All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Monday, September 21, 2015

Memorial for Tony Winner Roger Rees Held Today by Michael Gioia

A memorial for late Tony Award-winning actor Roger Rees is held Sept. 21 at Broadway's New Amsterdam Theatre, home of Disney's Aladdin.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Saturday, September 19, 2015

In Few Words, Here’s How You Impersonate 25 Divas in One Song Like Christina Bianco by Michael Gioia

Christina Bianco is known for her fast and furious impersonations of Broadway and pop-singing divas, and now she breaks down her method behind the madness in a few short words... so that…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:00PM
Friday, September 18, 2015

Actors’ Equity “Commends” Cancellation of The Mikado With Caucasian Actors, Issuing Statement by Michael Gioia

Following the cancellation of the New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players' production of The Mikado, planned for Dec. 26-Jan. 2, 2016 — that was to feature a company of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:20PM

Rock of Ages’ Joey Calveri, Kate Rockwell and More Will Get Their Rock’N Rouge On in Concert by Michael Gioia

Rock'N Rouge, in which Broadway performers will belt out glam rock tunes from Bowie to T. Rex with NYC-based glam rock band Starbolt 9, will be held Sept. 26 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:16PM

Despite “Strictly Limited Engagement,” Spring Awakening Extends on Broadway by Michael Gioia

The Deaf West production of Spring Awakening, re-imagined and performed simultaneously in English and American Sign Language, has been given an additional two weeks on Broadway despite i…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:24PM

Performers from Once, Newsies and More Will Share Stories and Songs About “Booking It” in Concert by Michael Gioia

Booktress Offline, a concert party that will "make you laugh, maybe make you cry, and take you through the 'booking' stories (and 'almost-booking' stories) of some o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:50AM

Following Outcry from the Asian Community, The Mikado (With Caucasian Actors) Canceled by Michael Gioia

The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players production of The Mikado, planned for Dec. 26-Jan. 2, 2016 — that was to feature a company of mostly Caucasian actors playing ch…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:20AM
Thursday, September 17, 2015

Disney Channel’s “That’s So Raven” Stars Will Reunite at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Anneliese van der Pol, who starred as Belle in Broadway's Beauty and the Beast, will go it solo Sept. 22 at 54 Below. Her "That's So Raven" co-star Raven-Symon&…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:29PM

Patti LuPone Makes Passionate Statement Regarding AT&T Football Tweet by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Olivier and two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone, who is currently filming the new season of the Showtime series "Penny Dreadful," has issued a statement to Playbill.com reg…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:15PM

This Cast of West Side Story Brilliantly Reinvents the “Dance at the Gym” to the Black Eyed Peas! (V by Michael Gioia

Before the company of this West Side Story in Lancaster, PA, pack up their dance shoes, they recreate the iconic "Dance at the Gym" one last time — and swap Bernstein for…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:06PM

Carolee Carmello and Andrew Keenan-Bolger Will Return to Broadway as Mother and Son in Tuck Everlast by Michael Gioia

Carolee Carmello and Andrew Keenan-Bolger will reprise their performances in the Broadway bow of Tuck Everlasting, the new musical based on Natalie Babbitt's best-selling 1975 no…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:14AM

Actors from “Smash,” Shuffle Along and More Will Celebrate Whitney Houston at Joe’s Pub by Michael Gioia

The Meeting*, hosted by Justin Sayre, will return to Joe's Pub Sept. 27 to celebrate the late Grammy Award-winning music icon Whitney Houston.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:29AM
Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Broadway Bring It On Co-Stars Will Reunite to Be Badass Broads in Concert by Michael Gioia

Bring It On: The Musical co-stars Ariana DeBose (Hamilton, Motown, Pippin) and Kate Rockwell (Rock of Ages, Hair, Legally Blonde) will reunite Sept. 29 at 54 Below to celebrate history&#…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:03PM

Casting and Advertisement for The Mikado in NYC Stirs Controversy Amongst Asian Community by Michael Gioia

When a flyer advertising The New York Gilbert & Sullivan Players' December production of W. S. Gilbert and Arthur Sullivan's The Mikado — featuring four Ca…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM

Two-Disc Hamilton Broadway Cast Album Will Hit Stores in October by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The two-disc, physical Broadway cast album of the new musical Hamilton, a fusion of hip-hop and pop-driven musical theatre, will arrive in stores Oct. 16.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:27AM

Exclusive! What’s In Store for 54 Below? New Musicals and More, Plus Those “Only at 54” Moments by Michael Gioia

