All stories by Michael on BroadwayStars

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

Robert Creighton, Lindsay Mendez and Betsy Wolfe Join Lineup For Broadway Belts! Benefit by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Robert Creighton (Anything Goes), Lindsay Mendez (Godspell) and Betsy Wolfe (Encores! Merrily We Roll Along) have been added to the lineup of the second annual Broadway Belts! for PFF (Pulmo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:46AM
Monday, February 6, 2012

"The Woman in Black," Starring Daniel Radcliffe, Is Second Highest-Grossing Film Of the Weekend by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

"The Woman in Black," which stars How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying's Daniel Radcliffe, was the second highest-grossing film of the Feb. 3-5 weekend, taking in $…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:20AM
Monday, January 30, 2012

THE SCREENING ROOM: Watch "Ghost Light Sessions," Featuring Richard Fleeshman and Caissie Levy (Video) by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

"The Ghost Light Sessions Live," a sneak peek at musical numbers from Broadway's upcoming Ghost, was recently held at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. Here is a look at the Jan. 19 s…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:12AM

Tyne Daly, Ben Vereen, Ann Roth, Daniel Sullivan and More Inducted Into Theater Hall of Fame Jan. 30 by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Academy Award winner Estelle Parsons hosts The 41st Annual American Theater Hall of Fame ceremony, which is held Jan. 30 in the Gershwin Theatre's North Rotunda.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, January 27, 2012

Adam Pascal, Heidi Blickenstaff and Julia Murney Join Lineup for Broadway Belts! Benefit by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Tony nominee Adam Pascal (Rent, Memphis), Heidi Blickenstaff (The Addams Family, [title of show]) and Julia Murney (Queen of the Mist, Wicked) have been added to the lineup of the secon…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:38AM
Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Meryl Streep, Liza Minnelli, Brian Dennehy, Phylicia Rashad Are Theater Hall of Fame Presenters by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

The presenters for the 41st Annual American Theater Hall of Fame ceremony, which will be held Jan. 30 in the Gershwin Theatre's North Rotunda, will include Meryl Streep, Liza Minnelli, B…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:49AM
Tuesday, January 24, 2012

"Smash" Musical Drama Now Available on NBC.com and Hulu by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

The pilot episode of the new hour-long musical drama "Smash" — the scripted TV series about theatre people putting together a new Broadway musical — is now available vi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:35PM

Acclaimed Amelia, a Civil War Romance, Extends at DC's Washington Stage Guild by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Amelia, Alex Webb's two-actor, multi-character play about a woman's epic journey across Civil War America in search of her soldier husband, has been extended through Feb. 12 at Washi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:26PM

After Broadway, William Shatner's Solo Show Will Play L.A., Chicago, Denver, Dallas, Cleveland and More by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

The itinerary has been announced for the post-Broadway national tour of William Shatner’s solo show, Shatner's World: We Just Live in It. The tour will kick off March 10 at th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:20AM
Friday, January 20, 2012

Rock of Ages Film Will Arrive in Cinemas Two Weeks Later Than Originally Scheduled by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

The Warner Bros./New Line feature film "Rock of Ages," based on the Tony-nominated musical of the same name, will arrive in cinemas around the country two weeks later than previous…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:05AM

Mary Testa and Darlene Love Will Join Julie Halston, Andrew Rannells, Seth Rudetsky for Broadway Belts! Benefit by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Tony Award nominee Mary Testa, most recently seen in Off-Broadway’s Queen of the Mist, and Darlene Love, seen in the Hollywood Bowl production of Hairspray, have been added to the line…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:54AM
Monday, January 16, 2012

Casting Complete for West End Children of Eden Benefit Concert; Tom Pearce Will Be Noah by Michael Gioia and Mark Shenton

West End actors Tom Pearce (Les Miserables), Jamie Papanicolaou, Daniella Bowen and Daisy Tonge complete the cast of Stephen Schwartz and John Caird's 1991 biblical musical Children of E…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:43AM
Wednesday, January 11, 2012

Louise Dearman and Aaron Sidwell Are Latest Additions to Cast of West End Children of Eden Benefit Concert by Michael Gioia and Mark Shenton

West End actors Louise Dearman (Wicked) and Aaron Sidwell ("EastEnders") have been added to the cast of Stephen Schwartz and John Caird's 1991 biblical musical Children o…

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:08PM
Monday, January 9, 2012

"War Horse" Takes Sixth Place at Weekend Box Office by Andrew Gans and Michael Giola

Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of War Horse was the sixth highest-grossing film of the weekend just ended, taking in $8,603,000 at the box office, according to boxofficemojo.com.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:30AM
Wednesday, January 4, 2012

Spring Awakening's Jonathan Groff Will Guest Star on CBS' "Good Wife" by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Jonathan Groff, who will return to the Fox hit "Glee" this season, will also be seen on CBS' "The Good Wife" later this month.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:07PM
Tuesday, January 3, 2012

"War Horse" Takes Fifth Place at Weekend Box Office by Andrew Gans and Michael Giola

Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of War Horse was the fifth highest-grossing film of the holiday weekend, taking in $14,395,000 at the box office, according to boxofficemojo.com.

