Broadway Beat

THE BOOK OF MORMON opened one year ago tonight on, Thursday, March 24, 2011 at the Eugene O'Neill Theatre to RAVE reviews. Here's a look back at the cast and creative team at the opening night after party at Gotham Hall in New York City!

On Thursday, January 12, The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess opened at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. Broadway Beat was on hand for exciting opening night party to chat with the cast and company and takes you inside below!

Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming Broadway premiere of WIT, the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by Margaret Edson, directed by Lynne Meadow, will start previews Thursday, January 5 and open Thursday, January 26 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre. WIT features Pun Bandhu (Technician), Olivier Award winner Suzanne Bertish (E.M. Ashford), Michael Countryman (Harvey Kelekian/Mr. Bearing), Jessica Dickey (Technician), Chiké Johnson (Technician), Greg Keller (Jason Posner), Tony and Emmy Award winner Cynthia Nixon (Vivian Bearing), Carra Patterson (Susie Monahan), and Zachary Spicer (Technician). The company met the press on Tuesday, Decmber 13 and BroadwayBeat was on hand for interviews with Cynthia Nixona and Lynn Meadow. Click below to check it out!

Everybody's talking about LYSISTRATA JONES this week which opened earlier this week to great reviews. Now, Broadway Beat and host Richie Ridge takes you inside the show's opening night with interviews of all the show's stars & more!

Roundabout Theatre Company's The Road To Mecca, begins previews tomorrow, December 16, and opens officially on January 17, 2012 at the American Airlines Theatre on Broadway. This Broadway premiere production of Athol Fugard's play features Tony Award winner Rosemary Harris as 'Miss Helen,' Carla Gugino as 'Elsa Barlow' and Tony Award winner Jim Dale as 'Marius Byleveld'. Click below to hear from the cast and company on the exciting new production!

Grammy and Emmy Award winner, Tony Award nominee and multi-platinum recording artist Harry Connick, Jr. stars as Dr. Mark Bruckner in the newly imagined production of ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER, which opened December 11, 2011 on Broadway at The St. James Theatre. Broadway Beat was on hand for the opening night party and takes you inside below!

Last week, December 8, Lydia R. Diamond's STICK FLY opened at the Cort Theatre. Grammy® Award-winning singer/songwriter Alicia Keys presents and writes original music for the Broadway premiere of STICK FLY, directed by Kenny Leon. Broadway Beat was on hand for the celebratory opening night party and takes you inside below!

One of our favorite sketches was the cast of FOLLIES, featuring Jan Maxwell, Elaine Paige, Terri White and company 'welcoming' EVITA starring Ricky Martin and Elena Roger to Broadway (and to the Marquis Theater, currently home to FOLLIES). Click below to watch the complete and hilarious performance including Elaine Paige finally showing a little of her EVITA on Broadway!

Check out performances by 17 of the hottest Broadway and Off-Broadway shows, a 40-year reunion of the original Broadway cast of Grease, a tribute to national touring companies and appearances by more than 300 actors, singers and dancers. Broadway Beat has got all the highlights of the special event!

The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS comes to Broadway in a stirring new staging, featuring such legendary songs as 'Summertime,' 'It Ain't Necessarily So,' and 'I Got Plenty Of Nothing,' plus a remarkable cast led by four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald (Ragtime, 'Private Practice'), Drama Desk nominee Norm Lewis (Les Misérables, Sondheim on Sondheim) and two-time Tony nominee David Alan Grier (Race, 'In Living Color').

The opening number featured the original Broadway cast of Grease reuniting for a special 40-year anniversary tribute. Among the stars returning to the stage from one of the most popular musicals in Broadway history are Barry Bostwick (Danny), Carole Demas (Sandy), Adrienne Barbeau (Betty Rizzo), Alan Paul (Teen Angel/Johnny Casino) and Walter Bobbie (Roger). Also joining the opening number reunion are original cast members Don Billett (Vince Fontaine), James Canning (Doody), Daniel Douglas (Burger Palace Boy), Katie Hanley (Marty), Tom Harris (Eugene Florczyk ), Ilene Kristen (Patty Simcox), Joy Rinaldi (Pink Lady) and Mews Small (Frenchy). Grease, with book, music and lyrics by Jim Jacobs and WarRen Casey, garnered seven Tony Award nominations and played 3,388 Broadway performances before closing April 13, 1980.

BONNIE & CLYDE opened on Thursday, December 1, at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre. Want to see what went on at the opening party and hear from the stars on their big night? Broadway Beat was there and takes you inside below!

The Actors Fund and the Vineyard Theatre presented a one-night-only benefit concert performance of THE VISIT, starring Broadway stage legends and Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and John Cullum, last night, November 30. Broadway Beat got exclusive coverage of the show and brings you highlights, in addition to company interviews, below!

Times Scare, New York City's ULTIMATE Haunted Destination, now brings to New York THE HALLOWEEN EXPERIENCE, where guests step into the tormented mind of one of the most iconic serial killers from the horror movie genre. Click below for a peek inside...if you dare!

Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin, two Broadway legends who first appeared together giving Tony Award winning performances in Evita, have brought their critically acclaimed theatre concert to the Barrymore Theatre for 63 performances through Friday, January 13. The show opened on Monday, November 21 and Broadway Beat was there to capture all the excitement of the night! Scroll down to see the opening night party!

Two-time Tony Award nominee, Emmy Award and Golden Globe winner Alan Rickman is making his eagerly-anticipated return to Broadway starring in the World Premiere of SEMINAR, a new comedy by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Peabody Award winner Theresa Rebeck. The show opened on Broadway last week, Sunday, November 20th and Broadway Beat was inside the after party to chat with the company!

The Actors Fund and the Vineyard Theatre present a one-night-only benefit concert performance of THE VISIT, starring Broadway stage legends and Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and John Cullum, tonight, November 30. Click below to hear from the cast and catch a glimpse of the company in rehearsal!

Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the premiere of Liza Minnelli and Sam Harris in 'Schmoolie & Minnooli' on Sunday November 20 at 6pm and Broadway Beat was there to capture the show's zippy opening number with musical direction by Billy Stritch!

The Off Broadway production of Standing On Ceremony kicked off its open-ended run on November 7 and opened on Sunday, November 13, 2011. Broadway Beat was on hand to cover the show's opening night!

Private Lives began on Thursday night, November 17 at The Music Box Theatre. Broadway Beat was on hand to capture all the excitement and glamour of the opening night party and to talk to the show's cast!