All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Sunday, April 7, 2013

Triad Stage's Reimagined My Fair Lady, With Cast of Ten, Begins April 7; Julia Osborne and Michael McKenzie Star by Michael Gioia

Triad Stage presents a reimagined production of My Fair Lady, the Tony Award-winning musical by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe, beginning April 7, prior to an official opening April 12,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, April 6, 2013

Finks, Based on Lives of Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford, Opens April 6 in NY by Michael Gioia

The New York premiere of Finks, based on the true experiences of Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford and the Blacklist of the 1950s, officially opens April 6, following previews that began…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

West Coast Broadway, My Way Benefit, With Tyne Daly, Andrew Rannells, Bruce Vilanch, Lillias White, Held April 6 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Gypsy) and The Book of Mormon Tony nominee Andrew Rannells are among the lineup of performers taking part in the 29th annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodw…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Erin Mackey, Heidi Blickenstaff, Rebecca Luker, James Clow, Matthew Scott Sing The Music of Vernon Duke April 6-8 by Michael Gioia

Taking a Chance on Love: The Music of Vernon Duke, featuring the work of Broadway composer Vernon Duke, is offered April 6-8 as part of 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, April 5, 2013

Track Listing Announced for Drew Gasparini's "I Could Use a Drink," With Jeremy Jordan, Lindsay Mendez and More by Michael Gioia

Broadway Records will digitally release songwriter Drew Gasparini's music theatre album "I Could Use a Drink" April 19. The album, featuring performances from Jeremy Jordan, Li…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:45PM

Brett Ryback and Ben D. Goldberg Will Be Rodgers and Hart in World Premiere of Falling For Make Believe by Michael Gioia

The Colony Theatre will present the world premiere of Falling For Make Believe, about the lives of Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart and featuring music by the songwriting duo, beginning April…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:03AM
Thursday, April 4, 2013

Casting Announced for NYC Production of Hello, Dolly!, Featuring Cast of Amas Academy Teens by Michael Gioia

Amas Musical Theatre's Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Company will present the Tony Award-winning musical Hello, Dolly!, featuring a cast of young performers from the Amas Teen Academy,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:46PM

Planet Connections Gala Will Feature New One-Act Plays by Neil LaBute, John Patrick Shanley and Winter Miller by Michael Gioia

Three new one-act plays by acclaimed playwrights Neil LaBute (Reasons to Be Pretty), John Patrick Shanley (Doubt) and Winter Miller (In Darfur) will be presented at the Planet Connections Th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Christiane Noll Brings Gifts Back to 54 Below April 4 by Michael Gioia

Christiane Noll, most recently seen on Broadway in Chaplin, returns to 54 Below April 4, singing her solo show Gifts, which was seen at the Manhattan nightspot in October 2012.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Stephen Kaplan's Exquisite Potential, Winner of NJ Playwrights Contest, Begins April 4 by Michael Gioia

Bergen County resident and playwright Stephen Kaplan is the winner of the ninth annual New Jersey Playwrights Contest for his play Exquisite Potential, which starts performances April 4 unde…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, April 3, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Sierra Boggess, Samantha Barks, Heather Headley Celebrate Andrew Lloyd Webber in New TV Concert (Video) by Michael Gioia and Mark Shenton

The British television special "Andrew Lloyd Webber: 40 Musical Years" was broadcast on ITV1 on March 31. Here are highlights from the program, including performances from&nbs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:23PM

"Smash" Ratings Decline Following April 2 Episode by Michael Gioia

Ratings of the second season of NBC's "Smash," the Emmy Award-winning musical drama about the creation and inner workings of a Broadway musical, declined following the April 2 …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:57AM

Kristin Chenoweth, Liza Minnelli, Tony Bennett Will Perform at 40th Annual Chaplin Award Ceremony Honoring Barbra Streisand by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

The Film Society of Lincoln Center previously announced that Academy Award winner and Tony Award recipient Barbra Streisand — the first American woman artist to receive credit as write…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:24AM

Kellie Overbey, Quentin Maré and Renata Friedman Are Sleeping Rough Beginning April 3; Sam Buntrock Directs by Michael Gioia

The world premiere of Kara Manning's Sleeping Rough, directed by Tony Award nominee Sam Buntrock, begins Off-Broadway performances April 3, prior to an official opening April 11, at the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Eden Espinosa, Patrick Stewart, Joel Grey, John Benjamin Hickey Set for 2013 Straight for Equality Awards by Michael Gioia

