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Welcome to Tony Talk, a column in which Gold Derby contributors Sam Eckmann and David Buchanan offer Tony Awards analysis. Two weeks after the 2025 Tonys, we discuss the upcoming Broadway season and forecast likely 2026 Tony contenders.

David Buchanan: Last June, you and I offered our earliest predictions for what could contend and even win at the Tonys a whole 12 months in the future! Looking back at our extremely early 2025 predictions, we hit some nails on the head, including the Best Musical Revival and Best Actress in a Musical showdowns between Gypsy and Sunset Boulevard and stars Audra McDonald and Nicole Scherzinger, respectively. For the 2025-26 Broadway season — which has already kicked off with Jean Smart in the solo play Call Me Izzy — it looks like the revivals are once again front and center. We have remountings of musicals Ragtime, Chess, and The Rocky Horror Show forthcoming, as well as plays Art,...

Bernadette Peters has long been heralded as one of legendary composer Stephen Sondheim’s greatest interpreters. The actress originated roles in Sunday in the Park With George and Into the Woods and starred in revivals of Gypsy, A Little Night Music, and Follies. Now, three years after Sondheim’s death, Peters has returned to Broadway to pay tribute to her long-time collaborator and friend in the revue Stephen Sondheim’s Old Friends. If she receives recognition from the Tony Awards for her efforts, she could make history in the Best Featured Actress in a Musical category.

Peters earned her first Tony nomination in 1972 in Featured Actress for On the Town, which was her sixth Broadway production. She has received six additional nominations for Mack & Mabel, Sunday in the Park With George, Song and Dance, The Goodbye Girl, Annie Get Your Gun, and Gypsy — winning for Song and Dance and Annie Get Your Gun...

With this year’s Tonys coming up on June 8, the American Theatre Wing will soon be announcing its Lifetime Achievement Award recipient. The honor has gone to veteran stage performers, directors, choreographers, playwrights, songwriters, producers, and designers. In some years we get multiple recipients. Last year it was directors Jack O'Brien and George C. Wolfe.

There are several female Broadway vets, over the age of 65, who are deserving. With the likes of Jane Greenwood, Rosemary Harris, and Graciela Daniele having already received the award, here are 10 possible women who could be next in line. Vote in our poll below to let us know who you’d like to see honored.

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Jane Alexander

Tony-winning actress for The Great White Hope (1969). Additional nominations for 6 Rms Riv Vu (1973), Find Your Way Home (1974), First Monday in October (1979), The Visit (1992), The Sisters Rosensweig (1993), Honour (1998), and...

Exclusive: Lachanze, Kate Baldwin, Jennifer Holliday, Judy Kuhn, Lindsay Mendez, Jessie Mueller, and Death Becomes Her star Jennifer Simard will be featured in the upcoming one-night-only special event, Broadway’s Leading Ladies, set for New York City’s Town Hall on March 10 and for broadcast on PBS later this year.

Additional all-star casting to be announced soon.

PBS, in partnership with No Guarantees and Nouveau Productions, announce the line-up today. The performers were chosen in part for “unique contributions [that] have energized and defined the Broadway we know today.”

The leading ladies will be joined by members of the American Pops Orchestra, conducted by Luke Frazier, whose PBS credits include Wicked in Concert and Broadway’s Leading Men. Frazier and the American Pops Orchestra last appeared at Town Hall in the critically acclaimed musical tribute to Edith Piaf.

A portion of the ticket proceeds will benefit the Women’s Health Initiative at the Entertainment Community Fund,...

Last night, producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson hosted Concert for America, a bi-coastal Inauguration Day benefit that included musical and comedic performances from the brightest stars of stage and screen, with inspiring stories and messages from those on the front lines, advocating for freedom and justice for all.

The event, which featured live programming from both New York and Los Angeles, raised funds for the California Community Foundation, an organization supporting wildfire recovery efforts to aid those most in need.

Ali Stroker, Anika Larsen, Ann Harada, Arielle Jacobs, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Cecily Strong, Hennessy Winkler, Ingrid Michaelson, Jessica Vosk, Judy Gold, Judy Kuhn, Julia Murney, Julie Benko, Keala Settle, Kelli O’Hara, Lili Thomas, Lilli Cooper, Liz Callaway, Lorna Courtney, Merle Dandridge, Nina West, Norbert Leo Butz, Paul Castree, Pearl Sun, Peppermint, Piper Perabo, Samantha Williams, Shayna Steele, Ta’Nika Gibson, and more appeared live on stage at The Town Hall in New York City,...

Producers Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson announced today that their next Concert for America fundraising event will take place at The Town Hall in New York City at 7:00pm on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2025.

First presented on January 20, 2017, Concert for America includes musical and comedic performances from the brightest stars of stage and screen, with inspiring stories and messages from those on the front lines, advocating for freedom and justice for all. This year’s event will feature appearances by Ali Stroker, Anika Larsen, Ann Harada, Arielle Jacobs, Brenda Braxton, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bryce Pinkham, Cecily Strong, Charlotte d’Amboise, Hennessy Winkler, J. Smith-Cameron, Javier Muñoz, Jessica Vosk, Judy Gold, Judy Kuhn, Julie Benko, Keala Settle, Kelli O’Hara, Lili Thomas, Lilli Cooper, Liz Callaway, Merle Dandridge, Nina West, Pearl Sun, Piper Perabo, Rosie Perez, Scarlett Strallen, Shayna Steele, Susie Essman and many more. Tickets are now on sale at www.

