All stories by Michael on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Jason Robert Brown Will Join Honeymoon Stars at 92nd Street Y Event by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Honeymoon in Vegas stars Tony Danza, Rob McClure and Brynn O'Malley will join composer Jason Robert Brown and librettist Andrew Bergman to spend the evening of March 15 at the 92nd Stree…

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:39AM
Sunday, March 1, 2015

A Presidential Performance! President Clinton and Family Attend Hamilton at Public Theater Tonight by Michael Gioia and Carey Purcell

President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton attended the 8 PM performance of Hamilton, the critically acclaimed new musical written by and starring …

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:53PM

A Presidential Performance! President Clinton and Family Attend Broadway-Bound Hamilton at the Publi by Michael Gioia and Carey Purcell

President Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Chelsea Clinton attended the 8 PM performance of Hamilton, the critically acclaimed new musical written by and starring …

SOURCE: Playbill at 08:53PM
Friday, February 27, 2015

Should They Have Kept It? See Meryl Streep’s Cut Song from “Into the Woods”! by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

"She'll Be Back," a new Stephen Sondheim song written for Meryl Streep to perform as The Witch in the screen adaptation of "Into the Woods," was cut before the film e…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:48AM
Thursday, February 26, 2015

See Flash Clip of Meryl Streep Belting Witch’s Cut Song in New “Into the Woods” Blu-Ray Teaser! by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The new Blu-ray trailer for the Disney at-home release of "Into the Woods" gives fans a brief glimpse of "She'll Be Back," an original Stephen Sondheim song w…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:20PM
Tuesday, February 24, 2015

Witch’s Cut Song, Fan “Easter Eggs” Among Surprises On “Into the Woods” Blu-Ray/DVD Release by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Disney has announced details of the special features that will be included in the Blu-ray, DVD and digital releases of its hit film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine mu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:39PM
Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Tina Fey and Amy Poehler Sign On to Roar in Rockettes’ Spring Spectacular by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Award-winning comedians and writers Tina Fey and Amy Poehler have been announced to lend their voices as the New York Public Library's famed lion statues in New York Spring Spectacul…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:17PM
Saturday, February 14, 2015

Helen Hayes Theatre Owners Reveal Change of Heart, Will Second Stage Sale Go Through for Broadway Th by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The New York Times reports that the planned $25 million sale of Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre to the Off-Broadway non-profit Second Stage, may be in peril.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:50AM
Wednesday, February 11, 2015

Injured John Cameron Mitchell Will Miss Hedwig; Michael C. Hall Back in the Wig by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia, Carey Purcell

John Cameron Mitchell, the co-creator and original star of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, who is reprising his performance in the Broadway production, will take a week-long hiatus from t…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:41PM
Monday, February 9, 2015

James Barbour Is Broadway’s New Phantom of the Opera, Starting Tonight by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

James Barbour, a Drama Desk nominee for A Tale of Two Cities, assumes the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera beginning Feb. 9 at the Majestic Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, February 5, 2015

Somewhere in Time Musical, With Laura Osnes and Ryan Silverman, Begins NYC Workshop by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Workshop presentations of the new Broadway-aimed musical Somewhere in Time, which stars Drama Desk Award nominee Ryan Silverman and Tony Award nominees Laura Osnes and Marc Kudi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, January 30, 2015

Super Bowl Prep! Football Terms Explained for Theatre People by Michael Gioia and Robbie Rozelle

Super Bowl XLIX is right around the corner, and you've been invited to a party, but your facing a dilemma: You're only educated in theatre! In our below list, Playbill.com explains f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:17PM

Mary Poppins Star Gavin Lee Will Join Les Miz on Broadway, New Cast Members Announced by Michael Gioia and Carey Purcell

Producers announced new cast members that will be joining the 2014 Broadway revival of Les Misérables March 3.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:50PM
Tuesday, January 27, 2015

ArtsBeat: Most New York Theaters and Concert Halls Will Reopen Tuesday by Patrick Healy and Michael Cooper

The Metropolitan Opera will resume performances, as will most Broadway shows, except for “The Lion King” and “Aladdin.” Theaters outside New York were hit harder.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 12:24PM
Saturday, January 24, 2015

