Actor Karl Malden Dead at 97

The lights on Broadway dimmed tonight in honor of the late and beloved actor Karl Malden, who died at the age of 97 on July 1st. Although his work has been sporadic over the last couple decades, Malden was a fixture on television sets in the '70s on the TV show "The Streets of San Francisco". Malden is best known to theater fans for two roles in particular, as Mitch in the original Broadway production of the Tennessee Williams classic A Streetcar Desire (which he repeated on film), and as Herbie in the movie version of the musical Gypsy. He performed on Broadway in a number of plays by 20th century greats from the '30s through the '50s, including Golden Boy, All My Sons, Tea and Sympathy, and a 1952 revival of Desire Under the Elms. Karl Malden's notable film credits include On the Waterfront, Birdman of Alcatraz, and Patton. He won an Oscar for his role in Streetcar, amongst many other well-deserved award nominations and honors.

Ragtime Returns To Broadway

The musical Ragtime, a favorite among many lovers of the modern musical, is coming back to Broadway in October, when it will arrive at the Neil Simon Theatre. The lavish show, based on the E.L. Doctorow novel of the same name, opened on Broadway in 1998 at the then brand new Ford Center for the Performing Arts (now called the Hilton Theatre), and ran for about three years before closing. To the consternation of its many fans, Ragtime lost the Tony Award for Best Musical to The Lion King, despite the fact that it had won both Best Book (for Terrence McNally) and Best Score (for Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty). The Broadway revival production originated at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and is both directed and choreographed by Marcia Milgrom Dodge. Ragtime follows three families as their lives become entwined during the tumultuous social change of the early 1900s. It includes a mix of fictional characters such as the ragtime pianist Coalhouse Walker Jr. and Eastern European immigrant Tateh, and historical figures like Emma Goldman and Booker T. Washington.

Nutty Professor To Become Broadway Musical

Rupert Holmes (Curtains, Say Goodnight Gracie, The Mystery of Edwin Drood) and songwriter Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line, Sweet Smell of Success, They're Playing Our Song) are working on a new Broadway musical based on the classic Jerry Lewis film comedy The Nutty Professor. Lewis himself will direct the production of this Nutty musical, which is aiming to hit Broadway in the 2010-2011 season. Jerry Lewis is no stranger to the stage, having starred in the touring production of the musical Damn Yankees in the '90s. The 1963 movie The Nutty Professor, which Lewis starred in and co-wrote with Bill Richmond, is about Julius Kelp, a geeky genius who creates a potion that transforms him into smooth operator Buddy Love.

Cher and Christina Aguilera To Star in Musical

Variety has just announced that a new original film musical called Burlesque is in the works, and it will be starring music superstars Cher and Christina Aguilera. Directed and co-written by Steven Antin, Burlesque is about Tess, a former dancer and neo-burlesque club owner (to be played by Cher) and an aspiring young singer (Christina Aguilera). A music legend who has been dazzling Las Vegas audiences with her new solo show, Cher already has plenty of acting experience under her belt, having won an Oscar for her work in the movie Moonstruck. For Aguilera, though, Burlesque will mark her debut as a movie actress.

Broadway Bares It All For Charity

Broadway Bares 19.0: CLICK IT!, the latest installment of the annual charity event, brings Broadway performers together for a bawdy burlesque at the Roseland Ballroom in two performances at 9:30pm and midnight tonight. The theme of this year's event, which will feature more than 200 scantily clad Broadway dancers, is the information superhighway. And if anyone can actually succeed in making the internet sexy, it's director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, the creator of Broadway Bares. Broadway stars who will also be participating include Daniel Reichard (Jersey Boys), Gavin Creel (Hair), Allison Janney (9 To 5), Sutton Foster (Shrek), and Ugly Betty star Michael Urie. The proceeds from the event will, as always, go to the Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) charity. Get more info at www.broadwaycares.org.

Special Theatrical Event Tony Eliminated

On the heels of the 63rd Annual Tony Awards ceremony, it has been announced that the Tonys will stop giving out the Best Special Theatrical Event award. This award was created to honor unusual, non-traditional, and limited run Broadway shows that didn't fit so neatly into the Best Play or Best Musical categories. Nominees in that category this year included Will Ferrell's limited engagement (almost) one-man show You're Welcome America: A Final Night with George W. Bush, the magical wintry clown show Slava's Snowshow, and winner Liza's at the Palace starring Liza Minnelli. The advantage of eliminating the category is that these Broadway shows are now eligible for other production element awards such as set design and costumes, which they previously weren't eligible for. To ensure that these special theatrical events can still be recognized, the Tonys will consider them for the Best Play or Best Musical categories. The Tony committee will also reserve the right to honor these types of shows with a Special Tony Award if deemed worthy.

Broadway Flop Glory Days To Get Recording

The Broadway musical Glory Days, which had an extraordinarily brief run, being one of those rare Broadway shows to both open and close on the same night, will be getting a cast recording to preserve its score. The short-lived show about four high school friends reuniting after some time away at college was written by James Gardiner (book) and Nick Blaemire (music and lyrics). They debuted the pop musical at the Signature Theatre in 2008, and then it was quickly transferred to the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway, but unfortunately largely negative reviews caused the show's producers to make the quick decision to shutter it. However, the show's original four-man cast - Steven Booth, Andrew Call, Jesse JP Johnson, and Adam Halpin - will reunite to record the cast CD for Ghostlight Records. With this new recording, and plans to license Glory Days for future productions, the musical should expect to continue having a life, despite its failure to find an audience on Broadway.

Four Broadway Shows Close Today

Four Broadway shows will be taking their last bows today. Two of the closures - Exit the King and Joe Turner's Come and Gone - were limited runs and therefore expected. However, two other closings - Reasons To Be Pretty and Guys and Dolls - were only announced days ago and likely due to their failure to earn any Tony Awards this past Sunday. Post-Tony closing announcements are something of a tradition on Broadway. Many struggling shows make the effort to continue running until Tony time, in the hopes that if they snag a win, it will result in an upswing in ticket sales. Unfortunately Reasons To Be Pretty, which has had a hard time selling tickets despite good buzz and positive reviews, lost the Best Play award to God of Carnage, and it didn't get any actor wins either. Although Guys and Dolls did fail to win Best Musical Revival, its closing announcement was far more surprising, considering it has done respectable (if not impressive) box office sales during its run.

Tony Awards Time

Attention theater fans: Tonight is your night! It's Tony Awards night, which is practically a national holiday for those who love Broadway. The 63rd Annual Tony Awards will air on CBS at 8pm Eastern time in a three-hour broadcast coming live from Radio City Music Hall in midtown New York City. Neil Patrick Harris (How I Met Your Mother) hosts the ceremony, which will feature musical numbers from the nominated shows, in addition to the awards. The impressive list of presenters will include Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Kristin Chenoweth, Anne Hathaway, Angela Lansbury, Kevin Spacey, Susan Sarandon, James Gandolfini, and many more. For Broadway lovers who would like to enjoy the telecast in the company of fellow theater fans, there is going to be a simulcast of the ceremony in Duffy Square (home of the TKTS booth), right in the heart of Times Square. Hosted by Tovah Feldshuh (currently starring in the Broadway play Irena's Vow), this special broadcast of the Tonys will also include the untelevised pre-show Creative Arts Awards from 7pm to 8pm.

Broadway Cast Recordings Released

Fans of the new musical Next To Normal, with a score by Tom Kitt (High Fidelity) and Brian Yorkey will be pleased to know that the original Broadway cast recording is now available for purchase. With 30 songs, the recording is a 2-disc set and features vocals by Alice Ripley and J. Robert Spencer. The Broadway cast album for the new revival of West Side Story, starring newcomer Josefina Scaglione and Karen Olivo (In the Heights), is on the verge of release, set to come out on June 2. (The extremely short-lived new musical The Story of My Life, starring Will Chase and Malcolm Gets, will also have its cast CD released on that day.) Fans of that classic Leonard Bernstein-Stephen Sondheim score, featuring songs like "Maria" and "Tonight," will want to get the new recording, especially since it has something prior incarnations don't - Spanish language versions of "I Feel Pretty" and "A Boy Like That". Another Broadway revival, the new production of Hair, also has a recording soon to be released. The Hair CD, boasting the talents of Will Swenson and Gavin Creel, will be out on June 23.

Starry Line-Up To Host Tony Awards

The presenters for the 63rd Annual Tony Awards ceremony have been announced, and it's quite a starry line-up, full of theater celebrities (many who are currently appearing in Broadway shows) and well-known personalities from film and TV too. The stars currently scheduled to present awards and introduce the evening's performances on the telecast are: Will Ferrell, Nicole Kidman, Jane Fonda, Kristin Chenoweth, Anne Hathaway (upcoming Twelfth Night in Central Park), Angela Lansbury (Blithe Spirit), Kevin Spacey, Lauren Graham and Oliver Platt (Guys and Dolls), Jessica Lange, Audra McDonald, Susan Sarandon (Exit the King), Carrie Fisher (upcoming Wishful Drinking), Piper Perabo (Reasons To Be Pretty), Lucie Arnaz, Kate Burton, Edie Falco, Hallie Foote, Colin Hanks, Frank Langella, David Hyde Pierce (Accent on Youth), John Stamos, Chandra Wilson, James Gandolfini, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels and Hope Davis (God of Carnage). Neil Patrick Harris will host the ceremony, which will air on June 7, broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City.

The Philanthropist Begins On Broadway

The new Roundabout Theatre Company production of the 1970 play The Philanthropist, directed by David Grindley, starts performances at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway today, April 10. The production stars Matthew Broderick, who has appeared on Broadway in such shows as How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, The Producers, and The Odd Couple. In The Philanthropist, which playwright Christopher Hampton (Les Liaisons Dangereuses) wrote as a response to Moliere's classic The Misanthrope, Broderick plays a university professor oblivious to the chaos around him. Also starring in this production: Steven Weber, Jonathan Cake, Anna Madeley, Samantha Soule, Jennifer Mudge, and Tate Ellington. The Philanthropist will have its official Broadway opening at the American Airlines on April 26, and the play is scheduled to have a limited run through June 28. Discount tickets are available for the production, so if you want to see The Philanthropist for cheap, click here.

Rock of Ages Opens on Broadway

Rock of Ages, the new musical starring former American Idol contestant Constantine Maroulis, opens on Broadway. The rock musical featuring classic tunes by 1980s hair bands like Bon Jovi, Journey, Asia, and Whitesnake began Off-Broadway, but recently transferred to Broadway's Brooks Atkinson Theatre, where it is set for an open run. The tuner is about an aspiring musician who arrives on L.A.'s Sunset Strip with dreams of making it big as a rocker.

Dolly Parton Talks About Broadway's 9 To 5 Musical On 60 Minutes

Songwriter Dolly Parton will be talking about her career, her life, and her brand new Broadway musical 9 To 5 on the CBS series 60 Minutes tonight when she is interviewed by Morley Safer. The new Broadway musical 9 To 5 is based on the 1980 film of the same name starring Jane Fonda (now on Broadway in 33 Variations), Lily Tomlin, and Dolly Parton herself. The musical version stars Allison Janney, Megan Hilty, and Stephanie J. Block, and will open at the Marriott Marquis Theatre on April 30.

Green Day's American Idiot To Become Musical

The band Green Day are developing their 2004 album "American Idiot" into a stage musical. The show, which will include all of that CD's songs as well as some from their newest release "21st Century Breakdown," is scheduled to premiere at the Berkeley Repertory Theatre on September 4. Michael Mayer (Spring Awakening) serves as director and co-writer (along with Green Day front man Billie Joe Armstrong) of the musical, titled American Idiot. The show will feature an onstage band and a cast of 19 performers.

Hedda Closes on Broadway and Irena Opens

Irena's Vow, the new play starring Tovah Feldshuh, has its official Broadway opening today at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Meanwhile over at the American Airlines Theatre, Mary-Louise Parker is giving her final performance in the Roundabout Theatre Company production of Hedda Gabler.

Plan Closes on Broadway, Carnage Opens

The revival of Richard Greenberg's play The American Plan ends its run on Broadway today. The limited-run production was produced by the Manhattan Theatre Club and played 69 regular performances at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre.

Meanwhile over at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre, Yasmina Reza's dark comedy God of Carnage has its official Broadway opening. Set for an open run, God of Carnage stars stage veterans (all who have appeared on Broadway before) Hope Davis, Marcia Gay Harden, Jeff Daniels, and Sopranos star James Gandolfini.

Broadway Lights Dimmed for Richardson, Silver

It was a sad week in the Broadway community. Two nights in a row, the marquee lights of the Broadway theaters were dimmed, first for Ron Silver, and the following night for Natasha Richardson. Ron Silver, who won a Tony Award for his role in the original Broadway production of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow, passed away after losing his battle with cancer at the age of 62.

Natasha Richardson, Tony winner for the Broadway revival of Cabaret, was the victim of a freak skiing accident. Although she seemed fine after taking a small tumble, she had unknowingly sustained a brain injury that worsened at a rapid speed, soon leaving her brain dead. Wife of Liam Neeson (who she met while performing in the Broadway revival of Anna Christie) and daughter of Vanessa Redgrave (recently on Broadway in The Year of Magical Thinking), Richardson was part of a theatrical royal family that also included her father Tony Richardson and aunt Lynn Redgrave.

Blithe Spirit Opens and Ferrell Exits Broadway

The new Broadway revival of Noel Coward's Blithe Spirit opens on Broadway today at the Shubert Theatre. The supernatural comedy stars Rupert Everett (in his Broadway debut) as a novelist and Angela Lansbury (last seen on Broadway in Deuce) as the clairvoyant who accidentally conjures up his dead first wife.

Over at the Cort Theatre, Will Ferrell is concluding his Broadway run of You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush. The Broadway comedy was broadcast last night on HBO.

