All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Saturday, January 3, 2015

Kinky Boots’ Ellyn Marie Marsh Gets Inappropriate Tonight at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Ellyn Marie Marsh, who can be seen in Broadway's Kinky Boots, gets Inappropriate in her 54 Below solo show Jan. 3.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, January 2, 2015

Casting Announced for Brooklyn Production of Frozen by Michael Gioia

Essential Theatre Group (under producing director Tony Lance) and Cornice Productions (Terra Mackintosh, Matt Renskers, Ryan Krause and Kimille Howard) will present Bryony Lavery's&n…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:42PM

“Into the Woods” Soundtrack Breaks Top 20 on Billboard 200 by Michael Gioia

The soundtrack to the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods has broke the top 20 on the Billboard 200.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:08PM

“Frozen” Recording Finishes Second to Taylor Swift in Race for Top-Selling Album of the Year by Michael Gioia

The soundtrack to the Disney hit film "Frozen," which has become the highest-grossing animated feature of all time, finished second as the top-selling album of the year, ac…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:18PM

Jenna Leigh Green Is Hilariously Deadpan Yoga Instructor in New Web Series (Video) by Michael Gioia

Jenna Leigh Green ("Sabrina, the Teenage Witch," Wicked) guest stars as a deadpan yoga instructor on the second episode of "Lanky Scoliosis," a new web series created by …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:34PM

Laura Osnes Must Decide Between Rob McClure and Ryan Andes in Ten-Minute Audio Musical by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominees Laura Osnes (Cinderella, Bonnie & Clyde) and Rob McClure (Chaplin, Honeymoon in Vegas) star in a new ten-minute musical on this month's episode of the mus…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:39PM

Our Town, Intimate Apparel and Henry V Make Up Chautauqua Theater Company’s 2015 Season by Michael Gioia

Thornton Wilder's Our Town and Lynn Nottage's Intimate Apparel are among the titles in Chautauqua Theater Company's 2015 season.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:04PM

High Society, Christmas Story and Peter and the Starcatcher Among Walnut Street 2015-16 Season by Michael Gioia

Cole Porter's High Society, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's A Christmas Story, The Musical and the imaginative play Peter and the Starcatcher are among Walnut Street Theatre's 207th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:41PM

London’s Dominion Theatre Hosts “Frozen” Sing-a-Long Screening by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Disney's hit animated musical film "Frozen" will be screened in special sing-a-long edition presentations at London's Dominion Theatre this February.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:52AM

Heather Morris’ “Glee” Parents Revealed as Final Season Approaches by Michael Gioia

Ken Jeong ("The Hangover") and Jennifer Coolidge (Elling, The Women) will guest star on the final season of the Fox hit musical series "Glee," which beg…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:48AM

“I Am More Than The Notes I Hit,” Says Idina Menzel in Response to Negative Criticism on New Year’s by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Idina Menzel, who performed the Oscar-winning song "Let It Go" on ABC's "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve," took to Twitter to re…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:01AM
Wednesday, December 31, 2014

Target Fights Back After Being Accused of Racist “Annie” Clothing Campaign by Michael Gioia

Target has issued a statement after being criticized for its "Annie"-themed clothing campaign, which features a white model, as opposed to Academy Award nominee Quvenzhan&e…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:47AM

Watch Morgan James’ Soulful Rendition of “What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve?” (Video) by Michael Gioia

Morgan James, who has been seen on Broadway in Godspell and Motown, rings in the New Year with a new recording of "What Are You Doing New Year's Eve?"

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:40AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Laura Benanti Picks Songs (and Scenarios) to Ring in the New Year by Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti will ring in the New Year at the intimate Manhattan nightspot 54 Below. In anticipation of her show, she shares her New Year's Eve playlist a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Broadway’s Once Will Say Goodbye With Highline Ballroom Concert by Michael Gioia

A goodbye concert for the Tony Award-winning musical Once, which will end its Broadway run Jan. 4, 2015, will take place Jan. 6, 2015, at the Highline Ballroom.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:34PM

Disney’s “Frozen” Is Second Most-Pirated Film of 2014 by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Disney's hit "Frozen," which has become the highest-grossing animated feature of all time, was one of the most pirated films of the year, according to Variety.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:22PM

Jess LeProtto and Tamika Lawrence Get Personal on “The Ensemblist,” and Side Show Photo Journal Rele by Michael Gioia

