by Mike Haber | Aug 26, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
IS EVERYBODY HERE?! IS EVERYBODY READY?!!! It has just been announced that Celebrated Opera star and Tony Award winner
Paulo Szot (Broadway’s
Lincoln Center Theater revival of
South Pacific) is set to return to the long running revival of
Chicago when Broadway returns next month. The acclaimed Brazilian Baritone will once again take on the iconic role of THE SILVER TOUNGED PRINCE OF THE COURTROOM himself, “Billy Flynn”.
Szot previously played the role for a 4 week limited engagement back in 2019. He initially was scheduled to return for a full limited Spring engagement back in 2020. However, CHICAGO like most Broadway shows got abruptly shutdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic,
He joins the full previously announced casting of….
Bianca Marroquin who will now graduate from playing “Roxie Hart” after over 20 YEARS and 4,000 performances to now playing the role of Queen MERRY MURDERESS herself “Velma Kelly”,
Ana Villafañe (Broadway’s ON YOUR FEET and TV’s
New Amsterdam and the upcoming Night Court) will step into the role of aspiring vaudeville star turned killer “Roxie Hart”,
Tony winning legend Lillias White (Broadway’s Barnum,
Dreamgirls,
Cats,
Carrie, The Life,
Once On This Island, Fela along with various films and TV shows) will return to the long-running production playing THE KEEPER OF THE KEYS, THE COUNTESS OF THE CLINK, and the MISTRESS OF MURDEROUS ROW herself “Matron “Mama” Morton”,
longtime cast member Ray Bokhour will return as MR. CELLOPHANE himself “Amos Hart”,
longtime cast member Ryan Lowe returns as gullible and optimistic operatic reporter “Mary Sunshine”,
CHICAGO will once again have Broadway audience REACH FOR THE GUN….. AND ALL THAT JAZZ starting September 14th, 2021 at the Ambassador Theatre.
by Mike Haber | Aug 25, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
SCREECH IN! The Award winning phenomenon
Come From Away will be celebrating the 20th Anniversary of 9/11 with a one night only concert production in our nation’s capitol of Washington D.C. Set for September 10th, 2021, it will be a FREE CONCERT held on the stairs of the
Lincoln Memorial.
Headlining this 100 minute concert of COME FROM AWAY will feature veteran cast members from BOTH the Broadway and North American Touring companies of the show. The lineup will feature….
Julie Reiber (current standby in the Broadway production plus also having appeared in
WICKED,
Brooklyn,
Newsies, and All Shook Up) as “Captain Beverley Bass”, “Annette”, and others,
Kevin Carolan (currently in the National Tour plus appeared on Broadway in
Newsies) as “Claude” and others,
Nick Duckart (currently in the National Tour) as “Kevin J.”, “Ali”, and others,
Sharriese Hamilton (who appeared in the Australian company at the time of Live Theater being shutdown) as “Hannah” and others,
Tony LePage (who will appear in the upcoming filmed
Apple TV proshot and will appear as a standby when the Broadway production reopens plus appeared in
Rock of Ages) as “Kevin T” and others,
Chamblee Ferguson (currently in the National Tour) as “Nick”, “Doug”, and others.
The Broadway production of COME FROM AWAY is expecting to relaunch performances full time at the Gerald Schonefeld Theatre starting September 21st, 2021. Currently, the show is playing right now in London’s West End and on hold right now in Australia. The US National Tour and sit-down Toronto companies will reopen later this year.
Meanwhile the filmed presentation of the show is set to be released on Apple TV that very same day of September 10th, 2021.
This concert promises to be the ultimate celebration of community. Even in the most scariest times, we all come together, spread love, joy, and appreciation for those in need. Plus, our love goes out to all those who we have lost during that horrific tragic day of 9/11.
by Mike Haber | Aug 24, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
REJOICIFY! Broadway’s Award winning smash hit blockbuster
WICKED is set to DEFY GRAVITY after 18 months of being shutdown. WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER to announce that the company has reunited FOR GOOD and begun rehearsals. In addition, casting has been announced on who will be returning to THE MERRY OLD LAND OF OZ.
When WICKED reopens at Broadway’s Gershwin Theatre starting September 14th, 2021, the THRILLIFYING cast returning will include majority of the cast that will doing the show at the time of the shutdown consisting of…..
Lindsay Pearce (TV’s
Glee) who made her Broadway debut as the smart, fiery, misunderstood, and not so “Wicked Witch of the West” herself “Elphaba,
longtime cast member
Ginna Claire Mason returning to the Bubble as the POPULAR “Good Witch” herself “Glinda”,
Celebrated Broadway veteran Michael McCormick as “The Wonderful
Wizard of Oz” himself,
Sam Gravitte as the heartthrob love interest winkie prince “Fiyero”,
Riley Costello (Broadway’s
Bye Bye Birdie) as the lovable mere-munchkin “Boq”,
Broadway favorite Michael X. Martin as everyone’s favorite educated goat of Oz himself “Dr. Dillamond”,
Alexandra Billings who was playing the role of the mischievous “Madame Morrible” (being the first transgender actress to play the role) will be continuing with the production. However, she will return beginning September 28th, 2021.
