All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, January 21, 2015

The Secrets to How Broadway Stars Power Through Colds, Flu and Fatigue by Michael Gioia

Sick before the show? Too tired for the audition? Got the winter blues? Broadway pros provide an expert guide that everyone can use to stay in top vocal and physical health.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:24AM

Marin Mazzie, Bobby Steggert, Jonathan Freeman, Lauren Worsham, Telly Leung Will Record Vernon Duke’ by Michael Gioia

PS Classics, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record and release the studio cast album of a new musical MISIA, featuring a book and lyrics by B…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, January 20, 2015

Anna Kendrick’s “I Can Do Better Than That” and Jeremy Jordan’s “Moving Too Fast” Released From “Las by Michael Gioia

Sh-K-Boom Records has released the first two songs from the highly anticipated film adaptation of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years. Anna Kendrick's "I Can Do Bet…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:46PM

Peter Pan Live! Lost Boy Will Graduate to Peter in Ryan Scott Oliver’s Dark and Sexy Retelling of Pe by Michael Gioia

A private reading of Ryan Scott Oliver's Darling, a dark and sexy retelling of Peter Pan, will be held Jan. 21 at the Pearl Studios in New York City. Jason Gotay and Ephie Aardema star.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:31PM

Shakespeare Plays and New Australian Work Win Big at 2014 Sydney Theatre Awards by Michael Gioia

The 2014 Sydney Theatre Awards were presented at a gala ceremony Jan. 19 at the Paddington RSL. Bell Shakespeare's Henry V took home top honors.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:44AM

Will “Frozen” Star Josh Gad Reprise His Olaf for Broadway? (Video) by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Josh Gad, who voiced the character of Olaf the snowman in the Oscar-winning film "Frozen," recently sat down on "Watch What Happens Live." Host And…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:12AM

Laura Benanti and Josh Radnor Will Star in Broadway Revival of She Loves Me by Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company, under the artistic direction of Todd Haimes, announced Jan. 20 that a new Broadway production of She Loves Me will star Tony Award winner Laura Benanti and stage …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, January 19, 2015

Andy Mientus, Taylor Louderman, Ben Fankhauser, Jason Gotay and More Will Sing Music of F. Michael H by Michael Gioia

F. Michael Haynie, who has been seen on Broadway in Wicked and on television in NBC's Peter Pan Live!, will hit 54 Below Jan. 23 for a concert of his original music Jan. 23.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:25PM

Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor Will Return to The Last Five Years by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, who co-starred in the acclaimed Second Stage Theatre revival of Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, will reunite for a three-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:02PM

The Expert Guide to Vocal Health; Broadway Professionals Share Their Secrets by Michael Gioia

Sick before opening night? Dried out vocal cords in the winter? Losing your voice from overexertion? Broadway professionals, including vocal experts, performers and more, share their secrets…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:19PM

Star-Studded “Into the Woods” Film Brings in $140 Million Worldwide by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick, Carey Purcell

Disney's hit film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical Into the Woods, starring Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick and James Corden, has grossed $140 million worldwide in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:40AM

Lena Hall, Lesli Margherita, Zak Resnick, Corey Mach, Natalie Weiss and More Rock the Highline With by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Lena Hall, Olivier Award winner Lesli Margherita, Zak Resnick, Corey Mach and Natalie Weiss are among the performers in Broadway Sings P!nk, featuring com…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Joey Contreras and Eric Michael Krop Rock Rockwood Tonight With Free Night of Theatrical-Infused Pop by Michael Gioia

Singer-songwriters Joey Contreras and Eric Michael Krop (Godspell) offer a free night of theatre-infused pop music Jan. 19 at Rockwood Music Hall.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, January 18, 2015

Lindsay Mendez, Ben Platt, Patti Murin, F. Michael Haynie and More Are Band Geeks Tonight at 54 Belo by Michael Gioia

The musical Band Geeks comes to life in a concert presentation Jan. 18 at 54 Below. Wicked star Lindsay Mendez and The Book of Mormon's Ben Platt are among the cast.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Off-Broadway’s The Woodsman, Untold Story of Oz’s Tinman and the Woman He Loved, Opens by Michael Gioia

