All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Sunday, March 10, 2013

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
Friday, March 8, 2013

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

Exposed: Drew Gasparini in Concert, featuring the music of songwriter of Drew Gasparini, whose music has been featured on the second season of NBC's "Smash," will be held March…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:26PM

Reed Birney, Billy Crudup, Peter Dinklage and More Will Take Part in Free Series of One-Acts Written by Children by Michael Gioia

Reed Birney, Billy Crudup, Peter Dinklage and Myra Lucretia Taylor will take part in free performances of Stand by Me: The Reliable Plays, a series of one-acts written by children, April 4&n…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:51PM

Ghostlight Records Will Release Off-Broadway Cast Album of Danny Abosch and Susan DiLallo's Fancy Nancy by Michael Gioia

Ghostlight Records will digitally release the original Off-Broadway cast recording of Fancy Nancy The Musical, the children's show currently running at Vital Theatre Company, March 12. T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:00AM

James Wallert, Carra Patterson, James Joseph O'Neil and More Cast in Off-Broadway's Richard III: Born With Teeth by Michael Gioia

Epic Theatre Ensemble will present Richard III: Born With Teeth, a contemporary take on William Shakespeare's Richard III, beginning April 16, prior to an official opening April 21, at t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:45AM

Lawrence Wright's Fallaci, Directed by The Public's Oskar Eustis, Premieres March 8 at Berkeley Rep by Michael Gioia

Pulitzer Prize winner Lawrence Wright's new play Fallaci, about the last days of legendary journalist Oriana Fallaci,  makes its premiere at Berkeley Repertory Theatre. Performances…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, March 7, 2013

Manhattan Nightclub 54 Below Announces Three New Late-Night Series by Michael Gioia

The popular Manhattan nightspot 54 Below has announced three new late-night series that have been added to the venue's lineup in the month of March.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:30PM

A Chorus Line's Heather Parcells Will Offer Should I Be Sweet? Solo Concert in NYC by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:30PM

Edward Norton, Michael Keaton, Emma Stone and More Set for "Birdman" Film, Set in a Broadway Theatre by Michael Gioia

Edward Norton, who was seen in the Off-Broadway productions of Fragments and Burn This, has joined the cast of Alejandro Gonzalez Innaritu's "Birdman," the upcoming film set in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:55PM

Chicago Premiere of Hershey Felder's An American Story, Recounting Abraham Lincoln's Final Day, Begins March 7 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, beginning March 7, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:12PM

Musical Comedy First Date Will Bow at Broadway's Longacre Theatre in Summer 2013 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning producer Junkyard Dog Productions (Memphis) announced March 7 that First Date, the new musical comedy that premiered at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre, will open on Broa…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:57AM

The Last Five Years Are Explored in Off-Broadway Revival With Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor, Beginning March 7 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 the couple who falls in and out of lo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, March 6, 2013

"Smash" Ratings Drop Further Following March 5 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, continue to decline. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:47PM

Oscar Winner Rachel Weisz Confirms Plans for Broadway Debut by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Olivier and Oscar winner Rachel Weisz will make her Broadway debut, the actress confirmed on the U.K. morning show "Daybreak." 

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:02PM

Spring Awakening's Remy Zaken and Gabriel Violett Will Offer (re)Introducing Remy & Gabe in NYC by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:30AM

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley's Midtown March Medley, With John Tartaglia, Tony Sheldon and More, Begins March 6 by Michael Gioia

A series of four original plays — entitled the Midtown March Medley — by Sirius XM Broadway host, actor, musician and Playbill.com columnist Seth Rudetsky and his husband James W…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, March 5, 2013

World Premiere of The House That Will Not Stand, Tribes, Homosexual's Guide and More Among Berkeley Rep Season by Michael Gioia

Tony Taccone, artistic director of the Tony Award-winning Berkeley Repertory Theatre, has announced the lineup of works for the company's 2013-14 season, which will include the world pre…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:50PM

