Nicole Rosky - Page 254

Today in 1935, Romeo and Juliet opened at the Martin Beck Theatre. Romeo and Juliet is a tragedy by William Shakespeare about two young star-crossed lovers whose deaths ultimately unite their feuding families. It was among Shakespeare's most popular archetypal stories of young, teenage lovers.

Entering its sixth and final 13-episode season, the musical comedy GLEE follows a group of ambitious and talented young adults in search of strength, acceptance and, ultimately, their voice. The sixth and final season premieres with a special two-hour event Friday, Jan. 9 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. In the video below, watch as Broadway veterans Matthew Morrison, Lea Michele and Darren Criss preview what's in store for the final season!

As 2014 comes to a close, it seems only fitting to look back on the craziest moments of this year- and there were many. From the cancellations of major productions to onstage flubs and unpredictable audience behavior, 2014 was nothing if not buzz-worthy. Below, BroadwayWorld invites you to recall the most bizarre, ridiculous and peculiar things that happened on Broadway this year.

It's a Benanti family Christmas in a new video from Tony winner Laura Benanti, titled 'Santa Baby: A Short Holiday Film.' Click below to find out what happens when Laura goes home for the holidays and gets in touch with her inner child!

Let's see what the critics had to say...

Happy Birthday, Ralph Fiennes! Fiennes' 2006 performance in the play Faith Healer gained him a nomination for a 2007 Tony Award. In 2008, Fiennes worked with frequent collaborator director Jonathan Kent to play the title role in Sophocles's Oedipus the King at The National Theatre in London. He has appeared in films such as The English Patient, In Bruges, The Constant Gardener, Strange Days and Maid in Manhattan. He is also well known for his portrayals of three infamous villains: Nazi war criminal Amon Goth in Schindler's List, serial killer Francis Dolarhyde in the 2002 film Red Dragon, and Lord Voldemort in the Harry Potter film series. Most recently, he appeared in The Reader (2008), The Hurt Locker (2009) and as Hades in Clash of the Titans (2010).

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, the new American play, Hand to God, will open on Broadway on April 7, 2015 at the Booth Theatre (222 West 45th Street), marking the Broadway debut of playwright Robert Askins. McCollum's three years of development on this play include its previous acclaimed productions at the Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) in 2011 and its more recent Off-Broadway debut at MCC Theater in 2014. Hand to God will again be directed by Moritz von Stuelpnagel in his Broadway debut with previews beginning at the Booth Theatre on March 12, 2015 ahead of the April 7th opening. For more info, visit www.HandToGodBroadway.com. Below, check out a just-released trailer for the Broadway-Bound play!

Tony Award-winning actress Victoria Clark (Sister Act, Cinderella) has been cast in Showtime's popular drama series HOMELAND.

It has been an epic year for Broadway, with a whopping twenty-four plays having opened in 2014. Before we get wrapped up in the theatre season ahead, BroadwayWorld wants to stop and salute the shows that made this year great. Check out our 2014 wrap up below! The plays of 2014 included: Machinal, Outside Mullingar, Bronx Bombers, All the Way, Mothers and Sons, A Raisin in the Sun, The Realistic Joneses, Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill, Of Mice and Men, Act One, The Cripple of Inishmaan, The Velocity of Autumn, Casa Valentina, This Is Our Youth, Love Letters, You Can't Take It With You, The Country House, The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, It's Only a Play, Disgraced, The Real Thing, The River, A Delicate Balance, and The Elephant Man.

It has been an epic year for Broadway, with a whopping fourteen musicals having opened in 2014. Before we get wrapped up in the theatre season ahead, BroadwayWorld wants to stop and salute the shows that made this year great. Check out our 2014 wrap up below! The musicals of 2014 included: Beautiful, The Bridges of Madison County, Rocky, Aladdin, Les Miserables, If/Then, Bullets Over Broadway, Violet, Hedwig and the Angry Inch, Cabaret, Holler If Ya Hear Me, On the Town, The Last Ship, Side Show.

