Hottest Articles on BWW from Wednesday, Aug. 8

1) FLASH SPECIAL: A Marvin Hamlisch Memorial

One of the most revered and recognizable Broadway and Hollywood composers of the last fifty years passed away suddenly at the age of 68 yesterday - Marvin Hamlisch. Today we will celebrate his life with a collection of some of the most memorable and history-making clips culled from his many endeavors over his rich forty-year career. Carly Simon once comically recounted that when she first met Marvin Hamlisch on the day he played her what would become one of her biggest hits, the theme song for the 1977 James Bond film THE SPY WHO LOVED ME, "Nobody Does It Better", she had also arranged a meeting with a new lawyer and when she answered the door at her home "it was a toss-up" which would arrive first - it turned out to be Hamlisch, yet she didn't realize it until the unassuming figure sat down at the piano and began to play. Such was the relatability and likeability of not only the man, but his music, and, also, that story acts as a reminder of the folksiness for which Hamlisch was known by his many famous friends (Liza Minnelli and Barbra Streisand included) and one of the contributing factors to him becoming not only a respected, admired and highly-awarded composer and conductor, but also a household name along the lines of Leonard Bernstein, Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin and Cole Porter; which came as a result of his apparent ubiquity in the 1970s, appearing everywhere from THE TONIGHT SHOW to the Academy Awards, Tony Awards, TV specials and beyond. Indeed, the 1970s were definitely Hamlisch's career peak, kicking off the decade in a big way by conducting LIZA WITH A Z, directed by Bob Fosse - the greatest TV concert ever, hands down. Of course, he had contributed solid work on Broadway (FUNNY GIRL, SEESAW) and in Hollywood (THE SWIMMER, TAKE THE MONEY AND RUN) from the age of 19 on when he got his first break after being discovered while playing piano at parties following his Juilliard graduation, but the 1970s were when Hamlisch mastered seemingly all mediums, all at once. Following his success scoring Woody Allen films and many others, arranging countless albums and concerts and capping it off with conducting LIZA WITH A Z, in 1973 Hamlisch quite quickly found Oscar gold with his Scott Joplin score adaptation for THE STING as well as his double-win that same night for original score and song for THE WAY WE WERE - having won three Oscars in one ceremony that evening, Hamlisch later made history again by going on to become only the second individual in history to be a PEGOT recipient (the other being Richard Rodgers); that is, he possessed the Pulitzer Prize, Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony - and, in 1975 he even managed to somehow top his own prior unprecedented success. (more...)

2) Danny Burstein, Yvonne Strahovski, Tony Shalhoub Set to Lead LCT's GOLDEN BOY- Opening Set for 12/6 at the Belasco Theatre

Lincoln Center Theater (under the direction of Andre Bishop, Artistic Director, and Bernard Gersten, Executive Producer) has announced that Michael Aronov, Danny Burstein, Bill Camp, Sean Cullen, Dagmara Dominczyk, Ned Eisenberg, Brad Fleischer, Karl Glusman, Jonathan Hadary, Daniel Jenkins, Danny Mastrogiorgio, Dion Mucciacito, Seth Numrich, Lucas Caleb Rooney, Tony Shalhoub, Yvonne Strahovski and David Wohl will be featured in the 19 member cast of its 75th Anniversary production of the Clifford Odets classic GOLDEN BOY, to be directed by Bartlett Sher, beginning performances Thursday, November 8 and opening Thursday, December 6 at the Belasco Theatre (111 West 44 Street), the same theatre where the play premiered in 1937. Additional casting for GOLDEN BOY will be announced at a later date. (more...)

3) STAGE TUBE: First Look - Jennifer Hudson Gives Katharine McPhee Advice in SMASH Season 2!

Get a first look at Jennifer Hudson giving Katharine McPhee some sage advice in SMASH season two in the new NBC fall 2012 promo montage below! Academy Award winner for Dreamgirls, Hudson will appear in a multi-episode arc as Veronica Moore, a Tony Award-winning Broadway actor who influences both Katharine McPhee's Karen and Megan Hilty's Ivy. (more...)

4) BWW TV First Look: Marvin Hamlisch & Rupert Holmes' Broadway-Bound THE NUTTY PROFESSOR in Nashville!

Nashville and the Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) host the Broadway-bound world premiere of "The Nutty Professor" Musical. Directed by Jerry Lewis, the show is a new musical comedy based on the 1963 film of the same name. The Broadway at TPAC Special Event began previews on July 24, and officially opened on July 31- running through August 19 in TPAC's James K. Polk Theater. Featuring music by Oscar, Emmy, th erecently deceased Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line) and a book and lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), "The Nutty Professor" is a musical treat for the whole family, based on the classic 1963 film in which Lewis starred and co-wrote. BroadwayWorld brings you highlights from the Broadway-bound production below! (more...)

5) Photo Coverage: Robert Cuccioli Takes First Bow as SPIDER-MAN's 'Green Goblin'

Broadway star Robert Cuccioli, best known for his Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle winning and Tony-nominated performance as the star of Jekyll and Hyde, takes on another dual role in his long-anticipated return to Broadway: Norman Osborn / The Green Goblin in Broadway's SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark. Cuccioli just played his first performance last night, August 7, 2012 at the Foxwoods Theatre, and BroadwayWorld was there for all of the festivities. Check out photos from Cuccioli's first curtain call and the after party below! (more...)

