All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, February 17, 2015

“The Last Five Years” Film, With Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, Lands No. 1 on iTunes Chart by Michael Gioia

The film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, starring Tony Award nominees Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, ranked No. 1 for its opening weekend on the iTunes Independ…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:16PM

Recapping Last Night’s Parade: “One of the High Points of My Entire Existence,” Says Jason Robert Br by Michael Gioia

The Manhattan Concert Productions concert performance of Parade, the Tony-winning musical by Jason Robert Brown and Alfred Uhry about a society that turns against a seemingly innocent ma…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:49PM

Off-Broadway Return of 39 Steps Will Reunite Entire Original Creative Team by Michael Gioia

The Off-Broadway return of Patrick Barlow's Tony Award-nominated comedy 39 Steps, based on an original concept by Nobby Dimon and Simon Corble, will reunite the musical&…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:31PM

Florida Production of West Side Story, Starring Bare’s Anthony Festa as Tony, Begins Tonight by Michael Gioia

Anthony Festa, seen in the Off-Broadway revival of Bare, stars as Tony in Riverside Theatre's production of West Side Story, which begins performances Feb. 17 in Florida.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Sienna Miller Is Sally! “American Sniper” Star Returns to Broadway Tonight in Cabaret by Michael Gioia

Sienna Miller, who was seen on Broadway in After Miss Julie and stars in the biographical action film "American Sniper" opposite Bradley Cooper, returns to Broadway Feb. 17 as Caba…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 16, 2015

Off-Broadway’s Little Children Dream of God, About Starting Anew, Opens Tonight by Michael Gioia

The Roundabout Underground world-premiere production of Little Children Dream of God, a new play by Jeff Augustin, officially opens Feb. 17 at the Black Box Theatre in the Harold and Mir…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:59PM
Sunday, February 15, 2015

Emma Stone Takes Her Final Bow at the Cabaret Tonight; Sienna Miller In the Wings by Michael Gioia

Golden Globe nominee Emma Stone ("Easy A"), who made her Broadway debut as Sally Bowles, plays her final performance as the troubled Toast of Mayfair in Roundabout Theatre…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, February 14, 2015

Helen Hayes Theatre Owners Reveal Change of Heart, Will Second Stage Sale Go Through for Broadway Th by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The New York Times reports that the planned $25 million sale of Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre to the Off-Broadway non-profit Second Stage, may be in peril.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:50AM
Friday, February 13, 2015

The Verdict: Critics Review “The Last Five Years,”  With Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan by Michael Gioia

The highly anticipated film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, starring Tony Award nominees Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, hits theatres Feb. 13 in select cities a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:34PM

Wendy’s Shadow, Rock Musical Retelling Peter Pan’s Adventure from Wendy’s Perspective, Will Get NYC by Michael Gioia

Wendy's Shadow, a musical based on the novel "Peter and Wendy" by J.M. Barrie — which had a reading Nov. 24 at the Irvington Town Hall Theater — will be pre…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:23PM

James Snyder, Greg Hildreth, Jenni Barber, Ben Fankhauser Will Sing Songs of Jacob Yandura & Rebekah by Michael Gioia

The Songs of Jacob Yandura & Rebekah Greer Melocik will be held Feb. 16 at 54 Below. James Snyder, Greg Hildreth, Jenni Barber and Ben Fankhauser are among the evening's lineup.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:14PM

Songwriter Blake Pfeil Will Wallpaper Rockwood With Free Concert This Weekend by Michael Gioia

Singer, songwriter and performer Blake Pfeil will celebrate the release of his album "Wallpaper" with a free concert Feb. 15 at Rockwood Music Hall on Manhattan's Lower East Si…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:40PM

See, We’re Smiling! A Track-by-Track Breakdown of “The Last Five Years” Soundtrack by Michael Gioia

The soundtrack to the film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's cult musical The Last Five Years was released this week along with the new movie, and Playbill.com staff writer Michael Gioi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:49PM

JumpStart Theatre Program, Training Educators in Theatre, Launches for Schools Lacking Theatrical Cu by Michael Gioia

Educational Theatre Association (EdTA), Music Theatre International (MTI) and iTheatrics are launching JumpStart Theatre (#JumpStartTheatre), a new program supporting theatre education that …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:36PM

