All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Thursday, January 15, 2015

“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

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Molly Pope, Ben Rimalower, Justin Sayre and Meeting* Members Pick Favorite Perfor by Michael Gioia

The Meeting*, the comedy/variety show hosted by Justin Sayre, will return to Joe's Pub Jan. 18 to celebrate Broadway legend Ethel Merman. In anticipation of the evening, the cast picks t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

“Jeopardy!,” Including Aladdin Category with Broadway Performance Footage and Stars, Broadcast Tonig by Michael Gioia

Disney's Aladdin, the award-winning musical based on the Academy Award-winning animated film of the same name, is the subject of an entire category on the Jan. 15 episode of &quo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, January 14, 2015

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine Will Hit Broadway’s Minskoff for One Night Only by Michael Gioia

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine: A Benefit Concert for Viva Broadway, kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, will take place Sept. 14 at the Minskoff Theatre, the Broadway League …

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:09PM

Thank Heaven! Gigi, Starring Vanessa Hudgens, Confirmed for Broadway’s Neil Simon by Michael Gioia

The new production of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's Oscar and Tony Award-winning film and stage musical Gigi will begin Broadway performances March 19 at the Neil Simon Theat…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:16PM

Ryan Scott Oliver Will Make London Debut; Keala Settle, Jason Gotay, Andy Mientus and Julia Murney J by Michael Gioia

Award-winning composer Ryan Scott Oliver, whose Jasper in Deadland will head to Seattle's 5th Avenue this spring, will make his London debut March 23 at the St. James Studio.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:37PM

“Annie” Receives Razzie Nods for Worst Remake of 2014 and Worst Supporting Actress by Michael Gioia

The film remake of "Annie," which garnered a mostly negative response from critics, received two nominations for the 35th Annual Razzie Awards, satirizing the worst achievements in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:26PM

PLAYBILL ON OPENING NIGHT: Constellations A Starry Affair, Onstage and Beyond by Michael Gioia

The stars came out of the multiverse (so to speak) to attend the opening night of Constellations, the two-hander by Nick Payne that stars Jake Gyllenhaal and Ruth Wilson. Playbill was th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:48PM

Off-Broadway’s Nevermore Conjures Edgar Allan Poe Through Song, Storytelling and Stagecraft Beginnin by Michael Gioia

Nevermore – The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe, a theatrical experience combining haunting music, poetic storytelling and stagecraft to tell the life story …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, January 13, 2015

“Into the Woods” Film Sets Blu-Ray and DVD Release Date by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Disney's hit film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical Into the Woods, starring Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick and James Corden, will be released March 24 on Blu-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:12PM

Jason Robert Brown Will Offer Monthly Concerts at New York’s SubCulture in 2015 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning composer, lyricist, conductor and director Jason Robert Brown will take up a yearlong residency at New York City's SubCulture.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:24PM

Manhattan’s Musical Theatre Factory Will Develop 25 New Shows; Andrew Lippa Event Held Tonight by Michael Gioia

Musical Theatre Factory (MTF), under the leadership of founding artistic director Shakina Nayfack and managing director Danny Abosch, announced its 2015 season supporting the development of …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:45PM

Man of La Mancha, Lost in Yonkers, His Girl Friday and More Part of 2015 Barrington Season by Michael Gioia

Barrington Stage Company, under the artistic direction of Julianne Boyd, will present Man of La Mancha, Lost in Yonkers, His Girl Friday and more as part of its 2015 season.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:38PM

“Into the Woods” and “Annie” Nominated for Campy Flick of the Year by Gay and Lesbian Entertainment by Michael Gioia

The film adaptations of Into the Woods and Annie have been nominated by the Gay and Lesbian Entertainment Critics Association for the Campy Flick of the Year Dorian Award.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:34PM

Tony Danza Talks About the Upcoming “Taxi” Reunion at Honeymoon’s Opening and Hanging Out at TKTS (V by Michael Gioia

Tony Danza, who stars in the Broadway musical Honeymoon in Vegas, recently visited "Late Night with Seth Meyers" to chat about the show, which will open at the Nederlander Theatre …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:57AM

