All stories by Michael Gioia on BroadwayStars

Monday, July 13, 2015

Les Miz Cast “Auditions” for Hamilton, Their New Broadway Neighbors! (Video) by Michael Gioia

The Broadway cast of Les Misérables is so excited about Hamilton moving in next door at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, they're questioning their career… They're a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:39PM

Is a Rock Opera of “Fight Club,” Developed by Julie Taymor, in the Works? by Michael Gioia

Chuck Palahniuk, author of the 1996 novel "Fight Club," which was later turned into a feature film starring Brad Pitt and Edward Norton, teased that the property may be headed for …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:50PM

Beltress Natalie Weiss Hits the Highline Tonight! by Michael Gioia

Singer Natalie Weiss, who has been seen on Broadway in Everyday Rapture and in the 25th anniversary tour of Les Misérables, plays the Highline Ballroom July 13.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:28AM

Exclusive! Beautiful’s Anika Larsen Welcomes Baby Boy by Michael Gioia

Anika Larsen, a Tony Award nominee for her performance as Cynthia Weil in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, and her husband, trumpet player Freddie Maxwell, welcomed their first child July…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:34AM

The Revolution Begins! Lin-Manuel Miranda’s Hamilton Storms Broadway by Michael Gioia

Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda's acclaimed new musical that fuses the worlds of contemporary and classic to tell the story of America's Founding Father Alexander Hamilton,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:22AM
Sunday, July 12, 2015

Where It All Began A Conversation With Lin-Manuel Miranda and His Hamiltonian Father by Michael Gioia

Alexander Hamilton reminded Lin-Manuel Miranda of his father, and now his #Hamilton hits Broadway — but where did he get his start? We take a trip far uptown to his childhood h…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, July 10, 2015

Annoying Actor Friend Will Return to 54 Below With Broadway Stars and Twitter Celebrities by Michael Gioia

Following a sold-out engagement last fall, #SOBLESSED Live! will return to 54 Below July 27 for a concert event benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:32PM

Valerie Harper to Return to the Stage by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

The Ogunquit Playhouse's production of Nice Work If You Can Get It will tap its way into the Maine venue July 22-Aug. 15, following the current production, Victor/Victoria, which wra…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:13PM

Your Dog Can Wear Wicked, Too! Get Broadway Accessories at Broadway Barks by Michael Gioia

Fellow actors! Do you feel like your dog needs some costume changes, too? Hound & Tail will be selling accessories made from Broadway costume material this weekend at Broadway Barks.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:59PM

FaceTime in the Front Row? Updating Live: Laura Osnes, Elle McLemore, Georgia Stitt and More Sound O by Michael Gioia

Hand-held devices are taking over Broadway, and those wishing to experience live theatre without disturbance have had it! In light of recent events, actors and artists are speaking up an…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:42PM

FaceTime in the Front Row? Updating Live: Kara Lindsay, Matt Doyle, Laura Benanti and More Sound Off by Michael Gioia

Hand-held devices are taking over Broadway, and those wishing to experience live theatre without disturbance have had it! In lieu of recent events, actors and artists are speaking up and…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:42PM

Hold the Phone! Laura Benanti, LaChanze, Celia Keenan-Bolger and More Sound Off on Theatre Etiquette by Michael Gioia

Hand-held devices are taking over Broadway, and those wishing to experience live theatre without disturbance have had it! In lieu of recent events, actors and artists are speaking up and…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:42PM

FaceTime in the Front Row? Updating Live: Cheyenne Jackson, Kara Lindsay, Matt Doyle and More Sound by Michael Gioia

Hand-held devices are taking over Broadway, and those wishing to experience live theatre without disturbance have had it! In lieu of recent events, actors and artists are speaking up and…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:42PM

Original “Beaches” Star Comments on Musical Version of Film by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Barbara Hershey, who created the role of Bertie White in the hit film "Beaches," recently gave her thoughts about the musical version of the property, which is currently playing a …

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:53AM
Thursday, July 9, 2015

“We’re Going to Wait for the Right Person,” Says John Cameron Mitchell on Casting Hedwig in the West by Michael Gioia

The Tony Award-winning production of John Cameron Mitchell and Stephen Trask's Hedwig and the Angry Inch will open in the West End, but Mitchell says he is waiting for the right pers…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:17PM

Broadway Actors Will Develop Short Plays With Children’s Aid Society Youth by Michael Gioia

Broadway Serves, a service organization comprised of members from the Broadway community, has partnered with the Children's Aid Society for a Summer Theater Intensive in which cast membe…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:02PM

