Here are the most-read Playbill.com stories for the week of Oct. 16-22, 2011, from information compiled by Playbill.com
– Judy Samelson
CHART TOPPERS: Most-Read Playbill.com Stories, Week of Oct. 16-22
October 30th, 2011CHART TOPPERS: Top-Grossing Broadway Productions, Week of Oct. 17-23
October 29th, 2011Here are the top-grossing Broadway productions for the week of Oct. 17-23, 2011, as reported by The Broadway League.
MUSICALS
Wicked (Gerswhin Theatre), $1,698,824
The Lion King (Minskoff Theatre), $1,561,390
Spider-Man Turn Off the Dark (Foxwoods Theatre), $1,502,153
The Book of Mormon (Eugene O’Neill Theatre), $1,346,815
Jersey Boys (August Wilson Theatre), $1,063,572
PLAYS
War Horse (Vivian Beaumont Theater), $985,848
The Mountaintop (Bernard B. Jacobs Theatre), $789,727
Relatively Speaking (Brooks Atkinson Theatre), $691,942
Other Desert Cities (Booth Theatre), $450,599
Chinglish (Longacre Theatre), $322,469
To view grosses for all Broadway productions during this time period, click here.
– Judy Samelson
A Cover Story: Bonnie & Clyde
October 28th, 2011Bonnie & Clyde, with music by Tony Award nominee Frank Wildhorn, lyrics by Tony winner Don Black and a book by Ivan Menchell, will play the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre beginning Nov. 4.
Laura Osnes and Jeremy Jordan play the notorious outlaw couple.
Tags: Bonnie & Clyde, Playbill Cover
A Cover Story: Seminar
October 27th, 2011Seminar, Theresa Rebeck’s new play about the creative and personal tensions of four young novelists who are taking a private writing class with a potentially damaging teacher, played by Alan Rickman — an actor often on the brink of a sneer — begins Broadway performances Oct. 27 at the Golden Theatre.
In Seminar, according to the producers, “four aspiring young novelists sign up for private writing classes with Leonard, an international literary figure. Under his recklessly brilliant and unorthodox instruction, some thrive and others flounder, alliances are made and broken, sex is used as a weapon and hearts are unmoored. The wordplay is not the only thing that turns vicious as innocence collides with experience in this provocative new comedy.”
The cast also features Lily Rabe, Hamish Linklater, Jerry O’Connell and Hettienne Park.
Tags: Playbill Cover, Seminar
Corbin Bleu and Tony Winner Kristin Chenoweth Perform on Broadway Week of "Dancing With the Stars" (Video)
October 26th, 2011Broadway week continued on the Oct. 25 broadcast of the ABC reality series "Dancing With the Stars." Corbin Bleu, who was seen on Broadway in the Tony Award-winning musical In the Heights, and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth performed.
Chenoweth, who received a Tony Award for her performance in You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, returned to the ballroom and took the stage at the beginning of the night to perform “Lessons Learned.”
Following her performance, Bleu, who was also seen in the Disney hit “High School Musical,” took to the dance floor alongside the Macy’s Stars of Dance to perform a Broadway medley that included “42nd Street” from 42nd Street, “Cool” from West Side Story and “In the Heights” from In the Heights. The performance was choreographed by Kenny Ortega, who directed Bleu in “High School Musical” and is also known for his work on the cult-classic film “Newsies.”
Broadway stars were in and around the ballroom, including Tony-winning In the Heights creator and original star Lin-Manuel Miranda. Following the performance by Bleu and the Macy’s dancers, Miranda said via his Twitter account, “For the record, very humbled & grateful to see Heights side by side with 42nd Street and West Side Story.”
To check out the Broadway Week performances on “DWTS,” look below:
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Tags: Corbin Bleu, Dancing with the Stars (TV), Kristin Chenoweth
Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin Invite Fans to Their Upcoming Broadway Concert (Video)
October 26th, 2011Tony Award winners and original Evita co-stars Patti LuPone (Gypsy, Company, Anything Goes) and Mandy Patinkin (The Wild Party, Sunday in the Park With George) will bring their acclaimed concert act to Broadway’s Ethel Barrymore Theatre next month.
In honor of the upcoming limited Broadway engagement, LuPone and Patinkin invite their Facebook friends and fans to An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, which is scheduled to begin performances Nov. 16, prior to an official opening Nov. 21. The 63-performance engagement will continue through Jan. 13, 2012.
An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, according to press notes, “reunites these Tony Award-winning virtuosos (and lifelong friends) for the first time since Evita. Much more than a concert, this is a unique musical love story told entirely through a masterful selection of the greatest songs ever written for the stage. Funny, passionate, intimate and utterly unforgettable, this is An Evening no fan of musical theatre — or of these two acclaimed performers — can afford to miss.”
