All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, February 26, 2013

Paul Taylor-Mills Will Direct European Premiere of Bare, Pop Opera by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere by Michael Gioia

Paul Taylor-Mills Ltd. will present the European premiere of bare, the pop opera by Damon Intrabartolo and Jon Hartmere — which was recently re-envisioned as a book musical and seen Of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:11PM
Monday, February 25, 2013

Cast Announced for Reflections of a Rock Lobster, About Equal Rights Amongst Gay Youth by Michael Gioia

Boston Children's Theatre will present the return of Reflections of a Rock Lobster, the true story of a gay teenager and his fight to preserve his rights in the wake of bullying, prejudi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:47PM

Casting Announced for Cuff Me: The Fifty Shades of Grey Musical Parody by Improv Group The Pushers by Michael Gioia

Entertainment Events will present 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 T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:13PM

Oscar Nominee Quvenzhane Wallis Will Star in "Annie" Film Remake, Directed by Will Gluck by Michael Gioia

Quvenzhane Wallis, a 2013 Academy Award nominee for her performance in "Beasts of the Southern Wild," will star in "Annie," the upcoming film remake of the 1982 movi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:51AM

Anne Hathaway, Daniel Day-Lewis, Jennifer Lawrence, "Argo" and More Win 2013 Academy Awards by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

The 85th Academy Awards, hosted by Seth MacFarlane — and dedicated to music in film — were presented Feb. 24 at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center. The evening …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:03AM

Kids' Night on Broadway Held Feb. 25-March 3; Shows Include Annie, Cinderella, Drood, Newsies, Once, Spider-Man by Michael Gioia

The 2013 Kids' Night on Broadway — the annual event that offers children a free ticket to a Broadway show when accompanied by a paying adult — is held held Feb. 25-March…

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

85th Academy Awards Held Feb. 24; "Les Misérables," "Lincoln," Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway Among Nominees by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

The 85th Academy Awards, hosted by Seth MacFarlane, are presented Feb. 24 at 8:30 PM ET at the Dolby Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center and broadcast live on ABC. The star-studded fi…

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

STAGE TO SCREENS: Katharine McPhee and Krysta Rodriguez, On and Off-Screen Friends in NBC's "Smash" by Michael Gioia

Katharine McPhee and Krysta Rodriguez, who crossed paths during McPhee's time at Boston Conservatory, are reunited — and now play friends and roommates, Karen Cartwright and Ana Va…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Marilyn Maye, Barbara Fasano, La Tanya Hall and Gabrielle Stravelli Are The Many Voices of Peggy Lee Feb. 23-25 by Michael Gioia

Give Me Fever: The Many Voices of Peggy Lee, featuring the work of jazz singer, songwriter, composer and actress Peggy Lee, is offered Feb. 23-25 as part of 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & …

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

Mark La Mura and Jeff Talbott Will Star as Pioneer Theatre Company's Odd Couple in Salt Lake City by Michael Gioia

Pioneer Theatre Company will present Neil Simon's iconic comedy The Odd Couple beginning March 22 at the Simmons Pioneer Memorial Theatre in Salt Lake City. Mark La Mura and Jeff Talbott…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:44PM

Jason Edwards, Eddie Clendening and More Cast in Reconceived Ring of Fire, Directed by Richard Maltby, Jr. by Michael Gioia

Milwaukee Repertory Theater will present the premiere of a newly reconceived version of Ring of Fire: The Music of Johnny Cash beginning March 1, prior to an official opening March 3.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:45PM

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

The Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs announced the nominees for the 2012 MAC Awards Feb. 22. The 27th Annual MAC Awards will be presented March 21 at B.B. King Blues Club & …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:58AM

Robert Schenkkan's All the Way and Dan O'Brien's Body of an American Receive Inaugural Edward M. Kennedy Prize by Michael Gioia

Ambassador Jean Kennedy Smith and Columbia University announced Feb. 22 that Dan O'Brien's The Body of an American and Robert Schenkkan's All the Way are the inaugural winners of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:55AM

Alex Brightman, Andrew Kober, Stephen DeRosa and More Star in Free NYC Reading of Crazy, Just Like Me Feb. 22 by Michael Gioia

A free reading of Drew Gasparini's musical Crazy, Just Like Me, which took home the 2011 Best of Fest Award at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, is offered Feb. 22 at the York Theat…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Tony Winner Lea Salonga Offers Solo Concerts in Hawaii Beginning Feb. 22 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Lea Salonga, who recently appeared in the Avery Fisher Hall concert production of Ragtime, offers solo concerts Feb. 22-23 and Feb. 26 in Hawaii.

