All stories by Michael Mellini on BroadwayStars

Tuesday, December 27, 2011

Star Quality! Our Picks For 10 Amazing Broadway Debuts of 2011 by Michael Mellini

Every season features dozens of Broadway debuts, but 2011 was notable for the number of memorable star performances given by actors gracing Broadway stages for the first time. From an Aussie…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 08:05AM
Monday, December 12, 2011

Lysistrata Jones Star Patti Murin on Her Days as a College Cheerleader and Pole Dancing on Stage by Michael Mellini

After engagements at the Dallas Theater Center (where the show was originally called Give It Up) and inside a West Village gymnasium, Patti Murin is hopping back into a cheerleader uniform a…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:46PM

Lysistrata Jones Star Patti Murin on Her Days as a College Cheerleader and Pole Dancing on Stage by Michael Mellini

After engagements at the Dallas Theater Center (where the show was originally called Give It Up) and inside a West Village gymnasium, Patti Murin is hopping back into a cheerleader uniform a…

SOURCE: columbus.broadway.com at 04:46PM
Friday, December 9, 2011

Kristin Chenoweth Is Bootylicious, Lady Gaga Stole Annaleigh Ashford's Look and Other Lessons of the Week by Michael Mellini

Another week has come and gone on Broadway, with plenty of headlines worth revisiting. Casting for the Les Miserables movie just keeps getting better and a few Broadway stars were glad to sh…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 09:14PM
Thursday, December 1, 2011

Josh Segarra on Shooting Hoops and Stripping Down in Lysistrata Jones by Michael Mellini

Age & Hometown: 25; Longwood, FL Current Role: Making his Broadway debut as Mick, a dim-witted college basketball player whose girlfriend refuses to “put out” until his te…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 03:58PM

The Book of Mormon’s Trey Parker on Grammy Nomination: 'I Want My F**king Oscar!' by Michael Mellini

The Book of Mormon took home a whopping nine Tony Awards back in June, and the hit musical continues to score accolades, including a Grammy nomination for Best Musical Theater Cast Album. Br…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 11:32AM
Wednesday, November 23, 2011

Private Lives Star Paul Gross on His Days in a Mountie Uniform and Bringing Anarchy to the Stage by Michael Mellini

Age & Hometown: 50; Calgary, Alberta, Canada Current Role: Making his Broadway debut in Noel Coward’s classic comedy Private Lives as Elyot, a newlywed who ditches his bride to …

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 01:12PM
Monday, November 21, 2011

Spider-Man's Rebecca Faulkenberry on Her 'Chastity Belt' Safety Harness and Destiny's Child Dance Parties by Michael Mellini

After making her Broadway debut as Sherrie in Rock of Ages earlier this year, Rebecca Faulkenberry is swinging into another Broadway romance as Spidey's gal pal Mary Jane Watson in Spide…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:20PM

Spider-Man's Rebecca Faulkenberry on Her 'Chastity Belt' Safety Harness and Destiny's Child Dance Parties by Michael Mellini

After making her Broadway debut as Sherrie in Rock of Ages earlier this year, Rebecca Faulkenberry is swinging into another Broadway romance as Spidey's gal pal Mary Jane Watson in Spide…

SOURCE: austin.broadway.com at 04:20PM
Friday, November 18, 2011

Hugh Jackman 'Beyond Excited' to Start to Work on 'Greatest' Musical Les Miserables by Michael Mellini

Tony winner Hugh Jackman doesn’t have any plans to stop singing once the run of his smash hit solo show, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway, concludes its limited run early next year. In F…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:30PM
Thursday, November 17, 2011

Anna Maria Perez de Tagle on Jumping from Hannah Montana Mean Girl to Godspell Sweetheart by Michael Mellini

Age & Hometown: 20; San Jose, CA Current Role: Making her Broadway debut singing “Day By Day” in the first Broadway revival of Godspell. Disney Days: Perez de Tagle fel…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 01:44PM
Tuesday, November 15, 2011

New Arachne Christina Sajous on Flying High in Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark by Michael Mellini

As Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark nears the end of its first year on Broadway, new principal cast members are starting to swing into the Foxwoods Theatre, including American Idiot and Baby It…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 05:14PM
Monday, November 14, 2011

Standing on Ceremony's Mark Consuelos on Gay Marriage, Officiating at Weddings & Life With Kelly Ripa by Michael Mellini

Mark Consuelos is among the initial cast of rotating stars in off-Broadway's Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays, which features nine short plays from acclaimed authors includin…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 01:46PM
Thursday, November 10, 2011

Former Jesus Victor Garber on Godspell’s Broadway Return: ‘It’s a Timeless Show’ by Michael Mellini

It was a meeting of the messiahs on November 7 as Tony-nominated Broadway icon Victor Garber attended the opening night of the first-ever Broadway revival of Godspell at Circle in the Square…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:05PM

Standing on Ceremony's Mark Consuelos Addresses Rumors of Joining Wife Kelly Ripa as Permanent Live Co-Host by Michael Mellini

As TV icon Regis Philbin readies to step down as co-host of the syndicated talk show Live With Regis and Kelly, rumors have swirled that Standing on Ceremony: The Gay Marriage Plays’ M…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 03:34PM
Wednesday, November 9, 2011

Mary-Louise Parker 'Thrilled' for Weeds Son and Godspell Star Hunter Parrish by Michael Mellini

Mother/son team Nancy and Silas Botwin may have spent season seven of TV's Weeds feuding over how to run the family drug business, but real life actors Mary-Louise Parker and Hunter Parr…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 05:29PM
Monday, October 31, 2011

