All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Monday, March 25, 2013

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

Rachelle Spector Developing Musical Based on Life and Work of Imprisoned Producer Phil Spector by Michael Gioia

Singer Rachelle Spector, wife of imprisoned record producer and songwriter Phil Spector, is developing a musical — aiming for Broadway — based on her husband's work, accordin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:27PM

Lorna Luft Postpones Songs My Mother Taught Me Due to Breast Cancer Treatment by Michael Gioia

Flat Rock Playhouse will reschedule Lorna Luft's Songs My Mother Taught Me, scheduled to play May 8-26 at the Playhouse Mainstage, due to Luft's recent announcement that she is …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:40AM

Primary Stages Revival of David Ives' All in the Timing Gets Second Extension by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Primary Stages' revival of All in the Timing, a collection of short comic plays by Tony Award-nominated playwright David Ives, has been given a second and final extension through April 2…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:14AM

Adam Chanler-Berat, Jason Gotay, Emma Hunton and More Premiere Broadway Charity Songs March 25 in NYC by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

A Chorus Line's Heather Parcells Offers Should I Be Sweet? Solo Concert March 25 in NYC by Michael Gioia

Heather Parcells, who played Judy Turner in the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line, makes her solo cabaret debut with Should I Be Sweet? An Evening With Heather Parcells March 25 at Stage 72.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, March 24, 2013

Alex Wyse, Julia Mattison, F. Michael Haynie, Krista Pioppi and More Join Drew Gasparini for Exposed Concert March 24 by Michael Gioia

Exposed: Drew Gasparini in Concert, featuring the music of songwriter Drew Gasparini, whose work has been featured on the second season of NBC's "Smash," is held March 24 at th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Kamala Sankaram and Songwriting Team of Joshua Salzman and Ryan Cunningham Receive Jonathan Larson Grant March 24 by Michael Gioia

Songwriting team Joshua Salzman (music) and Ryan Cunningham (book and lyrics) and composer Kamala Sankaram are the recipients of the 2013 Jonathan Larson Grants. The prestigious grants, tota…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, March 23, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Spring Awakening's Remy Zaken and Gabriel Violett Cover Heights, Spelling Bee and More by Michael Gioia

Remy Zaken and Gabriel Violett, who were both seen in the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening, offered (re)Introducing Remy & Gabe March 18 at the Laurie Beechman Theater in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Diane Paulus, Gypsy Snider and Chet Walker Take Pippin to New Heights in Cirque-Inspired Broadway Revival by Michael Gioia

There certainly is "Magic to Do" as the first Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson's Pippin pitches its circus tent at the Music Box Theatre and the musical…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Ask Your Mama, With Jessye Norman and Nnenna Freelon, Plays the Apollo March 23 by Michael Gioia

The Apollo Theater and Manhattan School of Music present the New York return of Ask Your Mama, described as "a 90-minute sonic tapestry of music, film and spoken word by Emmy Award-winn…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, March 22, 2013

Casting Announced for George Street Staging of David Ives' Venus in Fur, Directed by Kip Fagan by Michael Gioia

George Street Playhouse will present David Ives' Tony Award-nominated Best Play Venus in Fur, the final production of its 2012-13 season, beginning April 23 in New Jersey.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:46PM

Rebecca Luker, Amy Spanger, Amra-Faye Wright Will Join Jeremy Jordan for Free Spotlight on Town Hall Concert by Michael Gioia

Three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker and Chicago stars Amy Spanger and Amra-Faye Wright have joined the lineup for Spotlight on Town Hall, a free concert event featuring performa…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:24PM

Michael Urie, Richard Easton and More Set for Reading of Henrik Ibsen's Ghosts, Translated by Eva Le Gallienne by Michael Gioia

Noël & Company will kick 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 2…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:05PM

Sierra Boggess Will Offer Lessons in Love in New York Benefit Concert by Michael Gioia

Broadway Arts Factory will present Lessons in Love, featuring Sierra Boggess — most recently seen in the 25th anniversary of Broadway's The Phantom of the Opera — April …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:30AM

Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards Presented March 22; Recipients Announced by Michael Gioia

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts has announced the 2013 winners of the Kennedy Center/Stephen Sondheim Inspirational Teacher Awards — a series of annual grants that p…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:00AM

