All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Mary Dimino Will Star in Big Dummy, Me and My Old Man at FringeNYC by Michael Gioia

The Present Company will present Big Dummy, me and my old man, written by and starring MAC Award-winning performer Mary Dimino, beginning Aug. 9 at the Steve and Marie Sgouros Theatre as par…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:09PM

Husband and Wife Keir Dullea and Mia Dillon Will Lead Cast of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at Tennessee Williams Fest by Michael Gioia

Real-life husband and wife Keir Dullea and Mia Dillon will play Big Daddy and Big Mama in Tennessee Williams' Pulitzer Prize-winning play Cat on a Hot Tin Roof at the 8th Provincetown Te…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:00PM

Cheyenne Jackson Separates from Husband Monte Lapka by Michael Gioia

Stage and television actor Cheyenne Jackson, who was last seen on Broadway in The Performers, has separated from his husband Monte Lapka, Jackson's representatives confirmed to Playbill.…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:55PM

Lillias White, Eugene Fleming, Tamar Davis Among Cast of Otis Sallid's Harlem's Big Otis Jump Up Blues Revue by Michael Gioia

Director-producer-choreographer Otis Sallid, the creator of Broadway's Smokey Joe's Café, will helm the new musical Harlem's Big Otis Jump Up Blues Revue, which will …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:38PM

Drama League Will Hold Open Rehearsal for Fill Our Mouths, Featuring Cast of Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Performers by Michael Gioia

A free open rehearsal of Lauren Feldman's new play Fill Our Mouths will be held Aug. 1 from 2-3 PM at The Drama League Theater Center in New York City as part of the Drama League's N…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:19PM

Nikka Graff Lanzarone, Mo Brady, Clay Thomson and More Share Backstage Stories in New Podcast "The Ensemblist" by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:41PM

Second Stage Recording of The Last Five Years, With Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor, Will Hit Shelves in September by Michael Gioia

Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records will release the 2013 Off-Broadway cast recording of the Second Stage Theatre production of Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:11PM

A Moment in the Woods: Aspiring Performers Tackle La Cage, Sweeney Todd and More at French Woods Theatre Camp by Michael Gioia

French Woods Festival of the Performing Arts is molding children into artists and nurturing theatrical creativity in the western Catskills of New York State. Playbill.com spent a moment in t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:28PM

Denzel Washington Confirms Return to Broadway in Revival of A Raisin in the Sun by Michael Gioia

Denzel Washington, who won the 2010 Tony Award for his performance in Fences, confirmed a return to Broadway this season at the premiere his new movie, "2 Guns," according to the A…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:10AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: The Vaudevillians' Jinkx Monsoon Picks "Drag Standards For the Old and Old at Heart" by Michael Gioia

The Off-Broadway musical comedy The Vaudevillians stars "RuPaul's Drag Race" winner Jinkx Monsoon in her New York theatre debut. Here, Monsoon picks her favorite drag standards…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Free Performance of Revised Version of Richard Rodgers and Sheldon Harnick's Rex Plays Utah Festival July 31 by Michael Gioia

The Utah Festival of Opera & Musical Theatre presents a revised version of the 1976 Broadway musical Rex, featuring music by late Tony Award winner Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Tony win…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Surflight's Les Misérables, With Bart Shatto, Todd Alan Johnson, Ali Gleason, Nicholas Cox and More, Begins July 31 by Michael Gioia

Bart Shatto, who was seen in the original Broadway production of Les Misérables, stars as Jean Valjean in the Surflight Theatre production of that Tony Award-winning musical by Alain …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, July 30, 2013

Reeve Carney Will Fly Out of Spider-Man in September; Producers Will Hold L.A. and NYC Open Calls for Title Role by Michael Gioia

Reeve Carney, who originated the dual roles of Peter Parker and Spider-Man in Broadway's Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark, will take his final flight with the musical Sept. 15. Producers wi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:40PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Kerrigan-Lowdermilk NYMF Concerts, With Jeremy Jordan, Josh Young, Lisa Brescia, Emma Hunton and More by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominees Jeremy Jordan (Newsies) and Josh Young (Jesus Christ Superstar) were among the lineup of performers for the July 25 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) concerts feat…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:38AM

Rory O'Malley, Wesley Taylor, Josh Lamon and More Join Cast of Little Miss Sunshine at Off-Broadway's Second Stage by Michael Gioia

Josh Lamon (Hair, Elf), Tony Award nominee Rory O'Malley (The Book of Mormon, 2ST's Nobody Loves You), David Rasche (2ST's Warrior Class), Logan Rowland (The Addams Family), Jenn…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:05AM

