by Mike Haber | Oct 16, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
ON THE MARQUEE: For the past few weeks since reopening on Broadway, long running Green Girl
Jennifer DiNoia has been back once again playing “Elphaba” every night in
WICKED. The actress (currently serving as the standby once again) has been filling in for current leading lady
Lindsay Pearce who has been out of the show these last few weeks due to a foot injury.
Filling in for DiNoia as the standby (and now once again being a temporary fulltime leading lady) is another returning cast member
Alyssa Fox (previously seen on Broadway as the standby for “Elsa” in Disney’s
Frozen).
With Pearce is continuing to recover, DiNoia will once again now be playing the smart, fiery, misunderstood, and not-so Wicked Witch of the West herself fulltime all month long. With that in mind, an update has been made outside the show’s front of house billboard of the Gershwin Theatre featuring DiNoia’s photo as “Elphaba”.
Lindsay Pearce is expecting to return to the cast in November.
Jennifer DiNoia is one of WICKED’s longest running and legendary Green Girls. She has played the role on 4 CONTINENTS. She has performed this role on and off for the last 14 YEARS!!! Her journey with the
Stephen Schwartz musical began in 2007 as part of the Chicago company initially being the Dance Captain which she later got plucked from being emergency cover to standby for the role of “Elphaba” where she played the role for about 1,500 performances covering for
Dee Roscioli and Lisa Brescia.
Since the Chicago company closed in 2009, DiNoia immediately got plucked to serving as the standby for “Elphaba” in the New York production marking it her Broadway debut covering once again for Dee Roscioli along with
Mandy Gonzalez, and
Teal Wicks. A few months into her first stint standing by there, DiNoia went on to serve as an Emergency standby for
Jemma Rix in the show’s Australian company out in Sydney for a month. She returned to the Broadway production afterwards where she continued to DEFY GRAVITY as the standby till 2011.
After a year away, DiNoia returned to THE MERRY OLD LAND OF OZ in 2012 joining the Asian Touring Company of WICKED serving as the first ever “Elphaba” alternate going on twice a week. During that time, she shared the role once again with Jemma Rix.
Immediately after a Summer in Asia, DiNoia returned to the Broadway production serving as a temporary filling in for
Donna Vivino as the standby a month…..who at the time was covering for
Jackie Burns.
Finally in 2013, DiNoia was offered and landed the role of “Elphaba” fulltime. She succeeded Christine Dwyer in the role on the 2nd (and on-going) Munchkinland Touring company for a whole year.
A year after the tour in 2014 (with Laurel Harris taking over), DiNoia went back AGAIN to the Broadway production as a temporary standby for Christine Dwyer in the role….. and also filling in before future Tony nominee
Lilli Cooper joined as the standby.
Immediately afterwards, DiNoia got the ultimate once-in-a-lifetime offer to go join
Wicked‘s London production replacing
Kerry Ellis as “Elphaba” fulltime for a 5 month run. This milestone marked her it her West End debut. Along with it being her 4th Continent, DiNoia’s stint in London marked becoming the 2nd American actress to join the London company after the musical’s original Tony winning star
Idina Menzel.
Right after returning overseas to the United States in February 2015, DiNoia jumped into the Emerald City 1st National Tour of WICKED replacing Emma Hunton fulltime as “Elphaba” where she stayed till the company’s closing after 10 years on the road.
After the 1st National Tour closed, DiNoia went back to the Broadway company as a temporary principal while Caroline Bowman was recovering from an injury. She shared this temporary run for 3 weeks alongside Christine Dwyer.
Finally in the Summer of 2016 and after having a baby girl, Jennifer DiNoia replaced
Rachel Tucker as “Elphaba” full time on Broadway for a whole year. She stayed till Summer of 2017 where she was replaced by another fellow long running Green Girl
Jackie Burns.
