All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Monday, April 1, 2013

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

Tickets for Broadway Musical Comedy First Date Go On Sale April 1 by Michael Gioia

Tickets for First Date, the new Broadway musical comedy that premiered at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, go on sale to the general public April 1. Previews are scheduled to begin&nbs…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, March 30, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Adam Chanler-Berat, Jason Gotay, Emma Hunton and More Sing Broadway Charity Songs (Video) by Michael Gioia

Broadway Gives Back presented Broadway Charity Songs, featuring new material by established and emerging musical theatre composers, March 25 at (le) Poisson Rouge in New York City. Here…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, March 29, 2013

Tony Sheldon, Alyse Alan Louis, Larkin Bogan and More Will Join Sam Willmott for Free Concert at the York by Michael Gioia

Tony Sheldon, a Tony Award nominee for Priscilla Queen of the Desert, is among the artists who will join Fred Ebb Award-winning composer-lyricist Sam Willmott for The Songs of Sam Willmott A…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:01PM

Triad Stage Will Reimagine My Fair Lady for Cast of Ten; Julia Osborne and Michael McKenzie to Star by Michael Gioia

Triad Stage will present 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…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:30PM

Ghostlight Will Release "Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree," Featuring Krysta Rodriguez and More by Michael Gioia

"The Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree," a collection of songs performed by musical theatre songwriter Joe Iconis ("Smash") and his "merry band of musical theatre mi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:41PM

Ghostlight Will Release "Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree," Featuring Jeremy Jordan, Krysta Rodriguez and More by Michael Gioia

"The Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree," a collection of songs performed by musical theatre songwriter Joe Iconis ("Smash") and his "merry band of musical theatre mi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:39PM

"That's Rich"! Celebrating Newsies' One-Year Anniversary With Photos, Video and More by Michael Gioia

Newsies, the Tony Award-winning Disney musical about a group of high-flying newsboys who take on powerful newspaper giants in 1899 New York City, celebrates its one-year anniversary on Broad…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, March 28, 2013

Godspell's Celisse Henderson Will Join Mamma Mia!'s Blake Whyte for "More Like Myself" Album Release Concert by Michael Gioia

Blake Whyte, who currently appears on Broadway in Mamma Mia!, will celebrate the release of his debut album "More Like Myself" April 7 at Alvin Ailey in New York City.

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:07PM

Remy Zaken, Barrett Wilbert Weed, Johnny Stellard and More Set for Free Youth Uprising Concert by Michael Gioia

Remy Zaken, who was seen in the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening, and Barrett Wilbert Weed, who recently starred in the Off-Broadway musical Bare, are among the artists who will t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:41PM

U.S. Premiere of The Giacomo Variations, With John Malkovich, Among 2013 International Arts Festival by Michael Gioia

The Cherry Orchard Festival Foundation will hold its inaugural International Arts Festival in New York City, kicking off May 30 with the U.S. premiere of The Giacomo Variations, starring Aca…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:23PM

Hunter Foster's Summer of '42, Directed by Lonny Price, Added to Bucks County Summer Season by Michael Gioia

Bucks County Playhouse, under the producing direction of Jed Bernstein, has announced Summer of '42, featuring a book by Tony Award nominee Hunter Foster (Hands on a Hardbody) and music …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:41PM

Daniel Breaker Will Host The Play Company's Tenth Annual Cabaret Gourmet by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Daniel Breaker, who was last seen in Broadway's The Performers, is set to host and perform at the tenth annual Cabaret Gourmet, The Play Company's annual benefit t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:46PM

I Know What Boys Want, Sex Scandal Drama by Penny Jackson, Begins NYC Run March 28 by Michael Gioia

Ego Actus presents I Know What Boys Want, a new drama by playwright Penny Jackson about a high school sex scandal, officially opening March 28 for a run through April 13 at the WorkShop Thea…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Finks, Based on Lives of Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford, Begins March 28 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, begins performances March 28, prior to an official open…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Free Spotlight on Town Hall Concert, With Jeremy Jordan, Rebecca Luker, Amy Spanger, Amra-Faye Wright, Held March 28 by Michael Gioia

Spotlight on Town Hall, a free concert event featuring performances from Chicago, The Phantom of the Opera, Avenue Q and more, is held March 28 at New York City's The Town Hall. Newsies …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, March 27, 2013