Emmy Awards Will Pay Tribute to Late "Glee" Star Cory Monteith; Jayma Mays Will Depart Series Following New Season by Michael Gioia

The 65th Primetime Emmy Awards, which will be hosted by Broadway star and Emmy-winning actor Neil Patrick Harris Sept. 22, will pay tribute to late "Glee" star Cory Monteith, who d…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:29AM

Taylor Richardson and Sadie Sink Share the Role of Broadway's Annie Beginning July 30 by Michael Gioia

Annie actresses Taylor Richardson, who played the role of orphan Duffy, and Sadie Sink, a former standby in the production, graduate to the title role in the Tony Award-nominated revival beg…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, July 29, 2013

Volleygirls, Natalie Joy Johnson, Darren Ritchie and More Receive NYMF 2013 Awards for Excellence by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the winners of the NYMF 2013 Awards for Excellence. Volleygirls, which starred [title of show]'s Susan Blackwell, took home top…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:52PM

Spring Awakening and "Glee" Star Lea Michele Posts First Twitter Message Since Death of Boyfriend Cory Monteith by Michael Gioia

Spring Awakening and "Glee" star Lea Michele, the girlfriend of late "Glee" co-star Cory Monteith, has posted a message on the social media website Twitter, her first sin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:38PM

Second Stage's Murder for Two, With Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback, Given Second Extension by Michael Gioia

The Second Stage Theatre production of the two-person whodunit musical Murder for Two, with Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback star as suspects and detective, respectively, has been giv…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:07PM

Pardon the Interruption, Forum Protecting Wireless Mics, Held July 29; Harvey Fierstein Among Speakers by Michael Gioia

Theatre Communications Group has partnered with the Alliance of Resident Theatres/New York and The Broadway League to represent theatres in a coalition of performing arts organizations, reli…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:33AM

Adam Shankman and "Glee" Cast Members Fund Arts Scholarship in Honor of Late Actor Cory Monteith by Michael Gioia

"Hairspray" and "Rock of Ages" director Adam Shankman, who has also directed several episodes of the Fox musical series "Glee," will fund an arts scholarship in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:13AM

Jason Gotay, Julia Mattison, Alex Brightman and More Could Use a Drink at July 29 Drew Gasparini Concert by Michael Gioia

Jason Gotay, Julia Mattison and Alex Brightman are among the performers taking part in composer Drew Gasparini's I Could Use a Drink concert July 29 at Joe's Pub.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, July 28, 2013

"You Won't Be an Orphan for Long": Lilla Crawford and More Depart Broadway's Annie July 28 by Michael Gioia

Lilla Crawford, who originated the title role in the 2012 Broadway revival of Annie, plays her final performance July 28 at the Palace Theatre. A handful of original cast members also pack u…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, July 27, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Our Favorite "Glee" Show-Tune Covers (Video) by Michael Gioia

Playbill.com takes a look back at previous seasons of "Glee" and select performances of songs from Broadway productions.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:47PM
Friday, July 26, 2013

Capezio A.C.E. Award Winners Fest, With Choreographers from "So You Think You Can Dance" and More, Will Be Held in August by Michael Gioia

The Capezio A.C.E. Award Winners Festival, a competition dedicated to introducing the next generation of emerging and influential choreographers, has announced its lineup for the winners per…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:21PM

Despite Recent Trip to Manhattan, Tony Winner Karen Olivo Taking Break from Theatre by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Karen Olivo, who was last seen on stage in the original Off-Broadway run of Murder Ballad prior to her break from the world of acting, now resides in Madison, WI, according…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:21PM

Douglas Carter Beane May Be Part of Creative Team for "Behind the Candelabra" Musical; Second Liberace Show Also Aiming for Broadway by Michael Gioia

Five-time Tony Award nominee Douglas Carter Beane (currently represented on Broadway with The Nance and Cinderella) has met with the Nederlander Organization, who may co-produce a stage…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:06PM
Thursday, July 25, 2013

"August: Osage County" Film Will Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The film adaptation of Tracy Letts' Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, will receive its premiere screening at the Toront…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:56AM

Taylor Trensch, Donna Vivino, Robert Hager and More Will Stand in the Spotlight at Not At This Performance 2 by Michael Gioia

Taylor Trensch, Donna Vivino and Robert Hager are among the performers who will stand in the spotlight at NOT at This Performance 2, featuring Broadway and Off-Broadway understudies who neve…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:16AM

Goodspeed's LMNOP Musical, With Donna Lynne Champlin, John Herrera, Lilli Cooper, Jared Zirilli and More, Begins July 25 by Michael Gioia

Goodspeed Musicals presents LMNOP, described as "an edgy new musical about an island whose citizens begin to lose their freedoms one letter at a time," beginning July 25 at th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

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