VIDEO: Renee Zellweger Talks About How She Prepared for the Role of Judy Garland on LIVE WITH KELLY AND RYAN!
Renne Zellweger talks about playing Judy Garland in ‘Judy’ and singing in the movie.
Bat Out of Hell—The Musical Will Play Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood
Jim Steinman’s Bat Out of Hell—The Musical will be the first musical presented at Florida’s Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood following a new partnership between Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment and the Hard Rock venue.
Scheduled to run April 7–19 in Hard Rock Live, the musical, based on the cult 1977 Meat Loaf album of the same name, utilizes Steinman’s music to tell a story of rebellious youth and passion. Songs include “You Took the Words Right Out of My Mouth,” “Bat Out of Hell,” “I Would Do Anything for Love (But I Won’t Do That),” and “Two Out of Three Ain’t Bad.”
Bat Out of Hell—The Musical has a book, music, and lyrics by Steinman, direction by Jay Scheib, choreography adapted by Xena Gusthart, with musical supervision and additional arrangements by Michael Reed, set and costume design by Jon Bausor, original costume designs by Meentje Nielsen, video design by Finn Ross, lighting design by Patrick Woodroffe, sound design by Gareth Owen, orchestrations by Steve Sidwell, and casting by Anne Vosser.
Click Here to See a Full List of Announced and Upcoming National Tours
“Music is center stage to the Hard Rock brand, and we are honored to collaborate with Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment Group to bring Broadway to Hollywood,” said Chairman of Hard Rock International and CEO of Seminole Gaming Jim Allen. “Each selected production pays tribute to music and legends, and we can’t wait to see these stellar casts light up the new Hard Rock Live stage.”
“We are proud to partner with such a global entertainment brand, Hard Rock International, and Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino Hollywood,” added Robert Nederlander Jr., Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment President and CEO. “Nederlander Worldwide Entertainment looks forward to bringing these fan-favorite shows to this impressive performance space in 2020 and beyond.”
The tour is produced by David Sonenberg, Michael Cohl, and Tony Smith, with executive producer Julian Stoneman.
Tickets are available at Myhrl.com.
A Look at Bat Out Of Hell Off-Broadway
Who Are Broadway Dance Captains and What Do They Do?
Some of the hardest working people on Broadway don’t get enough credit. Their names aren’t above the title- in fact, you’ve probably never heard their names at all. They don’t win Tony Awards for their diligence, nor do fans storm the stage door for their autographs. And yet, the upkeep of an entire Broadway production often sits in their capable hands.
COME FROM AWAY Announces New West End Cast
As the Olivier Award-winning aoeBest New Musicala Come From Away enters its second year in the West End, it welcomes new cast members from Monday 10 February 2020. This joyous musical tells the remarkable true story of 7,000 stranded air passengers during the wake of 911, and the small town in Newfoundland that welcomed them. Cultures clashed, and nerves ran high, but as uneasiness turned into trust, music soared into the night and gratitude grew into enduring friendships.
Look Back at Past Productions of Finian’s Rainbow on Its 73rd Anniversary
Finian’s Rainbow celebrates 73 years since the original Broadway production opened at the 46th Street Theatre on January 10, 1947.
An Off-Broadway revival recently ran at the Irish Repertory Theatre, starring Melissa Errico and Ken Jennings as Sharon and Finian, respectively.
Scroll through a few of the productions that have played in New York since its opening:
Look Back at Past Productions of Finian’s Rainbow on Its 73rd Anniversary
Suzanne Vega to Replace Duncan Sheik in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice Musical Off-Broadway
Grammy winning singer-songwriter Suzanne Vega will replace the previously announced Duncan Sheik as the Band Leader in Sheik’s musical Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice Off-Broadway. The musical, which will receive its world premiere from The New Group, has a music and lyrics by Sheik, lyrics by Amanda Green, and a book by Jonathan Marc Sherman.
“It turns out that being in the cast on top of being composer and co-lyricist of a new musical is a lot to chew, so I have decided to focus on the latter” says Sheik. “I’m thrilled that my friend and longtime collaborator Suzanne Vega will be stepping into the role. She joins an amazing cast and creative team and I hope as many people get to enjoy this show as possible.”
