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by Michael Portantiere


    Backstage at Broadway on Broadway

    This year's edition of Broadway on Broadway, the annual free concert in Times Square, covered a lot of ground -- from Memphis to Chicago to the South Pacific, in fact, with stops in Washington Heights (In the Heights), Sweet Apple, Ohio (Bye Bye Birdie), Nigeria (Fela!), and other far-flung locales. Here are my backstage pix of this always exciting event, plus a couple of in-performance photos.

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    You can't stop the beat!!!

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    Cheyenne Jackson and Kate Baldwin, the gorgeous stars of Finian's Rainbow.

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    Memphis star Chad Kimball and composer David Bryan (of Bon Jovi fame).

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    Sahr Nqaujah, who plays the title role in Fela!

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    Shrek's Sutton Foster (left) and Daniel Breaker (right) with Ben Crawford, who will be taking over the show's title role as of November 10.

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    Here are pix of some of the stars of the eagerly awaited revival of Ragtime: Christiane Noll and Ron Bohmer, who play Mother and Father...

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    ...Bobby Steggert (Younger Brother)...

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    ...Quentin Earl Darrington (Coalhouse Walker, Jr.)....

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    ...and Stephanie Umoh (Sarah).

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    Here's hottie John Stamos, a.k.a. Albert Peterson in the Roundabout's revival of Bye Bye Birdie...

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    ...and here are four of the refreshingly age-appropriate actors who play teenagers in Birdie: Matt Doyle, Julia Knitel, Allison Strong, and Allie Trimm.

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    Javier Muñoz and Christopher Jackson, a.k.a. In the Heights homeboys Usnavi and Benny.

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    Alice Ripley, who won a Tony Award for her role of Diana in Next to Normal...

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    ...and Aaron Tveit, who has returned to the role of her son Gabe after starring in the out-of-town tryout production of the upcoming Broadway musical Catch Me If You Can.

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    Rock of Ages star Constantine Maroulis with the fabulous Kerry Butler, who will soon join the cast.

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    James Carpinello, a.k.a. Stacee Jaxx in Rock of Ages.

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    The ever-alluring Deidre Goodwin of Chicago.

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    Laura Osnes, late of Grease and now playing Nellie Forbush in Lincoln Center Theater's South Pacific.

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    Ryan Silverman and Jennifer Hope Wills, the current Raul and Christine in The Phantom of the Opera.

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    Superior Donuts star Michael McKean, who hosted this year's Broadway on Broadway, led the singing of the finale: Kander and Ebb's "New York, New York."

    Sunday, September 13, 2009 at 6:17 PM | Item Link


    Michael Portantiere comes to BroadwayStars with more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for such media outlets as TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has also contributed articles and reviews to AfterElton.com, Playbill, and Stagebill, and has written notes for several major cast albums. Additionally, Michael is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several notable websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.)
    He can be reached at [email protected]


    The last five columns written by Michael Portantiere:

    07/13/2010: Presidential Material

    07/04/2010: Hardy Boy

    06/29/2010: High School Stars

    06/21/2010: Falling in Love Again

    06/17/2010: A Meeting of the 'mos (and Their Friends)

    For a listing of all features written by Michael, click here.

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