To check out LuPone and Patinkin’s Facebook shout out, look below:
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Original Dreamgirl Sheryl Lee Ralph Talks Reuniting with Loretta Devine and Jennifer Holliday (Video)
October 26th, 2011Tony Award nominee Sheryl Lee Ralph, who created the role of Deena Jones in the original Broadway company of Dreamgirls, recently talked with Heath Daniels backstage at the 21st annual Divas Simply Singing benefit concert, where she reunited with Dreamgirls co-stars Loretta Devine and Jennifer Holliday.
Ralph, who created Divas Simply Singing to raise AIDS awareness, shares her thoughts on the AIDS epidemic and also chats with Daniels about the 30th anniversary of Dreamgirls. As the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical approaches its 30th anniversary, Ralph reminisces about opening night and reconnecting with Devine and Holliday over the years.
Ralph has also been seen on Broadway in Reggae and Thoroughly Modern Millie. The DIVA Foundation, founded by Ralph in 1990, focuses on generating resources and producing events that raise awareness and educate millions of people around the world affected and infected by HIV/AIDS. The DIVA Foundation utilizes music, entertainment and voice as a vehicle to inform, educate and reduce the stigma attached to the deadly disease.
To check out the interview with Ralph, look below:
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Tags: Dreamgirls, Sheryl Lee Ralph
She’s Flying! Cathy Rigby Chats With Playbill Video About Taking Off in Peter Pan’s National Tour (Video)
October 26th, 2011Tony Award nominee Cathy Rigby has taken her green tights out of storage to reprise her role as the title character, also known as the boy who wouldn’t grow up, in the national tour of Peter Pan. The tour, which launched this summer in Hershey, PA, will hit New York City this winter when it plays Madison Square Garden in December.
Here, Rigby chats about the national tour at a recent press event held at MSG. The Tony nominee sang and read to some young “pirates” and “pixies” from the Garden of Dreams Foundation, a non-profit organization helping kids facing life’s obstacles.
The national tour, lasting into 2012, features some scenic changes to the production since its previous tour in 2005. The show is based on characters created by J.M. Barrie. Peter Pan’s classic score includes “I’m Flying,” “Neverland,” “I Gotta Crow,” “Wendy,” “Ugg-a-Wugg,” “Hook’s Waltz,” “Distant Melody” and more.
Directed by Glenn Casale, the cast also features Tom Hewitt (The Rocky Horror Show) as Capt. Hook/Mr. Darling; Kim Crosby (Into the Woods) as Mrs. Darling; Krista Buccellato as Wendy; Cade Canon Ball as John; Julia Massey and Jordyn Davis alternating as Michael; Jenna Wright as Tiger Lily/Liza; and James Leo Ryan as Smee.
To check out the interview with Rigby, look below:
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Tags: Cathy Rigby, Peter Pan
Behind the Scenes at Evita’s Photo Shoot With Ricky Martin and Elena Roger (Video)
October 25th, 2011Evita will return to the New York City stage when it begins performances at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre this spring. The revival will star Elena Roger and Ricky Martin, who will play Eva Peron and Che Guevara, respectively.
Michael Grandage, who directed the 2006 London revival of Evita, will reunite with Tony Award-winning choreographer Rob Ashford (Thoroughly Modern Millie, How to Succeed…) for the production, which will also star Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris (Tommy, Sweeney Todd) as Juan Peron. Here, the cast poses for production photos for the upcoming revival.
Evita has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Tim Rice. The revival promises songs from the original staging, such as “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina,” “Buenos Aires,” “Rainbow High” and “High Flying Adored,” as well as “You Must Love Me,” which was penned for the 1996 film adaptation.
To check out the Evita photo shoot, look below:
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Tags: Elena Roger, Evita, Ricky Martin
Adam Pascal Joins Seth Rudetsky on Playbill Video’s "Obsessed!" (Video)
October 25th, 2011Adam Pascal, who was nominated for a Tony Award and Drama Desk in 1996 for creating the role of Roger Davis in the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent, sat down with Seth Rudetsky on the latest episode of Playbill Video’s "Obsessed!"
Here, Pascal, who begins performances as Huey Calhoun Oct. 25 in the Tony Award-winning musical Memphis, talks about joining the company at the Shubert Theatre. Pascal succeeds Tony Award nominee Chad Kimball, who played his last performance in Memphis Oct. 23.
Rudetsky has Pascal belt out some of his favorite tunes including “Music of the Night” from The Phantom of the Opera complete with Huey Calhoun Memphis-style riffs.
To check out the latest episode, look below:
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Tags: Adam Pascal, Obsessed!, Seth Rudetsky
