All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Monday, March 30, 2015

Artists from Mormon and Fun Home Complete Creative Team for Broadway’s Act of God, Starring Jim Pars by Michael Gioia

The complete creative team for the new Broadway comedy An Act of God, starring Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Jim Parsons, has been announced by producer Jeffrey Finn. Performances will …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:08PM

Gypsy Robe Recipients Shine in Concert Tonight With Another Opening, Another Robe by Michael Gioia

Another Opening, Another Robe, an evening celebrating Broadway's Gypsy Robe recipients, is held March 30 at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Café.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:14AM

Celia Keenan-Bolger and Caissie Levy Make Some Noise Tonight in Celebration of Gavin Creel’s Return by Michael Gioia

Make Some Noise, a concert welcoming Gavin Creel back to the U.S. and Broadway — originally scheduled for late January but postponed due to Winter Storm Juno — hits Joe&#…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:14AM
Sunday, March 29, 2015

Alan Cumming Closes the Doors of the Kit Kat Klub; Cabaret Plays Final Performance by Michael Gioia

The Broadway remount of Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall's Tony Award-winning production of Cabaret, starring Tony-winning Emcee Alan Cumming, plays its final performance Mar…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, March 27, 2015

Throw Down! Lin-Manuel Miranda Responds to Tumblr Post Seeking Illegal Hamilton Bootleg by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, whose musical Hamilton is currently playing an acclaimed Off-Broadway engagement prior to its Broadway transfer this summer, is politely asking …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:16PM

Details Revealed for Blu-Ray Release of “1776” by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Sony Picture Home Entertainment has announced details of the special features that will be included in the April 2 Blu-ray release of its hit 1972 film adaptation of the Tony-winning…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:18AM

A Cellist Discovers Superpowers From His Bow in Premiere of Rock Musical Lizard Boy, Beginning Tonig by Michael Gioia

Seattle Repertory Theatre presents Lizard Boy, a world-premiere rock musical written and performed by Seattle native Justin Huertas, March 27-May 2 on the Leo K. Theatre Sta…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, March 26, 2015

Problems and Pop Music! Robin De Jesus Will Tell You Why #TheStruggleIsReal at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Two-time Tony Award nominee Robin De Jesus will explore why learning, growing up, turning 30 and "becoming a better person sucks" in #TheStruggleIsReal, his new solo show that …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:10PM

Pour the Whiskey! Murder Ballad’s New Jersey Premiere Will Rock a Hoboken Bar by Michael Gioia

Murder Ballad, a dark and intimate tale that explores the complications of love and the compromises we make, will be given its New Jersey premiere at an Irish Pub in Hoboken.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:36PM

Dancers From Newsies and More Prove Midwestern Boys Are Pretty Irresistible (Video) by Michael Gioia

Musical theatre dancers, including Iain Young of Broadway's Newsies, prove that Midwestern boys are simply irresistible in songwriter Joey Contreras' new music video about guys from …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:23PM

Playbill Playlist: Rock On to Classic Rock Favorites From the Cast of Broadway’s Hair! by Michael Gioia

Veterans of the 2009 Tony Award-winning revival of Hair reunite with their friends and fellow rockers for Broadway Meets Classic Rock April 6 at 54 Below. In anticipation of the evening,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:33PM

Jonathan Groff Is No Longer “Looking”; Series to Conclude With HBO Special by Michael Gioia

"Looking," the HBO series about a group of gay friends living in San Francisco that stars Tony Award nominee Jonathan Groff, will not be renewed for a third season. Instead, a HBO …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:08PM

Exclusive! Music Theatre International To License Benj Pasek and Justin Paul’s James and the Giant P by Michael Gioia

Roald Dahl's James and the Giant Peach, featuring a score by Tony-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul and a book by Timothy Allen McDonald, has been acquired for licensi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:59AM
Wednesday, March 25, 2015

Could a “High School Musical” Star Score Big With Critics? Broadway Creatives Say, “Vanessa Is Gigi! by Michael Gioia

"High School Musical" sensation Vanessa Hudgens is at the core of the freshly adapted production of Gigi, which just hit Broadway last week. Could she score big with the critics wh…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:00PM

Children of Eden, Adapted by College Sophomore for Young Performers, Finds Its Cast by Michael Gioia

The youth production of Children of Eden, Stephen Schwartz's epic musical based on the Book of Genesis, has announced its cast. Performances will begin July 17 in New Jersey.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:14PM

The Worst Pickup Lines From Online Dating? Wicked Actresses Tell You (Via Dramatic Readings)! (Video by Michael Gioia

