Jessica Lewis - Page 77

On January 30, an all-star roster of CHICAGO alumni celebrated CHICAGO's 'Facebook Fan Day,' a one-of-a-kind performance marking the first time in Broadway history that a production has given away its entire house to Facebook fans for FREE. Participants included Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (Broadway's original Velma Kelly), Vincent Pastore (Amos Hart), Tony Award winner Lillias White (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Roxie Hart), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton) and many more, plus current CHICAGO stars Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Leigh Zimmerman (Velma Kelly), Colman Domingo (Billy Flynn), Robert Creighton (Amos Hart) and LaVon Fisher-Wilson (Matron 'Mama' Morton). Also in attendance were producer Barry Weissler, special guest hosts Julie James and Seth Rudetsky of SiriusXM Radio's 'On Broadway' channel, and over 1,000 of CHICAGO's top fans, all of whom are attending this very special performance for free.

Ain't It Cool News has revealed the details of the first 25 minutes of The Book of Mormon musical. Seems audiences are in for a number of surprises, if the play-by-play provided is any indication.

WONDERLAND opens on Broadway April 17, with previews beginning March 21. Click below for a trip inside the show!

The Susan Smith Blackburn Prize has announced 10 Finalists for its prestigious playwriting award, now celebrating it's thirty-third year. The Houston-based Prize received the 2010 Theatre Communications Group's National Funder Award. The annual honor goes to a company, foundation or other entity for 'leadership and sustained national support of theater in America.'

Following the success of last summer's Shakespeare in the Park productions of The Merchant of Venice and The Winter's Tale, The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Andrew D. Hamingson) will once again stage two Shakespeare plays in repertory, running June 6 through July 31 at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Daniel Sullivan, who recently directed Twelfth Night and The Merchant of Venice in the Park, will direct ALL'S WELL THAT ENDS WELL and David Esbjornson, who directed Much Ado About Nothing in the Park, will direct MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Bank of America returns as lead sponsor of Shakespeare in the Park 2011, supporting The Public's mission to keep Shakespeare in the Park free.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have announced that Tony Award-winner Victoria Clark will co-star as Mother Superior in the new Broadway musical, SISTER ACT, beginning preview performances on March 24, 2011 and opening on Wednesday, April 20, 2011 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). As previously announced, Olivier Award nominee Patina Miller will reprise her critically acclaimed performance as Deloris Van Cartier, which she originated in the West End production of SISTER ACT.

On Sunday, April 3, 2011 at 8:30 p.m. in the Kennedy Center Opera House, the Kennedy Center will present its 19th annual Kennedy Center Spring Gala. Titled Michael Kaiser at the Kennedy Center: A Celebration of Ten Years, the event will be hosted by Smokey Robinson and will feature a selection of performers who have worked with Kaiser over the years, including Joshua Bell, Barbara Cook, Renée Fleming, Audra McDonald, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Marcelo Gomes and Paloma Herrera of American Ballet Theatre, members of New York City Ballet, and the National Symphony Orchestra conducted by Music Director Christoph Eschenbach. The evening will be co-chaired by Adrienne Arsht, Betsy DeVos, Alma Gildenhorn, Helen Henderson, Ann Jordan, Alma Powell, Catherine B. Reynolds, and Vicki Sant.

New York Theatre Workshop presents Peter and the Starcatcher, written by Rick Elice, directed by Roger Rees and Alex Timbers, based upon the novel by Dave Barry and Ridley Pearson. The cast of Peter and the Starcatcher features Adam Chanler-Berat, Christian Borle, and Celia Keenan-Bolger. The company also includes Teddy Bergman, Arnie Burton, Matt D'Amico, Brandon Dirden, Carson Elrod, Kevin Del Aguila, Greg Hildreth, Karl Kenzler, and David Rossmer.

The Manhattan Theatre Club New York premiere of THE WHIPPING MAN, the acclaimed new play by Matthew Lopez, directed by Tony Award winner Doug Hughes, announced today that due to popular demand, the limited engagement has been extended again with tickets now on sale through Sunday, March 27. This marks the second extension for THE WHIPPING MAN as the show prepares to open today, Tuesday February 1, at MTC at New York City Center-Stage I (131 West 55th Street).

Last week, as part of a new work convening at Arena Stage, I was able to finally spark a conversation that I have been wanting to have for over a year now.Rocco Landesman, the Broadway producer responsible for a multitude of hits and current chairman of the National Endowment for the Arts, published an post in his blog today which discussed the changing role of the NEA in the future, how to balance supply and demand in the arts, and more.

Click below for a first listen to the tracks featured in the upcoming 'The Sue Sylvester Bowl Shuffle' episode! Songs include a Thriller / Heads Will Roll mash-up, Bills, Bills, Bills, and Need You Now.

Famed film and stage composer John Barry passed away yesterday, January 30, of a sudden heart attack at the age of 77. He was best known for composing 11 James Bond soundtracks and helping to brand the 007 series' distinctive style. In a career spanning almost 50 years, Barry received four Grammy Awards and five Academy Awards; two for Born Free, and one each for The Lion in Winter (also won a BAFTA), Out of Africa and Dances with Wolves. Addition films include Midnight Cowboy, Born Free, and Somewhere in Time.

The longest-running show in Broadway history, the Cameron Mackintosh/Really Useful Group, Inc. production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, directed by Harold Prince, reached an unprecedented milestone on January 26, 2011, when it celebrated its Twenty-Third Anniversary on Broadway. Playing its 9,566th & 9,567th performances at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street), it becomes the first Broadway production ever to have run 23 years. Broadway Beat was there for the occasion and brings you coverage below.

Previews begin Monday, January 31st at 8pm, for the LCT3 production of WHEN I COME TO DIE, a new play by Nathan Louis Jackson, directed by Thomas Kail. The second of LCT3's three productions during the 2010-2011 season. LCT3 is Lincoln Center Theater's programming initiative devoted to producing the work of new artists and developing new audiences. WHEN I COME TO DIE is the second of three LCT3 productions during its 2010-2011 season. Opening night is Thursday, February 10 at 6:45 pm at The Duke on 42nd Street, a NEW 42ND STREET® project, (229 W. 42 Street).

Darkhorizons.com has confirmed that Dame Judi Dench will be returning in her role as 'M' in the upcoming, 23rd installment of the James Bond series. Daniel Craig will also return as '007' for Bond 23. Production for the film is set to begin in late 2011. Sam Mendes will direct the film and Neal Purvis, Robert Wade and John Logan will write the screenplay. Details on the plot of the film have not yet been released.

The cast of Broadway's Tony Award winning Best Musical MEMPHIS performed 'Steal Your Rock ‘n' Roll' live on ABC's 'Good Morning America' This morning, January 28th in the 8am hour. Click below for the performance.

The 83rd Annual Academy Awards ceremony is several weeks away, but the buzz and rumors have begun. The latest, Tangled stars Zachary Levi and Mandy Moore will be accompanied by Alan Menken in one of the night's live performances. Sources also tell us that co-hosts Anne Hathaway and James Franco will be performing a spoof of Little Shop of Horrors with their rendition of 'Suddenly Seymour.'

Click below for video introductions to the Public's upcoming Winter/Spring selections, including Compulsion, Timon of Athens, and Tony Kushner's The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism with a Key to the Scriptures.

Want to eat like a GLEEK? Click below for the cast's tips on the best Superbowl recipes. GLEE returns to FOX after a winter hiatus on Sunday, February 6 after the Super Bowl.

Wonderland's 'Queen of Hearts' Karen Mason will play Chicago's Davenport's Piano Bar, February 9 through February 14.