6) STAGE TUBE: EVITA's Rachel Potter Appears on 'Good Day NY'

EVITA's Rachel Potter appeared on this morning's GOOD DAY NEW YORK to chat about 'Broadway in Bryant Park,' the free summer concert series hosted by 106.7 Lite FM. After chatting about the upcoming event, Potter gave viewers a special performance of "Another Suitcase in Another Hall" from Evita. Check out this morning's appearance below! (more...)

7) Walnut Street Theatre to Present the US Premiere of LOVE STORY, Featuring Alexandra Silber

Walnut Street Theatre opens its 204th season with the American premiere of Erich Segal's LOVE STORY, the musical. With direction and musical staging by Annabel Bolton, the production is described as "a delicate story of life and love" and begins previews on September 4th, opens on September 12th and runs through October 21st on the WST Mainstage. (more...)

8) Photo Coverage: In Rehearsal with the Cast of CHAPLIN!

Rob McClure, who originated the role of Chaplin at the La Jolla Playhouse, will star in the title role of the new Broadway musical 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, CHAPLIN 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. CHAPLIN's cast and creative team gave a preview of the new show yesterday, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the cast in action below. (more...)

9) Norbert Leo Butz Set to Join Katie Holmes in Theresa Rebeck's DEAD ACCOUNTS; Opens 11/28 at Music Box Theatre

Two-time Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz will join Katie Holmes on Broadway this fall in DEAD ACCOUNTS, the new comedy by Theresa Rebeck, directed by three-time Tony Award winner Jack O'Brien. This limited engagement of DEAD ACCOUNTS, produced by Jeffrey Finn, John N. Hart Jr., David Mirvish, and The Shubert Organization, will begin previews on Saturday, November 3 and open Wednesday, November 28 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street). (more...)

10) Jason Danieley, Carmen Cusack to Lead Chicago Shakespeare Theater's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE

Stephen Sondheim's SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE is part of Chicago Shakespeare Theater's upcoming season, and the Chicago Tribune today revealed casting for the fall production. (more...)

11) Daniel Sunjata Joins SMASH Season 2 in Recurring Role!

According to a report by EW.com, Daniel Sunjata will join SMASH Season 2 on NBC in a recurring role as the new love interest of Debra Messing's character Julia. (more...)

12) JERSEY BOYS Movie to Hold Open Calls in Philadelphia and NYC This Month

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, JERSEY BOYS film director Jon Favreau revealed via Twitter that there would be open casting calls for the adaptation. (more...)

13) Twitter Releases Account Information for Longacre Theatre Threats

Broadway's Longacre Theatre, currently the home of Mike Tyson: UNDISPUTED TRUTH, has been under the threat of attack from a Twitter user. (more...)

14) Photo Coverage: CHAPLIN Cast and Creative Team Meets the Press!

Rob McClure, who originated the role of Chaplin at the La Jolla Playhouse, will star in the title role of the new Broadway musical 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, CHAPLIN 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. CHAPLIN's cast and creative team met the press just yeterday, and BroadwayWorld brings you full photo coverage of the festivities below! (more...)

15) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 8/8- SHENANDOAH

Today in 1989, the first Broadway revival of Shenandoah opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre), where it ran for 32 performances. Shenandoah is a musical that was written in 1975 with music by Gary Geld, lyrics by Peter Udell, and a book by Udell, Philip Rose and James Lee Barrett, based on Barrett's original screenplay for the 1965 film Shenandoah. The musical first opened at the Goodspeed Opera House in 1974 and then transferred to Broadway, opening on January 7, 1975. It ran on Broadway for a total of 1,050 performances, closing August 7, 1977. The production was nominated for six Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and won two, one for Best Actor in a Musical (John Cullum) and the other for Best Book of a Musical. (more...)

16) Alan Wasser Associates Won't Renew Tony Awards Contract; On Hunt for New Management

Just released is a statement from Charlotte St. Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League & Heather Hitchens, Executive Director of the American Theatre Wing: (more...)

17) Jon Favreau Signs On to Direct JERSEY BOYS Film

Actor/director Jon Favreau is officially set to direct the JERSEY BOYS film, which is being adapted by RED playwright John Logan. Yesterday, Favreau wrote on his Twitter page: 'Yes, I'm directing Jersey Boys, and there's an open call for the lead roles.' (more...)

18) Laura Osnes' Cafe Carlyle Album Gets 9/18 Release!

Broadway Records announced today that Laura Osnes: Dream A Little Dream – Live At The Cafe Carlyle will be released on Tuesday, September 18, 2012. Pre-orders are now being taken at amazon.com at http://amzn.com/B008TAVUA2. A digital release date will be announced in the coming weeks. (more...)

19) Andrew Lloyd Webber on Marvin Hamlisch- 'Farewell Singular Sensation'

Just yesterday BroadwayWorld.com reported the loss of Broadway legend Marvin Hamlisch, and we've been sharing memories from around the theatre industry. The below piece was posted by fellow composer Andrew Lloyd Webber. (more...)

20) STAGE TUBE: Chita Rivera Talks Creating BYE BYE BIRDIE's 'Rosie'

Two-Time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera will perform songs from her legendary Broadway career in her own concert Chita Rivera: MY BROADWAY presented by Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, August 7-11 at the Civic Center Musical Hall. Below, the actress talks with the the theatre's artistic director, Michael Baron, on origination role of 'Rosie' in the now oft-performed hit BYE BYE BIRDIE. (more...)