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Nick Jonas Hitting Broadway

andPOP Staff — Wed, 07 Sep 2011 19:27:26 +0000

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Nick Jonas will be taking his talents to Broadway. The singer will be starring in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying starting January 24. He will be filling in for Daniel Radcliffe.

EW reports Nick is no stranger to musical theater. He made his Broadway debut in 2001 in the musical revival Annie Get Your Gun, then played Chip in Disney’s Beauty and the Beast in 2002, and then young Gavroche in Les Misérables in 2003.

It seems like the Jonas Brothers continue to be on hiatus as the brothers pursue solo projects.

Neil Patrick Harris To Host The Tonys

Christian Allaire — Tue, 10 May 2011 19:08:44 +0000

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Neil Patrick Harris will return as host for the upcoming Tony Awards, reports CTV.

Producers of the show announced Tuesday that the ‘How I Met Your Mother’ star and a stage veteran will take over for ‘Will & Grace’ actor Sean Hayes, who hosted last year.

The ceremony honouring Broadway’s best will be at the Beacon Theater in Manhattan’s Upper West Side, after several years at Radio City Music Hall. The awards will be handed out June 12 in a telecast aired on CBS.

“What could possibly go wrong?” Harris asked, joking the producers of the show had borrowed the rigging equipment from the troubled ‘Spider-Man’ musical.

Harris, 37, has starred in three Broadway productions, including ‘Assassins,’ ‘Proof,’ opposite Anne Heche, and as the exuberant master of ceremonies in ‘Cabaret.’

He also recently joined Stephen Colbert, Christina Hendricks and Patti LuPone in the New York Philharmonic’s production of ‘Company.’

Harris previously hosted the 2009 Emmy Awards the same year he hosted the Tonys. The last time Harris hosted the Tonys, the audience was up 19 per cent from the previous year.

Harris is a great choice. He’s funny, appeals to a large demographic, and knows his stuff when it comes to the theatre scene. Hopefully he does a better job than Anne Hathaway and James Franco at the Oscars.

‘American Idiot’ Broadway play to become film

Samantha Lui — Wed, 13 Apr 2011 16:34:26 +0000

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From a successful album to a hit Broadway musical, “American Idiot” is now coming to the big screen.

“American Idiot,” the hit Broadway play based on the Grammy-winning Green Day album of the same name, is in talks to sell its screen rights to Universal. According to The Hollywood Reporter, the film will be produced by Tom Hanks through his Playtone label, and Oscar-winning screenwriter Dustin Lance Black, who wrote “Milk”, is in talks to write the screenplay.

Green Day, best known in the mid-90s as a California punk band, matured and took a political turn with their 2004 album ‘American Idiot’. An anti-Bush rock opera, the album inspired the Broadway show about the record’s main character, Jesus of Surburbia.

The band’s frontman, Billie Joe Armstrong, wrote the book for the broadway show, which won two Tonys for production and was nominated for Best Musical. Currently, he is starringi n the show for the second time, as it closes out on its run.

Sounds exciting! From the success of both the album and the Broadway musical, it will be interesting to see how the film turns out or if Armstrong reprises his role.

Nicole Kidman and James Franco to Hit the Broadway Stage

Lauren Treihaft — Thu, 03 Feb 2011 21:16:59 +0000

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As reported by celebrity-gossip.net, powerhouse actors, Nicole Kidman and James Franco are set to appear in a revival of Tennessee William’s 1959 play, “Sweet Bird of Youth”.

This news comes alongside the Oscar Nominations in which Kidman and Franco are both up for leading actor/actress. “Sweet Bird of Youth” follows the story of a young gigolo and aspiring actor, Chance Wayne, who returns to his hometown to seek the help of Princess Kosmonopolis (also known as Alexandra Del Lago), a fading movie actress, in hopes that she will help him break into Hollywood. Wayne also returns to win back his former girlfriend whose father kicked him out of town years ago.

The play was adapted for the screen in 1962 with Richard Brooks directing and starring Paul Newman, Geraldine Page, and Rip Torn. It also went on to win an Oscar for Ed Begley in a best supporting role.

The play features very strong writing. With Kidman and Franco starring it should go on to receive rave reviews.

Green Day’s ‘American Idiot’ Musical Begins Broadway Run in March

Sara Harowitz — Wed, 06 Jan 2010 15:15:21 +0000

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The stage musical version of rock band Green Day’s album American Idiot will begin its run at Broadway’s St. James Theatre starting with preview performances on March 24, the musical’s producers announced today, according to rollingstone.com.

