All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Thursday, March 14, 2013

"Legends of Oz" Animated Film, With Voices of Megan Hilty, Lea Michele, Bernadette Peters, Will Be Released in 2014 by Michael Gioia

Summertime Entertainment has signed a distribution deal with Clarius Entertainment for the 3-D animated musical film "Legends of Oz: Dorothy's Return" — the feature …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:56PM

Tituss Burgess, Corey Cott, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Caissie Levy and More Set for Broadway Sings Stevie Wonder by Michael Gioia

Tituss Burgess, Corey Cott, Rebecca Naomi Jones and Caissie Levy are among the performers who will take part in Broadway Sings Stevie Wonder, featuring new arrangements of songs from Grammy …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:33PM

Megan Hilty Will Celebrate New Album "It Happens All the Time" With Joe's Pub Concerts by Michael Gioia

"Smash" star Megan Hilty will celebrate the recent release of her debut album, "It Happens All the Time," with concerts April 23 at 7:30 PM and 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:06PM

Leo Ash Evens, Michael Cullen, Ned Eisenberg Cast in Finks, Based on Lives of Jack Gilford and Madeline Lee Gilford 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, will begin performances March 28, prior to an official …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:36PM

Jodie Langel, Chris McCabe, Jacob Aaron Cullum Among Cast of Broward's Bare, Damon Intrabartolo-Jon Hartmere Pop Opera by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:54AM

Barry Manilow's Harmony and Maurice Hines' Tappin' Thru Life Will Be Part of 2013-14 Alliance Season in Atlanta by Michael Gioia

Atlanta's Alliance Theatre, recipient of the Regional Theatre Tony Award, will produce the new works Harmony – A New Musical, written by Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman, and Tappin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:31AM
Wednesday, March 13, 2013

"Smash" Ratings Increase Following March 12 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 1…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:07PM

Tony Award Winner Idina Menzel Will Return to Fox's "Glee" by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Idina Menzel will return to Fox's "Glee" this season, reprising her role as Rachel Berry's mother, Shelby Corcoran.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:32PM

Lawrence Wright's Fallaci, Directed by The Public's Oskar Eustis, Opens March 13 at Berkeley Rep by Michael Gioia

The premiere production of Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright's new play Fallaci, about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci, opens March 13, following previews that b…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Walker Jones Is the Wizard in North American Tour of Wicked Beginning March 13 by Michael Gioia

The company of the second North American tour of Wicked welcomes Walker Jones as the Wizard March 13, when the musical opens in Charlotte, NC.

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

Luis Salgado, Gabrielle Ruiz, Manuel Stark and More Will Cover Latin Artist Selena at the Underground in NYC by Michael Gioia

Former In the Heights cast members Luis Salgado and Gabrielle Ruiz, as well as "Smash" actor Manuel Stark, will celebrate the life of late Mexican-American artist Selena Quintanill…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:03PM

Wesley Taylor, Jill Abramovitz and Michael Winther Will Join See Rock City Cast Members for Album Release Concert by Michael Gioia

"Smash" actor Wesley Taylor, Jill Abramovitz (Cinderella) and Michael Winther (Mamma Mia!) will be special guest performers at 54 Below on March 13 to celebrate the release of the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:45PM

Future of ABC Family's "Bunheads," With Tony Winner Sutton Foster, Undecided by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

"Bunheads," the whimsical hour-long ABC Family dramedy-with-dance series starring Broadway's Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop, is eyeing a second season, according to Deadline.co…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:18PM

Complete Casting Announced for Spring Production of The Pajama Game, With Hadley Fraser and Joanna Riding by Michael Gioia and Mark Shenton

Complete casting has been announced for the Tony Award-winning musical The Pajama Game, which will open the 2013 U.K. Chichester Festival Theatre and star Hadley Fraser and Joanna …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:08PM

ABC Family's "Bunheads," With Tony Winner Sutton Foster, Renewed for Second Season by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

"Bunheads," the whimsical hour-long ABC Family dramedy-with-dance series starring Broadway's Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop, has been renewed for a second season, according to …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:17AM

Cheyenne Jackson Replaces Sean Hayes in Film Adaptation of Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Cheyenne Jackson, most recently seen on Broadway in The Performers, has replaced Tony Award nominee Sean Hayes in the lead role of the independent film "Six Dance Lessons in Six Weeks,&…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:20AM

