All stories by Ashley Lee on BroadwayStars

Thursday, December 17, 2015

First Look: Jesse Tyler Ferguson Is All Tangled Up in 'Fully Committed' Broadway Art (Exclusive) by Ashley Lee

The 'Modern Family' actor will play 40 characters in the one-man comedy about a restaurant reservations clerk coping with demanding bosses, megalomaniacal chefs and a constant stream of cele…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 08:30AM
Wednesday, December 16, 2015

Broadway's Restored Hudson Theatre to Reopen for 2016-17 Season by Ashley Lee

The landmark venue will be revamped as part of a multimillion-dollar project with Ambassador Theatre Group, who also reopened the Lyric Theatre.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 06:16PM
Friday, December 11, 2015

Jennifer Hudson, Danielle Brooks Fete the Bright and Dark Sides of Broadway's 'The Color Purple' by Ashley Lee

"With everything going on in society right now –- war, all the police brutality," the 'OITNB' actress lamented. "The beauty of it is you see someone that was so strong, get beat up and the…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:29AM
Wednesday, December 9, 2015

Inside the 'School of Rock' Musical's Poignant Ballads and Feminist References by Ashley Lee

"Kids today have so much pressure. ... They're not allowed to be kids because their parents are so focused on their adulthoods when they're in elementary school."read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 06:09PM
Monday, December 7, 2015

'Hamilton,' 'Fun Home' Cast Recordings Get Grammy Nominations by Ashley Lee

'The King and I,' 'An American in Paris' and 'Something Rotten!' also nabbed nods in the musical theater album category.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 12:44PM
Friday, December 4, 2015

'The Wiz': Hollywood Praises Diverse Cast, Ends "Hate-Watching" NBC Ritual (For Now) by Ashley Lee

Tyler Perry thanked NBC "for the courage to put this on the air," and Anna Kendrick said, "I don't even know how to be snarky about this."read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:53AM
Tuesday, December 1, 2015

'Waitress' Becomes First-Ever Broadway Musical With All-Female Creative Team by Ashley Lee

The stage adaptation of the 2007 indie includes director Diane Paulus and composer Sara Bareilles behind the scenes.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 04:01PM

Jerry Seinfeld Sets Monthly Residency at NYC's Beacon Theatre by Ashley Lee

The comedian will perform once a month through 2016.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:39AM
Monday, November 30, 2015

'The Wiz': Why NBC's Live Version Introduces "Empowered" Female Characters by Ashley Lee

Game-changing backstories are revealed for Shanice Williams and Queen Latifah's characters. Says director Kenny Leon: "Men are not speaking for them, and that’s the way it should be anyway…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:14AM
Tuesday, November 24, 2015

Asian Actors Onstage: Lea Salonga, Phillipa Soo Sound Off on Broadway Representation, Cultural Perceptions by Ashley Lee

The leading ladies of 'Hamilton' and 'Allegiance' weigh in on the current breakthrough season for diversity onstage and discuss what it means for Asian-American actors and stories: "Stop see…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 08:30AM
Sunday, November 22, 2015

Lea Salonga: Syrian Refugee Stance Is Too Familiar to Japanese-American Internment During WWII by Ashley Lee

The 'Allegiance' star noted the parallels between the George Takei musical and today's headlines, telling THR: "It's happening again."read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 09:00AM
Thursday, November 19, 2015

'Miss Saigon' Broadway Revival Set for Spring 2017 by Ashley Lee

The new production of Alain Boublil and Claude-Michel Schonberg's 1989 musical will briefly jump to Broadway after its hit London run.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 02:10PM
Wednesday, November 18, 2015

First Look: Jessie Mueller Serves a Slice With a Smile in Poster for Broadway's 'Waitress' (Exclusive) by Ashley Lee

The Tony winner stars as a pregnant, unhappily married diner server who bakes extraordinary pies in the new musical adapted from the 2007 indie film with Keri Russell.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 08:30AM
Monday, November 16, 2015

Bruce Willis: Broadway Version of Stephen King's 'Misery' "Is Just as Funny as It Is Scary" by Ashley Lee

In a new staging of the 1990 Rob Reiner film, Willis is injured author Paul Sheldon, who is imprisoned by his unhinged "number one fan," played by Laurie Metcalf.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 08:00AM
Tuesday, November 10, 2015

How George Takei, Lea Salonga Bring Joy to WWII Internment Camp Musical 'Allegiance' by Ashley Lee

"Resilience isn't just teeth-gritting, bullet-biting strength; it's also the strength to be able to find joy and love under harsh circumstances," said Takei of the Broadway show.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 11:57AM
Monday, November 9, 2015

Marketing Musicals in the Digital Age: Sara Bareilles' 'Waitress' Reaches Beyond Broadway by Ashley Lee

Familiarizing potential audience members with a new score before the show opens could provide a useful leg-up at the box office.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 01:50PM
Saturday, November 7, 2015

Watch 'Hamilton' Star Lin-Manuel Miranda Freestyle Rap About Drake, Darth Vader on 'Tonight Show' by Ashley Lee

