All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

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

Broadway's Annie Will Welcome Tony Winner Faith Prince by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Faith Prince, who was last seen on Broadway as Ursula in The Little Mermaid, will step into the shoes of Miss Hannigan in Annie, which was Tony-nominated for Best Revival o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:08PM

Once's David Abeles Will Join Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

David Abeles, who was seen in the original cast of Broadway's Once, will join the cast of Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s criti…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:21PM

Megan Mullally Joins Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Megan Hilty and More for Broadway @ The Art House Concert Series by Michael Gioia

Stage and screen actress Megan Mullally has joined the lineup for the 2013 Broadway @ The Art House series, which will run June 28-Sept. 8 in Provincetown.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:37AM

Aaron Tveit and Lois Smith Cast in Untitled Short Film, Directed by Georgina Chapman by Michael Gioia

Aaron Tveit, who starred in the film adaptation of Les Misérables, and two-time Tony Award nominee Lois Smith have been cast in an untitled short film directed by fashion designer Geo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:09AM
Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Announces Online Rush Tix Policy by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Producers of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s critically praised "electro-pop opera" based on "War and Peace," announced a new rush…

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:27PM

Michael Unger, Jeffrey Saver, Van Dean Among Creative Team for Youth Production of Seussical in Newtown, CT by Michael Gioia

The 1214 Foundation will present Seussical, the Lynn Ahrens-Stephen Flaherty musical based on the famed children's books by Dr. Seuss — featuring student performers ages 5-18 &mdas…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:26PM

Annie Golden and Philip Hoffman Among Cast of NYMF Comedy Marry Harry by Michael Gioia

Annie Golden and Philip Hoffman are among the cast of the musical comedy Marry Harry, which will begin performances July 19, as part of the 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), at …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:12PM

Andrew Lippa, Amanda Green, Juliana Nash and More Will Take Part in Added Events at 2013 NYMF by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), which will run July 8-28, has announced additional concerts, educational workshops and a "Musicals on Television" screening series in …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:24PM

Casting Announced for NYMF Production of Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue's The Brontes by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present The Brontes — from Helen Hayes Award-winning theatre and vaudeville company Dizzy Miss Lizzie's Roadside Revue — beg…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:28AM

"Glee" Actress Lindsay Pearce, Payson Lewis and Jonah Platt Will Lead L.A. Return of Pop Opera Bare by Michael Gioia

Stage and screen actors Payson Lewis (NBC's "The Sing Off", "Victorious"), Jonah Platt ("The Office") and Lindsay Pearce ("Glee", "The G…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:46AM

Bob Stillman, Hannah Elless, Brandon Ellis, George Salazar and More Will Sing Daniel Maté's Song Moments at NYMF by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present staged concerts of Song Moments, featuring the music and lyrics of 2013 Kleban Award-winning writer Daniel Maté, July 15 at T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Constantine Maroulis and Kate Rockwell Star in Re-Conceptualized Reading of Air Supply Musical Lost In Love June 18 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis, who was recently seen in the Broadway revival of Jekyll & Hyde, and Rock of Ages' Kate Rockwell star in a private industry reading of the Air…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, June 17, 2013

Broadway's Ann, Starring Holland Taylor, Will Offer $20 Tickets for Teenage Theatregoers by Michael Gioia

The Broadway production of Ann, starring 2013 Tony Award nominee Holland Taylor as governor Ann Richards, is offering $20 discount tickets to theatregoers ages 14-18 though the end of the Br…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:04PM

Broadway's Annie Adds Summer Friday Matinees; Jane Lynch and Cast Will Make Barnes & Noble Appearance by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The Tony Award-nominated Best Musical Revival Annie has added Friday matinee performances, which will begin June 28 and continue through Aug. 30. The performance schedule will no longer incl…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:55PM

NY4OK Benefit Concert, With Derek Klena, Kate Rockwell, Nick Blaemire, George Salazar and More, Held June 17 in NYC by Michael Gioia

NY4OK, a benefit concert to raise funds for the public school arts programs devastated by the recent tornadoes in Oklahoma, is held June 17 at (le) Poisson Rouge. Derek Klena (Wicked) and Ka…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:27PM

