All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

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

Monty Python's Spamalot, Starring Thomas Cannizzaro, Begins June 26 at TriArts Sharon Playhouse by Michael Gioia

TriArts Sharon Playhouse opens its 2013 season with the Tony Award-winning musical Monty Python's Spamalot, featuring Broadway cast member Thomas Cannizzaro as King Arthur, June 26 for a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:55AM

Will Liberace Film "Behind the Candelabra" Light Up Broadway? by Michael Gioia

Jerry Weintraub, who produced the 2013 HBO film "Behind the Candelabra," about the life of pianist Liberace and his secret affair with Scott Thorson, plans to adapt the piece into …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:08AM

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth Will Be Filmed for HBO by Michael Gioia

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth, Mike Tyson's one-man show chronicling the ups and downs of his life and career as a champion heavyweight boxer that was seen on Broadway in summer 2012, wil…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:06AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Newsies Stars Corey Cott and Kara Lindsay Pick Their Favorite Alan Menken Tunes by Michael Gioia

Corey Cott and Kara Lindsay star as rebellious paperboy Jack Kelly and his love interest, journalist Katherine Plumber, respectively, in Newsies, which features a Tony-winning score by Alan …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, June 25, 2013

West Coast Readings of The Future Perfect, Directed by Rock of Ages' Kristin Hanggi, Held June 25-26 by Michael Gioia

The Pasadena Playhouse's final presentation of its 2012-13 Hothouse at The Playhouse series, The Future Perfect, directed by Tony Award nominee Kristin Hanggi (Rock of Ages), is offered …

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:43PM

Peter Schneider Will Direct NYMF Production of Mata Hari in 8 Bullets, Starring Onalea Gilbertson by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Charlie Fink will present Mata Hari in 8 Bullets, conceived and composed by David Rhymer, beginning July 8 at Signature Center's Studio T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:33AM

Stage Actor Adam Driver, of "Girls" Fame, Weds Joanne Tucker by Michael Gioia

Stage and screen actor Adam Driver, who is best known for his work on the popular HBO series "Girls," wed actress Joanne Tucker June 22, according to US Weekly.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:51AM
Monday, June 24, 2013

Jack Viertel-Conceived Cotton Club Parade, Entitled After Midnight, Sets Dates at Broadway's Brooks Atkinson by Michael Gioia

Lead producer Scott Sanders Productions announced June 24 that After Midnight — the new production of Cotton Club Parade that was conceived by Tony Award winner Jack Viertel and played…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:28PM

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

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:37PM

Second Stage Season Adds Quiara Alegría Hudes' Happiest Song and David Schwimmer-Directed Sex With Strangers by Michael Gioia

Second Stage Theatre, under the artistic direction of Carole Rothman, has added the New York premieres of Quiara Alegría Hudes' The Happiest Song Plays Last, the follow-up to last…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:56PM

Phillip Boykin, Christiane Noll, Telly Leung, Brenda Braxton Among Music Circus Summer Season in CA by Michael Gioia

Phillip Boykin, Christiane Noll, Telly Leung and Brenda Braxton are among the artists cast in California Musical Theatre's 63rd Music Circus season, which includes The Wizard of Oz, Show…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:33PM

New Team StarKid Musical Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier Will Open in Chicago by Michael Gioia

YouTube sensation Team StarKid will present Twisted: The Untold Story of a Royal Vizier, an original musical comedy parody from the creative team behind A Very Potter Musical, beginning July…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:35PM

Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz Explore Their Last Few Years With 54 Below Concerts by Michael Gioia

Sherie Rene Scott and Norbert Leo Butz, who co-starred in the Off-Broadway musical The Last Five Years and Broadway's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, played back-to-back solo concerts, explorin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:44PM

World Premiere of Handbook for an American Revolutionary Will Play Off-Broadway's Gym at Judson by Michael Gioia

Form Theatricals in association with Judson Arts will present the world premiere of Handbook for an American Revolutionary, written and performed by Matthew-Lee Erlbach, beginning July 19, p…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:21PM

Artist of Light, From "America's Got Talent" Dance Group iLuminate, Begins June 24 at New World Stages by Michael Gioia

Artist of Light, a stage show from glow-suit dance group iLuminate, who rose to fame on television's "America's Got Talent," returns Off-Broadway following a world-premiere…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

#UntitledPopMusical Concert, With Lisa Brescia, F. Michael Haynie, Julia Mattison, Lauren Pritchard, Held June 24 by Michael Gioia

