Stephen Mitchell News

Lauren Stanford, winner of the 2013 MetroStar Talent Challenge, headlines the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, in a special prime time engagement beginning tonight, June 3.

Lauren Stanford, winner of the 2013 MetroStar Talent Challenge, headlines the Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, in a special prime time engagement beginning June 3. The world premiere of "I'm a Stranger Here Myself," Stanford's solo cabaret debut, plays a four-show engagement through August 1. Opening for Stanford will be her MetroStar co-finalists Jason Morris (first runner-up) and Stephen Mitchell Brown, who will perform short sets on alternating nights.

Actor Neil Patrick Harris discussed his long-awaited return to Broadway in 'Hedwig and the Angry Inch' alongside director John Cameron Mitchell and songwriter Stephen Trask at the CUNY Graduate Center on Monday evening. New York Times chief film critic A. O. Scott spoke with the star and creators about the landmark American musical that has inspired a generation. Scroll down for photos!

HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH composer/lyricist Stephen Trask discusses the differences between title role originator John Cameron Mitchell and new Broadway headliner Neil Patrick Harris as well as shares details on the forthcoming sequel to the raucous rock musical as part of a new interview.

54 BELOW announces the cast for their next big concert event '54 Sings Time and Again.' Playing for two performances only on May 11, the 7PM concert event will star Rebecca Luker (Phantom of the Opera, Sound of Music, Mary Poppins, Nine), Howard McGillin (Phantom of the Opera, She Loves Me, The Secret Garden), and Jessica Molaskey (Parade, Dream, Sunday in the Park with George).

Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat and GRAMMY Award-winning Broadway songwriter Stephen Schwartz are joining the festivities in Broadway at Moorland, the 14th annual summer concert and fireworks display at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, NJ, a partnership between New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and Far Hills Race Meeting Association. Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun, A Catered Affair) will join previously announced Tony-nominated and Emmy Award-winner Liz Callaway, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, five-time MAC-winning cabaret star Scott Coulter, Jessica Hendy (Broadway's Cats and Aida), and Kelli Rabke (Broadway's LES MISERABLES and in the Broadway revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Due to a scheduling conflict, Brian Stokes Mitchell will no longer perform on the bill.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

A treasure trove of amazing movie themes and songs that didn't reach the winners' circle on Oscar Night! 'Lost Movie Themes' is a celebration of the songwriters for whom it was an honor just to be nominated, interpreted by some of Broadway's most exciting talent. An evening of the unforgettable, the forgotten and the egregiously overlooked, filled with stories about the songs and the making of the movies themselves.

EMG Collective/Singers Forum presents two separate shows of SHOWSTOPPERS: UPTUNE & A BALLAD on Feb. 3 and 10 at 7 p.m. at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Not all performers appear on both nights.

This February and March at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond, including Christopher Sieber, Annaleigh Ashford, Randy Graff, Melinda Doolittle, Jeff Daniels, Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, Sondheim Unplugged, Taboo: 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert, Beth Leavel, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena.

This February and March at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond, including Christopher Sieber, Annaleigh Ashford, Randy Graff, Melinda Doolittle, Jeff Daniels, Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, Sondheim Unplugged, Taboo: 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert, Beth Leavel, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena.

Paper Mill Playhouse continues its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! is directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! features David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (MR. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! also features 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! plays the Millburn, New Jersey theater through December 29. The official press opening was last night, December 1, 2013, and BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities. Check out photos from the after party below!

Paper Mill Playhouse will continue its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! will be directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! will feature David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (MR. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! will also feature 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater from tonight, November 21 through December 29. The official press opening night is Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00pm.

Paper Mill Playhouse will continue its 75th Anniversary Season with the classic Charles Dickens musical Oliver!, with a holiday 'twist' for the entire family. With a book, music and lyrics by Lionel Bart, Oliver! will be directed by Paper Mill Playhouse Producing Artistic Director Mark S. Hoebee with original choreography by JoAnn M. Hunter. Oliver! will feature David Garrison (Fagin), best known for his role as Steve Rhoades on the hit television series Married...with Children, Betsy Morgan (Nancy), John Treacy Egan (Mr. Bumble), Jose Llana (Bill Sikes), David Hess (Mr. Brownlow), Ethan Haberfield (Artful Dodger) and introducing Tyler Moran as Oliver. Oliver! will also feature 16 local boys from across the state of New Jersey who auditioned from a pool of over 200. Oliver! will play the Millburn, New Jersey theater from November 21 through December 29. The official press opening night is Sunday, December 1, 2013, at 7:00pm.

The actress Lauren Stanford pulled off a dramatic win last night, as she became the 2013 MetroStar at the Metropolitan Room in New York. A Kansas City native with musical theatre credits, Stanford edged out her four co-finalists in tight scoring that belied how strong and evenly matched this year's MetroStar Talent Challenge Top 5 had become.

After a highly competitive semi-final round of the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at The Metropolitan Room last night, five finalists were picked to move forward in the 7-week singers' competition. The five finalists, who will go head to head next Monday, August 19, are Stephen Mitchell Brown, Venessa Diaz, Jason Morris, Tony Ponella and Lauren Stanford.

Nearly every person has experienced a bad date. But judging by the number of tales of woe shared July 27 at the Wall Street Nightclub, the cast of DATE ME, DO ME, DUMP ME has had experienced, and created, more than their fair share.

Author and professor Chung Boon Kuan shares ancient wisdom with readers in search of an alternative to modern tenets in his comprehensive new nonfiction, 'Lao Zi Philosophy of Liberal Government' (published by Trafford Publishing).

The new Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE, starring Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox, plays its final performance today, May 12, 2013, after 15 previews and 30 regular performances at the Marquis Theatre. Direct from a 25-week national tour which launched in October 2012, JEKYLL & HYDE began previews on Broadway on April 5 and opened on April 18, 2013. The production was originally scheduled to run through June. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you back through the musical's journey across the country and onto the Great White Way!

It was announced today that the new Broadway production of JEKYLL & HYDE -starring Constantine Maroulis and Deborah Cox - will play the final performance of its limited Broadway engagement on Sunday, May 12, 2013, after 15 previews and 30 regular performances at the Marquis Theatre.Direct from a 25-week national tour which launched in October 2012, JEKYLL & HYDE began previews on Broadway Friday, April 5, 2013 and opened on Thursday, April 18, 2013.