Broadway gets bitten by BAT!

Jeremy Jordan electrically performs an iconic smash hit for the songwriter himself - and takes a selfie with him mid-performance!

A FOOTLOOSE smash gets remixed for 2015!

Today we are analyzing the absolute biggest battles at this year's hotly anticipated Tony Awards, shedding a light on the most epic battle royales of the night with legendary leading ladies squaring off, British blockbusters battling it out with homegrown American fare, one of the fiercest Best Musical match-ups in history and some of the toughest revival competition in recent memory, as well. Of course, the Tony Awards will be broadcast on CBS on June 7, but for the next month we all wait with tongues wagging to see who will come out on top on Broadway's biggest and brightest night - before the eyes of all of America, no less.

The 2015 Tony Award nominations were revealed yesterday and the usual surprises, snubs and expected acknowledgements were on full display - with perhaps more surprises and snubs than in any year in recent memory. While the elaborate production of AN AMERICAN IN PARIS tied with the small-scale FUN HOME for the most nominations of any production, 12, some other new musicals and early favorites were left out in the cold - in the case of FINDING NEVERLAND and FISH IN THE DARK, forgotten entirely. Plus, in a rare tie, the Best Supporting Actor In A Play category is now outfitted with six potential winners as opposed to the traditional allotment of five per category. Besides all of that, the Tony Awards hosts were announced at long last, as well - none other than fellow Tony Award winners Alan Cumming and Kristin Chenoweth. So, for a review of the most notable surprises, snubs and celebratory salutes, read on.

While Broadway is heaven for theatergoers around the world, especially when the season reaches its fever pitch as it is right now, it can also be hell in the right hands. And, that's a good thing. As the exceedingly well-received new play HAND TO GOD which opened earlier this month proves, audiences adore a good scare - particularly when it is supported by a rich and dynamic dramatic basis upon which the horror-show can play out, which HAND TO GOD undoubtedly has in spades (and pitchforks). Needless to say, many of the most popular and successful musicals of all time have also dealt with demonic presences - even if in the case of Broadway's two biggest hits, they are misunderstood monsters. Indeed, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA remains the longest-running show in Broadway history, approaching its 20th year on the Great White Way, while Oz-themed witch-centric musical mega-hit WICKED remains one of the hottest tickets in town. With this week's news of Hollywood heartthrob Jake Gyllenhaal starring in an upcoming Encores! special limited-run production of cult hit and famous Off-Broadway mainstay LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS - not to mention the big news of a brand new small screen version of the ultimate cult movie musical, THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, being revived for a new generation - it seems more than merely appropriate to turn our attention to the scariest, bloodiest and best horror-themed musicals to date.

A world premiere recording by Adam Pascal!

Adam Pascal tackles a classic rock staple!

A world premiere recording by Adam Pascal!

A world premiere recording by Adam Pascal!

Today we are shining a spotlight on some rarely discussed and unusual connections between the world of William Shakespeare and theatrical pop culture at large. Given the wide breadth of material contained within the canon of the Bard, it is certainly no understatement to claim that the connections are virtually endless between many modern tropes, terms, themes and ideas that derive in his classic plays - whether they be tragedies, comedies, histories or latter plays - yet the intriguing aspects of many of the lesser-known theatrical connections between Shakespeare and modern theatre are illuminating and fascinating to unearth. Ranging from the influence of Shakespeare on some of our greatest musical theatre masters - Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim and William Finn included - through to the inspiration behind both Broadway's most lucrative production in history (THE LION KING) and the longest-running show in NYC to date (THE FANTASTICKS), the impact of Shakespeare on Broadway is impossible to accurately calculate - and, now, with the lovable and hilarious Shakespeare paean SOMETHING ROTTEN! poised to open later this month, the Bard is about to get a fresh jolt of electricity, buzz and excitement from the theatre community at large. Fear no more, indeed.

A young Broadway star gets a song all her own!

What a renaissance - again! Although the period beginning with THE LITTLE MERMAID in 1989 through to the doubleheader of POCAHANTAS in 1995 and THE HUNCHBACK OF NOTRE DAME in 1996 and ending with MULAN in 1997 is considered by House Of Mouse superfans and many entertainment enthusiasts as the official Disney Renaissance era - meaning the company once again came to major prominence as a direct result of its animated musicals - it very much looks as if an entirely new type of Disney rebirth is in the process of occurring, spurred on by the worldwide success of the esteemed company's most successful animated feature to date, the highly theatrical and Broadway pedigreed FROZEN. Of course, in any way matching an era which in addition to MERMAID, POCAHANTAS, HUNCHBACK and MULAN shepherded BEAUTY & THE BEAST, ALADDIN and THE LION KING from inspiration to actuality would be a high order, if not outright impossible, yet it seems that the recent, current and upcoming spate of ingenuously timed and expertly devised projects that Disney possesses at the moment could put them in that stratospheric level of uber entity once again in the industry - and in the hearts and minds of millions around the world, as well.

Josh Young spectacularly sings JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR!

This week it was announced that NBC would be following up its successful broadcasts of THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! and PETER PAN LIVE! with an all-star new production of popular 1970s R&B musical THE WIZ and today we celebrate some of the most tantalizing aspects of the entertainment event. Given the fact that THE WIZ is based on one of the most cherished and timeless stories ever written, L. Frank Baum's THE WIZARD OF OZ, the potential for this new live presentation of THE WIZ to become a widely-viewed take on one of the most well-known tales of all time, poised to introduce a classic to a whole new generation, is doubly stacked.

Show your Emerald City love, my pretties!

Last week, BroadwayWorld began a new InDepth InterView focus series highlighting all aspects of one of the most popular stories of the year so far, the unexpected announcement of a special one night only charity concert performance of a fan favorite musical-within-the-series from NBC's musical series SMASH, BOMBSHELL, to benefit the Actors Fund, and, now we bring you the top facts, features and fun tidbits gleaned from the conversations so far.

Billy Magnussen & Reserved For Rondee rock Lloyd Webber and Sondheim!

Tonight we revisit the highpoints and recount the overall impact of GLEE, from pilot to series finale.

Check out a Judy Garland rarity!

Today we are showcasing the many highlights of the second-to-last GLEE ever.

Today BroadwayWorld presents a special spotlight on the fascinating genealogy of one of the most popular figures in the performing arts, Josh Groban!

GLEE goes out with a bang and a big WICKED tribute!

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's celebrated multi-award-winning fairy tale-themed musical INTO THE WOODS is coming to Blu-ray, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere on March 24 and today we are highlighting 10 reasons why this modern movie musical marvel is absolutely essential to own - for those already familiar with the classic stories and the musical's unique take on them as well as those experiencing this unique interpretation of the Brothers Grimm for the very first time. Needless to say, CHICAGO director Rob Marshall's vision for the visually and aurally splendorous Disney production is beyond compare - with a star-studded cast to match! And, as BroadwayWorld readers know - it doesn't get any better than a musical by the master himself, Stephen Sondheim. Yet, the Blu-ray, Digital HD and Disney Movies Anywhere edition of INTO THE WOODS offers even more reasons to get excited - and to grab yourself a copy as soon as possible now that it is available for purchase.

The amazingly talented champion of the ONE NIGHT STAND contest reacts to her huge win!