The return engagement of The Woodsman to 59E59 Theaters, Theater B officially opens Jan. 18, following previews that began Jan. 13.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Motown Moves Out; Hit Broadway Musical Closes With Promise of 2016 Return by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Motown The Musical, the Broadway show featuring music from the legendary Motown catalogue, ends its Broadway run Jan. 18 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Producers intend to bring the jukeb…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, January 17, 2015

Teenage Dream! Darren Criss Surprises Thousands of Young Students at the Junior Theatre Festival by Michael Gioia

"Glee" star Darren Criss, seen on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, surprised over 4,000 students at the Junior Theatre Festival in Atlanta, GA, Jan. 17.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:08PM

Teenage Dream! Darren Criss Surprises Thousands of Young Students at the Junior Theater Festival by Michael Gioia

"Glee" star Darren Criss, seen on Broadway in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, surprised over 4,000 students at the Junior Theater Festival in Atlanta, GA, Jan. 17.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:08PM

Benjamin Walker, Zosia Mamet, Jennifer Damiano, Isabel Keating, Wesley Taylor Among Lab Cast of Amer by Michael Gioia

Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson star Benjamin Walker, "Girls" actress Zosia Mamet, Tony nominees Jennifer Damiano and Isabel Keating and "Smash" actor Wesley Taylor are amon…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:33PM
Friday, January 16, 2015

The Pictures and Video from Tony Danza’s Instagram Takeover on Honeymoon’s Opening Night! by Michael Gioia

Tony Danza, who stars in the new Jason Robert Brown musical Honeymoon in Vegas, took over Playbill's official Instagram account to share exclusive pictures and video from his opening nig…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:58AM

Broadway-Bound Gigi, Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Begins Kennedy Center Run Tonight 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 begins performances Jan. 16 at The John F. Ken…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Motown Recoups $18 Million Investment in Time for Closing Night by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Motown The Musical, the Broadway show featuring music from the legendary Motown catalogue, recouped its $18 million investment at the end of 2014, producers announced Jan. 16. The production…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Junior Theater Festival Kicks Off! Megan Hilty, Lilla Crawford, Kristen Anderson-Lopez, Robert Lopez by Michael Gioia

This year's star-studded Junior Theater Festival, which invites students and teachers from 101 educational musical theatre groups — representing 26 states, the district of …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Booking It! Wesley Taylor Talks “Breaking Through,” Fighting Nerves and Pigeonholes, Self-Producing 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

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

Second Stage Theatre presents the Atlantic Theater Company production of Stephen Adly Guirgis' Between Riverside and Crazy beginning Jan. 16, prior to an official openi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Goodspeed Festival, With New Musicals by Alexander Sage Oyen, Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond, by Michael Gioia

The 10th annual Goodspeed Festival of New Musicals, produced by Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre, is held Jan. 16-18 at the Goodspeed Opera H…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, January 15, 2015

Actors From Mormon, Motown and More Join Lindsay Mendez and Ben Platt for Band Geeks Concert at 54 B by Michael Gioia

Nicholas Christopher (Motown, Rent), Gavin Lodge (Annie, Priscilla, Queen of the Desert), Jacey Powers (Falling, Our Town) and Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon, Sex Tips for Straight W…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:45PM

Tony Danza Will Take Over Playbill’s Instagram Tonight at Honeymoon in Vegas Opening! by Michael Gioia

Tony Danza, who stars in the new Jason Robert Brown musical Honeymoon in Vegas, will take over Playbill's official Instagram account to share exclusive pictures and video from his openin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:52AM

Broadway’s Skylight, With Carey Mulligan and Bill Nighy, Will Arrive Earlier Than Expected by Michael Gioia

The upcoming Broadway production of David Hare's Skylight, starring Carey Mulligan, Bill Nighy and Matthew Beard — who will all re-create their acclaimed …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:14AM

“Annie,” “Into the Woods” and “Jersey Boys” Receive Golden Reel Award Nominations by Michael Gioia

The film adaptations of Annie, Into the Woods and Jersey Boys have all been nominated for 2015 Golden Reel Awards, which will be handed out Feb. 15 in Los Angeles.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:00AM

“Frozen” Star to Co-Host Film Independent Spirit Awards by Michael Gioia

Fred Armisen ("Saturday Night Live") and Kristen Bell, who voices Princess Anna in the Oscar-winning film "Frozen," were announced as hosts for this year's Film I…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:48AM

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