All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Sunday, May 19, 2013

Will Chase and Jenn Colella Reunite for High Fidelity Concerts at 54 Below May 19-20 by Michael Gioia

Will Chase and Jenn Colella, original cast members of the short-lived Broadway musical High Fidelity, reunite for a concert staging of the Tom Kitt-Amanda Green-scored musical at Manhattan n…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Shoshana Bean, Cathy Rigby, Kenny Ortega and More Present at the Jerry Herman Awards May 19 in L.A. by Michael Gioia

The Nederlander Organization and the Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, present the second annual Jerry Herman Awards, celebrating achievement and excellence in high school musical theatre in Los …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Off-Broadway Run of Cuff Me: The Fifty Shades of Grey Musical Parody Opens May 19 by Michael Gioia

Entertainment Events presents the Off-Broadway premiere of Cuff Me: The Fifty Shades of Grey Musical Parody, officially opening May 19, following previews that began March 27, at the Actors …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, May 18, 2013

Shaping Sound Dance Company, With "SYTYCD" and Bare's Travis Wall, Plays 13-City Tour Beginning May 18 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"), launches a 13-city tour May 18 in Los …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Lindsay Mendez and Marco Paguia Celebrate New Album "This Time" With May 18 NYC Concert by Michael Gioia

Lindsay Mendez, who will fly into Broadway's Wicked later this month, and music director and jazz pianist Marco Paguia celebrate their upcoming debut jazz vocal album, "This Time,&q…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

"Goodbye Until Tomorrow": The Last Five Years Ends Off-Broadway Run May 18; Ghostlight Will Release Album This Summer by Michael Gioia

The acclaimed Second Stage Theatre production of Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, which stars Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe as a couple who falls in an…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, May 17, 2013

Hold the Phone! Critic Kevin Williamson Sounds Off on Theatre Etiquette Following Natasha Cell Phone Incident by Michael Gioia

National Review roving correspondent and theatre critic Kevin Williamson, who attended the final preview of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 on May 15, was ejected from the audi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:24PM

Songwriter Joey Contreras Partners With Broadway Dreams Foundation for Upcoming Album by Michael Gioia

The Broadway Dreams Foundation has announced three educational initiatives, including a sophomore album by musical theatre songwriter Joey Contreras, the development of a new musical and a s…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:14PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Tim and Charlie's Farewell Tour, With Josh Young, Krysta Rodriguez, Lindsay Mendez, Randy Graff and More by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Tim and Charlie's Farewell Tour, an evening celebrating the composer and lyricist team Tim Rosser and Charlie Sohne, was presented April 28 at 54 Below. Here are highlights from the conc…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:28AM

Patti Murin, Natalie Charle Ellis, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Jason Michael Snow and More Set for Popesical: In Concert by Michael Gioia

Patti Murin, who starred in the Broadway musical Lysistrata Jones, will lead the concert version of Popesical, a new musical comedy by Adam Overett, May 27 at Joe's Pub in New York City.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:10AM

Oscar Winner Cate Blanchett Will Star in David Mamet's "Blackbird" Film, About JFK Assassination by Michael Gioia

Academy Award-winning actress Cate Blanchett will star in the upcoming David Mamet film "Blackbird," which exposes a secret explanation for the assassination of U.S. President John…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:42AM
Thursday, May 16, 2013

Lindsay Mendez and Marco Paguia Will Celebrate New Album "This Time" With NYC Concerts; Tracks Announced by Michael Gioia

Lindsay Mendez, who will fly into Broadway's Wicked later this month, and music director and jazz pianist Marco Paguia will celebrate their upcoming debut jazz vocal album, "This Ti…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:14PM

Rory O'Malley, Leslie Kritzer, Lauren Molina, Bryan Fenkart and More Cast in Second Stage's Nobody Loves You by Michael Gioia

Heath Calvert, Bryan Fenkart, Roe Hartrampf, Autumn Hurlbert, Leslie Kritzer, Lauren Molina, Rory O'Malley and Aleque Reid will make up the cast of Second Stage Theatre's New York pr…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:41PM

Some Kinda Time! Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Revisit Dogfight and A Christmas Story at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

The score of Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's Lucille Lortel Award-winning musical Dogfight hit the Internet April 30; that same day the duo was nominated for a Tony Award for the Best Origi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:50AM
Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Richard Rodgers Award-Winning Musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Opens May 16 at NYC's Kazino by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s critically praised "electro-pop opera" based on "War and Peace," which played an extended Off-Broadway …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:00PM

Tony Nominee Rob McClure Returned to His High School Roots Following Chaplin's Final Bow by Michael Gioia