American Idiot, which is directed by the musical Spring Awakening‘s Michael Mayer and features songs from Green day’s American Idiot and 21st Century Breakdown, enjoyed eight sold-out weeks at the Berkeley Rep in California before announcing plans to move to Broadway in 2010. The show’s official New York opening night is set for April 10.

“Experiencing American Idiot onstage in Berkeley was incredible,” said Green Day’s guitarist Billie Joe Armstrong in a statement. “Michael Mayer was able to bring life to the characters of American Idiot, and Tom Kitt’s musical arrangements are breathtaking. We’re so proud that the show is coming to Broadway!”

The show’s Broadway cast has not yet been announced, but actor John Gallagher Jr. is rumored to be reprising the lead role of Johnny.

No ticket information has been announced so far. The American Idiot musical essentially broke every record in Berkeley Rep history, selling out its run before its Sept. 4 preview shows had even begun. Following the last Berkeley performance on Nov. 15, Green Day and the cast of the musical went to the studio to re-record the hit 21st Century Breakdown track “21 Guns.” On a side note, Green day’s American Idiot was recently voted as one of the best albums of the decade by Rolling Stone‘s panel of artists and critics.

Matthew Broderick to be a Broadway Philanthropist

andPOP Staff — Tue, 07 Oct 2008 04:16:49 +0000

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Matthew Broderick will soon return to Broadway.

The actor, who last graced the stage in 2005, will star in the revival of “The Philanthropist” in April 2008. Broderick will play a college professor named Phillip.

“The Philanthropist” will be directed by David Grimley and performed at the American Airlines Theatre.

Broderick’s 2005 theatre venture, a revival of “The Odd Couple,” had a run of 64 performances.

Joshua Jackson and Katie Holmes Reunite?

andPOP Staff — Tue, 16 Sep 2008 08:21:35 +0000

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Canadian heartthrob Joshua Jackson has reportedly reunited with lost love Katie Holmes.

The “Dawson’s Creek” stars had an emotional moment when Jackson visited Holmes at her Broadway show.

“It was really sweet, he just turned up unexpectedly with a bunch of flowers and said: ‘Hello stranger,’” claims a source for the UK Daily Mail. “Katie was shocked, but so happy to see him. It was a wonderful surprise. She gave him such a big hug.”

Jackson is said to be a steadying force for Holmes, as her life becomes more and more of a paparazzi circus. He is currently in a long-term relationship with “Troy” actress Diane Kruger.

Daniel Radcliffe: ‘I Love Broadway!’

Irene Ogrodnik — Sun, 07 Sep 2008 14:44:36 +0000

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Daniel Radcliffe loves his new home.

“I love New York very much, yes! Everyone’s been wonderful,”” said Radcliffe in a statement to E! News.

Radcliffe continues to add that he loves Broadway and that his move from the show’s original West End, London, locale to N.Y.C wasn’t difficult.

Radcliffe stars in the Broadway play’ Equus.’ The “Harry Potter” actor portrays a horse in the dark psychological drama.

Opening night is scheduled for Sept. 25, and the production will play through Feb. 8, 2009. Radcliffe has already been receiving rave reviews for his performance.

Kevin Federline Dumped by ‘Blonde’

andPOP Staff — Tue, 22 Jul 2008 08:05:24 +0000

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Kevin Federline has been dumped by another rich “Blonde” – Elle Woods to be specific.

Britney Spears’ ex, who has tried his hand at acting on “CSI” and “One Tree Hill,” was set to play small roles on the Broadway stage version of “Legally Blonde.” But his diva demands have resulted in a quick firing.

“The producers gave Kevin his walking papers,” a source told Star magazine. “Kevin was acting like a Broadway diva, and he hasn’t even stepped onto the stage yet!”

There is now an open casting call to fill Federline’s roles, including that of the UPS man.

Broadway Stagehands Back to Work Tonight

andPOP Staff — Thu, 29 Nov 2007 13:16:33 +0000

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The neon lights will be bright again on Broadway tonight.

The stagehands union Local One reached a tentative agreement with League of American Theatres and Producers yesterday. Stagehands will be back at work tonight, though the union will take ten days to approve the agreement.

In a statement, Local One president James J. Claffey proclaimed, “Brothers and sisters of Local One, you’ve respresented yourselves and your families and your union proud. That’s enough said right there.”

Charlotte St. Martin, the executive director of the League, also made a statement to the press. “We are pleased to announce that we have a tentative agreement with Local One of IATSE ending the Broadway strike, and we’re happy about that. The agreement is a good compromise that serves our industry. What is most important is that Broadway’s lights will once again be shining brightly with a diversity of productions that will delight all theatre-goers during this holiday time. We look forward to celebrating the season and welcoming our talented stagehands and the theatre-going public back to Broadway.”

A continued strike would be devastating during the holiday season.