All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Friday, February 8, 2013

Ruby Preston's "Staged" Novel, About Producing, Backstage Drama and Love, Will Hit Shelves in March by Michael Gioia

"Staged," Ruby Preston's sequel to the Broadway novel "Showbiz" — about the inner workings of show business — will be released by Dress Circle Publishing …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:00AM

Free Reading of Ryan Scott Oliver's Jasper in Deadland, With Wesley Taylor, George Salazar and More, Held Feb. 8 by Michael Gioia

The York Theatre Company continues its winter NEO Reading Series with a free staged reading of the new pop-rock musical by Ryan Scott Oliver, Jasper in Deadland, Feb. 8.

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

Record Producer Clive Davis Plans to Bring My Fair Lady Back to Broadway in 2014 by Michael Gioia

Grammy Award-winning record producer Clive Davis plans to produce a Broadway revival of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's Tony-wining My Fair Lady, aiming for a 2014 bow, according t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:40PM

David Strathairn and Ellen Burstyn Will Take Part in 2013 Drama Desk Panel, "The Art of Storytelling" by Michael Gioia

The Drama Desk will present its annual spring panel discussion/luncheon March 22 at Sardi's. The 2013 event, "The Art of Storytelling," will explore the challenges actors face …

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:45PM

VirtualArtsTV Will Digitally Live-Stream WiredArts Fest in Long Island City, Featuring 14 Shows by Michael Gioia

VirtualArtsTV will present the WiredArts Fest, a theatre festival that will simultaneously be live-streamed over the Internet, beginning Feb. 19. Performances will take place at The New Medi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:41PM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Behind the Scenes of The Last Five Years, With Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor (Video) by Michael Gioia

The Second Stage Theatre revival of Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, directed by the composer himself, will begin Off-Broadway performances March 7. Here is a look inside rehear…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:30PM

Oscar Winner Julie Andrews Supports "The Sound of Music" Film Remake, Starring Carrie Underwood by Michael Gioia

Academy Award winner Julie Andrews, known for her iconic portrayal of Maria von Trapp in the Oscar-winning film "The Sound of Music," is showing full support for the upcoming "…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:12AM

Olney Theatre's Spring Awakening, Starring Matthew Kacergis, Alyse Alan Louis, Parker Drown, Begins Feb. 7 by Michael Gioia

Olney Theatre Center's 75th anniversary season kicks off with the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening beginning Feb. 7, prior to an official opening Feb. 9, on the company's …

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

Theatre Development Fund Will Offer Autism-Friendly Performance of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark by Michael Gioia

Theatre Development Fund's Autism Theater Initiative will offer the first autism-friendly performance of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark April 27 at 2 PM. Tickets will go on sale Feb. 7.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:40PM

Brad Simmons Will Join Tony Winner Tonya Pinkins for Bring On the Men at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins will be joined by music director Brad Simmons (Lysistrata Jones) for Bring On the Men, which will be offered Feb. 18 and March 24 at 9:30 PM at Joe's Pub.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:03PM

Julie Halston Will Offer Classical Julie at Birdland Throughout March by Michael Gioia

Singer-actress Julie Halston will offer a month-long engagement of her one-woman show, Classical Julie, beginning March 4 at Birdland as part of the Broadway at Birdland concert series.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:58PM

Victoria Clark, Linda Lavin, Original Cast Members from Avenue Q, [title of show] and More Set for Vineyard Gala by Michael Gioia

The Vineyard Theatre's annual gala — this year, celebrating the institution's 30th anniversary — will be held March 18 at The Edison Ballroom. Original cast members from …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:00PM

"Smash" Ratings Hit Series Low Following Season Premiere; "Broadway, Here I Come!" in iTunes Top 100 by Michael Gioia

The second season of "Smash," the Emmy Award-winning musical drama about the creation and inner workings of a Broadway musical, kicked off Feb. 5 with a two-hour season premiere on…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:31PM

Daniel Goldstein Will Direct Free Reading of Jasper in Deadland, Featuring Wesley Taylor, George Salazar and More by Michael Gioia

The York Theatre Company will continue its winter NEO Reading Series with a free staged reading of the new pop-rock musical by Ryan Scott Oliver, Jasper in Deadland, Feb. 8.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:15AM

THE SCREENING ROOM: Musical Numbers From "On Broadway" and "The Fallout" Episodes of "Smash" (Video) by Michael Gioia

The second season of "Smash," the Emmy Award-winning musical drama about the creation and inner workings of a Broadway musical, kicked off Feb. 5 with a two-hour season premiere on…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:30AM

Ben Vereen, Norm Lewis, André De Shields and More Set for Black Stars of the Great White Way Concert by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Ben Vereen and Tony nominee Norm Lewis (Porgy & Bess) are among the artists who will take part in Black Stars of the Great White Way, celebrating Black History Month, F…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:36AM

