Six years after she was crowned the winner on AMERICAN IDOL, Fantasia Barrino is inviting cameras into her life once again for a VH1 Documentary called 'Fantasia For Real'. In an interview with the New York Post, Barrino discusses her reasons for agreeing to the documentary, and also opens up about her recent financial setbacks.

TV Guide is reporting that Howie Mandel has signed on as judge for NBC's AMERICA'S GOT TALENT, replacing departed judge David Hasselhoff who announced last week that he was leaving the show to work on his own venture. Mandel, the Emmy-nominated former 'Deal or No Deal' host will join Sharon Osbourne and Piers Morgan at the judges' table.

This Friday January 8th THE AFTER PARTY is thrilled to welcome Finian's Rainbow's TYRICK WILTEZ JONES and American Idiot's ALYSHA UMPHRESS

In another exciting casting 'twist', the DuPont Theatre announces the addition of Ashleigh and Ryan Di Lello from So You Think You Can Dance to the starry list of Ballroom with a Twist's featured dancers.

This Friday January 8th THE AFTER PARTY is thrilled to welcome Finian's Rainbow's TYRICK WILTEZ JONES and American Idiot's ALYSHA UMPHRESS

The new touring production of 'Dreamgirls' is currently taking Wisconsin's Marcus Center by storm. Directed and choreographed by Robert Longbottom with co-choreography by Shane Sparks, the production is re-introducing audiences to the backstage drama and on-stage glamour of three young singers who are catapulted into the spotlight, and find that fame and happiness don't necessarily go hand in hand.

Cardinal Theatricals announces today complete casting for the first locally produced professional staging of RENT which opens at The Lab in Minneapolis beginning February 3.

Ashleigh and Ryan Di Lello from So You Think You Can Dance have joined the touring show of 'Ballroom with a Twist' already featuring the talent of the hit series 'Dancing With The Stars' Dmitry Chaplin, Chelsie Hightower, as well as the husband and wife team of Jonathan Roberts and Anna Trebunskaya.

Producer John Breglio and Time Warner Broadway at the Marcus Center announced casting today for the national tour of DREAMGIRLS, coming to Milwaukee January 5-10, 2010. Tickets go on sale on November 8 at Noon at the Marcus Center Box Office.

A timeless artist whose career spans nearly thirty years of chart topping singles and multi-platinum albums, New York's native son Bobby Caldwell is returning home for two shows this month at the legendary B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on January 23rd at 7:30pm and 10:00pm.

Producer John Breglio and PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh are proud to present the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS at Heinz Hall, Tuesday, December 29, 2009, through Sunday, January 3, 2010, for eight dynamic performances. PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

After a successful nine and a half month run, The Toxic Avenger, the critically-acclaimed Off-Broadway musical, will end its New York run, having played over 300 performances at New World Stages on Sunday, January 3rd, 2010, to prepare for its national tour. The Toxic Avenger had its world premiere at the George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, New Jersey where it broke box office records before transferring Off-Broadway, beginning previews on March 18, 2009 and officially opening on April 6, 2009.

Reports are circulating that Precious star Mariah Carey is in talks to play the mother of High School Musical vet Vanessa Hudgens in a new movie based on The X-Factor and American Idol television shows.

Producer John Breglio and PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh are proud to present the smash hit musical DREAMGIRLS at Heinz Hall, Tuesday, December 29, 2009, through Sunday, January 3, 2010, for eight dynamic performances. PNC Broadway Across America - Pittsburgh is a presentation of The Pittsburgh Cultural Trust, Pittsburgh Symphony and Broadway Across America.

Zak Resnick (Broadway Boys) has been added to the previous line-up for the Monday Night January 11, 2010 Concert with Jonathan Reid Gealt.

The sheer popularity of reality TV talent competitions, such as 'So You Think You Can Dance' and 'American Idol' is no longer undermined: these shows have proven to be global platforms capable of launching emerging talent to millions of living rooms across the world. But while the foray into everyday water-cooler talk may be fleeting for many contestants, some find a niche to showcase their talent elsewhere, namely the stage.

Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's is presenting its annual LA's Next Great Stage STAR! What a terrific event! Not unlike TV's American Idol, talented artists compete before judges and a live audience. At Sterling's they go head to head for 6 Sundays: the first was November 29 with the finale to take place on January 3, 2010 at 12pm. At that time 13/18 contestants will be eliminated and the 5 remaining contestants will go on to compete once more. From these 5 the winner will be announced. The winner will receive $1000 in cash as well as a paid headlining engagement at Sterling's, and a variety of auditions for local musical theatres such as the outstanding Musical Theatre West and Cabrillo Music Theatre. The 4 runners up will also get headlining engagements at Sterling's and various private auditions as well.

Broadway Sessions w/ Ben D is thrilled to offer it's 2nd annual Holiday concert at midtown nightclub Therapy, Decmeber 22nd at 11 pm.

NYC ukulele comedian Ben Lerman is making a special trip to New Orleans this December to mark the release of his new EP, 'Size Matters'!

Onemoe Music, LLC & Karen Poindexter present Trent Armand Kendall returns to The Laurie Beechman Theatre for four Mondays in November & December in PICTURE INCOMPLETE a new musical.

'American Idol' finalists Michael Sarver (Season 8), Alexis Grace (Season 8) David Hernandez (Season 7) and Gina Glocksen (Season 6) will be entertaining the masses once again as they embark on a Holiday Tour, which launches December 2, 2009 in Lakeland, FL and will make stops in 12 cities across the U.S.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 35th Season with Souvenir, Stephen Temperley's true musical story of 'The Tone-deaf Diva' Florence Foster Jenkins. The production, directed by Steve Scott, runs November 12- December 20, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Northlight Theatre, under the direction of Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans, continues its 35th Season with Souvenir, Stephen Temperley's true musical story of 'The Tone-deaf Diva' Florence Foster Jenkins. The production, directed by Steve Scott, runs November 12- December 20, 2009 at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Rock of Ages and Camp Broadway are teaming up this winter to promote two new initiatives aimed at reaching teens and young adults, 13 and up.

Imaginations will soar, hearts will dance and applause will thunder when more than 1,500 students, teachers, and Broadway professionals raise their voices in celebration of on-stage and backstage excellence in musical theater at the 2010 Junior Theater Festival, it was announced today by Timothy A. McDonald, Founding Chairman of iTheatrics and Nick Manos, President of Atlanta's Theater of the Stars. The Junior Theater Festival is the world's largest musical theater festival dedicated to groups working with elementary and middle school students and is presented by Music Theatre International and is hosted and produced by iTheatrics and Atlanta's Theater of the Stars. The 2010 Festival will be held at the Cobb Galleria Centre in Atlanta, GA on January 15-17, 2010.