All stories by Matthew Blank on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, August 11, 2015

Must See! These Crazy Talented Teens Rock Out in Sneak Preview of New High School-Friendly Rock of A by Matthew Blank

Samuel French and iTheatrics have partnered to develop Rock of Ages as a family-friendly show suitable for performance in high schools and junior high schools. In this peek at rehearsal,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:25AM
Monday, August 10, 2015

Donna Murphy and Cyndi Lauper Pay a Visit to the Fun Home; We Have Backstage Pics! by Matthew Blank

Donna Murphy and Cyndi Lauper were both at the Aug. 9 performance of Fun Home. They greeted the stars of the Tony-winning musical backstage after the show.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:44PM

One Year After Closing on Broadway, We Remember Violet With These Amazing Backstage Pics From Emerso by Matthew Blank

Roundabout's production of Violet closed on Broadway one year ago today. Emerson Steele made her main stem debut playing the childhood version of the title character in Roundabout'…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:21PM
Friday, August 7, 2015

Jessie Mueller, Keala Settle and Jeanna de Waal Have Pies For Days in Brand New Shots From Sara Bare by Matthew Blank

Previews started Aug. 2 for the world-premiere production of Sara Bareilles' new musical, Waitress, at American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA. The production will have its offic…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:24PM

Hamilton Hits Big! Check Out Full Opening Night Coverage of the Hot Red Carpet, Curtain Call and Par by Matthew Blank

Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's acclaimed new musical that fuses the contemporary and classic worlds to tell the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:58AM

Hamilton is Here! See Glamorous Red Carpet and Emotional Curtain Call Pics From the Big Broadway Ope by Matthew Blank

Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's acclaimed new musical that fuses the contemporary and classic worlds to tell the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:58AM
Thursday, August 6, 2015

Hamilton is Here! See Glamorous Red Carpet Pics From the Hip-Hop Musical’s Big Opening Night by Matthew Blank

Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's acclaimed new musical that fuses the contemporary and classic worlds to tell the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:58PM

In Honor of Hamilton, See American History Onstage Through the Legendary Pen of Al Hirschfeld! by Matthew Blank

In celebration of The New-York Historical Society's special exhibition "The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld" and the new book "The Hirschfeld Century: Por…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:09PM

From Miss Adelaide to Miss Hannigan; Celebrating the Greatest Roles of Birthday Gal Faith Prince by Matthew Blank

Tony Award winner Faith Prince, who recently starred as Brenda in The First Wives Club at Chicago’s Oriental Theatre, celebrates her birthday August 6. Playbill.com takes a look a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:13AM

Exclusive Pics! Sutton Foster Hits Hamilton, Cozies Up Onstage With Miranda, Groff, Goldsberry and M by Matthew Blank

Sutton Foster and "The View" host Michelle Collins were both on hand at the Aug. 5 performance of Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's acclaimed new musical that fuses the contem…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:05AM
Wednesday, August 5, 2015

Are You Ready? Just In Time For Opening, Check These Incredible New Shots From Broadway’s Hamilton! by Matthew Blank

Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's acclaimed new musical that fuses the contemporary and classic worlds to tell the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton, of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:52PM

Spend a Day at Wunderkind With Tim Realbuto and a Cast of Broadway Stars by Matthew Blank

Tim Realbuto's autobiographical piece Wunderkind played a special engagement at the New York Musical Theatre Festival July 26, joined by a bevy of Broadway special guests. He d…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:03PM

Watch Billy Porter Take a Bow in His Hometown as He Joins the National Tour of Kinky Boots! by Matthew Blank

Tony winner Billy Porter returns to his hometown of Pittsburgh, PA, Aug. 4 in the limited engagement of the Tony-winning musical Kinky Boots, which plays the Benedum Center, part of the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:26PM

See Tony Winners, Breakout Stars and One-Legged Song and Dance Man Heat Up 54 Below by Matthew Blank

Alice Ripley, Donna McKechnie, Cheryl Freeman, Josh Grisetti and Evan Ruggiero will offer upcoming concert at 54 Below. They offered a sneak peek the morning of Aug. 5.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:27AM

Tony Yazbeck Taps and Croons His Way Onto the Walls of Sardi’s; Portrait Unveiled! by Matthew Blank

On the Town Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck was honored Aug. 4 with a portrait to adorn the famed walls of Sardi's.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:44AM
Tuesday, August 4, 2015

Doggy Time, Wig Swaps and Backstage Fun! Spend a Wild Saturday at Shows for Days With Michael Urie by Matthew Blank

