All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Monday, May 18, 2015

“I Don’t Know, Personally, That I Would Wish It On a Kid”  Youngest Female Tony Winner Reflects by Michael Gioia

In 1991, Daisy Eagan became the youngest female actress to accept a Tony Award, winning for her performance as Mary Lennox in The Secret Garden. As 11-year-old actress Sydney Lucas a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, May 17, 2015

Broadway Sings Bruno Mars, With Lena Hall, Gigi’s Corey Cott and Hamilton’s Ariana DeBose, Held Toni by Michael Gioia

Tony winner Lena Hall, Gigi star Corey Cott and Hamilton actress Ariana DeBose are among the performers who take part in Broadway Sings Bruno Mars, the eighth installment o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:08PM

Broadway Sings Bruno Mars, With Gigi’s Corey Cott and Hamilton’s Ariana DeBose, Held Tonight by Michael Gioia

Gigi star Corey Cott and Hamilton actress Ariana DeBose are among the performers who take part in Broadway Sings Bruno Mars, the eighth installment of the Broadway Sings……

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, May 15, 2015

Kristin Chenoweth Will Play a Pill-Popping Assistant in New Comedy Film by Michael Gioia

Tony winner Kristin Chenoweth and Uma Thurman will star in "The Brits Are Coming," a comedy about an eccentric British couple who flee to Los Angeles and plot a jewel theft, accord…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:04PM

Cast Recording of Gigi, Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Now Available by Michael Gioia

DMI Records has released the cast recording of the Broadway revival of Gigi, which opened April 8 at the Neil Simon Theatre, on iTunes. The CD is slated for release in June.&nbs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:44AM

Valerie Harper Says She’s “Ready To Go,” But “Feeling Good” Living With Cancer by Michael Gioia

Valerie Harper, the Tony Award-nominated actress who announced in March 2013 that she had been diagnosed with a rare form of terminal cancer, spoke about living with cancer and says she …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:06AM

Exclusive! Spring Awakening Cast Looks Back With Memories and Never-Before-Seen Photos by Michael Gioia

It's been over eight years since the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening opened on Broadway — and re-defined the landscape for rock musicals. Lea Michele, Jonathan Grof…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:56AM

American Idiot Rocks Out With An Immersive Staging in L.A. Warehouse, Beginning Tonight by Michael Gioia

Lindsay Pearce, who was seen on Fox's "Glee," stars as Whatsername in the immersive production of American Idiot, which comes to life in a warehouse venue in …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Spring Awakening Cast Looks Back With Memories and Over 100 Exclusive Never-Before-Seen Photos by Michael Gioia

It's been over eight years since the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening opened on Broadway — and re-defined the landscape for rock musicals. Lea Michele, Jonathan Grof…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Christopher Jackson and Shoshana Bean Join Jason Robert Brown in Concert Tonight by Michael Gioia

Hamilton's Christopher Jackson and Wicked actress Shoshana Bean join Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist, conductor and director Jason Robert Brown for his May 15 concert at New Yo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, May 14, 2015

Exclusive! “She Was Like a Big Sister”  Deborah Cox Remembers Whitney Houston As She Readies For The by Michael Gioia

Grammy-nominated singer and Broadway actress Deborah Cox will headline a U.S. national tour of The Bodyguard, the property that gave Cox's former collaborator, the late Whitney Houst…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:47AM

Matt Doyle Goes to Deadland! Ryan Scott Oliver’s Jasper Opens Tonight by Michael Gioia

Jasper in Deadland, starring Matt Doyle — who originated the title role in the acclaimed Off-Broadway production of Ryan Scott Oliver and Hunter Foster's new music…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Playbill Playlist: 10 Songs About Drunken Mistakes and Regrets That Will Leave You Thirsty! by Michael Gioia

Nightlife powerhouse Tori Scott will return to Joe's Pub with her latest show Thirsty!, an evening of poor life choices and stories of her late-night misadventures, featuring songs m…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Idina Menzel Among Starry List of Presenters at This Year’s Billboard Music Awards by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Idina Menzel is among the celebrities who will present at this year's Billboard Music Awards, which will be held May 17 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:25PM

Andy Karl Will Host Student Theatre Arts Festival On Broadway by Michael Gioia

The fifth annual Student Theatre Arts Festival, hosted by 2015 Tony Award nominee Andy Karl (On the Twentieth Century), will be held May 18 at Broadway's American Airlines Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:57PM

Jeremy Jordan, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Barrett Wilbert Weed Sing From Broadway-Bound Tuck Everlasting by Michael Gioia

Before Tuck Everlasting, featuring a score by Chris Miller and Nathan Tysen, spreads its magic on Broadway, listen to some of the musical's score!

