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Rodgers amp Hammerstein's The Sound Of Music is one of the most oft-produced and popular musicals of all time and this week has welcomed both spectacular news and saddening news regarding the past, present and future of the beloved family-friendly musical. Iconic original leading man Theodore Bikel passed away at the age of 91 earlier this week, forever closing the book on the first man to ever sing 'Edelweiss', one of the score's most beloved gems, not to mention portray Captain Von Trapp in the original Broadway production. Yet, on the horizon looms a brand new national tour of the tuner set to star a brand new discovery named Kerstin Anderson in the role of Maria Von Trapp alongside a fresh-faced cast including Ben Davis, Ashley Brown, Merwin Foard, Dan Tracy and more, all under the direction of Jack O'Brien. Considering the legendary legacy of the beloved title, now is an...

Three Broadway understudies Ben Crawford, Merwin Foard and Alena Watters are profiled in Stephanie Riggs' documentary The Standbys Sunchaser Entertainment -- 76 minutesNR. The DigiNext Films release, also featuring Broadway veterans and headliners Bebe Neuwirth and David Hyde Pierce, is available beginning today on Apple's iTunes platform for Hdsd purchase or rental. Fans of the movie can also purchase the original music soundtrack via iTunes, including individual tracks.

Disrespected by both audiences and the headliners who they're hired to step in for at a moment's notice, Broadway understudies get their own brief moment in the spotlight in The Standbys.

Director Stephanie Riggs's brief, amiable documentary focuses on three subjects, a wisely narrow gaze that affords genuine insight into the aspirations, struggles, and fleeting triumphs and failures of Ben Crawford, Merwin Foard, and Aléna Watters.

From stories about siblings' deaths and sleeping on couches to tales about being snubbed by producers who tend to forget they even exist and stars who'd do anything to avoid ceding the stage to a backup, the film captures the unshakable grip live performing has on these musical theater-lovers, as well as the personal and famil...

Annie, the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning musical, goes on sale today to American Express cardholders. For tickets, call 877-250-2929 or visit Ticketmaster.com. Tickets will be available to the general public on Monday, June 25. Annie will star two-time Tony Award winner Katie Finneran as Miss Hannigan, Australian star Anthony Warlow making his Broadway debut as Daddy Warbucks and 11-year-old Lilla Crawford as Annie, with Brynn OMalley Wicked, Hairspray as Grace Farrell, Daddy Warbucks devoted personal secretary, Clarke Thorell Hairspray, Mamma Mia as Rooster Hannigan, Miss Hannigans neer-do-well brother and J. Elaine Marcos Priscilla Queen of the Desert, A Chorus Line as Lily St. Regis, Roosters floozy girlfriend. The orphans are Madi Rae Dipietro as July, Georgi James as Pepper, Junah Jang as Tessie, Tyrah Skye Odoms as Kate, Taylor Richardson as Duffy, Emily Rosenfeld as Molly and Jaidyn Young as standby for the roles of Annie,...

When director Stephanie Riggs attended a concert series of Broadway understudies and standbys a few years ago, she was blown away. “Their voices were so powerful, and they were so talented,” recalls Riggs. “And then they would tell these horrific and hilarious stories.”She immediately saw the potential for a film, and set to work on a documentary that would shed light on the unrecognized and unnoticed performers of Broadway. The result is “The Standbys,” which premieres on May 12 at the second annual Tony Awards Film Series. Both humorous and heartbreaking, the documentary follows Merwin Foard, Aléna Watters, and Ben Crawford, three performers who work as understudies, standbys, and swings, as they try to land lead roles on Broadway.For many Broadway hopefuls, working as a standby can be thrilling at first. Watters, who Riggs describes as the documentary’s “ingénue,” earned her first Broadway credit as a temporary standby in “West.