All stories by Matthew Blank on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, July 1, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Krystal Joy Brown, Julia Murney, Andrea Burns, Young Matilda Stars and More Walk the Red Carpet at the 2014 Jimmy Awards by Matthew Blank

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) were held June 30 at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre. Ryan McCartan, the 2011 Jimmy Award winner who recently starred as JD in the Of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:13PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Sunbathing, Sutton and Inspiration from Jonathan Taylor Thomas!" A Three-Show Day at 50 Shades! The Musical With Tim Murray by Matthew Blank

50 Shades! The Musical, a parody of the best-selling book series, plays midtown's Elektra Theatre. Company member Tim Murray documented a particularly busy three-show day at work and play w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:18PM

PHOTO CALL: Steven Pasquale, Alec Baldwin, James Earl Jones, Cynthia Nixon, Jessica Chastain Celebrate the Bard With Free Shakespeare Event by Matthew Blank

The Public Theater presented "Shakespeare in America," a free, one-night-only performance and discussion at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park, June 30 at 8 PM. Steven Pasquale,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:56PM

PHOTO CALL: John Lithgow, Annette Bening, Steven Boyer and Jay O. Sanders Rehearse Shakespeare in the Park's King Lear by Matthew Blank

Academy and Tony Award-nominated actress Annette Bening, Jessica Collins and Tony nominee Jessica Hecht will vie for the crown in the Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park production …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:01AM

CUE & A: Gatz and The Village Bike Star Scott Shepherd on "Dance Moms," His Browser History and Remaining Present Onstage by Matthew Blank

Stage veteran Scott Shepherd, who stars opposite Greta Gerwig in MCC Theater's The Village Bike, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-cult…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, June 30, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Wooden Horses, High Heels and Headdresses; An Exclusive First Look at the Off-Broadway Return of Drag Musical Pageant by Matthew Blank

The Bill Russell-Frank Kelly-Albert Evans musical Pageant, which was seen in a limited benefit run earlier this year, returns for an Off-Broadway engagement beginning June 29 at the Dav…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:41PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Mabuhay ang Pilipinas!" A Two-Show Day With Melody Butiu at the Immersive Imelda Marcos Musical Here Lies Love by Matthew Blank

The open-ended Off-Broadway commercial run of Here Lies Love, the immersive David Byrne-Fatboy Slim musical about the lives of Filipino leaders Imelda and Ferdinand Marcos, plays the Public …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:07PM

PHOTO CALL: "When We're One!" Team Playbill Joins Broadway Impact For the 2014 NYC LGBT Pride March by Matthew Blank

Members of Broadway Impact waved a banner in celebration of the 2014 Pride March on June 29. Playbill.com Editor in Chief Adam Hetrick and Playbill photographer Monica Simoes joined them al…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:56AM
Saturday, June 28, 2014

PHOTO SPECIAL: "Hold On To Each Other!" Looking Back at Hedwig's Humble Off-Broadway Origins at the Jane Street Theatre by Matthew Blank

Everyone's favorite East German transgender rocker is back on the New York stage! As Neil Patrick Harris continues to thrill audiences nightly at the Belasco Theatre, we look back to Hedwig…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, June 27, 2014

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "The Many Adventures of #DeadFantine!" Backstage With Victoria Huston-Elem at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma's Large-Scale Les Miz by Matthew Blank

Victoria Huston-Elem stars as Fantine in Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma's epic production of Les Misérables, which features a 4-level set and a company of 109. She takes us behind the scen…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:05PM

PHOTO CALL: Pre-Broadway Premiere of Sting's The Last Ship Opens in Chicago by Matthew Blank

The pre-Broadway premiere of The Last Ship, the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy winner Sting — inspired by the songwriter's own childhood — officiall…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:32PM

PHOTO CALL: Motown The Musical Celebrates 500 Performances and Welcomes New Leading Man Josh Tower by Matthew Blank

Josh Tower (The Lion King, Ragtime) tookover the role of Berry Gordy in Broadway's Motown The Musical June 17. The show celebrated its 500th performance onstage June 26.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:00AM

PHOTO ARCHIVE: "Love Changes Everything!" Celebrating Olivier Award Winner Michael Ball by Matthew Blank

Olivier Award-winning British leading man Michael Ball celebrates his birthday June 27. Playbill.com takes a look at his stage career spanning nearly 30 years.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:38AM
Thursday, June 26, 2014

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Carrie! Liza! Kelli! Cyndi!" A Two-Show Day With Forbidden Broadway Comes Out Swinging! Star Carter Calvert by Matthew Blank

The latest edition of Gerard Alessandrini’s Forbidden Broadway plays the Davenport Theatre. Cast member and hardworking mom Carter Calvert, who plays characters ranging from Liza to C…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:00PM

PHOTO CALL: Keira Knightley, Mark Ruffalo, Adam Levine, Megan Hilty, James Corden and More Walk the Red Carpet at "Begin Again" Premiere by Matthew Blank

"Begin Again," the new comedy by writer-director John Carney ("Once"), premiered June 25 in New York. Stars of stage and screen walked the red carpet.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:52PM

PHOTO CALL: Jonathan Larson's Family Joins Leslie Odom Jr., Lin-Manuel Miranda and Karen Olivo at Opening Night of tick, tick… BOOM! by Matthew Blank