#UntitledPopMusical, the new musical conceived and written by Michael Kimmel (The Last Goodbye) with music and lyrics by Drew Gasparini ("Smash"), has its debut concert June 24 at …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, June 23, 2013

National Tour of Billy Elliot Concludes June 23; Musical to Play Brazil in August by Michael Gioia

After performing in more than 60 cities across North America, Billy Elliot the Musical plays its final U.S. performance June 23 in Connecticut.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Ron Raines Hosts Oklahoma Rising June 23; Billy Magnussen, Taylor Louderman, Jaime Cepero Among Performers by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Billy Magnussen, who stars in the 2013 Tony-winning play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Bring It On's Taylor Louderman and "Smash" actor Jaime Cepero a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, June 22, 2013

Justin Long, Skylar Astin, Tracie Thoms, Melanie Griffith and More Take Part in The 24 Hour Plays June 22 in L.A. by Michael Gioia

Lizzy Caplan, Brooklyn Decker, Seth Green, Melanie Griffith, Tracie Thoms, Justin Long and Skylar Astin are among the artists taking part in The 24 Hour Plays in Los Angeles June 22 at the B…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, June 21, 2013

NYC Readings of Jake Lloyd's The Lost Boys Musical Will Star Kenneth Kyle Martinez by Michael Gioia

Two staged readings of Jake Lloyd's original musical The Lost Boys, starring Kenneth Kyle Martinez, will be presented by Beautiful Soup Theater Collective July 21 at Ripley Grier Studios.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:25PM

"August: Osage County" Film Delays Release Until Holiday Season by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The upcoming film adaptation of Tracy Letts' Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, has delayed its release to Dec. 25, acco…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:33PM

Oscar Winner Anne Hathaway Will Produce and Star in "The Lifeboat" Film by Michael Gioia

Anne Hathaway, who won the Academy Award for her performance in the film adaptation of Les Misérables, is attached to star in and produce "The Lifeboat," an adaptation of a …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:07PM

Sherie Rene Scott Will Record Solo Show Piece of Meat on Ghostlight Records; New Single With Bill Charlap Available Online by Michael Gioia

Three-time Tony Award nominee Sherie Rene Scott, last seen on Broadway in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, will record her cabaret show, Piece of Meat, which currently plays the in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:53AM

Paige Simunovich and Zachary Sayle Star in Free Readings of The Fairy Hoax Musical June 21-22 by Michael Gioia

WorkShop Theater Company presents free readings of the new musical The Fairy Hoax, starring child actors Paige Simunovich (Finian's Rainbow, Mary Poppins) and Zachary Sayle (Chitty Chitt…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, June 20, 2013

Billy Magnussen, Taylor Louderman, Jaime Cepero and More Set for Oklahoma Rising, Hosted by Ron Raines by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Billy Magnussen, who stars in the 2013 Tony-winning play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spoke, Bring It On's Taylor Louderman and "Smash" actor Jaime Cepero a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:27PM

Donna Lynne Champlin, John Herrera, Lilli Cooper, Jared Zirilli Among Cast of Goodspeed's LMNOP Musical by Michael Gioia

Goodspeed Musicals will present 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 the…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:08PM

Pomp and Circumstance! Teenage Newsies Celebrate High School Graduation on Broadway by Michael Gioia

Not many high school students have the chance to accept their high school diploma on a Broadway stage. Four teenagers from the Disney musical Newsies did just that June 19, when they celebra…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM

Oscar Winner Sandra Bullock Will Not Be Part of Will Gluck's "Annie" Film Remake, Starring Quvenzhane Wallis by Michael Gioia

Academy Award winner Sandra Bullock ("The Blind Side"), who was in talks to join "Annie" — the upcoming film remake of the 1982 movie musical that wi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:58AM

Second Stage's Nobody Loves You, With Rory O'Malley, Leslie Kritzer, Lauren Molina, Bryan Fenkart, Begins June 20 by Michael Gioia

Second Stage Theatre's New York premiere of the new musical comedy Nobody Loves You, about a grad student who is unexpectedly cast on a reality TV dating show, begins performances June 2…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Tony Award Nominee James Gandolfini, of "Sopranos" Fame, Dies at 51 by Michael Gioia and Robert Simonson

Stage and screen actor James Gandolfini, who was Tony Award-nominated for his performance in Broadway's God of Carnage and was best known for his work on the HBO series "The Soprano…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:02PM

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