All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Thursday, March 5, 2015

They Dreamed the Dream! How Two Twentysomethings Went Direct From College to Broadway’s Les Misrable by Michael Gioia

Brennyn Lark and Erika Henningsen are fresh out of college. This week, they made their Broadway debuts as the respective fated females Eponine and Fantine in the revival of Les Mis&eacut…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: 10 Songs That Ben Vereen is Steppin’ Out To, From Wicked to Usher and Stevie Wond by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Ben Vereen will offer a limited engagement of his solo show Steppin' Out March 17-21 at 54 Below. In anticipation of his concerts, he shares ten favorite songs to &…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, March 4, 2015

Bruce Willis Will Make Broadway Debut in Misery, Based on Stephen King Novel by Michael Gioia

Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Bruce Willis and Obie Award winner Elizabeth Marvel will star in Misery, a new play written by Academy Award winner William Goldman and based on the acclai…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:39PM

8 Burning Questions With Les Miz’s Hunky New Marius! Dating, Social Media and Three-Word Texts by Michael Gioia

Broadway's Les Misérables got a hunky new Marius last night, when Chris McCarrell — who understudied the role since the re-imagined revival opened last year at t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:41PM

Amy Spanger Will Bring Her Show of Glamorous and Not-As-Glamorous Tales to Birdland by Michael Gioia

Amy Spanger, who recently starred in the Broadway revival of Chicago, will bring her solo show to Birdland March 16 at 7 PM.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:13PM

Theatre Songwriters Are Hams at Heart Tonight, Taking the Stage to Sing by Michael Gioia

Hams at Heart: The Best Musical Theater Writers of Our Time… Perform the Songs of Kinosian and Blair, featuring the songs of Murder for Two writers Kellen Blair and Joe Kinosian, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:02PM

Tweeters Rejoice! Neil Patrick Harris, Anna Kendrick and Annoying Actor Friend Nominated for Best in by Michael Gioia

Neil Patrick Harris, Anna Kendrick and Internet parody Annoying Actor Friend are among the nominees for this year's Shorty Awards, honoring the best of social media.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:59AM

Piece of My Heart’s Zak Resnick Will Rock Rockwood With Joey Contreras at Free Concert by Michael Gioia

Zak Resnick, who starred as Bert Berns in the Off-Broadway musical Piece of My Heart, will join singer-songwriter Joey Contreras for a free Rockwood Music Hall concert March 22.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:36AM
Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Julia Murney Will Join “Dexter” and “The Following” Star Sam Underwood in Solo Debut Concert by Michael Gioia

Sam Underwood, currently starring in FOX's "The Following," will make his solo show debut March 14 at 54 Below with A Second Impression.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:22PM

Actors’ Equity Responds to L.A. Actors and Critics Infuriated by Proposal for More Pay by Michael Gioia

Following the news that Actors' Equity Association proposed a new Los Angeles 99-Seat Theatre Plan contract — which would guarantee actors and stage managers are paid a sal…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:31PM

Jason Robert Brown Will Join Honeymoon Stars at 92nd Street Y Event by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Honeymoon in Vegas stars Tony Danza, Rob McClure and Brynn O'Malley will join composer Jason Robert Brown and librettist Andrew Bergman to spend the evening of March 15 at the 92nd Stree…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:39AM

“Smash” Stars Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus Reunite Tonight at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

"Smash" stars Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez and Andy Mientus look back at their time on the NBC musical drama in This Will Be Our Year March 3 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

New Fantine, Marius, Eponine, Enjolras and Thenardiers Storm Broadway’s Les Misrables by Michael Gioia

Tony and Oliver Award nominee Gavin Lee, Erika Henningsen, Rachel Izen, Brennyn Lark, Chris McCarrell and Wallace Smith take over principal roles in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway rev…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, March 2, 2015

“Newsies” Will Meet the Newsies at Special Movie Screening, Uniting Stars from Stage and Screen by Michael Gioia

A showing of the 1992 Disney film "Newsies," attended by original cast members from the film as well as stars of the Broadway musical's national tour, will be held April 1 at t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:42PM

See the Von Trapp Kids as Adults! Original “Sound of Music” Stars Uncover Hidden Gems (Video) by Michael Gioia

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of "The Sound of Music," Playbill.com looks back at its reunion with Heather Menzies, Nicholas Hammond and Kym Karath, original cast members …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:25PM

Hear “Seasons of Love” in Spanish! Watch Clips from Professional Rent in Cuba (Video) by Michael Gioia