“This Ain’t Yo Mama’s Rapunzel!” Commedia Dell’arte Version of Rapunzel Will Hit FringeNYC by Michael Gioia

The Spaghetti and Meatball Players will present Sam LaFrage's The Commedia Rapunzel as part of the 19th annual New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC) Aug. 14-30 at the 14…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:11PM

Actors from Hamilton, Neverland and Side Show Will Sing Songs of Sara Bareilles at 54 Below by Michael Gioia

Before Sara Bareilles' music hits Broadway with the new musical Waitress, actors from Broadway's hottest shows will go Uncharted and explore her songs in concert at 54 Below July 26.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:51PM

John Cameron Mitchell Compares Each Hedwig to a Classic Superhero! Who’s the Black Widow? by Michael Gioia

Ever since Hedwig stomped her way back to Broadway, she's had pretty big (and sparkly) shoes to fill, but luckily we've been graced by some of the sexiest (and sassiest) men in the b…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:38PM

See How Spring Awakening Was Created With Deaf Actors Before it Hits Broadway (Video) by Michael Gioia

Spring Awakening, the Tony-winning coming-of-age musical that rocked Broadway in 2006 is headed back to New York, but this time in a radically reconceived production featuring de…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:28AM

Jayne Houdyshell and Joyce Van Patten Among Cast of Stephen Karam’s The Humans Off-Broadway by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Cassie Beck, Reed Birney, Jayne Houdyshell, Greg Keller, Sarah Steele and Joyce Van Patten will star in Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam's newest play, The Humans, which wi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:00AM

Over Mani-Pedis, Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor Talk Beaches, Bonding and Booking It by Michael Gioia

Shoshana Bean and Whitney Bashor are the best friends at the heart of the Broadway-bound Beaches. Days before their first performance, the two spilled the beans on the new show over mani…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, July 8, 2015

NYMF’s Wearing Black Will Explore Dealing With the Death of a Twin and a Spiral of Self-Destruction by Michael Gioia

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Dark Prophets Production LLC. will present the world-premiere production of Wearing Black, featuring a book, music and lyrics by Riley Thomas (S…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:17PM

Jessica Hendy Will Star in Wendy’s Shadow, Rock Musical Retelling Peter Pan’s Adventure from Wendy’s by Michael Gioia

Wendy's Shadow, a musical based on the novel "Peter and Wendy" by J.M. Barrie, will be presented as part of the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival in a one-night-on…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:46PM

Taylor Louderman and Lesli Margherita Among Singers Who Will “Roar” at 54 Below’s Katy Perry Concert by Michael Gioia

Broadway Loves Katy Perry, celebrating the music of recording artist Katy Perry, will be held July 13 at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:43PM

“Glee” Star Joins NYMF Concert Featuring Ben Fankhauser, Zak Resnick and Adam Kaplan by Michael Gioia

Alex Newell, who played Wade "Unique" Adams on Fox's "Glee," has joined the lineup of performers for songwriter Joey Contreras' New York Musical Theatre Festival …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:29PM

Joe Iconis and His “Band of Musical Theatre Punks” Have Hit Vermont for Pump Boys and Dinettes by Michael Gioia

Musical theatre songwriter Joe Iconis, whose Be More Chill was recently seen at NJ's Two River Theater, and his usual "band of musical theater punks" have relocated to Vermont …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:27PM

Stephen Sondheim Says Hamilton Is a “Breakthrough” by Michael Gioia

Stephen Sondheim, the legendary, Tony Award-winning songwriter who crafted such musical masterpieces as Sunday in the Park With George, Into the Woods and Sweeney Todd, thinks that Lin&#…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:45PM

Following It Shoulda Been You, Josh Grisetti Will Head to NYC’s Fringe Festival by Michael Gioia

The New York International Fringe Festival and CitySalt Theatricals will present The Crack in the Ceiling, starring It Shoulda Been You actor Josh Grisetti, beginning Aug. 15 at The Lynn Red…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:40AM

After 26 Years, Jan Maxwell Says She Is “Retiring From Theatre” by Michael Gioia

Five-time Tony Award nominee Jan Maxwell, who currently stars in PTP/NYC's production of Scenes From an Execution, is retiring from theatre after a career spanning 26 years.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:27AM
Tuesday, July 7, 2015

John Ellison Conlee Withdraws From The Wild Party at Encores! by Robert Viagas and Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Ryan Andes has replaced John Ellison Conlee in the July 15-18 Encores! Off-Center staging of Andrew Lippa's Wild Party, which will feature Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as Quee…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:39PM