Hottest Articles on BWW from Friday, Jul. 6

1) Photo Coverage: Opening Night of Muny's ALADDIN! Robin De Jesus, John Tartaglia, Samantha Massell & More!

It's "A Whole New World" as The Muny presents the third show of its 94th season, Disney's Aladdin, which opened through July 13, directed by Gary Griffin, and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. BWW is excited to present a first look at photos from the production and the cast on opening night! (more...)

2) BroadwayWorld Releases Updates for iPhone, iPad & Android Apps!

Today, July 6, we've released updates to our applications for the iPhone, iPad and Android devices which now feature an improved login system (login once and forget it), multitasking improvements, speed improvements, an updated player for BWW radio, access to your BWIDB Personalized News Feed and other miscellaneous fixes and enhancements. (more...)

3) The Addams Family's Krysta Rodriguez Joins SMASH Season 2 as Series Regular!

According to TVLine, The Addams Family's Krysta Rodriguez is set to play series regular Ana in Smash Season 2. (more...)

4) Broadway Video Technician Jason Lindahl Found Dead

The NY Daily News reports that a corpse which washed up in the Hudson River on Sunday, has been identified as Broadway technician Jason Lindahl. The 27-year-old was a production video technician for the Broadway musical 'Ghost.' (more...)

5) STAGE TUBE: BRING IT ON Releases New Musical Montage!

Direct from a 13-city National Tour, Bring It On: The Musical begins previews on Broadway on Thursday, July 12, and opens Wednesday, August 1, 2012 at The St. James Theatre for a 12-week limited engagement through Sunday, October 7, 2012. A new musical montage of the production has just been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below! (more...)

6) Idina Menzel Confirmed For UK Shows In October 2012!

One year on from her triumphant concert at London's Royal Albert Hall, the Tony Award- winning star of Wicked and TV's Glee, Idina Menzel will return to the UK. Idina will play the West End's Apollo Theatre for one week only from Monday 8th to Sunday 14th October, followed by regional UK dates at Edinburgh's Usher Hall on Tuesday 16th October, and Manchester's Palace Theatre on Wednesday 17th October. (more...)

7) Friday Fun Photo Flash: Elaine Stritch Makes Appearance in DARK KNIGHT RISES Ad?

The "Rise" posters all around New York City are getting movie fans excited for the upcoming film THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, but put three in a row, and all some theatre fans can think of is the iconic Elaine Stritch singing the Sondheim classic 'Ladies Who Lunch'. (more...)

8) STAGE TUBE: ALADDIN at The Muny - Opening Night Highlights!

It's "A Whole New World" as The Muny presents the third show of its 94th season, Disney's Aladdin, which runs through July 13, directed by Gary Griffin and choreographed by Alex Sanchez. Check out the video below for highlights from the show's opening night! (more...)

9) BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: CHEWING THE SCENERY WITH Randy Rainbow Ep. 8 - A PORGY AND BESS Performance, Minnelli, Stritch & More!

It's time for episode eight of BWW's newest exclusive TV series - CHEWING THE SCENERY WITH Randy Rainbow! In this week's episode, Randy 'chats' with Elaine Stritch and Liza Minnelli about this past week's biggest theatre news, including Broadway closings, Cher's new musical, Jennifer Hudson on SMASH and more! (more...)

10) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 7/6- Claude-Michel Schonberg

Happy Birthday Claude-Michel Schonberg! Schonberg is best known for his collaborations with the lyricist Alain Boublil. Thier stage musical version of Victor Hugo's Les Miserables, which opened at the Palais de Sports in Paris in 1980, opened to acclaim in London in 1985 and on Broadway in 1987. In 1989, their success continued with the musical Miss Saigon, which starred Lea Salonga and Jonathan Pryce. Schonberg's next project with Boublil was The Pirate Queen, a musical about the 16th century Irish pirate, chieftain and adventuress Grace O'Malley, which opened on Broadway on April 5 2007. (more...)

11) Chenoweth, Stamos et al. Set For LIVE! WITH KELLY

John Leguizamo, Kristin Chenoweth, John Stamos and more stars of Broadway will join host Kelly Ripa on next week's LIVE! WITH KELLY on ABC. The Emmy-award winning morning talk show airs weekdays from 9:00 - 10:00 am/ET. (more...)

12) BWW Polls: What Is Your Favorite Broadway Summer Song?

It's hot, hot, hot in New York City right now, with temperatures soon soaring to the 100 degree mark because of a coming heat wave. While NYC residents will likely spend the weekend huddled at the closest air conditioner, this is the perfect occasion to celebrate the season with a bit of a Broadway twist (more...)

