All stories by Michael on BroadwayStars

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
Thursday, December 18, 2014

Cabaret Revival Will Return to the Road in 2016 by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company announced Dec. 18 that the Broadway remounting of Sam Mendes and Rob Marshall's Tony-winning revival of Cabaret will again tour North Ame…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:25PM
Monday, December 15, 2014

Expansive Two-Disc Deluxe “Into the Woods” Soundtrack Released Today by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The two-disc deluxe and single-disc standard soundtrack editions of the Disney film version of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's "Into the Woods," starring Meryl Stre…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, December 11, 2014

Scott Rudin and Amy Pascal of Sony Apologize for Racially Tinged Comments on Obama by Brooks Barnes and Michael Cieply

An email exchange disclosed through an attack by hackers commented on the president’s imagined movie tastes.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 02:06PM
Wednesday, December 10, 2014

Steel Burkhardt Will Step Into Disney’s Aladdin by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

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

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:47PM
Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Laura Benanti Will Headline Rockette’s Spring Spectacular Show at Radio City by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Tony Award winner Laura Benanti will headline the New York Spring Spectacular, the Rockettes stage production helmed by Tony Award winners Warren Carlyle and Diane Paulus, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 07:12PM

Donation to Ukrainian Opera House Puts Netrebko in a Political Spotlight by Michael Cooper and Sophia Kishkovsky

The soprano Anna Netrebko made a donation to an opera house in Donetsk, a city controlled by pro-Russian separatists, but said it was not a political act.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 03:04PM
Monday, November 24, 2014

“Into the Woods” Oscar Campaign Promotes Emily Blunt as Best Actress, Anna Kendrick and Meryl Streep by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The Academy Awards race is already underway with Disney campaigning for "Into the Woods" as Best Picture, while aiming for a Best Actress nomination for Emily Blunt as the Baker…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:32PM
Monday, November 10, 2014

“The Last Midnight” and More! Listen to Previews of the Entire Two-Disc Deluxe “Into the Woods” Soun by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Musical samples are now available for preview via iTunes for  the two-disc deluxe album of the Disney film version of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's "Into the Wood…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:00PM

Track Listing Revealed for Expansive Two-Disc Deluxe “Into the Woods” Soundtrack by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The track listing has been revealed for the two-disc deluxe album of the Disney film version of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's "Into the Woods," starring Meryl Streep,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:24AM
Saturday, November 8, 2014

Little Red and Baker’s Wife Sing in New “Into the Woods” TV Commercial (Video) by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The television spot for the upcoming Disney film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods has been released. The film is set to hit theatres Dec. 25.

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:24PM
Friday, November 7, 2014

Glenn Close, Martha Plimpton, Joey Parnes, Michael Cerveris and More Lend Names to #SaveTheEdison Pe by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

A host of Broadway stars and industry members have lent their names in support of a Change.org petition to save the Café Edison, which announced that it will shut its doors at the…

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:33PM
Thursday, November 6, 2014

More Characters! More Singing! Disney Releases New Extended Musical Trailer for “Into the Woods” by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

A third trailer of the highly anticipated film adaptation of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Into the Woods has been released. The film is set to hit theatres Dec. 25.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:30AM
Friday, October 24, 2014

Netflix Series, Starring Norbert Leo Butz, Finds Its Title and Releases First Trailer (Video) by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Netflix's psychological thriller drama from Sony Pictures TV, starring Norbert Leo Butz, has been titled "Bloodline," according to Deadline.com. Additionally, the first trailer…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:26PM
Tuesday, October 21, 2014

“The Voice” Winner Josh Kaufman Will Join Broadway’s Pippin Early by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Josh Kaufman, who was announced the winner of the sixth season of NBC's "The Voice" in May 2014, will make his Broadway debut in the title role of the Tony Award-winning re…

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:30PM

Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays Released on DVD Today by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Billy Crystal's Tony Award-winning solo show 700 Sundays, which ended its return Broadway engagement Jan. 5, arrives on DVD and Digital HD Oct. 21 by HBO Home Entertainment.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, October 20, 2014

Andy Karl, Mark LinnBaker, Michael McGrath, Mary Louise Wilson Board On the Twentieth Century Reviva by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Tony Award winners Michael McGrath and Mary Louise Wilson, as well as Tony nominee Andy Karl and Mark Linn‐Baker have joined the cast of the Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway r…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:30AM
Friday, October 10, 2014

Amazon Sets Release Date for Disney’s “Into the Woods” Soundtrack by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The single-disc soundtrack for the upcoming Disney screen adaptation of the Stephen Sondheim-James Lapine musical Into the Woods will be released Dec. 16, according to Amazon.com.

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:37PM
Monday, September 29, 2014

Billy Crystal’s 700 Sundays Will Be Released on DVD in October by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Billy Crystal's Tony Award-winning solo show 700 Sundays, which ended its return Broadway engagement Jan. 5, will be released on DVD and Digital HD Oct. 21 by HBO Home Entertainment.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:55PM
Wednesday, September 17, 2014

New Musical N—The Queen of Paris Gets Pre-Broadway Workshop by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

N—The Queen of Paris, a new musical inspired by the champagne atmosphere and rags-to-riches romance of Emile Zola's classic novel "Nana," will be workshopped …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:39PM
Tuesday, September 9, 2014

Broadway League Reverses Decision; All Theatres Will Dim Lights Tonight for Joan Rivers by Adam Hetrick and Andrew Gans, Michael Gioia

A day after Broadway League executive director Charlotte St. Martin stated that the lights of Broadway theatres would not be dimmed in memory of Joan Rivers, representatives for the trade or…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:03PM
Monday, September 8, 2014

Theatre: plays and musicals to watch out for in autumn 2014 by Lyn Gardner and Michael Billington

Highlights of the coming season include Maxine Peake as Hamlet, Kristin Scott Thomas as Electra, Lindsay Lohan in a Mamet satire, the shocking installation piece Exhibit B and a fresh take o…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 05:04AM
Friday, September 5, 2014

Box Office Now Open for The Elephant Man Starring Bradley Cooper by Carey Purcell and Adam Hetrick, Michael Gioia

The box office for the Booth Theatre, home to the revival of The Elephant Man starring Bradley Cooper, opens for business Sept. 5.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:51AM
Thursday, September 4, 2014

Elizabeth Reaser and Frederick Weller Are Desperate Movie Stars in Money Shot, Beginning Off-Broadwa by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The MCC Theater world-premiere production of Neil LaBute's The Money Shot, about a couple of desperate movie stars, begins performances Sept. 4 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Sunday, August 31, 2014

Hammerstein kin cheated producing partner out of profits: suit by Kathianne Boniello and Michael Riedel

The hills are alive with the sound of scandal. Oscar Hammerstein II is famed as the lyricist behind such wholesome Broadway classics as “The King and I” and “The Sound...

SOURCE: The New York Post at 03:17AM
Wednesday, August 27, 2014

Sandy Wilson obituary by Michael Freedland and Michael Coveney

Composer and lyricist best known for The Boy Friend, a fresh and revolutionary musical that took the West End by storm Continue reading...

SOURCE: The Guardian at 11:01AM