All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, June 4, 2013

40th Anniversary Production of The Rocky Horror Show Will Open in Brisbane With Australian Cast by Michael Gioia

Producers Howard Panter and John Frost have announced that the 40th anniversary production of Richard O'Brien's The Rocky Horror Show will open Dec. 31, 2013, at the Lyric Theatre, Q…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:27PM

Nancy Anderson, Garrett Long, Isabel Keating and More Join Lineup for Unsung Jimmy Van Heusen by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Drama Desk nominee Nancy Anderson (Far From Heaven), Jannie Jones (The Full Monty), Tony Award nominee Isabel Keating (The Boy From Oz), Drama Desk nominee Garrett Long (South Pacific) and J…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:47PM

Double Duty: Bring It On and Motown's Ariana DeBose Talks About Performing Twice at Her First Tonys by Michael Gioia

In the course of a single Broadway season, twentysomething actress Ariana DeBose made her Broadway debut in Bring It On: The Musical and scored her second credit with the hit-filled musical …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:00PM

Claybourne Elder, Jason Gotay, Jon Rua, George Salazar and More Will Take Part in antTUNES at Ars Nova by Michael Gioia

Claybourne Elder, Jason Gotay, Jon Rua and George Salazar are among the artists who will take part in antTUNES: Edition Six June 10 at Ars Nova in New York City.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:52AM

Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Will Celebrate Tony Sunday With Ticket Giveaway by Michael Gioia

The high-flying Broadway musical Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark will celebrate Tony Awards Sunday on June 9 with a special ticket giveaway for theatregoers named Tony or previous Tony Award w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:08AM

Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback Will Uncover Murder for Two for Second Stage Theatre by Michael Gioia

Second Stage Theatre will conclude its 2013 Uptown Series with the New York premiere of the musical comedy Murder for Two, starring Jeff Blumenkrantz and Brett Ryback. Previews will begin Ju…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:54AM

Hair Co-Stars and "American Idol" Vets Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young Tie the Knot by Michael Gioia

Diana DeGarmo and Ace Young, former "American Idol" finalists who met while starring in the 2009 Broadway revival of Hair, tied the knot June 1 at the Luxe Sunset Boulevard hotel i…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:22AM

Pippin and Motown Receive 2013 Astaire Awards by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The 31st Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards were held June 3 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The cirque-inspired revival of Pippin and the high-grossing musical Motown to…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:37AM

Cast Recording of Broadway Revival of Pippin, Including Sing-Along Tracks, Released Digitally June 4 by Michael Gioia

The Broadway cast recording of the 2013 Tony Award-nominated revival of Pippin, featuring a 700-person fan chorus backing the show's Tony Award-nominated Featured Actress Andre…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, June 3, 2013

Warren Carlyle Will Helm Russian Premiere of Chaplin, Bowing in September by Michael Gioia

Chaplin, the musical depicting the life of film icon Charlie Chaplin, will launch a sit-down production in Saint Petersburg, Russia, in September at the Saint Petersburg State Theater of Mus…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:13PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Krysta Rodriguez Sings From Broadway's First Date (Video) by Michael Gioia

"Smash" and The Addams Family star Krysta Rodriguez will star opposite Zachary Levi, star of TV's "Chuck," Disney's "Tangled" and the upcoming "Tho…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:52PM

Pre-Sale for Broadway's Big Fish, With Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin, Begins June 3 by Michael Gioia

An exclusive two-week pre-sale for Audience Rewards members and partners for the new Broadway musical Big Fish launches June 3. Tickets for the production, featuring Norbert Leo Butz an…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:16PM

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

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:21PM

Tony Nominee Tom Hanks Will Host Irish Rep Gala; Shirley Jones, Patrick Cassidy and More Among Performers by Michael Gioia

Irish Repertory Theatre will celebrate its award-winning 25th anniversary season with Something Wonderful! The Songs of Rodgers & Hammerstein, an evening celebrating classic Rodgers &…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:20AM

Annie Golden, Tina Fabrique, Cheryl Pepsii Riley Cast in The Inner City Mother Goose NYC Reading by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:52AM

Astaire Awards Held June 3; Patina Miller, Laura Osnes, Rob McClure, Billy Porter Among 2013 Nominees by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The 31st Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards are held June 3 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. Patina Miller, Laura Osnes, Rob McClure and Billy Porter are among the 2013 no…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, June 2, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Anderson Davis Sings Michael Kooman & Christopher Dimond's "Someday Soon," About Graduating College by Michael Gioia

