All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Monday, August 29, 2016

Lindsay Mendez and Ryan Scott Oliver Join Forces in Concert Tonight by Michael Gioia

The friends and collaborators offer Muse and the Music at SubCulture.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:34AM
Saturday, August 27, 2016

13 Broadway Debuts to Look Out For This Fall by Michael Gioia

Newcomers to Oscar winners make their Main Stem debuts this fall season. Here are 13 of them to watch!

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, August 26, 2016

Theatre Students Can Learn About Non-Profit Theatre at Free Open House Event by Michael Gioia

Twenty New York City theatre institutions will participate in an open house for students.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:01PM

Sam Mendes in Talks for Live-Action James and the Giant Peach Remake by Michael Gioia

The Oscar-winning director would develop and direct the project for Disney.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:16PM

Bid to Win a Newsies Meet and Greet With Jeremy Jordan by Michael Gioia

Seize the day, and get your bid in to meet Newsies’ Tony-nominated star.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:59AM
Thursday, August 25, 2016

George Clooney to Host Concert Event Featuring Hugh Jackman, Jane Lynch and More by Michael Gioia

Hollywood’s Night Under The Stars will celebrate 95 years of the Motion Picture & Television Fund.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:04PM

Critics Review Barbra Streisand’s New Encore Recording by Michael Gioia

What did the critics say about the latest album of duets?

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:38PM

Will Beaches Remake, Starring Idina Menzel, Include New Scenes? by Michael Gioia

The Tony-winning actress is tweeting from the set.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:24PM

Matt Doyle and Josh Grisetti Will Tell Hilarious Backstage Broadway Stories by Michael Gioia

The evening will take place at Feinstein’s/54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:52PM

“Heavy Character Actresses” Need Not Apply? Women Get Real on Casting by Michael Gioia

Broadway actress Kathy Deitch fights back against limiting artists of a bigger size in the entertainment industry.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:28PM

Think You Have a Cabaret Act? Develop It at Feinstein’s/54 Below by Michael Gioia

Feinstein’s/54 Below is seeking submissions for the second annual 54 Concert Lab, in which artists will develop their cabaret acts at the New York City venue.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:34AM

Exclusive: Watch Broadway’s Oz Music Video, Fusing Wizard of Oz and The Wiz by Michael Gioia

Can you feel a brand-new day? We can! The Oz Project, a mashup music video of The Wizard of Oz and The Wiz, has been released.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, August 24, 2016

Kerrigan + Lowdermilk’s House Party Musical The Bad Years Returning to Brooklyn by Michael Gioia

The immersive musical, set at a house party with raging twentysomethings, will hit a house in Bushwick.

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:12PM

Melissa Errico Will Return to Feinstein’s/54 Below by Michael Gioia

The Tony nominee will play an engagement at the cabaret venue this September.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:33PM

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert Will Get Intimate Staging in Chicago by Michael Gioia

Two world premieres and two Chicago premieres make up the 2016-17 season at Chicago’s Pride Films and Plays.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00PM

John Gallagher, Jr. Will Go It Solo at Joe’s Pub by Michael Gioia

The Tony-winning actor hasn’t played the downtown venue since 2008; he’ll return next month.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:22AM
Tuesday, August 23, 2016

Marc Acito and John Rando Working on Asian Jukebox Musical by Michael Gioia

The project, with songs by Taiwanese musician Jay Chou, will open in Beijing in December.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:33PM

Original Star of Off-Broadway’s Bardy Bunch Will Reprise Role in Chicago by Michael Gioia

The musical parody, fusing Shakespeare and television shows, will play a limited Chicago engagement beginning next month.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:04PM

Wayne Brady Among Stars of Broadway-Bound Smokey Joe’s Café Presentation by Michael Gioia

A developmental reading of the musical revue will be held next month in anticipation of a Broadway production to be announced.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:16PM

Watch Wicked’s New Touring Elphaba Sing “Defying Gravity” by Michael Gioia

Earlier this year, Jessica Vosk performed the iconic Wicked tune onstage at Joe’s Pub—to a French fry!

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:21PM

Watch Natalie Weiss Get Taught How to Riff in Hilarious “All By Myself” Video by Michael Gioia

In a turn of events, the beltress, known for her Breaking Down the Riffs video series, got taught a thing or two onstage at Feinstein’s/54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:34PM
Friday, August 19, 2016

Shanice Williams, Lilli Cooper Among Voices on Polkadots Recording by Michael Gioia

The world-premiere recording will drop next month.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:33PM

Hamilton Sing-Along Will Be Held in Illinois by Michael Gioia

How could you say no to this? A sing-along of the hit musical Hamilton will be held this month in Berwyn, IL.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:39PM

Shaw Festival’s 2017 Season Includes Branden Jacobs-Jenkins’ An Octoroon by Michael Gioia

Eleven titles make up the 56th season—the first under the new artistic direction of Tim Carrol.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:45AM

Harry Potter Theatrical Productions Shuts Down Cursed Child Reading by Michael Gioia

The night has now become a non-ticketed event where fans may mingle, discuss and celebrate the new book.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:33AM

9 (More) Shows Overdue for a Revival by Michael Gioia

There are even more shows that have been rumored to return and are overdue for a revival, plus we share the dream castings we simply cannot wait to see!

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, August 18, 2016

Exclusive Video! How Laverne Cox Is Time-Warping Dr. Frank-N-Furter by Michael Gioia

Hot Patootie, bless her soul! The groundbreaking transgender actress is living her dream as the star of Rocky Horror.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:58PM

Marilyn Maye Will Join Michael Feinstein in Concert by Michael Gioia

Feinstein will return to Feinstein’s/54 Below for the final days of August.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:52PM

Informal Reading of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child Will Be Held in Maryland by Michael Gioia

Witches and wizards will gather at the East Street Arts Center to read through the new Harry Potter play, currently playing in London.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:47AM

Look at The Wiz With New Eyes! The Exclusive All-Female Photo Shoot by Michael Gioia

Broadway makeup artist Rachel Estabrook re-envisioned The Wiz characters all done up. Modern. Fierce. Femme. Female. We have an exclusive look at the photo shoot.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, August 17, 2016

Film Actors Will Turn Out for 110 Stories Performance Commemorating 9/11 by Michael Gioia

Oscar winner Mira Sorvino and Jamie-Lynn Sigler are among the cast.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:13PM