Based on the 1969 film by Paul Mazursky and Larry Tucker, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice details the story of two couples whose outlook on life are changed by the sexual revolution.
Directed by Scott Elliott, with choreography by Kelly Devine, Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice will begin performances January 16 at the Pershing Square Signature Center, ahead of a February 4 opening.
The cast is rounded out by Jennifer Damiano as Carol, Ana Nogueira as Alice, Joél Pérez as Bob, and Michael Zegen as Ted, joined by Jamie Mohamdein as an ensemble member.
The creative team is comprised of scenic designer Derek McLane, costume designer Jeff Mahshie, lighting designer Jeff Croiter, sound designer Jessica Paz, music coordinator Antoine Silverman, and music director Jason Hart. Casting is by Telsey + Company’s Rachel Hoffman with Valerie A. Peterson as production stage manager. Orchestrations are Sheik, with vocal arrangements and additional orchestrations by Hart.
Inside the First Rehearsal of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice Off-Broadway
Tony Winner Paulo Szot and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Erika Jayne Join Broadway Cast of Chicago January 6
Tony winner Paulo Szot and Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Erika Jayne join the Broadway production of Chicago beginning January 6 at the Ambassador Theatre.
Opera star Szot steps into the role of Billy Flynn for a four-week run through January 31. He begins his engagement the same day singer/reality star Jayne makes her Broadway debut as Roxie Hart. Szot will later return to the company for a nine-week run March 16–May 19.
Szot made his Broadway debut as Emile de Becque in Lincoln Center Theater’s South Pacific in 2008, winning Tony, Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle, and Theatre World Awards for his performance. He has performed at the Metropolitan Opera, Scala di Milano, Paris Opera, Teatro Real (Madrid), London’s Barbican, and more.
Jayne is the latest star from the Real Housewives franchise to step into the long-running musical, following Atlanta’s NeNe Leakes and Kandi Burruss and Beverly Hills’ Lisa Rinna (albeit five years before joining the series). In addition to the Bravo series, Jayne’s television oeuvre includes Dancing With the Stars, The Young and the Restless, and Lip Sync Battle.
Jayne and Szot are joined onstage by by Amra-Faye Wright as Velma Kelly, Raymond Bokhour as Amos Hart, NaTasha Yvette Williams as Matron “Mama” Morton, and R. Lowe as Mary Sunshine.
See What Else Is Coming to Broadway in the Near Future
With a book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, music by John Kander and lyrics by Ebb, Chicago is now the longest-running American musical in Broadway history. Produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, the staging is the winner of six 1997 Tony Awards including Best Musical Revival and the Grammy Award for Best Musical Cast Recording.
Directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Tony winner Ann Reinking, Chicago features set design by John Lee Beatty, costume design by Tony winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony winner Ken Billington, sound design by Scott Lehrer, and casting by Stewart/Whitley.
Real Housewives of Beverly Hills’ Erika Jayne Meet the Press Aead of Broadway Debut in Chicago
Szot has been a special guest performer on Playbill Travel’s Broadway on the High Seas cruises. Cabins are now on sale for Broadway in the Great Northwest, Playbill Travel’s first domestic cruise featuring Kate Baldwin, Tedd Firth, Aaron Lazar, Beth Leavel, and Faith Prince (April 26–May 4, 2020), and for Broadway on the Mediterranean (August 31–September 7, 2020), featuring Audra McDonald, Will Swenson, Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy and Lindsay Mendez, and for Broadway on the Nile (December 27, 2020–January 7, 2021) and Broadway on the Caribbean (February 15–22, 2021), with performers soon to be announced. To book a suite or stateroom, call Playbill Travel at 866-455-6789 or visit PlaybillTravel.com.
(Updated January 6, 2020)
VIDEO: FROZEN 2 Directors and Producer Discuss the Potential of a Third Installment
On the red carpet at the BAFTAs, Variety chatted with members of the creative team behind Frozen 2, including directors Jennifer Lee and Chris Buck, as well as producer Peter Del Vecho. The question came up of a potential for a third film in the series.