Nicole Rosky - Page 296

Today in 1987, Starlight Express opened at the Gershwin Theatre, where it ran for 761 performances. Starlight Express is a rock musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber (music), Richard Stilgoe (lyrics) and Arlene Phillips (choreography), with later revisions by Don Black (lyrics) and David Yazbek (music and lyrics for the 2nd US tour). The story follows a child's dream in which his toy train set comes to life; famously the actors perform wearing roller skates.

Today in 2002, Sweet Smell of Success opened at the Martin Beck Theatre (now the Al Hirschfeld Theatre), where it ran for 109 performances. Created by Marvin Hamlisch (music), Craig Carnelia (lyrics), and John Guare (book), the show is based on the 1957 movie of the same name. It tells the story of a powerful newspaper columnist named J. J. Hunsecker (based on famed New York columnist Walter Winchell) who uses his connections to ruin his sister's relationship with a man he deems inappropriate. The show starred John Lithgow as J.J. Hunsecker, and Brian d'Arcy James as Sidney Falcone.

Today in 1947, Brigadoon opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre, where it ran for 581 performances. Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. It tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. Brigadoon then received a West End production opening in 1949 that ran for 685 performances, and many revivals followed. A 1954 film version starred Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. A 1966 television version starred Robert Goulet and Peter Falk.

Lincoln Center Theater will soon present Act One, a play written and directed by James Lapine from the autobiography by Moss Hart. The production is scheduled to begin previews Thursday, March 20 and open on Thursday, April 17 at the Vivian Beaumont Theater (150 West 65 Street). The play will feature Bill Army, Will Brill, Laurel Casillo, Chuck Cooper, Steven Kaplan, Will LeBow, Mimi Lieber,Charlotte Maier, Andrea Martin, Deborah Offner, Matthew Saldivar, Matthew Schechter, Bob Stillman,Amy Warren, Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub. BroadwayWorld brings you the just-released television spot, featuring Shalhoub, Fontana & Martin, below!

The Broadway premier production of Lanie Robertson's Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill is on the search for a small dog to perform with five-time Tony Award-winner Audra McDonald as the show has a dog written into it. The producers of the show have been looking for submissions for a small dog to be cast in the show and actual callbacks were held yesterday, March 11th at the Circle in the Square Theatre (1633 Broadway). Audra McDonald and Broadway animal trainer Bill Berloni were on hand to judge selected finalists and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to chat with the whole gang. Go inside the puppy auditions below!

The Goodman Theatre presents Rufus Collins (Broadway's To Be or Not To Be and The Royal Family) and Amanda Drinkall (Strawdog Theatre Company's Great Expectations and Measure for Measure at the Goodman) Venus in Fur, helmed by Joanie Schultz. As previously announced, Venus in Fur runs March 8 - April 13 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Tuesday, March 18). BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below!

On March 21, 2014, The New York Pops continues its 31st season at Carnegie Hall with On Broadway, an evening celebrating some of Broadway's most unforgettable hits from the past and present, featuring Tony Award nominees Stephanie J. Block and Andrew Rannells. The duo just gave a special preview of the concert and BroadwayWord was on hand to catch a sneak peek. Check out what they had to say about the special event below!

Let's see what the critics had to say...Urinetown, the musical, runs at The St James Theatre until 3 May 2014, starring Marc Elliott (EastEnders/The History Boys/Tape) as Mr. McQueen, Richard Fleeshman (Ghost/Legally Blonde/Coronation Street) as Bobby Strong, Simon Paisley Day (Sherlock/Musketeers/Timon Of Athens) as Caldwell B. Cladwell, Jenna Russell (Merrily We Roll Along/Sunday In The Park With George/Guys And Dolls) as Penelope Pennywise, Jonathan Slinger (Hamlet/The Tempest/Yes, Prime Minister) as Officer Lockstock and is directed by Jamie Lloyd (The Commitments, Macbeth, The Hothouse, The Pride) at the St James Theatre.

Happy Birthday, Liza Minnelli! Tony and Oscar winning Broadway, film and TV star Liza Minnelli has appeared on Broadway in Flora, The Red Menace -- for which she won the 1965 Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical -- Liza, Chicago, The Act (another Tony win in 1978), The Rink, Victor / Victoria, Minnelli on Minnelli and Liza's at the Palace. She also received a special Tony Award in 1978 She has appeared as herself on TV in Smash, The Voice UK, So You Think You Can Dance, The Apprentice and more, and she is also known for her portrayal of Lucille Austero in the now-Netflix-based comedy series Arrested Development.

Today in 1987, Les Miserables opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 6680 performances. Written by Claude-Michel Schonberg, based on the novel by Victor Hugo, Les Miserables is set in early 19th-century France. The plot follows the stories of many characters as they struggle for redemption and revolution. An ensemble that includes prostitutes, student revolutionaries, factory workers, and others joins the lead characters. In January 2010, it played its ten-thousandth performance in London, at Queen's Theatre in London's West End. On 3 October 2010, the show celebrated its 25th anniversary with three productions running in the same city: the original show at London's West End; the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary touring production at the original home of the show, the Barbican Centre; and the Twenty-Fifth Anniversary concert at London's O2 Arena. The original Broadway cast included Colm Wilkinson as Jean Valjean, David Bryant as Marius, Judy Kuhn as Cosette, Michael Maguire as Enjolras, Frances Ruffelle as Eponine, Braden Danner as Gavroche, Donna Vivino as Young Cosette, Jennifer Butt as Madame Thenardier, Leo Burmester as Thenardier, Randy Graff as Fantine, and Terrence Mann as Javert.

