Hottest Articles on BWW from Monday, May. 21

1) INDUSTRY INSIGHT: Weekly Grosses Analysis - 5/21; EVITA Breaks Marquis Record

Welcome to this week's edition of our new WEEKLY GROSSES ANALYSIS, part of our new Industry Insights section that will feature insider industry information, commentary and insights! Read on for all the weekly grosses statistics for the movers and shakers from the latest grosses, 5/20/2012. (more...)

2) SMASH to Cast 3 New Regulars for Season 2!

Season 1 of NBC's new series about the making of a musical, SMASH, ended on Monday, May 14, and according to TVLine, the series is already casting three new regulars fro season two. Jining the line-up next season will be 'Courney'- "incredibly attractive and confident, but also open-minded and non-judgmental;" 'Danny'- "a straight, working class fella in his mid-20s and from Brooklyn;" and 'Joe'- "gay, very cute, incredibly open and optimistic." (more...)

3) ANNIE to Play the Palace Theatre on Broadway; Previews Begin on October 3, Opens November 8, 2012!

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning classic musical, will play the legendary Palace Theatre (1567 Broadway at 47th Street) on Broadway. ANNIE will begin previews Wednesday, October 3 and will open Thursday, November 8, 2012. (more...)

4) 2012 Tony Awards Clip Countdown - Day 10: RENT Owns

RENT owned the 90s. No other Broadway show managed to have the dual impact on society by becoming not only a pop culture phenomenon, but also changing perceptions of what a musical on Broadway could be - and, most importantly, how it could sound. Contemporary, cool, caustic and engaging, RENT updated LA BOHEME to the East Village just as Jonathan Larson updated the way the general public looked at Broadway at a time when musicals had fallen farther out of fashion than they had since their early years approaching the turn of the last century. Yet, at the end of the millennium - to quote one of the show's lyrics - RENT represented the hopes, dreams and desires of many Broadway babies and what we hoped would be achieved on the Great White Way in the new century. While SPRING AWAKENING, AMERICAN IDIOT and NEXT TO NORMAL certainly stand as solid continuations of the rock musical formula recalibrated and made anew in the mold made by RENT, no show since RENT has quite managed to have the cultural impact and win over audiences and critics alike in as major a way as that Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical has - with the exception, perhaps, of WICKED, which obviously owes a debt to its Oz-ian source inspiration and the built-in audience that comes along with that. Yes, indeed, RENT represents an entire generation in its sound, style, ideals and overall feeling, mood and tone and the subsequent success of the many members of the simply astounding assortment of talents that comprised the original cast acts as evidence that the show may have had the cast of the decade, as well. (more...)

5) 2012 Tony Awards Clip Countdown - Day 10: RENT Owns

RENT owned the 90s. No other Broadway show managed to have the dual impact on society by becoming not only a pop culture phenomenon, but also changing perceptions of what a musical on Broadway could be - and, most importantly, how it could sound. Contemporary, cool, caustic and engaging, RENT updated LA BOHEME to the East Village just as Jonathan Larson updated the way the general public looked at Broadway at a time when musicals had fallen farther out of fashion than they had since their early years approaching the turn of the last century. Yet, at the end of the millennium - to quote one of the show's lyrics - RENT represented the hopes, dreams and desires of many Broadway babies and what we hoped would be achieved on the Great White Way in the new century. While SPRING AWAKENING, AMERICAN IDIOT and NEXT TO NORMAL certainly stand as solid continuations of the rock musical formula recalibrated and made anew in the mold made by RENT, no show since RENT has quite managed to have the cultural impact and win over audiences and critics alike in as major a way as that Tony Award-winning and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical has - with the exception, perhaps, of WICKED, which obviously owes a debt to its Oz-ian source inspiration and the built-in audience that comes along with that. Yes, indeed, RENT represents an entire generation in its sound, style, ideals and overall feeling, mood and tone and the subsequent success of the many members of the simply astounding assortment of talents that comprised the original cast acts as evidence that the show may have had the cast of the decade, as well. (more...)

