New Show Aiming For Broadway

This week saw the arrival of Jim Jones Hip-Hop Monolgues at 37 Arts. In an MTV interview, Jones and Damon Dash express their desire to take the show to Broadway. On hand to celebrate the opening were Countess LuAnn de Lesseps, Elle Macpherson, Michael McConnell, Damon Dash, Michael Koch and Juelz Santana. Click on the thumbnails to see the event. From the MTV article:

Jones and Dash have a packed schedule in the coming months. They’re currently deciding the proper venue to release the documentary “This Is Jim Jones” and then there’s a movie based on the Byrd gang, but Dash says their aspiration is to eventually get “Hip-Hop Monologues” on Broadway.

Ironically, this week there were also a series of negative reports in the press about Dash’s finances, including this report in the Daily News. We’ll see what happens.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Big Show For Broadway

Elton John has his name all over Broadway these days. Of course, there is the always popular Disney hit The Lion King playing, and he has Billy Elliot opening soon as well. With that in mind, Sir Broadway Elton brought out some of his friends for a great cause the other night with the “Goodbye Yellow Brick Road” benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and  Elton John AIDS Foundation Friends in Deed. Some of the big name performances and stars included Ben Folds, In The Heights’ Lin-Manuel Miranda, Shockwave, All My Sons’ Patrick Wilson, Joey Arias, Jane Krakowski , Rufus Wainwright, Sheri Rene Scott, John Cameron Mitchell.  Click on the pictures for a unique photo experience. Check out full coverage (and our cool new photo display function) on our homepage…Broadway Snapshot section. Photos by Mazur/WireImage.com

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Hitmaker Plays Atlantic City

While Frank Sinatra, Bruce Springsteen, and Jon Bon Jovi are among the recording artists who can claim New Jersey as their home, it is recording star Frankie Valli and his group The Four Seasons who are the true Jersey Boyson Broadway. The subject for the hit Broadway musical, which features their tremendous catalogue of hits, Frankie Valli went back to New Jersey this weekend to perform. Stewie Stone opened. Performing in Atlantic City, Frankie and The Four Seasons remain as popular in real-life as they are popular on Broadway. Welcome home, Mr. Valli.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons perfom at the Borgata Hotel & Casino on September 19, 2008 in Atlantic City, New Jersey. B. Bank/WireImage.com.

Can You Feel The Love Tonight?

As reported earlier, President George W. Bush and First Lady Laura Bush invited the cast of The Lion King to the White House to perform. Take a look at the photo. In addition to President Bush, President John Agyekum Kufor of Ghana was on hand as well. Following a state dinner for President Kufor, the cast performed 6 numbers from The Lion King on September 15 at the Rose Garden. From the release:

11 members of the cast - headed by Tshidi Manye (Rafiki), Dashaun Young (Simba) and Kissy Simmons (Nala) - performed six numbers from the Oscar-winning score in the White House’s majestic Rose Garden: “One by One,” “Shadowland,” “Can You Feel the Love Tonight,” “Endless Night,” “He Lives in You,” and “Circle of Life” with “Nants’ Ingonyama.” Also on hand to perform were eight members of the ensemble, including six South African cast members.

With the economy having a bad day, it was just as well that the cast didn’t perform Hakuna Matata. PHOTO: Scott Suchman, Copyright Disney 2008.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

One Night Only

If Gutzon Borglum, carver of Mount Rushmore, were alive today and looking to carve a monument to some of the major forces in Broadway, he might likely be in the audience of Carnegie Hall for a one-night only special event called REVIVAL: Broadway’s Next Act. At Zankel Hall, a panel discussion will take place featuring Spring Awakening co-creator Duncan Sheik; In The Heights’ Tony Winning mastermind Lin-Manuel Miranda; Hairspray guru Adam Shankman; Legally Blonde’s driving force Jerry Mitchell; RENT star and Broadway favorite Anthony Rapp. The event starts at 8 and is sponsored by Carnegie Hall’s Notables group, a membership program for music enthusiasts in their 20s and 30s. The October 6 event is free for Notables members. Tickets for non-members, priced at $75 each, are also available. Event information is also available by visiting Notables here. After the panel, there is a party at the Russian Tea Room where guests can say hello to the panel. A one-time only Broadway experience.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

PHOTO: In the Heights creator Lin-Manuel Miranda attends the closing night of “RENT” on Broadway at the Nederlander Theatre on September 7, 2008 in New York City. J. Pellegrini/WireImage.com

Stars Shine Crowd Roars

While some of the big stars on Broadway have yet to perform at today’s Broadway on Broawday  concert in Times Square, many have performed. Ace Young sang Greased Lightening from Grease, Bailey Hicks brought down the house with So Much Better from Legally Blonde. One of the biggest buzz moments came when the cast of 13 The Musical performed. “Who is that girl with that amazing voice?” was the comment heard during the number. Not sure of her name, but it was a great performance. Tom Wopat got a huge hand for his Chicago number, All I Care About Is Love. Feathers were flying. Speaking of fantastic, the gang from Gypsy was high energy and lots of fun. Great gimmick.  Mary Poppins was polished perfectly too.  It has already been a successful event…and we’re only about half way there. Charles Strouse and Bebe Neuwirth had a special number for the occasion. The performance from In The Heights of When You’re Home by Mandy Gonzalez and Christopher Jackson  hushed the audience and was quite moving. Video from near the stage coming soon. Remember this is only the first half!

