Tag: Broadway

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Photography: The Men of “Rocky the Musical” on Broadway

(from left) Okieriete Onoadowan, Adam Perry, Adrian Aguilar & James Brown III

Let’s face it – any Broadway show puts an an actor through their paces.

But being in the cast of ROCKY on Broadway goes over the top.  These guys have to not only look the part but nail the moves of professional boxers.

You can only catch the show on Broadway until August 17th when the show will close at the Winter Garden Theater, so you may need to hurry if you want to see the spectacle that is ROCKY.

But, you can glimpse a bit more here than the show would offer, thanks to Out.com.

Four actors from the cast of ROCKY on Broadway volunteered to be photographed by Cedric Terrell at a studio in Chelsea—with just the barest of essentials.

Here’s just a sample – head over to Out.com for more.

Happy Friday!

Adrian Aguilar – “Rocky” is his Broadway debut

Dance Captain James Brown III – This is his 9th Broadway show

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Broadway: Cast of THE LION KING serenades subway car with “Circle Of Life”

Riders on the New York subway system got a surprise recently when the Broadway cast of the hit musical THE LION KING took a ride and broke out into an a cappella performance of “Circle of Life.”

You’ve got to live NYC to get it.

Broadway’s Tony Award winning musical comes to life 8 times a week in the heart of Times Square at The Minskoff Theater.  Find out more at www.lionking.com.

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Audra McDonald lands at #1 on four Billboard Charts with “Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill” Cast Recording

From Billboard:

Audra McDonald, Lady Day At Emerson’s Bar & Grill (No. 156): McDonald’s Tony Award-winning turn as Billie Holiday arrives in album form, as the original Broadway cast recording sings out with 2,000 sold and debuts at No. 156 on the Billboard 200.

The six-time Tony winner also bows at No. 1 on four other charts: Heatseekers Albums, Jazz Albums, Traditional Jazz Albums and Cast Albums.

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Anne Runolfsson chats with Seth Rudetsky on OBSESSED!

I love the folks that Seth Rudetsky interviews, and the fab stories that you get in these interviews.

In the latest of his OBSESSED! series, he chats with the fantastic and disarmingly humble Broadway veteran Anne Runolfsson (Les Misérables, The Phantom of the Opera).

I was on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! at the Lunt Fontanne Theatre at the same time Victor/Victoria was playing across the street at the Marquis Theatre, and I heard so many terrific things about her performances standing in for Julie Andrews.

From this clip’s description:

After giving a sample of some Phantom, Runolfsson relived the whirlwind ride that she experienced filling in for Julie Andrews right in the middle of a performance of Victor/Victoria. Then, she gave a taste of her extra high notes in the the show’s “Le Jazz Hot.”

You are REQUIRED to watch to the very end for her insanely high “optional” note of “Le Jazz Hot.” I literally screamed.

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Broadway’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” recoups in 15 weeks

Broadway’s “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” has recouped it’s initial investment in only three months since opening at the Belasco Theater, thanks in great part to the star-power of Neil Patrick Harris.

The New York Times has the details:

The producers announced on Tuesday that “Hedwig,” a concertlike show about a transgender rock musician from East Berlin, had recouped its capitalization, which was about $5 million, according to investment papers.

The show has elevated Mr. Harris (best known from CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother”) into Broadway’s newest box office star: The average paid admission to “Hedwig” last week was $148.66, the fourth-highest on Broadway, and the show managed to recoup swiftly even though it’s only holding seven performances a week, instead of the usual eight, because of the score’s demands on Mr. Harris.

Harris won the Tony Award this year for “Best Actor in a Musical” for his performance.

Next up – Andrew Rannells (“Book of Mormon,” HBO’s “Girls”) takes over the lead role as Harris departs on August 17th.  We’ll see then if Harris was the draw, or the show itself…

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Broadway: New video for upcoming “On The Town”

Super-cute three minute video promoting the upcoming Broadway revival of “On The Town.”

The clip follows three sailors as they discover what New York City has to offer – in just one day.

Previews begin September 20th.

From the YouTube clip:

This fall, one of America’s classic musical comedies is back on Broadway!