Asuncion's Justin Bartha on Working with Pal Jesse Eisenberg, Hangover Fans and Harassing Michael Douglas by Michael Mellini

After reprising his role as part of the bad-boy posse in the summer comedy The Hangover Part II, Justin Bartha returned to the New York stage in a pair of plays from acclaimed young actors-t…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 05:25PM

Asuncion's Justin Bartha on Working with Pal Jesse Eisenberg, Hangover Fans and Harassing Michael Douglas by Michael Mellini

After reprising his role as part of the bad-boy posse in the summer comedy The Hangover Part II, Justin Bartha returned to the New York stage in a pair of plays from acclaimed young actors-t…

SOURCE: houston.broadway.com at 05:25PM
Thursday, October 27, 2011

Will Chase on Extending His Stint on TV's Smash: 'I’m Completely Freaking Happy' by Michael Mellini

Broadway vet Will Chase (Rent, Billy Elliot) will extend his previously reported recurring stint on the forthcoming NBC series Smash for five additional episodes, with an offer to become a s…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 12:31PM
Wednesday, October 26, 2011

The Book of Mormon Composer Robert Lopez Previews Broadway South Park Episode: 'Wicked is Trey Parker's Favorite Show' by Michael Mellini

Tony winner Robert Lopez recently reunited with his Book of Mormon co-composers Trey Parker and Matt Stone to write a Broadway-themed episode of their long-running animated series South Park…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 12:21PM
Friday, October 21, 2011

Hugh Jackman Prefers Tapping to Boxing, Jennifer Holliday's Still Got Pain and Other Lessons of the Week by Michael Mellini

Another week has come and gone on the Great White Way, and as always Broadway.com scoured the recent crop of headlines to deliver you the most important lessons we learned in the last seven …

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 06:09PM
Thursday, October 20, 2011

Book of Mormon's Josh Gad On His New MTV Series Good Vibes, Swapping Baby Stories with Pink and Picking Will Ferrell's Brain by Michael Mellini

The Book of Mormon's Tony-nominated star Josh Gad is hitting the beach as the star of MTV’s new surfer-themed animated comedy Good Vibes, which premieres on October 27. “I&rs…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 02:24PM

The Book of Mormon's Josh Gad On His New MTV Series Good Vibes, Swapping Baby Stories with Pink and Picking Will Ferrell's Brain by Michael Mellini

The Book of Mormon's Tony-nominated star Josh Gad is hitting the beach as the star of MTV’s new surfer-themed animated comedy Good Vibes, which premieres on October 27. “I&rs…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 02:24PM

Former Real-Life Nanny Steffanie Leigh on Flying to Her Broadway Debut in Mary Poppins by Michael Mellini

Age & Hometown: 24; Talent, OR Current Role: Making her Broadway debut as the “practically perfect” title nanny in Mary Poppins On the Road: Growing up near the home of…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 10:06AM
Monday, October 17, 2011

Magic Johnson Can't Wait to See Magic/Bird, Basketball Drama About His Career, 'Light Up the Stage' by Michael Mellini

The basketball drama Magic/Bird, which traces the fierce competitive streak and eventual friendship between NBA icons Earvin ‘Magic’ Johnson and Larry Bird, is readying to bounce…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 02:28PM
Monday, October 10, 2011

The Lyons' Linda Lavin Talks Departing Other Desert Cities and Admiring Jennifer Aniston by Michael Mellini

At 73, Tony winner Linda Lavin shows no signs of slowing down. In the last year alone, Lavin earned raves as the alcoholic aunt in Jon Robin Baitz's off-Broadway hit Other Desert Cities,…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:12PM
Friday, September 30, 2011

Sutton Foster is Ready for Primetime, Darren Criss Has a New Love Interest and Other Lessons of the Week by Michael Mellini

The weekend is here and you know what that means...it's time for Broadway.com's weekly Lessons of the Week! Take a look below to review all the busy happenings of this week and what …

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 07:45PM
Monday, September 26, 2011

Christine Lahti on Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling and Dressing Her Oscar in Barbie Clothes by Michael Mellini

As Sandra Cabot, a wealthy Connecticut women readying to host a lavish dinner party with old friends, Christine Lahti steps on stage in Adam Rapp's Dreams of Flying Dreams of Falling in …

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 01:24PM
Friday, September 23, 2011

Jeremy Jordan is Not a Porn Star, Kristin Chenoweth Cares About Your Cooter and Other Lessons of the Week by Michael Mellini

Wow, we learned a lot this week, about Broadway stars, reality TV stars, porn stars... Here it is, our weekly recap of the top ten nuggets of knowledge of the week!  Up-and-Comer Je…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 07:15PM

What's Up, Zuzanna Szadkowski? The Love, Loss and What I Wore Star Dishes on the New Season of Gossip Girl by Michael Mellini

TV fans know Zuzanna Szadkowski best as Dorota, the devoted maid of Blair Waldorf (Leighton Meester) on the scandalous hit Gossip Girl. While Szadkowski may spend her Gossip days in a unifor…

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 09:43AM
Tuesday, September 20, 2011

Champagne, Teary Audiences and Awestruck Stars! On the Scene at the World Premiere Reading of 8 by Michael Mellini

There weren’t any singing Mormons at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre on September 19. Instead, the stage was lined with two rows of blue directors chairs, standing ready for the slew …

SOURCE: Broadway.com at 04:09PM