Irena's Vow Begins Broadway Performances

Irena's Vow arrives on Broadway tonight, beginning preview performances at the Walter Kerr Theatre. The play by Dan Gordon is the inspiring story of a woman who, while serving as the housekeeper of a Nazi official during World War II, secretly helped to save the lives of many Jewish refugees. Irena's Vow stars Tovah Feldshuh, who was last seen on Broadway in Golda's Balcony.

33 Variations Opens On Broadway

33 Variations, the new play by Moises Kaufman (whose Off-Broadway credits include The Laramie Project and Gross Indecency), opens on Broadway today at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre. The drama stars Jane Fonda, who has not been seen on Broadway since the 1960s.

Guys Opens and Joey Closes On Broadway

The Roundabout Theatre Company's Pal Joey concludes its limited run on Broadway today. Starring Stockard Channing, Martha Plimpton, and newcomer Matthew Risch in the title role (replacing Jersey Boy Christian Hoff during previews), Pal Joey received mixed reviews.

Meanwhile Guys and Dolls has its official opening on Broadway today at the Nederlander Theatre. The latest Broadway revival of the classic tuner stars Oliver Platt, Lauren Graham (Gilmore Girls), and Craig Bierko.

Broadway Classic Yankees To Be On Big Screen

The classic 1950s Broadway musical Damn Yankees is going to be filmed for the big screen again. The original movie version of Damn Yankees starred Tab Hunter as all American good guy Joe Boyd and Ray Walston as the devilish Mr. Applegate who gives Joe his wish of being a baseball star. The new Damn Yankees musical film, to be produced by the guys who gave us the Hollywood Chicago and Hairspray, will star Jake Gyllenhaal and Jim Carrey in those roles. Damn Yankees was last seen on Broadway in a revival in 1994 starring Victor Garber and Bebe Neuwirth, as the devil's favorite minion.

Speed-the-Plow and Story Close on Broadway

Speed-the-Plow, which has had no fewer than four actors play the lead during its limited run, now closes on Broadway today. The David Mamet play, which opened with Jeremy Piven (Entourage) in the role of Bobby Gould, has its final bow with William H. Macy, alongside Raul Esparza and Elisabeth Moss, who fortunately were spared the mercury attack that supposedly sidelined Piven.

There is also a second, unexpected Broadway closing today. The Story of My Life, a two-man musical starring Will Chase and Malcolm Gets, made a sudden closing announcement yesterday. Lackluster reviews and a lack of ticket sales appear to have doomed the two-hander, an original musical that some felt was far too "small" for Broadway. The Story of My Life will have only played five regular performances on Broadway when it shutters.

Next To Normal To Play Broadway

It's been a long road to Broadway for the musical Next To Normal, a family drama written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, but it will finally arrive on the Great White Way this spring. Previously titled Feeling Electric, Next To Normal had workshops in NYC and was given a staged reading at the New York Musical Theatre Festival prior to opening Off-Broadway at the Second Stage Theatre in 2008. The Second Stage production was well-received and led to rumors that the musical would transfer to Broadway, but, curiously, the show took another route. Following rewrites by the creative team, Next To Normal went on to another run, with almost the entire Off-Broadway cast intact, at Washington D.C.'s Arena Stage. Now Next To Normal, with the same cast and director as the Arena production, will at last come to Broadway's Longacre Theatre, with an official Broadway opening scheduled for April 15.

Grease On Broadway Star Goes To South Pacific

It has just been announced that Laura Osnes, the star of the recent Broadway revival of Grease, will take over the lead in Broadway's South Pacific when Kelli O'Hara departs the production in March. Replacing a Broadway veteran and multiple Tony nominee like O'Hara in a prestigious Broadway hit like South Pacific is a major sign of legitimacy for Osnes, who snagged her Broadway debut role as Sandy in Grease by winning a reality TV show, NBC's Grease - You're the One That I Want.

Equus Has Final Broadway Performance Today

The magic is gone now that Harry Potter's Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths have taken their final bows in the Broadway run of Equus. This production of Peter Shaffer's intense psychological play, which enjoyed a successful run in London previously, marked Radcliffe's Broadway debut and earned the young actor much acclaim.

Rent: Filmed Live On Broadway Now On TV

As it completed its lengthy run on Broadway, the musical Rent was filmed live and later aired at movie theaters across the country. The recording, titled Rent: Filmed Live on Broadway, is now available for purchase on DVD and, as of today, it can also be viewed on television via pay-per-view. Check your local listings.

Soul of Shaolin Closes On Broadway

The limited Broadway engagement of Soul of Shaolin closes at the Marquis Theatre today. The Chinese martial arts spectacular was part of the "China on Broadway" series that has been created to bring Chinese theatricals to Broadway every year.

Broadway's Phantom of the Opera Turns 21

Today The Phantom of the Opera celebrates 21 years of haunting the Majestic Theatre on Broadway. The longest running musical on Broadway, Phantom has enchanted New York theater audiences for a total of 8,732 performances. To get discount tickets to see the record-busting Phantom on Broadway, click here.

Hedda Gabler Opens On Broadway

The Roundabout Theatre Company's Hedda Gabler, starring Mary-Louise Parker, officially opens on Broadway today at the American Airlines Theatre. Parker is best known as the star of the HBO series Weeds, but she has also frequently appeared on Broadway, most notably as the lead in the play Proof, a role which earned her a Tony Award.

Will Ferrell's Broadway Show Goes To HBO

Will Ferrell's Broadway show, You're Welcome America. A Final Night with George W. Bush, just had its first Broadway performance last night at the Cort Theatre and will run until March 15. But those Will Ferrell fans who can't make it to New York City to catch him as Bush on Broadway will be able to see You're Welcome America from the comfort of their homes when HBO broadcasts the Broadway show as a live special in March.

Soul of Shaolin Opens On Broadway

The Chinese martial arts spectacular Soul of Shaolin had its official Broadway opening tonight. The very limited run production plays at the Marquis Theatre through the end of January. It is to be the first in the "China on Broadway" series, which will bring a Chinese theatrical piece to Broadway annually, right around the Lunar New Year.

Three More Broadway Shows Close Tomorrow

On January 4, nine Broadway shows closed, but unfortunately that's not the end of the carnage. On Sunday, January 11, All My Sons, Gypsy, and Monty Python's Spamalot also finish their Broadway runs.

Hedda Gabler Begins Broadway Performances

The new Broadway revival of Henrik Ibsen's classic Hedda Gabler starts performances today at the American Airlines Theatre. This Roundabout Theatre Company production stars Mary-Louise Parker (whose Broadway credits include a Tony-winning turn in Proof) in the title role. Her co-stars include Broadway and Off-Broadway regular Michael Cerveris (Sweeney Todd, Assassins, Titanic) and TV/film character actor Peter Stormare, who is making his Broadway debut. Hedda Gabler officially opens on Broadway on January 25 and is scheduled to play through March 29.

The Big Bad Day - Multiple Broadway Closings

Today is a tough day for Broadway, with numerous shows closing. Long-runner Hairspray, last season hits Young Frankenstein and Boeing Boeing, limited run White Christmas, and newbie 13 are among the Broadway musicals and plays shutting their doors. And over the next month, a few more shows will be shutting down, leaving many Broadway theaters barren. The good news is that the spring will usher in several new Broadway productions, including Guys and Dolls, Hair, and Waiting For Godot.

American Plan Starts On Broadway Tonight

Richard Greenberg's play The American Plan, starring Mercedes Ruehl, begins performances on Broadway today. The Manhattan Theatre Club production is playing at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (formerly the Biltmore Theatre) and will have its official Broadway opening on January 22.

Broadway At The Cineplex

Two recent hit Broadway plays are now playing at a movie theater near you. John Patrick Shanley's drama Doubt has been made into a film, directed by the playwright and starring Meryl Streep and Philip Seymour Hoffman. The docu-drama Frost/Nixon is now a film as well, and this one has retained the two men who starred in the Broadway production, Frank Langella and Michael Sheen, as Richard Nixon and David Frost, respectively. So if you missed these top-notch plays while they graced Broadway, catch them in the movie theater now!

Piven Out, Butz and Macy In

Jeremy Piven has departed from the Broadway production of Speed-the-Plow, reportedly due to high mercury levels in his system. The acclaimed Broadway revival still has 10 weeks until its run ends, and Piven fans holding tickets to the play may be upset about his sudden leave-taking. However, the powers-that-be at Speed-the-Plow have managed to find two exciting replacements. The always excellent Norbert Leo Butz, whose Broadway credits include Wicked and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, will take over the role of Bobby Gould through January 11. Then film, TV, and sometime stage star William H. Macy will play the part until the show's run concludes. Broadway lovers who have already seen Speed-the-Plow now have two good reasons to return. If you want discount tickets to see it on Broadway, get them while you still can by clicking here.

Slava's Snowshow Opens On Broadway

Slava's Snowshow officially opened on Broadway today for a limited holiday run. The Olivier Award-winning show, which also played a lengthy engagement Off-Broadway, will end its brief Broadway run at the Helen Hayes Theatre on January 4.

Broadway's Grease To Rock Out Of The Atkinson

The current Broadway revival of the musical Grease, now starring reality TV show finalists Derek Keeling and Ashley Spencer, will close in the New Year. The '50s rock 'n' roll musical will have its final performance at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre on January 4.

Slava's Snowshow Blows Onto Broadway

Slava's Snowshow opens on Broadway tonight. The magical show featuring Russian clown Slava Polunin previously played Off-Broadway for over two years, and it is now enjoying a limited holiday engagement at Broadway's Helen Hayes Theatre through January 4.

Doc About Broadway's Billys Airs Tonight

"Finding Billy," a new documentary about the casting of the three performers currently playing the title role in Billy Elliot on Broadway, airs on New York's PBS station tonight. The program offers a behind-the-scenes look at the nationwide search for three young men with the acting, singing, and dancing talent necessary to carry the lead in Broadway's hottest new musical.

Broadway Playwright William Gibson Dies

William Gibson, the writer best known for The Miracle Worker, has passed away at the age of 94. Gibson also penned the Broadway plays Two for the Seesaw and the recent hit Golda's Balcony.

Young Frankenstein and 13 To Close January

Yet another of the big musicals has posted its Broadway closing notice: Young Frankenstein will shutter on January 4, 2009. Like the soon-to-be-closing Hairspray and Spamalot, Young Frankenstein is one of those shows popular with tourists looking for a big, splashy Broadway musical. But unlike Wicked and Jersey Boys, these shows have long had middling ticket sales, meaning that the current economic woes are just too much for them to survive on Broadway. The much newer musical, 13, is also ending its run on January 4. With the cold, quiet winter months ahead, many Broadway producers have decided to pack it in right after the popular Christmas holiday, knowing that ticket sales will dip considerably in the New Year.

White Christmas Opens On Broadway

Today the stage version of Irving Berlin's White Christmas opens on Broadway. The classic film gets the big Broadway treatment just in time for the holidays. Starring Kerry O'Malley and Stephen Bogardus, the cheery musical is scheduled to play through January 4.

Broadway's Spamalot Moves Up Closing Date

Following a previous announcement that it would close on Broadway on January 18, Spamalot has moved up its closing date. The Monty Python musical is now scheduled to have its final Broadway performance on January 11, so get those discount tickets now, while you still can!

American Buffalo Opens On Broadway

The latest Broadway revival of American Buffalo, David Mamet's play about small-time crooks, opens at the Belasco Theatre today. The dark comedy stars Cedric the Entertainer, John Leguizamo, and Oscar-nominee Haley Joel Osment, making his Broadway debut.

To Be Or Not To Be Closes On Broadway

Manhattan Theatre Club's production of Nick Whitby's dark comedy To Be Or Not To Be closed on Broadway today. Based on the film of the same name, the World War II-era play suffered from bad word-of-mouth and negative reviews. MTC's next production scheduled to play the Samuel J. Friedman is Richard Greenberg's play The American Plan.

Tale of Two Cities Closes On Broadway

Broadway's A Tale of Two Cities, which previously announced a closing date of November 16, has bumped up the date and is now shuttering today. Based on the Charles Dickens novel, the French Revolutionary-set musical was a crowd-pleaser but struggled to get audiences into the theater.

Shrek Starts Broadway Performances

The new stage musical version of Shrek starts performances on Broadway today. Brian d'Arcy James, who has been on Broadway in many shows including Titanic and Sweet Smell of Success, stars as Shrek himself, and Sutton Foster (most recently seen on Broadway in Young Frankenstein) plays Princess Fiona. The big green musical will have its official opening at the Broadway Theatre on December 14.

More Broadway Closings

Spamalot won't be the only Broadway musical to close on January 18. It has just been announced that Spring Awakening will also take its final Broadway bow that day. Hairspray, too, will shut its doors at the beginning of the year, closing on January 4. Seeing such significant Broadway shows - all Tony-winning musicals, all having enjoyed a lot of box office success - go down all at once is dispiriting. It's not a very good sign for the health of Broadway. That said, the truth is that all of these shows have had less than impressive ticket sales for awhile now, so it isn't a huge surprise. To get discount tickets to these shows while they're still on Broadway, click here.

Legally Blonde Closes On Broadway Today

The Broadway production of Legally Blonde closes at the Palace Theatre on Broadway today. The 'girl power' musical, based on the Reese Witherspoon movie of the same name, will have played 595 regular Broadway performances when it ends its run this afternoon. Legally Blonde is survived by a national tour that is still scheduled to play through autumn 2009.

Spamalot To Close On Broadway In 2009

Monty Python's Spamalot has announced that it will be closing on Broadway on January 18, 2009. The Tony-winner was a sensation when it opened at the Shubert Theatre in early 2005, but ticket sales have steadily declined since the show's second year on Broadway. The Broadway musical will have played over 1,500 Broadway performances when it closes in January.

