Playbill.com : Features Copyright (c) %2013 Playbill.com, Inc. All Rights Reserved. http://www.playbill.com/ Playbill.com : Features en-us 04/06/2013 08:47:21 PM 60 PLAYBILL ON OPENING NIGHT: Kinky Boots; Some Girls Just Wanna Give Fun Fri, 05 Apr 2013 20:24 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176692-PLAYBILL-ON-OPENING-NIGHT-Kinky-Boots-Some-Girls-Just-Wanna-Give-Fun Meet the first-nighters at the Broadway opening of the new Cyndi Lauper-Harvey Fierstein musical Kinky Boots.

]]> Harry Haun STAGE PORTRAIT: Billy Porter, Stark Sands, Annaleigh Ashford and Daniel Sherman in Kinky Boots Fri, 05 Apr 2013 15:24 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176681-STAGE-PORTRAIT-Billy-Porter-Stark-Sands-Annaleigh-Ashford-and-Daniel-Sherman-in-Kinky-Boots Acclaimed illustrator Ken Fallin's drawings of the greatest stars and scenes of the theatrical world are a recurring part of Playbill.com.

]]> THE SCREENING ROOM: Celebrating I'll Eat You Last Star Bette Midler (Video) Fri, 05 Apr 2013 14:48 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176683-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Celebrating-Ill-Eat-You-Last-Star-Bette-Midler-Video I'll Eat You Last, starring Tony Award recipient Bette Midler as female superagent Sue Mengers, begins Broadway previews April 5. In celebration of the production, Playbill.com looks back at performances from the show's award-winning star, Midler.

]]> Playbill Staff From Bring It On to Pippin, A Look at the 2012-13 Season: The Musicals Thu, 04 Apr 2013 19:30 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176631-From-Bring-It-On-to-Pippin-A-Look-at-the-2012-13-Season-The-Musicals With the 2012-13 Broadway season coming to a close this month (April 25 is the cut-off date for eligibility for the 67th Annual Tony Awards), Playbill.com offers a four-part look at the current season. First up are the musicals.

]]> Playbill Staff PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: "Making Millie!" In Rehearsal With Paper Mill and Maltz Jupiter's Thoroughly Modern Millie Thu, 04 Apr 2013 16:05 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176666-PHOTO-EXCLUSIVE-Making-Millie-In-Rehearsal-With-Paper-Mill-and-Maltz-Jupiters-Thoroughly-Modern-Millie Maltz Jupiter Theatre and Paper Mill Playhouse join forces to offer a co-production of the Tony-winning musical Thoroughly Modern Millie. Brian Padgett, a company member in the Maltz run, documented the rehearsal and tech process leading up to opening night.

]]> Matthew Blank THE SCREENING ROOM: Looking Back at Follies Through the Years (Video) Thu, 04 Apr 2013 14:56 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176614-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Looking-Back-at-Follies-Through-the-Years-Video Stephen Sondheim and James Goldman's landmark musical Follies premiered on Broadway April 4, 1971, at the Winter Garden Theatre, with a cast including Dorothy Collins, Alexis Smith, John McMartin, Gene Nelson and Yvonne De Carlo.

]]> Playbill Staff THE "SMASH" REPORT: Season Two, Episode 9, Or, I'm a Pretty Girl, Mama Thu, 04 Apr 2013 02:17 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176610-THE-SMASH-REPORT-Season-Two-Episode-9-Or-Im-a-Pretty-Girl-Mama Playbill's weekly recap, with notes and comment, of the latest episode of the NBC musical drama series "Smash," about the dreamers behind Broadway musicals. Here's a look at the April 2 episode, "The Parents."