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:36PM

Nightlife Powerhouse Tori Scott Returns to Rock Joe’s Pub With Thirsty! by Michael Gioia

Nightlife powerhouse Tori Scott returns to Joe's Pub with her latest show Thirsty!, an evening of poor life choices and stories of her late night misadventures, featuring songs from Judy…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:32PM

Tuck Everlasting Will Spread Magic On Broadway in 2016 by Michael Gioia

Tuck Everlasting, a new musical based on Natalie Babbitt's best-selling 1975 novel of the same name, will open on Broadway April 17, 2016, at a Shubert theatre to be announced.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:24PM

Darren Criss Will Host Celebration of Broadway JR Musicals, Featuring Students From Around NYC by Michael Gioia

The 10th Anniversary celebration of The Shubert Foundation/Music Theatre International arts education program, Broadway Junior, will take place May 19 at 10:30 AM at Broadway's Imperial …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:20PM
Tuesday, May 12, 2015

Brenda Braxton and Frenchie Davis Will Star in New Musical Based on E. Lynn Harris Novel “Invisible by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Café) will star in the new musical Invisible Life the Musical, based on E. Lynn Harris' best-selling novel "Invisi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:10PM

Watch Wesley Taylor Take You Inside The Sexy Kit Kat Klub Of Cabaret! (Video) by Michael Gioia

"Smash" actor Wesley Taylor (Rock of Ages, The Addams Family) stars as the Emcee in Cabaret at the Signature Theatre in D.C., which begins performances May 12. Watch the first clip…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:17PM

Last Chance: What’s Closing This Week by Michael Gioia

Here's Playbill.com's weekly "Last Chance" reminder to catch Broadway, Off-Broadway and world-premiere productions before they take a final bow

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:46PM

Diana DeGarmo Will Head Home for The Wizard of Oz; Look at Her First Picture as Dorothy! by Michael Gioia

Diana DeGarmo, who recently concluded her run as the Narrator in the national tour of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, will star as Dorothy in Studio Tenn Theatre Company's …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:42AM

Wesley Taylor and Barrett Wilbert Weed Hit The Cabaret; Performances Begin Tonight! by Michael Gioia

Barrett Wilbert Weed, a Drama Desk nominee for her breakout performance in Heathers: The Musical, stars as Sally Bowles — opposite "Smash" actor Wesley Taylor (R…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, May 11, 2015

Colin Donnell, Bryce Pinkham, Patti Murin and Julia Murney Will Throw It Back in #tbtLIVE Concert by Michael Gioia

Colin Donnell, Bryce Pinkham, Patti Murin and Julia Murney are among the performers who will bring the popular Instagram/Twitter trend of #tbt to the stage of 54 Below May 28 with #tbtLIVE T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:03PM

Taylor Louderman and More Will Give Back at Joe’s Pub Concert Benefitting BC/EFA by Michael Gioia

Peter Pan Live! star Taylor Louderman is among the performers set for More Than Me: Artists Give Back, an evening to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS that will be held May 15 at Joe…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:22PM

Don’t Tell Mama Will Hold New Competition Pitting Variety of Acts Against Each Other; Winner Gets a by Michael Gioia

Don't Tell Mama will present its first annual Mama's Next BIG Act!, a 12-week competition that mixes styles and genres, this summer. The contest's winner will receive a fully…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:09PM

Get the Goo! Constantine Maroulis, Nancy Opel and Toxic Avenger Cast Will Reunite in Concert by Michael Gioia

Cast members from the rock musical The Toxic Avenger will reunite this summer in concert at 54 Below. Constantine Maroulis, who played the title role in the 2012 production at Texas' All…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:29PM

Broadway Kids Spice Up Their Lives With Epic Spice Girls Medley (Video) by Michael Gioia

The Spice Kids — The Audience and Annie's Sadie Sink and Matilda and Christmas Story's Alexa Niziak, Beatrice Tulchin, Analise Scarpaci and Grace Capeless — reall…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:56PM

Stephen Sondheim Writes Letter to Cast of Sweeney Todd, Whose School Production Was Almost Canceled by Michael Gioia

When a high school production of Sweeney Todd was canceled due to the nature of the story one year before it was planned to bow at Timberlane Regional High School, the controversy in New Ham…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:45PM

Celia Keenan-Bolger and John Ellison Conlee Welcome Baby Boy and Post First Picture! by Michael Gioia

Three-time Tony Award nominee Celia Keenan-Bolger, who was last seen on the New York stage in Lincoln Center Theater's The Oldest Boy — a story about motherhood&nbs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:11PM

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