Stage and screen favorite Michael Urie stars as Douglas Carter Beane's impressionable and wide-eyed alter ego in the Off-Broadway world premiere of the playwright's semi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:44PM

The Diner is Open For Business; See the Very First Onstage Pic from Sara Bareilles’ Waitress! by Matthew Blank

Previews start Aug. 2 for the world-premiere production of Sara Bareilles' new musical, Waitress, at American Repertory Theater in Cambridge, MA. The production will have its officia…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:04AM

Cue & A: Matilda’s Alison Luff on Her Upcoming Projects, Stage Fright and Taylor Swift by Matthew Blank

Alison Luff, currently starring as Miss Honey in Broadway's Matilda The Musical, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:39AM

Calling All Canines! Meet the Potential Pooches To Be the Face of Broadway’s Sylvia by Matthew Blank

Producers of the upcoming Broadway production of A.R. Gurney's play Sylvia held an Aug. 3 open call for "K-9 model[s]" to be the real-life face of the cute doggie chara…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:12AM
Monday, August 3, 2015

Exclusive! Gorgeous Backstage Portraits of Kate Rockwell, Nicholas Rodriguez, Rob McClure in Muny’s by Matthew Blank

The Muny production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast plays the St. Louis venue July 29-Aug. 7. You will love these stunning, candid portraits of the cast backstage!

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:47PM

Exclusive! Stunning Backstage Portraits of Kate Rockwell, Nicholas Rodriguez, Rob McClure in Muny’s by Matthew Blank

The Muny production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast plays the St. Louis venue July 29-Aug. 7. You will love these stunning, candid portraits of the cast backstage!

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:47PM

Check Out the Enchanting First Shots from New Into the Woods, Starring Jessica Grov as The Witch by Matthew Blank

The Encore Theatre's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine Tony-winning Into the Woods will play the Michigan venue Aug. 6-30.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:02PM

See Betty Buckley Rachel York and Howard McGillin Inhabit Bay Street’s Grey Gardens! by Matthew Blank

Bay Street Theater's upcoming production of the award-winning musical Grey Gardens begins Aug. 4

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:43AM
Friday, July 31, 2015

Must See! Gorgeous, Hilarious, Candid Shots of Headley, McClure, Gotay, Silverman and Co. Sharing th by Matthew Blank

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods recently concluded a July 21-27 run at the Muny. We have some truly incredible portraits showing the star-studded cast making …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:51PM

A Father to Us All! Check Out Daddy-To-Be Andrew Kober’s Two-Show Day at Les Miz by Matthew Blank

Broadway's Andrew Kober announced this week that he and his wife, Farra, are expecting their first child early next year! We take a look back at a busy two-show day Kober documented …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:16PM

Braving a Downpour, See the Soggy Stars of Matilda, Les Miz, On the Town Rock Bryant Park! by Matthew Blank

The fourth free concert in 106.7 LITE FM’s Broadway in Bryant Park series was held July 30 on the Bryant Park Stage.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:53AM

“Lady Marmalade” Legend Nona Hendryx Pays a Visit to Taye Diggs in His Hedwig Dressing Room by Matthew Blank

Taye Diggs is the newest superstar to take on transsexual rocker Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Original Labelle member Nona Hendryx paid the star a visit after the July 30 show!

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:49AM

Here’s to Nona! “Lady Marmalade” Legend (and Hedwig Lyric) Pays a Visit to Taye Diggs’ Dressing Room by Matthew Blank

Taye Diggs is the newest superstar to take on transsexual rocker Hedwig in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Original Labelle member Nona Hendryx paid the star a visit after the July 30 show!

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:27AM
Thursday, July 30, 2015

How to Make Magic in 10 Days! Elena Shaddow Shares a Whirlwind Week at Muny’s Enchanting Into the Wo by Matthew Blank

Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods recently concluded a July 21-27 run at the Muny. Elena Shaddow, who starred as Cinderella, offers some exclusive backstage photos f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:31PM

Bryce Pinkham Returns to Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder; Curtain Call Pics! by Matthew Blank

Bryce Pinkham, who was Tony-nominated for creating the role of Monty Navarro in the Broadway production of A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, returned to the Tony-winning pr…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:08PM

A History of The King and I, Told Through These Rarely-Seen Al Hirschfeld Works by Matthew Blank

In celebration of The New-York Historical Society's special exhibition "The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld" and the new book "The Hirschfeld Century: Por…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:43PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic
TBA: Ragtime