Actor Rodney Hicks Opens Up About Come From Away Departure | Playbill

by | Aug 2, 2017 | Blog, Broadway


A few months ago, Rodney Hicks (well known from the original and closing casts of Rent) departed the company of Come From Away and took to social media to explain why. He was recently diagnosed with a neurological disorder called Spasmodic Dysphonia (which affects his vocal chords). Because of the disorder, Hicks’ will no longer be doing musicals. However, he will continue to act in more in straight plays plus he’ll also be teaching, writing, and more.

Our prayers go out to Rodney. Wishing him for amazing health and many more projects to come. He’s one of the most inspirational people ever.

De’Lon Grant will take over full time in COME FROM AWAY in Hicks’ track of Bob and others starting this Friday. Currently, the role is being performed by understudy Josh Breckenridge.

We love you Rodney!!

Actor Rodney Hicks Opens Up About Come From Away Departure | Playbill

The actor went public with news of his exit from the Broadway production in a recent Facebook post.

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Broadway actor assaulted by white woman, called n-word

by | Jan 26, 2017 | Blog, Broadway


BREAKING NEWS: A racist woman from Reno, Nevada attacked one of our very own Broadway talents!! Elijah Ahmad Lewis (currently playing Stevie Wonder on the US National Tour of Motown the Musical) was assaulted by a woman who called kept randomly screaming at him and calling him the N word. Lewis captured everything on camera.

HOW HORRIBLE! We at New York Broadway Tours apologize to Elijah to what happen. No one should disrespect you like that.

To the racist woman who attacked an incredibly talented performer, WHO DO YOU THINK YOU ARE?! WAIT TILL SOMEONE STARTS ACTING RACIST AND ATTACKING YOU.

Broadway actor assaulted by white woman, called n-word

Elijah Ahmad Lewis, a black Broadway actor in the ensemble of ?Motown the Musical,? claims to have been attacked while in Nevada on tour by a white woman who repeatedly called him by the N-word. Lewis said that a white woman charged him and began to attack him, and he pulled out his phone to try?

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RAINDROPS FALLING ON HIS HEAD. Canadian actor Kyle Riabko (who previously appeared in…

by | Dec 5, 2016 | Blog, Broadway


RAINDROPS FALLING ON HIS HEAD. Canadian actor Kyle Riabko (who previously appeared in the original production of Spring Awakening Broadway (as the first “Melchior replacement), the recent Broadway revival of Official HAIR Broadway (as Claude)) will be headlining a solo show at Joe’s Pub at The Public featuring acoustic renditions of classic Burt Bacharach songs entitled BACHARACH REIMAGINED on February 15th and 18th, 2017.

Riabko is no stranger to performing Burt Bacharach songs (both acoustically and with a rock edge). He created and starred in his own original musical WHAT’S IT ALL ABOUT (which premiered Off Broadway at New York Theatre Workshop in 2014) later renamed CLOSE TO YOU (which recently had an acclaimed run in London’s West End).

This concert is also to promote the Original London Cast Recording of CLOSE TO YOU.

Who is excited?!


For those of you in and around NYC — I’m coming back to Joe’s Pub in Feb. 2017. See you there!

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Easter Bonnet 2016-An American In Paris-Billy Hipkins

by | Apr 28, 2016 | Blog

The Easter Bonnet Competition (#BroadwayBonnets) was presented April 25 and 26, 2016 at the Minskoff Theatre, home to Disney’s The Lion King. The production featured 17 extravagant, handmade bonnets presented by some of Broadway?s most popular shows. Celebrating six weeks of fundraising by 58 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies, the Easter Bonnet Competition raised a record-shattering $5,528,568 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the largest grand total from either an Easter Bonnet Competition or Gypsy of the Year fundraising campaign in Broadway Cares history.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation?s leading industry?based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant?making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised more than $285 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

Broadway Cares is the major supporter of the social service programs at The Actors Fund, including the HIV/AIDS Initiative, the Phyllis Newman Women?s Health Initiative and the Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, and awards annual grants to more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations in all 50 states.

For this year’s 30th annual Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids Easter Bonnet Competition: A public service announcement to turn off your phones using ‘Turn It Off’ from “The Book Of Mormon”.?Our New York Broadway Tours friend Billy Hipkins WON the Easter Bonnet competition and gave a fantastic and fun breakdown of his process. Enjoy!!!

