner's five star award-winning production of One Man, Two Guvnors will transfer to the Theatre Royal Haymarket after two sell-out record-breaking runs at the National and Adelphi Theatres. Booking for performances at the Theatre Royal Haymarket, 2 March - 15 September 2012, will open on 16 December 2011. Owain Arthur will take over as lovable chancer Francis Henshall when the production moves to the Theatre Royal Haymarket having previously stepped in to the role at the Adelphi. Further casting will be announced shortly for the Theatre Royal Haymarket transfer.
FOLLIES, RELATIVELY SPEAKING Host Actors Fund Benefit Shows in Jan.December 14, 2011The Broadway productions of FOLLIES and RELATIVELY SPEAKING will host special, additional performances to benefit The Actors Fund in January, 2012. FOLLIES will play an nineth weekly show at the Marquis Theatre on Sunday, January 15 at 8pm. RELATIVELY SPEAKING will perform an additional weekly performance on January 29 at 8pm at its home, the Brooks Atkinson.
Jerry Mitchell & Ambassador Theatre Group Team for Jerry Mitchell ProductionsDecember 14, 2011The Ambassador Theatre Group Ltd (ATG), the UK's largest theatre company, with 39 venues in the UK, including 13 in the West End, announced today that it has partnered with Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, the acclaimed director and choreographer, to form Jerry Mitchell Productions. Jerry Mitchell Productions will work to develop, create and produce new productions for ATG theatres in London, New York and around the world. Mitchell will also take on a Creative Producer role, as well as being a Director/Choreographer on selected productions, and will focus on a wide range of projects from new commissions to fresh, innovative versions of classic pieces.