Brian Stokes Mitchell, Cecily Strong, J. Smith-Cameron, Javier Muñoz, Rosie Perez and Susie Essman are among the performers of the Broadway stage and screen appearing at this year’s Concert for America fundraising event, set for Inauguration Day, January 20, at New York’s The Town Hall.

Produced by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson (Stars in the House), the concert fundraiser will highlight a number of national organizations working to protect human rights including the Sierra Club, Southern Poverty Law Center, Black Theatre United, The National Immigration Law Center, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and more.

Representatives from each of these groups will participate in the program, sharing their stories and letting audiences know how they can help with easy calls-to-action to do on the day of the event and in the future.

“We did our first Concert for America on Inauguration Day 2017 and we were thrilled,” said Jackson. “Not...

Lin-Manuel Miranda, Martin Short, Rosie Perez, Wayne Brady and more celebrities will join forces with hosts Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley Jackson for the second annual “Stars in the House” Election Day Vote-a-Thon on Tuesday, Nov. 5.

The live event will take place from noon to 6 p.m. Et, feature musical performances and support the Entertainment Community Fund.

“We were so moved by the reactions to our Vote-a-Thon in 2020 that we wanted to continue the tradition and provide a place where people can go to get away from some of the stress of Election Day but still stay informed and most importantly – be entertained!” said the hosts in a joint statement. “Our live event is the perfect way to pass the time while you’re in line at the polls or waiting for the results. We are so grateful to those in the community who will be joining us to share...

Broadway Rallies For Kamala, a special livestream event on Monday, October 14, to support the Kamala Harris-Tim Walz presidential ticket, will feature performances and appearances by a raft of Broadway and Hollywood talent including Audra McDonald, Kristin Chenoweth, Whoopi Goldberg, Billy Porter, J. Harrison Ghee and Kelli O’Hara.

The event, to take place at 7:30 p.m. Et in front of an invited audience in New York City and livestreamed nationally for free via BroadwayWorld.com, will be paired with a daytime virtual “Kamala Dial-A-Thon” phone bank staffed by volunteers alongside Broadway and Hollywood talent, in partnership with Swifties for Kamala, Women for Harris, White Dudes for Harris, Musicians for Harris, Queers for Kamala and others.

Organized by Broadway For Harris and produced by James Wesley Jackson, Seth Rudetsky, Bruce Cohen, Robb Nanus and Jeff Metzler, the Broadway Rallies evening event will be directed by Schele Williams with music direction by Rudetsky, the co-creator and co-host with Wesley Jackson of Stars in the House. The evening will include musical performances and “energizing calls-to-action” by celebrities, Broadway leaders and other surrogates.

In addition to the above-named talent, the roster so far also includes Ana Gasteyer, Anne Hathaway, Arielle Jacobs, Chasten Buttigieg, Erika Henningsen, Isabelle McCalla, Judy Kuhn, Lilli Cooper, Rosie Perez, Shaina Taub and Wilson Cruz.

Broadway for Harris is a volunteer, grassroots coalition of industry professionals and theater enthusiasts united to elect Harris, Walz and down-ballot Democratic candidates this November. Its mission is to “increase voter participation in key swing districts, produce fundraising events featuring the talents of the Broadway community and work together toward a brighter, more hopeful, more equitable future for the country under the historic leadership of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.”

With an initial organizing committee of more than 80 industry leaders, including current and former Broadway performers, producers, writers, musicians, directors, choreographers, marketing specialists, artists, stage managers, crew and other professionals from within the Broadway community, Broadway for Harris works to activate the theater community and fans for volunteer activities including phone banking, canvassing, social media outreach and special fundraising events.

To date, Broadway for Harris has rallied hundreds of volunteers and made more than 150,000 calls and knocked on more than 11,000 doors in Pennsylvania swing districts.

Additional organizing events will be announced in the coming weeks.

Broadway is raising its curtains for Kamala Harris and Tim Walz.

Broadway Rallies for Kamala will take place in New York City on Oct. 14 and features stars of the stage and screen.

The event will include appearances and performances by Whoopi Goldberg, Anne Hathaway, Kelli O’Hara, Kristin Chenoweth, Ana Gasteyer, Audra McDonald, Billy Porter, Wilson Cruz, Arielle Jacobs, Erika Henningsen, Isabelle McCalla, J. Harrison Ghee, Judy Kuhn, Lilli Cooper, Rosie Perez and Shaina Taub.

“Kamala Harris couldn’t have come to a better place than Broadway,” Goldberg told Variety on Wednesday morning. “The people of Broadway are a microcosm of every slice of life in America — so we get who you are and where you need to be.”

The program will take place before a live audience and will be streamed via Broadway World at 7:30 p.m. Et.

The event is produced by James Wesley Jackson, Seth Rudetsky, Bruce Cohen,...

David Adjmi’s Stereophonic was named Best Play of the year by the New York Drama Critics’ Circle today, with the Best Musical Award going to the Off Broadway production of Dead Outlaw from the team behind The Band’s Visit.

Stereophonic, currently on Broadway, has received 13 Tony Award nominations, and includes songs written by Will Butler from the indie rock band Arcade Fire. The play tells the story of a fractious 1970s Fleetwood Mac-like rock band recording what will be a massive Rumours-like hit record.

Dead Outlaw, with music and lyrics by David Yazbek and Erik Della Penna and a book by Itamar Moses, is inspired by the life of Elmer McCurdy. The musical, which premiered this year at the Minetta Lane Theatre, was originally conceived by Yazbek and tells the story of an outlaw from the early 20th Century whose corpse became a traveling sideshow exhibit for decades.