What are some of the worst pickup lines you've received on dating apps such as Tinder, Match.com and OkCupid? Lilli Cooper, from Broadway's Wicked, and her friends share real message…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:27PM

Ramin Karimloo Will Play Final Les Miz Show This Summer and Announces Vacation by Michael Gioia

Ramin Karimloo, who received a Tony Award nomination for his portrayal of Jean Valjean in the re-imagined Broadway revival of Les Misérables, announced that he will play his f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00PM

Broadway Will Go Bruno! Keala Settle and Zak Resnick Among Singers for Bruno Mars Concert by Michael Gioia

Broadway Sings Bruno Mars, the eighth installment of the Broadway Sings… concert series, will feature new arrangements of music by Bruno Mars and will be held May 17 at 42West.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:45AM

Exclusive! In Green Day Fashion, American Idiot Will Get Immersive Staging in L.A. Warehouse by Michael Gioia

The Los Angeles premiere of the rock musical American Idiot, inspired by Green Day's seventh studio album, will come to life in a warehouse venue in downtown L.A.'s Arts District. Pe…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:41AM

How An Actor’s Worst Nightmare Provided Strength for His Journey to Broadway by Michael Gioia

Josh Grisetti's Broadway debut has been five-and-a-half years in the making. He shares his story with Playbill.com — about how an actor's nightmare (of closing …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, March 24, 2015

Could a 17-Year-Old Bring Mark Twain’s “The Adventures of Tom Sawyer” Back to Broadway? by Michael Gioia

The Mark Twain House & Museum in Hartford, CT, announced March 24 that 17-year-old playwright-in-residence Noah Altshuler will adapt Mark Twain's "The Advent…

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:03PM

Exclusive! If/Then’s Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey Working on New, Original Musical About the Power of L by Michael Gioia

Broadway may have seen the last of the original musical If/Then, about chance and choice, but its writers — Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winners Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey &mda…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:52PM

Broadway’s Gigi, With Vanessa Hudgens, Announces Digital Lottery Policy by Michael Gioia

The digital ticket lottery policy has been announced for the Broadway revival of Gigi, starring Vanessa Hudgens, which is now in Broadway previews at the Neil Simon Theatre. It is scheduled …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:57PM

Tomorrow Belongs to The Road! Cabaret Will Tour Over 20 Cities Following Broadway by Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company will launch a national tour of Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall's Tony Award-winning production of Cabaret, which will premiere in Providence, RI, at the Provid…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:37AM

For the First Time, Kristin Chenoweth Remembers Her Split Second With Madeline Kahn: “You’re Good, K by Michael Gioia

We all know that Kristin Chenoweth has idolized Madeline Kahn — the actress who created Lily Garland, a role that Chenoweth now delivers to perfection on Broadway — but w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Exclusive! Brian d’Arcy James and His Wife Adorably Duet as Hansel and Gretel (Audio) by Michael Gioia

Brian d'Arcy James and his wife, actress Jennifer Prescott, recently recorded a bonus version of the song "There's Always Me and You" for the iTunes release of Hansel &…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

See More “Into the Woods” Than Ever Before! Hit Film Released on Blu-Ray, DVD and Digital Today by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The Blu-ray, DVD and digital releases of the hit film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical Into the Woods, starring Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick and James Corden, i…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, March 23, 2015

Actors’ Equity Responds to “Emotional Debate” Over L.A.‘s 99-Seat Plan and Member Protest by Michael Gioia

Matters continue to escalate in the month leading up to the April 21 meeting of Actors' Equity Association's National Council, in which a decision will be made regarding Los Angeles&…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:03PM

Krysta Rodriguez Will Play a Cancer Patient On ABC Family Drama “Chasing Life” by Michael Gioia

"Smash" star and Broadway actress Krysta Rodriguez, who recently talked openly about her battle with breast cancer, is not letting her diagnosis hold her back. The actress will joi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:08PM

Kristin Chenoweth Will Sing On! On the Twentieth Century To Get a Cast Album by Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company announced that PS Classics will record the cast album of the Broadway revival of On the Twentieth Century, starring Kristin Chenoweth, March 23. It will be release…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:20AM

Matthew Morrison Takes You Behind the Scenes at Finding Neverland… and Break Dances! (Video) by Michael Gioia

Matthew Morrison took "Good Morning America" behind the scenes at Finding Neverland this weekend. Watch him give a tour of the Broadway set and demonstrate his break-dancing sk…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:06AM

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