A real BROADWAY News

Troika Entertainment, LLC is pleased to announce initial casting for the CATCH ME IF YOU CAN national tour, which officially kicks off at the Providence Performing Arts Center in Providence, RI on October 7.

Ridiculously silly in all the right ways and featuring a comically gifted, star-studded principal cast--headed up by Richard Kind, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Rebecca Romijn, Dane Cook, Gary Beach, and Roger Bart--that delivers the goods with infectious gusto, this large-scale revival on this outdoor arena elicits a huge chorus of laughter. Back to re-stage the show on the massive stage of the Hollywood Bowl is Susan Stroman, who won Tony Awards for her direction and choreography of the original Broadway production. What results is a fun, beautifully-mounted production that's about as close to a real Broadway musical show than previous summer shows have attempted at this massive stage in the past.

Based on the hit DreamWorks film and the incredible true story that inspired it, the first national tour of the high-flying Broadway musical CATCH ME IF YOU CAN will launch in Providence, RI at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) for a limited engagement, October 7-14, 2012.

Camp Broadway, presented by The Artist Series, returns to Jacksonville for its 12th year from today, June 18 - Friday, June 22, 2012 from 8:30AM - 5:00PM at the Wilson Center for the Arts on Florida State College at Jacksonville's South Campus.

Camp Broadway®, presented by The Artist Series, returns to Jacksonville for its 12th year from Monday, June 18 - Friday, June 22, 2012 from 8:30AM - 5:00PM at the Wilson Center for the Arts on Florida State College at Jacksonville's South Campus.

In this column for BroadwayWorld.com Hodges and Hodges set the stage for select productions that are premiering or touring in the Bay area. Dedicated to enhancing the theater-going experience, they give a fun synopsis of the show and provide a great list of show-enhancing local things to do so that bay area theater-goers can fully immerse themselves in the show - even before they enter the actual theater. It's nothing that can't be looked up - but why bother when Hodges and Hodges has already done the research? So, sit back and enjoy the trip and get ready for a fantastic Legally Blonde experience!

In this column for BroadwayWorld.com Hodges and Hodges set the stage for select productions that are premiering or touring in the Bay area. Dedicated to enhancing the theater-going experience, they give a fun synopsis of the show and provide a great list of show-enhancing local things to do so that bay area theater-goers can fully immerse themselves in the show - even before they enter the actual theater. It's nothing that can't be looked up - but why bother when Hodges and Hodges has already done the research? So, sit back and enjoy the trip and get ready for a fantastic Legally Blonde experience!

This is the second workshop in a series of NEW workshops at the White Plains Performing Arts Center.

This is the second workshop in a series of NEW workshops at the White Plains Performing Arts Center.

Today we have the penultimate entry in our twelve-part series dedicated to Lifetime's hit dramedy DROP DEAD DIVA with an all-encompassing chat with the show's heavenly agent himself, Fred, portrayed by stage and screen star Ben Feldman! In this illuminating conversation we talk all about his three years on DROP DEAD DIVA and what the future holds for Fred, Jane, Stacey and company, as well as his favorite guest stars and memories so far. Additionally, Ben and I discuss his training for the stage and his work on Broadway, opposite Kathleen Turner in THE GRADUATE, as well as his performances in the recent remake of FRIDAY THE 13th and shooting the avant garde thriller CLOVERFIELD, in addition to his thoughts on various pilots with the likes of Christine Ebersole, Fran Drescher, Marc Blucas, Amy Smart and more!

Ali Ewoldt, the standout star of the on-going national tour of the latest Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY, wanted to really follow her dreams. Though always drawn to musical theater all her life, she decided to graduate from Yale with a degree in Psychology, thinking it was a 'safer' bet than to pursue a life in the theater. But her dreams proved to powerful to ignore, prompting her to take on musicals full-tilt, culminating in her Broadway debut as Cosette in LES MISERABLES. Now she's wowing audiences across America with her take on Maria, in the smash hit revival of WEST SIDE STORY, now playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts in Orange County, CA through September 18. Before landing in Costa Mesa with the tour, Ewoldt chatted with BroadwayWorld's Michael Lawrence Quintos to talk about her early theater experiences and working with the late Arthur Laurents.