6) Encores! 20th Anniversary Season to Feature FIORELLO!, IT'S A BIRD...IT'S A PLANE...IT'S SUPERMAN, ON YOUR TOES & Gala with Esparza & O'Hara!

The 20th Anniversary season of New York City Center's Tony Award-winning Encores! series will open on January 30, 2013 with Fiorello!, the show that launched the series in 1994. The season will continue with It's a Bird...It's a Plane...It's Superman, followed by On Your Toes. A Gala Encores! at 20 Celebration on November 12, 2012 will star Tony Award nominees and Encores! alumni Rauil Esparza and Kelli O'Hara. (more...)

7) Photo Flash: BROADWAY BARES: Beach Burlesque Returns 6/2- First Look!

BROADWAY BARES returns to Fire Island on June 2, 2012, for two special, intimate performances celebrating "beach burlesque" in what promises to be another sexy kick-off to the summer season. Presented by Fire Island Pines Art Project, BROADWAY BARES: BEACH BURLESQUE is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Check out promo shots for the event below! (more...)

8) STAGE TUBE: Batman Auditions for Broadway's SPIDER-MAN!

Broadway's SPIDER-MAN, which has now been open at the Foxwoods Theatre for almost a year, has likey seen its fair share of hopeful auditionees, all wanting to wear the blue and red suit. In the video below, check out some hilarious 'lost audition footage' of Batman auditionaing for the title role! (more...)

9) STAGE TUBE: Nick Jonas Says Goodbye at HOW TO SUCCEED's Last Performance

Nick Jonas gave a goodbye speech at the final performance of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying on Broadway, May 20, 2012. He spoke about his return to Broadway "as a man," acknowledged Daniel Radcliffe and Darren Criss for their hard work and talent in the role of J. Pierrepont Finch before him, and talked about the support and artistry of his fellow cast members, the producers, and his love for the audience and this "great show." Watch the video below! (more...)

10) Annaleigh Ashford, Lindsay Mendez and More to Lead Pasek & Paul's DOGFIGHT at Second Stage Theatre

Second Stage Theatre has announced the casting for its upcoming world premiere musical, DOGFIGHT. (more...)

11) BWW TV: At The 2012 Drama League Awards - Blair Underwood, Christian Borle, Alan Menken and More!

Richard Ridge continues his interviews with honorary co-chairs Christine Lahti, RoseMary Harris and Christian Borle, nominees Blair Underwood (A Streetcar Named Desire), Jeremy Shamos (Clybourne Park), Michael Cristofer (The Intelligent Homosexual's Guide to Capitalism and Socialism), Mary Testa (Queen of the Mist), Alan Menken (Distinguished Achievement in Musical Theatre Award), Capathia Jenkins and Kara Lindsay, Ben Fankhauser, John Dossett, Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Harvey Fierstein and Jack Feldman (Distinguished Production of a Musical - Newsies), Jeremy Jordan (Newsies, Bonnie and Clyde), Celia Keenan-Bolger (Peter and the Starcatcher), Santino Fontana (Sons of the Prophet), Jessie Mueller (On A Clear Day You Can See Forever), Leslie Odom Jr (Leap of Faith), Annaleigh Ashford (RENT), Tracie Bennett (End of the Rainbow) and more! (more...)

12) Stephanie J. Block, Sebastian Arcelus, Lauren Kennedy, Josh Young et al. Set for BABY Concert, 6/18

Transport Group, the Drama Desk and OBIE award-winning theatre company, has announced initial casting for its one-night-only, all-star concert of the acclaimed 1983 Broadway musical Baby, which will take place Monday, June 18 at 7pm at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, 121 Christopher Street. Additional casting will be announced at a later date. (more...)