Nominations for the 2024 Outer Critics Circle Awards were announced on Tuesday, April 23. The stars of the hit Broadway revival of “Merrily We Roll Along,” Jonathan Groff, Lindsay Mendez and Daniel Radcliffe, read off the nominees live from the Museum of Broadway.

Off-Broadway productions ultimately out-paced Broadway with this critics group. The new David Yazbek musical “Dead Outlaw” led the pack with nine nominations. It was followed by “The Connector,” another Off-Broadway musical, and “Stereophonic,” a lauded Broadway play, with seven nominations each.

While there are no Tony nominators in the Outer Critics Circle membership, these nominations can provide some clues as to how theater aficionados are thinking about this season’s Tony race. Of the five productions cited for Best New Broadway Musical, only “Days of Wine and Roses” and “Suffs” made the cut in the all-important Best Score category. They were joined by two Off-Broadway entries, as well as...

"Colors of the Wind" is a classic song from the Disney Renaissance era and remains popular despite the controversial reception of the film Pocahontas. The song was written by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz, and it won an Academy Award and other prestigious awards. Singer Judy Kuhn and Vanessa Williams performed the song for the Pocahontas soundtrack, and it has continued to be covered by various artists over the years.

Besides being the defining track from the soundtrack of Pocahontas, "Colors of the Wind" is also a true classic from the Disney Renaissance era and continues to be a popular staple today. Released in 1995, Pocahontas Disney-fies the true story of the titular character, an indigenous woman of the Powhatan people who falls in love with a white man named John Smith, who comes with his comrades to explore the New World. The movie was yet another big-budget animated venture from...

Ideally timed to Disney’s centennial, a short film entitled “Once Upon a Studio” assembles 100 years’ worth of animated characters from the company’s vaults for a group photo outside Walt Disney Animation Studios headquarters in Burbank, Calif. That’s the building, shaped like Mickey Mouse’s conical blue hat from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice,” where the walls are lined with images from a century’s worth of iconic toons.

Conceived and directed by Trent Correy and Dan Abraham, the project involves a live-action walkthrough of the place where the magic happens — that is, where much of the work on Disney’s animated features is done. But there’s an extra sprinkling of magic here, as cartoon characters leap out of their frames and wander the halls where they were originally drawn or rendered.

That hybrid style, where animation embellishes live-action footage, was first implemented by Disney on 1946’s “Song of the South,...

Everywhere you look, the “Full House” cast is there for its fans. The upcoming ’90s Con in Tampa, Florida, will feature a panel with Candace Cameron Bure, Jodie Sweetin, Andrea Barber, Dave Coulier, Scott Weinger and creator Jeff Franklin.

This marks the first time Franklin will be on a panel with the group since he was ousted from spinoff “Fuller House” in 2018 amid complaints of his behavior.

The group will be onsite for at the Tampa Convention Center on Saturday, September 16, and and Sunday, September 17 for autographs, selfies, professional photos ops and the full reunion panel.

90s Con was created in 2019 by Thats4Entertainment, the company behind ChristmasCon.

“As 90s kids, we thought it would be such a cool idea to be able to bring together tv show, movie and music reunions that we all grew up with,” co-founders Liliana Kligman and Christina Figliolia recently told Variety. “We knew the...

The Amy Adams led film is iconic for many reasons but the Enchanted voice cameos are a highlight that brings viewers back time after time. Though princess Giselle was infatuated with her classic prince charming, Edward, she is cared for and eventually falls in love with a divorce lawyer named Robert, who she ends up happily ever after with and in the real world. They've been a happy couple for a while by the time of the sequel, Disenchanted.

The film contains many Disney references including familiar names who lent their voice acting skills to classic Disney films, some surface-level allusions include a poisoned apple (Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs) and the sorceress transforming into a dragon (Sleeping Beauty). Other details are less noticeable, such as a restaurant being named Bella Notte in reference to the song from Lady and the Tramp. The cameos, however, are the film's best Easter eggs.

Amy Adams and Maya Rudolph in Disenchanted Image: Disney Enterprises, Inc. The musical extravaganza Enchanted was notable for many things—bringing an animated Disney princess to life; launching the film career of Amy Adams; the original songs by Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz; and, of course, the many self-referential gags aimed at Disney feature-animation history,...

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Members of Actors’ Equity gathered in Times Square on Thursday to rally for new protections in their Broadway contract.

Of particular issue was the need for more understudies and swings on Broadway productions. The demand on these actors has always been high, but has recently been exacerbated by the pandemic, as actors have been thrown into roles they do not know to cover for Covid-19 cases in the cast. The pandemic also caused many members to rethink industry norms and push for a better work-life balance and safeguards within the industry.

Speaking at the rally, Maria Briggs, a swing and understudy on The Music Man, said she covers 11 tracks (or roles) in the musical, but has also been on all ensemble roles in the show, since she’s the dance captain and knows the parts. She’s hoping for better understudy coverage on productions,...

The 2022 Outer Critics Circle nominations were announced Tuesday. They honor the best of the 2021-2022 Broadway and Off-Broadway season. “The Lehman Trilogy” scored the most nominations with nine bids, followed closely by the Off-Broadway musicals “Harmony” and “Kimberly Akimbo,” which scored eight nominations apiece.