When the lights came down at Broadway's Barrymore Theatre, Rob McClure — a 2013 Tony Award nominee for originating the role of silent-film legend Charlie Chaplin in the new Broadwa…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:30PM

The Winslow Boy, Starring Roger Rees, Will Play Broadway's American Airlines; Philadelphia Story Postponed by Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company will produce Terence Rattigan's The Winslow Boy, starring Tony Award winner Roger Rees (The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby, Indiscretions, Peter and …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:59PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Robin De Jesus, Jason Gotay, Rebecca Faulkenberry Sing Blake Pfeil Tunes at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Robin De Jesus (In the Heights, La Cage aux Folles) was among the artists who joined singer, songwriter and actor Blake Pfeil for Blake Pfeil is in Love with a Girl N…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:25AM

Jake Gyllenhaal and Chris Pine in Talks to Play the Princes for Into the Woods Film Adaptation by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Jake Gyllenhaal, who starred in the Off-Broadway drama If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, and Chris Pine, seen on the New York stage in The Atheist, are in talks to play the Princes in …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:48AM

Pippin Will Hit the Road; Tony-Nominated Revival Will Launch National Tour in September 2014 by Michael Gioia

Producers Barry and Fran Weissler and Howard and Janet Kagan announced May 15 that the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-nominated Broadway revival of Pippin, re-envisioned in a cirque-inspir…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:13AM

Pippin Will Hit the Road; Tony-Nominated Revival Will Launch National Tour in September by Michael Gioia

Producers Barry and Fran Weissler and Howard and Janet Kagan announced May 15 that the critically acclaimed, Tony Award-nominated Broadway revival of Pippin, re-envisioned in a cirque-inspir…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:12AM

Shoshana Bean, Cathy Rigby, Kenny Ortega and More Will Present at the Jerry Herman Awards in L.A. by Michael Gioia

The Nederlander Organization and the Pantages Theatre, Hollywood, will present the second annual Jerry Herman Awards, celebrating achievement and excellence in high school musical theatre in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:58AM

Tony Nominees Benj Pasek and Justin Paul Celebrate Dogfight Album Release May 15 at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

Benj Pasek and Justin Paul, 2013 Tony Award nominees for their original score of A Christmas Story, The Musical, celebrate the release of the Off-Broadway cast recording Dogfight w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:37AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Kate Rockwell and Rock of Ages Stars Pick Favorite Songs From the ROA "Cutting Room Floor" by Michael Gioia

Kate Rockwell, who stars as Sherrie in Broadway's jukebox rock musical Rock of Ages, and members from the current cast of that Tony Award-nominated Best Musical pick their favorite songs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:02AM

PLAYBILL PLAYLIST: Kate Rockwell and Rock of Ages Cast Pick Favorite Songs From the ROA "Cutting Room Floor" by Michael Gioia

Kate Rockwell, who stars as Sherrie in Broadway's jukebox rock musical Rock of Ages, and members from the current cast of that Tony Award-nominated Best Musical pick their favorite songs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, May 14, 2013

Leapin' Lizards! Emmy Winner Jane Lynch Begins Annie Run as Miss Hannigan Earlier Than Expected May 14 by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Emmy Award-winning actress Jane Lynch, known for playing a bullying cheer coach on TV's "Glee," began performances as orphanage matron Miss Hannigan in Broadway's Annie&nbs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:08PM

Klea Blackhurst Will Star in Goodspeed's Hello, Dolly!; Ashley Brown and Tony Sheldon Also Cast by Michael Gioia

Goodspeed Musicals will present 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…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:18PM

Will Gluck's "Annie" Film Remake, Starring Quvenzhane Wallis, Will Begin Production in NYC This August by Michael Gioia

"Annie," the upcoming film remake of the 1982 movie musical that will star 2013 Academy Award nominee Quvenzhane Wallis ("Beasts of the Southern Wild"), will begin produc…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:36PM

Once Tony Nominee Cristin Milioti Is the Mother of CBS' "How I Met Your Mother" (Plus Video) by Michael Gioia

Cristin Milioti, who was Tony-nominated for her performance as Girl in the 2012 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Once, has been revealed as the titular character on the hit CBS comedy "H…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:24AM

Meg Bussert, Leenya Rideout, Jeremy Morse and More Are Two Legit to Quit in a Riff-Free Evening May 14 in NYC by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Meg Bussert (Camelot, Brigadoon, The Music Man), Leenya Rideout (Company, War Horse, Cyrano de Bergerac) and Drama Desk nominee Jeremy Morse (Bloodsong of Love) are among …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, May 13, 2013

Tony Winner Martin Short Will Pen Memoir for 2014 Release by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Martin Short will pen a memoir that will be released by Harper, the imprint of publishing company HarperCollins, in fall 2014, according to the New York Times.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:46PM