All stories by Matt Blank on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 25, 2015

A Cover Story: Sister Act The Musical by Matt Blank

Sister Act The Musical will begin previews March 24 at the Broadway Theatre.According to producers, “When disco diva Deloris Van Cartier witnesses a murder, she is put in protective cu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM

Dangerous Beauty Stars Bryce Ryness and James Snyder Offer L.A. Concert by Matt Blank

Bryce Ryness and James Snyder, currently starring in the world premiere of Dangerous Beauty at Pasadena Playhouse, will perform an evening of original acoustic music at Los Angeles’ Sh…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM

A Cover Story: Baby It’s You! by Matt Blank

The new musical Baby It’s You! will begin previews March 26 at the Broadhurst Theatre.Baby It’s You!, which tells the true-life story of a New Jersey housewife who discovered the…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Cupcake Debuts at Magnolia Bakery (Photos) by Matt Blank

The Magnolia Bakery unveiled the official Priscilla Queen of the Desert cupcake on March 8. �The Priscilla Cupcake� marks the first time in Magnolia�s history that a Broadway musical …

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM

Priscilla Queen of the Desert Cupcake Debuts at Magnolia Bakery (Photos) by Matt Blank

The Magnolia Bakery unveiled the official Priscilla Queen of the Desert cupcake on March 8. �The Priscilla Cupcake� marks the first time in Magnolia�s history that a Broadway musical …

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM

Tyne Daly, Bernard Telsey, Marshall Brickman at Annual NCTF Roundtable (Photos) by Matt Blank

National Corporate Theatre Fund (NCTF) held its annual Broadway Roundtable March 3. Participants included book writer Marshall Brickman (Jersey Boys, The Addams Family), actress Tyne Daly (G…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM

A Cover Story: Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo by Matt Blank

Rajiv Joseph’s Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo begins previews at the Richard Rodgers Theatre March 11.Here’s how producers bill the play: “In Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Z…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM

Gabriel Byrne and Christine Quinn Announce $5.2 Million Performing Arts Initiative (Photos) by Matt Blank

On Jan. 7 the Irish government announced details of a large financial investment aimed at presenting Irish arts in New York City and the United States in 2011.The government is investing $5.…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:58PM
Thursday, September 25, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Lips Together, Teeth Apart Stars America Ferrera, Michael Chernus, Tracee Chimo and Aust by Matt Blank

The cast of Second Stage Theatre's fall production of Terrence McNally's Lips Together, Teeth Apart greeted the press with a Sept. 25 photo op.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:47PM

PHOTO CALL: Charlie Pollock, Mary Kate Morrissey and Cast in Rehearsal For Signature’s Elmer Gantry by Matt Blank

Signature Theatre (Arlington, VA) has announced its cast for Elmer Gantry – a musical version of Sinclair Lewis’ best-selling novel, directed by Signature ar…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:51PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Dee Hoty is Workin’ 9 to 5 at Walnut Street Theatre; A Musical Day in the Life by Matt Blank

Dee Hoty is reprising her performance as Violet Newstead, a role she played on the musical's national tour, in Walnut Street Theatre's production of 9 to 5. She offers this special…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:20PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day With the Record-Breaking “Mufasa” of Broadway’s Lion King, Alton Fit by Matt Blank

Playbill.com's popular Two-Show Day photo series launched in August 2010 with an installment from Broadway's Lion King. Four years later, we go back into the Minskoff Theatre wit…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:14AM

PHOTO SPECIAL: “High Flying Adored!” Celebrating the Leading Ladies of Broadway’s Evita by Matt Blank

The original production of Evita opened its 1,567-performance run on this date in 1979. We thought it would be a great time to look back at some of the stellar women who have played the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:04AM
Wednesday, September 24, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Wesley Taylor, Gay Marshall, Lonny Price and More Celebrate Ben Rimalower’s Bad With Mon by Matt Blank

Ben Rimalower, creator and star of the critically acclaimed, long-running Patti Issues — which explored an obsession with Tony winner Patti LuPone and his relationship with his…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:07PM

PHOTO CALL: Rycharde Everley, Nyoy Volante, Shiela Valderrama and Jett Pangan Let The Freak Flag Fly by Matt Blank

Everyone’s favorite big green Ogre and his funny friends have landed in thew Philippines! Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group presents the Manila premiere of Shrek the Musical …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:11PM

A First Look at Christopher Walken as Captain Hook by Matt Blank

Here is a first look at Christopher Walken in costume for NBC's upcoming telecast of "Peter Pan Live!," which is scheduled for Dec. 4.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:43PM

PHOTO CALL: Aretha Franklin Visits Broadway’s Aladdin by Matt Blank

Aretha Franklin attended the Disney Broadway musical Aladdin on Sept. 23. After the performance she met with the show's stars.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:42PM

PHOTO CALL: Heather Parcells, Bahiyah Hibah, Sean McDermott, Liz McCartney and Nick Kohn Bring All T by Matt Blank

The North Shore Music Theatre production of the Tony-winning John Kander-Fred Ebb-Bob Fosse musical Chicago plays the Massachusetts venue Sept. 23-Oct. 5.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM

PHOTO CALL: A First Look at the Rare New York Revival of Groundbreaking, “X-Rated” Drama Killing of by Matt Blank

TACT/The Actors Company Theatre presents the groundbreaking drama The Killing of Sister George, which explores sexual identity, power and politics in a changing world, beginning Sept. 23.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:14PM

PHOTO CALL: Wayne Alan Wilcox, Carmen Cusack, A.J. Shively, Hannah Elless and Stephen Bogardus Star by Matt Blank

The world premiere of Bright Star, the new American musical by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, began at San Diego's Old Globe Theatre Sept. 13.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:43PM

PHOTO CALL: Understudies from Les Miz, Mormon, Newsies and Cabaret Stand in the Spotlight by Matt Blank

Understudies from The Book of Mormon, Newsies, Cabaret, Les Misérables and Off-Broadway's Heathers took the stage Sept. 21 at the Half Hour 5 concert at the Lauri…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:10PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: “Yes Ma’am! I Love a Little Town!” Behind the Scenes with James Barbour at Ogunquit by Matt Blank

The Ogunquit Playhouse's production of The Witches of Eastwick plays the Maine venue Sept. 3-27. James Barbour, who stars as the devilish Darryl Van Horne, shares some photos from b…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:43AM

PHOTO CALL: Harvey Fierstein, Jarrod Spector, Lindsay Mendez, Andy Karl, Adam Heller Take Part in Fr by Matt Blank

Lindsay Mendez, Andy Karl, Jarrod Spector and Adam Heller were among the artists performing as part of Broadway Salutes, celebrating the professionals working on Broadway's stages and be…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:20AM

PHOTO ARCHIVE: “Givin’ Them What They Want…” Celebrating John Lithgow’s Onstage Career by Matt Blank

Six-time Tony Award nominee (and two-time winner) John Lithgow returns to the Broadway stage Oct. 20 in A Delicate Balance. Playbill.com looks back at a stage career that spans over …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:46AM

PHOTO CALL: “There’s Music in You!” Lesley Ann Warren Joins the Cast of Broadway’s Cinderella for Cu by Matt Blank

Academy Award nominee Lesley Ann Warren, who charmed America in the 1965 television version of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, attended the Broadway production Sept. 23 and joined …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:29AM
Tuesday, September 23, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Broadway Gets #Blessed! Corey Cott, Kyle Dean Massey, Lesli Margherita, Keala Settle, Ni by Matt Blank

The essence of Twitter account Annoying Actor Friend (@Actor_Friend), who provides a satirical look at what it's like to survive as a working New York actor, came to 54 Below for a conce…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:56PM

PHOTO CALL: A First Look at James Earl Jones, Elizabeth Ashley, Rose Byrne, Annaleigh Ashford and Ca by Matt Blank

The Broadway revival of Moss Hart and George S. Kaufman's Pulitzer Prize-winning comedy You Can't Take It With You, starring Tony Award-winning theatre veteran James…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:25PM

PHOTO CALL: Wayne Brady and Merle Dandridge Brush Up Their Shakespeare in Pasadena Playhouse’s Kiss by Matt Blank

Multi-Emmy Award winner Wayne Brady stars as Fred/Petruchio in the 17-person cast of Kiss Me, Kate at Pasadena Playhouse, beginning Sept. 16.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:39PM

PHOTO CALL: Nicole Ari Parker, Debra Winger and More Celebrate Ingmar Bergman’s Scenes from a Marria by Matt Blank

Tina Benko, Dallas Roberts and Roslyn Ruff star in Ivo van Hove's stage adaptation of Ingmar Bergman's epic film documenting the dissolution of a relationship, Scenes from a Marriage…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:49PM

PHOTO ARCHIVE: “Oh Lord, I’m On My Way…” An Exclusive Look Inside The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess’ C by Matt Blank

The Tony Award-winning revival of Porgy and Bess, starring six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald and Tony nominee Norm Lewis, ended its Broadway run Sept. 23, 2012. Playbill.com …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:50AM

PHOTO CALL: Neil LaBute’s Money Shot, Starring Elizabeth Reaser and Frederick Weller, Opens Off-Broa by Matt Blank

The MCC Theater world-premiere production of Neil LaBute's The Money Shot, which stars Elizabeth Reaser and Frederick Weller as two actors faced with a taboo decision that could revi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:31AM

All that Chat

2023-2024 BROADWAY SEASON
May 30, 2023: Grey House - Lyceum Theatre
Jun 26, 2023: Just For Us - Hudson Theatre
Jul 24, 2023: The Cottage - Hayes Theater
Nov 16, 2023: Spamalot - St. James Theatre
Dec 18, 2023: Appropriate - Hayes Theater
Mar 07, 2024: Doubt - Todd Haimes Theatre
Apr 14, 2024: Lempicka - Longacre Theatre
Apr 17, 2024: The Wiz - Marquis Theatre
Apr 18, 2024: Suffs - Music Box Theatre
Apr 25, 2024: Mother Play - Hayes Theater
Jun 10, 2024: The Drama Desk Awards