All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, July 7, 2015

John Ellison Conlee Withdraws From The Wild Party at Encores! by Robert Viagas and Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Ryan Andes has replaced John Ellison Conlee in the July 15-18 Encores! Off-Center staging of Andrew Lippa's Wild Party, which will feature Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Quee…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:39PM

“For Me, There’s No Going Back”  Meet the Police Officer-Turned-Songwriter Who Wrote Amazing Grace by Michael Gioia

Before Christopher Smith was songwriter of the new musical Amazing Grace, he was a police officer and a youth outreach and education director in Pennsylvania. It's taken him seven years …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:16AM
Monday, July 6, 2015

Drunken Spellers, the Making of “Magic Foot” and More Memories from the Cast of Spelling Bee by Michael Gioia

Original cast members from Broadway's The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee reunite for a special ten-year anniversary concert tonight at Town Hall. Before they hit the stage, w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM
Sunday, July 5, 2015

Gloria Estefan’s On Your Feet! Packs Up Its Chicago Shoes; Broadway Is Next! by Michael Gioia

On Your Feet!, the new musical based on the lives of seven-time Grammy winner Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan, plays its final perfo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, July 2, 2015

Playbill Playlist: 9 Acoustic Songs Cristin Milioti Can’t Live Without, From Sia to Fiona Apple and by Michael Gioia

Cristin Milioti, who starred in the intimate Tony Award-winning musical Once, will return to Joe's Pub July 12-13. In anticipation of her return, she shares her favorite acoustic…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Broadway-Bound Beaches, Starring Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor, Opens Tonight by Michael Gioia

Wicked star Shoshana Bean and The Bridges of Madison County's Whitney Bashor co-star in the pre-Broadway engagement of Beaches, the new musical based on the 1985 novel by Iris Ra…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, July 1, 2015

Stage Version of Shakespeare in Love Will Cross the Pond by Michael Gioia

Shakespeare in Love, a stage version of the Oscar-winning film of the same name that opened last summer at the West End's Noel Coward Theatre, will make its North American debut in 2…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:54PM

What Are You Listening To On The Subway? 16 Broadway Actors Share Their Summer Jams! by Michael Gioia

Looking for the perfect "Song of the Summer" for your iTunes playlist? Broadway has you covered! 16 of our favorite actors share what they are listening to on the subway, before an…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, June 29, 2015

Terrence McNally Celebrates Historic Ruling By Re-Marrying His Partner; See Their (Second) First Kis by Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning playwright Terrence McNally and producer Tom Kirdahy tied the knot (again) in celebration of the United States Supreme Court's historic ruling, making same-sex…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:36PM

“We’re Going To Continue Fighting”  Dustin Lance Black On the Steps Toward a Fully Equal America by Michael Gioia

History was made June 26 when the Supreme Court of the United States declared same-sex marriage legal in all 50 states. Dustin Lance Black, a pioneer in the fight for equality, reflects …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:00PM
Friday, June 26, 2015

Mamma Mia! Cast Shows That “Love Is Love” in Dance Off to Jordin Sparks’“No Air” (Video) by Michael Gioia

Cast members from the national tour of Mamma Mia! show their pride and celebrate all forms of love in their new dance-off video to Jordin Sparks' "No Air."

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:42PM

Anthony Rapp Will Guide Edinburgh’s Rent, Starring His If/Then Castmate Janet Krupin by Michael Gioia

Anthony Rapp, who originated the role of Mark Cohen in Rent, is the creative consultant on the Edinburgh Festival Fringe production of that Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical by Jon…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:29PM

Nightlife Powerhouses Molly Pope and Tori Scott Will Celebrate Pride at Birdland by Michael Gioia

The Broadway at Birdland concert series, in association with Jacob Langfelder, will present Love Me: Downtown and Downunder – A Pride Celebration June 28.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:02PM
Thursday, June 25, 2015

Kelsey Grammer Taking Time Off from Broadway’s Finding Neverland; Replacement Named by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Kelsey Grammer is planning to take time off from his role as Captain Hook in the Broadway musical Finding Neverland this summer, but will return in the fall. Exact dates will be announced at…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:25PM
Wednesday, June 24, 2015

Holy Moly! Find Out How to Win Tix to Broadway’s Act of God, a Night in NYC and a “Blissage” by Michael Gioia

Perform "good deeds" for a chance to win tickets to Broadway's An Act of God, starring Jim Parsons. The contest begins today!

