All stories by Michael on BroadwayStars

Friday, August 9, 2013

John Tartaglia Is the Cat in the Hat for Youth Production of Seussical in Newtown, CT, Beginning Aug. 9 by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia (Avenue Q) and 86 young performers from the Newtown area are part of Seussical, the Lynn Ahrens-Stephen Flaherty musical based on the famed childr…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, August 7, 2013

James Snyder Cast in If/Then With Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp and LaChanze by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

James Snyder has joined Idina Menzel, Anthony Rapp and LaChanze in the Broadway-bound musical If/Then by Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning Next to Normal writers Tom Kitt and Brian Yorke…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:41PM

Jacquelyn Piro Donovan, Mike Jackson, Lee MacDougall and More Join Danielle Wade in North American Wizard of Oz Tour by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Producers Bill Kenwright, The Really Useful Group, David Mirvish, Troika Entertainment & Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures have announced complete casting for the first North American tour o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:37AM
Thursday, August 1, 2013

Anthony Rapp Will Join Tony Winners Idina Menzel and LaChanze in Broadway-Bound Musical If/Then by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Anthony Rapp, who starred as Mark in the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent, will join former Rent cast member Idina Menzel in the new Tom Kitt-Brian Yorkey musical If/T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:14PM
Thursday, July 25, 2013

"August: Osage County" Film Will Premiere at Toronto International Film Festival by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The film adaptation of Tracy Letts' Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, will receive its premiere screening at the Toront…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:56AM
Tuesday, July 23, 2013

Public Theater Musical Here Lies Love in Search of Home for New York Transfer; Broadway Is a Possibility by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The Public Theater's acclaimed production of Here Lies Love, a new immersive musical by David Byrne, Fatboy Slim and Tony-nominated director Alex Timbers, is in search of a new home to c…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:41PM

ABC Family's "Bunheads," Starring Tony Winner Sutton Foster, Canceled by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

"Bunheads," the whimsical hour-long ABC Family dramedy-with-dance series starring Broadway's Sutton Foster and Kelly Bishop, has been canceled, according to the Hollywood Repor…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:10AM

BWW TV: Behind-the-Scenes with Valerie Perri, David Burnham and More in L.A.'S SUNSET BOULEVARD by Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans

BWW TV Los Angeles correspondents Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans visit with the cast of Musical Theatre West's MTW much anticipated Southern California 20th Anniversary revival of Sunset B…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 07:50AM
Monday, July 22, 2013

BWW TV: Stephen Moyer, Samantha Barks, Ashlee Simpson, Brooke Shields & More Talk CHICAGO at the Hollywood Bowl! by Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans

The Hollywood Bowl's upcoming production of CHICAGO, the musical which holds the record as the third longest running show in Broadway history, will star Samantha Barks as Velma Kelly, Drew C…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 05:22PM

Tony Nominee Billy Magnussen in Talks for Into the Woods Film Adaptation by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Billy Magnussen, who was nominated for a 2013 Tony Award for his performance in Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, is in talks to join the cast of the Walt Disney Pictures film adapta…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:51PM
Friday, July 19, 2013

Atlanta's Theater of the Stars Cancels Anything Goes; Fundraising Efforts Will Continue by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, the non-profit Georgia company that has offered 60 seasons of theatrical programming and recently revealed that it was in danger of closing its doors due …

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:26PM
Thursday, July 18, 2013

Jake Gyllenhaal No Longer Attached to Into the Woods Film Adaptation by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Jake Gyllenhaal, who starred in the Off-Broadway drama If There Is I Haven't Found It Yet, is no longer attached to the Walt Disney Pictures film adaptation of Into the Woods &…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:54PM

Joey deBettencourt, Megan Stern and John Sanders Will Lead Peter and the Starcatcher National Tour by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Complete casting has been announced for the national tour of the Tony Award-winning play with music Peter and the Starcatcher, which will play stops in San Francisco, Chicago, Los Angeles, W…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00PM
Wednesday, July 17, 2013

Sheet Music Available for Benj Pasek and Justin Paul's Dogfight by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Sheet music from the 2013 Lucille Lortel Award-winning musical Dogfight — featuring a pop-rock score by rising theatre songwriters and Tony Award nominees Benj Pasek and Justin Paul &m…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:32PM

Atlanta's Theater of the Stars Does Not Reach Financial Needs; Dreamgirls Canceled by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, the non-profit Georgia company that has offered 60 seasons of theatrical programming and recently revealed that it was in danger of closing its doors due …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:03PM
Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Pantages 2014 Engagement of The Book of Mormon, With Nic Rouleau, Ben Platt and Syesha Mercado, Extends by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The second national tour of the Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon, starring Nic Rouleau, Ben Platt and Syesha Mercado, has extended its Los Angeles engagement at the Pantages The…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:46PM

