Brodway Fav Heading To Hit Show?

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – Remember, you heard it here second. Rumors tonight from E! Entertainment Television that Broadway’s favorite son Cheyenne Jackson, who is starring in the upcoming revival of Finian’s Rainbow may also be moonlighting soon on the hit television series 30 Rock on NBC with Tina Fey, Alec Baldwin and many more. Could this mean a musical subplot with Alec Baldwin? The 30 Rock report comes from Ted Casablanca who writes in his blog that there will be an announcement from NBC later this week, though there was no official comment from NBC at this time. As they say in television, stay tuned.

For those looking for a Cheyenne Jackson on screen before the 30 Rock news, check out our video interview with the cast of the new Finian’s Rainbow which opens later this month.

Also, join us on Twitter as we echo other Broadway rumors from Ted Casablanca.

Netflix Celebrates The Wizard Of Oz

We joined the amazing Academy Award and Grammy winning Jennifer Hudson and Dancing With The Stars two time champion Julianne Hough in a free outdoor concert in Central Park yesterday.

The dynamic duo were in Central Park celebrating the 70th anniversary of The Wizard Of Oz, that has been digitally re-mastered. The Central Park show was directed by The Roots Grammy Award Winning drummer and record producer Ahmir ?uestlove Thompson. Netflix invites America to stream The Wizard of OZ October 3rd for free. You can find out more by visiting netflix.com/wizardofoz.

Watch the video above to see what Jennifer Hudson and Julianne Hough had to say performing at the concert and how The Wizard Of Oz inspires them.

Making Your Best Life Even MORE

The Broadway League reports that during the 2007-2008 Broadway season more than 66% of ticket buyers were women. The League also reports that the average theater goer is 41.5 years old.

Today we sat down with the Lesley Jane Seymour editor-in-chief of More Magazine to talk about women, reinvention and theater.

Seymour has a breadth of knowledge when it comes women living the their best life. More is recognized as being the leading magazine for women over 40. With a circulation of 1.3 million MORE has been honored as the “Best Women’s Lifestyle Magazine” and has been in the top 10 of Newsstand Performers.

During our interview, Seymour talked about the Reinvention Convention where former First-Lady Laura Bush will deliver a speech, one of the few she has done since leaving the White House. The Reinvention Convention will be held next Monday October 5th  at Chelsea Piers.

When it comes to theater Seymour said that women enjoy communication, especially live communication, she feels that is one reason women are the majority of ticket buyers. Seymour raved about the off-Broadway production of Love, Loss, And What I Wore starring Roise O’ Donnell and Nora Ephron that she saw this week. Love, Loss, And What I Wore touches on all aspects of what women and MORE magazine are all about. Ephron will be speaking at the Reinvention Convention next week.

Seymour says no matter if it is getting a new hair cut, working out or going out to see a new Broadway show, reinvention is key for women to live a full and happy life.

Click here to find out more information on the Reinvention Convention.

Box Office Record Shattered By A Steady Rain

Producers of A Steady Rain starring Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman announced yesterday the box office record for highest weekly gross of a non-musical Broadway production was shattered by A Steady Rain for the week ending 9/20/09.

A Steady Rain grossed well over $1.16 Million which beat out Billy Crystal’s 700 Sunday’s which had the previous record of $1.06 Million back in 2005.

Photo: B. Bank

HAMLET Star On NBC

Jude Law was on Late Night With Jimmy Fallon last night talking about his new role as Hamlet on Broadway currentley in previews.

Jimmy has Jude recite Lady Gaga’s hit song Poker Face in his best Shakespearean interpretation, and a foam sword battle ensues, watch the video to see who prevails!

Hamlet currently is in previews after a very successful run in London’s West End.  This marks Law’s return to Broadway after his 1995 Tony nominated performance in Jean Cocteau’s Indiscretions. Click here to see a preview of Hamlet on Broadway.

See Jude Law In Hamlet On Broadway

White Christmas Is Back On Broadway This Season!

White Christmas  2009 Principle casting has been announced, the actor’s include James Clow, Melissa Errico, Tony Yazbeck, Mara Davi, as well as Ruth Williamson, Peter Reardon, Remy Auberjonois, Cliff Bemis, Madeleine Rose Yen, and David Ogden Stiers!

Previews of Irving Berlin’s White Christmas begin, November 13th, 2009.

White Christmas is a strictly limited engagement with 61 performances til January 3, 2010.