Victor Garber and Kelli O'Hara Will Host Our Time Gala; Christian Borle, Jeremy Jordan Among Performers by Michael Gioia

Our Time's 11th annual benefit gala, Worth the Wait — celebrating the bravery and achievements of young people who stutter as well as those who inspire their success &mda…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:48PM

Terrence Howard, Sanaa Lathan, Blair Underwood and More Set for Macbeth Film Adaptation, "Macbett" by Michael Gioia

Terrence Howard, who was seen on Broadway in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, has been cast in the title role in "Macbett," an upcoming all-black film adaptation of William Shakespeare's…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:30PM

Jeremy Jordan and Cheyenne Jackson Offered a Side Show, Sierra Boggess Was Britney Spears and More at Miscast by Michael Gioia

MCC Theater's annual Miscast gala, featuring a slew of unlikely performances from Broadway's best, was held March 4 at The Hammerstein Ballroom. Playbill.com was there.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:56PM

Will Spice Girls Musical Viva Forever! Play Broadway Bow Following Major Revisions? by Michael Gioia

Producer Judy Craymer is planning to bring Viva Forever!, the new musical featuring songs made famous by the Spice Girls that currently plays the West End's Piccadilly Theatre, to Broadw…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:40PM

World Premiere of Beaches, New Works by Paul Downs Colaizzo, Ed Dixon and Gypsy Among VA Signature Season by Michael Gioia

Signature Theatre, the Tony Award-honored resident theatre in Arlington, VA, has announced titles for its 2013-14 season, which includes four world-premiere productions.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:43AM

Pittsburgh Public's 2013-14 Season Will Feature Our Town, True West, Company, Candida and More by Michael Gioia

The Pittsburgh Public Theater has announced the lineup for its 2013-14 season, which asks the question, "What is a masterpiece?" Thornton Wilder's Our Town will be the first in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:00AM
Monday, March 4, 2013

The Last Five Years, With Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, Extends Prior to Off-Broadway Bow by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Second Stage Theatre's new production of Jason Robert Brown's musical The Last Five Years, which will star Adam Kantor (Mark in the final Broadway cast of Rent) and Betsy Wolfe …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:48PM

Brian McKnight and Angie Stone Will Star in National Tour of Hinton Battle's Love Lies by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:39PM

Julian Ovenden Among New "Downton Abbey" Cast Members; Shirley MacLaine Will Return to Series by Michael Gioia

Carnival Films and Masterpiece on PBS have announced a lineup of actors who will join the popular drama series "Downton Abbey," including British actor Julian Ovenden (Finding Neve…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:59PM

Vanessa Williams Among Honorees for NCTF's Chairman's Gala, Hosted by George Takei by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Vanessa Williams will be among the honorees at the National Corporate Theatre Fund's annual Chairman's Awards gala April 29 at New York City's Pierre Hotel.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:58PM

"Smash" Star Jeremy Jordan Joins Lineup for Free Spotlight on Town Hall Concert, Hosted by Roma Torre by Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:45PM

The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe Will Play Mornings at Circle in the Square; Casting Announced by Michael Gioia

The Circle in the Square Theatre School will present The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe, a children's play performed by CITSTS alumni that was dramatized by le Clanché du Rand f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:00PM

Lindsay Mendez-Michael Holland Musical You're Gonna Hate This Will Debut at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

You're Gonna Hate This, a new musical from Lindsay Mendez and Michael Holland — who met and collaborated on the Broadway revival of Godspell — will debut at Joe's Pub in …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:57AM

Readings of Very Very, Reimagining of As You Like It With Anna Ty Bergman, Blake Pfeil and More, Held March 4 by Michael Gioia

Concert readings of Very Very, a new work that reimagines William Shakespeare's As You Like It as a contemporary rock concert, are offered March 4 at the Gibson-Baldwin Showroom in midto…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

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