All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, February 11, 2015

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

Between Riverside and Crazy, Starring Stephen McKinley Henderson, Opens Off-Broadway Tonight by Michael Gioia

Second Stage Theatre presents the Atlantic Theater Company production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Between Riverside and Crazy, officially opening Feb. 11 at the company's Tony …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, February 10, 2015

Showtime Pilot, Featuring Musical Elements and Starring Santino Fontana, Will Not Move Forward by Michael Gioia

Showtime has opted not to proceed with "Crazy Ex-Girlfriend," Rachel Bloom's half-hour comedy pilot with musical elements that featured Tony Award nominee Santino Fonta…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:29PM

He Said, She Said! Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick On How “The Last Five Years” Came To Life by Michael Gioia

The big-screen adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, documenting a five-year relationship of a couple falling in and out of love, will hit theatres this weekend…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:12PM

Joe Iconis’ Diary of a Wimpy Kid Musical Will Premiere in Minneapolis by Michael Gioia

Children's Theatre Company (CTC), under the artistic direction of Peter C. Brosius, will celebrate its 50th anniversary season with five premieres, including Diary of a Wimpy Kid the Mus…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:29PM

“The Last Five Years” Soundtrack, With Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, Released Today by Michael Gioia

The soundtrack to the highly anticipated film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, starring Tony Award nominees Anna Kendrick and Jeremy Jordan, is released Feb. 10, a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:15PM

Toronto Production of Once, Featuring All-Canadian Cast, Begins Performances Tonight by Michael Gioia

Ian Lake and Trish Lindström, two actors with numerous credits from the Stratford Festival, lead the Toronto sit-down production of the Tony-winning musical Once, which begi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 9, 2015

Jeremy Jordan, Ben Platt, Ben Fankhauser, Natalie Weiss Will Sing Music of Last Night’s Big Grammy W by Michael Gioia

Broadway stars will celebrate the music of Sam Smith, the U.K. singer-songwriter who won big at last night's Grammy Awards, April 5 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:17PM

Immersive Carrie Will Put Audiences at the Center of High School; Complete Casting Announced for L.A by Michael Gioia

The Los Angeles premiere of the re-imagined, environmental and immersive production of Carrie will begin performances March 12, prior to an official opening March 18, at Southern Califor…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:00PM

Fox’s “Glee” Sinks to a Series-Low Rating by Michael Gioia

Ratings from the Feb. 6 episode of "Glee," entitled "What The World Needs Now," fell to a series low, according to Deadline.com. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:13AM

James Barbour Is Broadway’s New Phantom of the Opera, Starting Tonight by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

James Barbour, a Drama Desk nominee for A Tale of Two Cities, assumes the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera beginning Feb. 9 at the Majestic Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Sheldon Harnick, Zak Resnick, Ben Fankhauser, Ryann Redmond and More Celebrate Short-Lived Musicals by Michael Gioia

The 14th edition of the Bistro Award-winning series If It Only Even Runs A Minute, featuring rare songs, behind-the-scenes tales and inspiring photos from underappreciated Broadw…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Booking It! Commercial Casting Director Nina Pratt On Representing Products, Getting on Film, Auditi by Michael Gioia

Playbill.com's new feature series Booking It asks leading industry members to share professional insights, need-to-know tips and essential tricks of the trade for up-and-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Box Office Opens at Broadway’s Finding Neverland, Starring Matthew Morrison by Michael Gioia

The box office at Finding Neverland, the new Broadway musical that tells the tale of how Peter became Pan, opens Feb. 9 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Previews will begin March 1…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, February 8, 2015

The Civilians’ Pretty Filthy, Exploring Real Stories of the Porn Industry, Opens Tonight by Michael Gioia

The Civilians' world-premiere production of Pretty Filthy, kicking off the 100th anniversary celebration of the Playhouse at Abrons Arts Center, officially opens Feb. 8, following pr…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, February 7, 2015

Teens Explore Sexual Awakening and Struggles in NY Premiere of Rock Musical One Day, Beginning Tonig by Michael Gioia

The new pop-rock musical One Day is given its New York premiere at the innovative downtown performance space 3LD Art & Technology Center. Performances begin Feb. 7.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Julia Murney, Lesli Margherita, Wesley Taylor, Keala Settle and More Are #SOBLESSED Tonight in Conce by Michael Gioia

#SOBLESSED Live!, from parody Internet personality Annoying Actor Friend, returns to Manhattan nightspot 54 Below Feb. 7. The concert benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, February 6, 2015

Adam Gwon Musical String, a Modern-Day Twist on the Greek Fates, Wins Richard Rodgers Award by Michael Gioia

String, a new musical by Adam Gwon and Sarah Hammond, was awarded the 2015 Richard Rodgers Award for Musical Theater. The show will receive a studio production.