Broadway's 39 Steps Moving To Helen Hayes

The 39 Steps is moving house again. The Broadway comedy loosely based on Hitchcock's film of the same name will depart from the Cort Theatre on January 11, 2009 and re-open at the Helen Hayes Theatre on January 20. Will Ferrell's solo show will be taking its place at the Cort.

Will Ferrell Coming To Broadway In 2009

Actor/comedian Will Ferrell, who first gained fame as a Saturday Night Live regular, will make his Broadway debut on January 20, 2009 in the solo show You're Welcome America - A Final Night with George W. Bush. The show will be directed by Adam McKay, Ferrell's frequent collaborator, who directed the funny man in movies Anchorman and Talladega Nights. You're Welcome America is expected to play a limited engagement through March 15.

To Be Or Not To Be Opens On Broadway

To Be Or Not To Be, the latest production of the Manhattan Theatre Club, officially opens on Broadway tonight. It is MTC's first Broadway show since re-naming their Broadway home the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (formerly known as the Biltmore). To Be Or Not To Be, written by Nick Whitby and based on the film of the same name, has been through quite a bit of turmoil in the lead-up to its Broadway opening. Two of the play's lead actors, Craig Bierko and Brian Murray, dropped out during the rehearsal process, and word on the street is that the self-proclaimed dark comedy wasn't funny enough. It will be interesting to see the critics weigh in after tonight's opening.

[title of show] Closes October 12

Last chance alert! The new Broadway musical [title of show] has its final performance at the Lyceum Theatre on Sunday, October 12. The witty little show about two guys trying to write a Broadway musical didn't have a long life on Broadway, but it did have a passionate fan base and will hopefully continue to have a life beyond Broadway.

Broadway Bailey Goes To High School

Bailey Hanks, the talented young lady who made her Broadway debut in Legally Blonde thanks to the MTV reality show "The Search For Elle Woods," had the misfortune to learn that her Broadway run would end not long after it began, due to Blonde's impending closure on October 19. However, Bailey will bounce back quickly - not to Broadway this time, but to New Jersey. She will be playing Sharpay in the upcoming Paper Mill Playhouse production of that teenybopper sensation, High School Musical, opening in early November.

13 Opens On Broadway Today

The new musical 13, about teenagers and starring teenagers, opened this afternoon on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The bright, fun musical is about Evan, a New York City boy who tries to win over the popular kids when he's forced to move with his mom to Indiana. 13's book is by Dan Elish and Robert Horn, with music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown (whose Broadway credits include Parade and Urban Cowboy).

Slava's Snowshow Coming To Broadway

Slava's Snowshow, the wintry clown show that played Off-Broadway's Union Square Theatre for a lengthy run, is coming to Broadway for the holiday season. Slava's Snowshow will play Broadway's smallest theater, the Helen Hayes, from mid-November to early January. For what is essentially an Off-Broadway show to do a limited Broadway engagement like this is somewhat unusual, but lately limited holiday-themed shows have done well on Broadway. How the Grinch Stole Christmas played short Broadway engagements the last couple years, and this winter we have Irving Berlin's White Christmas on the Great White Way. With its crowd-pleasing blizzard finale, Slava's Snowshow will add to the festive atmosphere on Broadway.

Broadway To Vegas: Lion King Goes West

The massively successful original Broadway production of The Lion King continues to run after over 10 years, and other incarnations have popped up in cities across the United States. Now the Julie Taymor-directed Disney musical based on the animated film will have a sit-down production in Las Vegas. Although many Broadway transfers have crashed and burned in Vegas, The Lion King seems like a good candidate for a successful desert city production since it is big on theatrics and recognizable songs, but short on plot. The Lion King will open at the Mandalay Bay Theatre, where Mamma Mia! is concluding its lengthy run, on May 2, 2009.

Xanadu Ends Broadway Run Today

The Broadway musical Xanadu has its final performance on Broadway this afternoon. Based on the flop film musical starring Olivia Newton-John, Broadway's Xanadu featured Kerry Butler as a Greek muse and Cheyenne Jackson as the artist who she inspired. The Tony-nominated show, featuring a slew of memorable pop songs, played over 500 performances at the Helen Hayes Theatre before having its final performance on Broadway today. Xanadu is expected to have a production in London soon.

American Psycho To Become Broadway Show

Just when we thought we'd seen it all as far as Broadway musical adaptations go, here comes the announcement that the brutally satiric Bret Easton Ellis novel American Psycho (also a film starring Christian Bale) is aiming to hit the Broadway stage. Producers are working to make it happen, along with the blessing of the book's author, but a creative team has yet to be announced. So far the plan is for the Broadway version of American Psycho to include a mix of original music and hit songs from the '80s.

Equus Opens On Broadway Tonight

The Broadway revival of Equus opens tonight at the Broadhurst Theatre. The production, starring Daniel Radcliffe and Richard Griffiths (both best known from the Harry Potter franchise), comes to Broadway following a successful run in London. This limited Broadway run of Equus, scheduled to play through February 8, marks Radcliffe's Broadway debut and Griffiths return to the Great White Way - he first appeared on Broadway in The History Boys (playing a role won him a Tony Award).

Legally Blonde To Close On Broadway 10/19

The bad economy appears to be taking a heavy toll on Broadway. In just a week's time we've had closing announcements from Xanadu and [title of show], and now comes the word that Legally Blonde will have its final Broadway performance on October 19. Although the musical (based on the popular film of the same name) has managed okay during its year and a half run, Legally Blonde has had to resort to some high profile stunts in order to maintain ticket sales, such as participating in the MTV reality TV series "The Search for Elle Woods". Legally Blonde will close at Broadway's Palace Theater on October 19 having played 595 performances.

Xanadu Moves Up Broadway Closing Date

It was only a few days ago that Xanadu announced it would be ending its Broadway run on October 12, but today came the news that the campy musical will be wrapping up even earlier. Xanadu is now scheduled to have its final Broadway performance on September 28. Get discount tickets to see the show while you still can!

Broadway Performers Nab Emmy Awards

The 60th Annual Emmy Awards that aired last night could have just as easily been a Tony Awards ceremony, considering all the Broadway regulars who accepted awards. Winners Jeremy Piven (Entourage) and Dianne Wiest (In Treatment) are both appearing on Broadway this season, in Speed-the-Plow and All My Sons, respectively. Paul Giamatti and Laura Linney, who won for playing John and Abigail Adams, both have extensive theater credits, though Linney is more frequently seen on Broadway than Giamatti these days. Zeljko Ivanek, Eileen Atkins, and Alec Baldwin, as well as Jean Smart and Glenn Close, all honored for their TV work this year with Emmys, have traversed the Broadway stage as well.

[title of show] Announces Closing October 12

On the heels of Xanadu's announcement of its impending closing comes the news that another small musical, [title of show], is calling it quits on the same day. [title of show] was the first show of this Broadway season, opening mid-summer, and it will close having played only 102 official performances on Broadway. Because of the "insider" nature of this 'musical about writing a Broadway musical', bringing [title of show] to Broadway was always a big financial risk, but stars and creators Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell are no doubt pleased to have been able to realize their dream of making it to Broadway, even if only for a few months.

Xanadu To Close On Broadway October 12

Broadway's Xanadu, the new musical based on the infamous film musical flop, will be closing on October 12. With a new book by Douglas Carter Beane, and featuring the disco-pop songs from the movie, Xanadu is a campy, colorful laughfest that caters more to the sensibilities of Broadway fanatics. For that reason, most people didn't think it would last long, but the show snagged great reviews when it opened last summer and managed a healthy run. When it closes, Xanadu will have played 49 previews and 528 regular Broadway performances.

Broadway's Chicago Starts Post-Show Talks

Lively post-show talkbacks with cast, crew, and creative team members are a staple at regional theaters and Off-Broadway theaters, but they're less common at Broadway shows. And they're pretty much unheard of for long-running Broadway musicals. But the Tony-winning Chicago is bucking the trend by introducing "Talkback Tuesdays," a Q&A session to be held once a month following a designated performance. The first talkback at the Ambassador Theatre will be with Chicago's director, Walter Bobbie, following the September 23 performance of the show.

Forbidden Broadway Closing In January

The long-running Off-Broadway show Forbidden Broadway, which appeared in its first incarnation in 1982, will be closing in January 2009. It wouldn't be the first time that composer/lyricist Gerard Alessandrini's Forbidden Broadway, a musical revue that parodies Broadway musicals and plays, took a break, so it's possible that Forbidden Broadway will return to New York soon enough.

Hair Coming To Broadway In 2009

After loads of speculation, it has finally been confirmed that the Shakespeare in the Park production of Hair will indeed make the move to Broadway. The free Public Theater production has drawn big crowds to the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park all summer, necessitating several extensions. Producers are now hoping that the 1960s "tribal love-rock musical" will be able to draw crowds to Broadway in early 2009, when the show is expected to open. Details about theater, casting, and dates have yet to be announced.

All-Teen Dress Rehearsal For Broadway's 13

The new Broadway musical 13 is holding a free teens-only dress rehearsal for the show on Saturday, September 13 at 8pm at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. Teenagers aged 13-18 are invited to sign up at www.13fans.com to get a free ticket (if your request is granted, you'll get a confirmation e-mail by September 10). First come first served, one ticket per teen, and IDs will be checked at the door of the theater. Parents and guardians aren't permitted to attend this all-teen performance of 13, but nearby Planet Hollywood will be offering discounts and priority seating for adults that would like to wait there while the kids enjoy the show (details will be offered at the theater on the night of the dress rehearsal).

New EP For Broadway's Spring Awakening

Tony-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening, which has been lauded for its rock score by Duncan Sheik and Steven Sater, now has a second recording that fans can enjoy along with the original Broadway cast recording. "Spring Awakening: Live from SoHo" features six tracks that composer Sheik re-arranged for a seven-piece acoustic band. Sheik himself, along with a couple original cast members and a couple from the current Broadway cast, sing on the recording. "Spring Awakening: Live from SoHo" is now available as a digital EP on iTunes.

Broadway Previews of MTC Play Delayed

To Be Or Not To Be, Nick Whitby's new stage adaptation of the famous film, will start Broadway preview performances later than planned. Instead of beginning on September 11, the play will now start on September 13. The Manhattan Theatre Club production has experienced some difficulties with casting recently, replacing leading men Craig Bierko and Brian Murray with David Rasche and Peter Maloney, respectively. To Be Or Not To Be is scheduled to have its official Broadway opening at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (formerly the Biltmore Theatre) on October 2.

Be A Broadway Star At The Movies

Most fans of the musical Mamma Mia will never have a chance to sing its infectious ABBA songs on Broadway, but you can experience the next best thing at your local cineplex. The sing-a-long version of the new Mamma Mia film is now playing at selected movie theaters, where you can sing like a Broadway star from the comfort of your seat! Check your local movie theater listings for the Mamma Mia sing-a-long near you.

Haley Joel Osment To Make Broadway Debut

Once a gifted child actor, Haley Joel Osment (The Sixth Sense, A.I.) is now an adult and set to make his Broadway debut. The 20-year old actor will play Bobby in the upcoming Broadway revival of David Mamet's play American Buffalo, alongside the already-cast John Leguizamo and Cedric the Entertainer. The production will have its official Broadway opening at the Belasco Theatre on November 17.

Get Your Broadway Tickets In Flight

Soon In-Flight Box Office will be offering an unusual - and unnecessary? - service for New York-bound travelers. People who didn't buy their Broadway tickets in advance, and don't want to go looking for tickets on the ground, will be able to purchase Broadway tickets right there on the airplane from flight attendants equipped with special handheld devices for processing Broadway ticket orders. The "pilot" run for this service will likely be tested on American Airlines, and the only Broadway shows that will be offered are Chicago, Mamma Mia, Spamalot, and The Phantom of the Opera. Presumably a wider variety of Broadway tickets will be offered on more airlines if there is sufficient interest.

Cirque Dreams Closes On Broadway

Today is the last day of Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy's Broadway engagement at the Broadway Theatre. The limited run show will now continue a national tour that will take it to Texas next. As for the Broadway Theatre, its next tenant will be what is almost sure to be a giant Broadway hit, the new stage musical version of Shrek.

A Tale Of Two Cities Begins On Broadway

The new Broadway musical A Tale of Two Cities, based on Charles Dickens' classic novel, begins performances at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre tonight. A Tale of Two Cities is a sweeping musical epic in the style of that other sprawling book-to-Broadway adaptation, Les Miserables. Starring James Barbour (Broadway's Jane Eyre, Beauty and the Beast) and written by Broadway newcomer Jill Santoriello, A Tale of Two Cities will have its official Broadway opening on September 18.

Two Broadway Closings Today

Two Broadway shows end their runs today. The play Thurgood, starring Laurence Fishburne, concludes its limited Broadway run at the Booth Theatre, which had already been extended an extra couple weeks due to popular demand. The other closure is the Broadway revival of the musical A Chorus Line. This first Broadway revival of the groundbreaking musical was a success, quickly recouping its investment and running on Broadway for nearly two years. Of course, it was nowhere near as successful as the original Broadway production, which ran for a record-breaking 15 years (though that record was later broken by Broadway long-runners Cats and The Phantom of the Opera).

Broadway Godspell Postponed Indefinitely

Yet another Broadway postponement. The upcoming Broadway revival of the New Testament-based musical Godspell has been postponed indefinitely. This Broadway season seems to be getting off to a strange start, with a few other Broadway-bounders having already announced cancellations or -- the preferred word choice -- postponements. Speculation is that the bad economy is causing trouble for Broadway producers and backers. Here's hoping we don't see any more forthcoming Broadway shows make such an announcement.