Off-Broadway Cast Album of Danny Abosch and Susan DiLallo's Fancy Nancy Gets Digital Release March 12 by Michael Gioia

Ghostlight Records digitally releases the original Off-Broadway cast recording of Fancy Nancy The Musical, the children's show currently running at Vital Theatre Company, March 12. The a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Ruby Preston's "Staged" Novel, About Producing, Backstage Drama and Love, Hits Shelves March 12 by Michael Gioia

"Staged," Ruby Preston's sequel to the Broadway novel "Showbiz" — about the inner workings of, you guessed it, show business — is released by Dress Circle…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Khrystyne Haje, Rebecca Hart and More Cast in Humana Fest Production of Mallery Avidon's O Guru Guru Guru 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, will begin performances March 20, prior to an official…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Anita Loos' Happy Birthday, With Tony Winner Karen Ziemba, Begins March 12 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, begins performances March 12, prior to an official opening March 21, at…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, March 11, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: An Inspiring Valerie Harper Speaks Out About Terminal Cancer (Video) by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Stage and screen star Valerie Harper, most recently on Broadway in a Tony-nominated turn in Looped — and diagnosed Jan. 15 with terminal brain cancer — is speaking out …

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:45PM

Bartlett Sher In Discussions to Stage My Fair Lady Broadway Revival by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher has been tapped to direct a Broadway revival of My Fair Lady, Grammy-winning producer Clive Davis confirmed to Showbiz411.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:13PM

Clive Davis Picks Bartlett Sher to Stage My Fair Lady Broadway Revival by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning director Bartlett Sher has been tapped to direct a Broadway revival of My Fair Lady, Grammy-winning producer Clive Davis confirmed to Showbiz411.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:41PM

Ramin Karimloo Will Play New York, Boston, Hollywood and More in 2013 Concert Tour by Michael Gioia

Ramin Karimloo, star of London's The Phantom of the Opera and Love Never Dies, will kick off his 2013 concert tour April 22 at The Federal in North Hollywood, CA.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:35AM

THE SCREENING ROOM: The Skivvies Los Angeles Concert, With Barrett Foa, Laura Benanti, Daisy Eagan and More (Video) by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The scantily-clad music duo The Skivvies made their Los Angeles debut March 4 with special guests including Tony Award winners Laura Benanti and Daisy Eagan.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:55AM

Daisy Eagan, Robin de Jesus, Telly Leung and More Will Take Part in West Coast Broadway At The Federal Cabaret by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Daisy Eagan, Tony nominee Robin de Jesus and "Glee" actor Telly Leung are among the performers who will take part in the inaugural evening of The Supper Club: Bro…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:46AM

Peretz Hirschbein's Yiddish Drama The Inn, Starring David Greenspan, Opens March 11 in Manhattan by Michael Gioia

Target Margin Theater continues the exploration of Yiddish theatre The (*) Inn, *empty, vacant, abandoned; usually translated as "Haunted" by Peretz Hirschbein, officially opening …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:02AM

Peretz Hirschbein's Yiddish Drama The Inn, Directed by David Greenspan, Opens March 11 in Manhattan by Michael Gioia

Target Margin Theater continues the exploration of Yiddish theatre The (*) Inn, *empty, vacant, abandoned; usually translated as "Haunted" by Peretz Hirschbein, officially opening …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Laura Benanti, Stephanie J. Block, Jane Krakowski and Laura Osnes Headline Roundabout Gala March 11 by Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company presents its annual 2013 spring gala, A Celebration of Your Favorites, emceed by Tony winner Alan Cumming (Cabaret), March 11 at the Hammerstein Ballroom.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, March 10, 2013

Winning Works, With New Piece from Choreographers of Color Award Winner Jeremy McQueen, Held March 10 by Michael Gioia

Choreographers Ma Cong, William McClellan and Jeremy McQueen, recipients of the Joffrey Academy of Dance's Third Annual Choreographers of Color Award, each presents a world-premiere piec…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Hershey Felder's An American Story, Recounting Abraham Lincoln's Final Day, Opens March 10 by Michael Gioia

Eighty-Eight Entertainment presents the Chicago premiere of Hershey Felder's An American Story for Actor and Orchestra, which recounts Abraham Lincoln's last day. The production offi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM