All stories by Michael on BroadwayStars

Thursday, January 14, 2016

High-Tech Nerds Musical Books Broadway’s Longacre for Spring Opening by Robert Viagas and Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Promising "the most progressive technology ever seen on Broadway," Nerds, the new musical about tech giants Bill Gates and Steve Jobs, has booked Broadway's Longacre Theatre fo…

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:16AM
Tuesday, January 12, 2016

David Bowie, 1947-2016: David Bowie Allowed His Art to Deliver a Final Message by Joe Coscarelli and Michael Paulson

Mr. Bowie, who in his 50-year career reimagined the worlds of pop music, art and fashion, told very few people about the cancer that preceded his death on Sunday.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 10:31AM
Sunday, January 3, 2016

Thrse Raquin, Starring Keira Knightley, Plays Final Broadway Performance Today by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of Thérèse Raquin, featuring a new adaptation by Helen Edmundson, based upon the novel by Émile Zola, ends …

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, December 10, 2015

Cabaret National Tour Introduces Its Emcee and Sally Bowles by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The upcoming national tour of Kander and Ebb's Cabaret has announced that it will co-star Randy Harrison ("Queer As Folk," Wicked) and Andrea Gross, a cast member of the re…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:37AM
Monday, December 7, 2015

New Stars Announced to Succeed Idina Menzel, LaChanze and James Snyder in If/Then Tour by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Jackie Burns, who stood by for Idina Menzel in the Broadway production of If/Then, will step into the show's leading role for the remainder of the tour, beginning this January in Dallas,…

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:14AM
Tuesday, December 1, 2015

Letters: The generosity of Albert Hunt by Michael Randle and Brian Wood

Michael Randle writes: Albert Hunt was a conscientious objector to military service in the late 1940s, and a supporter of the cause of nuclear disarmament.I first met him in late 1958 when t…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 10:09AM
Sunday, November 29, 2015

“Frozen Fever” Makes Disney Channel Debut Tonight by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Walt Disney Animation Studios' short film "Frozen Fever," which welcomes the characters of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf back to the screen, makes its Disney Channel debut Nov.…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:18AM
Sunday, November 15, 2015

For Spike Lee, an Honorary Oscar, but Diversity Takes Center Stage by Michael Cieply and Brooks Barnes

Stung by criticism of its failure to nominate any black actors or directors last season, the Academy used its annual Governors Awards to face the issue head on.

SOURCE: The New York Times Subscription at 09:18PM
Friday, November 13, 2015

Alfie Boe Will Depart Broadway’s Les Misrables in February by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Alfie Boe, who currently plays Jean Valjean in the Broadway production of Les Misérables, will play his final performance Feb. 28, 2016, according to a production spokesperson.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:25AM
Thursday, November 5, 2015

On Your Feet!, Gloria Estefan Bio Musical, Opens on Broadway Tonight by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

On Your Feet!, the new musical based on the lives of seven-time Grammy winner Gloria Estefan and her husband, producer-musician-entrepreneur Emilio Estefan, officially opens on B…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Wednesday, November 4, 2015

“Frozen Fever” Will Make Disney Channel Debut by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Walt Disney Animation Studios' short film "Frozen Fever," which welcomes the characters of Anna, Elsa, Kristoff and Olaf back to the screen, will make its Disney Channel debut …

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:29PM
Thursday, October 29, 2015

Keira Knightley Makes Broadway Debut in Thrse Raquin, Opening Tonight by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of Thérèse Raquin, featuring a new adaptation by Helen Edmundson, based upon the novel by Émile Zola, offic…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, October 26, 2015

Nathan Lane and Debra Messing Are Part of Wesley Taylor’s Bridging the Gap Event Tonight by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Nathan Lane, Debra Messing, Stockard Channing and Billy Magnussen perform in Bridging the Gap and other short plays by Wesley Taylor, the sold-out Oct. 26 reading of six new 10-minut…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Friday, October 16, 2015

If/Then Tour, Starring Idina Menzel and Original Broadway Co-Stars, Opens Tonight by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The national tour of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical If/Then, featuring original stars Idina Menzel, LaChanze, Anthony Rapp and James Snyder, officially opens Oct. 16 at Denver's…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Tuesday, October 13, 2015

Idina Menzel Launches If/Then National Tour Tonight in Denver by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The national tour of the Tony-nominated Broadway musical If/Then, featuring original stars Idina Menzel, LaChanze, Anthony Rapp and James Snyder, launches Oct. 13 at Denver's Buell T…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Thursday, October 8, 2015

Act One, With Santino Fontana and Tony Shalhoub, Will Air on PBS in November by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Act One, the 2014 stage production based on the memoir of Broadway playwright, director and lyricist Moss Hart that starred Santino Fontana, Tony Shalhoub and Andrea Martin, will be broadcas…