T. Oliver Reid, Lennie Watts, Marilyn Maye, Ben Rimalower and More Win 2013 MAC Awards by Michael Gioia

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs presented the 27th Annual MAC Awards, hosted by KT Sullivan, March 21 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. T. Oliver Reid, Lennie Watts…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:32AM

Bertie Carvel, Kristine Nielsen, Elizabeth Marvel, David Hyde Pierce, Jayne Houdyshell Take Part in Drama Desk Panel March 22 by Michael Gioia

The Drama Desk presents its annual spring panel discussion/luncheon March 22 at Sardi's. The 2013 sold-out event, "The Art of Storytelling," explores the challenges actors face…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Mark La Mura and Jeff Talbott Are Pioneer Theatre Company's Odd Couple, Opening March 22 by Michael Gioia

Pioneer Theatre Company presents Neil Simon's iconic comedy The Odd Couple, officially opening March 22, following previews that began March 20, at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre i…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, March 21, 2013

Elaine Stritch, Clint Eastwood, Whoopi Goldberg, Ethan Hawke Will Take Part in Tribeca Film Festival's Tribeca Talks Series by Michael Gioia

The 2013 Tribeca Film Festival announced its lineup for the 2013 Tribeca Talks panel series, which is open to the public and will take place throughout TFF, running April 17-28 at locations …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:38PM

David Morse, Christopher Denham, Sarah Goldberg Will Star in Roundabout's Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin by Michael Gioia

David Morse (The Seafarer) will star in the title role of The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin, a world-premiere play by Steven Levenson, which will begin performances May 31 at …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:58PM

Adam Chanler-Berat, Jason Gotay, Emma Hunton and More Will Premiere Broadway Charity Songs in NYC by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:37PM

Matthew Morrison Will Release Album of Broadway Classics, "Where It All Began"; PBS Concert, Too by Michael Gioia

Matthew Morrison, the Tony-nominated Broadway star who rose to fame on the Fox hit television series "Glee," will release an album of Broadway classics entitled "Where It All …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:41PM

Tony Winner Liza Minnelli Will Guest Star on "Smash" When Series Moves to Saturday Slot by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Liza Minnelli will guest star as herself on the April 6 episode of "Smash," when the NBC series moves to the Saturday evening time slot at 9 PM.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:52PM

Brandon Victor Dixon, André De Shields, Brynn O'Malley and More Set for If It Only Even Runs a Minute 11 by Michael Gioia

Tony nominee Brandon Victor Dixon, star of Broadway's Motown, two-time Tony nominee André De Shields (The Full Monty, Play On!) and Annie star Brynn O'Malley are among the art…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:43AM

Anita Loos' Happy Birthday, With Tony Winner Karen Ziemba, Opens March 21 at Off-Broadway's TACT by Michael Gioia

Anita Loos' Happy Birthday, the final production of TACT/The Actors Company Theatre's 20th anniversary season, officially opens March 21, following previews that began March 12, at T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

MAC Awards Held March 21; KT Sullivan, Sharon McNight, T. Oliver Reid, Marilyn Maye, Ben Rimalower Among 2013 Nominees by Michael Gioia

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs presents the 27th Annual MAC Awards March 21 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill. KT Sullivan hosts. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, March 20, 2013

Kate Baldwin and Norbert Leo Butz Sing Andrew Lippa Tunes From Broadway-Bound Big Fish (Audio) by Michael Gioia

The new musical Big Fish, based on the 1998 novel by Daniel Wallace and the 2003 Columbia Pictures film written by John August, will begin its pre-Broadway engagement April 2 in Chicago. Her…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:35PM

"Smash" Ratings Decline Again, Following March 19 Episode by Michael Gioia

Following last week's increase, ratings of the second season of NBC's "Smash," the Emmy Award-winning musical drama about the creation and inner workings of a Broadway musi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:39PM

Will Tucker Max Serve Beer on Broadway? Off-Broadway Production to Bow This Summer With Eyes on Broadway by Michael Gioia

I Hope They Serve Beer on Broadway, a stage adaptation of author Tucker Max's best-selling book "I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell" and the subsequent film of the same name, is ai…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:15AM

Humana Fest Production of O Guru Guru Guru, With Khrystyne Haje, Rebecca Hart, Begins March 20 by Michael Gioia

O Guru Guru Guru, or why I don't want to go to yoga class with you by Mallery Avidon, the story of a girl who grew up in an ashram, begins performances March 20, prior to an official ope…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM