All stories by Matthew Blank on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, July 14, 2015

I’m Just Right, I’m the Witch! The Many Looks of Everyone’s Favorite Into the Woods Sorceress by Matthew Blank

The Muny's upcoming production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods will star Grammy Award winner Heather Headley as The Witch. As we wait to see what the starry …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:35PM

Bernadette Peters and Brian dArcy James Join Teachers in Celebrating the Freddie G Fellowship in NYC by Matthew Blank

Music Theatre International Chairman and CEO Freddie Gershon and his wife Myrna just hosted eight outstanding educators from schools and performing arts centers around the country for four d…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:22PM

Bicep Workouts and Business Casual Green Hair! Spend a Two-Show Day With Matt Harrington, Matilda’s by Matthew Blank

Matt Harrington, who stars as the debonair Mr. Wormwood in Broadway's Matilda the Musical, takes us backstage at the Shubert Theatre. See his unbelievable transformation and meet some o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:40AM

Opening Night Pics! Bernadette Peters, Sierra Boggess, Regis Philbin and Jackie Hoffman Get Ruthless by Matthew Blank

Ruthless! The Musical, originally staged in New York 22 years ago, returns Off-Broadway, officially opening July 13 following previews that began June 25 at St. Luke’s Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:40AM

Cue & A: Steven Pasquale on The Wild Party, Sloppy Stage Kisses and the Importance of Not Being a Je by Matthew Blank

Steven Pasquale, who stars as Burrs in the City Center Encores! staging of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party July 15-18, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, July 13, 2015

See Tyne Daly, Sierra Boggess, Lisa Howard and Team It Shoulda Been You Head Into the Recording Stud by Matthew Blank

It Shoulda Been You, the new musical comedy about a wedding gone awry that stars Tyne Daly, Lisa Howard, Harriet Harris, David Burtka and Sierra Boggess, will get a cast album.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:21PM

Aladdin Brings First Lady Michelle Obama on a Magic Carpet Ride With Performance at The White House by Matthew Blank

On July 10 First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed Aladdin stars Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Courtney Reed (Jasmine) and several members of the ensemble to perform a sel…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:19PM

Aladdin Brings First Lady Michelle Obama on a Magic Carpet Ride in White House Performance by Matthew Blank

On July 10 First Lady Michelle Obama welcomed Aladdin stars Adam Jacobs (Aladdin), James Monroe Iglehart (Genie), Courtney Reed (Jasmine) and several members of the ensemble to perform a sel…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:05PM

Pics! Donna McKechnie and John Kander Join Chita Rivera and Cast For The Visit Performance and CD Si by Matthew Blank

The original Broadway cast recording of The Visit, the final musical by the Tony-winning team of Kander and Ebb, arrived in stores July 10. The dark musical starred two-time Tony-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:38PM

See Lainie Kazan, Gilbert Gottfried, Debbie Harry, Shannon Elizabeth and More Celebrate the Broadway by Matthew Blank

Penn & Teller on Broadway brings the provocative New Vaudeville magician team back to the Great White Way for a six-week stand, officially opening July 12 and continuing through …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:12PM

Stolen-Phone Selfies and Toilet Paper Couture! Backstage Fun With Libby Servais at Flat Rock’s How T by Matthew Blank

Libby Servais and Newsies' Adam Kaplan starred in Flat Rock Playhouse's production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which ended its run July 12 at Clyde &amp…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:48PM

See Gilbert Gottfried, Debbie Harry, Shannon Elizabeth, Salman Rushdie and More Celebrate the Broadw by Matthew Blank

Penn & Teller on Broadway brings the provocative New Vaudeville magician team back to the Great White Way for a six-week stand, officially opening July 12 and continuing through …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:55AM
Friday, July 10, 2015

Champagne, Cake and a Big Surprise! An American in Paris Celebrates 100 Performances on Broadway by Matthew Blank

An American in Paris celebrated 100 performances on Broadway the evening of July 9. At the special curtain call, a lucky audience member was surprised with a free trip to Paris. The cast t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:55AM

Photos! Broadway in Bryant Park Kicks Off With Wicked, Weddings, Dance and Magic by Matthew Blank

The first free concert in 106.7 LITE FM’s Broadway in Bryant Park series was held July 9 on the Bryant Park Stage.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:28AM

Patti LuPone Addresses Audience at Last Night’s Shows Another Cell Phone Rings by Matthew Blank

Patti LuPone may say she's rethinking her stage career after her confrontation with a cell-phone-using audience member July 8. But as of the night of July 9, she seemed to be rev…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:40AM
Thursday, July 9, 2015

Must See! We’ve Uncovered a Treasure Trove of Incredible Shots from the Original Broadway Production by Matthew Blank