Martin Sylvestri and Joel Higgins' Casanova, With Ron Holgate, Kevin Earley, Laila Robins, Read Feb. 6-7 in NYC by Michael Gioia

Amas Musical Theatre presents three staged-reading performances of Casanova, a new musical featuring music by Martin Sylvestri and book and lyrics by Joel Higgins, Feb. 6-7 at The Players Th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:01AM

PLAYBILL BRIEF ENCOUNTER With Lin-Manuel Miranda, Bringing In the Heights Home to Washington Heights by Michael Gioia

Actor and Tony Award-winning songwriter Lin-Manuel Miranda will bring his Tony-winning Best Musical In the Heights to the United Palace of Cultural Arts in Washington Heights in a reunion co…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Stephen Karam and PJ Paparelli's Revised columbinus, About Columbine School Shooting, Opens Feb. 6 in Chicago by Michael Gioia

American Theater Company presents the world premiere of the revised columbinus, including material devised from recent interviews with survivors of the Columbine High School shootings, famil…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

T. Oliver Reid's Drop Me Off in Harlem Plays 54 Below Feb. 6 by Michael Gioia

T. Oliver Reid, who was last seen on Broadway in Sister Act, brings his Bistro Award-winning show Drop Me Off in Harlem to the Manhattan nightspot 54 Below on Feb. 6. 

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

New York City Debutante Ball Will Feature New Work by Jason Michael Snow, Sam Salmond, Joey Contreras and More by Michael Gioia

Debutante Ball, featuring new work by up-and-coming musical theatre composers, will be held Feb. 6 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Contributing composers include Joey Contreras, Sam Salmond …

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:31PM

New York City Debutante Ball Will Feature New Songs by Jason Michael Snow, Sam Salmond, Joey Contreras and More by Michael Gioia

Debutante Ball, featuring new work by up-and-coming musical theatre composers and lyricists, will be held Feb. 6 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Contributing songwriters include Joey Contrer…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:31PM

Tony Winner Linda Lavin Will Join Sean Hayes' Comedy Pilot for NBC by Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Linda Lavin has been cast in the NBC comedy pilot produced by and starring Tony nominee Sean Hayes, according to Deadline.com. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:05PM

Do That Conga! The Nederlander Organization Will Bring Gloria Estefan-Inspired Musical to Broadway by Michael Gioia

The Nederlander Organization and Estefan Enterprises announced Feb. 5 that they will develop and produce a new Broadway show inspired by the music made famous by Grammy Award winner Gloria E…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:21AM

Tony Winner Karen Ziemba Among Cast of Anita Loos' Happy Birthday for Off-Broadway's TACT by Michael Gioia

Anita Loos' Happy Birthday, the final production of TACT/The Actors Company Theatre's 20th anniversary season, will begin performances March 12, prior to an official opening March 21…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

"Follow Your Dream, Watch Your Back": Second Season of NBC's "Smash" Premieres Feb. 5 by Michael Gioia

The second season of "Smash," the Emmy Award-winning musical drama about the creation and inner workings of a Broadway musical, kicks off Feb. 5 with a two-hour season premiere on …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Philippe Bowgen, Ryah Nixon and Clayton Fox Will Star in Tennessee Williams' Kingdom of Earth at NC's Triad Stage by Michael Gioia

Kingdom of Earth, a rarely-produced play by Tennessee Williams described as "a Southern Gothic," will be presented at Triad Stage beginning Feb. 10, prior to an official opening Fe…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, February 4, 2013

Natalie Cortez, Claybourne Elder, Elizabeth Stanley and More Complete Cast of York's Two By Two by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

The York Theatre Company has announced complete casting for Two By Two, the Richard Rodgers-Martin Charnin-Peter Stone musical of the Biblical Noah's Ark tale, the season opener of the W…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:59PM

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley's Midtown March Medley Will Feature John Tartaglia, Tony Sheldon and More 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 12:35PM

Corey Cott, Taylor Louderman, Jason Gotay, Emma Hunton and More Will Sing Britney Spears Tunes at the Canal Room by Michael Gioia

The TRL Generation: Broadway Loves Britney, a one-night only concert celebrating the music of Grammy Award-winning pop artist Britney Spears, will be offered March 3 at the Canal Room in New…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:14AM

Sutton Foster, Andrew Rannells, Tyne Daly, Bruce Vilanch and More Set for West Coast Broadway, My Way Benefit by Michael Gioia

Two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster and The Book of Mormon Tony nominee Andrew Rannells are among the performers who will take part in the 29th annual Southland Theatre Artists Goo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:32AM

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