Hottest Articles on BWW from Thursday, May. 10

1) STAGE TUBE: Jessica Sanchez Wows with DREAMGIRLS on AMERICAN IDOL!

Last night on 'American Idol' pint-sized powerhouse Jessica Sanchez wowed the judges with her performance of 'And I'm Telling You,' but they weren't the only ones who were impressed. Original 'Effie' Jennifer Holliday wrote on her Twitter page: 'Yes,I was at home watching when Jessica Sang My Song 2Nite.. My Heart was beating fast &I was overwhelmed! So PROUD!' (more...)

2) CHAPLIN to Open at Broadway's Barrymore Theatre in September 2012; Warren Carlyle to Direct

CHAPLIN, a new musical depicting the life of film icon Charlie Chaplin, with music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and book by three-time Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Christopher Curtis, will open on Broadway on Monday, September 10, 2012 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Acclaimed director/choreographer Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway) directs and choreographs the production. Casting and additional creative team to be announced soon. (more...)

3) Photo Flash: Cover Revealed for New EVITA Broadway Cast Album!

Under the MASTERWORKS BROADWAY label, the New Broadway Cast Recording of Evita was recorded in April in anticipation of a June 19th 2012 release. The album is now available for pre-order on Amazon.com. The album cover art has just been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below! (more...)

4) STAGE TUBE: New ROCK OF AGES Trailer Released!

ROCK OF AGES will open in theaters on June 15, 2012. The film stars Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx, along with Diego Boneta as "Drew," Julianne Hough as "Sherrie," Russell Brand as "Lonny," Alec Baldwin as "Dennis," Mary J. Blige as "Justice," Brian Cranston as the Mayor, Malin Ackerman as "Constance Sack," Paul Giamatti as "Paul Gill," and Catherine Zeta-Jones as the "Mayor's Wife." Check out a new, just-released trailer for the film below! (more...)

5) DREAMWORKS' HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR Launches In North America This Summer Starring Riley Miner

This summer, audiences across North America will experience the magic of fire-breathing dragons that soar through arena skies in DREAMWORKS' HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR. Dreamworks Animation SKG, Inc. (Nasdaq: DWA), Global Creatures and S2BN Entertainment today announced HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON LIVE SPECTACULAR will embark on a worldwide tour following its critically-acclaimed debut in Australia and New Zealand. The tour will be produced by RZO Dragon Productions to deliver 23 dragons, some with wingspans of up to 46 feet, Viking warriors and world-class circus artists and acrobats, to perform against a state-of-the-art, wall-to-floor immersive projection measuring more than 20,000 square feet. (more...)

6) Photo Flash: Inside Opening Night of FOLLIES in LA!

James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which was just nominated for eight Tony Awards, opened last night, May 9 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances of the exclusive Los Angeles engagement of the Kennedy Center's critically acclaimed Broadway production of Follies will continue through June 9, 2012. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night festivities below! (more...)

7) STAGE TUBE: Jan Maxwell, Danny Burstein, Ron Raines Talk FOLLIES!

James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's Follies, which was just nominated for eight Tony Awards, opened last night, May 9 at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre. Performances of the exclusive Los Angeles engagement of the Kennedy Center's critically acclaimed Broadway production of Follies will continue through June 9, 2012. In the video below, Tony nominees Jan Maxwell, Ron Raines, and Danny Burstein chat about the production. Click below to check it out! (more...)

8) LOVE NEVER DIES to Air on PBS Stations Beginning June 2

PBS today announced that LOVE NEVER DIES is part of special programming premiering on PBS stations beginning June 2, 2012 (check local listings). LOVE NEVER DIES, Andrew Lloyd Webber's follow-up musical to THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, is based on the book by Ben Elton and features the new Australian production filmed in Melbourne. (more...)

9) NY Times Critics Make Tony Picks; 78% Accurate in 2011

Last week, the 2012 Tony Awards Nominations were announced by Tony winning actress Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy and Golden Globe-winning actor Jim Parsons, officially launching Tony season in New York City. This morning, New York Times theatre critics Ben Brantley and Charles Isherwood, whose 2011 predictions averaged 78% accuracy, picked this year's winners. CLICK HERE to check out who they thinkwill and should win in 2012! (more...)

10) Jonathan Larson to be Honored Posthumously at NBLCA's 25th Anniversary Benefit Reception; Anthony Rapp, Phil Ramone and Tiki Barber to Chair

National Black Leadership Commission on AIDS, Inc. (NBLCA) will host its 25th Anniversary Choose Life Awards Hall of Hope and Remembrance Benefit Reception on Thursday, June 7, 2012, at 583 Park Avenue in New York City. (more...)

11) FORBIDDEN BWAY to Return in July After 3-Year Hiatus!

According to the New York Times, theatre review Forbidden Broadway, which began back in 1982 and hasn't been seen in New York City since 2009, will make a return this summer. Creator Gerard Alessandrini revealed that previews will begin on July 17 at the 47th Street Theater. Shows set to be spoofed this time around include: Ghost, Spider-Man, Newsies, Once, and more. (more...)

12) BWW TV Special: 2012 Tony Nominees - Michael Cerveris on Transforming into Juan Peron!

BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was thrilled to sit down and speak with nearly all of this year's Tony Award nominees at the official Tony Brunch on May 2, 2012, and we will be bringing you special coverage on all of them throughout the awards season. Today we bring you Michael Cerveris, nominee for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Evita. (more...)

13) Photo Flash: Hugh Jackman and Isabelle Allen on LES MIS Film Set!

The Les Miserables film just released a new Facebook photo featuring Hugh Jackman (Jean Valjean) chatting with Isabelle Allen (Young Cosette) on the Les Mis film set. Check out the photo below! (more...)

14) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 5/10- TARZAN

Today in 2006, Tarzan opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre, where it ran for 486 performances. Tarzan: The Musical is based on the Disney film of the same name and the story by Edgar Rice Burroughs. The songs are written by Phil Collins and David Zippel, with a book by David Henry Hwang. The production was nominated for a Tony award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Natasha Katz). The cast Featured Josh Strickland, Jennifer Gambatese, Shuler Hensley, Merle Dandridge and Chester Gregory. (more...)

15) Broadway & Vine Fund Launches to Adapt New Musicals; FLAMINGO KID First Project!

Jed Bernstein (Broadway Producer), Bob Israel (Movie Producer and Entertainment Marketing Executive), and Rich Battista (Entertainment and Media Executive) have announced the launch of The Broadway & Vine Fund, specifically dedicated to optioning movie titles for adaptation as musicals, commissioning creative teams to develop scripts, and staging the first readings and presentations. For any projects deemed worthy of further development, additional fundraising will be undertaken. (more...)

16) STAGE TUBE: Katharine McPhee & Megan Hilty Talk SMASH Season 1

Next week on the season finale of SMASH, the big night is finally here. Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing) race against time to save the show, while Derek (Jack Davenport) makes a decision that will change the lives of Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty) foreveR. Ellis (Jaime Cepero) reveals his true colors. But when he finally makes his move to save "Bombshell," will it be for or against Eileen (Anjelica Huston)? In the midst of it all, another bombshell goes off – this one is in Karen and Dev's (Raza Jaffrey) relationship. In the video below, Hilty and McPhee chat about their favorite moments of season one. Click below to check it out! (more...)

17) Broadway-Bound FLASHDANCE to Hold Summer Workshop!

The new musical FLASHDANCE, which was scheduled to play a pre-Broadway engagement in Toronto this summer, has announced a postponement of the Toronto engagement. The show's producers were planning on moving the production directly from Toronto to Broadway. Due to scheduling issues, the Broadway production has been postponed until the spring. (more...)

18) BWW TV: Inside the SUBMISSIONS ONLY Season 2 Wrap Party - Andrew Keenan-Bolger, Kate Wetherhead, Santino Fantana and More!

"Submissions Only," Broadway's favorite behind-the-scenes sitcom, wrapped its second season on April 27 with an all-star guest line-up lincluding Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Nick Jonas, Harvey Fierstein, Kerry Butler, Jackie Hoffman, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Lea DeLaria, John McDaniel, Molly Ranson and cast members from Newsies. BroadwayWorld was on hand at the show's celebratory wrap party on Monday, May 7, to chat with the show's stars and creative team. Click below to go inside the party! (more...)

19) Photo Flash: Oliver Platt, Lily Rabe, et al. in Rehearsal for AS YOU LIKE IT

The Public Theater yesterday announced complete casting today for AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of the 50th Anniversary season of free Shakespeare in the Park at the Delacorte. Directed by Daniel Sullivan, AS YOU LIKE IT will begin previews on Tuesday, June 5 and continue for four weeks through Saturday, June 30, with an official press opening on Thursday, June 21. Check out photos of the cast in rehearsal below! (more...)

20) STAGE TUBE: On Broadway with Kids - Episode 6!

Watch the special Mother's Day edition and latest episode #6 of CafeMom Studios "On Broadway: With Kids - Featuring the Parents of MAMMA MIA!" - the exclusive online series that opens a rare and personal window into the lives of the cast and crew of Broadway's hit musical who also happen to be parents. (more...)