Special Achievement Awards will be presented to “How I Learned to Drive” stars Johanna Day, David Morse and Mary-Louise Parker, as well as “Lackawanna Blues” star Ruben Santiago-Hudson, to mark their outstanding returns to roles they originated two decades ago. Since these actors were eligible for the original runs of these shows, the Outer Critics Circle has opted to take them out of contention for this year’s awards.

SEE2022 Drama League Awards nominations unveiled; 43 performers contend for distinguished performance award

There are many additional Tony Awards hopefuls who were not eligible for this group’s nominations. The Outer Critics Circle announced that they would only...

The 2021-2022 Broadway season has been quite a busy one for actor Brandon J. Dirden. First he appeared opposite Phylicia Rashad in Manhattan Theatre Club’s presentation of Dominique Morisseau‘s play “Skeleton Crew” this past winter. Now he can be seen in Second Stage Theater’s revival of Richard Greenberg‘s 2003 Tony-winning play “Take Me Out.” After having previously appeared in award-winning Broadway productions of “Clybourne Park” (2012), “All the Way” (2014), and “Jitney” (2017), will either of Dirden’s two main stem appearances from this past year make him a first-time Tony nominee?

In “Skeleton Crew,” Dirden played Reggie, the manager of one of the last auto stamping plants in Detroit. The company is on shaky ground and the workers have to make choices about how to move forward if their plant goes under. All the while Reggie is torn between doing right by his work family and the red tape in his office.

At the start of the pandemic, actor, musician and Sirius Xm host Seth Rudetsky and his producer husband James Wesley founded the charity initiative Stars in the House, a daily live-streamed series featuring guest conversations and performances for fundraising efforts.

Since its inception, the web series has raised over $1.1 million for the Actors Fund’s Covid Relief program, as well as funds for other nonprofits including the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and the Waterkeeper Alliance.

In mid-March, the two announced a 10-hour Ukraine telethon to aid humanitarian efforts through The International Rescue Committee. Featuring a star-studded guest list of both Hollywood and Ukrainian notables, the full-day event will include performances, interviews, and more. Here’s how to watch the telethon online.

When Is the Ukraine Telethon?

The show will air live on Saturday, March 26 from noon to 10 p.m. Et.

Where Is the Ukraine Telethon Streaming?

Viewers have...

A star-studded telethon to benefit victims of the war in Ukraine was announced today by Stars in the House founders Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley.

Among the big names taking part are Steve Martin, original Sctv (Second City Television) stars Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin, “Pose” star Billy Porter, Josh Groban, and theater luminaries including Kristin Chenoweth, Audra McDonald, Mandy Patinkin, Betty Buckley, and Robin de Jesús.

The telethon will benefit International Rescue Committee and their humanitarian efforts for those affected by the war in Ukraine. The show will air live on Saturday, March 26 from 12:00 p.m. Et – 10:00 p.m. Et, and can be streamed at starsinthehouse.com, Stars In The House YouTube channel, and SiriusXM Stars109.

We're proud to announce Stars In The House For Ukraine, a 10-hour telethon benefiting the International Rescue Committee and their humanitarian efforts for refugees from Ukraine.

Saturday,...

A celebrity-packed 10-hour Stars in the House telethon raising money for humanitarian efforts in Ukraine has been scheduled for Saturday, March 26, with a line-up to include such Hollywood and Broadway stars as Steve Martin, Annette Bening, Billy Porter, Audra McDonald, Cynthia Nixon, Laurie Metcalf, Patrick Wilson, Judith Light and a new Sctv reunion of Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin.

The telethon was announced today by Stars in the House hosts and co-founders Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley. Donations raised from the event will benefit the International Rescue Committee and their humanitarian efforts for those affected by the war in Ukraine.

The show will air live on Saturday, March 26 from 12 pm to 10pm Et, and will be viewable on starsinthehouse.com and the Stars In The House YouTube channel. Listeners can tune in to SiriusXM Stars109.

The planned line-up so far: Martin Short, Catherine O’Hara, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin,...

BroadwayCon, the annual three-day fan convention that was held virtually earlier this year due to the Covid pandemic, will return to in-person programming for the 2022 edition.

The 2022 BroadwayCon is set for February 18–20, 2022, at the Manhattan Center and the New Yorker Hotel. Event organizers announced the return to in-person programming today.

The event’s initial slate of anticipated participants include Anthony Rapp, BroadwayCon’s Co-Founder and original cast member of Rent, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Carolee Carmello, Erin Quill, Fredi Walker-Browne, Ilana Levine, Jacqueline B. Arnold, Jennifer Ashley Tepper, Judy Kuhn, Lesli Margherita, Nik Walker, Ryann Redmond, and Thayne Jasperson. Additional guests will be announced at a later date.

Rapp said in a statement, “After the last year and a half, we are thrilled to have the opportunity to come together to honor the passionate community of Broadway fans,...

Stephen Sondheim is widely regarded as one of the greatest composers in musical theatre. He has claimed eight Tony Awards (more trophies than any other composer), eight Grammy Awards, and even picked up an Oscar for the “Dick Tracy” tune “Sooner or Later.” It may come as a surprise given his stature in the industry, that Sondheim is still an Emmy short of an Egot. More surprising still: Emmy voters have never even nominated him. This year, he could finally join the elusive Egot club thanks to the variety special “Tell the Story: Celebrating Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins.”

“Tell the Story” is one of many projects born out of the pandemic which shuttered the theatre industry. Classic Stage Company was set to produce a new revival of “Assassins” with an all-star cast, helmed by artistic director John Doyle (who famously directed the actors-as-musicians revivals of Sondheim’s...