Anthony Rapp, J. Robert Spencer, Karmine Alers, Dee Roscioli Will Star in The Water Dream NYMF Readings by Michael Gioia

Rent star Anthony Rapp will return to the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) to star in the staged readings of Shawn Cody's The Water Dream July 10-11 at The Pershing Square Signat…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:44PM

Lisa Brescia, F. Michael Haynie, Julia Mattison, Lauren Pritchard and More Set for #UntitledPopMusical Concert by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:03PM

Danielle Lee Greaves, Randy Donaldson, Howie Michael Smith and More Cast in NYMF's Mother Divine by Michael Gioia

Mother Divine: The Musical, inspired by the real-life events of Harlem evangelist Father Divine, will begin performances July 11, as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's (NYMF…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:25AM

Jekyll & Hyde's Deborah Cox Will Perform at NYC Pride Closing Event Dance on the Pier by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:47AM

Paige Simunovich and Zachary Sayle Will Star in Free Readings of The Fairy Hoax Musical by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:17AM

Alice Ripley, Kacie Sheik, Andrew Kober Will Join Preston Sadleir, Meghann Fahy for A Lasting Impression 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 have joined the cast of A Lasting Impression, a contemporary new musica…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:08AM

Shaping Sound Dance Company, With "SYTYCD" and Bare's Travis Wall, Plays NYC's Beacon Theatre June 17 by Michael Gioia

Shaping Sound, a new contemporary dance company that features Emmy nominee and Bare choreographer Travis Wall ("So You Think You Can Dance"), concludes its 13-city tour June 17 at …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Jane Lynch Hosts TrevorLIVE New York, Featuring Tony Winner Billy Porter, Andrew Rannells and More, June 17 by Michael Gioia

TrevorLIVE New York, The Trevor Project's annual event that brings together entertainers, advocates and corporate leaders to support the organization's work for lesbian, gay, bisexua…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Barbra Streisand Receives Honorary Doctorate from The Hebrew University of Jerusalem June 17 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award recipient Barbra Streisand receives an honorary Doctor of Philosophy degree from the Hebrew University of Jerusalem June 17 during the 76th Hebrew University International Board o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Sherie Rene Scott's Solo Show, Piece of Meat, Returns to 54 Below June 17-29 by Michael Gioia

Three-time Tony Award nominee Sherie Rene Scott, last seen on Broadway in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, brings her cabaret show, Piece of Meat, back to the intimate Manhattan ni…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

NYC Reading of The Inner City Mother Goose, With Annie Golden, Tina Fabrique, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Held June 17 by Michael Gioia

Annie Golden (The Full Monty, Xanadu), Tina Fabrique (Ragtime, Bring in 'da Noise…) and R&B gospel singer Cheryl Pepsii Riley lead the cast of a new version of Inner City.&nbs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Tom Wopat Hosts Unsung Jimmy Van Heusen, With Rachel de Benedet, Christine Pedi and Nancy Anderson, June 17 by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

UnsungMusicalsCo. launches its Unsung Cabaret Series with Unsung Jimmy Van Heusen, an intimate evening that celebrates the centennial of four-time Academy Award-winning and three-time T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, June 16, 2013

Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, Directed by Adrian Noble, Begins June 16 at Old Globe's Shakespeare Fest by Michael Gioia

Tom Stoppard's Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead, directed by Adrian Noble (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), who is in the midst of his fourth and final season as the artistic dir…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

New Sam Carner-Derek Gregor Musical About Star-Crossed Lovers Is Unlock'd Off-Broadway, Starting June 16 by Michael Gioia

Jennifer Blood, Jillian Gottlieb, Sydney James Harcourt and A.J. Shively lead the cast of the Prospect Theater Company's Off-Broadway premiere of Unlock'd, the Richard Rodgers Award-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Tix On Sale June 16 for Broadway's Big Fish, With Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin by Michael Gioia

Tickets for the new Broadway musical Big Fish, featuring Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin, go on sale to the general public June 16. Previews at the Neil Simon Theatre will begin Sept. 5.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

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