All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Thursday, January 10, 2013

Fox in Talks for Fifth Season of "Glee," With Focus Possibly on New York City Setting by Michael Gioia

Fox Entertainment chairman Kevin Reilly confirmed at the Television Critics Association's winter press tour that the network is currently negotiating a fifth season of the hit musical se…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:25PM

Overcash and Change Concert at Joe's Pub Will Feature Taylor Louderman, Richard H. Blake, Derek Klena and More by Michael Gioia

Overcash and Change, a concert featuring the work of songwriter Drew Overcash, will be offered Feb. 11 at Joe's Pub in New York City.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:40PM

Lea Michele, Chris Colfer, Meryl Streep, "The New Normal" and More Receive 2013 People's Choice Awards by Michael Gioia

The 2013 People's Choice Awards, hosted by Kaley Cuoco, were presented Jan. 9 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live. "Glee" series regulars Chris Colfer and Lea Michele took…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:50AM

Nominations for 85th Academy Awards Announced; "Les Misérables," "Lincoln," Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway Among Nominees by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Nominations for the 85th Academy Awards were announced Jan. 10 by the show's host, Seth MacFarlane, and actress Emma Stone at the Academy's Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:45AM

The Fig Leaves, With Natalie Venetia Belcon, Jonathan Rayson, Matt Walton, Morgan Weed, Begin Falling Jan. 10 by Michael Gioia

Natalie Venetia Belcon, Jonathan Rayson, Matt Walton and Morgan Weed star in UnsungMusicalsCo.'s production of The Fig Leaves Are Falling. Performances begin Jan. 10, prior to an officia…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Michael Puzzo's Spirits of Exit Eleven, Dark Comedy Set at NJ Strip Club, Makes World Premiere Jan. 10 by Michael Gioia

The world premiere of Michael Puzzo's Spirits of Exit Eleven, the dark comedy set at a New Jersey strip club, begins performances Jan. 10, prior to an official opening Jan. 17, at The Li…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, January 9, 2013

Southern Rep Season Kicks Off Jan. 9 With Venus in Fur; Next to Normal and Premiere of Mold to Follow by Michael Gioia

Southern Rep's 2013 season kicks off Jan. 9 in New Orleans. The lineup includes the Tony Award-nominated works Venus in Fur and Next to Normal.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:00PM

Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan Named Kids' Night on Broadway National Ambassadors by Michael Gioia

Kelly Ripa and Michael Strahan, co-hosts of "Live With Kelly and Michael," will serve as the 2013 Kids' Night on Broadway National Ambassadors. Tickets for the annual…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:41PM

Tony Awards Director Glenn Weiss Among Nominees for DGA's Directorial Achievement in Television Awards by Michael Gioia

Glenn Weiss, director and executive producer of the 66th Annual Tony Awards, is among the directors nominated for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in
Musical Varie…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:36PM

AfterWork Theater Project, With Non-Theatre Working Professionals, Will Present Hair in February by Michael Gioia

AfterWork Theater Project, a New York City-based theatre company providing working professionals with a creative outlet, will present their inaugural production, the sixties rock musical Hai…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM

Minnesota's Ordway Center Will Celebrate The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim by Michael Gioia

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts will present the second installment in its 2012-13 Broadway Songbook Series, The Words and Music of Stephen Sondheim, Jan. 18-27 in the company'…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:30AM

People's Choice Awards Airs Jan. 9; Anne Hathaway, Neil Patrick Harris, Lea Michele, "Glee" Among 2013 Nominees by Michael Gioia

The 2013 People's Choice Awards are presented Jan. 9 at the Nokia Theatre L.A. Live and broadcast on CBS at 9 PM ET. The evening is hosted by Kaley Cuoco.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Tix for Kids' Night on Broadway Go On Sale Jan. 9; Shows Include Annie, Cinderella, Drood, Newsies, Once, Spider-Man by Michael Gioia

Tickets for 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 — go on sale Jan. 9 a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, January 8, 2013

Chita Rivera, Raúl Esparza, Rita Moreno and More Set for In Performance at the Kennedy Center Event by Michael Gioia

In Performance at the Kennedy Center, an event honoring the presidential inauguration and Latino arts and culture, will be held Jan. 20. Tony Award winner Chita Rivera will be among the even…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:07PM

"Les Misérables" Director Tom Hooper Among Nominees for DGA's Outstanding Directorial Achievement Award by Michael Gioia

Oscar winner Tom Hooper is among the directors nominated for the DGA Award for Outstanding Directorial Achievement in Feature Film for 2012.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:10PM