Today in 1970, JESUS CHRIST SUERSTAR creators Andrew Lloyd Webber and Time Rice received gold records for the original cast album of the show. The musical started off as a rock opera concept recording before its first staging on Broadway in 1971. The musical is based very loosely on the Gospels' account of the last week of Jesus' life, beginning with the preparation for the arrival of Jesus and his disciples in Jerusalem, and ending with the crucifixion. It highlights political and interpersonal struggles between Judas Iscariot and Jesus, struggles that are not in the Bible. The resurrection is not included. It therefore largely follows the form of a traditional passion play.

Today in 1981, Dreamgirls opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1521 performances. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called 'The Dreams', who become music superstars. It was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and won six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006.

Today in 1996, the first Broadway revival of Once Upon a Mattress opened at the Broadhurst Theatre, where it ran for188 performances. Once Upon a Mattress is a musical comedy with music by Mary Rodgers, lyrics by Marshall Barer and book by Jay Thompson, Dean Fuller, and Marshall Barer. The play was written as an adaptation of the Hans Christian Andersen fairy tale The Princess and the Pea. Once Upon A Mattress marked the Broadway debut of later stage and TV legend Carol Burnett, who originated the role of Princess Winnifred.

Today in 2008, the third Broadway revival of Pal Joey opened at Studio 54, where it ran for 85 performances. Pal Joey is a musical with a book by John O'Hara (from his novel of the same title) and music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart based on a character and situations O'Hara created in a series of short stories published in The New Yorker. The original 1940 Broadway production was directed by George Abbott and starred Gene Kelly. There have been several revivals since, including a 2008-09 Broadway run, and a 1957 film adaptation starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak.

In the Heights might have wrapped up its Broadway run back in 2011, but creator Lin-Manuel Miranda is still treating fans to lost treasures from the show. Below, check out a demo track of 'I'm Out'- a cut song, in which Lincoln Rosario, Nina's brother, aspires to a songwriting career and quits the family taxi business.

Let's see what the critics had to say...

The 26th annual edition of Gypsy of the Year raised a record-breaking $5,229,611 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, thanks to six weeks of fundraising by 64 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies. The grand total was announced Tuesday, December 9, 2014, by special guests Hugh Jackman, Nathan Lane and Judith Light after two stellar performances of original dances, songs and skits by more than 200 'gypsies' from Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. The show's spirited opening number celebrated the 40th anniversary of The Wiz, one of the first large-scale, big-budget Broadway musicals to feature an all-black cast and winner of seven Tony Awards in 1975. Check out the full number below!

Honeymoon in Vegas, the eagerly anticipated new musical comedy with book by Blazing Saddles and Fletch writer Andrew Bergman and score by three-time Tony Award-winner Jason Robert Brown, is currently in previews at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street). BroadwayWorld brings you extended clips of 'I Love Betsy' and 'When You Say Vegas' below!

This holiday season, Birdland Jazz Club presents a special two-week engagement with beloved performer Michael Feinstein through December 27, 2014. A long-time friend of the club and frequent special guest at Cast Party, this NYC holiday tradition kicks off a year-long, global, centennial celebration of Frank Sinatra with a program of Ol' Blue Eyes favorite standards from the great American songbook. Below, BroadwayWorld is excited to bring you highlights from the show!

Today in 1998, Parade opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre, where it ran for 85 performances. Parade is a musical with a book by Alfred Uhry and music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown. The production was directed by Harold Prince and starred Brent Carver as Leo Frank, Carolee Carmello as Lucille Frank, and Christy Carlson Romano as Mary Phagan. The musical won Tony Awards for best book and best score (out of nine nominations) and six Drama Desk Awards. The show has enjoyed a U.S. national tour and numerous professional and amateur productions in both the U.S. and abroad.