Mary-Louise Parker Coming To Broadway

It has just been announced that Mary-Louise Parker, last seen on Broadway in the play Reckless, will return to Broadway in early 2009 as the title character in Ibsen's Hedda Gabler. Roundabout Theatre Company will present the Broadway revival, which will be adapted by playwright Christopher Shinn and directed by Ian Rickson. Parker is frequently seen on the New York stage, both on Broadway and Off-Broadway, but she is also known to film and TV audiences for her screen work, such as Fried Green Tomatoes and the TV series Weeds.

Shakespeare In The Park's Hair Opens

The Shakespeare in the Park production of Hair opens at the Delacorte Theatre in Central Park tonight. The revival of the groundbreaking Off-Broadway (and later Broadway) hippie musical has already been playing at the Delacorte for a couple weeks and will continue playing until the end of this month. There has been a great deal of speculation about whether or not this production will transfer to an open Broadway run, but that is still up in the air.

Constantine Goes Off-Broadway

Constantine Maroulis, a popular former American Idol contestant, is now going to be starring in an Off-Broadway show at New World Stages called Rock of Ages. The new musical, which features music by such rock bands as Journey and Bon Jovi, is about an aspiring young rock star. This won't be Maroulis's New York stage debut - he previously co-starred in the Broadway musical The Wedding Singer.

Broadway August Heading For Hollywood

The massive Broadway hit play August: Osage County is likely to become a film in the near future. This is yet another Broadway show in the early stages of Hollywood planning and very few details have been settled. Playwright Tracy Letts will write the screenplay, and two of the Broadway play's producers will produce the movie version, but no casting has been determined yet.

Prices Go Up For Broadway Aisle Seats

Believe it or not, Broadway producers have found yet another way to fleece Broadway theatergoers. First they decided to start charging the same price for the entire orchestra section, then they started selling the very best seats for insanely high "premium seat" prices, and now some of them have decided to mark up the aisle seats as well. Many people prefer the aisle because of the added leg room, and now those people are going to have to pay extra for that comfort. Only a few Broadway shows - Gypsy, Spring Awakening, and the upcoming Broadway revival of The Seagull - have adopted the higher aisle seat pricing so far, but history has shown that once one Broadway show introduces a higher pricing model, the others soon follow. The upcharge amounts to about $15-$25, depending on the show. Furthermore, these higher-priced Broadway aisle seats are only sold in pairs, meaning that one person is paying the aisle price without even getting the benefit. What will they think of next?

Broadway On Broadway Scheduled For 9/14

The free "Broadway on Broadway" concert, the annual event held in Times Square at the beginning of each Broadway season, has been set for Sunday, September 14. The casts of existing and upcoming Broadway shows will perform in front of approximately 50,000 fans on a stage set up in the heart of Times Square just for the concert. "Broadway on Broadway" begins at 11:30am, but you should arrive a couple hours early if you want to get up close to the stage.

Two Incoming Broadway Shows

for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, which was expected to begin performances on Broadway soon, has announced that the production is being delayed, apparently due to one of the show's backers dropping out at the last minute. Another upcoming Broadway show, the Broadway revival of the musical Brigadoon, has also announced postponement. This production, which was not scheduled to open for many more months, says its delay is due to an inability to find a suitable Broadway theater for its planned spring 2009 opening.

Guys And Dolls Returning To Broadway

The classic musical Guys and Dolls is coming back to Broadway in the spring of 2009. This new production will be directed by Des McAnuff (Jersey Boys, The Who's Tommy), who previously helmed the Broadway revival of another Frank Loesser-scored musical, How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The last Broadway production of Guys and Dolls opened in 1992 and starred Peter Gallagher, Faith Prince, and Nathan Lane as the colorful New York characters originally created by Damon Runyon and brought to life for the stage by bookwriters Abe Burrows and Jo Swerling.

Broadway and TV Star Estelle Getty Dies

Estelle Getty, known to virtually everyone as Sophia on The Golden Girls, has passed away at the age of 84. Getty gained fame late in her career playing the sarcastic, dry-witted "Ma" to Bea Arthur's Dorothy, even though the women were nearly the same age. But prior to joining the NBC comedy hit, Getty had won over many with her turn on Broadway in the play Torch Song Trilogy, in which she played Harvey Fierstein's mother.

Bailey Is Broadway's Newest Blonde

The MTV reality series Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods concluded last night, and the winner is Bailey Hanks! The bubbly 20-year old narrowly beat out the more experienced (and better-voiced) Autumn Hurlbert, who didn't do quite as well at capturing Elle's sorority girl sweetness. Both young ladies got to do their final audition with the Legally Blonde cast on the stage of the Palace Theatre, so director Jerry Mitchell was able to get a real sense of how they would perform in the show. We TV viewers did too and, considering how green a lot of the contestants appeared in the early stages of the MTV reality show, it was a relief to see that both winner Bailey and runner-up Autumn (who will be the Elle understudy on Broadway) performed quite well in the demanding role. The contest was actually decided months ago, so both have had ample time to continue training. With star Laura Bell Bundy having departed on Sunday, Bailey debuts on Broadway in Legally Blonde tomorrow, July 23. Meanwhile, contestants Rhiannon Hansen and Lauren Zakrin will join the cast of the Legally Blonde national tour.

Broadway at the Box Office: Mamma Mia!

Mamma Mia, the new movie version of the smash hit West End and Broadway musical, picked a tough weekend to open, going head-to-head with the record-breaking Batman sequel The Dark Knight. However, although Mamma Mia only pulled in $27,751,240 versus Batman's $158,411,483, the ABBA musical still did better than last summer's big Broadway-to-Hollywood transfer, Hairspray, which debuted at a few hundred thousand less. Hairspray was considered a box office hit, so hopefully this bodes well for Mamma Mia. Mamma Mia, which stars Meryl Streep, also has the advantage of appealing to that often-ignored segment of the population known as women - especially middle-aged women. As a result, Mamma Mia could continue doing steady business throughout the rest of the summer, providing a nice alternative for people who don't care for the special effects-laden blockbusters.

Oh, and did we mention that the figure above is only U.S. sales? Mamma Mia's total opening weekend worldwide was over 100 million, proving that Mamma Mia is not just a London and Broadway musical, but an international sensation.

High School Musical Reality TV Show Debuts

ABC's new reality show based on the hit Disney franchise High School Musical debuts on TV tonight, July 20. Hosted by Nick Lachey, High School Musical: Get in the Picture has contestants competing through a series of High School Musical-themed singing and dancing challenges. The winner of the reality TV series will get a guest spot in a music video to be shown at the end of High School Musical 3: Senior Year (due in theaters October 24) and will also get to record two singles for Walt Disney Records.

Broadway To Big Screen: Mamma Mia Opens

After conquering the West End, Broadway, and cities around the world, Mamma Mia finally arrives in movie theaters today. The film version of the silly ABBA musical has an all-star cast headed by Meryl Streep. Even people who didn't care for the show on Broadway may find the film irresistible with its Greek island setting, fantastic cast, and infectious spirit.

[title of show] Opens On Broadway Tonight

The new musical [title of show] has its official Broadway opening tonight at the Lyceum Theatre. [title of show] had its first production at the New York Musical Theatre Festival, and then went on to an Off-Broadway run at the Vineyard Theatre. The musical about writing a Broadway musical stars its own creators, Hunter Bell and Jeff Bowen, as well as actresses Heidi Blickenstaff and Susan Blackwell, and music director Larry Pressgrove. Discount tickets for [title of show] on Broadway are available here.

Brief Break For Broadway Phantom

It's an unusual move for any Broadway show, but The Phantom of the Opera will be shutting down its Broadway production for a few days, from August 24-27. The reason for the brief hiatus is so that the sound system at the Majestic Theatre can be upgraded. Phantom's last pre-break performance will be on August 23, and then the long-running musical will resume Broadway performances on August 28. To get discount tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway, click here.

Broadway Musical Wicked To Become Film

Marc Platt, the producer behind Broadway shows and films (e.g. Legally Blonde on screen, the new Nine movie, the upcoming Broadway revival of Pal Joey), has made it known that he is looking forward to making his Broadway smash Wicked into a feature film. The Wicked movie is still in the very early planning stages, but the Broadway show's bookwriter, Winnie Holzman, is expected to write the screenplay. Platt is also interested in doing a new film version of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical Jesus Christ Superstar.

Whoopi To Be A Muse In Broadway's Xanadu

Whoopi Goldberg will soon join the Broadway cast of Xanadu. Movie star and co-host of The View Goldberg will be taking on the role of the wise-cracking muse Calliope, currently being played by Jackie Hoffman. Goldberg will be in the silly Broadway musical from July 29 to September 7, while The View is on hiatus and Hoffman is on leave from the show. To get discount tickets to see Whoopi in Xanadu, click here.

November Ends Broadway Run

The David Mamet comedy November, starring Nathan Lane, ended its Broadway run today. The play about a fictional U.S. president up for re-election opened at Broadway's Barrymore Theatre in January and was greeted with lukewarm reviews. Lane's presence helped November to continue running on Broadway throughout the spring, but after it was announced that Lane would depart the production in July, the producers decided to go ahead and close the show.

Get Pets At Broadway Barks 10

The tenth edition of the "Broadway Barks" pet adopt-a-thon comes to Shubert Alley on the afternoon of July 12. The event, which starts at 3:30pm, will be hosted by "Broadway Barks" co-founders Mary Tyler Moore and Broadway baby Bernadette Peters and will feature numerous celebrity guests, including Nathan Lane (Broadway's November), Christine Baranski (the new Mamma Mia film), Mario Lopez (Broadway's A Chorus Line), Glenn Close, Peter Gallagher (Broadway revival of The Country Girl), and Bebe Neuwirth (TV's Frasier, Broadway's Chicago). The celebs will take part in the "pet presentation" part of the event at 5:30, and there will also be autographed material on sale to benefit animal shelters. "Broadway Barks 10" will take place in Shubert Alley, located in Times Square between Broadway and 8th Avenue, and between 44th Street and 45th Street.

Esparza Joins Broadway Cast of Speed-the-Plow

The forthcoming Broadway revival of David Mamet's play Speed-the-Plow has just added a new cast member - Raul Esparza. Esparza, whose most recent Broadway gig was in the Broadway revival of Pinter's The Homecoming, will play Hollywood producer Charlie Fox. As previously announced, Jeremy Piven (TV's Entourage) will be starring in the play in the role of Bobby Gould.

Passing Strange To Close On Broadway

Lots of Passing Strange in the news these days, and unfortunately the latest isn't good. The new musical, which transferred to Broadway earlier this year following a successful Public Theater run, has been struggling ever since it hit Broadway. Although it did well during awards season, Passing Strange failed to nab the big prize, the Tony Award, which was probably its last shot at getting a significant surge in ticket sales. As a result, the exciting rock musical by Stew and Heidi Rodewald will be ending its Broadway run at the Belasco Theatre on July 20 (the day after Spike Lee does his live filming of the show). To get discount tickets for Passing Strange on Broadway before it closes, click here.

Broadway's Passing Strange Filming July 19

It has been confirmed that Spike Lee will indeed be filming the Broadway production of Passing Strange, and he will be doing it quite soon - on July 19. Lee will capture both the matinee and evening shows that day, and then record two more performances without the audience later on. How the filmed version of Passing Strange will eventually be distributed has not yet been decided. When Broadway shows are taped for release, they usually turn up on cable or on PBS, but the Passing Strange producers have not ruled out the possibility of a releasing it in movie theaters.

Kinky Boots Film To Become Broadway Show

Yet another movie is on the verge of becoming a Broadway show. Broadway and Off-Broadway producer Daryl Roth has purchased the stage rights for the recent British independent film Kinky Boots and plans to make it into a Broadway musical. A creative team has not yet been announced, but reportedly Jerry Mitchell (Legally Blonde) is in talks to direct.

Maury Yeston To Write New Songs For Upcoming Film Version Of Broadway Musical Nine

Maury Yeston, the composer/lyricist of the Broadway musical Nine, is writing additional songs to be included in the new Rob Marshall-helmed movie version of the musical. Although Antonio Banderas created a sensation on Broadway a few years ago when he starred as Guido Contini in the first Broadway revival of Nine, it was Javier Bardem that initially nabbed the role for the movie version. However, Bardem recently dropped out and it is now Daniel Day-Lewis who will be taking on the part of the Italian filmmaker. Nicole Kidman and Penelope Cruz are also on board to co-star.

Les Liaisons Ends Broadway Run Today

Les Liaisons Dangereuses, produced by the Roundabout Theatre Company, closes on Broadway today. Starring Laura Linney and Ben Daniels, the Tony Award-nominated Broadway revival has played out its limited engagement at the American Airlines Theatre. That theater will now be empty until September, when Roundabout's A Man For All Seasons begins performances.

[title of show] Begins On Broadway Today

[title of show], the musical about creating a Broadway musical, is having its Broadway debut at long last. The funny four-person musical, which co-stars creators Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell, will have its official Broadway opening at the Lyceum Theatre on July 17. To buy discount tickets for [title of show], click here.

Broadway's Passing Strange To Be Filmed

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that acclaimed director Spike Lee is going to film the Broadway production of the musical Passing Strange later this month. He will film three performances at the Belasco Theatre, one in front of a live Broadway audience and two without an audience. Reportedly Passing Strange's producers are financing the taping, and the plan is to eventually air it on cable.

Broadway On The 4th - Deals and Cancellations

Just a heads-up to Broadway fans out there: July 4th is kind of an unusual day on Broadway. Many shows have canceled their performances for the holiday. Those Broadway shows that are playing on Independence Day, though, often have great ticket discounts. So if you are looking for a fun way to celebrate the holiday, consider Broadway!

