Nicole Rosky - Page 184

Today in 2007, The Pirate Queen opened at the Hilton Theatre (now the FoxwoodsTheatre), where it ran for 85 performances. The Pirate Queen is a musical written by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Alain Boublil, best known for their adaptation of Les Miserables. It is based on the life and adventures of the 16th century Irish chieftain and pirate Grainne O'Malley, who was one of the last Irish clan leaders to resist the English conquest of Gaelic Ireland. The cast featured Stephanie J. Block as the title character and Linda Balgord, who was nominated for a Drama Desk Award for her performance as Queen Elizabeth I.

After four previously sold out shows, Broadway's Cinderella, Tony nominee Laura Osnes and music director Benjamin Rauhala returned to host The Broadway Princess Party at Feinstein's/54 Below. The all-star cast sang the most beloved 'Princess' songs of stage and screen in a magical evening. Where else might a little mermaid duet with a beautiful bookworm? Or might an ice queen drink tea with a princess who keeps only dwarves for company? Might the princess with a lost glass slipper confide in a princess who lives in a tower, with the longest of hair? Watch below to find out!

The Olivier Awards 2016 with MasterCard - the most prestigious event in the UK's theatrical calendar - took place last night at the Royal Opera House, hosted by Michael Ball. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners. Plus, watch the full ceremony HERE.

Today in 1971, Follies opened at the Winter Garden Theatre, where it ran for 522 performances. Follies is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by James Goldman. The story concerns a reunion in a crumbling Broadway theatre, scheduled for demolition, of the past performers of the 'Weismann's Follies,' a musical revue (based on the Ziegfeld Follies), that played in that theatre between the World Wars. The musical was nominated for eleven Tony Awards and won seven. The piece has enjoyed a number of major revivals, and several of its songs have become standards, including 'Broadway Baby', 'I'm Still Here', 'Too Many Mornings', 'Could I Leave You?', and 'Losing My Mind'.

She may be in WAITRESS now, but in 2010 Jessie Mueller was leading another big musical of this theatre season. Watch below as the Tony winner takes on 'Ice Cream' from SHE LOVES ME at Chicago's Writers Theatre!

The SpongeBob Musical will begin performances on Tuesday, June 7th at Broadway in Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL). This is a limited engagement through Sunday, July 3, 2016. Below, watch as ABC7 checks in witth some of the cast and creative team as they prepare the new show for the stage!

Cirque du Soleil Theatrical will soon present Cirque du Soleil -PARAMOUR, the organization's first production created specifically for Broadway. PARAMOUR will begin previews on Saturday, April 16, 2016 and open on Broadway on Wednesday, May 25, 2016 at the Lyric Theatre (213 West 42nd Street). The company met the press yesterday and you can go inside the special preview below!

Who is Annie without her red dress? Or Eva with out her balcony? It is the charge of the Broadway designer to transport the audience into the world of a show, whether it be Great Depression-era New York City or outside of the Casa Rosada. In our new series, Broadway by Design, BroadwayWorld will be shining a spotlight on the stellar designs of this Broadway season, show by show. Today, we continue the series with Eugene Lee and Jane Greenwood, who acted as scenic and costume designers for Broadway's shining new musical, BRIGHT STAR.

Up next in the Encores! season is 1776, the classic Tony Award-winning musical about how the founding fathers drafted the Declaration of Independence and gave birth to a new nation. A unique show that presents John Adams (Santino Fontana), Thomas Jefferson (John Behlmann), andBenjamin Franklin (John Larroquette) in all their fractious, fascinating complexity, 1776 features such beloved songs as 'Sit Down, John,' 'Cool, Cool, Considerate Men,' and 'He Plays the Violin.'

Today in 2008, the first Broadway revival of South Pacific opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where it ran for 996 performances. South Pacific is a musical with music by Richard Rodgers, lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and book by Hammerstein and Joshua Logan. The musical centers on an American nurse stationed at a U.S. Naval base during World War II who falls in love with an expatriate French plantation owner but struggles to accept his mixed-race children. A second romance concerns a U.S. Lieutenant who falls in love with a young Asian woman. The musical premiered in 1949 and won the Pulitzer Prize for Drama in 1950.

Today in 1992, Hamlet opened at Criterion Center Stage Right, where it ran for 45 performances. Set in the Kingdom of Denmark, the play dramatizes the revenge Prince Hamlet exacts on his uncle Claudius for murdering King Hamlet, Claudius's brother and Prince Hamlet's father, and then succeeding to the throne and taking as his wife Gertrude, the old king's widow and Prince Hamlet's mother. The play vividly portrays both true and feigned madness - from overwhelming grief to seething rage - and explores themes of treachery, revenge, incest, and moral corruption.

Happy Birthday Debbie Reynolds! Reynolds regularly appeared in movie musicals during the 1950s and had several hit records during the period. Perhaps her most high-profile film role was in Singin' in the Rain (1952) as Kathy Selden. On Broadway, Reynolds has starred in such shows as Irene, Debbie, and Woman of the Year. Reynolds appeared in her West End show Debbie Reynolds: Alive and Fabulous

Today in 2009, the second Broadway revival of HAIR opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 519 performances. Hair: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical is a rock musical with a book and lyrics by James Rado and Gerome Ragni and music by Galt MacDermot. A product of the hippie counter-culture and sexual revolution of the 1960s, several of its songs became anthems of the anti-Vietnam War peace movement. Hair tells the story of the 'tribe', a group of politically active, long-haired hippies of the 'Age of Aquarius' living a bohemian life in New York City and fighting against conscription into the Vietnam War.

It's a big week at DISASTER! As the show begins collections for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids, the company has put together some special post-show appearances to inspire generosity! Last night, Cheyenne Jackson was on hand to sing XANADU's 'Suddenly' with Kerry Butler. What will the audience be treated to tonight? Check back tomorrow morning to find out!

Actors' Equity Association President Kate Shindle has news to share! Below, watch as she explains the #BigChanges to come to Equity News starting April 4.

Today in 2000, Contact opened at the Vivien Beaumont Theatre, where it ran for 1010 performances.Contact: The Musical is a musical 'dance play' (some deemed it a ballet) that was developed by Susan Stroman and John Weidman, with its 'book' by Weidman and both choreography and direction by Stroman. It consists of three separate one-act dance plays. The show was received with much critical acclaim and won the 2000 Tony Award for Best Musical. A West End production opened at the Queen's Theatre in October 2002, and closed on May 10, 2003.

BroadwayWorld brings you performance highlights below!

With just a day before they take the stage, we're celebrating the spirit of the event with some miscast stories from some of Broadway's best, including Victoria Clark, Tony Yazbeck, Courtney Reed, John Larroquette, and many more!

Today in 1951, The King and I opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 1246 performances. The King and I is the fifth musical by the team of Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II. The work is based on the 1944 novel Anna and the King of Siam by Margaret Landon and derives from the memoirs of Anna Leonowens, who became governess to the children of King Mongkut of Siam in the early 1860s. The story deals with the experiences of the British schoolteacher, who is hired as part of the King's drive to modernize his country. The relationship between the King and Anna is marked by conflict through much of the play, as well as by a love that neither is able to express.

When Tony winner Micheal Ceveris isn't onstage at the Circle in the Square Theatre, he's performing with his band, Loose Cattle. Below, watch as they put a spin on FUN HOME's 'Pony Girl,' with as special arrangement by Cerveris himself!