On March 16, 2020, Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley launched “Stars In The House” in response to what they knew would be an immediate need for funds in light of the Broadway shutdown.

Now, one year and over 375 episodes later, “Stars In The House” has raised over $715,000 for The Actors Fund, and an additional $200,000 for other charity organizations who have needed support throughout the pandemic.

“We can’t believe it has been a year! We continue to be overwhelmed by the generosity of our viewers, who send in donations from all over the world,” said Rudetsky and Wesley. “We thought that after the first few weeks, contributions would dwindle and the show would be more about bringing some joy and positivity during these dark times. But the fact that we have been able to do both – deliver fun and financial support – is beyond our wildest dreams. We are so grateful to our team behind the scenes,...

To mark its one-year anniversary on March 16, the Actors Fund benefit YouTube series Stars in the House will feature a special all-new week-long series of its popular reunion episodes, bringing together the casts of The West Wing, thirtysomething, Little House on the Prairie, Broadway’s Head Over Heels and other surprises.

Since launched by Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley last year following Broadway’s Covid shutdown, more than 375 episodes of Stars In The House has raised over $715,000 for The Actors Fund, and an additional $200,000 for other charity organizations needing support throughout the pandemic.

In a statement, Rudetsky and Wesley said, “We thought that after the first few weeks, contributions would dwindle and the show would be more about bringing some joy and positivity during these dark times. But the fact that we have been able to do both – deliver fun and financial support – is beyond our wildest dreams.”

The anniversary week kicks off Tuesday,...

Classic Stage Company was just two weeks into rehearsals for its highly anticipated off-Broadway production of Assassins when New York’s performance venues shut down on March 12th, 2020. Now, a year later, they’re announcing a star-studded virtual event to benefit the vital Manhattan theater institution.

On April 15th, Csc presents Tell the Story: Celebrating Stephen Sondheim and John Weidman’s Assassins, which will include performances and conversations exploring the legacy of the musical, including a rare conversation with Sondheim and Weidman about the enduring relevance of the work.

Assassins...

Stars in the House continues tonight 8pm with the New Works Virtual Festival with Marc Kudisch, Miguel Cervantes, Shuler Hensley, Michael Leon-Wooley, Brenda Braxton, Andy Karl, Orfeh, Ted Louis Levy, Glenn Morshower, Megan Cavanagh, Joely Fisher, Marsha Mason, Adam Jacobs, John Rubinstein, Judy Kuhn, Liz Larsen, Stuart Pankin, George Wendt, Vincent Rodriguez III, Bruce Vilanch, Leigh Ann Larkin, Carmen Cusack and Christina Bianco.

Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley announced today “Stars in the House” will mark Election Day with a 10 hour marathon!

From 9 Am to 7 Pm on November 3rd, Seth and James will be Live with special guests including Bellamy Young, Dana Delany, Marcia Cross, Jessie Mueller, Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Marc Shaiman, Vanessa Williams, Adam Pascal, Peri Gilpin, Anika Larsen, Judy Kuhn, Marilu Henner, Annette Bening, Kelli O’Hara, and many more. Poll workers across the country from Poll Hero Project – and some familiar faces, like Elizabeth Stanley, Celia Keenan-Bolger, and Lauren Patten – will drop by on breaks from their shifts working at the polls. “Stars in the House” favorite Brenda Braxton will join in as a guest host from 2-3 Pm.

Fans have always been a huge part of the show at “Stars in the House,” and on Election Day, that will be truer than ever! Seth and James will be inviting...

Audiences in search of Election Day entertainment now have another option. Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley announced today their Stars in the House series is mounting a 10-hour “Vote-a-Thon” on Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bellamy Young, Dana Delany, Marcia Cross, Jessie Mueller, Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Marc Shaiman, Vanessa Williams, Adam Pascal, Peri Gilpin, Anika Larsen, Judy Kuhn, Marilu Henner, Annette Bening and Kelli O’Hara are confirmed to appear. Poll workers from Poll Hero Project will also drop by on breaks, including notable names like Elizabeth Stanley, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Lauren Patten. They’re also offering fans ...

Audiences in search of Election Day entertainment now have another option. Seth Rudetsky and James Wesley announced today their Stars in the House series is mounting a 10-hour “Vote-a-Thon” on Nov. 3 from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Bellamy Young, Dana Delany, Marcia Cross, Jessie Mueller, Megan Hilty, Jeremy Jordan, Marc Shaiman, Vanessa Williams, Adam Pascal, Peri Gilpin, Anika Larsen, Judy Kuhn, Marilu Henner, Annette Bening and Kelli O’Hara are confirmed to appear. Poll workers from Poll Hero Project will also drop by on breaks, including notable names like Elizabeth Stanley, Celia Keenan-Bolger and Lauren Patten. They’re also offering fans ...

Raúl Esparza thought he would die of embarrassment when the much-touted April 26 90th birthday concert for Stephen Sondheim didn’t launch on time. The two-and-a-half-hour video file of pre-recorded songs was so huge that it took 45 minutes for Broadway.com to upload. There was nothing the concert host and Broadway theater star could do but wait for the event to be ready to blast out to the world. If anything, the technical glitch, which instantly built into a social media hailstorm via such #Sondheim90 tweeters and concert participants as @Lin_Manuel and @RandyRainbow, increased viewership when “Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration” finally hit YouTube.

So far, the concert held on the 50th anniversary of the opening of Sondheim’s original Broadway production of “Company” has been viewed 2.2 million times and raised over $500 million for Astep (Artists Striving To End Poverty). And now it’s up...