Irving Berlin’s White Christmas Tickets

See Catherine Zeta-Jones & Angela Lansbury On Broadway

Broadway was buzzing with recent news that Catherine Zeta-Jones will be making her Broadway debut along side Broadway icon Angela Lansbury in A Little Night Music. A Little Night Music is based on Ingmar Bergman’s film Smiles of a Summer Night and is set in Sweden during the turn of the century. The show is described as a celebration of love and as a mystical fairy tale for adults.

You can now get your tickets to see A Little Night Music on Broadway and see Zeta-Jones and Lansbury on the Broadway stage.

Get Tickets To A Little Night Music

Hugh Jackman & Daniel Craig Current Kings Of Broadway

Last night A Steady Rain opened on Broadway. This marked Daniel Craig’s (also known as James Bond)  Broadway debut and Hugh Jackman’s return to Broadway. A Steady Rain is a two man show with a minimal set. Reviews of the show are very positive saying that Craig and Jackman’s Broadway performance in A Steady Rain are very solid which makes for powerful, good theater.

A Steady Rain profiles two police officers from Chicago who have been life long friends. Their friendship is tested however when a tragic mistake is made and a young person loses their life. The two police officers find themselves trying to find responsibility for the untimely death.

On the red carpet, we had the chance to interview Hugh Jackman’s wife Deborah-Lee Furness who said that she loves to see her husband happy and she feels that he is the happiest on stage. After the show, Jackman echoed his wife’s comments saying that he is happy to be back on Broadway.

Click here or the image above to see the red carpet and after party interviews.

See Hugh Jackman & Daniel Craig In A Steady Rain

BROADWAY MAGAZINE – Last night, A Steady Rain starring Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig opening at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Now the Broadway opening night critics have weighed in with their reviews. A careful reading of 16 reviews of the production yields some interesting results. While all critics are in agreement that the play is a star vehicle; and that the stars Hugh Jackman and Daniel Craig are solid and some would say exceptional in their roles, there is also significant praise for director John Crowley and set designer Scott Pask. While critics were positive about both stars’ performances, Daniel Craig seemed to have sparked the most surprise with the success of his performance.

The script by Keith Huff created the most interesting responses from critics. Though several critics dismissed the script as a confluence of multiple sensational crimes and dramatic events packed into the 90 minute production and likened it to “Law & Order,” others found in Huff’s script something richer than a linear cop drama with its use of metaphor and abundance of ghastly detail co-existing with ordinary life. In addition, numerous critics had praise the veracity of Huff in capturing the language of Chicago cops. Those who found in Huff’s drama something more than a formula offer a compelling perspective on the play that is both illuminated because of its star casting, but simultaneously blinded from appreciation by that strong star cast. Of course the real question from all of these positive notices is whether or not stars, director, set and writer will be remembered at Tony Time. See last year’s The Seagull or Equus. Below is our review matrix for A Steady Rain.

Should you see A STEADY RAIN on Broadway?
Yes, especially if you like Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, Chicago police officers, drama, humor, monologues, crime stories, new plays, popular shows, and strong productions with positive reviews for the stars involved you should certainly see A Steady Rain. Click here for show video.

“In A Steady Rain, the setting may be this-decade Chicago (the play had a successful pre-Broadway run there with a different cast), but the urban scenery – masterfully invoked by designer Scott Pask, whose tenement backdrops conjure cathedrals of decay – could be 1970s New York.” – Brendan Lemon, Financial Times

“If Jackman cosies up to the audience like the Oscar night host that he was in March, Craig submerges himself fully in the part of the alcoholic Joey, Denny’s best buddy and partner on a pretty fearsome beat.” Matt Wolf, The Times of London

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Craig & Jackman Address The Press

Continuing our coverage of A Steady Rain opening on Broadway, tonight Daniel Craig and Hugh Jackman addressed the press after their opening night performance. During the interviews, both Craig and Jackman spoke about how powerful A Steady Rain is how much they have enjoyed bringing the play to Broadway. This marks Craig’s Broadway debut and Jackman’s return to the Broadway stage since 2004.

A Steady Rain profiles two Chicago police officers whose friendship is tested after being involved in a dispute in a poor neighborhood. The staging is very simple with two chairs and a few scene changes, however Craig and Jackman’s skilled acting bring A Steady Rain to a magical level.

Watch the video above to see what Craig and Jackman had to say to the press

See Hugh Jackman & Daniel Craig In A Steady Rain