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

Jeremy Jordan and Anna Kendrick Will Explore The Last Five Years On Screen in Richard LaGravenese Adaptation by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Jeremy Jordan, who appears as Jimmy Collins in the NBC musical drama "Smash," will join Tony nominee Anna Kendrick in the Richard LaGravenese film adaptatio…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:30PM

Free Spotlight on Town Hall Concert Will Feature Performances from Chicago, Phantom, Avenue Q and More 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.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:30PM

Really Really Playwright Paul Downs Colaizzo Will Step Into Off-Broadway Show Feb. 23-24; Kobi Libii Lands Pilot by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Really Really playwright Paul Downs Colaizzo will assume the role of Johnson, normally played by actor Kobi Libii, in his Off-Broadway play Feb. 23-24 while Libii shoots a comedy pilot for A…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:01PM

Arena Tour of Jesus Christ Superstar Will Play Australia Prior to U.K. Encore; Tim Minchin, Melanie C Will Return by Michael Gioia and Mark Shenton

The Really Useful Group and Frontier Touring have announced that the arena tour production of Jesus Christ Superstar will play Australia beginning May 31, prior to its return to the U.K. in …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:30PM

Ryan Silverman and Hannah Elless Will Join Marc Kudisch for Portland World Premiere of Somewhere in Time by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Ryan Silverman, who currently stars in the Off-Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Passion, and Hannah Elless, a former trouper from the Broadway revival of Godspell, have joined the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:09PM
Wednesday, February 20, 2013

North American Tour of Wicked Will Welcome Walker Jones by Michael Gioia

The company of the second North American tour of Wicked will welcome Walker Jones as the Wizard. He will begin performances March 13, when the musical opens in Charlotte, NC.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:45PM

"Smash" Ratings Continue to Decline Following Feb. 19 Episode by Michael Gioia

The second season of NBC's "Smash," the Emmy Award-winning musical drama about the creation and inner workings of a Broadway musical, continues to decline in the ratings; in fa…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:52AM

Laura Benanti, Christopher Gattelli, Gavin Creel, Celia Keenan-Bolger and More Will Lead Summer Intensive in NC by Michael Gioia

Laura Benanti, Christopher Gattelli, Gavin Creel and Celia Keenan-Bolger are among the artists who will take part in The Performing Arts Project Summer Intensive June 30-July 21 in North Car…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:30AM

Record Producer Clive Davis Eyeing Anne Hathaway and Colin Firth for My Fair Lady Broadway Revival by Michael Gioia

Grammy Award-winning record producer Clive Davis, who plans to produce a Broadway revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's Tony-wining My Fair Lady, is eyeing Oscar winners Anne …

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:57AM
Tuesday, February 19, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: "City of Dreams" Webseries Releases Episode 5, With Rachel Potter, Will Blum and More (Video) by Michael Gioia

"City of Dreams," an original comedic webseries that chronicles the trials and tribulations of struggling actors, has released the fifth episode of the series, which features Evita…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:05PM

Joshua Kobak, Former Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark Stuntman, Files $6 Million Lawsuit by Michael Gioia

Former Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark stuntman and original cast member Richard Kobak, who, in a lawsuit, claims he was injured during his run with the Broadway musical, is suing Live Nation …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:46PM

Krysten Ritter Will Star in NBC Adaptation of Leslye Headland's Assistance; Seth Numrich in Talks for AMC Pilot by Michael Gioia

Krysten Ritter, who recently appeared in the ABC series "Don't Trust the B---- in Apartment 23," will star in the NBC single-camera comedy based on Leslye Headland's A…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:09AM

Philippe Pierce and Marie Lenormand Celebrate Jacques Brel and Charles Trénet With Fire and Fantasy Feb. 19 by Michael Gioia

The New York Festival of Song continues its 25th anniversary season by honoring two of the 20th century's greatest balladeers in Jacques Brel & Charles Trénet: Fire and Fantas…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

VirtualArtsTV Live-Streams Long Island City's WiredArts Fest, Featuring 14 Shows, Beginning Feb. 19 by Michael Gioia

VirtualArtsTV presents the WiredArts Fest, a theatre festival that is simultaneously live-streamed over the Internet, beginning Feb. 19. Performances take place at The New Media Center at th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 18, 2013

Brad Simmons Joins Tony Winner Tonya Pinkins for Bring On the Men Feb. 18 at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins is joined by music director Brad Simmons (Lysistrata Jones) for Bring On the Men Feb. 18 at 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, February 17, 2013

Black Stars of the Great White Way Concert, With Ben Vereen, Norm Lewis, André De Shields and More, Held Feb. 17 by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Ben Vereen and Tony nominee Norm Lewis (Porgy & Bess) are among the artists taking part in Black Stars of the Great White Way, celebrating Black History Month, Feb. 17 …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

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