CBS Says “No Blueprint” for James Corden’s “Late Late Show”; Traditional Format Scrapped by Michael Gioia

James Corden, who starred in the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods, revealed details about "The Late Late Show" that he will host on CBS beg…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:51AM

Derek Hough of “Dancing With the Stars” Will Join Laura Benanti For the Rockettes Spring Spectacular by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Derek Hough, the Emmy Award-winning choreographer from ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," will co-star with Tony Award winner Laura Benanti in the New York Spring Spectacu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:05AM

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

59E59 Theaters and Strangemen & Co., in association with Robb Nanus and Rachel Sussman, present the return engagement of The Woodsman to 59E59 Theaters, Theater B. Performances begin…

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

Lauren Worsham, Emily Skinner, Malcolm Gets, Margo Seibert, John Ellison Conlee Set For Runs a Minut 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 06:21PM

Heidi Armbruster, Jared Zirilli, Michelle Federer Will Lead Free Reading of New Play Involving Art a by Michael Gioia

A free reading of Stone, a new play by Drama Desk Award-winning playwright David Wiltse, will be held Jan. 13 at 7 PM at the Playwrights Theatre of New Jersey.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:40PM

Keala Settle, Jessica Vosk and Katrina Rose Dideriksen Will Sing to Benefit The Trevor Project by Michael Gioia

Say My Name, a concert to benefit The Trevor Project — the leading national organization focused on suicide prevention efforts among lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questio…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:32PM

Broadway’s Aladdin Will Be “Jeopardy!” Category, Featuring Performance Footage and Stars by Michael Gioia

Disney's Aladdin, the award-winning musical based on the Academy Award-winning animated film of the same name, will be the subject of an entire category on the Jan. 15 episode of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:13PM

James Barbour Will Be Broadway’s Next Phantom of the Opera; Musical To Celebrate 27 Years by Michael Gioia

Producers Cameron Mackintosh and The Really Useful Group announced Jan. 12 that James Barbour, a Drama Desk nominee for A Tale of Two Cities, will assume the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webbe…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:41PM

Jason Robert Brown Will Direct Concert Version of Wife Georgia Stitt’s Danger Year; Cast Announced by Michael Gioia

A concert version of Georgia Stitt's The Danger Year, directed by her husband, three-time Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown, will be held Jan. 24 at 9:30 PM at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:24PM

More Whiskey! Dave Malloy’s Immersive Ghost Quartet Adds Performances at Chelsea’s McKittrick Hotel by Michael Gioia

Ghost Quartet by Dave Malloy — whose critically acclaimed electro-pop opera Natasha, Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 ran Off-Broadway last year — has bee…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:56PM

Jeremy Jordan, Daniel Breaker, Ciara Rene and 17-Piece Band Set for Charlie Rosen’s Broadway Big Ban by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:52PM

Final “Glee” Premiere Hits Lowest Debut Rating to Date by Michael Gioia

The final season of the Fox hit musical series "Glee," which stars Spring Awakening actress Lea Michele as young starlet Rachel Berry, hit its lowest rated season debut ever, accor…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:18PM

Glenn Close, Norbert Leo Butz, Marin Mazzie, Kelli O’Hara, David Hyde Pierce Celebrate John Lithgow by Michael Gioia

The New 42nd Street presents its annual gala Jan. 12 at The New Victory Theater. The evening honors Tony, Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner John Lithgow and the Rudin family.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, January 11, 2015

Nikki M. James Braves the Barricades in Les Misrables for the Final Time Today by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Nikki M. James plays her final performance as the lovelorn street urchin Eponine in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables Jan. 11.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, January 9, 2015

Are You Ready to Rock? Broadway’s School of Rock Launches Open Call for Kid Stars and Jack Black Rol by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Young performers who sing and also play musical instruments are being sought in a nationwide casting call for the upcoming Broadway premiere of School of Rock. Andrew Lloyd Webber will bring…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:21PM

Kids Give Back, And So Do We! Vote for the 2015 Playbill Community Service Award Winner by Michael Gioia

The finalists for this year's Playbill Community Service Award, which celebrates young performers from across the country who are giving back to their communities, have been announced. V…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:39AM

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