]]> Kenneth Jones Imelda's Turn! Former First Lady of the Philippines Gets Her Own Musical in Here Lies Love Wed, 03 Apr 2013 18:16 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176572-Imeldas-Turn-Former-First-Lady-of-the-Philippines-Gets-Her-Own-Musical-in-Here-Lies-Love Alex Timbers, David Byrne and Fatboy Slim give a spotlight to Imelda Marcos — the "only world leader who comes with her own soundtrack"— in the musical Here Lies Love at The Public Theater. Cue the glitter ball!

]]> Harry Haun THE SCREENING ROOM: Musical Numbers from This Season of "Smash," Including Bernadette Peters, Jeremy Jordan (Video) Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:57 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176573-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Musical-Numbers-from-This-Season-of-Smash-Including-Bernadette-Peters-Jeremy-Jordan-Video The second season of "Smash," the Emmy Award-winning musical drama about the creation and inner workings of a Broadway musical, kicked off Feb. 5 on NBC. Here are highlights from the episodes of this season.

]]> Playbill Staff Elaine Stritch Bids the Stage Farewell at Cafe Carlyle; Playbill Was There Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:49 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176587-Elaine-Stritch-Bids-the-Stage-Farewell-at-Cafe-Carlyle-Playbill-Was-There Tony Award winner Elaine Stritch offered stories and songs on April 2, the start of a weeklong engagement — her farewell to showbiz — at the Cafe Carlyle. 

]]> Robert Simonson PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: A Two-Show Day at Broadway's Hands on a Hardbody With Allison Case Wed, 03 Apr 2013 14:18 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176531-PHOTO-EXCLUSIVE-A-Two-Show-Day-at-Broadways-Hands-on-a-Hardbody-With-Allison-Case Spend a two-show day with Allison Case (Hair), currently playing the role of young UPS worker Kelli Mangrum in Broadway's Hands on a Hardbody. She takes readers along on her morning rituals and offers a look at the busy backstage life of the tight-knit ensemble.

]]> Matthew Blank THEIR FAVORITE THINGS: Hands on a Hardbody Star Hunter Foster Shares His Theatregoing Experiences Wed, 03 Apr 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176571-THEIR-FAVORITE-THINGS-Hands-on-a-Hardbody-Star-Hunter-Foster-Shares-His-Theatregoing-Experiences Their Favorite Things asks members of the theatre community to share the Broadway performances that most affected them as part of the audience.

This week we spotlight the choices of Tony-nominated actor Hunter Foster, who is currently starring in the new musical Hands on a Hardbody at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre.

]]> Andrew Gans PLAYBILL ON OPENING NIGHT: Lucky Guy — You've Got Mac Tue, 02 Apr 2013 20:02 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176541-PLAYBILL-ON-OPENING-NIGHT-Lucky-Guy-Youve-Got-Mac Meet the first-nighters at the Broadway opening of Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy.

]]> Harry Haun Solo Shows Have Many Allures, Many Challenges for Producers Tue, 02 Apr 2013 18:01 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176554-Solo-Shows-Have-Many-Allures-Many-Challenges-for-Producers- This season Broadway welcomes (mostly) solo shows starring Holland Taylor, Fiona Shaw, Bette Midler and Alan Cumming.

]]> Robert Simonson Broadway Grosses: March 25-31 Mon, 01 Apr 2013 20:22 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176491-Broadway-Grosses-March-25-31 Andrew Ku THE SCREENING ROOM: Betsy Wolfe, Adam Kantor, Audra McDonald, Megan Hilty and More Sing Jason Robert Brown Tunes (Video) Mon, 01 Apr 2013 14:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176506-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Betsy-Wolfe-Adam-Kantor-Audra-McDonald-Megan-Hilty-and-More-Sing-Jason-Robert-Brown-Tunes-Video Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years, starring Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe, opens Off-Broadway April 2. In anticipation of the production's opening, Playbill.com looks back at Brown's career with songs from The Last Five Years, Parade, Songs for a New World and more.