Also new to the cast for WICKED’s return will be
Mili Diaz as the spoiled wheelchaired sister that becomes the “Wicked Witch of the East” herself “Nessarose”. She replaces
Shoba Narayan (as previously announced departed the production to join the cast of Disney’s
Aladdin). WICKED marks Diaz’s Broadway debut after having previously played the role on the show’s ongoing MUNCHKINLAND 2nd National Tour.
Who is excited about this cast?!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 24, 2021 | Blog, Casting, News
DON’T MONKEY WITH TRADITION! Live Theater is making its triumphant comeback with some exciting new projects. Running dates and casting has been announced for the World Premiere of the upcoming musical adaptation of the hit 1988 cult film classic
Mystic Pizza.
The production will premiere at the
Ogunquit Playhouse in Ogunquit, Maine for a month long run from September 1st through October 2nd, 2021.
Under the direction of Casey Hushion, choreographed by Liz Ramos, a book by Sandy Rustin, a full 80’s and 90’s catalog, and it features a full all-star cast led by….
Gianna Yanelli (Broadway’s
Mean Girls) as “Jojo Barbosa”,
Garrett Marshall (LA’s
Rock of Ages) as “Bill Montijo” (the Vincent D’Onofrio role),
In case anyone may not know, MYSTIC PIZZA is a romantic comedy. The film was released in 1988 notably being one of Julia Roberts’ first major films. It also starred Annabeth Gish, Lili Taylor, and Matt Damon. Set in Mystic, CT, the story follows 3 waitresses working in the town’s local pizza parlor while coming of age.
This new musical will actually be a jukebox musical featuring notable 80’s and 90’s songs along with several original songs by some of the biggest names in Music during that time including….
Berlin,
Van Morrison,
Starship,
and
so much more.
Who is excited for a DELICIOUS new musical?!!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 24, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
LEAPIN’ LIZARDS! After a nationwide casting call,
NBC has found its new leading lady for their upcoming live televised production of
Annie this holiday. Set to spread positivity and let the world know that THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW will be Atlanta native Celina Smith.
Smith is already making a name for herself at a young age. She previously starred as ‘Young Nala” on the National Tour of Disney’s Award winning smash hit
The Lion King. You also might have seen her as “Rebecca” on
Tyler Perry’s Young Dylan.
She steps into the shoes of so many unforgettable talents that have played this beloved young orphan. The titular role of “Annie” was originated on Broadway by
Andrea McArdle. Over the years, so many unforgettable talents have taken on this iconic role BOTH on stage and screen including
Sarah Jessica Parker, Allison Smith, Kathy Jo Kelly, Brittny Kissinger, Marissa O’Donnell
Lilla Crawford,
Kaylin Hedges,
Aileen Quinn (in the original 1982 film),
Alicia Morton (in the 1999 TV film), and
Quvenzhane Wallis (in the recent 2014 film), and more.
Smith joins the unforgettable previously announced all-star lineup consisting of….
Emmy nominee & Broadway favorite
Tituss Burgess as sleazy conartist “Daniel “Rooster” Hannigan”,
Olivier Award nominee and Pop star
Nicole Scherzinger as the caring assistant “Grace Ferrell”,
Grammy and Emmy winner and Tony nominee
Harry Connick Jr as billionaire “Oliver “Daddy” Warbucks”,
Additional casting for the role of “Lily St. Regis”, the orphans, and the full Ensemble will be announced soon.
Rehearsals for the new live production begin this Fall 2021.
Annie Live is set for December 2nd, 2021 on NBC. It promises to show the world that THE SUN WILL COME OUT TOMORROW. It’s going to be the ultimate celebration of the return of Live Musicals with everything making its way back to normal.
by Mike Haber | Aug 23, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, News, Shows
DELICIOUS NEWS: The Tony and Grammy nominated smash hit
Waitress will be doing something very powerful and inspiring for its strictly limited Broadway return this Fall. The company will pay tribute to the legacy of its late cast member Tony nominee
Nick Cordero naming one of the pies after him kept on the onstage diner chalkboard every night.
The onstage pie that will be considered a special every night in tribute to this incredible talent will be called….. THE LIFE YOUR LIFE PIE!! The name comes from an original song that Cordero wrote & recorded which became his mantra. Also earlier this year, his wife Amanda Kloots named her recently released memoir after that mantra.
Nick Cordero (who originated the role of the drunk and abusive “Earl” in WAITRESS original Broadway cast in 2016) tragically died from an intense 4 month long battle with COVID-19. He was 41 years old.
Every performance will be dedicated to this incredible talent. We miss Nick every single day. RIP
WAITRESS returns for its encore Broadway revival at the Ethel Barrymore Theatre. It will run from September 2nd, 2021 through January 9th, 2022.
