FIRST LOOK: Get ready to be in the 40’s SWINGIN’ groove with this all new commercial for the upcoming Bandstand Broadway.
Following it’s acclaimed run at Paper Mill Playhouse in NJ, BANDSTAND (starring 2 time Tony nominee and Broadway sweetheart Laura Osnes, Broadway heartthrob Corey Cott, and Tony winner Beth Leavel) is set to begin previews on March 31st, 2017 and officially open on April 26th, 2017 at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre.
Who is getting their boogie on with Laura and Corey from this commercial?
Exclusive! Enter the swingin’ world of BANDSTAND with Laura Osnes and Corey Cott!
FLASHBACK FRIDAY: Getting into yesterday’s TBT with Smash with the BOMBSHELL concert, there was also another reunion by members of the cast of the shorten lived NBC musical drama about the creation of a new musical.
In December 2013, cast members reunited at Feinstein?s/54 Below presenting a 2 night only sold out concert staging of the fictional musical HIT LIST. For those who may not remember, HIT LIST was the rival musical that competed against BOMBSHELL (the Marilyn Monroe musical) at the Tonys. It told the story about young artists dealing with the price of fame. It mainly focuses on a young singer who takes a hidden songwriter’s song and it turns her into a global pop star. The music had a Rent, Spring Awakening, pre-Hamilton: An American Musical and Dear Evan Hansen vibe to it.
The music from the HIT LIST musical was written by Drew Gasparini, Joe Iconis, Andrew McMahon, now Golden Globe winners Pasek and Paul, Hairspray’s Tony winners Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, and Lucie Silvas. On the actual TV show SMASH, the musical’s fictional writers are Jimmy Collins (Jeremy Jordan) and Kyle Bishop (Andy Minetus).
The cast of SMASH that returned (in character) for the concert included….
Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan (Jimmy Collins),
Broadway favorite Krysta Rodriguez (Ana Vargas),
Broadway favorite Andy Minetus (Kyle Bishop)
and more.
In addition, Katherine McPhee (Karen Cartwright) was unavailable for the concert. Filling for playing McPhee’s role of the aspiring pop singer in HIT LIST was Carrie Manolakos who has a history with SMASH recording the demos for McPhee during filming.
It was also been rumored that a real stage Broadway production of HIT LIST is in the works. No word has been official yet.
This is the complete recording from the Hit List performance at 54 Below, from December 8th, 2013. It features the entire show.
BREAKING: Because of so many exciting possible future long-running shows hitting Broadway this season, the producers of the upcoming limited engagement revival of Sunday in the Park with George Broadway (starring Jake Gyllenhaal and Annaleigh Ashford) have announced they won’t be competing for this year’s 2017 Tony Awards.
The revival of the Stephen Sondheim classic will begin preview performances on February 11th, 2017, open on February 23rd, 2017, and will close on April 23rd, 2017. It will also mark history as the first Broadway show to perform in the newly reopened Hudson Theatre (which will mark as the 41st Broadway Theatre running).
This year’s Tony Awards is going to be really tough for the voters to choose our favorite shows, performers, and creative team people (that make Broadway happen) be nominated. Literally a showdown with all the show’s running for the 2016-2017 Broadway season!!
This year’s 71st Annual Tony Awards is set to be on June 11th, 2017 returning to the legendary Radio City Music Hall (which will also air on CBS). The announcement of the nominations will be May 2nd, 2017.
NORMA CAME HOME AT LAST!!! The wait is finally over as the highly anticipated acclaimed English National Opera semi-staging revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Award musical Sunset Boulevard (starring it’s Tony winning original star Glenn Close) officially begins preview performances tonight at the legendary Palace Theatre. The official opening night is set for February 9th, 2017 and will run till May 28th, 2017.
For a little Throwback Thursday, here’s pro-shot footage of Glenn and members of the cast of the original Broadway production (that played 977 performances at the Minskoff Theatre). Cannot wait to see the b-roll footage for this new revival and especially the 40 piece orchestra on stage.
Break a leg to the cast, crew, musicians, and creative team.
Music: Andrew Lloyd Webber Lyrics & Book: Don Black & Christopher Hampton Cast: Glenn Close Alan Campbell Alice Ripley Alan Oppenheimer George Hearn This is …
THROWBACK THURSDAY: In 2015, the cast of the Award winning shorten lived NBC TV show Smash reunited for a one night only concert presentation of the show’s fictional Broadway musical BOMBSHELL (about the life of Marilyn Monroe) to raise money for The Actors Fund.
The music from the BOMBSHELL musical was written by Hairspray’s Tony winning composers Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman). On the actual TV show SMASH, the musical’s fictional composers is written by Julia Houston and Tom Levitt (played by Emmy winner Debra Messing and 2 time Tony winner Christian Borle).
The cast of SMASH that returned (in character) for the concert included….
Tony nominee Megan Hilty (Ivy Lynn),
Katherine McPhee (Karen Cartwright),
2 time Tony winner Christian Borle (Tom Levit),
Emmy winner Debra Messing (Julia Houston),
Broadway favorite Will Chase (Michael Swift),
Tony nominee Brian D’Arcy James (Frank Houston),
Broadway showstopper Ann Harada (Stage manager Linda),
Tony winner Leslie Odom Jr (Sam Strickland),
Tony nominee Jeremy Jordan (Jimmy Collins),
and so much more.
It is also been announced that a real Broadway production of BOMBSHELL is in the works. SMASH and the concert’s producers Neil Meron and Craig Zadan are expecting to producer the actual show. No word has been made for when the show will officially open.
Video clips from the Actors Fund’s BOMBSHELL concert on June 8, 2015 at the Minskoff Theatre, featuring Megan Hilty and Katharine McPhee. ?Big Finish,? ?I Ne…
Check out the trailer for the all new film version of the Off Broadway play Speech & Debate.
The film stars Liam James, Sarah Steele (recently in The Humans on Broadway and appeared in the original Off Broadway production), and Austin P McKenzie (recently in the acclaimed Deaf West Theatre revival of Spring Awakening Broadway) as three misfit High School misfits students frustrated with the hypocrisy they see in their parents and school staff.
In addition, the film features some Lin-Manuel Miranda, Skylar Astin, Roger Bart, and a song by Kristin Chenoweth.
SPEECH & DEBATE will be released in selected Theatres on April 7, 2017.
Who is excited?
On April 7, find your voice.
See SPEECH & DEBATE in select theaters, on iTunes, and VOD.
