All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, July 3, 2013

Annette O'Toole and Jeff McCarthy Will Star in Barrington's Southern Comfort, Exploring Transgender Lifestyles by Michael Gioia

Barrington Stage Company will present the BSC Musical Theatre Lab world-premiere production of Southern Comfort, a new musical with book and lyrics by Dan Collins and music by Julianne Wick …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:36AM

Accidental Death of Cirque du Soleil Performer Caused By 90-Feet Fall by Michael Gioia

Sarah (Sassoon) Guyard-Guillot, an artist in the Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas production of KÀ who died June 29 while performing in the acrobatic spectacle, fell approximately 90 f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:04AM
Tuesday, July 2, 2013

Lisa Brescia, Julie Hanson and Remy Zaken Will Read Rose Petals at NYMF by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present a developmental reading of Rose Petals, starring Lisa Brescia, Julie Hanson and Remy Zaken, July 12 and 14 at the Theater Row Studio.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:45PM

Accidental Death in Cirque du Soleil's KÀ Halts Performances Until Further Notice by Michael Gioia

Sarah (Sassoon) Guyard-Guillot, an artist in the Cirque du Soleil Las Vegas production of KÀ, died June 29 while performing in the acrobatic spectacle, according to the official Cirqu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:40PM

Lilla Crawford, Montego Glover, Telly Leung and More Celebrate High School Theatre as Jimmy Award Winners Are Announced on Broadway by Michael Gioia

The 5th Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA), also known as the Jimmy Awards, were held July 1 at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre, where Taylor Varga and Sarah Lynn Ma…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:30PM
Monday, July 1, 2013

Phylicia Rashad, Leslie Uggams, Jesse L. Martin and More Will Take Part in August Wilson's American Century Cycle by Michael Gioia

The ten-play American Century Cycle by late Tony Award winner August Wilson, which captures 100 years of African American life decade by decade during the 20th century, will be presented and…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:50PM

Casting Announced for Sound of Music-Inspired Parody The Hills Are Alive! at NYMF by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Melodion Theatre will present The Hills Are Alive!, featuring music by Eric Thomas Johnson and a book and lyrics by Frankie Johnson, July 25-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:15PM

Hannah Rose Nordberg Will Be Little Miss Sunshine at Off-Broadway's Second Stage by Michael Gioia

Nine-year-old actress Hanna Rose Nordberg will play Olive Hoover in Tony Award winners William Finn and James Lapine's new musical comedy Little Miss Sunshine, which will kick off S…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:14PM

Kate Whoriskey Will Direct MTC World Premiere of David Grimm's WWI Drama Tales From Red Vienna by Michael Gioia

The world premiere of David Grimm's Tales From Red Vienna, about a widow's life and financial security during World War I, will begin performances Feb. 26, 2014, at New York City Cen…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:58AM

Will Lyndon B. Johnson Dramas Play Broadway? by Michael Gioia

Two plays by different authors about Lyndon B. Johnson, the 36th President of the United States, entitled All the Way and Great Society, are in development and aiming for a Broadway bow, acc…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:11AM

Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Mark Salling, Harry Shum, Jr. Will Not Be Series Regulars on Fifth Season of "Glee" by Michael Gioia

"Glee" actors Heather Morris, Amber Riley, Mark Salling and Harry Shum, Jr., who have all been with the Fox musical series since its first season, will no longer be series regulars…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:09AM

National High School Musical Theater Awards Held July 1; Cinderella's Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana Host by Michael Gioia

The 5th Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA), also known as the Jimmy Awards, take place July 1 at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre. Tony Award nominees and Cinderella …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Christina Sajous and Melanie Field Join Hands on a Hardbody's Corey Mach for July 1 Acoustic NYC Concert by Michael Gioia

Corey Mach, whose Broadway credits include Hands on a Hardbody and Godspell, offers an acoustic concert July 1 at Flute Bar & Lounge in New York City.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, June 30, 2013

Tony Nominee Benj Pasek and Cast of Annie Inspire High School Jimmy Award Nominees by Michael Gioia

The 5th Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards, will take place July 1. Playbill.com checks in with the students, who hail from 31 regions across …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Nick Blaemire, Susan Blackwell, Deidre Goodwin and More Take Part in NC Summer Intensive, Beginning June 30 by Michael Gioia

Nick Blaemire, Susan Blackwell and Deidre Goodwin are among the artists taking part in The Performing Arts Project Summer Intensive June 30-July 21 in North Carolina.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Kara Lindsay, Richard H. Blake, Ariana DeBose and More Join Songwriter Drew Overcash for June 30 Exposed Concert by Michael Gioia

Exposed: Drew Overcash in Concert, featuring the music of singer-songwriter Drew Overcash, is held June 30 at the Time Out Lounge at New World Stages.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Pippin's Anthony Wayne Stars in You Make Me Feel, Mighty Real: A Sylvester Concert June 30 in NYC by Michael Gioia