Broadway League And AEA Reach Agreement

After a little over two months of sitting at the bargaining table, the Actors Equity Association (AEA) and The Broadway League came to a 39-month agreement on a production contract today. Both sides appeared to be happy with the contract, which gives the actors an 11 percent increase in compensation during the course of the contract, and also allows the Broadway producers flexibility in marketing their shows through digital means. Equity members will soon vote on whether or not to ratify the contract, which they are expected to do. Happily, this contract negotiation has gone better than the one between The Broadway League and the Broadway stagehands' union did late last year - that dispute resulted in a strike that paralyzed Broadway for weeks.

Casting For Broadway-Bound MTC Play Version Of To Be Or Not To Be Just Announced

Casting has been announced for the upcoming Manhattan Theatre Club production of the dark comedy To Be Or Not To Be, coming to Broadway in September. Craig Bierko and Jan Maxwell will star in this play version of the film of the same name, with Kristine Nielsen, Steve Kazee, Peter Benson, and Rocco Sisto co-starring. Bierko has been seen on Broadway in Thou Shalt Not and The Music Man, while Jan Maxwell has most recently appeared on Broadway in Coram Boy and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. To Be Or Not To Be, adapted for the stage by Nick Whitby, will have its official Broadway opening on October 2.

Off-Broadway Adding Machine To Close July 20

The Off-Broadway production of The Adding Machine, the new musical version of Elmer Rice's expressionist play, has announced that it will close at the Minetta Lane Theatre on July 20. The unusual musical by Joshua Schmidt and Jason Loewith is about a man called Mr. Zero who, after 25 years of service, is replaced by a machine - and then murders his boss in a moment of blind rage. Dark and strange, the Off-Broadway musical is also surprisingly sweet and funny. The Adding Machine originated at the Next Theatre Company in Chicago, and thanks to its healthy Off-Broadway run of roughly 150 performances, the musical will likely go on to a good life in regional theatre.

Three Broadway Closings Today

It's curtains for Curtains, Top Girls fall, and this is the last Sunday for Sunday in the Park with George. All three of these shows have their final Broadway performances today. Curtains announced its Broadway closing date months ago, Top Girls is finishing its scheduled Broadway engagement, and Sunday in the Park with George is finally closing after several extensions.

Danity Kane's Aubrey O'Day On Broadway

Singer Aubrey O'Day, a member of the all-girl pop/R&B group Danity Kane, is coming to Broadway on July 18. She will be taking on the part of Amber Von Tussle in the hit Broadway musical Hairspray. O'Day, who will be assuming the role when Ashley Spencer leaves Hairspray to join the Broadway company of Grease, is expected to stay through August 31.

Cirque Dreams Opens On Broadway Tonight

The colorful, acrobatic show Cirque Dreams Jungle Fantasy opens on Broadway tonight at the Broadway Theatre. Music, costumes, and impressive physical feats combine to make Cirque Dreams a circus with a theatrical flair. The kid-friendly show is playing a limited Broadway engagement set to end on August 24. Get discount tickets to see Cirque Dreams at the Broadway Theatre by clicking here.

Finalists Spencer and Keeling From Grease Reality Show To Be Broadway Replacements

Ashley Spencer and Derek Keeling, who were both finalists on the NBC reality TV show Grease - You're the One That I Want, are set to finally play the roles of Sandy and Danny on Broadway after the winners of the TV show (Laura Osnes and Max Crumm) depart the Broadway revival on July 20. Keeling has had a good warm-up, having played Danny in a national tour of Grease. And Spencer has been getting plenty of Broadway experience in another show, Hairspray. The pair will assume their long-awaited roles in Broadway's Grease on July 22.

for colored girls Comes To Broadway August 19

The new Broadway revival of Ntozake Shange's for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf, starring singer/songwriter India.Arie, will begin Broadway previews at the Circle in the Square Theatre on August 19. The official Broadway opening will be on September 8. Directed by Shirley Jo Finney and choreographed by Hinton Battle, this production of the poetic 1970s play is produced by Whoopi Goldberg and DreamTeam Entertainment Group.

Cat and Cry-Baby Close On Broadway Today

Two Broadway closings today, one planned and one sudden. The all-star Cat on a Hot Tin Roof headed by James Earl Jones is ending its limited run today. And unfortunately the rockin' satire Cry-Baby is also shutting its doors, due to lack of ticket sales. Happily, Cry-Baby will live on in a national tour next year, and there is talk that this production of Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (presumably not with the entire Broadway cast intact) could turn up in London.

A Catered Affair To End Broadway Run

A Catered Affair is the second Broadway musical to announce its closing following last Sunday's Tony Awards. The under-the-radar Broadway show had been struggling to sell tickets from the very beginning, though it appeared to finally be finding its audience, so the closing announcement is a little bit of a surprise. Given that it wasn't nominated for a Best Musical Tony, and its musical performance didn't come off especially well on the Tony Awards, A Catered Affair probably didn't experience much of a jump in ticket sales following the ceremony, so that likely accounts for the announcement. It is also possible that the show's producers are hoping the closing announcement will generate more ticket sales, which often happens. Unlike Cry-Baby, which is ending its Broadway run this weekend, A Catered Affair will not be closing until July 27. This gives the intimate Broadway show some extra time to continue building an audience and increasing ticket sales - if successful, it is possible that they could end up postponing the Broadway closing date further. But just in case it doesn't, get your discount tickets to see A Catered Affair on Broadway now by clicking here.

Broadway's Biltmore Theatre To Be Renamed

The Manhattan Theatre Club (MTC) has announced that its Broadway house, the Biltmore Theatre, will be renamed the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in honor of the Broadway publicist (MTC was just a recipient of a substantial financial gift from the Dr. Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman Foundation). The date for the new name dedication has not been set yet, but it is expected to occur right before MTC's new Broadway theater season begins.

Cry-Baby To Close On Broadway This Sunday

Cry-Baby is to be the first casualty of the post-Tony period - the John Waters musical will have its final performance on June 22. It's one of several struggling Broadway shows that stuck it out until the Tony Awards, in the hopes that the telecast would drum up ticket sales. But apparently Cry-Baby didn't see enough of a boost in ticket sales to justify keeping it open on Broadway any longer. However, the good news is that the show does have plans to tour, starting in late 2009. Click here to get discount Cry-Baby tickets now - see this fun musical satire before it leaves Broadway!

LaBute Play Coming To Broadway In 2009

Neil LaBute, who usually has one or two plays on New York's Off-Broadway stage every year, will finally make his Broadway debut next year when his play reasons to be pretty transfers to a Broadway theater yet to be announced. reasons to be pretty, a four-person play that has won over many of LaBute's harsher critics, has enjoyed a successful Off-Broadway run at the Lucille Lortel Theatre in a production by the MCC Theater. The comic drama starring Alison Pill, Thomas Sadoski, Piper Perabo, and Pablo Schreiber will begin previews on Broadway on February 13, with its original cast intact.

In The Heights and August Take Top Tonys

Most of Broadway dressed up and headed to Radio City Music Hall last night for the annual Tony Awards. Some awards went exactly as expected, with Patti Lupone taking Best Actress in a Musical for Gypsy, South Pacific grabbing Best Musical Revival, and August: Osage County winning Best New Play and Best Play Direction. There were no big upsets, though a few slight surprises, such as Stew taking Best Book of a Musical (many predicted Xanadu's Douglas Carter Beane would win) and Rondi Reed being awarded for her outstanding supporting work in August (she was up against critic's darlings like Martha Plimpton and Sinead Cusack). There were many, many close contests: In the Heights got the Best Musical and Best Score prizes (which Passing Strange took in many other awards contests), Paulo Szot took Best Actor in a Musical against all-around strong competition, Deanna Dunegan got Best Actress in a Play (her biggest rival being co-star Amy Morton), and Andy Blankenbuehler's wonderful In the Heights choreography won over Rob Ashford's impressive work for Cry-Baby.

Whoopi Goldberg was a great host for the night, and the show moved at a brisk pace. The fact that such major awards as Best Play Revival, Best Book of a Musical, and Best Choreography were not handed out during the televised broadcast was an embarrassment, but on the upside it did allow more time for musical performances. No doubt many viewers will be anxious to head to Broadway to see shows like Cry-Baby, Gypsy, Passing Strange, Xanadu, and Young Frankenstein after seeing their energetic performances on TV. To get discount tickets to see these Broadway shows, and many others, click here.

Broadway's Best On Tonys Tonight

The Tony Awards, the annual honoring of Broadway's best achievements, begins at 8pm on CBS tonight in a three-hour show hosted by Whoopi Goldberg and broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall. Some of the creative awards are being left off the TV telecast tonight, so Broadawy fans should point their browsers to www.TonyAwards.com at 7:15pm to see those being handed out. Visit that site at 6pm to watch the red carpet arrivals being webcast.

Legally Blonde Reality TV Show Winner To Begin Playing Elle On Broadway On July 23

The MTV reality TV show about the search for a new lead for the Broadway musical Legally Blonde is only on its second episode, so the winner is still unknown. However, it has been announced that the lucky lady will start performance in the Broadway show on July 23. The current Legally Blonde star, Laura Bell Bundy, will end her Broadway run on July 20.

Thurgood To Stay On Broadway A Little Longer

Thurgood, the one-man play starring Laurence Fishburne, is extending its Broadway run. Originally scheduled to have its final Broadway performance on August 3, Thurgood will now play an additional two weeks at the Booth Theatre and close on August 17. Get discount tickets to Thurgood on Broadway here.

[title of show] Celebrates Broadway Arrival By Selling All Tickets For Half Price on June 18

The new Broadway musical [title of show], which begins Broadway performances on July 5, is kicking off its Broadway box office opening with a ticket extravaganza on Wednesday, June 18. From 11am to 1pm at the Lyceum Theatre, [title of show] tickets will all be sold at half price, and free cast recordings will be given to anybody who buys a pair of show tickets. There will also be free refreshments, and the [title of show] cast will be on hand to say hello.

Broadway Plays Going On Tour

Didn't manage to catch Chazz Palminteri in his one-man play A Bronx Tale on Broadway this past season? Well, he's taking the show on the road starting in September. See BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com for details. And if you're dying to see the Broadway hit August: Osage County in your own town, you might have a chance when the Pulitzer Prize-winning play goes on tour in the summer of 2009. Details will be forthcoming.

November To Close On Broadway July 13

The new David Mamet play November, which previously announced that its star Nathan Lane would play his final performance on July 13, is now officially set to close on Broadway that day. Presumably the comedy could not locate another Broadway star with sufficient weight to carry the play about a fictional U.S. president up for re-election. Get discounted tickets to see November on Broadway before July 13!

Broadway's Catered Affair Offers Thurs Matinee

In a nod to its popularity with the older "matinee lady" audience, the new Broadway musical A Catered Affair is introducing a Thursday matinee to its weekly schedule. But to keep its schedule to the standard eight shows a week, A Catered Affair will no longer be doing Wednesday night shows. Given that Wednesday nights are usually one of the least popular nights on Broadway, and that A Catered Affair will be one of just a few (and possibly the only) Broadway show offering an afternoon performance on Thursdays, this seems to be a very smart move for the musical drama. To get discount tickets to see A Catered Affair, starring Faith Prince and Harvey Fierstein, click here.

Classic Broadway Musical My Fair Lady Will Be Turned Into A Brand New Big Screen Movie

The Lerner & Loewe musical My Fair Lady, based on the George Bernard Shaw play Pygmalion, was an instant Broadway classic that quickly became an instant film classic with the movie version starring Rex Harrison (reprising his Broadway role) and Audrey Hepburn. But West End and Broadway producer Cameron Mackintosh has announced his intention to bring the Broadway favorite to the screen once more in a brand new version, possibly starring Keira Knightley as Cockney flower girl Eliza Doolittle. It may seem a strange idea to remake one of the best film musicals of all time, but Mackintosh indicated that he felt the original film, excellent as it is, is perhaps more theatrical and more faithful to the original Broadway show that necessary. In this new My Fair Lady movie, he aims to give the story more realism by doing on-location filming in London and by taking more inspiration from Shaw's play.

CD Signing With Broadway Cast of In the Heights

The newly-released original Broadway cast recording of In the Heights will be celebrated at a CD signing in the Times Square Virgin Megastore (1540 Broadway) this evening at 5pm. The cast - headed by Lin-Manuel Miranda, Mandy Gonzalez, Priscilla Lopez, Robin De Jesus, and Andrea Burns - will perform musical numbers from the show and then sign CDs for fans. The In the Heights Broadway cast album is a two-disc set, released by Ghostlight Records.

A Chorus Line To Close On Broadway

It has been announced that the Broadway revival of A Chorus Line will be closing on August 17. The production opened on Broadway in October 2006, and it will have played nearly 800 performances when it closes later this summer. Although the critical reception was somewhat lukewarm, the revival of A Chorus Line has been a great success, recouping its investment back in early '07. The original Broadway production of A Chorus Line remains one of the longest running Broadway musicals of all time. Get discount tickets to see the current Broadway production, starring Mario Lopez, while you still can by clicking here.

Collins and Lachey To Join Broadway's Spamalot

TV stars Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) and Drew Lachey (Dancing With the Stars) will both be joining the Broadway cast of Monty Python's Spamalot on June 24. Collins will take on the role of King Arthur, while Lachey will play Arthur's trusty sidekick Patsy. Although Collins may be better known for his television and film roles, and Lachey came to fame as a member of the pop band 98 Degrees, both men have Broadway theater experience. Collins has appeared in such Broadway plays as Moonchildren, The Ritz, and Beyond Therapy; Lachey made his Broadway debut in Rent in 2004.

Legally Blonde TV Show Debuts on MTV Tonight

Legally Blonde The Musical: The Search for Elle Woods debuts on MTV at 10pm tonight. The new summer reality TV series documents the process of finding and casting a new lead for the Broadway musical Legally Blonde. The TV program, which will air in a total of eight installments, is hosted by Haylie Duff (who has appeared on Broadway in Hairspray).