Bridging the gap between theatre, television and film in a thrilling and revolutionary new way with this week's premiere of STEPHEN SONDHEIM'S COMPANY, in select movie theaters nationwide Wednesday through Saturday (with a return engagement already scheduled for early July), director Lonny Price has introduced Sondheim's seminal concept musical comedy to a whole new generation of gleeks, as well as reverently keep the flame of the fire in the heart, soul and mind of this complex, rich and rewarding show for Broadway babies who already know its genius. Additionally, Neil Patrick Harris, Christina Hendricks, Stephen Colbert, Jon Cryer, Katie Finneran, Aaron Lazar, Martha Plimpton, Patti Lupone and the rest of the cast are absolutely perfect for their roles and bring a live spontaneity and verve to their material - the kind which you usually only see in the very best shows on Broadway - and that sense of timing, precise editing and overall polished presentation style is a sure credit to Price's positively sublime direction of the live stage production with the NY Philharmonic, as well as - and maybe even more so - the movie version of the live show in theaters now. It bursts with energy and, well, aliveness, just like a real Broadway show. Make that: Just like a real Broadway smash hit. Talking all aspects of COMPANY: THE MOVIE while still editing it last month, Price was kind enough to open up about what the rehearsal process was like, filming it live and working with the all-star cast, as well as much, much more - all coming on the heels of last year‘s rapturously received Ellen Krass production of SONDHEIM! THE BIRTHDAY CONCERT, undoubtedly the finest Broadway concert capture of our age. Price discusses his affection for the material and the man behind the music, plus his smashing leading ladies. Plus: what's next? Be sure to stay tuned for the complete InDepth InterView featuring Price's recollections on Sondheim's MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG (and his forthcoming documentary about it), A CLASS ACT, directing DESPERATE HOUSEWIVES and news about the feature film version of Athol Fugard's MASTER HAROLD AND THE BOYS coming later this year - a play which he starred in on Broadway twenty-five years ago. Actor, producer, director and, now, filmmaker - Price can clearly do it all!

Camp Broadway, presented by The Artist Series, is returning to Jacksonville for its 11th year on June 13 - 17, 2011 from 8:30AM - 5:00PM!

Liza. Four letters say all you need to know about Broadway. She is Broadway, after all, and in many ways the ultimate Broadway icon, just as her mother Judy Garland was the ultimate Hollywood icon. No one in their prime was better. Just recently in Tony Awards history, Miss Minnelli proved she could rock the socks off of the entire world with her magnificent performance of "And The World Goes Round" - the capper of the 2009 Tony Awards opening number, perhaps the biggest of all time. Today, we take a look at Liza at the Tony Awards - and, considering today is Tony's Eve, the timing is just right. How else does a real Broadway baby spend a Saturday night - all alone in your room (or not) - than with Miss Minnelli?

Camp Broadway, presented by The Artist Series, is returning to Jacksonville for its 11th year on June 13 - 17, 2011 from 8:30AM - 5:00PM!

'We're all just really, really happy! Tuesdays are the busiest day for us because South Park airs on Wednesdays and we're rushing to make final changes to the episodes, so this was a nice break. I read about the nominations on the internet and was a little worried about someone being left out. But as I scrolled down the list I got happier and happier to see that so many of these amazing people were recognized. Though we've been working on this show for almost 7 years, my favorite part was tech week, and seeing it as a real Broadway show for the very first time. No matter how many workshops you sit through, the first time you see it with the set and lights, it's a whole different experience. This whole process has felt so natural. Matt and I met Bobby several years ago and just started talking about how we wanted to do a musical about Joseph Smith and Mormon sort of evolved from that. It will be nice to reconnect with everyone at the Tonys once South Park is done. We're really looking forward to it and are so proud!'

Past Tony winners Anika Noni Rose and Matthew Broderick announced the 2011 Tony Awards nominees live from the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts in New York City. BroadwayWorld.com will be talking to all of the nominees to hear their exciting stories of how they heard, who they told and more!

This week marks the release of Lisa Howard's stunning new collection of William Finn songs, SONGS OF INNOCENCE AND EXPERIENCE, as well as a showcase at Birdland featuring the selections from the album and some special surprises, so now is certainly the best time to catch up with the 25th ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE star before she takes on Mother Abbess in THE SOUND OF MUSIC and Paulette in LEGALLY BLONDE later this year.