"The vice president shot him! Dick Cheney was not the first VP to shoot his friend!" he joked of Aaron Burr.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 01:05AM
Friday, November 6, 2015

Gloria Estefan Broadway Musical 'On Your Feet!' Feted: "This Is What an American Looks Like" by Ashley Lee

"How did [Alex Dinerlaris] write words that are more relevant today than they were then, with demagogues spewing racism and bigotry?" said producer Bernie Yuman, referencing Donald Trump.rea…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 12:18PM
Friday, October 30, 2015

Keira Knightley on the Lack of Women Playwrights on Broadway: "There Are Very, Very Few" Interesting Roles by Ashley Lee

"We need to be telling stories about women and for women," said Knightley's co-star Gabriel Ebert. "This is an important time to educate girls and give them heroines they can believe in."rea…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 02:57AM
Thursday, October 29, 2015

Steven Pasquale to Star in 'Robber Bridegroom' Off-Broadway Revival by Ashley Lee

Alex Timbers will direct the bluegrass musical comedy 40 years after it opened on Broadway, where it originally starred Kevin Kline and Patti LuPone.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 01:34PM
Tuesday, October 27, 2015

'Hamilton' to Gift 20,000 NYC Public School Students with Show Tickets by Ashley Lee

The 2016 program will make the American history-based production accessible to 11th-grade students with $10 tickets to exclusive Wednesday matinees, complete with a cast Q&A.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:44AM
Tuesday, October 20, 2015

'Eclipsed' to Transfer to Broadway, Lupita Nyong'o to Reprise Starring Role by Ashley Lee

Danai Gurira of 'The Walking Dead' penned the acclaimed new play, which will open at the Golden Theatre in March.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 09:59AM
Wednesday, October 14, 2015

Watch 'School of Rock' Musical's 360-Degree Music Video for "You're In the Band" by Ashley Lee

Composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and 'Downton Abbey' creator Julian Fellowes are behind the Broadway adaptation of the 2003 Jack Black film.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 03:12PM
Thursday, October 8, 2015

Andrew Rannells Coronated in Broadway's 'Hamilton' by Ashley Lee

The Tony-nominated 'Book of Mormon' alum will play King George while Jonathan Groff shoots HBO's 'Looking' film.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 03:21PM
Tuesday, October 6, 2015

Damian Lewis, Lily Rabe Portray Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor in 'Cleopatra'-Based Play by Ashley Lee

Directed by Bob Balaban and penned by The New Yorker's Lawrence Wright, 'Cleo' peeks behind the scenes of the expensive epic when the two stars began their scandalous love affair.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 08:00AM
Tuesday, September 29, 2015

'CSI' Creator to Pen 'Soul Train' Musical for Broadway by Ashley Lee

The project reteams Anthony E. Zuiker with 'Rock of Ages' producer Matthew Weaver, who acquired the theatrical stage rights to the TV show last year and paired with Zuiker on 'The Harlem Glo…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 01:32PM
Saturday, September 26, 2015

Inside Darren Criss' Plan to Create an Annual Music Festival With Broadway Performers by Ashley Lee

The inaugural Elsie Fest at New York City’s JBL Live at Pier 97 features Lea Salonga, Leslie Odom, Jr. and Aaron Tveit singing showtunes, pop covers and even Disney hits amidst a beer gard…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 01:31AM
Thursday, September 24, 2015

Sara Bareilles' Fourth Album Previews Songs From 'Waitress' Broadway Musical by Ashley Lee

'What's Inside: Songs From Waitress' includes numbers from the Broadway musical adaptation of the 2007 film, for which she wrote the music and lyrics. read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 10:30AM
Tuesday, September 22, 2015

Glenn Close to Reprise Starring Role in 'Sunset Boulevard' on West End by Ashley Lee

The actress will make her West End debut as Norma Desmond, the same role for which she won the Tony in 1995.read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 02:58PM

Andrew Rannells' Industry Advice for Young Actors: Eye Longevity, Not Instant Gratification (Q&A) by Ashley Lee

The actor tells THR about his life-changing YoungArts experience: "You start to learn about what a life in the arts might look and feel like. It's not for everyone, but you won't know unless…

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 08:30AM
Monday, September 21, 2015

Famed Dancer Michael Flatley to Retire After 'Lord of the Dance: Dangerous Games' on Broadway by Ashley Lee

The hit London production will play a limited engagement from Nov. 7 through Jan. 3. read more

SOURCE: The Hollywood Reporter at 01:21PM

All that Chat

2024-2025 BROADWAY SEASON
Jun 05, 2024: Home - Todd Haimes Theatre
Jul 30, 2024: Job - Hayes Theater
Sep 12, 2024: The Roommate - Booth Theatre
Nov 14, 2024: Tammy Faye - Palace Theatre
Nov 17, 2024: Elf - Marquis Theatre
Dec 12, 2024: Cult of Love - Hayes Theater
Dec 19, 2024: Gypsy - Majestic Theatre
Mar 17, 2025: Purpose - Hayes Theater
Apr 10, 2025: Smash - Imperial Theatre