Tony Awards To Celebrate Broadway Milestones

Generally the annual Tony Awards telecast only features musical numbers from currently nominated Broadway musicals, but this year's Tony broadcast is also going to feature appearances by the casts of two formerly nominated Broadway shows, The Lion King and Rent. The Lion King's return performance is in honor of the long-running Broadway musical's 10-year anniversary (the "Disney on Broadway" hit is still going strong and selling out regularly). For Rent, the return will be more bittersweet, since that 1996 Tony Award-winning Broadway phenomenon is finally calling it quits and closing its Broadway production in September. However, Rent has enjoyed a long and good life on Broadway, having played for over 12 years.

New Teen Musical Starts Broadway Previews 9/16

Move over High School Musical, there is a new teen musical on the scene, and it's coming to Broadway! Jason Robert Brown, Dan Elish, and Robert Horn's 13, which is currently in the midst of an engagement at the Goodspeed in Connecticut, is now planning to begin performances on Broadway at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre (current home of the Broadway revival of The Country Girl) on September 16. Teenagers are the stars of the junior high school-based fish-out-of-water story in 13, which also has a band made up of teens. The Broadway-bound musical is directed by Jeremy Sams, with choreography by Christopher Gattelli and music direction by Tom Kitt. Jason Robert Brown, who has penned the score, made his Broadway songwriting debut with Parade in 1998, and more recently appeared on the Broadway stage as the bandleader in Urban Cowboy.

Shakespeare in the Park Kicks Off with Hamlet

The Public Theater's "Shakespeare in the Park" season begins at Central Park's Delacorte Theatre tonight with the first performance of Hamlet. Michael Stuhlbarg, who has appeared on Broadway in plays such as The Invention of Love and The Pillowman, is starring as the troubled title character. Stuhlbarg is ably supported by a talented cast, including Lauren Ambrose (Broadway's Awake and Sing!) as Ophelia, Sam Waterston (Law & Order) as Polonius, Andre Braugher as Claudius, and Margaret Colin (seen on Broadway last season in Old Acquaintance) as Gertrude.

Broadway's Passing Strange Celebrates Cast Recording Release At Listening Party Tomorrow

Passing Strange, the new Broadway musical that is already racking up awards right and left, will celebrate the release of its original Broadway cast album on iTunes tomorrow at a listening party being held at Saju Bistro. Saju Bistro is located at 120 W. 44th Street, right across from the Belasco Theatre where Passing Strange plays. Fans and the general public are welcome to join Passing Strange's cast, crew, and creative team at the (free) party, which will commence at 9:30pm on Tuesday, May 27, immediately following the 7pm performance of the show. Passing Strange's Broadway cast recording is being released on iTunes tomorrow as a "Digital Exclusive Release," and will be available on CD in July.

Off-Broadway Staple To Finally Close

Long-running Off-Broadway tourist trap I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change will finally close this July. The four-person musical revue about dating and relationships has played at Off-Broadway's Westside Theatre since the summer of 1996. With a total of more than 5,000 performances, I Love You ... will be the second longest-running Off-Broadway musical in history when it closes on July 27.

Macbeth Concludes Its Broadway Engagement

The new Broadway production of Macbeth, which originated at the Chichester Festival Theatre in England last year, concludes its Broadway run tonight. The production transferred to Broadway earlier this Spring due to the critical acclaim received during its brief engagement at the Brooklyn Academy of Music. This Macbeth starred Patrick Stewart (Star Trek: The Next Generation) as the ambitious title character, under the direction of Rupert Goold. And even though Stewart and company are leaving Broadway already, they may want to drop in again on June 15, when their show will be competing for Tony Awards in six categories, including Best Revival of a Play, Best Leading Actor in a Play, and Best Leading Actress (for Lady Macbeth, Kate Fleetwood).

Broadway in Bryant Park Begins July 10

On July 10, "Broadway in Bryant Park" kicks off with performances by the casts of Broadway shows Chicago, Spamalot, Cry-Baby, and the forthcoming [title of show], plus Off-Broadway's Stomp. The annual series takes place on Thursdays from 12:30 to 1:30pm on the lawn in New York City's Bryant Park (6th Avenue, between 40th and 42nd street). The concerts will feature performances from several other Broadway and Off-Broadway musicals through August 14.

Broadway Coming To a Theater Near Your

If you can't see the final performance of the long-running Broadway musical Rent on Broadway, then don't worry - you can just catch it at the cineplex. Rent will be a part of "The Hot Ticket," a new venture that will put filmed versions of live performance and sporting events into movie houses. Rent, which will have its final Broadway performance on September 7, will be coming to movie theaters at a later date to be announced.

Bruce Lee Musical Bound For Broadway

The idea of a Broadway musical about martial arts legend Bruce Lee might seem a bit crazy, but the just-announced Broadway-bound Bruce Lee: Journey to the West actually sounds pretty intriguing. The musical-in-the-making has a crack creative team headed by writer David Henry Hwang (M Butterfly), songwriter David Yazbek (The Full Monty, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), and director Barlett Sher (the current Broadway revival of South Pacific) - a group of such diverse and exceptional talents is likely to create something quite interesting. The show is going to fuse "sources as diverse as martial arts, Chinese Opera, modern dance, and pop music," in an effort to tell the story of how Bruce Lee "struggles to master his skills, purify his spirit and forge a link to unite East and West". Bruce Lee: Journey to the West is planning to arrive on Broadway in the 2010-2011 season.

Big Stars Set for Broadway Revival of All My Sons

An all-star cast is set for the upcoming Broadway revival of the Arthur Miller drama All My Sons. John Lithgow (Broadway's Dirty Rotten Scoundrels), Dianne Wiest (the recent Off-Broadway The Seagull), Patrick Wilson (The Full Monty on Broadway, The Phantom of the Opera on film), and Katie Holmes (making her Broadway debut). The revival is expected to appear on Broadway late this year, but exact dates, a theater, and ticket information have not yet been announced. The original Broadway production of All My Sons was in 1947, and the first Broadway revival of the play was mounted in 1987.

August: Osage County and Passing Strange Top The List of Drama Desk Award Winners

The Drama Desk Awards, which honor the best shows and performers on Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Off-Broadway, were held last night. August: Osage County took Best Play, Passing Strange won for Best Musical, and the top revival awards went to Boeing-Boeing and South Pacific. Gypsy nabbed three performance awards, for Patti Lupone, Laura Benanti, and Boyd Gaines. As expected Cry-Baby won for its excellent choreography, The 39 Steps won Unique Theatrical Experience, and Sunday in the Park with George got an award for its clever video/projection design. Best Music and Best Lyrics went to Passing Strange, while Best Book of a Musical was awarded to Xanadu.

Spring Stars Wave Goodbye To Broadway

Jonathan Groff and Lea Michele, who have played the leads in both the Off-Broadway production and the Broadway transfer of Spring Awakening, have their final performance at the Tony Award-winning musical today. Michele has been with the show since its early stages, and Groff earned a Tony nomination for his turn as Melchior in the Broadway hit. They will be succeeded by Kyle Riabko and Alexandra Socha. To get discount tickets to see Spring Awakening on Broadway, click here.

Drama Desk Awards Ceremony Tomorrow

The Drama Desk Awards, which annually celebrate the best of Broadway, Off-Broadway, and Off-Broadway theater, will be held tomorrow night in New York City's LaGuardia Concert Hall. The event, which commences at 9pm, will be hosted by the hilarious cast of Broadway-bound musical [title of show]. The Drama Desks are sometimes seen as an indicator of how the Tony Awards will go, so Broadway buffs will want to take note of the results. However, the most likely candidate to take home the Tony for Best Musical this year, In the Heights, isn't even nominated for the Drama Desk - because it was eligible last year as an Off-Broadway show (it lost to juggernaut Spring Awakening). The Drama Desk Awards broadcast can be heard live on XM satellite radio's Broadway channel.

Idol Taylor Hicks To Make Broadway Debut

In another case of reality TV show mixing, American Idol winner Taylor Hicks is set to make his first Broadway bow in the Broadway revival of Grease. Season Five Idol winner Hicks will play the Teen Angel in Grease beginning June 6 in an engagement that is expected to go through September 7.

Broadway Awards Mania Continues

We're now knee-deep in awards season, and the latest to announce its winners is the Theatre World Awards. The Theatre World Awards, now in its 64th year, singles out talented performers playing their breakthrough Broadway or Off-Broadway roles. The actors and actresses receiving recognition for distinguished work on Broadway are de'Adre Aziza and Daniel Breaker (Passing Strange), Ben Daniels (Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Deanna Dunagan (August: Osage County), Alli Mauzey (Cry-Baby), Jenna Russell (Sunday in the Park With George), Mark Rylance (Boeing-Boeing), Jimmi Simpsons (The Farnsworth Invention), and Loretta Ables Sayre and Paulo Szot (South Pacific). Off-Broadway honorees were Cassie Beck (Drunken City) and Hoon Lee (Yellow Face).

Grease Reality TV Show Finalist Kate Rockwell Joins Broadway Cast of Legally Blonde

Kate Rockwell, one of the finalists on the NBC reality TV series Grease - You're The One That I Want, is coming to Broadway, but not as a cast member of Grease. Rockwell is joining the cast of Broadway's Legally Blonde as Elle Woods's sorority sister, Margot. Legally Blonde will be further in the grip of reality TV fever next month, when the Broadway musical comedy's own reality series debuts on MTV.

Tony Award Nominations Announced Today

This morning the nominations for the 62nd Annual Tony Awards were announced by David Hyde Pierce (Broadway's Curtains, TV's Frasier) and Sara Ramirez (TV's Grey's Anatomy, Broadway's Spamalot), and the musical In the Heights came out on top with an impressive 13 nominations. Other musicals that did well were Passing Strange and the Broadway revivals of South Pacific and Sunday in the Park with George; August: Osage County fared particularly well among the plays. Given that all of these shows were well-reviewed, their success was expected, and today's Tony nods actually yielded very few surprises. However, they have set up some pretty exciting contests for Tony night on June 15, when we'll find out which Broadway shows and performers reign supreme. If you want to judge for yourself, make sure you see as many of the noms as possible before then. To get discount tickets to see nominees like Passing Strange, August, and Sunday, click here.

Nathan Lane Leaves Broadway On July 13

Nathan Lane, star of the David Mamet election-year comedy November, will depart the Broadway play on July 13. No word yet on whether or not the role will be re-cast or if the show will close at that time. November is currently playing at Broadway's Ethel Barrymore Theatre and also features Laurie Metcalf and Dylan Baker in the cast. Get your discount tickets to see it with Nathan Lane now while you still can!

Whoopi To Host Broadway's Tony Awards

As she announced herself this morning on The View (which she co-hosts), Whoopi Goldberg will be the host of the 62nd Annual Tony Awards, which will broadcast live on CBS on June 15. Whoopi appeared on Broadway only a couple years ago in a solo show, and she also occasionally serves as a producer of Broadway shows. "I love Broadway and I'm thrilled to be doing anything for the first time," she said about the Tony gig, "I'm gonna have a blast."

Glory Days Closes On Broadway, Top Girls Opens

The new Broadway musical Glory Days, which opened last night, has sadly joined the exclusive club of Broadway shows that can claim both their opening and closing night as one in the same. This afternoon it was announced that its first official performance had also been its last, and that due to the bad reviews (as well as low advance sales), the producers have decided to close the musical immediately.

On a brighter note, tonight was the official Broadway opening of the Manhattan Theatre Club's revival of Top Girls. The Caryl Churchill play is scheduled to play a limited run at Broadway's Biltmore Theatre through June 22.

Glory Days Are Here Again On Broadway

The new Broadway musical Glory Days opened on Broadway tonight. The production is newly transferred from an engagement at the Signature Theatre in D.C. Glory Days is about four high school friends who come back to their old haunt a year after graduation and discover how much has already changed between them. To get discount tickets to see Glory Days at the Circle in the Square Theatre on Broadway, click here.

Lortel Awards Honor Off-Broadway Shows

The winners of the 2007-2008 Lucille Lortel Awards, which award excellence in New York's Off-Broadway theatre, were announced today. The honors were fairly evenly distributed among notable Off-Broadway productions including George Packer's Betrayed (Outstanding Play) and Adrienne Kennedy's Ohio State Murders (Outstanding Revival). Some of the recipients of acting honors included Elizabeth Franz in The Piano Teacher and Mare Winningham in 10 Million Miles. The closest thing to a sweep was The Adding Machine's four wins, for Outstanding Musical, Director, Lead Actor, and Lighting Design. This is the 23rd year for the Lortel Awards, which are presented by the League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers.

Boeing-Boeing Opens On Broadway Tonight

The Broadway revival of the 1960s farce Boeing-Boeing has its official Broadway opening tonight. The comedy about a bachelor juggling three flight attendant fiancees stars Bradley Whitford, Christine Baranski, Mark Rylance, and Gina Gershon. Boeing-Boeing is playing an open run at Broadway's Longacre Theatre. To get discount tickets to see the comic Boeing-Boeing, as well as other Broadway plays and musicals, click here.

12 Broadway Musicals To Be Featured In Concert

Visa Signature will be offering a taste of the Tonys by sponsoring a "Tonys Preview Concert," to be taped at Jazz at Lincoln Center on May 11. All of this season's Broadway musicals that are eligible for Tony nominations will perform at the event. The broadcast will air on CBS in the New York City area on June 7, but dates will vary in other markets, so check local listings. And don't forget to check out the Tony Awards ceremony itself, which will air on June 15.

Broadway Blonde Goes To Reality TV

"Legally Blonde the Musical: The Search for Elle Woods," a new MTV reality show, has set its debut date for June 2. Hosted by Haylie Duff (Hairspray), the 8-episode reality TV series follows the process of finding a replacement for the current star of Legally Blonde on Broadway, Laura Bell Bundy. Members of Legally Blonde's cast and creative team will appear on the show, and Broadway personality Seth Rudetsky will serve as music director and vocal coach to the Broadway hopefuls auditioning to win the role of Elle.