Jonathan Larson's tick, tick… BOOM!, the opening show of City Center's Encores! Off-Center series of landmark Off-Broadway musicals, plays the New York City venue June 25-28.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:34AM
Wednesday, June 25, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Wednesday Instagram Watch! Engagement Selfies, Fan Art, Road Trips, Yoga, Motorhead and More by Matthew Blank

As the week reaches its midway point, we took to Instagram to see what the theatre community has been up to over the last few days.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:31PM

PHOTO CALL: Drag Diva Lady Bunny Meets the Angels of Broadway's Kinky Boots by Matthew Blank

Iconic Drag diva Lady Bunny visited a recent performance of Broadway's Kinky Boots. She went backstage afterward and posed for photos with the show's Angels.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:42PM

Ali Ewoldt and Shina Ann Morris Star in Wichita West Side Story; Ryan Vasquez Is Tony by Matthew Blank

The Music Theatre Wichita continues its 2014 season June 25 with the classic musical West Side Story, which runs through June 29 in Wichita, KS. 

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:15PM

PHOTO CALL: Michael Esper, Aaron Lazar, Jimmy Nail and Rachel Tucker Board Sting's The Last Ship in Pre-Broadway Premiere by Matthew Blank

The pre-Broadway premiere of The Last Ship, the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy winner Sting — inspired by the songwriter's own childhood — officiall…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:10AM

PHOTO CALL: Lin-Manuel Miranda Stops the Clock and Karen Olivo Dons a Green, Green Dress in City Center's tick, tick… BOOM! by Matthew Blank

Jonathan Larson's tick, tick… BOOM!, the opening show of City Center's Encores! Off-Center series of landmark Off-Broadway musicals, plays the New York City venue June 25-28.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:44AM
Tuesday, June 24, 2014

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Pills, Pac-Man, Parking and Diva Prayers!" A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Chicago With "Mama" Carol Woods by Matthew Blank

Theatre favorite Carol Woods is back in Broadway's Chicago playing her signature role: Matron "Mama" Morton. She shares a recent two-show day and shows the work that goes into bec…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:21PM

PHOTO CALL: The Hunter Becomes the Hunted; A First Look at Veteran Javert Chuck Wagner as Jean Valjean by Matthew Blank

The Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma launches its summer season June 24 with the international hit musical Les Misérables, featuring Broadway Les Miz veteran Chuck Wagner as Jean Valjean.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:49PM

PHOTO CALL: More From the 24th Annual Broadway Bares; Alan Cumming, Andy Karl, Alex Minsky, Lesli Margherita and Patrick Page "Rock Hard" by Matthew Blank

The 24th annual edition of Broadway Bares, entitled Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!, was presented June 22 at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom. The evening that featured Alan Cumming, Bia…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:16PM

PHOTO CALL: Jonathan Groff, Jane Lynch, Courtney Love, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Billy Porter, Zachary Quinto, Uzo Aduba and More Celebrate Marvin Hamlisc by Matthew Blank

The Public Theater celebrated the life and work of late composer Marvin Hamlisch during One Thrilling Combination, a gala event held June 23 at the Delacorte Theater.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:04AM

PHOTO RECAP: A Two-Show Day at Priscilla Queen of the Desert With Broadway Mommy Ellyn Marie Marsh by Matthew Blank

Priscilla Queen of the Desert closed on Broadway on this date in 2012. Earlier that year Playbill.com offered a two-show day at work and play with cast member Ellyn Marie Marsh, who balance…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:16AM

CUE & A: Holler If Ya Hear Me Star Ben Thompson on Tupac, Unitards and Math-Induced Ulcers by Matthew Blank

Ben Thompson, back on Broadway as Griffy in the new musical Holler If Ya Hear Me, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, June 23, 2014

PHOTO CALL: A First Look at Roman Polanski's Film Adaptation of Sexual Thriller Venus in Fur by Matthew Blank

"Venus in Fur," the film adaptation of David Ives' sexually charged dark comedy, topped the box-office take for limited release movies its opening weekend, according to Deadlin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:52PM

PHOTO CALL: Justin Guarini, Patrick Page, Jason Tam, Jenna Leigh Green, Paige Davis and Alice Ripley Strip Down With The Skivvies by Matthew Blank

The Skivvies welcomed Alice Ripley, Justin Guarini and Patrick Page as special guests for their late-night June 20 show at 54 Below.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:37PM

PHOTO CALL: Broadway Bares: Rock Hard! Heats Up Hammerstein Ballroom With Sexy Tributes to Elvis and Michael Jackson by Matthew Blank

The 24th annual edition of Broadway Bares, entitled Broadway Bares: Rock Hard!, was presented June 22 at New York City's Hammerstein Ballroom. Alan Cumming, Bianca Del Rio, Constantine M…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:15AM

PHOTO RECAP: "You Shine!" Flashback to a Two-Show Day at Carrie With Birthday Girl Christy Altomare by Matthew Blank

Christy Altomare (Spring Awakening), who starred as good girl Sue Snell in the 2012 Off-Broadway production of Carrie, celebrates a birthday today. She offered Playbill.com readers an exclus…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:27AM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 11, 2024: Oh, Mary! - Lyceum Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 01, 2025: Glengarry Glen Ross
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre
TBA: Titanic