DiNoia recently rejoined the Broadway production in 2019 till at the time when Broadway was shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Since the show returned, she’s still going it. As the standby during this stint, she has been covering for BOTH Hannah Corneau and now Lindsay Pearce.
Congrats Jennifer DiNoia!!!
Get well Lindsay Pearce!!!
Isn’t Jennifer DiNoia such a WICKED legend?!!!
How THRILLIFYING is that?
Any Jennifer DiNoia fans out there?!!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 15, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Shows
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Over the years, Broadway has continued to keep the tradition going of so many unforgettable musicals. We’ve had our share of smash hits and flops. Even with a flop, the show still later on goes to have a huge cult following. One particular show is about to celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its world premiere debut next year in 2022….. That was a little musical called
Taboo.
For those who may not know, TABOO is set in London in an abandoned warehouse in the 1970’s. It mainly centers on the story of the life of acclaimed singer, DJ, and Fashion icon
Boy George with his band Culture Club along with some of the most famous icons during that era including Leigh Bowery,
Marilyn, Steve Strange, and Philip Sallon. It features a score by Boy George along with Kevan Frost, John Themis, and Richie Stevens. The book was written by Mark Davies Markham and Charles Busch. Notable tunes from classics to originals include STRANGER IN THIS WORLD, DRESS TO KILL, EVERYTHING TABOO, OUT OF FASHION, TOUCH BY THE HAND OF COOL, and DO YOU REALLY WANT TO HURT ME.
TABOO originally premiered in London’s West End at the newly opened Venue Theatre back in 2002 running for only 4 months. Under the direction of Christopher Renshaw, the cast was led by…
Matt Lucas (later Boy George) playing “Leigh Bowery”,
Paul Baker as “Phillip Salloon”,
and more.
The show was nominated for 4
Olivier Awards in 2003 winning only 1 for BEST PERFORMANCE BY A SUPPORTING ROLE IN A MUSICAL (for Paul Baker).
While the show was playing in London, Rosie O’Donnell went to see the production LIVE. She immediately fell in love with the show & was determined to support it in bringing the show overseas to our Broadway backyard. That’s what she did. She put in over $10 million (yup, money from her former Daytime Talk Show) into the project. With money and a full New York company on board, the show went through various changes into the script.
TABOO made its Broadway debut in the Fall of 2003 at the Plymouth Theatre (now the Gerald Schonefeld Theatre). It ran for only for 16 previews and only 100 regular performances. Under the direction of Christopher Renshaw once again, the cast would feature….
Euan Morton reprising the role of “Boy George”,
Boy George reprising his performance of “Leigh Bowery”,
and more.
The show received horrific reviews becoming one of the biggest flops on Broadway ever. O’Donnell did whatever she could to keep the show running. However, still nobody went. When the production did close, Rosie O’Donnell herself lost the full $10 million on the show. This shows…… NEVER PUT YOUR OWN MONEY IN THE SHOW!!!
The show would still go on to get some great Award nominations and Buzz. It was nominated for 4
Tony Awards in 2004 for BEST ORIGINAL SCORE, BEST LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Euan Morton), BEST FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Raul Esparza), and BEST COSTUME DESIGN. However, it lost the categories. It did however receive a
Drama Desk for OUTSTANDING FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL (for Raul Esparza) and a special
Theatre World Award for Euan Morton.
The show would briefly have a West End revival in 2012.
Who remembers this show?!!!!
Any TABOO fans out there?!!
by Mike Haber | Oct 15, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Christmas Caroling (Times Square), Gleeks Fan Tour (Times Square), News, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: Before he returns to Broadway next year in the long awaited revival of
American Buffalo, Emmy winner and Broadway favorite
Darren Criss (TV’s
Glee along with Broadway’s How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying and
HEDWIG) is set to bring AN EXTRODINARY MERRY CHRISTMAS to you. The versatile screen and stage star most recently released his newest holiday A VERY DARREN CRISSMAS out now from
Decca Records.