Thurgood Opens on Broadway

Tonight saw the official opening of the one-man Broadway play Thurgood, starring noted film actor Laurence Fishburne. The George Stevens Jr. drama tells the story of Thurgood Marshall, the legendary black U.S. Supreme Court Justice. Fishburne is no stranger to the stage, having won a Tony Award for his performance in the original Broadway production of Two Trains Running. Thurgood plays a limited Broadway engagement at the Booth Theatre through August 3.

Broadway's Rent Wins Easter Bonnet Contest

True to its inspirational story about people living with HIV and AIDS, the long-running Broadway musical Rent raised the most money ($277,000!) for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS in the annual Easter Bonnet Competition that takes place this time each year between the various Broadway and Off-Broadway shows. For the actual Easter bonnet presentation portion of the contest, Sunday in the Park with George took the top prize. To get discount tickets to see either of these great Broadway shows, click here.

The Country Girl Arrives On Broadway

The new all-star Broadway revival of Clifford Odets's The Country Girl opened on Broadway tonight at the Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre. The production, which is directed by Mike Nichols, stars Morgan Freeman as a washed up stage actor, Frances McDormand as his wife, and Peter Gallagher as a big shot director. This is the play's second Broadway revival, the first having been in 1972; The Country Girl was first produced on Broadway in 1950.

"Performing Musicals" Panel Airs 4/27 At 5pm

The American Theatre Wing's wonderful "Working in the Theatre" series focuses on "Performing Musicals" in its latest installment, airing on CUNY-TV tomorrow at 5pm. Broadway actors Sherie Rene Scott (The Little Mermaid), Roger Bart (Young Frankenstein), Priscilla Lopez (In the Heights), and Brian d'Arcy James (most recently in Off-Broadway's Next to Normal and soon to be Broadway's Shrek) will sit on the panel, discussing the challenges and joys of doing musicals, and the differences between performing in musicals and plays. "Performing Musicals" will have additional airings on 5/2 and 5/3, and if you don't get CUNY-TV, as of 4/30 you can listen to it on americantheatrewing.org.

Nick Lachey To Host High School Musical Show

Pop star Nick Lachey, who most recently appeared on TV in NBC's reality show Clash of the Choirs, will be host of the new High School Musical-themed reality competition on ABC. High School Musical: Summer Session will have contestants doing special challenges while at a music conservatory. The show is currently holding open auditions in California and Florida for aspiring stars aged 16-22. In keeping with the spirit of High School Musical, people from all walks - whether it's a jock who's always secretly wanted to sing or the drama club queen - are welcome to try out.

Cry-Baby Opens On Broadway

Tonight marked the official Broadway opening of Cry-Baby, the new musical based on the John Waters movie of the same name. James Snyder stars as the bad boy musician who was played by Johnny Depp in the movie, and Tony-winner Harriet Harris is also featured in the cast. The show's book is by Hairspray's team, Mark O'Donnell and Thomas Meehan, and the rocking score is by Broadway newcomers David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger. Cry-Baby is playing at Broadway's Marquis Theatre for an open-ended run. To get discount tickets for Cry-Baby, and other Broadway shows, click here.

Jeremy Piven To Make Broadway Debut

Actor Jeremy Piven, who has enjoyed recent attention for his role as Hollywood agent Ari Gold on HBO's Entourage, will make his Broadway debut later this year in a Broadway revival of David Mamet's Speed-the-Plow. Piven will play another Hollywood hotshot, film executive Bobby Gould, in Mamet's biting satire. Speed-the-Plow originally played Broadway in 1988, in a production that starred Joe Mantegna and Madonna. The Broadway revival starring Piven will open on October 23, but the name of the theater and his co-stars have yet to be announced. Although this will be his first time on Broadway, Piven did appear Off-Broadway not long ago in Neil Labute's play Fat Pig.

Drama League Honors Broadway and Off-Broadway Shows and Stars

The Drama League announced its nominees today - see the list here. The Drama League, which honors Broadway and Off-Broadway (and even Off-Off Broadway), is unique in that it limits itself to just five categories -- Distinguished Production of a Play, Distinguished Production of a Musical, Distinguished Revival of a Play, Distinguished Revival of a Musical, and Distinguished Performance -- but then allows for a large number of nominees in each of those categories. There are eight nominees in most categories, and 70 in the Performance category! The winners will be announced, and a handful of specialty awards will also be distributed, at the ceremony on May 16 at the Marriot Marquis Hotel. Harvey Fierstein, currently starring on Broadway in A Catered Affair, will host.

Broadway's Frankenstein Tops OCC Noms

The Outer Critics Circle nominations have been announced, and there are a lot of surprises. The Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein, which was generally dismissed by the Broadway industry and critical community, topped the OCC's list with 10 nominations. Meanwhile, the Broadway revival of Les Liaisons Dangereuses, which has not yet opened but has had quite a bit of negative word-of-mouth, received more nominations (nine) than any other play. Surprising snubs included a lack of an Outstanding New Broadway Musical nod for Passing Strange and no acting nominations for many worthy cast members from August: Osage County (only Deanna Dunagan was recognized). The OCC did, however, give plenty of recognition to the hit Broadway revival of South Pacific, which got eight nominations.

Broadway's August: Osage County Has Final Performance At The Imperial Theatre

Tracy Letts' Pulitzer Prize-winning drama August: Osage County ends its run at the Imperial Theatre this evening. But the Steppenwolf Theatre Company production's Broadway run does not come to an end yet. August will be re-opening next door at the Music Box Theatre on April 29, where the play will continue its Broadway engagement.

Broadway Revival Boeing-Boeing Takes Off

The first-ever Broadway revival of the farce Boeing-Boeing has its first performance at Broadway's Longacre Theatre tonight. Very much a product of the "sex comedy" era, the 1965 play is about an architect who juggles three flight attendant fiancees. Bradley Whitford (The West Wing) stars as the Parisian bachelor, and Christine Baranski plays his put-upon maid. Boeing-Boeing has its official Broadway opening on May 4.

Broadway's Tracy Turnblad To Be TV Host

Marissa Jaret Winokur, who memorably played Tracy Turnblad in the original Broadway company of Hairspray, will host her own TV talk show soon. Winokur has just signed a contract with Sony Pictures Television for a talk show, which is scheduled to start production in the fall of 2009. No other details about the show are currently available, but hopefully Broadway baby Winokur will -- like that other famous Broadway supporter, Rosie O'Donnell -- feature lots of Broadway musicals on her show. Marissa Jaret Winokur, who nabbed a Tony Award for her role in Hairspray, is currently appearing on TV in the popular ABC reality show Dancing With the Stars.

A Catered Affair Opens on Broadway

The Harvey Fierstein-John Bucchino musical A Catered Affair officially opened on Broadway tonight. The 90-minute dramedy, which takes place in the Bronx in the 1950s, stars Faith Prince and Tom Wopat as a couple trying to give their bride-to-be daughter a day to remember. A Catered Affair is playing an open run at Broadway's Walter Kerr Theatre.

Broadway Star Chenoweth To Publish Autobio

Broadway and TV regular Kristin Chenoweth, currently playing a featured role on ABC's Pushing Daisies, is working on her memoirs. The autobiography, in which the Oklahoma girl will talk about how she balances her life, faith, and career, is scheduled to be published by Simon & Schuster in Spring 2009. Chenoweth first made a splash on Broadway in the revival of You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, later going on to star in the original Broadway company of mega-hit Wicked.

Brigadoon Appearing On Broadway In 2009

It has been officially announced that the classic musical Brigadoon will be revived on Broadway in the Spring of 2009. Before bowing on Broadway, the Rob Ashford-directed production will have a tryout in Boston. The Lerner & Loewe musical, which debuted on Broadway in 1947, is about two Americans who come upon a magical village while visiting Scotland. Brigadoon has been on Broadway several times since its original Broadway production, the most recent revival being at the Majestic Theatre during the 1980-81 Broadway season.

Charlton Heston, Star of Stage and Screen, Dies

Actor Charlton Heston, best known for iconic roles in films like Ben-Hur and The Planet of the Apes, passed away at the age of 84 yesterday. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease since at least 2002. Though Heston was famous for his numerous big screen roles, he frequently performed on the stage throughout the country and even appeared on Broadway.

Broadway's South Pacific Announces Open Run

The word of mouth was strong, but the ecstatic opening-night reviews sealed the deal -- South Pacific will now have an open-ended run on Broadway. The Rodgers & Hammerstein revival, playing at Lincoln Center's Vivian Beaumont Theatre, was originally scheduled to conclude its Broadway engagement on June 22. But the fact that the WWII-set Broadway musical has extended doesn't mean that it's easy to get tickets. South Pacific is already a runaway hit and many performances are sold out, so you better snag those tickets fast if you want to see it before 2009!

Musical About A Musical Comes To Broadway

[title of show], the little musical that could, has just announced that it will come to Broadway this July. Originally created by Jeff Bowen and Hunter Bell specifically for the New York Musical Theatre Festival, the show has the trippy concept of being about Jeff and Hunter trying to write a musical for the New York Musical Theatre Festival. The two men have even played themselves in the previous productions of the show (at NYMF, and Off-Broadway at the Vineyard Theatre) and will reprise their roles on Broadway; Heidi Blickenstaff and Susan Blackwell, playing two struggling actresses, will also return to the cast. [title of show] will begin performances on Broadway at the Lyceum Theatre on July 5, with an official opening on July 17.

South Pacific Revival Opens On Broadway

Tonight the first Broadway revival of South Pacific opened at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre at Lincoln Center. Given Broadway's revival mania, it is surprising that it took so long for this beloved Rodgers & Hammerstein musical to make its return to Broadway. The classic show, which first bowed on Broadway in 1949, features wonderful songs like "Some Enchanted Evening" and "Younger Than Springtime".

Broadway's Schwartz Takes a Hollywood Walk

Composer Stephen Schwartz, currently represented on Broadway by the mega-hit Wicked, will soon be honored on the West Coast with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Although Schwartz is well-known by theater fans for his scores to Broadway musicals like Pippin, Rags, Working, and Godspell (which is soon to have a revival on Broadway), he has also been celebrated in the film industry, having won three Oscars for his songwriting work on movies like Disney's Pocohontas. Schwartz will receive his star on the Walk of Fame on April 8 in a ceremony that will include performances from the L.A. company of Wicked.

Broadway Bares Book To Be Released In June

It's the next best thing to Broadway porn: Broadway Bares, the popular annual fundraiser in which Broadway performers get down to their skivvies in order to earn money for Broadway Cares, is getting its own companion coffee table book featuring racy photos and a history of the event. Written by Broadway Bares' creator, director/choreographer Jerry Mitchell, Backstage Pass: Broadway Bares will be released on June 1.

Sweeney Todd DVD In Stores

Sweeney Todd, the Broadway musical turned Tim Burton film, comes out on DVD tomorrow, April 1. There is a two-disc deluxe edition available with lots of extra features, including a special on composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim's involvement with the movie and footage of the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd.

The Seafarer Concludes Its Broadway Voyage

The Seafarer, Conor McPherson's dark comedy about the devil coming for his due, closes on Broadway today. Starring David Morse and Ciaran Hinds, the production had an acclaimed run in London before coming to Broadway for a limited engagement. At its close, The Seafarer will have played 19 preview and 133 regular Broadway performances at the Booth Theatre.

Gypsy Starring Patti Lupone Opens on Broadway

It's one of those Big Event productions that the die-hard Broadway lovers live for: Patti Lupone in Gypsy. Ever since her turn as Eva Peron in Evita on Broadway, big-voiced Patti Lupone has been a favored diva, a modern Ethel Merman. And Gypsy, with its powerhouse creative team (Stephen Sondheim, Jule Styne, Arthur Laurents, and Jerome Robbins), is a classic musical of Broadway's Golden Age. To bring Lupone and Gypsy together ... well, what could be better? The audience response has been tremendous, with people giving Ms. Lupone standing ovations at the end of her solo "Rose's Turn" (it's very rare to see a standing O during a show). With the show now open, the reviews are pouring in, and already the New York Times has given it a rave. Better get your tickets now!

Rent Extends Its Lease On Broadway

The Broadway musical Rent, which previously announced that its closing date would be June 1, has extended its Broadway run until September 7. Many people predicted this extension would happen as soon as the June 1 date was announced, because ticket demand tends to shoot way up anytime a long-running Broadway show posts its closing notice. Rent, in particular, has a devoted fan base that no doubt bought up numerous tickets when they found out their favorite Broadway musical would be closing soon. In fact, the show's producers have endeavored to do right by the fans who specifically bought tickets for what was to be the final week of Rent's run by allowing them to exchange those tickets for performances during the extension period.

A Catered Affair On Broadway Tonight

Harvey Fierstein and John Bucchino's musical adaptation of the film A Catered Affair started performances on Broadway this evening. The show about a couple who are planning their daughter's wedding stars Faith Prince and Tom Wopat as the parents of the bride, and Fierstein himself plays a funny uncle in the family. The official Broadway opening at the Walter Kerr Theatre will be on April 17. For info on getting discount tickets to A Catered Affair, see this page.

There Will Be Dancin' on Broadway in 2009

The Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that one of its musical revivals for the 2008-2009 Broadway season will be Bob Fosse's Dancin'. Originally produced on Broadway in 1978, the show -- which features a wide variety of music including pop, jazz, and classical -- is a study of and tribute to the art of dance. Graciela Daniele, whose Broadway credits as director and choreographer include Ragtime and Once On This Island, will direct this new production of Dancin', which will play at the Roundabout's Studio 54.

