New York is buzzing with lots of young actors who are full of talent. Godspell has many actors and swings (or "Wunderstudies") who are up and coming and full of talent. Cast members of Godspell has been featured in many concerts recently, including Broadway Sings Adele, Broadway Remembers Whitney, and Godspell Sings Schwartz. Julia Mattison is a "Wunderstudy" at Godspell and has created two concerts featuring her original music. The first concert was titled A Violent Holiday Extravaganza!, featuring Christmas music, and the second was A Sexy Valentine's Day Massacre!
Watch Brr... It's Cold Out... There featuring Hunter Parrish
Recapping the New York Theatre Scene
Thursday, May 24, 2012
Even the Theatre World is Full of Drama
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Holy 1990's, Batman! |
Back in 1993, Patti LuPone played the role of Norma Desmond in Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical adaptation of the film Sunset Boulevard. While starring in the original London production, Webber said she would star in the Los Angeles transfer and subsequent Broadway production. This didn't quite happen... LuPone found that in a tabloid paper, Webber hired Glenn Close to play Norma Desmond and LuPone was fired. LuPone filed a lawsuit against Webber with a settlement reported to be worth $1 million dollars. LuPone won the case and built a pool using Webber's money; she has since named the pool the "Andrew Lloyd Webber memorial pool."
LuPone talks to CNN about her Sunset scandal (1995)
Megan Hilty
The star of NBC's Smash recently starred in the Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. Playing the part of Lorelei, Hilty stepped in the shoes of a part once played by the character she sometimes portrays on Smash, Marilyn Monroe.
Hilty is no stranger to the New York stage. She made her Broadway debut in Wicked in 2005, then went on to star in 9 to 5 in 2009 with Stephanie J. Block and Allison Janney.
Watch Hilty sing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"
What do you think of Hilty? Do you think she resembles Marilyn Monroe?
Hilty is no stranger to the New York stage. She made her Broadway debut in Wicked in 2005, then went on to star in 9 to 5 in 2009 with Stephanie J. Block and Allison Janney.
Watch Hilty sing "Diamonds Are a Girl's Best Friend"
What do you think of Hilty? Do you think she resembles Marilyn Monroe?
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Shakespeare in the Park
Every summer, the Public Theater runs a program called Shakespeare in the Park. The organization puts on productions of various Shakespeare plays to audiences at the Delacorte theatre in Central Park. The admission may be free, but you have to pay a price to get your ticket. Many audience members camp out all day to reserve a spot in Central Park just to see a show. Braving it through the heat and other weather conditions takes a lot, but in the end audience members get to enjoy high quality productions of excellent shows in a beautiful atmosphere.
This year's Shakespeare in the Park lineup features As You Like It by Shakespeare himself, and a reinvented production of Sondheim's Into the Woods starring Amy Adams as the Baker's Wife and Donna Murphy as the Witch.
Shakespeare in the Park's Mission Statement
Do you think it's worth it to camp out for a whole day for something you really want to see?
This year's Shakespeare in the Park lineup features As You Like It by Shakespeare himself, and a reinvented production of Sondheim's Into the Woods starring Amy Adams as the Baker's Wife and Donna Murphy as the Witch.
Shakespeare in the Park's Mission Statement
Do you think it's worth it to camp out for a whole day for something you really want to see?
Ben Brantley's Opinon on the Standing Ovation
Recently, Ben Brantley attended a performance of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes at City Centers' Encores! staged concert series. Brantley, a well known theatre critic for the New York Times commended the show's seasoned audience for not applauding after a great performance of the show. Brantley basically said that he believes the standing ovation is becoming an epidemic, and because people today feel the need to stand at the end of every performance the meaning has been lost in a standing ovation. Standing ovations are supposed to be given at the end of a performance by people who think the piece was truly fantastic, or for an actor/actress who was incredible. Today, audiences stand up at the end of performances out of kindness, even if they truly did not enjoy the show.
Theater Talkback: Against Ovation Inflation
What is your opinion on this? Does every show deserve a standing ovation or should standing ovations only be reserved for stellar performances?
Theater Talkback: Against Ovation Inflation
What is your opinion on this? Does every show deserve a standing ovation or should standing ovations only be reserved for stellar performances?
The Power of Two
In Hollywood, there are the famous sets of siblings. The Deschanels, Olsen twins are just a few. However, Broadway features some great sets of siblings with major star power. Meet the Keenan-Bolgers and the Fosters.
Celia and Andrew Keenan-Bolger were born and raised in Michigan. Andrew was the first Keenan-Bolger to land a role on Broadway, playing Chip in Beauty and the Beast in the 1990's. Andrew is currently starring as Crutchie in the cult hit Newsies.Celia made her Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for which she earned her first Tony Award nomination. She is currently starrring as Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher, and she has earned her second Tony nomination.
Watch Celia perform Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's 'My Party Dress'
Hunter Foster is the eldest of the two Fosters, who appear to be the powerhouse sibling duo in the theatre. Both Foster siblings made their Broadway debut in the 1994 revival of Grease, but never played any roles opposite each other in the show. Hunter understudied the role of Danny and younger sister Sutton understudied the role of Sandy starting in 1996. Hunter got his big break as Bobby Strong in Urinetown in 2001, and Sutton got her big break and first Tony Award in 2002 for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Currently, Hunter is starring in Hands on a Hardbody at La Jolla playhouse in California, and Sutton will star in the new ABC Family series "Bunheads."
Watch a preview of Sutton Foster in "Bunheads"
Celia and Andrew Keenan-Bolger were born and raised in Michigan. Andrew was the first Keenan-Bolger to land a role on Broadway, playing Chip in Beauty and the Beast in the 1990's. Andrew is currently starring as Crutchie in the cult hit Newsies.Celia made her Broadway debut in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, for which she earned her first Tony Award nomination. She is currently starrring as Molly in Peter and the Starcatcher, and she has earned her second Tony nomination.
Watch Celia perform Kerrigan and Lowdermilk's 'My Party Dress'
Hunter Foster is the eldest of the two Fosters, who appear to be the powerhouse sibling duo in the theatre. Both Foster siblings made their Broadway debut in the 1994 revival of Grease, but never played any roles opposite each other in the show. Hunter understudied the role of Danny and younger sister Sutton understudied the role of Sandy starting in 1996. Hunter got his big break as Bobby Strong in Urinetown in 2001, and Sutton got her big break and first Tony Award in 2002 for Thoroughly Modern Millie. Currently, Hunter is starring in Hands on a Hardbody at La Jolla playhouse in California, and Sutton will star in the new ABC Family series "Bunheads."
Watch a preview of Sutton Foster in "Bunheads"
Monday, May 21, 2012
Tours, Tours, and More Tours

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