All stories by Matthew Blank on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, May 6, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Emma Hunton, Gina Beck, Nick Adams and Alison Fraser Defy Gravity in the North American Tour of Wicked by Matthew Blank

The company of the first North American tour of the hit Stephen Schwartz-Winnie Holzman musical Wicked welcomed Emma Hunton as Elphaba beginning April 23 in Richmond, VA, at the Altria Theat…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:22PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage at the Marriott Theatre With George Andrew Wolff of Cats by Matthew Blank

Stage actor George Andrew Wolff is currently in Marriott Theatre’s production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. Armed with a camera, Wolff brings us backstage for an insider's vie…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:17PM

PHOTO CALL: David Hyde Pierce, Mary Testa, Bryce Pinkham, Michael Mayer and More Celebrate Playwrights Horizons by Matthew Blank

Playwrights Horizons' annual spring gala, In the Beginning, was held May 5 at the event space 583 Park Avenue.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:23PM

PHOTO CALL: Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Andy Mientus, Judith Light and More at Second Stage Gala by Matthew Blank

Second Stage Theatre's 35th anniversary gala celebration, honoring Second Stage artistic director Carole Rothman for her 35 years of supporting new works and artistic development, was he…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:44PM

PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: Bullets Over Broadway Tony Award Nominee Nick Cordero by Matthew Blank

Nick Cordero, a 2014 Tony Award nominee for his performance as Cheech in Bullets Over Broadway, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:01AM
Monday, May 5, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Saul Williams, Christopher Jackson, Tonya Pinkins, Saycon Sengbloh and Cast Offer Preview of Tupac Shakur Musical Holler If Ya Hear Me by Matthew Blank

Holler If Ya Hear Me, the new Broadway musical inspired by the lyrics of Tupac Shakur, will begin previews June 2 at the Palace Theatre. The cast offered a sneak peek thee morning of May 2.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:35PM

PHOTO CALL: Stars Walk the Red Carpet at the 29th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards by Matthew Blank

The Off-Broadway productions of Here Lies Love, Fun Home and Buyer & Cellar were among the winners of the 29th Annual Lucille Lortel Awards, which were presented May 4 at the Skirball Ce…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:45PM

PHOTO CALL: Naomi Watts, Kylie Minogue, Laura Prepon, Boy George, Raul Castillo, Emmy Rossum and More at the GLAAD Media Awards Honoring George Takei by Matthew Blank

Allegiance star George Takei received the Vito Russo Award at the 25th Annual GLAAD Media Awards in New York May 3 at the Waldorf Astoria.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:10AM
Friday, May 2, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Brian Stokes Mitchell, Hamish Linklater, Lily Rabe and More Rehearse Shakespeare in the Park's Much Ado About Nothing by Matthew Blank

The Public Theater's Shakespeare in the Park kicks off with a new production of Much Ado About Nothing, currently in rehearsal.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:22PM

PHOTO CALL: A First Look at the Manila Premiere of Ghost The Musical, Starring Christian Bautista and Cris Villonco by Matthew Blank

Atlantis Productions presents the Asia Pacific premiere of the Ghost The Musical. The production stars Christian Bautista as Sam Wheat and Cris Villonco and Molly Jensen.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:47PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Killer Two-Show Day at A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder with Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham by Matthew Blank

Lauren Worsham, a recent Tony Award nominee for her performance in A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, documented a two-show day spent with the loving, murder-obsessed company of act…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:08AM
Thursday, May 1, 2014

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: On the Road With Peter and the Starcatcher Cast Member Ian Michael Stuart by Matthew Blank

Peter and the Starcatcher, the imaginative play with music about the origins of Peter Pan that garnered five Tony Awards, has been touring the U.S. since August. Cast member Ian Michael Stua…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:44PM

THE TONY PORTRAITS: Intimate Candid Moments at the 2014 Nominee Reception by Matthew Blank

The day after the Tony nominations were announced, the class of 2014 assembled at The Paramount Hotel to meet the press. Playbill photographer Monica Simoes captured some intimate moments wi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:32PM
Wednesday, April 30, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Laura Benanti, Daisy Eagan, Randy Harrison and More Join The Skivvies for Centerfolds by Matthew Blank

Tony Award winners Laura Benanti and Daisy Eagan joined The Skivvies for their Playbill Centerfolds concert at 54 Below on April 29.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:36PM

PHOTO CALL: Laura Benanti, Daisy Eagan, Randy Harrison and More Join The Skivvies for Playbill Centerfolds by Matthew Blank

Tony Award winners Laura Benanti and Daisy Eagan joined The Skivvies for their upcoming Playbill Centerfolds concert at 54 Below on April 29.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:34PM

PHOTO CALL: Inside the 2014 Tony Award Nominees Press Reception by Matthew Blank

The 2014 Tony Award nominations were announced on April 29. The very next morning, the nominees gathered to pose for photos and give interviews at the annual "Meet the Nominees Press Re…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:57PM