Since 54 Below opened its doors in summer 2012, Broadway stars and emerging artists have been shuffling in and out — and the club has become one of the hottest theatre nightspots i…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:08AM
Tuesday, September 15, 2015

Billy Porter and Jonathan Groff Among Voices on New EP by Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott, Released T by Michael Gioia

Songwriters Will Van Dyke and Jeff Talbott release "A View of the River," a new EP of their songs, Sept. 15. Tony Award winner Billy Porter and Tony nominees Kate Baldwin …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, September 14, 2015

Updated: AT&T Responds to Tweet Urging Users to Watch Football at the Theatre After Broadway Erupts by Michael Gioia

As of late, it seems as though hand-held devices are taking over Broadway, even though performers and artists are doing all they can to get audience members to put down the phone. Just w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:06PM

Updated: AT&T Deletes Tweet Urging Users to Watch Football at the Theatre After Broadway Erupts by Michael Gioia

As of late, it seems as though hand-held devices are taking over Broadway, even though performers and artists are doing all they can to get audience members to put down the phone. Just w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:06PM

Theatre Community Erupts Following AT&T’s Tweet Urging Users to Watch Football at the Theatre by Michael Gioia

As of late, it seems as though hand-held devices are taking over Broadway, even though performers and artists are doing all they can to get audience members to put down the phone. Just w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:06PM

“Into the Woods” Team Behind Original, Live-Action Mary Poppins Film With New Music by Shaiman & Wit by Michael Gioia

The team behind the full-scale feature film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods will reunite to develop an original, live-action "Mary Poppins&q…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:51PM

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine Hit Broadway’s Minskoff Tonight for One Night Only! by Michael Gioia

Gloria Estefan & Miami Sound Machine: A Benefit Concert for Viva Broadway, kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month, takes place Sept. 14 at the Minskoff Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, September 13, 2015

Alex Sharp Looks Back at the Year (and the Show) That Changed His Life in an Instant Injuries and Al by Michael Gioia

Alex Sharp takes his final bow in The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time today. He looks back on the "best year" of his life and winning the Tony Award and says good…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, September 11, 2015

Into the Woods’ Little Red Will Seek Revenge in Lifetime Movie “Murder Pact” by Michael Gioia

Sara Kapner, who played Little Red in the recent Muny production of Into the Woods, will come back from the dead in the Lifetime original movie "The Murder Pact," which premieres S…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:43PM
Thursday, September 10, 2015

How an Unknown Went On to Sing Alongside Stars and Was Saved From Suicidal Thoughts and “Darkness” by Michael Gioia

Before Jennifer Owens took YouTube by storm with her emotional performance of Scott Alan's "Anything Worth Holding Onto," she was in one of the darkest places in her life. She …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:59PM
Wednesday, September 9, 2015

Drunk Broadway! Shoshana Bean Recounts Wicked, With Megan Hilty and Eden Espinosa “Drunk” (Video) by Michael Gioia

Inspired by the popular Comedy Central TV series "Drunk History," Shoshana Bean (the first replacement for Elphaba in the hit Broadway musical Wicked) retells the story of the Witc…

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:22PM

Darren Criss Shares the Scoop on Elsie Fest, This Month’s Outdoor Theatrical “Coachella” Concert! by Michael Gioia

Darren Criss is getting ready to shake things up — and fuse the worlds of pop culture, TV, rock, hip-hop and, of course, Broadway — with the first Elsie Fest, a daylo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:21PM

Josh Grisetti Will Chart His Heartbreaking False Broadway Start (and Future Success) in Concert at 5 by Michael Gioia

Josh Grisetti's solo show Don't Bother, I'm Here, charting his unlikely road to Broadway and how one actor's worst nightmare provides strength for the journey, will play 54 B…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:00AM

A Walk in the Park With Annaleigh Ashford Talk of Post-Tonys Nachos and Pounding the Pavement for Y by Michael Gioia

Much like in Sylvia, we take its star, Annaleigh Ashford, for a stroll in Central Park. She reflects on winning the Tony Award just a few months ago and finally calling New York City home.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Pasek and Paul’s Early Musical Song Cycle Edges Will Take Shape in Atlanta by Michael Gioia

Edges, the musical song cycle written by Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek and Justin Paul when they were 19-year-old undergraduates at the University of Michigan, will hit Atlanta for …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:27PM

Stage Version of Shakespeare in Love Completes Creative Team for North American Premiere by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Shakespeare in Love, a stage version of the Oscar-winning film of the same name that opened last summer at the West End's Noel Coward Theatre, will make its North American debut in 2…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:11PM