Anderson Davis, who was seen on Broadway in Les Misérables, stars in the new music video "Someday Soon," penned by songwriting duo Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond abou…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Half Hour 3 Concert, With Understudies From Bare, Newsies, The Lion King and Pippin, Held June 2 in NYC by Michael Gioia

Understudies from the 2013 Tony-nominated revival of Pippin, the Off-Broadway musical Bare, Newsies and The Lion King stand in the spotlight at Half Hour 3 June 2 at the Laurie Beechman…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Old Globe's Shakespeare Fest Kicks Off June 2 With Midsummer; Adrian Noble Celebrates His Final Season by Michael Gioia

William Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night’s Dream kicks off The Old Globe's Shakespeare Festival June 2 in San Diego. Olivier Award-nominated director Ian Talbot makes his Old Gl…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Roundabout Revival of Clifford Odets' The Big Knife Ends Broadway Engagement June 2 by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

The Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Clifford Odets' drama of Hollywood secrets, The Big Knife — which stars Bobby Cannavale, C.J. Wilson, Marin Ireland, Chip Zien, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

World Premiere of Sleepless in Seattle, With Tim Martin Gleason, Chandra Lee Schwartz, Joe West, Opens June 2 by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Tim Martin Gleason, Chandra Lee Schwartz and Joe West star in the world-premiere production of Sleepless in Seattle — The Musical, which is presented by Pasadena Playhouse in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, June 1, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Sam and Alex With a Z! Concert, With Corey Cott, Jason Gotay, George Salazar, Claybourne Elder by Michael Gioia

Sam and Alex With a Z!, a collection of songs from rising musical theatre songwriters Alexander Sage Oyen and Sam Salmond, was offered May 13 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre in New York City.…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, May 31, 2013

Cheyenne Jackson Joins "Love Is Strange" Film, Starring Alfred Molina and Michael Gambon by Michael Gioia

Cheyenne Jackson, last seen on Broadway in the short-lived comedy The Performers, has signed on for the upcoming film "Love Is Strange," directed by Ira Sachs, according to Deadlin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:37PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Jessica Simpson Performs "The Music and the Mirror" in A Chorus Line (Video) by Michael Gioia

If the Tony Award-winning Best Musical A Chorus Line dances its way back to Broadway, pop star Jessica Simpson will be waiting in the wings. Here is a clip of Simpson as Cassie in the iconic…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:04AM

Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham's The Next Thing You Know Musical Among TriArts 2013 Season by Michael Gioia

The Next Thing You Know, the new musical by songwriting duo Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham about confronting adulthood in New York City, is among the titles in TriArts Sharon Playhouse&#…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:36AM

Dogfight's Nick Blaemire and The Hustle Play 54 Below May 31 by Michael Gioia

Actor and songwriter Nick Blaemire, who appeared in Off-Broadway's Dogfight and the Broadway revival of Godspell, brings his seven-piece "nerd soul" band, The Hustle, to 54 Bel…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, May 30, 2013

Anthony Rapp, Kerrigan-Lowdermilk, Natalie Joy Johnson and More Will Take Part in 2013 NYMF Concerts and Special Events by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the 2013 lineup of special events, concerts, student productions and free developmental readings — as well as an additional t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:11PM

Joël Pommerat Will Make American Debut With Cinderella/Cendrillon, Part of NYTW's 2013-14 Season by Michael Gioia

New York Theatre Workshop will present Cinderella/Cendrillon, written and directed by Joël Pommerat — marking Pommerat's first work in the English language and his American pr…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:43PM

Regional Premieres of Hands on a Hardbody and Night of the Living Dead Among New Line's 2013-14 Season by Michael Gioia

New Line Theatre has announced its 23rd season of adult, alternative musical theatre, which includes the regional premiere of the recent, short-lived Broadway musical Hands on a Hardbody.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:16PM

Les Misérables Will Return to Broadway's Imperial Theatre; Re-Imagined Revival Sets 2014 Dates by Michael Gioia

Producer Cameron Mackintosh announced May 30 that his acclaimed 25th-anniversary, re-imagined production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schönberg's Tony Award-winning musical Le…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00PM

Tracy Letts Will Be Series Regular on Showtime's "Homeland"; Amy Morton and More Also Join Cast by Michael Gioia

Tracy Letts, who was nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for his performance in Who's Afraid of Virgina Woolf?, will be a series regular on the upcoming third season of Showtime's "…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:00AM