SOURCE: Playbill at 04:50PM
Thursday, October 1, 2015

“It’s the Story of Caged Animals,” Says Keira Knightley of Thrse Raquin, Starting Tonight on Broadwa by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Roundabout Theatre Company's Broadway revival of Thérèse Raquin, featuring a new adaptation by Helen Edmundson, based upon the novel by Émile Zola, begin…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:00AM
Monday, September 28, 2015

Pics! Raven-Symon, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas Honor Debbie Allen At NYC Dance Alliance by Monica Simoes and Raven-Symoné, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Michael Douglas and More Honor Debbie Allen At Nyc Dance Alliance Gala

Stars came out to honor Emmy and Golden Globe Award-winning actress Debbie Allen (West Side Story, Sweet Charity) at NYC Dance Alliance Foundation at its Bright Lights Shining Stars Gala…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:25PM
Friday, September 25, 2015

Pasek and Paul’s Musical Dear Evan Hansen Sets New York Dates by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Dates have been set for the acclaimed new musical Dear Evan Hansen by Tony Award-nominated songwriters Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. According to an Actors Equity auditio…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:23PM

Complete Cast Revealed for If/Then Tour With Idina Menzel by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

Full casting has now been announced for the the national tour of If/Then, which will reunite original stars Idina Menzel, LaChanze, Anthony Rapp and James Snyder. The tour launches Oct. 13 i…

SOURCE: Playbill at 05:06PM
Thursday, September 17, 2015

Patti LuPone Makes Passionate Statement Regarding AT&T Football Tweet by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Olivier and two-time Tony Award winner Patti LuPone, who is currently filming the new season of the Showtime series "Penny Dreadful," has issued a statement to Playbill.com reg…

SOURCE: Playbill at 12:15PM
Wednesday, September 16, 2015

Two-Disc Hamilton Broadway Cast Album Will Hit Stores in October by Adam Hetrick and Michael Gioia

The two-disc, physical Broadway cast album of the new musical Hamilton, a fusion of hip-hop and pop-driven musical theatre, will arrive in stores Oct. 16.

SOURCE: Playbill at 11:27AM
Tuesday, September 8, 2015

Stage Version of Shakespeare in Love Completes Creative Team for North American Premiere by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Shakespeare in Love, a stage version of the Oscar-winning film of the same name that opened last summer at the West End's Noel Coward Theatre, will make its North American debut in 2…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:11PM
Friday, September 4, 2015

Look Who’s Joining Jayne Houdyshell, Sarah Steele, Reed Birney in Roundabout’s The Humans by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Lauren Klein and Arian Moayed have joined the cast of Pulitzer Prize finalist Stephen Karam's newest play, The Humans, which will make its New York debut Off-Broadway this f…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:42PM
Monday, August 31, 2015

Was Miley Cyrus in Talks to Star in Broadway’s Hedwig? by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Miley Cyrus, the twerking, tongue-wagging pop star who has earned more than $100 million in a career that has included five No. 1 albums, was considering making her Broadway debut in Hed…

SOURCE: Playbill at 03:05PM
Wednesday, August 26, 2015

Stockard Channing, Billy Magnussen and 11 More Join Nathan Lane and Debra Messing for Shorts by Wesl by Michael Gioia and Robert Viagas

Emmy and Tony Award winner Stockard Channing, "Into the Woods" star and Tony nominee Billy Magnussen and 11 others have joined the cast for the Oct. 26 reading of six new 10-mi…

SOURCE: Playbill at 01:41PM
Tuesday, August 25, 2015

Sarah Ruhl NY Premiere Part of Women’s Project Theater Season by Robert Viagas and Michael Gioia

Women's Project Theater, founded in 1978 to develop, produce and promote the work of women theatre artists, has announced its upcoming season lineup at its new artistic home under a new …

SOURCE: Playbill at 10:18AM
Friday, August 21, 2015

Shuler Hensley and Mandy Gonzalez Were Part of Reading of Sting Musical, Based on Classic Film by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

A reading of the new musical The Sting, based on the 1973 film of the same name, was held in Manhattan at the beginning of the month, according to the New York Post.

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:35AM
Thursday, August 20, 2015

The Verdict: Taye Diggs in Broadway’s Hedwig and the Angry Inch by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Stage and screen star Taye Diggs, who was part of the original company of Broadway's Rent, is currently starring in the Main Stem debut of Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the 2014 Tony Award…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:34AM

Hedwig Announces Lottery Changes for Final Weeks on Broadway by Andrew Gans and Michael Gioia

Changes in the ticket lottery system have been announced for Hedwig and the Angry Inch, the 2014 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Revival that will play its final performance at the Belas…

SOURCE: Playbill at 09:30AM

Ten years after Katrina: I thought that was it for New Orleans – video by Mae Ryan, Charlie Phillips, Jess Gormley and Chris Michael

It was predicted that New Orleans would take a decade to recover from Hurricane Katrina. On the 10th anniversary of the costliest natural disaster in US history, four residents from very dif…

SOURCE: The Guardian at 07:10AM