 

“The front side was a selfie of Max and Brandon who led the number, the back was a shattered cell phone screen. Worn by gorgeous Charlotte and backed up by an army of ushers who came down the aisles snatching phones which they then tap danced on.

So, how do you pull this off?…

Start with a hard hat and foam core and hot glue.#BroadwayBonnets?…

Build a turntable on a lazy susan and work out the foam core phone shapes. #BroadwayBonnets?…

Take a picture of your boys wearing the costumes they’ll have on when they take the onstage selfie and blow it up 28″ x 16″. #BroadwayBonnets ? withBrandon Uranowitz and Max von Essen.

Find a shattered screen shot and blow it up too.#BroadwayBonnets

Make a 1/4 scale model so you can work out where you’re heading. #BroadwayBonnets

Then surrender your apartment to the process and get busy. #BroadwayBonnets

Notice the trash heap starting under the table.#BroadwayBonnets ? with Brandon Uranowitz and?Max von Essen.?

Glue and glitter parts of the spider web leaving the rest to be rhinestoned to death by an army of stoners at the show. #BroadwayBonnets

Try to only glitter in the shower or over a drain. (WARNING: This will not keep glitter out of your bed.) #BroadwayBonnets

Cut, number, glitter, and stone the shattered panes.#BroadwayBonnets

Attach to plastic rods punched through the phone. Hold each one for 5 minutes while the hot glue hardens. Think about your life choices while doing this. #BroadwayBonnets

Getting there… #BroadwayBonnets

Start bordering in glitter contact paper. Lovely. But has sticky glitter an the back. (WARNING: It will definitely get in your bed.) #BroadwayBonnets

Work out the base. Add selfie sticks in and attempt to help poor, down for anything Charlotte keep it on her head. #BroadwayBonnets

(They will prove decorative but useless. Ah well, it’s for charity.) #BroadwayBonnets

Pick an absolutely stunning woman (with a personality to match) and turn her lose onstage.#BroadwayBonnets ? with Carlotta Chassimi.?

Even Max and Brandon can see how gorgeous she is! #BroadwayBonnets ? with Carlotta Chassimi.?

Revolve the bonnet on the button. Listen to the audience go nuts. #BroadwayBonnets

Very satisfying result. #BroadwayBonnets

Use lovely ushers! Aren’t they swell? (Including Dimitri Kleioris who isn’t on the Facebook). Phone props by Wyatt S. Manobla VII, lasers and selfie sticks by @Laura Feig. #BroadwayBonnets ? withJeffrey C. Sousa, Luke Hawkins and Shannon Rugani.

And there it is! Big finish! (All brilliantly choreographed by Sam Strasfeld and Victor J. Wisehart) #BroadwayBonnets ? with Gia Mongell,Max von Essen, Carlotta Chassimi, Brandon Uranowitz, Shannon Rugani and Garen Scribner.?

Or if you saw Monday’s show you would have seen me filling in for Brandon. And look at the grand total we as a community raised! #BroadwayBonnets ? with Max von Essen and Carlotta Chassimi.?

Yay Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids!#BroadwayBonnets ? with Carlotta Chassimi.?

Phantom of the Opera star LYNNE ABELES

by | Mar 24, 2015 | Backstage with Amada, Backstage with New York Broadway Tours, Blog, Broadway, Interviews

On this new episode of Backstage with New York Broadway Tours, Amada had the pleasure to interview her school friend Lynne Abeles who is currently on Broadway as the Spanish Lady/Carlotta understudy. After seeing the show Amada meets with her backstage and then they enjoy tea and snacks at the famous Broadway cookie joint Schmackary’s. Hear what she shares about her experience working on Broadway as Carlotta and how she trained for the part. Also, the footage stopped taping but a huge CONGRATULATIONS to Lynne and her soon to be married bliss!!!! We caught the engagement ring on the video and she didn’t announce it yet. We wish you all the BEST Lynne! XOXOX

For more information on Lynne visit her website: http://www.lynneabeles.com

Visit her brothers websites: http://www.davidabeles.com/live
and http://www.imdb.com/name/nm2896101/

For more info on Phantom: http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/new-york

And an up to date schedule of show times check out this website link:?https://maineventspecials.com/the-phantom-of-the-opera-play-tickets/

To join us for a New York Broadway Walking Tour visit: www.NewYorkBroadwayTours.com