13) BWW Interviews: BUNHEADS Sutton Foster on Braving the Small Screen and Why She'll Always Come Back to Broadway

Sutton Foster took time out from her busy filming schedule on the LA set of BUNHEADS to chat about why she made the decision to take on a TV role at this point in her career and her future plans to return to the Broadway stage. (more...)

14) STAGE TUBE: Alan Menken and Harvey Fierstein Highlight NEWSIES on Theater Talk

Our focus is "Newsies," the crowd-pleasing musical nominated for 8 Tony Awards. Joining us at our grand piano are the show's composer Alan Menken, and librettist Harvey Fierstein (both also nominated for Tony Awards), who describe the popular show's incubation period, and perform several of the show's best songs, plus a couple of others that didn't make the cut. Menken also shares a tune from the score of the original 1992 movie of "Newsies," which won him that year's "Razzie "Award for Worst Song. (more...)

15) RIALTO CHATTER: Roundabout Theatre Company to Revive CYRANO DE BERGERAC on Broadway; Previews Begin Sept. 14

According to an Equity casting notice posted today, it seems the Roundabout Theatre Company will be presenting a revival of Cyrano de Bergerac at the American Airlines Theatre this fall. Previews are listed as begining Sepember 14, 2012 in anticipation of a limited run ending December 9, 2012. Rehearsals will begin August 14, 2012. (more...)

16) BWW TV: At The 2012 Drama League Awards Part 2 - John Laroquette, Audra McDonald, Linda Lavin and More!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge brings you interviews with the stars in attendance at the 78th Annual Drama League Awards luncheon, held yesterday, May 18. Below, Ridge speaks with co-hosts John Larouquette and Stockard Channing, presenter Donna Murphy, honorary co-chairs Cynthia Nixon and Judith Light, nominees Audra McDonald and Norm Lewis (The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess), Linda Lavin (The Lyons), Nicky Silver (The Lyons), Russell Harvard (Tribes), Da'Vine Joy Randolph (Ghost), Cristin Milioti (Once), Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara and Joe DiPietro (Nick Work If You Can Get It) and more! (more...)

17) STAGE TUBE: John Legend, Jordin Sparks Pay Tribute to Whitney Houston at BILLBOARD AWARDS

Jordin Sparks and John Legend paid tribute to the late, great Whitney Houston at last night's 2012 Billboard Music Awards. The moving performance brought tears to the star's daughter, Bobbi Kristina as Sparks sung her mother's hit single "I Will Always Love You", and Legend gave his rendition of "The Greatest Love of All." (more...)

18) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/21- GYPSY

Today in 1959, Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 702 performances. Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including "Small World," "Everything's Coming up Roses", "Some People", "Let Me Entertain You", and "Rose's Turn". (more...)

19) AN OFFICER AND A GENTLEMAN Scribe Responds to Negative Reviews

An Officer and a Gentleman, directed by Simon Philips and co-written by Douglas Day Stewart and composer and lyricist team Ken Hirsch and Robin Lerner, made its world premiere performance on May 18 at the Lyric Theater in Sydney, Australia. Despite the hype of the much anticipated musical, which is believed to have Broadway aspirations, the production was received with little enthusiasm by many critics (revisit the Review Roundup here). Now, the movie and show's scribe, Douglas Day Stewart, has taken to the media to defend the piece in an open letter in The Australian against their negative reaction. (more...)

20) TV Preview: Mike Myers, Sheryl Crow & More Honor Burt Bacharach and Hal David at the White House; Premieres on PBS Tonight, 5/21

The White House program, which was taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as part of the "In Performance at the White House" series, will premiere on PBS stations nationwide tonight, May 21, 2012 at 9 p.m. EDT (check local listings) as "Burt Bacharach & Hal David: The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song In Performance at the White House." BroadwayWorld has just received preview clips of tonight's broadcast and brings them to you below! Click to watch Mike Myers, Sheryl Crow, Smokie Robinson and more honor the musical greats at the White House presentation and be sure to tune into PBS tonight for the full show. (more...)