All stories by Michael on BroadwayStars

Friday, June 29, 2012

Broadway-Aimed Magic Mike Will Be a Musical; Steven Soderbergh, Channing Tatum Attached by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Steven Soderbergh and Channing Tatum, director and star, respectively, of the new movie "Magic Mike"—about the lifestyle of male strippers — will produce the musical ad…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:35PM
Tuesday, June 26, 2012

Mike Tyson: Undisputed Truth Extends Broadway Run by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Mike Tyson's boxing match with Broadway will get an extra round. The champion boxer's one-man show, Undisputed Truth, has been extended for an additional week of performances through…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:51PM
Monday, June 25, 2012

"Rock of Ages" Was Fifth Highest-Grossing Film of the Weekend by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

"Rock of Ages," the Warner Bros./New Line movie musical adapted from the 2009 Tony Award-nominated Broadway show of the same name, earned $8,000,000 during the June 22-24 weekend, …

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:20AM
Friday, June 22, 2012

"Rock of Ages" Takes in Nearly $20 Million During First Week in Release by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

As of June 20, "Rock of Ages," the Warner Bros./New Line movie musical adapted from the 2009 Tony Award-nominated Broadway show of the same name, has brought in $19,360,137 at the …

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:20AM
Tuesday, June 19, 2012

THE SCREENING ROOM: Scott Alan's "Live" Album Promo, Featuring Lea Salonga, Jeremy Jordan and More (Video) by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

The CD "Scott Alan Live," which was recorded in April at Birdland, will be released physically and digitally June 26. Here is the promo for the upcoming album, which features Tony …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:25AM

"Rock of Ages" Was Third Highest-Grossing Film of the Weekend by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

"Rock of Ages," the Warner Bros./New Line movie musical adapted from the 2009 Tony Award-nominated Broadway show of the same name, earned $14,437,269 during the June 15-17 weekend,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:36AM
Monday, June 18, 2012

Kevin Kline and Meryl Steep are Romeo and Juliet in Starry Shakespeare Gala June 18 in Central Park by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Academy Award winners Kevin Kline and Meryl Steep — both veterans of New York Shakespeare Festival — play star-crossed lovers Romeo and Juliet, respectively, in the one-night-onl…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, June 13, 2012

Tony Winner Alice Ripley Will Return to the Metropolitan Room in July by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Alice Ripley, who was last seen Off-Broadway in Wild Animals You Should Know, will return to New York City's Metropolitan Room next month.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:45AM
Tuesday, June 12, 2012

Christine Baranski, John Cullum, Bill Irwin, Phylicia Rashad and More Join Starry Romeo and Juliet Gala by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Shakespeare in the Park alumni F. Murray Abraham, Christine Baranski, John Cullum, David Harbour, Bill Irwin, Sandra Oh, Phylicia Rashad, Michael Stuhlbarg and Sharon Washington have joined …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:23PM
Tuesday, June 5, 2012

Tony Winner Patti LuPone Sings of Faraway Places Starting June 5 at 54 Below by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Olivier and two-time Tony winner Patti LuPone begins performances at 54 Below, the brand-new nightclub and restaurant at 254 West 54th Street, one floor below Studio 54, June 5 at 8 PM for a…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, May 24, 2012

Raúl Esparza, Jesse L. Martin, Jerry Stiller, Jeffrey Wright and More Join Romeo and Juliet Gala at the Delacorte by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Shakespeare in the Park alumni Raúl Esparza, Jesse L. Martin, Jerry Stiller, Christopher Walken, Sam Waterston and Jeffrey Wright have joined the one-night-only gala staged reading of…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:13PM
Wednesday, May 16, 2012

Losses in the limelight: the education of Aubrey Dan by Michael Posner and James Bradshaw

Aubrey Dan’s plan to shake up Toronto’s theatre scene appears dashed by his inability to see the big picture

SOURCE: The Globe and Mail at 10:55PM
Tuesday, May 1, 2012

40 Tony Nominees of 2012, Including Steve Kazee, Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Linda Lavin, React to Nomination News by Andrew Gans and Kenneth Jones, Michael Gioia

Playbill.com reached out to the 2012 Tony Award nominees on May 1, shortly after they learned that they were nominated for Broadway's biggest award. Here's what they had to say.