Film and TV Producer Roger Bobb Makes Significant Donation to Atlanta's Struggling Theater of the Stars by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Atlanta's Theater of the Stars, the non-profit Georgia company that has offered 60 seasons of theatrical programming, secured $330,000 shortly after the company revealed that it was…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:35PM

BWW TV: Loni Anderson, Jo Anne Worley, Robert Townsend and More Red Carpet Arrivals of SISTER ACT at Pantages by Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans

BWW TV Los Angeles Correspondents Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans were back on the red carpet speaking to the stars last week for the official L.A. opening of SISTER ACT at Hollywood's hist…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 08:47AM
Monday, July 15, 2013

Tix On Sale for Benefit Concerts of Sting's The Last Ship at the Public Theater by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Tickets are now available to the general public for the series of benefit concerts at the Public Theater that will premiere music from Grammy Award winner Sting's new musical and al…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:45PM
Tuesday, July 9, 2013

John Tartaglia Will Play Cat in the Hat for Youth Production of Seussical in Newtown, CT by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee John Tartaglia (Avenue Q) will star as the Cat in the Hat in Seussical — the Lynn Ahrens-Stephen Flaherty musical based on the famed children's books b…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:50PM

Cast of Broadway's Pippin Celebrates Album Release With Barnes and Noble Performance July 9 by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Tony Award winners Patina Miller, Andrea Martin and the cast of the acclaimed Broadway revival of Pippin celebrate the release of their cast album with a July 9 performance at Barnes and Nob…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

Once's David Abeles Joins Cast of Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 July 9 by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

David Abeles, who was seen in the original cast of Broadway's Once, joins the cast of Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s criticall…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, July 5, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Darren Criss, Megan Hilty, Jackie Evancho Perform on "A Capitol Fourth" (Video) by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

The Independence Day celebration "A Capitol Fourth," hosted by Tom Bergeron of "Dancing with the Stars," aired on PBS stations around the country July 4. Here are highlig…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:28PM
Friday, June 28, 2013

THE SCREENING ROOM: Annie Orphans React to Casting News in Clips from "It's the Hard-Knock Life, From Script to Stage" by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

"Annie: It's the Hard-Knock Life, From Script to Stage" debuts in the New York metropolitan area on WNET/13 June 28 at 9 PM ET. Here is never-before-seen footage from the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:46AM
Friday, June 21, 2013

"August: Osage County" Film Delays Release Until Holiday Season by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The upcoming film adaptation of Tracy Letts' Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning drama August: Osage County, starring Meryl Streep and Julia Roberts, has delayed its release to Dec. 25, acco…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:33PM
Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Tony Award Nominee James Gandolfini, of "Sopranos" Fame, Dies at 51 by Michael Gioia and Robert Simonson

Stage and screen actor James Gandolfini, who was Tony Award-nominated for his performance in Broadway's God of Carnage and was best known for his work on the HBO series "The Soprano…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:02PM

Once's David Abeles Will Join Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

David Abeles, who was seen in the original cast of Broadway's Once, will join the cast of Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s criti…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:21PM
Tuesday, June 18, 2013

Off-Broadway's Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 Announces Online Rush Tix Policy by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

Producers of Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812, Dave Malloy’s critically praised "electro-pop opera" based on "War and Peace," announced a new rush…

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:27PM
Monday, June 17, 2013

Broadway's Annie Adds Summer Friday Matinees; Jane Lynch and Cast Will Make Barnes & Noble Appearance by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The Tony Award-nominated Best Musical Revival Annie has added Friday matinee performances, which will begin June 28 and continue through Aug. 30. The performance schedule will no longer incl…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:55PM

Tom Wopat Hosts Unsung Jimmy Van Heusen, With Rachel de Benedet, Christine Pedi and Nancy Anderson, June 17 by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

UnsungMusicalsCo. launches its Unsung Cabaret Series with Unsung Jimmy Van Heusen, an intimate evening that celebrates the centennial of four-time Academy Award-winning and three-time T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, June 14, 2013

The Verdict: Critics Review NY Premiere of Venice, With Leslie Odom, Jr., Haaz Sleiman and Jennifer Damiano by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The Public Theater's production of the new rock and hip-hop musical Venice, about corruption, betrayal and power, officially opened June 13 Off-Broadway. Leslie Odom, Jr. and Haaz S…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:57AM

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