Raúl Esparza thought he would die of embarrassment when the much-touted April 26 90th birthday concert for Stephen Sondheim didn’t launch on time. The two-and-a-half-hour video file of pre-recorded songs was so huge that it took 45 minutes for Broadway.com to upload. There was nothing the concert host and Broadway theater star could do but wait for the event to be ready to blast out to the world. If anything, the technical glitch, which instantly built into a social media hailstorm via such #Sondheim90 tweeters and concert participants as @Lin_Manuel and @RandyRainbow, increased viewership when “Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration” finally hit YouTube.

So far, the concert held on the 50th anniversary of the opening of Sondheim’s original Broadway production of “Company” has been viewed 2.2 million times and raised over $500 million for Astep (Artists Striving To End Poverty). And now it’s up...

Last week, Breast Cancer Research Foundation held its first-ever Virtual Hot Pink Evening, taking their renowned Hot Pink Party to a new virtual format with a very special live-stream viewing experience.

The unforgettable evening raised over $5.2 million to support Bcrf’s global legion of leading scientists pursuing high-impact breast cancer research that is saving lives, even in the midst of the current global crisis. Breast cancer does not stop for Covid-19, and neither will Bcrf, thanks to the generous support of donors who are helping ensure that the organization’s vital work will continue without losing ground.

Guests were treated to a stirring opening number featuring Norbert Leo Butz singing “Something’s Coming” from West Side Story. A blockbuster Broadway tribute to breast cancer survivor and current Hamilton star Mandy Gonzalez featured Lin-Manuel Miranda, Laura Benanti, Krysta Rodriguez, Tituss Burgess, Tommy Kail, Alex Lacamoire, Judy Kuhn, James Monroe Iglehart, Sierra Boggess,...

Disney movies have produced some classic songs over the years — and just over a dozen have won the Academy Award for Best Original Song.

“When You Wish Upon a Star” — “Pinocchio” (1940)

The first song from a Disney movie to win Oscar glory is Jiminy Cricket’s ballad from “Pinocchio,” sung by Cliff Edwards.

“Zip-a-Dee-Doo-Dah” — “Song of the South” (1947)

Allie Wrubel and lyricist Ray Gilbert’s song, based on a pre-Civil War folk song, is a catchy ditty in a film that has not been screened in decades due to its depiction of African American characters like Uncle Remus.

“Chim Chim Cher-ee” — “Mary Poppins” (1964)

Dick Van Dyke and Julie Andrews’ duet, written by the brotherly duo of Richard and Robert Sherman, continues to charm.

“Under the Sea” — “The Little Mermaid” (1987)

Alan Mencken and lyricist Howard Ashman snapped Disney’s two-decade drought with the standout tune from an animated musical that re-established...

Last night’s Take Me to the World: A Sondheim 90th Birthday Celebration online all-star tribute concert got off to a rocky start – technical difficulties pushed the YouTube special more than an hour past its planned “curtain” – but the impressive line-up, top-notch performances and celebratory mood combined for an all’s-well evening.

Watch the concert below.

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The show – a Zoom-style benefit 3:28 – Broadway Musicians – “Overture” (Merrily We Roll Along) 8:47 – Sutton Foster – “There Won’t Be Trumpets” (Anyone Can Whistle) 12:47 – Neil Patrick Harris – “The Witch’s Rap” (Into the Woods) 16:26 – Kelli O’Hara – “What More Do I Need?” (Saturday Night) 19:56 – Judy Kuhn – “What Can You Lose?” (Dick Tracy) 23:53 – Katrina Lenk – “Johanna” (Sweeney Todd) 27:11 – Aaron Tveit – “Marry Me a Little” (Company) 32:58 – Beanie Feldstein & Ben Platt – “It Takes Two” (Into the Woods) 36:25 – Brandon Uranowitz – “With So Little to Be Sure Of” (Anyone Can Whistle) 41:04 – Melissa Errico – “Children and Art” (Sunday in the Park with George) 46:20 – Randy Rainbow – “By the Sea” (Sweeney Todd) 49:21 – Elizabeth Stanley – “The Miller’s Son” (A Little Night Music) 54:21 – Mandy Pantinkin – “Lesson #8” (Sunday in the Park with George) 59:05 – Maria Friedman – “Broadway Baby” (Follies) 1:02:36 – Lin-Manuel Miranda – “Giants in the Sky” (Into the Woods) 1:05:46 – Lea Salonga – “Loving You” (Passion) 1:08:28 – Laura Benanti – “I Remember” (Evening Primrose) 1:14:06 – Chip Zien – “No More” (Into the Woods) 1:19:27 – Josh Groban – “Children Will Listen/Not While I’m Around” (Into the Woods/Sweeney Todd) 1:25:13 – Brian Stokes Mitchell – “The Flag Song” (Assassins) 1:28:04 – Michael Cerveris – “Finishing the Hat” (Sunday in the Park with George) 1:33:28 – Linda Lavin – “The Boy From…” (The Mad Show) 1:37:10 – Alexander Gemignani – “Buddy’s Blues” (Follies) 1:41:08 – Ann Harada, Austin Ku, Kelvin Moon Loh & Thom Sesma – “Someone in a Tree” (Pacific Overtures) 1:50:59 – Raúl Esparza – “Take Me to the World” (Evening Primrose) 1:53:55 – Donna Murphy – “Send in the Clowns” (A Little Night Music) 1:58:47 – Christine Baranski, Meryl Streep & Audra McDonald – “The Ladies Who Lunch” (Company) 2:03:31 – Annaleigh Ashford & Jake Gyllenhaal – “Move On” (Sunday in the Park with George) 2:08:14 – Patti LuPone – “Anyone Can Whistle” (Anyone Can Whistle) 2:11:46 – Bernadette Peters – “No One Is Alone” (Into the Woods) 2:17:49 – Ensemble – “I’m Still Here” (Follies)...