13) FLASH FRIDAY: SINGIN' IN THE RAIN Splashes Back

Slipping and sliding back into Fathom-equipped movie theaters nationwide for one night only on July 12 in honor of its sixtieth anniversary, the iconic and legendary 1952 movie musical masterpiece SINGIN' IN THE RAIN makes its grand return to the silver screen in a brand new HD remastering that any movie musical fan, film fanatic or Broadway baby will definitely want to see first hand. A special event presented by Turner Classic Movies - also featuring an exclusive behind-the-scenes documentary hosted by Robert Osborne and featuring original film star Debbie Reynolds - the July 12 showing of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN is one more enduring entry in a continuing series of classic releases shown in HD for the first time in Fathom-equipped movie theaters across the country prior to their release on Blu-ray - past highlighted films have included SCARFACE, WEST SIDE STORY, THE SOUND OF MUSIC, CASABLANCA and many more. So, in celebration of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN splashing its way back to cinemas next week, today we are going to take a look back at some of the most well-known and best-loved scenes from the film - boasting a star-studded cast led by Gene Kelly, Donald O'Conner and Debbie Reynolds; directed by Kelly and Stanley Donen, with songs by Nacio Herb Brown and movie musical magnate Arthur Freed - as well as partake in the many famous and infamous homages paying tribute to the rightly well-regarded movie musical gem over the years. Gene Kelly to Gwyneth Paltrow to Kurt Browning to Usher; GLEE to THE MUPPET SHOW to FAMILY GUY; A CLOCKWORK ORANGE to FAME to SPAMALOT and far, far beyond; this retrospective look at one of the most important and influential - and just plain fun - American movie musicals ever produced certainly has it all; and then some! Ain't it great to stay up late? (more...)

14) Liza Minnelli Set For GOOD AFTERNOON AMERICA Premiere, 7/9

The legendary Liza Minnelli, who just took her latest concert tour 'Confessions' to Canada with a critcally-acclaimed appearance at the Montreal Jazz Festival, will appear on the premiere episode of ABC's new daytime series GOOD AFTERNOON AMERICA on Monday, July 9th. (more...)

15) LEAP OF FAITH's Leslie Odom Jr. Moves Up to Series Regular in SMASH Season 2!

According to Deadline, LEAP OF FAITH's Leslie Odom Jr. has just been moved from a recurring character to a series regular for NBC's Smash Season 2. (more...)

16) Photo Coverage: POTTED POTTER Invades NASDAQ MarketSite to Ring Closing Bell

Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience – A Parody by Dan and Jeff rang the NASDAQ Closing Bell yesterday, July 5th, at the NASDAQ MarketSite, 4 Times Square. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you complete photo coverage of the experience below! (more...)

17) THIS WEEK IN PICTURES: June 30- July 6

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: LA welcomes THE EXORCIST, DOGFIGHT hits Second Stage, Christian leaves STARCATCHER, and so much more! (more...)

18) Mark Rylance Drops Out of 2012 Summer Olympics Opening Ceremony

Tony winner Mark Rylance, who was set to perform in the Shakespeare-inspired opening ceremony for the 2012 Summer Olympics, has dropped out of the event due to a death in his family. Rylance said in a statement through The Old Globe: "our beloved daughter and sister Nataasha passed away of unsuspected natural causes early on Sunday morning." (more...)

19) Photo Flash: Benedict Cumberbatch, Geri Halliwell and More at Royal Court's BIRTHDAY PARTY Fundraiser!

The Royal Court Theatre celebrated Joe Penhall's new play, BIRTHDAY, with a pre-show Moet & Chandon champagne yesterday before watching the performance. Among those in attendance for the after party were actor Benedict Cumberbatch, former Spice Girl Geri Halliwell, BIRTHDAY cast members Stephen Mangan and Lisa Dillon, and more. Scroll down for photos! (more...)

20) Henry Woronicz and Brian Ellingsen to Lead AN ILIAD at La Jolla Playhouse

La Jolla Playhouse has just announced casting for its upcoming production of An Iliad, a one-man adaptation of Homer's classic tale, adapted by Denis O'Hare (Tony Award-winning actor in Take Me Out) and Lisa Peterson (director of The Playhouse's Surf Report and Be Aggressive), based on a translation by Robert Fagles, directed by Lisa Peterson. A co-production with Berkeley Repertory Theatre, An Iliad features Henry Woronicz as the "Poet," with Brian Ellingsen as the "Musician" and runs August 11 – September 9 in the Mandell Weiss Forum. (more...)