All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Wednesday, July 27, 2016

Anastasia’s Leading Lovers on How the Story Has Been “Enhanced” for the Stage by Michael Gioia

Christy Altomare and Derek Klena, who originated the respective roles of Anya and Dmitry in Hartford’s production of Anastasia, talk about what audiences can expect when the show hits Broa…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:09PM
Tuesday, July 26, 2016

Even Daniel Radcliffe Says He Knows “Nothing” About Secrets of Harry Potter Play by Michael Gioia

The original Harry Potter himself said that he has yet to see the show and knows nothing about the “big secret” revealed.

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:25PM

How a Real Vietnam Helicopter Lands Nightly at the Epic Outdoor Miss Saigon by Michael Gioia

Playbill traveled to the hills of Georgia to report back on how a helicopter flown in the Vietnam War takes center stage in an outdoor staging of Miss Saigon.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:31PM

Take a Class With Playwright and Screenwriter Aaron Sorkin Today by Michael Gioia

The Academy Award winner is teaching a master class that begins online today.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:06AM
Monday, July 25, 2016

The Untold Stories Behind the Most Famous Photos in Broadway History by Michael Gioia

Steve and Anita Shevett, the house photographers for the Tony Awards since 1980, reveal the stories behind the iconic shots that captured unforgettable Broadway moments.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:21AM
Friday, July 22, 2016

Hamilton Will Get Drunk History Treatment on Comedy Central by Michael Gioia

Tony Award-winning creator and original star Lin-Manuel Miranda will narrate.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:54AM

EXCLUSIVE: Audra McDonald, India.Arie and More Set for Free Black Lives Matter Concert Event by Michael Gioia

More than a dozen Broadway stars are rallying in support of the Black Lives Matter movement. A special concert event will be held next month at Columbia University.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:33AM
Thursday, July 21, 2016

How Hard Work and Dedication Paid Off for Kelli O’Hara by Michael Gioia

The Tony Award winner looks back on her final night in The King and I and the journey she took to get there.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:01PM
Wednesday, July 20, 2016

Faith Prince, Kerry Butler and Tony Yazbeck Will Perform in the Poconos by Michael Gioia

The artists are part of this year’s Buck Hill Skytop Music Festival.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:10PM

Inside the Private (or Not-So Private) Life of Privacy’s Daniel Radcliffe by Michael Gioia

The new Off-Broadway drama Privacy reveals that nothing is private any longer. Its star, Daniel Radcliffe, reflects on how the show hits close to home having grown up in the public eye.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:42AM

Inside the Private (or Not-So Private) Life of Daniel Radcliffe by Michael Gioia

At age 11 he was thrust into superstardom by being cast as one of the most famous fictional characters of all time. So how did he feel when naked pictures of him surfaced or he was caught sm…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:50AM
Saturday, July 16, 2016

Two Brothers, Two Broadway Shows, One Life-Changing Tony Awards by Michael Gioia

Your eyes didn’t deceive you—those were twin brothers performing with Hamilton and Fiddler at the Tony Awards.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, July 14, 2016

Live Musicals Receive Significant Emmy Recognition by Michael Gioia

Fox’s Grease: Live received the most Emmy Award nominations of any live musical event, with ten total nods. NBC’s The Wiz Live! also scored big.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:54PM

Barbra Streisand Gypsy Film Script Complete and Aiming for 2017 Start by Michael Gioia

Richard LaGravenese, who is adapting the film script with Streisand, shared details on the planned film remake, including that it “won’t be the theatrical Gypsy” audiences know.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:26PM
Wednesday, July 13, 2016

A Look at the Chicago Cast of Hamilton (in Video) by Michael Gioia

Karen Olivo, Miguel Cervantes, Alexander Gemignani and Ari Afsar are among the leads of the Chicago cast of Hamilton. This handful of video performances from the production’s stars shows w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:26PM

Motown’s Back on Broadway—Here’s Why and What’s Changed by Michael Gioia

Motown The Musical returned to Broadway after packing up its bags in the beginning of 2015 to go on tour. Its producers talk about the decision to leave Broadway and come back anew.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, July 12, 2016

Culturally Divided Families Fight the Same Illness in New Play Told Through Dance by Michael Gioia

Eli Bolin, who wrote the score to Off-Broadway’s Found, has a new project that has been awarded a New York City workshop for September.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:45PM

Watch Lesli Margherita Show Off Her “Assets” Before BROAD by Michael Gioia

The Olivier Award winner is heading to Birdland this month and teases her upcoming appearance.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:39AM
Friday, July 8, 2016

Les Miz Star Chris McCarrell to Join Songwriter Joey Contreras in Concert by Michael Gioia

The songwriter will head downtown at the end of this month for a concert of his new music.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:54AM
Thursday, July 7, 2016

Watch Aladdin Cast Parody Hamilton After Beating Them in Softball by Michael Gioia

The Disney cast did not throw away their shot…at softball, that is! And they won’t let the Hamilton cast forget it.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:46AM
Wednesday, July 6, 2016

A Look at Hamilton’s New Stars (in Video) by Michael Gioia

Brandon Victor Dixon, Lexi Lawson and Michael Luwoye have been cast in the megahit musical Hamilton. Get to know more about the show’s new stars.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:37PM

Hamilton’s New Burr and Eliza Revealed for Broadway by Michael Gioia

New casting has been announced for the leading players of Hamilton.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:15AM

25 Years Ago, This Duo Became Broadway’s Go-To Press Team by Michael Gioia

A quarter-century later, Chris Boneau and Adrian Bryan-Brown are still going strong. Learn how the theatrical press agency went on to represent hundreds of shows since its founding.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, July 3, 2016

Hillary Clinton Returns to Hamilton by Michael Gioia

Presidential nominee Hillary Clinton attended the July 2 evening performance.

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:08PM
Saturday, July 2, 2016

What Makes the Ideal Broadway Show Poster? by Michael Gioia

Drew Hodges, the founder of Broadway advertising agency SpotCo, talks about the best way to sell a show (and how it takes a couple of tries to get it right).

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

4 Ways to Plan Your Broadway-Themed Barbeque by Michael Gioia

As Independence Day nears, we help prepare theatre lovers for their Broadway-themed barbecue with food and drink recipes, activities and more.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, July 1, 2016

9 Reasons the Original Trio of Hamilton Stars Will Go Down in History by Michael Gioia

On July 9, Hamilton says goodbye to three of its key players. Here are the 9 reasons audiences will be sad to see them go.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, June 30, 2016

Ana Villafañe On Performing With Gloria Estefan and What It Would Be Like If She Joined the Show by Michael Gioia

Gloria Estefan has alluded to joining On Your Feet! After performing with the cast on the Tonys, Estefan seems “inspired.”

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:15AM
Wednesday, June 29, 2016

After 296 Performances, Who Was On Your Feet!’s “Last Guajiro Standing”? by Michael Gioia

Things got competitive backstage at the Marquis, and this weekend someone claimed the title of “Last Guajiro Standing” for being the only cast member to never miss a performance.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:12PM

Get to Know Broadway’s Natasha, Newcomer Denée Benton by Michael Gioia

The Broadway bow of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 will star a fresh face in the title role. Learn a fun fact or two about the leading lady set to star opposite Josh Groban.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, June 28, 2016

Fun Home Cast Recap Their March For Equality at This Year’s Pride Parade by Michael Gioia

The cast of Broadway’s Fun Home celebrated Pride by walking alongside PFLAG New York City in Sunday’s Pride march. They share what the march meant to them.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:53PM