A VERY DARREN CRISSMAS showcases this celebrated talent’s vocal chops performing an unbelievable reimagined take on notable holiday favorites, rarely covered tunes, and more. The album features Criss performing duets alongside….
and
Acclaimed singer, actor and fellow Glee castmate
Adam Lambert.
It also officially marks as Criss’ first ever full length solo album. With his music career (outside of his work on Glee as “Blaine Anderson”), he previously released 3 EP solo recordings consisting of 2010’s HUMAN, 2017’s HOMEWORK, and his most recently created during the pandemic 2021’s MASQUERADE. All 3 EP’s went on to become successful topping the charts.
Along with the new holiday album, Criss will embark on a month long concert tour celebrating the holidays here in North America. The tour will kick off December 3rd, 2021 in Indianapolis, IN before making his way to the following cities….
Ann Arbor, MI (where Criss’ Alma Matter is),
Minneapolis, MN,
Milwaukee, WI,
Chicago, IL,
Louisville, KY,
Akron, OH,
Tysons, VA,
Philadelphia, PA,
Boston, MA,
Rochester, NY,
Toronto, Ontario, Canada,
Hershey, PA,
and
If you love Darren Criss and want to know about about him and your favorite Glee stars that have rocked Broadway, join us for our GLEEKS ON BROADWAY Walking Tour relaunching next month.
by Mike Haber | Oct 15, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
SUGAR, BUTTER, TOSS-TOSS!!!! Tony and Emmy Award winner
Kristin Chenoweth is still anxious to get herself cast and back on Broadway now that Live Theater has returned. She’s already been rejected from
Come From Away and
Dear Evan Hansen and even with trying to get back to
WICKED. Now, the 4’11 versatile stage and screen favorite is boosting her talents by including baking on her resume.
In this next hilarious audition video, Chenoweth makes her way to the Ethel Barrymore Theatre stage door as she tries to show
Sara Bareilles that she can be the next “Jenna Hunterson” in the Tony and Grammy nominated smash hit
Waitress!!!
Could Chenoweth’s slice of I AM POPULAR ON BROADWAY PIE impress Bareilles?!!!
Video: Kristin Chenoweth Stops In for A WAITRESS Audition with Sara Bareilles (broadwayworld.com)
by Mike Haber | Oct 15, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: Casting has been revealed for the 2nd chance Broadway run of
Tracy Lett‘s new political play
The Minutes as it finally prepares to finally reach its long awaited Opening on Broadway beginning Spring 2022.
Under the direction of Anna J. Shapiro, the cast will still feature majority of the cast it had prior to the shutdown including….
Sally Murphy (Broadway’s 1994
Lincoln Center Theater revival of Carousel, Linda Vista, and August: Osage County) as “Ms. Matz”,
Tony Award winner and Emmy Award nominee Blair Brown (
The Parisian Woman and Copenhagen, TV’s The Days and Nights of Molly Dodd) as “Ms. Innes”,
New to the cast will include Emmy Award winner
Noah Reid (TV’s
Schitt’s Creek) in his Broadway debut replacing Golden Globe nominee Armie Hammer as “Mr. Peel”.
THE MINUTES will return to Broadway playing the legendary Studio 54 (current home of the limited engagement revival of
Caroline, Or Change). Previews will resume on March 19th, 2022 and will finally reach its long awaited official Opening Night on April 7th, 2022.
This show originally began originally began previews on February 25th, 2020 at its initial home at the Cort Theatre. It was slated to open on March 15th, 2020 but was abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic causing Broadway and Live Theater to shutdown.
THE MINUTES moves to Studio 54 due to its original Broadway home at the Cort Theatre currently going through an ongoing full scale renovation project.
by Mike Haber | Oct 15, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
In case you missed it below, here is the cast performing a medley of 3 beloved Bob Dylan tunes in the show…… HURRICANE, LISCENSE TO KILL, and SLOW TRAIN.
Catch this powerful new musical 8 times a week at the Belasco Theatre.