]]> Playbill Staff A LIFE IN THE THEATRE: Catherine Zuber, Costume Designer of The Big Knife, Coast of Utopia, Far From Heaven and Beyond Mon, 01 Apr 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176462-A-LIFE-IN-THE-THEATRE-Catherine-Zuber-Costume-Designer-of-The-Big-Knife-Coast-of-Utopia-Far-From-Heaven-and-Beyond Meet Tony Award-winning costume designer Catherine Zuber, whose duds will decorate the denizens of Far From Heaven and The Big Knife this spring season in New York.

]]> Mervyn Rothstein Fiona Shaw Talks About Playing an Iconic Woman in The Testament of Mary Sun, 31 Mar 2013 04:01 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176460-Fiona-Shaw-Talks-About-Playing-an-Iconic-Woman-in-The-Testament-of-Mary Tony Award-nominated actress Fiona Shaw talks about the responsibility she feels to deliver both the sacred and the imaginative aspects in Broadway's The Testament of Mary, a new one-woman play about the mother of Jesus.

]]> Mervyn Rothstein THE DVD SHELF: "Les Miserables," "Hands on a Hardbody," "Zero Dark Thirty," "Ministry of Fear" and More Sun, 31 Mar 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176461-THE-DVD-SHELF-Les-Miserables-Hands-on-a-Hardbody-Zero-Dark-Thirty-Ministry-of-Fear-and-More This month's column looks at the international blockbuster "Les Misérables"; Jessica Chastain in "Zero Dark Thirty"; Fritz Lang's "Ministry of Fear"; "Life and Death of Colonel Blimp"; a Bea Lillie comedy, "On Approval"; and the documentary "Hands on a Hardbody."

]]> Steven Suskin What a Trip! Cicely Tyson Gets the Rich Role She's Longed for in Bountiful Sat, 30 Mar 2013 04:01 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176459-What-a-Trip-Cicely-Tyson-Gets-the-Rich-Role-Shes-Longed-for-in-Bountiful It took nearly 30 years and the role of a lifetime to get Cicely Tyson to journey back to Broadway. She talks about playing Horton Foote's homesick traveler in The Trip to Bountiful.

]]> Harry Haun STAGE VIEWS: Hands on a Hardbody Star Mary Gordon Murray Sat, 30 Mar 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176458-STAGE-VIEWS-Hands-on-a-Hardbody-Star-Mary-Gordon-Murray Playbill.com's series features actors commenting on their recent theatregoing experiences, what productions they're looking forward to and more. Here, via email, we hear from singing actress Mary Gordon Murray, who co-stars in Hands on a Hardbody, the new musical at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre about a gaggle of American dreamers engaged in an endurance contest to win a pickup truck.

]]> Andrew Gans PLAYBILL THEATRE WEEK IN REVIEW, March 23-29: Richard Griffiths, Gigi, The Flick Flack and More Fri, 29 Mar 2013 17:44 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176650-PLAYBILL-THEATRE-WEEK-IN-REVIEW-March-23-29-Richard-Griffiths-Gigi-The-Flick-Flack-and-More Gigi, the Oscar-winning film musical that was later adapted for the Broadway stage, will be adapted anew for a Broadway run, possibly as soon as 2013-14, producer Jenna Segal announced this week. Eric D. Schaeffer will direct the classic, inspired by characters of French writer Colette, with a score by Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe.

]]> Robert Simonson THE SCREENING ROOM: Happy Birthday, Megan Hilty (Video) Fri, 29 Mar 2013 15:29 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176440-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Happy-Birthday-Megan-Hilty-Video Stage and screen actress Megan Hilty, who stars as Ivy Lynn on the NBC musical drama "Smash," celebrates her birthday March 29. In honor of the Broadway and television star, Playbill.com looks at various Hilty performances both on and off the stage.

]]> Playbill Staff "That's Rich"! Celebrating Newsies' One-Year Anniversary With Photos, Video and More Fri, 29 Mar 2013 04:01 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176441-Thats-Rich-Celebrating-Newsies-One-Year-Anniversary-With-Photos-Video-and-More Newsies, the Tony Award-winning Disney musical about a group of high-flying newsboys who take on powerful newspaper giants in 1899 New York City, celebrates its one-year anniversary on Broadway March 29 at the Nederlander Theatre. Playbill.com takes a look back.

]]> Michael Gioia STAGE PORTRAIT: Oscar Winner Tom Hanks in Nora Ephron's Lucky Guy Fri, 29 Mar 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176418-STAGE-PORTRAIT-Oscar-Winner-Tom-Hanks-in-Nora-Ephrons-Lucky-Guy Acclaimed illustrator Ken Fallin's drawings of the greatest stars and scenes of the theatrical world are a recurring part of Playbill.com.

]]> PHOTO ARCHIVE: Tony Award Winner Victoria Clark Onstage Thu, 28 Mar 2013 17:55 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176385-PHOTO-ARCHIVE-Tony-Award-Winner-Victoria-Clark-Onstage Victoria Clark, a Tony Award winner for her star turn in The Light in the Piazza, is back on Broadway this spring in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella. Playbill.com takes this chance to look back at some of her stage credits, dating back to the early 1990s.

]]> Matthew Blank THE "SMASH" REPORT: Season Two, Episode 8, Or, Tomfoolery Thu, 28 Mar 2013 16:47 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176416-THE-SMASH-REPORT-Season-Two-Episode-8-Or-Tomfoolery Playbill's weekly recap, with notes and comment, of the latest episode of the NBC musical drama series "Smash," about the dreamers behind Broadway musicals. Here's a look at the March 26 episode, "The Bells & Whistles."

]]> Kenneth Jones THE SCREENING ROOM: Laura Osnes, Antonio Banderas, Brian d'Arcy James and More Sing Work of Maury Yeston (Video) Thu, 28 Mar 2013 15:26 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176397-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Laura-Osnes-Antonio-Banderas-Brian-dArcy-James-and-More-Sing-Work-of-Maury-Yeston-Video Titanic, the Tony Award-winning Best Musical featuring a score by Maury Yeston, played its final Broadway performance March 28, 1999. Here, we look at the work of Yeston, including clips from Titanic, Nine and more.

]]> Playbill Staff PHOTO EXCLUSIVE: Backstage Portraits at Fulton Theatre's New-Look Chorus Line With Jessica Lee Goldyn Wed, 27 Mar 2013 16:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176346-PHOTO-EXCLUSIVE-Backstage-Portraits-at-Fulton-Theatres-New-Look-Chorus-Line-With-Jessica-Lee-Goldyn The Fulton Theatre continues its season with a newly-refreshed production of A Chorus Line. Playbill.com offers this series of photos (taken by cast member Alex Pepper) featuring Jessica Lee Goldyn, who stars as Cassie, as she preps for the performance and delivers her show-stopping "Music and the Mirror."

]]> Matthew Blank THE SCREENING ROOM: Looking Back at How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying (Video) Wed, 27 Mar 2013 15:01 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176354-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Looking-Back-at-How-to-Succeed-in-Business-Without-Really-Trying-Video The 2011 Broadway revival of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying opened March 27 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. In celebration of the Tony Award-nominated Best Revival, Playbill.com looks back at performances from the production and more.

]]> Playbill Staff THEIR FAVORITE THINGS: "Smash" and "It Could Be Worse" Star Wesley Taylor Shares His Theatregoing Experiences Wed, 27 Mar 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176356-THEIR-FAVORITE-THINGS-Smash-and-It-Could-Be-Worse-Star-Wesley-Taylor-Shares-His-Theatregoing-Experiences Their Favorite Things asks members of the theatre community to share the Broadway performances that most affected them as part of the audience.

This week we spotlight the choices of The Addams Family and Rock of Ages singing actor Wesley Taylor, who can currently be seen in NBC's "Smash" as well as in his own web series, "It Could Be Worse," which debuts each week on Playbill.com.