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Beautiful Day For Broadway

We can’t bring it to you live, but we can bring it to you fast. Look for Broadway On Broadway video clips shortly. Right now here is fresh picture taken moments ago from the gathering crowd. If you are here in Times Square, look for our Broadway Ambassadors handing out free copies of Broadway Magazine. It is a perfect day for Broadway. The weather is better than expected and our team is also on the media platform and in the audience interviewing fans and filming performances. You can see it all here at www.Broadway.TV. Back soon with video highlights.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Today Is The Day For Concert

With a weather forecast that says today should be cloudy an 70 degrees, the Broadway on Broadway concert in New York City’s Times Square will begin this morning. The concert starts at 11:30, but people arrive early… and late. For a run down of information and details on the concert, click here. With performances from shows like Mamma Mia!, Young Frankenstein, Chicago, Tale of Two Cities, In The Heights, Spring Awakening, Grease, Billy Elliot, Mary Poppins, The Lion King, Jersey Boys, Wicked, Avenue Q, Xanadu, Hairspray, 13, Irving Berlin’s White Christmas and more announced, you can get a whole lot of Broadway in one morning, and it’s all free.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Line Up Announced For Concert

The line up for this Sunday’s major event, Broadway on Broadway Concert in Times Square, has been released. Big names, big numbers, good times for sure. The big question on everyone’s mind is whether Tom Cruise, Katie Holmes and Daniel Radcliffe will be on hand to announce a song or say hello.  Radcliffe is famous for playing Harry Potteron screen, but is currently on Broadway playing Alan Strang in Equus. Katie Holmes is in All My Sons. The concert is driven by the musicals, but it celebrates all of Broadway. Could a surprise appearance from Cruise, Holmes or Radcliffe be possible?  For the record, no Radcliffe, Holmes, Cruise appearance has been announced…but anything is possible, President Bill Clinton was just at HAIR, remember. The Broadway event of the season is run by The Broadway League and the Times Square Alliance, and this could well be the biggest year ever…if the weather holds. Here are the songs…crowds expected to reach 50,000…with Radcliffe and Tom Cruise and Katie Holmes it could top 100,000! Show starts Sunday at 11:30 and is done in time to see a matinee.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

AVENUE Q “It Sucks To Be Me”

BILLY ELLIOT “Once We Were Kings”

CHICAGO “All I Care About”

DISNEY’S THE LITTLE MERMAID “Part Of Your World”

GREASE “Greased Lightning”

GYPSY “You Gotta Get a Gimmick”

HAIRSPRAY “Run and Tell That”

IN THE HEIGHTS “When You’re Home”

IRVING BERLIN’S WHITE CHRISTMAS “I’ve Got My Love To Keep Me Warm/ White Christmas”

JERSEY BOYS “Can’t Take My Eyes Off Of You”

THE LION KING “Can You Feel the Love Tonight”

LEGALLY BLONDE THE MUSICAL “So Much Better”

MAMMA MIA! “The Winner Takes It All”

MARY POPPINS “Practically Perfect”

MONTY PYTHON’S SPAMALOT “Always Look On The Bright Side of Life”

THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA “All I Ask of You”

PURE COUNTRY “When The Getting’s Good”

SPRING AWAKENING “Totally __”

A TALE OF TWO CITIES “I Can’t Recall”

13 “Brand New You”

[title of show] “Montage”

WICKED “The Wizard and I”

XANADU “Don’t Walk Away”

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN “He Vas My Boyfriend”

Broadway Hit New Novelty Show

If you thought HAIRSPRAY was a hit on Broadway, you’re right. The fact is, the show is also the hottest ticket in London’s West End. The show is such a hit in the UK that it has spawned an entirely new television program. No, not casting a lead in the show. No, not a backstage look at a Broadway production. With Sky 1’s launch of Hairspray The School Musical, one high school has been selected to audition, cast, rehearse, and produce a full-scale Broadway level production of Hairspray. From the show’s PR:

“Hairspray: The School Musical” follows the hardworking students on their rollercoaster journey from the playground to the stage; with romance, tantrums and tough decisions along the way.

The show also features stage stars coaching the student, and the whole circus is lead by UK Chicago star Denise Van Outen. You can’t stop the beat, or the sophomores! Watch on-line.

-Broadway Magazine, Broadway.tv

Denise Van Outen attends the World Premiere of ‘Hairspray The School Muscial’ at the Lyric Theatre on August 31, 2008 in London, England. Ferdadus Shamim/WireImage.com.