Update, with additional performances: Jake Gyllenhaal, Linda Lavin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Laura Benanti, Neil Patrick Harris and Ben Platt are among the second wave of stars to sign on for Sunday’s Stephen Sondheim virtual birthday concert.

Also joining the all-star benefit for Artists Striving To End Poverty are Annaleigh Ashford, Melissa Errico, Beanie Feldstein, Josh Groban, Judy Kuhn, Randy Rainbow and Lea Solanga. Special appearances will be made by Victor Garber, Joanna Gleason, Nathan Lane and Steven Spielberg.

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They’ll all join the previously announced Meryl Streep, Bernadette Peters, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald, among many others, in the special virtual concert to celebrate Sondheim’s 90th birthday.

Take Me To The...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel discuss the 1998 Carnegie Hall concert 'My Favorite Broadway The Leading Ladies.' The concert was hosted by Julie Andrews and featured Broadway superstars such as Nell Carter, Lea DeLaria, Linda Eder, Jennifer Holliday, Anna Kendrick, Judy Kuhn, Priscilla Lopez, Dorothy Loudon, Rebecca Luker, Marin Mazzie, Andrea McArdle, Audra McDonald, Liza Minnelli, Debra Monk, Rosie O'Donnell, Faith Prince, and Karen Ziemba. It was directed by Scott Ellis and conducted by Paul Gemignani. Subscribe to Broken Records on YouTube and follow our QuaranStreams playlist.

James McAvoy, Andrew Scott, Wendell Pierce and Toby Jones are going head-to-head for best actor in this year’s Olivier Awards, while Phoebe Waller-Bridge, Hayley Atwell, Juliet Stevenson and Sharon D Clarke have been nominated for best actress.

New musical & Juliet has nabbed nine nominations, Trevor Nunn’s Fiddler on the Roof has secured eight and Dear Evan Hansen has scored seven.

The UK awards, which celebrates the best theatre in London, will take place at the Royal Albert Hall on April 5.

Here’s the full list of play and musical nominations:

Best New Play

A Very Expensive Poison at The Old Vic

The Doctor at Almeida Theatre

Leopoldstadt at Wyndham’s Theatre

The Ocean at the End of the Lane at National Theatre – Dorfman

Best New Musical

& Juliet at Shaftesbury Theatre

Amelie The Musical at The Other Palace

Dear Evan Hansen at Noel Coward Theatre

Waitress at Adelphi Theatre...

Three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker announced today that she’s been diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, drawing a wave of support on social media from the Broadway community.

The 58-year-old Luker, whose husband, actor Danny Burstein, currently stars in Moulin Rouge! The Musical, posted the news on Twitter today. “Hello friends,” she wrote. “I have some tough news. Late last year I was diagnosed with Als. I have the best medical care in the world and the greatest support. My dear husband Danny has been an angel. I will get well. In the meantime, we fight and go forward. Keep us in your thoughts.”

See the tweets, and others, below.

Luker has been a strong and consistent presence on the Broadway musical stage since her 1988 debut in The Phantom of the Opera. In 1995 she was nominated for her first Tony Award for Show Boat, and was nominated again in...

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to four-time Tony nominee Judy Kuhn about Joni Mitchell's landmark 1971 album 'Blue.' They also discuss Laura Nyro, Neil Young, Carole King, Bob Dylan, Mary Beth Piel, Betty Buckley, and Yul Brynner. Judy talks about her love for Joni Mitchell, what the album means to her, and how it inspired her career. She also talks about her vocal training and how she has healthily maintained her exquisite voice over the years. Judy has appeared in a number of beloved shows, including 'The Mystery of Edwin Drood,' 'Les Misrables,' 'Chess,' 'She Loves Me,' 'Sunset Boulevard,' and 'Fun Home.' She will also appear in Classic Stage Company's upcoming Off-Broadway revival of 'Assassins.' Judy sang the title role in the 1995 Disney film 'Pocahontas,' including the Academy Award-winning song 'Colors of the Wind.

by Murtada Elfadl

Gyllenhaal with Tesori in 2018

Thankfully the box office failure of Cats hasn’t put the kibosh on green lighting musicals for the big screen. The latest Broadway sensation to get the big screen treatment will be Fun Home, based on illustrator Alison Bechdel’s graphic memoir about her bittersweet relationship with her father. Yes that’s the Bechdel of the Bechdel test. Jake Gyllenhaal will produce and star as Bruce Bechdel, the role that won Michael Cerveris a Tony for best actor in a musical- one of 5 Tonys Fun Home won in 2015. The part is multi faceted as the elder Bechdel is a closeted conflicted gay man and the musical charts not only his daughter’s queer awakening but also his messy relationship with her and with his wife.

Sydney Lucas as Small alison with Cerveris on Broadway

I loved this show on Broadway and I'm excited to see a film adaptation,...

It's time to come to the Fun Home As BroadwayWord previously reported, Academy Award-nominated actor Jake Gyllenhaal will produce an upcoming big screen adaptation of the Tony Award-winning musical Fun Home, where he will also portray Bruce Bechdel. To celebrate and get ready to head back to Maple Avenue, we're looking back at the show's Broadway opening night. Check out the video to get a peek at Michael Cerveris, Judy Kuhn, Beth Malone, and more on the big night...