Casting For Broadway Shrek Announced

At last, after a long casting process, Broadway has its Shrek. Broadway and New York theater regular Brian d'Arcy James (Titanic, Sweet Smell of Success) will play the big green ogre -- presumably with some sort of fat suit and make-up, as James is neither large, nor green. Chester Gregory II (Cry-Baby, Tarzan, Hairspray) will play Donkey, the character voiced memorably by Eddie Murphy in the Shrek films. And John Tartaglia, best known for playing puppets Princeton and Rod in the original Off-Broadway and Broadway companies of Avenue Q, will be Pinocchio. As previously announced, Sutton Foster (currently on Broadway in Young Frankenstein) will play Princess Fiona.

Broadway's Hottest Show To Go National

It has been announced that a national tour of the 2007 Tony-winning Broadway musical Spring Awakening will launch this summer on the West Coast. San Francisco, Washington D.C., Portland, Tampa, East Lansing, Louisville, and Seattle are among the cities scheduled to host the tour in its first year. Spring Awakening continues to go strong on Broadway -- you can get discount tickets to see the Broadway production here.

From Broadway To Hollywood: Andrew Lloyd Webber To Mentor American Idol Contestants

On last night's broadcast of American Idol, it was announced that West End/Broadway composer Andrew Lloyd Webber (along with Dolly Parton, Neil Diamond, and Mariah Carey) will serve as a "celebrity mentor" on the hit Fox TV show this season. It's a bit of a surprise, considering judge Simon Cowell frequently uses the phrase "Too Broadway!" as a slam to contestants whose singing sounds more legit than pop. And Lloyd Webber of course has had multiple hits on Broadway, including Evita, Cats, and the still-running Broadway phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera. But maybe Cowell decided to make an exception for a fellow Brit? In any case, Andrew Lloyd Webber's appearance on the show is bound to be a "Broadway week", giving the nation exposure to some (hopefully) terrific Broadway tunes.

It's Curtains For David Hyde Pierce Musical

Curtains, the murder-mystery musical that opened on Broadway in March 2007, has announced that it will have its final Broadway performance at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre on June 29. That still leaves you plenty of time to catch David Hyde Piece (who won a Tony for his performance as a Broadway-obsessed detective) and company in this Kander & Ebb tuner. Get your discount tickets here.

Broadway To Set Up Fences Later This Year

A revival of Fences, by the late August Wilson, is going to be coming to Broadway early next season. Playwright Suzan-Lori Parks (Topdog/Underdog) will direct this production of the Tony-winning play, which was originally produced on Broadway in 1987.

39 Steps Transfers To Another Broadway Theater

The 39 Steps, the well-received Hitchcock spoof currently being presented by the Roundabout Theatre Company, will be transferring from the American Airlines Theatre to the Cort Theatre on April 29. This new engagement of the farcical play, which comes courtesy of a slew of new producers, will include a second opening night for the show -- on May 8. All tickets for The 39 Steps's first Broadway preview performance at the Cort will cost $39.

Come Back Little Sheba Leaves Broadway

The Manhattan Theatre Club's revival of William Inge's Come Back, Little Sheba, starring S. Epatha Merkerson (Law & Order), closed on Broadway today. This was the first time that the domestic drama had appeared on Broadway since its original Broadway run in 1950.

Cry-Baby Is Born On Broadway Tonight

The new 1950s-set musical Cry-Baby, featuring a score by David Javerbaum and Adam Schlesinger, started preview performances on Broadway tonight. Like the Broadway (and Hollywood) hit Hairspray, Cry-Baby is also based on a John Waters movie, and it also has a book by the Hairspray writing team, Thomas Meehan and Mark O'Donnell. Cry-Baby will have its official Broadway opening at the Marquis Theatre on April 24. To get your discount tickets to see this show, click here.

Tales Of The City Musical Aiming For Broadway

Jason Moore and Jeff Whitty, the director and bookwriter behind the Tony-winning Broadway musical comedy Avenue Q, have announced that they're teaming up again for a new musical based on Armistead Maupin's Tales of the City books. Jason Sellards and John Garden of the rock band the Scissors Sisters will write the show's score. Avenue Q's producers are attached to the project, and hope to be bringing it to Broadway the season after next.

Billy To Bow On Broadway In October

It seems like we've been waiting forever for Billy Elliot, a huge hit in London, to finally make its way to Broadway. At last, the musical about a working-class lad with ballet dreams has a Broadway opening date -- October 16, 2008. Based on the film of the same name, Billy Elliot has music by Elton John and book/lyrics by Lee Hall. The show will begin its Broadway preview period at the Imperial Theatre on September 17.

K-Fed To Deliver On Broadway???

US Magazine is reporting today that Britney Spears' ex, Kevin Federline, is in talks to join the Broadway cast of Legally Blonde. Federline would be playing the role of the hunky UPS man, originated by Andy Karl. Broadway is notorious for its stunt casting, but casting a guy who is best known as the father of a famous pop star's two children is slightly unusual. Nothing's definite yet, though. Stay tuned ...

Forbidden Broadway Going On Hiatus

The long-running Off-Broadway musical revue Forbidden Broadway is taking a break for a few months, starting March 25. The Broadway-skewering spoof-ical will be vacationing in Miami at the Arsht Center for Performing Arts, and then will return to New York to resume performances at the 47th Street Theatre on June 28. Created by Gerard Alessandrini, the frequently-updated Forbidden Broadway has been creating hysterical parodies of Broadway musicals and beloved Broadway performers since 1982.

R&B Artist India.Arie Coming To Broadway

Acclaimed singer/songwriter India.Arie will star in a new Broadway production of Ntozake Shange's 1977 play for colored girls who have considered suicide when the rainbow is enuf this summer. Details on the exact opening date and theater have yet to be announced, but the production is expected to arrive on Broadway in July.

Rock 'N' Roll Is Dead, Is He Dead Is Buried, And In The Heights Is Open On Broadway

Broadway lost two plays today when Tom Stoppard's Rock 'N' Roll and the Mark Twain comedy Is He Dead? closed. But Broadway gained a hot new musical with In the Heights, which just had its official opening at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. A couple of rave reviews have already come out, and if the ecstatic audience response for the show is any indication, there will be more to follow.

Lincoln Center Theater Goes Off-Off-Broadway

The prestigious Lincoln Center Theater, currently represented on Broadway by the Vivian Beaumont Theatre and Off-Broadway by the Mitzi E. Newhouse Theatre, has just announced that it will be introducing a new Off-Off-Broadway initiative. Called "LCT3," this new program is dedicated to producing the work of emerging playwrights and theater artists. The first LCT3 production, Clay, will open in late 2008 at the Duke Theatre, an Off-Broadway space on 42nd Street. However, ultimately, the plan is for a permanent 99-seat theater to be built near the Lincoln Center complex. The tickets to all LCT3 productions will be a modest $20.

All-Black Cat Opens On Broadway Tonight

The latest Broadway revival of Tennessee Williams' Southern drama Cat on a Hot Tin Roof opens on Broadway tonight at the Broadhurst Theatre. This is the first Broadway production of the play to have an all African-American cast -- and what a cast! James Earl Jones stars as family patriarch Big Daddy, and Phylicia Rashad as his wife. Their miserable, alcoholic son Brick is played by Terrence Howard, with Anika Noni Rose starring as Brick's wife "Maggie the cat". Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is scheduled for a limited Broadway run, which will end on June 15 (Terrence Howard will be out April 15-May 22 due to film commitments).

Broadway Revival Of West Side Story To Premiere In D.C. Before Hitting NYC

A new revival of the American musical theater classic West Side Story is coming to Broadway in February 2009, at a theater yet to be announced. This production of the Romeo & Juliet-inspired musical will be directed by the show's own bookwriter, Arthur Laurents. But before landing on Broadway, West Side Story will have an engagement at the National Theatre in Washington D.C., from December 2, 2008 to January 4, 2009.

Television Star Mario Lopez To Make Broadway Debut In A Chorus Line On April 15

Actor Mario Lopez, who came to fame on the teen sitcom Saved By The Bell and became even better known more recently on Dancing with the Stars, will take the Broadway stage for the first time on April 15. Lopez will play the role of Zach in the Broadway revival of the legendary dance musical A Chorus Line through September 7. But if you're heading to the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre expressly to see Mario Lopez make his Broadway debut, bear in mind that he will be out from May 11 to June 3. To get discount tickets for A Chorus Line, click here.

Broadway Meets Reality TV Again. Sort Of.

Another musical is going to feature on a network reality TV show soon. But this time it's not a Broadway musical, like this season's Grease. Instead, it's a TV musical -- High School Musical, to be exact. The Disney Channel TV movie has become a ubiquitous brand name, spawning a sequel, stage shows, a forthcoming feature film, and more. It is now coming back to its roots on television.

Many details of the new ABC reality TV show are yet unknown, but Variety has reported that the summer series will involve a national talent search which will have the contestants competing in High School Musical-themed challenges. Exactly what they're competing for is still unknown, but stars of the HSM movies are expected to appear on the program.

Now that this little Disney TV movie has exploded into an inescapable cultural phenomenon, could High School Musical: The Broadway Musical be far behind?

Farnsworth Says Goodbye To Broadway

Aaron Sorkin's engaging drama The Farnsworth Invention, starring Hank Azaria and Jimmi Simpson, ended its Broadway run today. The play had a total of 34 preview performances and 104 regular Broadway performances at the Music Box Theatre.

Rent's Original Broadway Leads To Go On Tour

Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp, who starred as Roger and Mark in the original Broadway company of Rent, will be reprising the roles they originated in a new national of tour of the musical starting early 2009. In addition to creating the roles of Roger, the HIV-positive rocker, and Mark, the aspiring filmmaker, on Broadway, Pascal and Rapp also played the parts in the recent film version of Rent. Last year, the pair even briefly returned to the Broadway production. With the Broadway incarnation of Rent now scheduled to close in June, fans of the musical can have this new tour to look forward to.

Broadway Openings, Extensions, and Transfers

There is lots of movement on Broadway this week. The Broadway revival of the musical Sunday in the Park with George has announced a second extension -- it is now set to finish its Broadway run on June 15. The London production of Macbeth starring Patrick Stewart, which is playing a limited engagement at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, is going to come to Broadway for a run in the Lyceum Theatre (where the Broadway play Is He Dead? currently lives) from March 28 through May 24. And the new Broadway musical Passing Strange officially opens at the Belasco Theatre tonight.

Is He Dead? To Close On Broadway March 9

The recently discovered Mark Twain play, Is He Dead?, which was adapted for Broadway by playwright David Ives, will close on Sunday, March 9. Featuring Broadway star Norbert Leo Butz as an artist who fakes his death, the farcical comedy will have played a total of 118 performances at the Lyceum Theatre when it has its final Broadway bow.

Broadway Triumphs on TV: A Raisin In The Sun Wins The Ratings War For ABC

The new TV movie version of Lorraine Hansberry's beautiful play A Raisin in the Sun was a success in the ratings last night, ultimately "winning" the night for ABC with an overall average of nearly 13 million viewers. This television adaptation of the play starred the same leads as the 2004 Broadway revival cast, including Sean Combs, Audra McDonald, and Phylicia Rashad. The latter two are Tony-winning Broadway regulars, but A Raisin in the Sun was hip-hop mogul Sean "P Diddy" Combs's Broadway debut.

Dennis Letts, Star Of Son's Broadway Play August: Osage County, Passes Away

Actor Dennis Letts has passed away at the age of 73. Most recently he appeared as Beverly Weston in both the Chicago and Broadway runs of his son Tracy's acclaimed play August: Osage County. Mr. Letts was diagnosed with lung cancer late last year, but he did not let that stop him from making an indelible impression on Broadway as the wry, charming patriarch of the dysfunctional Weston clan in August.

Color Purple Closes At The Broadway Theatre

The Broadway musical version of Alice Walker's novel The Color Purple had its final performance at the Broadway Theatre today. At over 900 performances on Broadway, the uplifting Oprah Winfrey-produced musical had a good run, but can now only be seen in its touring production.

Broadway Shows Reviewed in Latest EW

Broadway Fan Alert! The latest issue of Entertainment Weekly (Feb. 29, with Will Ferrell on the cover) features a special "Stage" section, in which Broadway revivals Sunday in the Park with George and Come Back, Little Sheba, new Off-Broadway musical Next to Normal, and long-running Broadway tuner Spamalot (now starring American Idol's Clay Aiken) are reviewed. Check it out!

Sunday in the Park Extends Broadway Run

The Roundabout Theatre Company revival of the musical Sunday in the Park with George was greeted with rave reviews after opening on Broadway last night. The hit production has now extended its Broadway run until June 1, so you better get your tickets now!

Sunday in the Park Opens on Broadway

The new Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's musical Sunday in the Park with George opens at Studio 54 tonight. Starring English actors Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell, the production comes to Broadway hot off a successful run in London. The supporting cast of the Broadway version includes such Broadway regulars as Alexander Gemignani (Les Miserables, Sweeney Todd), Michael Cumpsty (42nd Street), and Jessica Molaskey (Parade).

Broadway Revival of Company On PBS Tonight

Tune into PBS tonight at 9PM Eastern/Standard time to see the TV broadcast of the recent Broadway revival of Company. The Stephen Sondheim/George Furth musical, which was directed by John Doyle, stars Raul Esparza as a confirmed (but questioning) bachelor. If you don't see Company on your TV schedule tonight, check your local listings to see if your PBS affiliate is airing it on a different night.

$20 Off-Broadway Ticket Deal Is Back

The "20 at 20" ticket discount, which allows people to buy $20 tickets to any of 20 different Off-Broadway shows, has returned for a limited time from February 25 to March 9. The catch is that these discount tickets don't become available until 20 minutes before curtain and are subject to availability. For more information, and a list of participating Off-Broadway shows, see www.offbroadway.com.