Mo Brady (The Addams Family, "Smash") and Nikka Graff Lanzarone (Chicago, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) have released new episodes of "The Ensemblist&quo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:58AM

Amy Spanger, Donna Vivino, Ben Fankhauser, Tommy Bracco, Jenna Leigh Green Celebrate A Very Broadway by Michael Gioia

A Very Broadway Holiday, featuring holiday songs from Broadway shows and movie musicals, is held Dec. 30 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, December 29, 2014

Elena Shaddow Will Celebrate The New Golden Age of Broadway at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Always Better: The New Golden Age of Broadway with Elena Shaddow, who starred in the Williamstown Theatre Festival production of The Bridges of Madison County, will be held Jan. 3, 2015, at …

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:59PM

A New Nutcracker! Burlesque-Themed Holiday Production Wins This Year’s Nutty Award by Michael Gioia

MBS Productions' The Beulaville Baptist Book Club Presents … A Bur-Less-Q Nutcracker was announced as the winner of the 8th Annual Goldstar National Nutcracker Award.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:45PM

Final Season of “Glee” Rounds Out Cast With Broadway Names by Michael Gioia

Actors seen in Once, The Book of Mormon and more have been cast in the final season of "Glee," which will begin Jan. 9, 2015, on Fox.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:11PM

Nikki M. James Will Brave the Barricades for the Final Time; Les Misrables’ New Eponines Announced by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Nikki M. James will play her final performance as the lovelorn street urchin Eponine in the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables Jan. 11, 2015, producers anno…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:44AM

Portland Actor Remains in Induced Coma Following Christmastime Car Crash by Michael Gioia

Anthony Reilly, a Portland-area actor and co-founder of Portland's American Irish Repertory Ensemble who was injured Dec. 23 in a car collision in Charlton, MA, remains …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:42AM

Caissie Levy, Kacie Sheik, Jason Gotay and More Will Be Keepin’ the Party Going After New Year’s by Michael Gioia

The Music & Lyrics of Drew Gasparini: Keepin' the Party Going will be held Jan. 5, 2015, at 54 Below. Caissie Levy (Les Misérables), Kacie Sheik (Hair) and Jason Gotay…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:44AM

Get Ready ‘Cause Here They Come! The Temptations and The Four Tops Hit Broadway Tonight by Michael Gioia

Motown legends The Temptations and The Four Tops play a special week-long engagement at Broadway's Palace Theatre Dec. 29-Jan. 4, 2015. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, December 27, 2014

Trillium Band, Featuring If/Then’s Janet Krupin, Theatricality and Electronica, Rocks Webster Hall T by Michael Gioia

If/Then actress Janet Krupin and musician-producer Alex Caraballo, who teamed up to create Trillium and recently released "The Aurora" EP, head to New York City's biggest n…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, December 26, 2014

Songwriter Jonathan Reid Gealt Will Release New Album “Whatever I Want It To Be” by Michael Gioia

Songwriter Jonathan Reid Gealt will release a third studio album entitled "Whatever I Want It To Be."

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:33PM

Choreographer Gypsy Snider Will Be Honored on Pippin’s Last Day on Broadway by Michael Gioia

Gypsy Snider of 7 doigts de la main, who choreographed the Tony Award-winning revival of Pippin, is among the honorees at the first annual Celebration of American Circus, which will be h…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:01AM

Co-Founder of Portland Theatre Killed in Car Crash Before Christmas; Husband Also Injured by Michael Gioia

Susan Reilly, a Portland-area actor and co-founder of Portland's American Irish Repertory Ensemble, was killed Dec. 23 in a car collision in Charlton, MA, according to the Portla…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:23AM
Thursday, December 25, 2014

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Kinky Boots’ Ellyn Marie Marsh Picks Most Inappropriate Songs of All Time by Michael Gioia

Ellyn Marie Marsh, who can be seen in Broadway's Kinky Boots, will get Inappropriate in her 54 Below solo show Jan. 3, 2015. In anticipation of the concert, she picks the most inappropri…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Go to the Wood! “Into the Woods” Film, Starring Meryl Streep as the Witch, Opens Nationwide Today by Michael Gioia

Meryl Streep casts a spell across the nation Christmas Day, when "Into the Woods," the highly anticipated film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's classic musical…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

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