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will soon presents the Broadway Center Stage production of Footloose. The cast is led by J. Quinton Johnson Choir Boy, Hamilton, Broadway Center Stage In the Heights as Ren McCormack, Judy Kuhn Fun Home, Les Misrables as Ethel McCormack, Isabelle McCalla The Prom, Aladdin as Ariel Moore, Michael Park Dear Evan Hansen as Reverend Shaw Moore, and three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker as Vi Moore Mary Poppins, the Kennedy Center's Little Dancer. They are joined by Joshua Logan Alexander as Chuck, Peter McPoland as Willard Hewitt, Tony Award nominee Michael Mulheren Kiss Me, Kate Bright Star as Coach Dunbar, Lena Owens as Wendy Jo, Nicole Vanessa Ortiz Spamilton as Rusty, and Rema Webb The Color Purple, Violet as Lulu WarnickerEleanor DunbarBetty Blast, Grace Slear and Urleen, with Brandon Burks, Claire Crause, Michele Lee, Jess LeProtto, Gregory Liles, Nick Martinez, Maximilian Sangerman,...

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will soon presents the Broadway Center Stage production of Footloose. The cast is led by J. Quinton Johnson Choir Boy, Hamilton, Broadway Center Stage In the Heights as Ren McCormack, Judy Kuhn Fun Home, Les Misrablesas Ethel McCormack,Isabelle McCalla The Prom, Aladdin as Ariel Moore, Michael Park Dear Evan Hansen as Reverend Shaw Moore, and three-time Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker as Vi Moore Mary Poppins, the Kennedy Center's Little Dancer. They are joined byJoshua Logan Alexander as Chuck, Peter McPoland as Willard Hewitt, Tony Award nominee Michael Mulheren Kiss Me, Kate Bright Star as Coach Dunbar, Lena Owens as Wendy Jo, Nicole Vanessa Ortiz Spamilton as Rusty, and Rema Webb The Color Purple, Violet as Lulu WarnickerEleanor DunbarBetty Blast, Grace Slear and Urleen, with Brandon Burks, Claire Crause, Michele Lee, Jess LeProtto, Gregory Liles, Nick Martinez, Maximilian Sangerman, Jonathan Savage,...

The lineup has been announced for the 17th annual Broadway Stands Up For Freedom concert on Monday, October 28th at 730 Pm at The Town Hall 123 W. 43 St.. The lineup includes Kelli O'Hara, Montego Glover, Judy Kuhn, Phillipa Soo, Eva Noblezada, Krystina Alabado, Julia Murney, Jeannette Bayardelle, Shoba Nayaran, Shaina Taub, Starr Busby, L. Morgan Lee, We Mcdonald, Liana Stampur, and The Brooklyn Youth Chorus.

Steven Pasquale, about to appear in Netflix’s movie version of Broadway’s American Son, has joined the cast of Classic Stage Company’s 2020 revival of the Stephen Sondheim/John Weidman musical Assassins, Csc announced today.

Pasquale, who will play John Wilkes Booth, is one of five high-profile stage actors who will be taking part in the production. Also announced was Fun Home‘s Judy Kuhn, who will play Sara Jane Moore; Will Swenson (Hair) as Charles Guiteau; Brandon Uranowitz (Burn This) as Leon Czolgosz; and Wesley Taylor (SpongeBob SquarePants) as Giuseppe Zangara.

Directing, as previously announced, will be Csc’s artistic director John Doyle, who previously staged the Sondheim/Weidman’s collaborations Pacific Overtures and Road Show. The production is scheduled to begin performances in April 2020.

Assassins, the eccentric and “improbably beloved” (in the keen phrasing of The New York Times) musical that investigates the lives of nine men...

Come From Away, Company and The Inheritance were the big winners at the 2019 Olivier Awards, taking home four awards each at a ceremony held in London’s Royal Albert Hall tonight and hosted by Jason Manford.

The Laurence Olivier Awards are presented annually by the Society of London Theatre to recognize excellence in professional theatre in the city. The awards are given to those involved in West End productions and other leading non-commercial theatres based in London and cover plays, musicals, dance, opera and affiliate theatre.

Come From Away won Best New Musical, as well as Outstanding Achievement in Music, Best Theatre Choreographer (Kelly Devine) and the Royal Albert Hall Award For Best Sound Design (Gareth Owen).

Jonathan Bailey picked up his first Olivier Award, winning Best Actor in a Supporting Role in a Musical for his portrayal of Jamie in Company. Company also won Best Musical Revival, the Blue-i...

The Little Mermaid rekindled Walt Disney’s animation excellence, launching the current wave of films and fascination with the princesses. It remains a stunning piece of work, with excellent songs and vocal performances, that continues to hold up well with repeated viewings. Jodi Benson’s innocent, yearning Ariel is well matched by the scheming Pat Carroll as Ursula, one of the more frightening antagonists in the animated oeuvre.

For me, though, the film’s magical place in history is enhanced because it was the first film we took Kate to see. Snuggled between us, on a booster seat to see the screen, she was enchanted, eyes wide and riveted. I enjoyed it from a craft and entertainment standpoint, but she fell in love because of the Disney magic.

The 1989 release is out as part of their 4K Ultra HD and Blu-ray Signature Collection line.

The well-known story is nicely adapted...