SOURCE: Playbill at 06:32PM

UPDATED! Playbill Talks to a Slew of 2012 Tony Nominees, Including Steve Kazee, Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara and More by Andrew Gans and Kenneth Jones, Michael Gioia

Playbill.com reached out to the 2012 Tony Award nominees on May 1, shortly after they learned that they were nominated for Broadway's biggest award. Here's what they had to say. We&#…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:20PM
Monday, April 30, 2012

Cheri Steinkellner's Tin Pan Alley Musical Hello! My Baby Will Play Lobero Theatre by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The Tin Pan Alley musical Hello! My Baby, featuring book and lyrics by Emmy-winning "Cheers" writer and Tony-nominated Sister Act co-librettist Cheri Steinkellner, will be offered …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:52AM
Sunday, April 29, 2012

The music stops for Dancap dream by Michael Posner and James Bradshaw

Aubrey Dan’s retreat from Toronto theatre scene leaves rival impresario David Mirvish in complete control of high-end market

SOURCE: The Globe and Mail at 10:29PM
Monday, April 23, 2012

Bistro Awards, Honoring Kaye Ballard, Dee Dee Bridgewater, Rita Gardner, Melissa Manchester, Presented April 23 by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

The 27th annual Bistro Awards Gala, which celebrates outstanding achievement in New York cabaret and jazz, is held April 23 at the Gotham Comedy Club.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, April 20, 2012

NBC Picks Up Matthew Perry Pilot "Go On," Featuring Tony Winners Laura Benanti and Julie White by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Tony Award winner Laura Benanti, who was seen in the short-lived NBC drama "The Playboy Club," will return to the small screen next season. Deadline.com reports that NBC has ordere…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:22PM

PHOTO CALL: Broadway's Newsies Take a Trip to Memphis, With Exclusive Shots by Kara Lindsay by Matthew Blank and Michael Gioia

Broadway's Newsies took a night off from dancing in the the streets of 19th-century New York and headed down south for the April 17 performance of Memphis.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:14PM
Wednesday, March 28, 2012

Jai Rodriguez Will Join Reba McEntire and Lily Tomlin in ABC Pilot "Malibu Country" by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Stage and screen star Jai Rodriguez will join the previously reported Reba McEntire and Tony Award winner Lily Tomlin in the ABC half-hour pilot "Malibu Country."

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:41AM
Tuesday, March 20, 2012

"Bunheads" Series, Starring Tony Winner Sutton Foster, Will Debut in June by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

ABC Family's "Bunheads," a dance-drama series starring Tony Award-winning Anything Goes star Sutton Foster, will make its debut June 11, according to EW.com.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:37AM
Monday, March 19, 2012

Tovah Feldshuh Hosts Broadway Beauty Pageant March 19; Jackie Hoffman, Tonya Pinkins Among Judges by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh (Golda's Balcony, Lend Me a Tenor, Sarava, Yentl) hosts the sixth annual Broadway Beauty Pageant March 19 at Symphony Space.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, March 16, 2012

Martin McDonagh's "Seven Psychopaths," with Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell, Will Be Released in November by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Christopher Walken, Sam Rockwell and Colin Farrell star in the upcoming Martin McDonagh film "Seven Psychopaths," which will get a limited release Nov. 2 by CBS …

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:44AM

Grammy Winner Melissa Manchester Will Be Honored at Bistro Awards by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Grammy winner Melissa Manchester, who starred in the national tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Song and Dance, will be honored at the 27th annual Bistro Awards Gala, which celebrates outsta…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:09AM
Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Following Several Cast Changes, George Street's Twelve Angry Men Begins March 13 by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

The George Street Playhouse's production of Reginald Rose's Twelve Angry Men begins performances at the New Jersey venue March 13.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, March 2, 2012

Celebrity Judges Announced for Broadway Beauty Pageant; Brent Barrett and Past Winners Will Perform by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh (Golda's Balcony, Lend Me a Tenor, Sarava, Yentl) will host the sixth annual Broadway Beauty Pageant,  which will be held March 19 at Sym…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:30PM
Wednesday, February 29, 2012

Signature's The Lady From Dubuque, Starring Jane Alexander, Given One-Week Extension by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Signature Theatre Company has announced a one-week extension for Edward Albee's The Lady From Dubuque, starring Tony Award winner Jane Alexander in the title role, which will officially …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:51PM
Monday, February 27, 2012

Broadway Belts! Benefit, Featuring Andrew Rannells, Lindsay Mendez, Adam Pascal, Offered Feb. 27 by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

The second annual Broadway Belts! for PFF (Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation) benefit, featuring a star-studded lineup of performers belting out some of Broadway's most memorable songs, is o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, February 22, 2012

Contestants Announced for Sixth Annual Broadway Beauty Pageant; Brent Barrett Will Perform by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Four-time Tony Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh (Golda's Balcony, Lend Me a Tenor, Sarava, Yentl) will host the sixth annual Broadway Beauty Pageant,  which will be held March 19 at Sym…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:48AM

"War Horse" Will Arrive on DVD and More in April by Andrew Gans and Michael Giola

Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of War Horse will arrive on Blu-ray, DVD, Digital and On-Demand April 3.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:26AM
Friday, February 17, 2012

Andrew Lloyd Webber Kicks Off Superstar Reality Show Search in Glasgow by Michael Gioia and Mark Shenton

Tony Award winner Andrew Lloyd Webber began his search for the title role in a stadium tour of Jesus Christ Superstar Feb. 16 in Glasgow, according to STV Entertainment.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:30PM

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