Beau Bridges, Jean Smart and Cecily Strong Set for Broadway Benefit Reading of Matt Hoverman's The Glint by Michael Gioia

Beau Bridges (How to Succeed, Who's Who in Hell), Jean Smart (The Man Who Came to Dinner, Piaf) and Cecily Strong ("Saturday Night Live") will star in a one-night-only reading …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:30PM

"Smash" Ratings Increase Following March 26 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, increased following the March 2…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:10PM

Playbill Video Debuts New Series "Hot Off the Ivories," Collection of Contemporary Musical Theatre Songs by Michael Gioia

"Hot Off the Ivories," a new music video series featuring the work of contemporary musical theatre songwriters performed by Broadway talent, debuts on Playbill Video March 27. News…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:00PM

Bare Pop Opera, With Jodie Langel, Chris McCabe, Jacob Aaron Cullum, Presented March 27-30 by Michael Gioia

Broward Center for the Performing Arts in association with DreamChild Productions presents bare, the pop opera by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere — which was recently re-envis…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Cuff Me: The Fifty Shades of Grey Musical Parody Begins Off-Broadway Run March 27 by Michael Gioia

Entertainment Events presents the Off-Broadway premiere of Cuff Me: The Fifty Shades of Grey Musical Parody beginning March 27, prior to an official opening May 5, at the Actors Temple Theat…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, March 26, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Newsies' Kara Lindsay, Alan Menken and Jack Feldman Explore "The Anatomy of a Song" (Video) by Michael Gioia

Kara Lindsay, who stars as headstrong female journalist Katherine Plumber, joined Tony Award-winning Newsies songwriters Alan Menken and Jack Feldman for "The Anatomy of a Song," t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:36PM

Rock Opera Junk Will Return to Joe's Pub With New Material; Katrina Rose Dideriksen Among Cast by Michael Gioia

Junk: A Rock Opera, a new work by Swedish pop band Brainpool that was seen in a sold-out Joe's Pub concert in January, will return to the Manhattan venue April 7 with new songs and orche…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:30PM

Elisabeth DeRosa, Spencer Plachy, Sumayya Ali, Cathryn Basile and More Will Sing Easter Mysteries March 27-30 by Michael Gioia

Elisabeth DeRosa (Mary Poppins) and Spencer Plachy (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) have joined the cast of Easter Mysteries, a contemporary oratorio being performed during this year's Holy …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:00PM

Andrew Rannells, Krysta Rodriguez, Nick Blaemire and More Set for Joe Iconis & Family at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon), "Smash" actress Krysta Rodriguez (The Addams Family) and Nick Blaemire (Godspell, Dogfight) are among the artists who will …

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:22AM

Reading of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts, Translated by Eva Le Gallienne, Held March 26; Michael Urie Among Cast by Michael Gioia

Noël & Company kicks off its Eva Le Gallienne Festival 2013 with a staged reading of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts, translated by late Tony Award recipient Eva Le Gallienne, March 26 at…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, March 25, 2013

Richard Rodgers Award-Winning Musical Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Will Play New NYC Venue 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 05:07PM

Actress Karen Black, Battling Cancer, Raising Funds for Treatment by Michael Gioia

Karen Black, who was seen on Broadway in Keep It in the Family and Happily Never After, among others, is battling ampullary cancer. Her husband, Stephen Eckelberry, is raising funds for Blac…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:14PM

"Smash" Star Debra Messing Cast in CBS Pilot by Michael Gioia

Emmy Award winner Debra Messing, who stars in the NBC musical drama "Smash," has been cast in the lead role of an untitled CBS comedy pilot by Julie Rottenberg and Elisa Zuritsky.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:52PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Mayor Bloomberg Performs With Annie, Nice Work, Phantom, Rock of Ages at Inner Circle Dinner by Michael Gioia

Cast members from Broadway's Annie, Nice Work If You Can Get It, The Phantom of the Opera and Rock of Ages joined Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg for the annual Inner Circle dinner March 23 i…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:13PM

LaChanze, Shuler Hensley and Kerry Butler Set for 2013 Playwrights Gala Heroines, Honoring Women Writers by Michael Gioia

Off-Broadway theatre company Playwrights Horizons will hold its annual spring gala May 6 at the event space 583 Park Avenue. Tony Award winners LaChanze and Shuler Hensley as well as Tony no…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:30PM