Rent is the first full-scale Broadway musical production to be mounted in Havana, Cuba, in over 50 years. Watch highlights from the production, featuring an all-Cuban cast. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:50PM

Original Star of Broadway’s Grease Will Swing Into National Tour of Pippin by Michael Gioia

Adrienne Barbeau, the Tony Award-nominated original Rizzo of Broadway's Grease, will swing into the national tour of Pippin beginning March 31 in Ft. Lauderdale.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:39PM

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

Make Some Noise, a concert welcoming Gavin Creel back to the U.S. and Broadway — that was to be held in late January, but was postponed due to Winter Storm Juno — has bee…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:21PM

Alex Sharp Will Host First Shubert Theatre Festival for NYC Public Schools at Broadway’s Imperial by Michael Gioia

The first Shubert Foundation High School Theatre Festival for NYC Public Schools will be held March 9 at Broadway's Imperial Theatre. The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Tim…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:11PM

Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming and Kelli O’Hara Honor Helen Mirren at Tonight’s Roun by Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Todd Haimes, presents its annual 2015 spring gala, entitled There Is Nothing Like a Dame, March 2 in the Grand Ballroom of the Wal…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:10AM
Sunday, March 1, 2015

A Presidential Performance! President Clinton and Family Attend Hamilton at Public Theater Tonight by Michael Gioia and Carey Purcell

President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton attended the 8 PM performance of Hamilton, the critically acclaimed new musical written by and starring …

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:53PM

A Presidential Performance! President Clinton and Family Attend Broadway-Bound Hamilton at the Publi by Michael Gioia and Carey Purcell

President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton attended the 8 PM performance of Hamilton, the critically acclaimed new musical written by and starring …

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:53PM

Caissie Levy, Andy Mientus, Keala Settle, Cliff Saunders and Kyle Scatliffe Take Final Bows in Les M by Michael Gioia

Les Misérables cast members Caissie Levy (Fantine), Andy Mientus (Marius), Cliff Saunders (Thenardier), Kyle Scatliffe (Enjolras) and Keala Settle (Madame Thenardier) take their f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, February 28, 2015

Elemeno Pea, About a Personal Assistant to the Wife of a Billionaire, Hits Pittsburgh Tonight by Michael Gioia

City Theatre continues its 40th anniversary season with the Molly Smith Metzler comedy Elemeno Pea, directed by City artistic director Tracy Brigden, beginning Feb. 28 in Pittsburgh, PA.

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

Should They Have Kept It? See Meryl Streep’s Cut Song from “Into the Woods”! by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

"She'll Be Back," a new Stephen Sondheim song written for Meryl Streep to perform as The Witch in the screen adaptation of "Into the Woods," was cut before the film e…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:48AM

Jessica Vosk Comes in From Jersey For This! Tonight; Concert Also Features Martha Plimpton and Andra by Michael Gioia

Jessica Vosk, who was seen in Broadway's The Bridges of Madison County, goes it solo Feb. 27 at 54 Below in I Came From Jersey For This! 

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

See Flash Clip of Meryl Streep Belting Witch’s Cut Song in New “Into the Woods” Blu-Ray Teaser! by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The new Blu-ray trailer for the Disney at-home release of "Into the Woods" gives fans a brief glimpse of "She'll Be Back," an original Stephen Sondheim song w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:20PM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Jessica Vosk Shares Her Jersey Pride Playlist: Bon Jovi, Billy Joel, Meatloaf and by Michael Gioia

Jessica Vosk, who was seen in Broadway's The Bridges of Madison County, will go it solo Feb. 27 at 54 Below in I Came From Jersey For This! In anticipation of the concert, Vosk shares he…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:19AM
Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Witch’s Cut Song, Fan “Easter Eggs” Among Surprises On “Into the Woods” Blu-Ray/DVD Release by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Disney has announced details of the special features that will be included in the Blu-ray, DVD and digital releases of its hit film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine mu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:39PM

New Musical By “American Idol” Finalist Among This Year’s New York Musical Theatre Festival Selectio by Michael Gioia

The 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced the selections for the 2015 Next Link Project, including a piece written by "American Idol" finalist Jon Peter Lewis and…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:55PM

Revolutionaries, Turn Up! Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton Will Head To Broadway This Summer by Michael Gioia

Hamilton, the critically acclaimed new musical written by and starring Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, will transfer to Broadway, beginning previews July 16 at the Richard Rodgers …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:03PM

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