With a 30-member cast of New York’s most talented singers and dancers, ON THE TOWN tells the story of three sailors on 24-hour shore leave eager to experience all that the Big Apple has to offer, including a chance to discover love with the girl of their dreams!

Featuring a beloved LEONARD BERNSTEIN score, lyrics by COMDEN AND GREEN, and breathtaking dancing inspired by the original JEROME ROBBINS choreography, this big, brassy musical comedy arrives on Broadway following a critically acclaimed out-of-town run.

The New York Times calls it “one of those rare revivals that remind us what a hit show was originally all about.” Come spend a spectacular evening… ON THE TOWN!

For more info, go to OnTheTownBroadway.com

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Charlotte d’Amboise Answers Your Questions

The fab Charlotte d’Amboise answers Facebook questions from her dressing room at the Ambassador Theatre on Broadway while preparing for her role of “Roxie” in CHICAGO.

Charlotte was by far my favorite “Roxie” I ever did CHICAGO with (and at one time it felt like I did it with every “Roxie” over 10 years).

I came across these videos this morning and it felt very Saturday morning. Plus, this is EXACTLY what Charlotte is like is real life. Great person, great artist.

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“Jersey Boys” film looks to disappoint at the box office

Clint Eastwood’s film adaptation of the smash Broadway show Jersey Boys is projected to only bring in a low $13.5M this weekend at a cost around $40M. That estimate has already been revised down.

According to NikkiFinke.com:

The studio wanted the summer release, not Clint, who made more of a drama than a musical about Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons based on the Broadway production nearing a decade-long run based on the original book written by Marshall Brickman and Rick Elice who also wrote this screenplay.

Unfortunately the knocks against the pic are that it’s slow, lacked a musical background (seriously), and didn’t come alive until the last 15 minutes including credits. Biggest mistake might have been not using more artists’ music to set the feel for the time period.

Obviously disappointing news for Broadway fans. The stage production, directed by Des McAnuff, is supremely entertaining, and the use of the Four Seasons music to tell their story is clever but never heavy-handed.

The Broadway production is still doing great business, as well as the touring companies world-wide.

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Andrew Rannells will take over “Hedwig” from Neil Patrick Harris

Tony Award nominee for “The Book of Mormon” Andrew Rannells will assume the role of “Hedwig” in the hit Broadway production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” for a limited eight week run beginning in August.

The Broadway production recently won “Best Revival,” “Best Actor in a Musical,” and “Best Featured Actress in a Musical” Tony Awards.

In addition to “Book of Mormon,” Rannells is well-known for his recurring role on the TV series “Girls.”

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Billy Porter and Karen Ziemba to host Creative Arts portion of 2014 Tony Awards

A pair of past Tony Award®-winners will take the stage on Broadway’s biggest night to hand out American Theatre Wing Tony Awards in more than a dozen Creative Arts Award categories.

Billy Porter and Karen Ziemba will preside over the Creative Arts Awards portion of the 2014 Tony Awards ceremony on June 8, which will take place before the CBS telecast begins, as well as during the commercial breaks.

TonyAwards.com will offer exclusive on-demand video clips of the Creative Arts portions of the Tony Awards ceremony.

In addition, Porter and Ziemba will hand out the 2014 Tony Awards in various non-competitive categories, including the Regional Theatre Award (NYC’s Signature Theatre), the Isabelle Stevenson Award (Rosie O’Donnell), and the Special Tony Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre (Jane Greenwood).

It’s just a little cool that I’ve worked with both in the theatre.

Karen was a neighbor of mine for years on the Upper West Side and we used to see each other often.  I also did CHICAGO on Broadway with Karen when she was starring as “Roxie.”

Billy, as regular readers know, is a friend of mine for over 20 years.  Two years ago I had the pleasure of choreographing SWEET CHARITY at the Lyric Theatre in Oklahoma City with Billy killing it each night as “Big Daddy” with the number “Rhythm of Life.”

It will be uber-cool to watch these two before and during the Tonys.  Make sure you head to TonyAwards.com tomorrow night for all the extra fun.