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:23PM

Baz Luhrmann’s Hip-Hop Musical Drama Given Series Order on Netflix by Michael Gioia

Netflix has given a 13-episode series order to the musical drama "The Get Down" from Academy Award-nominated director Baz Luhrmann, according to Deadline.com.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:25PM

Exclusive! Jeremy Jordan Gives Julia Murney Sound Advice on How to “Play Him” at 54 Below (Video) by Michael Gioia

Due to unforeseen scheduling conflicts, Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan will no longer be able to appear in the Feb. 7 performance of #SOBLESSED Live! Instead, Julia Murney (Wicked) will star as …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:20AM

Billy Porter Developing TV Series About Black, Gay Friends in Their 40s Living in Harlem by Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning Kinky Boots star Billy Porter is developing a TV series entitled "SoHa," about a group of black, gay friends in their 40s who live in Harlem, according to th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:08AM

Into the Woods Like You’ve Never Heard It: How a New Sound Was Created Off-Broadway by Michael Gioia

The troupe of players in the Fiasco Theater ensemble take a new path through the enchanted forest in their acclaimed production of Into the Woods, now Off-Broadway with Roundabout Theatr…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:14AM
Thursday, February 5, 2015

Aaron Clifton Moten and John Douglas Thompson to Star in Reading Crafted From Letters of Langston Hu by Michael Gioia

Aaron Clifton Moten and John Douglas Thompson will star in the premiere of Young Man Langston, a dramatic reading from the letters of Langston Hughes, Feb. 23 at the 92nd Street Y.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:44PM

Adam Kantor, Jenny Lee Stern and Leslie McDonel Will Strip Down With the Skivvies in Philadelphia by Michael Gioia

The Kimmel Center will present The Skivvies (Lauren Molina and Nick Cearley) Feb. 12-14 at SEI Innovation Studio.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:40PM

New Musical Reuniting the Minds Behind Guys and Dolls Will Premiere in California by Michael Gioia

The world premiere of Another Roll of the Dice, featuring a book by seven-time Emmy winner Mark Saltzman ("Sesame Street") and the songs of Frank Loesser, is part of Colony The…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:12PM

Betsy Wolfe Will Return Home for Benefit Concert in California by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:19AM

Starcatcher, Merrily, Little Shop and Developmental Work About George Rose Among Sharon Playhouse Se by Michael Gioia

Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of artistic director John Simpkins and managing director Justin Ball, announced their 2015 summer season, which will include Peter and the Starcatcher,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:10AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Zak Resnick, Ben Fankhauser, Ryann Redmond and More Pick Songs from Short-Lived M by Michael Gioia

The 14th edition of the Bistro Award-winning series If It Only Even Runs A Minute, featuring rare songs, behind-the-scenes tales and inspiring photos from underappreciated Broadw…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Somewhere in Time Musical, With Laura Osnes and Ryan Silverman, Begins NYC Workshop by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Workshop presentations of the new Broadway-aimed musical Somewhere in Time, which stars Drama Desk Award nominee Ryan Silverman and Tony Award nominees Laura Osnes and Marc Kudi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Jeremy Jordan, Ciara Rene, Ben Fankhauser Join 17-Piece Band at Tonight’s Charlie Rosen’s Broadway B by Michael Gioia

Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band returns to the intimate Manhattan venue 54 Below Feb. 5 to kick off an official residence for 2015. Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, …

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

Reba McEntire “Bounces” With the Kinky Boots Tour Cast! (Video and Photo) by Michael Gioia

Country music singer and Broadway vet Reba McEntire dropped by the Kinky Boots touring production in Nashville, TN (where she got her start in country music), to see the show and meet with t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:43PM

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