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:51PM
Wednesday, December 28, 2011

"War Horse" Gallops Into Seventh Place at Weekend Box Office by Andrew Gans and Michael Giola

Steven Spielberg's film adaptation of War Horse was the seventh highest-grossing film of the Christmas holiday weekend, taking in $7,515,402 at the box office, according to boxofficemojo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:10AM
Wednesday, December 21, 2011

THE SCREENING ROOM: Hunter Parrish Records "Beautiful City"; Godspell Album Hits No. 1 on iTunes (Video) by Michael Gioia and Adam Hetrick

The cast album of the Broadway revival of Godspell, which was released Dec. 20 for digital download, has reached the number one spot on iTunes' soundtrack chart.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:38PM
Monday, December 19, 2011

Accidentally, Like a Martyr, Featuring Grant James Varjas, Keith McDermott, Opens Off-Broadway Dec. 19 by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

Accidentally, Like a Martyr, a new play by Grant James Varjas about a group of gay men coming to grips with life and aging in the 21st century, opens Off-Broadway Dec. 19, following previews…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:01AM
Sunday, December 18, 2011

Standing On Ceremony Ends Off-Broadway Run Dec. 18 by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, which officially opened Nov. 13 following previews that began Nov. 7 at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre, plays its final performances th…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, December 12, 2011

Miracle on 34th Street Benefit, Featuring Tony Yazbeck, Kimberly Faye Greenberg, Jim Brochu, Offered Dec. 12 by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Douglas Leland, Steve Schalchlin, Tony Yazbeck, Kimberly Faye Greenberg, Jim Brochu, Rachel Resheff and Brian Childers star in the one-night-only performance of Meredith Willson's Miracl…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, December 5, 2011

Kristin Chenoweth and Trace Adkins Host American Country Awards Dec. 5 by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth joins country music star Trace Adkins to co-host the second annual American Country Awards, held Dec. 5 in Las Vegas and broadcast live at 8 PM ET on Fox.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, November 29, 2011

Standing On Ceremony Sets Closing Date Off-Broadway by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, which officially opened Nov. 13 following previews that began Nov. 7 at Off-Broadway's Minetta Lane Theatre, will play its final performance…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:10PM
Saturday, November 26, 2011

Freud's Last Session Celebrates 500th Performance Off-Broadway Nov. 26 by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

The long-running Off-Broadway play Freud's Last Session celebrates its 500th New York performance Nov. 26 at the 2 PM matinee at New World Stages.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Casting Complete for Meredith Willson's Miracle on 34th Street Benefit by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Douglas Leland (Buddy, West End) and Steve Schalchlin (The Big Voice: God or Merman?) will join the previously reported Tony Yazbeck, Kimberly Faye Greenberg, Jim Brochu, Rachel Resheff and …

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:20PM
Friday, November 18, 2011

Book of Mormon's Josh Gad Will Make Guest Appearance on "Modern Family" Nov. 23 by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Tony Award nominee Josh Gad will make a guest appearance on ABC's "Modern Family" Nov. 23 at 9 PM ET.

SOURCE: Playbill at 02:00PM
Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Broadway Sessions Will Welcome Godspell's Morgan James and More by Michael Gioia and Andrew Gans

Broadway Sessions with Ben D, the weekly musical theatre-themed evening at The Midtown Theater at the Ha! Comedy Club, will continue Nov. 17.

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:57AM
Tuesday, November 15, 2011

BWW TV: First Look at BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL - Show Highlights! by Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans

Broadway World TV's Los Angeles Correspondent and Co-Producer Michael Sterling, with Associate Producer Jerry Evans of the JLE Media Group, Inc. joined the opening weekend festivities for Br…

SOURCE: BroadwayWorld at 10:33AM
Monday, November 14, 2011

Brian Friel's Dancing at Lughnasa Extends at Off-Broadway's Irish Rep by Michael Gioia and Kenneth Jones

The Irish Repertory Theatre's run of Brian Friel's Tony Award-winning play Dancing at Lughnasa has been extended Off-Broadway, now playing into the new year, through Jan. 15, 2012.

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:20PM
Sunday, November 13, 2011

Standing On Ceremony, With Beth Leavel, Harriet Harris, Richard Thomas, Opens Off-Broadway by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Following an acclaimed series of performances in Los Angeles, Standing On Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays officially opens Nov. 13 at 7 PM following previews that began Nov. 7 at Off-Broadw…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM

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