Tony Winner, Broadway Stars and Belters Will Sing Pop Artists in Best Of Broadway Sings Concert by Michael Gioia

A Best Of Broadway Sings concert, featuring show-stopping numbers from the previous seven concerts of Broadway Sings…, will be held March 16 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:46PM

James Franco Lands Starring Role in Stephen King Series, and Vanessa Williams Cast in Fox Pilot by Michael Gioia

James Franco, who starred in Broadway's Of Mice and Men, has landed a starring role in the nine-episode Hulu series "11/22/63," according to Deadline.com.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:40AM

Kristin Chenoweth Boards the Broadway Train in On the Twentieth Century, Beginning Tonight by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth embodies Lily Garland, a role created by her idol Madeline Kahn, in Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of On the…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Betsy Wolfe Returns Home Tonight for Benefit Concert in California by Michael Gioia

Betsy Wolfe, last seen on Broadway in Bullets Over Broadway, headlines a benefit concert Feb. 13 at the Visalia Fox Theatre in her hometown of Visalia, CA.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

“The Last Five Years,”  With Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, Premieres in Theatres Today by Michael Gioia

The highly anticipated film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, starring Tony Award nominees Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, hits theatres Feb. 13 in select cities a…

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

Guy Talk With Jeremy Jordan! First Date With His Wife, Wedding Night and Valentine’s Day Plans by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan, who stars as Jamie in the film adaptation of The Last Five Years, and the movie's director Richard LaGravenese have guy talk with Playbill.com. They cha…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:13PM

Liza Minnelli Will Receive This Year’s Italia Legend Award in L.A. by Michael Gioia

Tony Award and Oscar winner Liza Minnelli has been named the recipient of the 2015 Jack Valenti – Los Angeles, Italia Legend Award.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:08AM

Anna Kendrick Gets Real On Naked Selfies and Drunk Tweeting and Bursts Into Song on “Conan” (Video) by Michael Gioia

Anna Kendrick, who stars in the film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, recently sat down with Conan O'Brien to talk about the new movie, naked selfies and drunk…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:29AM

Over a Dozen Broadway Couples Celebrate Romance and Valentine’s Day Tonight in Concert by Michael Gioia

Broadway couples celebrate romance, both on stage and off, during the second annual A Very Broadway Valentine's Day Feb. 12 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Broadway Couples Pick Their Favorite Love Songs in Time for Valentine’s Day by Michael Gioia

Broadway couples celebrate romance, both on stage and off, during the second annual A Very Broadway Valentine's Day Feb. 12 at 54 Below. In celebration of Valentine's Day and the con…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Gigi, Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Ends Kennedy Center Run; Broadway Is Next by Michael Gioia

The new Broadway-bound production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical Gigi, starring Vanessa Hudgens in the title role, f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Injured John Cameron Mitchell Will Miss Hedwig; Michael C. Hall Back in the Wig by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia, Carey Purcell

John Cameron Mitchell, the co-creator and original star of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, who is reprising his performance in the Broadway production, will take a week-long hiatus from t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:41PM

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom, Jr. Reveal How Rent Shaped History and Hamilton by Michael Gioia

Lin-Manuel Miranda and Leslie Odom, Jr. are the 18th-century fatal friends at the core of Hamilton. They talk history — both onstage and off — and how Rent paved …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:22PM

Laura Benanti, Kristin Chenoweth, Alan Cumming, Kelli O’Hara and More Will Honor Helen Mirren at Rou by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:58PM

Five New Kids Will Get Behind the Barricade at Broadway’s Les Misrables by Michael Gioia

Cameron Mackintosh's new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Les Misérables will welcome five new children for its second year on Broadw…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:48PM

Anna Kendrick Tells Ellen About Her Awkward Grammy Moment With Sam Smith (Video) by Michael Gioia

Anna Kendrick, who stars in the film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, recently sat down on "The Ellen Show" to talk about her night at the Grammy Awards.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:41AM

Jason Robert Brown and Richard LaGravenese Will Offer Q&As Following “The Last Five Years” Screening by Michael Gioia

Songwriter Jason Robert Brown and director Richard LaGravenese will offer post-screening Q&As at the Village East Cinema, where their film adaptation of The Last Five Ye…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:01AM

All that Chat