PHOTO CALL: Meet the 2014 Tony Award Nominees by Matthew Blank

The 2014 Tony Award nominations were announced on April 29. The very next morning, the nominees gathered to pose for photos and give interviews at the annual "Meet the Nominees Press Re…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:57PM

PHOTO CALL: Martin Short, Aaron Tveit, Katharine McPhee, Christian Borle, Will Chase, Jane Krakowski and Original Hairspray Stars at the NY Pops Gala by Matthew Blank

The New York Pops grand gala evening at Carnegie Hall, which celebrated the 31st birthday of the Pops by paying tribute to the work of musical honorees Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, was he…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:54PM

PHOTO CALL: Martin Short, Aaron Tveit, Katharine McPhee, Christian Borle, Will Chase, Jane Krakowski and Hairspray Stars Perform at NY Pops Gala by Matthew Blank

The New York Pops grand gala evening at Carnegie Hall, which celebrated the 31st birthday of the Pops by paying tribute to the work of musical honorees Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, was he…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:54PM
Tuesday, April 29, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Carson Kressley Visits Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man by Matthew Blank

In 2003, the “Queer Eye For the Straight Guy” men – the Fab Five – introduced TV audiences to gay advice. Cast member Carson Kressley paid a visit to a recent performance of Off-Broadwa…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:55PM

PHOTO CALL: Sara Bareilles, James Earl Jones, Josh Groban and More Don Kinky Boots for "Stand Up For What You Believe" Campaign by Matthew Blank

Tony Award winning musical Kinky Boots is about standing up for who you are and what you believe in. It's about being who you want to be and showing the world what you care about. This s…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:57PM

PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Behind the Scenes With Will Reynolds and 5th Avenue Theatre's A Room with a View Musical by Matthew Blank

The 5th Avenue Theatre presents the new romantic musical A Room with a View. Cast member Will Reynolds (Passion) documented the preview process leading up to an April 30 opening night.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:51PM

PHOTO CALL: Jonathan Groff and Lucy Liu Announce 68th Annual Tony Awards Nominees, With Special Appearance by Hugh Jackman by Matthew Blank

Tony nominee Jonathan Groff and Emmy nominee Lucy Liu announced the nominations for the 68th Annual Tony Awards April 29 at 8:30 AM ET in the Diamond Horseshoe at the Paramount Hotel.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:30PM

PHOTO CALL: Sting and The Last Ship Cast, Including Michael Esper and Aaron Lazar, Meet the Press by Matthew Blank

The Last Ship, the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy winner Sting and book by Tony winner John Logan and Puliter Prize winner Brian Yorkey, will begin previews Sept. 3…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:57AM

PHOTO CALL: Matthew Morrison, Katharine McPhee, Aaron Tveit, Ricki Lake, Laura Bell Bundy, Megan Hilty, Jane Krakowski at NY Pops Gala Dinner by Matthew Blank

The New York Pops grand gala evening at Carnegie Hall, which celebrated the 31st birthday of the Pops by paying tribute to the work of musical honorees Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, was he…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:57AM

PLAYBILL.COM'S CUE & A: The "Preacher" of Broadway's Violet, Ben Davis by Matthew Blank

Ben Davis, who is featured as The Preacher in the Broadway premiere of Violet, fills out Playbill.com's questionnaire of random facts, backstage trivia and pop-culture tidbits.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, April 28, 2014

PHOTO CALL: Laura Osnes, Max Crumm, Amy Spanger, Kate Rockwell, Molly Ranson, Jenna Leigh Green and More Offer Like You Like It Concert by Matthew Blank

The concert version of the award-winning musical Like You Like It, based on As You Like It and set at a mall in the 1980s, was held April 23 at 54 Below in celebration of William Shakespeare…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:31PM

PHOTO CALL: An Exclusive First Look at Signature Theatre's Threepenny Opera, Starring Mitchell Jarvis and Natascia Diaz by Matthew Blank

Mitchell Jarvis and Natascia Diaz star in the Signature Theatre production of Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's Threepenny Opera, which began performances April 22 in Arlington, VA.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:07PM

PHOTO CALL: Andrew Rannells, Robert Cuccioli, Judy Kaye and Karen Ziemba Celebrate the York's Inventing Mary Martin by Matthew Blank

The York Theatre Company's world premiere of the new musical Inventing Mary Martin officially opened at the Off-Broadway venue April 27 following previews that began April 15.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:54AM

PHOTO CALL: Brian Stokes Mitchell, Billy Porter, Sierra Boggess, Courtney Reed, Chris O’Dowd and More Stars Attend Actors Fund Performance of Beautif by Matthew Blank

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical, about the early life and career of singer/songwriter Carole King, offered a special added performance to benefit The Actors Fund April 27 at 8 PM at the S…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:22AM
Friday, April 25, 2014

PHOTO CALL: After Midnight Congratulates Harvey Fierstein on Casa Valentina Opening by Matthew Blank

At the opening night of Harvey Fierstein's new play, Casa Valentina at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman theatre, a trio of songstresses from After Midnight - Rosena M. Hill Jackson, Carmen Ruby Floy…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:41PM

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