Jeanna recently chatted with BroadwayWorld about making her KINKY debut, how she got the role, advice she got from Ashford and more! Check out the full interview below!

Disney's Aladdin, a new musical comedy based on the Academy Award®-winning animated film, is currently in previews at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre, prior to opening on March 20th. Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions, the show features music by Tony Award® and eight-time Oscar® winner Alan Menken (Beauty and the Beast, Newsies, Sister Act), lyrics by two-time Oscar winner Howard Ashman (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid), three-time Tony Award and three-time Oscar winner Tim Rice (Evita, Aida) and two-time Tony Award nominee Chad Beguelin (The Wedding Singer), with a book by Beguelin, and is directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Casey Nicholaw (The Book of Mormon). In the video below, go behind the scenes of the Broadway sitzprobe with the cast!

Today in 2001, A Class Act opened at the Ambassador Theatre, where it ran for 105 performances. A Class Act is a musical with a book by Linda Kline and Lonny Price and music and lyrics by Edward Kleban. The musical is based on the life of composer-lyricist Ed Kleban, who died at the age of 48 in 1987. The musical uses flashbacks and the device of time running backwards to retrace the high and low points of Kleban's personal and professional life.

Come look at the freaks! Last night at 54 Below, performers celebrated Bill Russell and Henry Krieger's Side Show in 'I Will Never Leave You: 54 Sings Side Show.' Directed by Russell, the special concert featured the talents of Lauren Kennedy, Norm Lewis, Jeff McCarthy, Hugh Panaro, Alice Ripley, The Skivvies and more. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you two performances from the Skivvies, including 'Come Look at the Freaks' and 'The Devil You Know' featuring original Side Show star Norm Lewis.

Over the weekend, Four-time Grammy Award-winner k.d. lang, who just concluded her engagement as "Special Guest Star" in Broadway's After Midnight, offered the audience a live, rare performance of her legendary rendition of the Leonard Cohen classic, 'Hallelujah' (which she famously performed at the 2010 Olympic Games Closing Ceremonies). She gave the special encore to raise money for The Actors Fund, and was joined on stage by the Tony Award-winning chairman of the organization, Brian Stokes Mitchell.

The Last Ship, with an original score by 16-time Grammy Award® winner Sting, will have its pre-Broadway World Premiere at Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 West Monroe) from June 10 - July 13, 2014. The Last Ship will open on Broadway in the fall of 2014. An epic yet intimate tale inspired by Sting's own childhood experiences, this World Premiere production features direction by two-time Tony Award® winner Joe Mantello (Wicked), a book by Tony Award® winner John Logan (Red) and Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award® winner Brian Yorkey (Next to Normal) and choreography by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award® Nominee Steven Hoggett (Once). Check out a just-released television spot for the musical below!

Two-time Tony Award-winner Sutton Foster returns to Roundabout in the highly anticipated Broadway debut of the musical Violet, following the acclaimed concert performance at City Center Encores! Off-Center. The production just released a new TV spot featuring Foster, Colin Donnell and Joshua Henry, and you can check it out below!

The Velocity of Autumn will begin previews Tuesday, April 1, 2014, at Broadway's Booth Theatre (222 West 45 Street) for a limited engagement, following a sold-out, critically acclaimed run at Washington DC's Arena Stage (Edgar Dobie, Executive Producer) in the Fall of 2013. The Velocity of Autumn is a 90-minute powder keg dark comedy by Eric Coble that stars Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons(Bonnie and Clyde, 'Roseanne') and two-time Tony Award winner Stephen Spinella (Angels In America, Spring Awakening), is directed by Molly Smith and will open Monday, April 21, 2014. The Velocity of Autumn will mark the Broadway debuts of playwright Eric Coble and director Molly Smith. BroadwayWorld brings you a just-released television spot for the play below!

All the Way, the new play by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Robert Schenkkan, starring BREAKING BAD's Bryan Cranston, opened last week, March 6, 2014, on Broadway at the Neil Simon Theatre. The play is directed by Bill Rauch, Artistic Director of the Oregon Shakespeare Festival, where All the Way began its theatrical life. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action!

Today in 1975, The Rocky Horror Show opened at the Belasco Theatre, where it ran for 45 performances. The Rocky Horror Show was written by Richard O'Brien, produced and directed by Jim Sharman. It tells the story of a newly engaged couple getting caught in a storm and coming to the home of a mad transvestite scientist unveiling his new creation, a muscle man named Rocky Horror. The musical was adapted into the 1975 film The Rocky Horror Picture Show, which today has a worldwide cult following and has the longest running release in film history.