Following the successful live broadcasts of "The Sound of Music" and "Peter Pan," NBC will debut a new live television production of the hit Broadway musical The Wiz Dec.…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:45PM

Supporting Characters Meeting Commence! Spend a Two-Show Day at An American in Paris With Jill Paice by Matthew Blank

Beloved Broadway soprano Jill Paice is currently lending her skills to the role of Milo Davenport in Broadway's An American in Paris, the new stage incarnation of the classic Gershwin f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:05PM

Backstage Besties and Wardrobe Malfunctions! Spend a Two-Show Day at An American in Paris With the V by Matthew Blank

Beloved Broadway soprano Jill Paice is currently lending her skills to the role of Milo Davenport in Broadway's An American in Paris, the new stage incarnation of the classic Gershwin f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:05PM

Lauren Kennedy Directs Dreamgirls at Theatre Raleigh, See the Stunning First Pics Here by Matthew Blank

Broadway favorite Lauren Kennedy directs the award-winning musical Dreamgirls at Theatre Raleigh July 8-26. The cast includes Alexis Sims, Lawrence E. Street and Brittany Walters. W…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM

It’s Looking Intense in First Shots of Sutton Foster, Steven Pasquale and Brandon Victor Dixon Rehea by Matthew Blank

The July 15-18 Encores! Off-Center staging of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party will star Sutton Foster as Queenie and Steven Pasquale as Burrs. We have rehearsal pics!

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:28PM

It’s Looking Intense in the First Shots of Sutton Foster, Steven Pasquale and Brandon Victor Dixon R by Matthew Blank

The July 15-18 Encores! Off-Center staging of Andrew Lippa's The Wild Party will star Sutton Foster as Queenie and Steven Pasquale as Burrs. We have rehearsal pics!

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:28PM

Tips from Tyne, Stair-Yoga With Sierra! Spend a Two-Show Day at Broadway’s It Shoulda Been You by Matthew Blank

It Shoulda Been You, the new musical comedy about a wedding gone awry that stars Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, David Burtka and Sierra Boggess, continues at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre through …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:48AM

Tips from Tyne, Stair-Yoga With Sierra! A Two-Show Day at Broadway’s It Shoulda Been You With Anne L by Matthew Blank

It Shoulda Been You, the new musical comedy about a wedding gone awry that stars Tyne Daly, Harriet Harris, David Burtka and Sierra Boggess, continues at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre through …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:48AM

Cute Alert! See Theatre’s Biggest Stars Cuddle With Broadway’s Sweetest Animals in Pics From Broadwa by Matthew Blank

The 17th annual Broadway Barks fundraiser — the star-studded dog and cat adoption event to benefit New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies founded by Bernadette Pet…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:34AM
Wednesday, July 8, 2015

See New Onstage Photos of Josh Young, Erin Mackey, Chuck Cooper and Tom Hewitt in Broadway’s Amazing by Matthew Blank

The new Broadway musical Amazing Grace, which played a sold-out world premiere in Chicago, began previews on Broadway June 25 at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41st Street).

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:19PM

Raúl Esparza, Hamish Linklater, Lily Rabe Brush Up Their Shakespeare in First Rehearsal Pics by Matthew Blank

The Public Theater has announced further casting for its Shakespeare in the Park staging of Cymbeline, starring previously announced Hamish Linklater (Seminar) and Lily Rabe. Multi&…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:50PM

A Look Back! Lea Michele, Duncan Sheik, Judy Kuhn and John Gallagher Jr. Celebrate Spring Awakening’ by Matthew Blank

Spring Awakening, the Tony Award-winning rock musical by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, is headed back to Broadway. We take a look back at Playbill.com's coverage of the show'…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:35PM

American Idiot Crosses the Pond! Aaron Sidwell, Amelia Lily and Crew in Rehearsal for Rockin’ London by Matthew Blank

Full casting has been announced for a new London production of American Idiot, the musical based on Green Day's eponymous album that was originally premiered at Berkeley Rep in 2009 befo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:17PM

Anneliese van der Pol Shares Her First Day at Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man by Matthew Blank

Matt Murphy's Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, which is based on the best-selling book by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman, continues its run at midtown's 777 Theatre. …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:56PM

Demeter the Cat Reacts as School of Rock—The Musical Takes Over the Winter Garden by Matthew Blank

School of Rock—The Musical will arrive on Broadway this fall, and the marquee is up! Demeter the cat (Gayle Holsman Seay) was on hand as the signage was unveiled at the Winter Gard…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:11PM

An Evita Like No Other! See These Elegant, Sexy Publicity Shots From Serenbe’s Immersive, Outdoor St by Matthew Blank

Serenbe Playhouse moves to the lush and rebellious countryside of Argentina with their immersive retelling of the country's most infamous political figure, Evita. The musical will be br…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:52AM

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