]]> Andrew Gans THE SCREENING ROOM: Happy Birthday, Jonathan Groff (Video) Tue, 26 Mar 2013 14:16 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176320-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Happy-Birthday-Jonathan-Groff-Video Jonathan Groff, known for his performances in Spring Awakening and Fox's "Glee," celebrates his birthday March 26. In celebration of the Tony Award nominee, Playbill.com has compiled favorite moments from Groff — on and off the stage.

]]> Playbill Staff Race! Adoption! Writer's Block! Playwright Tanya Barfield Wakes Up to The Call Tue, 26 Mar 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176319-Race-Adoption-Writers-Block-Playwright-Tanya-Barfield-Wakes-Up-to-The-Call After years of writer's block, Tanya Barfield finds inspiration at home. The Call, her new play about parenthood, adoption and race, is now premiering Off-Broadway.

]]> Robert Simonson Broadway Grosses: March 18-24 Mon, 25 Mar 2013 19:25 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176276-Broadway-Grosses-March-18-24 Andrew Ku THE SCREENING ROOM: Celebrating the Tony-Winning Musical Gypsy (Video) Mon, 25 Mar 2013 14:38 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176281-THE-SCREENING-ROOM-Celebrating-the-Tony-Winning-Musical-Gypsy-Video The original 1959 Broadway production of Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and Jule Styne's iconic musical Gypsy took its final bow March 25, 1961. Here, we take a look at various performances from the award-winning show.

]]> Playbill Staff ASK PLAYBILL.COM: A Question About the Prevalence of Cats on Stage Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:05 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176271-ASK-PLAYBILLCOM-A-Question-About-the-Prevalence-of-Cats-on-Stage Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it doesn't stop us from asking why plays and musicals seem to be populated more often with dogs than cats.

]]> Robert Simonson Diane Paulus, Gypsy Snider and Chet Walker Take Pippin to New Heights in Cirque-Inspired Broadway Revival Mon, 25 Mar 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176237-Diane-Paulus-Gypsy-Snider-and-Chet-Walker-Take-Pippin-to-New-Heights-in-Cirque-Inspired-Broadway-Revival There certainly is "Magic to Do" as the first Broadway revival of Stephen Schwartz and Roger O. Hirson's Pippin pitches its circus tent at the Music Box Theatre and the musical's troupe jumps through hoops — literally — to guide young prince Pippin down the road to self-discovery.

]]> Michael Gioia Playwright Richard Greenberg's Triple-Play Season Was Nurtured in an Unlikely Workplace Sun, 24 Mar 2013 04:01 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176270-Playwright-Richard-Greenbergs-Triple-Play-Season-Was-Nurtured-in-an-Unlikely-Workplace For playwright Richard Greenberg, represented by Breakfast at Tiffany's, Far From Heaven and The Assembled Parties in the current New York season, the magic of theatre begins at his "office" — a New York City diner.

]]> Jonathan Mandell THE BOOK SHELF: "The House of Redgrave," Charting the Family Tree of a Theatrical Dynasty Sun, 24 Mar 2013 04:00 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176248-THE-BOOK-SHELF-The-House-of-Redgrave-Charting-the-Family-Tree-of-a-Theatrical-Dynasty This month's column looks at Tim Adler's "The House of Redgrave: The Secret Lives of a Theatrical Dynasty."

]]> Steven Suskin STAGE TO SCREENS: Cuba Gooding Jr. and Vanessa Williams, Taking a Trip to Bountiful Sat, 23 Mar 2013 04:01 GMT http://www.playbill.com/features/article/176249-STAGE-TO-SCREENS-Cuba-Gooding-Jr-and-Vanessa-Williams-Taking-a-Trip-to-Bountiful Playbill chats with Cuba Gooding Jr. and Vanessa Williams about reinventing The Trip to Bountiful, Horton Foote's classic play about home, family obligation and clinging to the past.

]]> Harry Haun