Anthony Wayne, who can currently be seen on Broadway in Pippin, directs and stars in You Make Me Feel, Mighty Real: A Sylvester Concert, which returns to NYC's (le) Poisson Rouge Ju…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Jekyll & Hyde's Deborah Cox and Cher Perform at NYC Pride Closing Event, Dance on the Pier, June 30 by Michael Gioia

R&B artist Deborah Cox, who most recently starred on Broadway in Jekyll & Hyde, performs at Heritage of Pride's annual fundraising dance party, Dance on the Pier, June 30 at Huds…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, June 29, 2013

Alice Ripley, Kacie Sheik, Andrew Kober, Preston Sadleir, Meghann Fahy Make A Lasting Impression June 29 at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Alice Ripley (Next to Normal) as well as former Hair tribe members Kacie Sheik and Andrew Kober are among the cast of A Lasting Impression, a contemporary new musical …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Kinky Boots' Celina Carvajal Joins 80s Band Jessie's Girl for NYC Concert June 29 by Michael Gioia

Celina Carvajal, who plays Nicola in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, performs with the 1980s band Jessie's Girl June 29 at the Canal Room in New York City.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, June 28, 2013

Alfie Boe Will Release "Storyteller" Album in August; Joe's Pub Concert Planned, Too by Michael Gioia

Singer-actor Alfie Boe, who won a joint Tony Award for his work in the Broadway revival of La Bohème, will release his new album "Storyteller" Aug. 6 on the Decca label…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:24PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Annie Orphans React to Casting News in Clips from "It's the Hard-Knock Life, From Script to Stage" by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

"Annie: It's the Hard-Knock Life, From Script to Stage" debuts in the New York metropolitan area on WNET/13 June 28 at 9 PM ET. Here is never-before-seen footage from the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:46AM

Goodspeed's Hello, Dolly!, With Klea Blackhurst, Ashley Brown and Tony Sheldon, Begins June 28 by Michael Gioia

Goodspeed Musicals presents the Tony Award-winning musical Hello, Dolly! beginning June 28, prior to an official opening July 17, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, CT. Cabaret art…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Broadway @ The Art House Concert Series, With Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Megan Hilty and More, Begins June 28 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winners Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Chita Rivera, Sutton Foster, Christine Ebersole and Joanna Gleason as well as "Smash" star Megan Hilty are among the lineup for the…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, June 27, 2013

Wayne Alan Wilcox, Tony Yazbeck, Will Blum, Leigh Ann Larkin Cast in Barry Manilow's Harmony Musical by Michael Gioia

Wayne Alan Wilcox, who was last seen on Broadway in Chaplin, will lead the cast of Harmony – A New Musical, featuring music by Barry Manilow and book and lyrics by Bruce Sussman. The c…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:07PM

With Passion and Heart, High Schoolers from Around the U.S. Prepare for the 2013 Jimmy Awards by Michael Gioia

The 5th Annual National High School Musical Theater Awards, also known as the Jimmy Awards, will take place July 1. Playbill.com checks in with the students, who hail from 31 regions across …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:00PM

Lilla Crawford Will Depart Annie in July; Orphans Taylor Richardson and Sadie Sink Graduate to Title Role by Michael Gioia

Taylor Richardson, who currently plays orphan Duffy in the Broadway revival of Annie, and Sadie Sink, a standby in the production, will graduate to the title role in the Tony Award-nominated…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:31PM

Kinky Boots' Celina Carvajal Will Join 80s Band Jessie's Girl for NYC Concert by Michael Gioia

Celina Carvajal, who plays Nicola in the Tony Award-winning musical Kinky Boots, will perform with the 1980s band Jessie's Girl June 29 at the Canal Room in New York City.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:08AM

Cameron Diaz Signs On for Will Gluck's "Annie" Film Remake, Starring Quvenzhane Wallis by Michael Gioia

Golden Globe nominee Cameron Diaz has signed on for "Annie," the upcoming film remake of the 1982 movie musical that will star 2013 Academy Award nominee Quvenzhane Wallis (&q…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:28AM

Kander and Ebb Revue The World Goes 'Round, With Tom Hewitt and Emily Skinner, Begins June 27 at Bucks County by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominees Tom Hewitt and Emily Skinner are among the cast of Bucks County Playhouse's production of the John Kander and Fred Ebb revue The World Goes 'Round, which begins p…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, June 26, 2013

Pippin's Anthony Wayne Will Star in You Make Me Feel, Mighty Real: A Sylvester Concert in NYC by Michael Gioia

Anthony Wayne, who can currently be seen on Broadway in Pippin, will direct and star in You Make Me Feel, Mighty Real: A Sylvester Concert, which will return to NYC's (le) Poisson R…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:11PM

All that Chat