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:09PM

Soul Doctor’s Amber Iman and Katie Thompson Will Star in Reading About the Origin of Tap Dance by Michael Gioia

The Labyrinth Theatre Company will host a private industry reading of Five Points: An American Musical, June 26.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:32AM

Musical About Kentucky Derby-Winning Horse Knocks Craig Lucas Project Out of Toronto Theatre by Michael Gioia

Dancer, a musical about Northern Dancer, the Canadian horse that made history winning the Kentucky Derby in 1964, will play the Elgin Theatre in Toronto May-June 2016, according to Canad…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:14AM

What Is the Play That Changed Your Life? Audra McDonald, Jeremy Jordan, Cyndi Lauper and More Answer by Michael Gioia

We all remember our first time. Not just the first time we entered a theatre, but the first time our life was changed by live performance. That spark ignites our passion.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, June 23, 2015

Wesley Taylor’s Sexy New Short Play Moves Forward in NYC Competition; 4 More Chances Left! by Michael Gioia

The new three-person play Cuckold, a short written by "Smash" and Broadway actor Wesley Taylor, has moved forward in the Manhattan Repertory Theater 2015 One …

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:25PM

Hedwig’s Darren Criss and Rebecca Naomi Jones Will Participate in NYC Pride by Michael Gioia

The Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), the nation's oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization, has partnered with Broadway's Hedwig and the Angry Inch for the New York Cit…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:26PM

Hedwig’s Darren Criss and Rebecca Naomi Jones Will Perform at NYC Pride by Michael Gioia

The Hetrick-Martin Institute (HMI), the nation's oldest and largest LGBTQ youth service organization, has partnered with Broadway's Hedwig and the Angry Inch for the New York Cit…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:26PM

Bruce Willis Gets New, Emmy-Winning Co-Star for Broadway’s Misery; Dates and Theatre Set by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Three-time Emmy Award winner Laurie Metcalf has replaced Elizabeth Marvel as leading lady in the Broadway adaptation of Stephen King's Misery opposite Emmy and Golden Globe Award win…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:29AM
Monday, June 22, 2015

Learn How Into the Woods Began, Who Got Married, the Line Sondheim Stole and How the Witch Transform by Michael Gioia

Into the woods they went again: Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine and a cast of legends theatre folk could only dream up in a fairytale (or four, in Into the Woods' case). But, this time th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:30PM

Patti Murin and Colin Donnell Tie the Knot! Watch Andrew Rannells Host Their “Bachelorette” Rose Cer by Michael Gioia

Love's Labour's Lost co-stars Colin Donnell and Patti Murin, who started dating while working together at Shakespeare in the Park, officially tied the knot June 19 in Ne…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:07PM

See Trailer for “Lucky Stiff” Film, With Jason Alexander and Nikki M. James by Michael Gioia

The film adaptation of the Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty musical Lucky Stiff, featuring Tony winners Jason Alexander, Nikki M. James and the late Dennis Farina, will be released in New Yo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:06AM

Matilda Youngster On Having Two Moms, Explaining Family To Her Friends and Being Proud of Her Parent by Michael Gioia

As part of last year's 30 Days of Pride, we interviewed three sets of same-sex parents within the Broadway community. This year, we turn the spotlight on a young actress in Matilda, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:26AM
Sunday, June 21, 2015

Tony-Winning Skylight, With Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy, Ends Broadway Affair by Michael Gioia

The Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of David Hare's Skylight, starring Carey Mulligan, Bill Nighy and Matthew Beard — who all re-created their acclaimed Lo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Stephen Sondheim, Bernadette Peters and Original Into the Woods Cast Reunite June 21 at BAM by Michael Gioia

Stephen Sondheim, James Lapine and cast and creative members from the 1987 Tony-winning production of Into the Woods reunite June 21 at the Brooklyn Academy of Music.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Au Revoir Broadway: Gigi, Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Closes Today by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Gigi, the new Broadway adaptation of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe’s Oscar- and Tony Award-winning musical comedy, plays its final performance June 21 at the Neil Sim…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Get On Your Feet! Gloria Estefan’s Broadway-Bound Musical Opens Tonight in Chicago by Michael Gioia

On Your Feet!, the new musical based on the lives of seven-time Grammy winner Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan, officially opens June…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Newsies’ Adam Kaplan Shows ‘Em How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, Beginning Tonight by Michael Gioia

Adam Kaplan, who was seen on Broadway in Newsies, stars in Flat Rock Playhouse's production of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, which begins performances June 17 on the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM