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by Michael Portantiere

Backstage at Broadway on Broadway

  • 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.

    You Can't Stop the Beat.jpg

    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).

    Nqaujah.jpg

    Sahr Nqaujah, who plays the title role in Fela!

    Foster-Crawford-Breaker.jpg

    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.

    Noll-Bohmer.jpg

    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...

    Steggert.jpg

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

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

    Umoh.jpg

    ...and Stephanie Umoh (Sarah).

    Stamos.jpg

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

    Doyle-Trimm-etc.jpg

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

    Munoz-Jackson.jpg

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

    Ripley.jpg

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

    Tveit.jpg

    ...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.

    Maroulis-Butler.jpg

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

    Carpinello.jpg

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

    Goodwin.jpg

    The ever-alluring Deidre Goodwin of Chicago.

    Osnes.jpg

    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.

    McKean-finale.jpg

    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."


    Published on Sunday, September 13, 2009


    Michael Portantiere has more than 30 years' experience as an editor and writer for TheaterMania.com, InTHEATER magazine, and BACK STAGE. He has interviewed theater notables for NPR.org, PLAYBILL, STAGEBILL, and OPERA NEWS, and has written notes for several cast albums. Michael is co-author of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: BEHIND THE MYLAR CURTAIN, published in 2008 by Hal Leonard/Applause. Additionally, he is a professional photographer whose pictures have been published by THE NEW YORK TIMES, the DAILY NEWS, and several major websites. (Visit www.followspotphoto.com for more information.) He can be reached at [email protected]


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