NYC Kids Get the Chance to Rock in Broadway’s School of Rock Today! by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Young performers who sing and also play musical instruments are being sought in a nationwide casting call for the upcoming Broadway premiere of School of Rock. An open call takes place Jan. …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Sting Musical The Last Ship Ends Short-Lived Broadway Run by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The Last Ship, the new musical by and starring 16-time Grammy winner Sting — inspired by the songwriter's own childhood — ends its Broadway Jan. 24 after…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, January 22, 2015

Actors from Wicked and After Midnight Join Laura Benanti for Rockettes’ Spring Spectacular by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Jared Grimes and Lenny Wolpe have been announced to co-star with Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti in the New York Spring Spectacular, the new Rockettes stage production that …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:22PM
Wednesday, January 21, 2015

Somewhere in Time Musical, With Laura Osnes and Ryan Silverman, Reveals Full Cast by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Complete casting has been revealed for the workshop presentations of the new Broadway-aimed musical Somewhere in Time, which stars Drama Desk Award nominee Ryan Silverman and To…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:50PM
Monday, January 19, 2015

Betsy Wolfe and Adam Kantor Will Return to The Last Five Years by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, who co-starred in the acclaimed Second Stage Theatre revival of Tony Award winner Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, will reunite for a three-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:02PM

Star-Studded “Into the Woods” Film Brings in $140 Million Worldwide by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick, Carey Purcell

Disney's hit film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical Into the Woods, starring Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick and James Corden, has grossed $140 million worldwide in…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:40AM
Sunday, January 18, 2015

Motown Moves Out; Hit Broadway Musical Closes With Promise of 2016 Return by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Motown The Musical, the Broadway show featuring music from the legendary Motown catalogue, ends its Broadway run Jan. 18 at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Producers intend to bring the jukeb…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, January 16, 2015

Motown Recoups $18 Million Investment in Time for Closing Night by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Motown The Musical, the Broadway show featuring music from the legendary Motown catalogue, recouped its $18 million investment at the end of 2014, producers announced Jan. 16. The production…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, January 13, 2015

“Into the Woods” Film Sets Blu-Ray and DVD Release Date by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Disney's hit film adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical Into the Woods, starring Meryl Streep, Anna Kendrick and James Corden, will be released March 24 on Blu-…

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:12PM

Derek Hough of “Dancing With the Stars” Will Join Laura Benanti For the Rockettes Spring Spectacular by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Derek Hough, the Emmy Award-winning choreographer from ABC's "Dancing With The Stars," will co-star with Tony Award winner Laura Benanti in the New York Spring Spectacu…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:05AM
Friday, January 9, 2015

Are You Ready to Rock? Broadway’s School of Rock Launches Open Call for Kid Stars and Jack Black Rol by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Young performers who sing and also play musical instruments are being sought in a nationwide casting call for the upcoming Broadway premiere of School of Rock. Andrew Lloyd Webber will bring…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:21PM
Wednesday, January 7, 2015

“Into the Woods” Soundtrack Hits No. 8 Spot on Billboard 200 by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The soundtrack to the film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods has broken into the Top 10 of the Billboard 200 chart.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:28PM
Monday, January 5, 2015

More Emma! Cabaret Star Extends Run as Sally Bowles by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Golden Globe nominee Emma Stone, who made her Broadway debut in the return of Cabaret last November, will extend her run as Sally Bowles an additional two weeks of performances, Roundabout T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:01AM
Friday, January 2, 2015

London’s Dominion Theatre Hosts “Frozen” Sing-a-Long Screening by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Disney's hit animated musical film "Frozen" will be screened in special sing-a-long edition presentations at London's Dominion Theatre this February.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:52AM
Tuesday, December 30, 2014

Disney’s “Frozen” Is Second Most-Pirated Film of 2014 by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Disney's hit "Frozen," which has become the highest-grossing animated feature of all time, was one of the most pirated films of the year, according to Variety.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:22PM
Monday, December 22, 2014

“Annie” Among Top 5 Highest-Grossing Films of Weekend by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

The movie musical remake of "Annie," which stars Academy Award nominee Quvenzhané Wallis in the title role alongside Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, earned $16,300,000 …

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:25AM
Sunday, December 21, 2014

Disney’s Aladdin Welcomes a New Broadway Sidekick Tonight by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Actor Steel Burkhardt, who appeared in the recent Broadway revival of Hair, steps into the role of sidekick Kassim in the Tony Award-nominated Broadway production of Aladdin beg…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:59PM

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