Joshua Henry Will Appear on Lifetime's "Army Wives"; Elle McLemore and Ashanti Cast as Series Regulars by Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry (The Scottsboro Boys, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess) and Elle McLemore, who recently starred in Broadway's Bring It On: The Musical, will be seen on t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM

World Premiere of Michael Rabe's The Future Is Not What It Was, With Maya Kazan, Will Play NYC's Walkerspace by Michael Gioia

The Kindling Theater Company will present its inaugural production, the world premiere of Michael Rabe's The Future Is Not What It Was, beginning Jan. 12, prior to an official opening Ja…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:48PM

"American Idol" Season 12 Will Have Two-Night Premiere by Michael Gioia

Season 12 of the hit reality-singing competition "American Idol" will debut with a two-night premiere Jan. 16-17 at 8 PM ET on Fox.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:58AM

Missi Pyle, Taylor Trensch, Stafford Arima and More Set for Post-Show TalkOUTs at Off-Broadway's Bare by Michael Gioia

Missi Pyle, Taylor Trensch and Stafford Arima are among the artists who will take part in post-performance TalkOUTs, which feature leaders of the LGBT community, at Off-Broadway's Bare d…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:00AM

Masterworks Broadway Releases Remastered "Bye Bye Birdie" Film Soundtrack With Bonus Tracks Jan. 8 by Michael Gioia

Masterworks Broadway releases a newly remastered version of "Bye Bye Birdie – The Original Motion Picture Soundtrack," in conjunction with the film's 50th anniversary, Ja…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Cast Recording of Broadway's Chaplin Hits Shelves Jan. 8 by Michael Gioia

The original Broadway cast recording of Chaplin, the musical about the life of silent film star Charlie Chaplin, hits shelves Jan. 8. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, January 7, 2013

Pittsburgh Public's 1776 Will Feature George Merrick, Steve Vinovich, Trista Moldovan, Keith Hines, Hayden Tee by Michael Gioia

Pittsburgh Public Theater will present the Tony Award-winning musical 1776, the biggest production in the company's history, beginning Jan. 24, prior to an official opening Feb. 1, at th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:44PM

Rebecca Naomi Jones, Tony Vincent, Katrina Rose Dideriksen and More Will Sing Junk at Joe's Pub by Michael Gioia

Swedish pop band Brainpool's new rock opera Junk will have a one-night-only concert performance Jan. 18 at Joe's Pub in New York City. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:00PM

Casting Announced for Manhattan Readings of Plop, Boy Band Musical With Music by Bare's Damon Intrabartolo by Michael Gioia

Canton Theatrical will present two industry staged readings of Plop, the new boy-band musical about the rapid rise of the super groups of the 1990s that features a score by Bare composer Dam…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:45PM

Les Misèrables U.S. Film Grosses Exceed $100 Million by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Academy Award winner Tom Hooper's starry film adaptation of the international hit musical Les Misèrables has grossed over $100 million domestically since premiering in theatres De…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:03PM

Julian Ovenden Will Play JFK on Second Season of NBC's "Smash"; New Season Two Trailer Released by Michael Gioia

Julian Ovenden, who was seen on Broadway in Butley, has landed a recurring role on the second season of the NBC musical drama "Smash," according to TVLine.com.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:21PM

Derek Klena, Ben Fankhauser, Emma Hunton and More Will Sing Alexander Sage Oyen Tunes at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Composer-lyricist Alexander Sage Oyen, who recently released his second album "Drafts (Volume One)," will present a concert of his work Jan. 19 at the new Manhattan nightspot 54 Be…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:36PM

Mamma Mia! Star Louise Pitre Offers La Vie en Rouge Jan. 7 at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Louise Pitre, who is best known for her Tony-nominated turn in Mamma Mia!, offers her solo show La Vie en Rouge Jan. 7 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:13PM

Shows Announced for Two-for-One Broadway and Off-Broadway Weeks; Titles Include Once, Newsies, Drood, Annie and More by Michael Gioia

NYC & Company has announced the participating shows in Broadway Week and Off-Broadway Week, which offer two-for-one tickets to New York City theatre. Broadway Week will be held Jan. 22-F…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:33PM

Asa Somers' Something as Big as This Musical Reading Will Feature Patti Cohenour, Allen Fitzpatrick and More by Michael Gioia

Asa Somers' original rock musical, Something as Big as This, will receive a developmental workshop at Seattle's Balagan Theatre — a follow-up to the recent NYC workshop starrin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:45AM

Seth Rudetsky Will Host The Concert, Featuring Tunes by Kooman and Dimond, Jenny Giering and More by Michael Gioia

Sirius XM Broadway host, actor, musician and Playbill.com columnist Seth Rudetsky will host The Concert, which launches David Sisco and Lorene Phillips' Directory of Contemporary Theatre…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:54AM

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