Jessica Lewis - Page 48

June 21st will mark the 108th birthday of the late, legendary artist Al Hirschfeld. This month, to mark the occasion, The Al Hirschfeld Foundation celebrates the life and legacy of the artist with three special events.

In the 2010-2011 season, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT was honored with three Best Musical award nominations from the Drama Desk, Drama League and Outer Critics Circle Award organizations. Olivier Award nominee Tony Sheldon has also received a Tony Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical in addition to Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle and Drama League nominations and the Theatre World Award for outstanding Broadway debut. Sheldon was also honored with a Tony nomination as were costume designers Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner, who took home the prize. In celebration of the nominations, the company took the stage at the 2011 Tony Awards on Sunday with a performance of 'It's Raining Men' with the song's composer Paul Shaffer and original songstress Martha Wash. PRISCILLA ensemble member Thom Allison grabbed some backstage shots of the crew as they prepped for their performance and BroadwayWorld brings you a look backstage below!

Daniel Radcliffe, star of the Tony-nominated How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying and the beloved Harry Potter films, served as master of ceremonies as hundreds of students from middle and intermediate New York City Public Schools in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Manhattan had their Broadway debut at the Shubert Foundation/MTI Broadway JR. Student Celebration at the Majestic Theatre (245 West 44th Street) today, Monday, June 6th from 10:30 AM to noon. Each school performed a song from their production of a student version of a classic musical, including Annie JR., Once on this Island JR., Seussical JR., Disney's Aladdin JR. and Guys and Dolls JR. A list of schools which participated in the June 6th celebration follows.

Last night, Norbert Leo Butz took a moment during the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN curtain call to thank the company for all of their support and assistance in helping him deliver his Tony-winning performance. Click below to hear the heartfelt speech!

Stratford Shakespeare Festival's new production of Jesus Christ Superstar opened at The Avon Theatre on Friday June 3rd. Directed by Des McAnuff, the show tells the story of the last week of Christ's life and the relationship between Jesus, Judas and Mary Magdalene in a rock pop musical spectacular. The show's creator, Andrew Lloyd Webber visited the cast in rehearsal and BroadwayWorld brings you the group photo below!

Yesterday, June 14, 2011 SHREK The Musical opened at the Theatre Royal, Drury Lane after beginning previews on May 6, 2011. SHREK THE MUSICAL stars Nigel Lindsay as Shrek, Richard Blackwood as Donkey, Nigel Harman as Lord Farquaad and Amanda Holden as Princess Fiona. The company also includes Delroy Atkinson, Amy Beadel, Stephanie Bron, Dean Chisnall, Jon-Scott Clark, Ste Clough, Lee William-Davis, Ross Dawes, Lucie Downer, Alice Fearn, Michelle Francis, Ashley E Hale, Rosanna Hyland, Bradley Jaden, Aaron Lee Lambert, Emma Lindars, Grant Murphy, Spencer O'Brien, Landi Oshinowo, Damien Poole, Stuart Matthew Price, Jacqui Sanchez, Jonathan Stewart, Leigh-Anne Stone, Lucy Tapp, Karli Vale and Michael Watson. Check out the arrivals and after party red carpet photos from the big evening below!

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post today that Kristin Chenoweth led a private industry reading of Rise last week about Christian fundamentalist Tammy Faye Bakker. Bakker and her husband, Jim, are best known for starting the evengelical television program, 'The PTL Club,' in the 1970s.

On June 3, BroadwayWorld.com announced the recipients of the 9th annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards, voted on by YOU, the hundreds of thousands of theatregoers and fans who support New York theater on Broadway and off each season. On Sunday, June 12, the 65th annual Tony Awards Ceremony awarded Broadway's best with the famed honor, the winners selected by industry producers and additional movers and shakers. So how did the fan votes measure up to those of the industry professionals?

Yank!, which played the York Theatre off Broadway in the 2009-2010 season and which has an eye for Broadway will be given a workshop this fall in NYC, backed by the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. The workshop will run from October 10 through November 10, 2011. According to casting notices, actors for all parts are being sought.

The East Coast was not the only crowd that was in a celebratory mood on Sunday night for the Tony Awards, at which The Book of Mormon came out the big winner. In Seattle, Washington, the premiere cast of Disney's Aladdin, directed by Mormon's Casey Nicholaw, was also celebrating the nine Mormon Tonys, including the one accepted by Nicholaw for Best Direction of a Musical. Check out the cast photo below with Nicholaw!

New Producing Artistic Director Mark Cortale launches his first season at the helm of The Art House with a new concert series hosted by Broadway and Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky.

Beginning tomorrow, June 15, American Express Cardmembers will have the exclusive opportunity to purchase tickets to the Tony Award-Winning blockbuster The Book Of Mormon for shows running from April to September of 2012.

A priceless collection of Tony winners and nominees will be making this year's BROADWAY BARES XXI: MASTERPIECE a truly 'starry night' as they join more than 200 of Broadway's sexiest dancers in an auction-themed burlesque show that would make any art critic blush. BROADWAY BARES XXI: MASTERPIECE, which is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will be held Sunday, June 19, with two performances only (9:30 PM and midnight) at Roseland Ballroom (239 West 52nd Street).

After more than 185 previews, onstage and offstage drama, and the critics descending long before the opening, the official opening of SPIDER-MAN TURN OFF THE DARK is - at last - here tonight. The New York Times has just cleared up the speculation has whether original Spider-Man creator Julie Taymor would attend the opening, having been replaced by Philip William McKinley back in March.

The Guthrie Theatre has announced that it will host former company member and Emmy Award nominee Rainn Wilson (The Office) in conversation with Guthrie Director Joe Dowling on Sunday, July 17 at 1pm. The pair will discuss Wilson's celebrated career in theater, television and film.

On Sunday, June 12, BroadwayWorld.com brought you special and exclusive coverage throughout the night of the 65th Annual Tony Awards, airing on CBS live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City, including backstage videos, photos, speech transcriptions, winners stories, blogs and all the latest from the after parties. The night's big winner was The Book of Mormon, which took home nine prizes, including Best Musical. War Horse and Anything Goes were also evening standouts.

Catch a sneak peek of 'SpiderMonster, the Musical,' Sesame Street's new spoof of the Broadway show as part of the program's 42nd season. New episodes begin September 2011. Also the butt of a few punches at the Tony Awards last night, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark officially celebrates it's opening night on tomorrow, June 14 th at the Foxwoods Theatre.

The Handspring Puppet Company was the recipient of a 2011 Special Tony Award for their puppetry achievement in War Horse. Broadway Beat's Richie Ridge caught up with the Handspring artists following their big moment!

Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner are the 2011 recipients of the Tony Award for Best Costume Design for a Musical for Prisciall Queen of the Desert. Broadway Beat's Richie Ridge spoke with the pair immediately following their acceptance about what winning the award means to them. Click below to hear from the costumers right after their big moment!

Scott Pasek is the 2011 recipient of the Tony Award for Best Scenic Design of a Musical for The Book of Mormon. Broadway Beat's Richie Ridge spoke with the Broadway vet immediately following his acceptance. Click below to hear what the award means to him!