Eden Espinosa, who starred in Broadway's Wicked, will perform at PFLAG National's fifth annual Straight for Equality Awards April 4 at the Marriott Marquis in Times Square. Comedian,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:17PM

Meg Bussert, Leenya Rideout, Jeremy Morse and More Set for Two Legit to Quit: a Riff-Free Evening in Manhattan 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 04:51PM

Tony Winner Audra McDonald Among 2013 Matrix Awards Honorees by Michael Gioia

New York Women in Communications will present the 2013 Matrix Awards, honoring seven women who have established themselves in the communications industry, April 22. Five-time Tony winner Aud…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:30PM

Casting Announced for Regional Premiere of Bukowsical, About Life of Novelist Charles Bukowski by Michael Gioia

New Line Theatre will conclude its 22nd season with the regional premiere of Bukowsical, a 21st-century reboot of the American musical comedy that explores the intersection between sex, drug…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:04AM

Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years Opens Off-Broadway April 2; Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor Star by Michael Gioia

Second Stage Theatre's new production of Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's musical The Last Five Years, with Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe as a couple who falls in and out of love…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Pre-Broadway World Premiere of Big Fish, With Norbert Leo Butz and Kate Baldwin, Begins April 2 in Chicago by Michael Gioia

The world premiere of the new musical Big Fish, based on the 1998 novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, begins its pre-Broadway engagement April…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Brian McKnight and Angie Stone Star in National Tour of Hinton Battle's Love Lies, Beginning April 2 in D.C. by Michael Gioia

Sixteen-time Grammy Award nominee Brian McKnight and three-time Grammy nominee Angie Stone — both seen in Broadway's Chicago — star in the national tour of Hinton Battle'…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, April 1, 2013

Erik Lochtefeld, D.C. Anderson and More Set for The Disappearing Man Concert at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

A concert presentation of Jahn Sood's new folk opera The Disappearing Man will be offered April 8 at Joe's Pub in New York City. Erik Lochtefeld will star in the title role.

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:17PM

54 Below Announces April-May Lineup; Barbara Cook, Laura Benanti, Aaron Tveit, Linda Eder Among Dozens of Performers by Michael Gioia

New Manhattan nightspot 54 Below, which features a starry lineup of Broadway favorites, has announced its schedule for April and May. Tony Award winners Barbara Cook, Laura Benanti and LaCha…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:42PM

Porgy and Bess' Phillip Boykin Will Be Part of Give My Regards to Broadway! Benefit by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Phillip Boykin (The Gershwins' Porgy & Bess) will be part of Give My Regards to Broadway!, a salute to Broadway showstoppers that will benefit the Bickford Th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:10PM

Joel B. New's Radio Play RSVP, Directed by Lori Wolter Hudson, Premieres April 1 by Michael Gioia

RSVP, a musical radio play featuring book, music and lyrics by Joel B. New, premieres April 1 on New's musical theatre podcast "Something New."

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:30PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Newsies Cast Performs on "GMA" in Celebration of One-Year Anniversary (Video) by Michael Gioia

The Disney musical Newsies celebrated its one-year anniversary on Broadway March 29. In honor of the milestone, the cast performed on "GMA" April 1.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:04PM

The Accidental Pervert Will Open in Panama City With Aaron Zebede in Title Role by Michael Gioia

The Accidental Pervert, the autobiographical play about one man's obsessive love of pornography that is in its fourth year Off-Broadway, will receive its second international production.…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:21PM

Clybourne Park, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and Romeo & Juliet Project Will Be Part of Chautauqua's 2013 Season by Michael Gioia

Chautauqua Theater Company, under the leadership of artistic director Vivienne Benesch and managing director Sarah Clare Corporandy, has announced the lineup for its 30th anniversary season,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:39PM

Orphans' Alec Baldwin and Tiffany's Star Emilia Clarke Appear on "Late Night with Jimmy Fallon" April 1 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Alec Baldwin, who stars on Broadway in Orphans, and Emilia Clarke, who stars in Broadway's Breakfast at Tiffany's, appear as guests on "Late Night with Jimmy …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:29AM

"Glee" Star Cory Monteith Checks Into Rehabilitation Facility by Michael Gioia

Cory Monteith, who stars as Finn Hudson on the Fox hit musical series "Glee," has checked into rehab for substance abuse, according to People magazine.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:43AM

Courtney Reed, Luis Salgado, Genny Lis Padilla and More Cover Latin Artist Selena April 1 in NYC Concert by Michael Gioia

Former In the Heights cast members Courtney Reed and Luis Salgado are among the artists who celebrate the life of late Mexican-American artist Selena Quintanilla-Pérez April 1 in …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM