Hottest Articles on BWW from Tuesday, May. 15

1) BWW TV EXCLUSIVE: Stephanie J. Block on 'Reno', Being Green & More; PLUS First & Only Footage of the Star in ANYTHING GOES!

In this latest Backstage with Richard Ridge special, Richard sits down with Anything Goes' star and longtime Broadway darling Stephanie J. Block, who gets candid about transforming into the legendary Liza Minnelli alongside Hugh Jackman in The Boy From Oz, going green as 'Elphie' in Wicked, everything Reno, married life and more. In addition, BroadwayWorld is thrilled to bring you the first and only footage of Block onstage at the Sondheim Theatre in Anything Goes! Be sure to catch the bonus footage throughout the interview below! (more...)

2) Photo Flash: First Look at Colm Wilkinson in LES MIS Movie!

Colm Wilkinson, who originated the role of Jean Valjean in both the original London and Broadway productions of LES MISERABLES, will make a special appearance in the upcoming LES MIS film as the merciful Bishop. A picture was just released of Wilkinson in his Bishop garb opposite Hugh Jackman, Jean Valjean in the film. (more...)

3) Kathleen Marshall to Helm Broadway-Bound EVER AFTER Musical; Music by Heisler/Goldrich

Producers Scott Landis and Philip Morgaman have announced that EVER AFTER, a new musical based on the 20th Century Fox Film, will open on Broadway in the 2013-2014 season following a pre-Broadway engagement to be announced. The production will be directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award winner Kathleen Marshall. EVER AFTER features music by Zina Goldrich and book & lyrics by Marcy Heisler, who recently won the 2012 Kleban Prize for Musical Theatre for most promising musical theatre lyricist. The music director is Mary-Mitchell Campbell. (more...)

4) Broadway's ANNIE Names Orphans!

After more than 5,000 auditions in a coast-to-coast search, ANNIE has announced casting for the orphans for the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning Broadway musical. ANNIE will open on Broadway in Fall 2012 at a Nederlander theatre to be announced. The production will be directed by three-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler. (more...)

5) BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL to Play the St. James on Broadway - July 12 - October 7; Video Preview & More

BRING IT ON: THE MUSICAL is headed to Broadway following a tour that began in 2011, reports the New York Times. The show will play Broadway's St. James Theater, beginning previews on July 12th, opening August 1st and running through October 7th. (more...)

6) STAGE TUBE: Miss SMASH's Season Finale? Watch It Here!

Last night NBC aired the season finale of SMASH! In the episode, Tom (Christian Borle) and Julia (Debra Messing) raced against time to save the show, while Derek (Jack Davenport) made a decision that changed the lives of Karen (Katharine McPhee) and Ivy (Megan Hilty) foreveR. Ellis (Jaime Cepero) revealed his true colors. But when he finally made his move to save "Bombshell," would it be for or against Eileen (Anjelica Huston)? In the midst of it all, another bombshell went off – this one is in Karen and Dev's (Raza Jaffrey) relationship. Check out the season 1 finale below. (more...)

7) Photo Flash: 2012 Tony Poster Artwork with Neil Patrick Harris Revealed!

Neil Patrick Harris will return as the host of the 66th Annual Tony Awards Telecast, which will be broadcast live from the Beacon Theatre in New York City, Sunday, June 10, 2012 (8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT) on the CBS Television Network. The awards show, which honors theater professionals for distinguished achievement on Broadway, has been a part of the CBS family since 1978. This will be the second year that the show will be broadcast live from the Beacon Theatre. (more...)

8) SOUND OFF: SMASH Bares Its Big, Beautiful Bombshell

The words we've all been breathlessly waiting to hear - "You're going on as Marilyn tonight," - were finally uttered by the director of the show-within-the-show, Derek (Jack Davenport), on SMASH's "Bombshell" season finale last night: Karen Cartwright (Katharine McPhee) nabbed the coveted role. Despite seemingly all of the bets being placed early in the season against Karen by viewers and critics alike insofar as her likelihood in donning the peroxide wig and beautymark - she seemed a Norma Jean but rarely an expected choice for Marilyn; certainly no match in the classic idea of the screen siren as far as the vivacious and curvaceous Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) was concerned. While many were quick in giving Ivy Lynn the upper hand - or upper skirt, as the case may be - it was evident from the first moment of the series that Karen, the underdog, is who we were largely meant to be rooting for above all others; the naive Iowa girl singing "Somewhere Over The Rainbow" on a stage of glitterring stars, so close and yet so far away. Ivy surely made a fast and furious impression soon thereafter with "The National Pastime" in SMASH's pilot, but Karen had already been quite clearly established as our most central protagonist - perhaps with Julia (Debra Messing) equally as prominent. As the fourteen subsequent episodes have progressed, SMASH has revealed itself to be a true ensemble piece with the emphasis on the collective journey of all of the characters and how that has had an effect on the burgeoning Broadway musical at the show's core, but Karen and Julia still have remained the two given the most screen-time and exposure. Megan Hilty has nonetheless emerged as a force to be reckoned with and her performance in the role is the finest of all on the series, outshining all in her songs and scenes. The various highways, byways and alleyways by which we have journeyed on the road of SMASH from the beginning to last night has unquestionably been leading to the BOMBSHELL first preview performances and the reveal of who would ultimately win the part of a lifetime in the show-within-the-show - and, on that count, the SMASH season finale bared all. And, as if all of that were not enough - cameos from Broadway heavyweights Bernadette Peters and Nick Jonas, too! (more...)

9) EVITA to Launch National Tour in Rhode Island, Fall 2013!

Producers Hal Luftig and Scott Sanders announced today that the Tony Award Nominated Best Revival of a Musical, Tim Rice's and Andrew Lloyd Webber's EVITA, will launch a first national tour in the fall of 2013 at Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, Rhode Island. Casting and additional information will be announced at a later date. (more...)

10) STAGE TUBE: Mary J. Blige Sings 'Any Way You Want It' in ROCK OF AGES Movie!

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 clip of Mary J. Blige singing 'Any Way You Want It' for the film below! (more...)

11) Anthony Rapp's WITHOUT YOU Gets Menier Chocolate Factory Production this August

In 1994 Anthony Rapp was working at a Starbucks and about to audition for Rent a new musical by a young guy named Jonathan Larson. An inspiring story about friends and artists struggling in New York's Lower East Side, it was based loosely on Puccini's La Boheme. Anthony got the part, but Jonathan died suddenly the night before the musical's off-Broadway premiere. (more...)

12) STAGE TUBE: SMASH's Katharine McPhee on Her Broadway Dreams!

SMASH star and American Idol finalist Katherine McPhee recently sat down with CNN and discussed her career thus far and her plans for the future. In this video, McPhee answers reporters' questions regarding a possible Broadway debut and says she thinks it would make sense to be on Broadway in the near future. (more...)

13) END OF THE RAINBOW, With Tracie Bennett, Will Play LA's Ahmanson Theatre in Spring 2013 to Kick Off National Tour

"End of the Rainbow," the acclaimed new play with music by Peter Quilter, starring two-time Olivier Award-winner and current Tony Award-nominee Tracie Bennett as Judy Garland and directed by Tony Award-winner Terry Johnson, is announced for the 2012-2013 season at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre at the Los Angeles Music Center. (more...)

14) Review Roundup: HANDS ON A HARDBODY, Featuring Hunter Foster, Allison Case and More, at La Jolla Playhouse

When an auto dealership in Longview, TX launches an endurance contest, ten economically-strapped strangers embark on a journey that puts their hearts, minds and bodies to the test. Find out what the critics thought of the world premiere production below! (more...)

15) MAMMA MIA! Welcomes Judy McLane, Felicia Finley, Aaron Lazar & More!

Benny Andersson and Bjorn Ulvaeus' global hit musical MAMMA MIA! will welcome new principals Christy Altomare, Lauren Cohn, Daniel Cooney, Felicia Finley, Aaron Lazar, Graham Rowat and Zak Resnick who will join Judy McLane as "Donna Sheridan" at the Winter Garden Theatre (1634 Broadway) on Monday, June 4, 2012. (more...)

16) BREAKING: Bret Michaels Settles 2009 Tony Awards Lawsuit

USA Today reports this morning that Bret Michaels has, at long last, settled his 2009 lawsuit against the Tony Awards after sustaining head injuries following a set collapse during the televised broadcast. (more...)

17) Photo Coverage: Inside the 2012 Drama Critics Circle Awards Ceremony!

The 2012 Drama Critics Circle aAards were presented at a cocktail reception last night, May 14, at Angus McIndoe Restaurant. Sons of the Prophet, written by Stephen Karam, won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (NYDCC) for Best Play of the 2011-2012 season. The award for Best Foreign Play went to Tribes, written by Nina Raine. Once received the award for Best Musical. BroadwayWorldd brings you photos from the ceremony below! (more...)

18) Photos and Audio: Tonight on GLEE- Lady Gaga, Green Day and More!

Tonight, May 15, FOX will air two back-to-back GLEE episodes, entitled 'Props' and 'Nationals'. As the countdown to graduation continues, the kids of New Directions prepare a high-concept routine for Nationals. When Tina (Jenna Ushkowitz) bumps her head, the world of New Directions is turned upside down in her eyes. Then, New Directions face off against Wade (Alex Newell) and Vocal Adrenaline at Nationals in Chicago, where they perform in front of celebrity judge Lindsay Lohan (guest-starring as herself). (more...)

19) BWW Awards Update 5/15 - 19 Days to Go! Tracie Bennett and Nina Arianda Tied So Far for Leading Actress in a Play!

Voting opened on May 3, 2012 and runs through June 4, 2012 for the 10th Annual BroadwayWorld.com Awards! Here are the current standings as of 5/15 with just 19 days to go in voting! (more...)

20) PBS to Air BROADWAY OR BUST Sunday Nights, Beg. 9/9

PBS launches a new documentary series, BROADWAY OR BUST, chronicling the lives of America's top high school musical perfomers and The Jimmy Awards in New York City, according to PBS' just-released fall 2012 line-up, which you can read in detail on BroadwayWorld here. (more...)