The Broadway Musical Blog – Musical theater news and gossip from the Great White Way
Dishing out daily (or almost daily) Broadway musical news and gossip. The companion site to The Broadway Musical Home (broadwaymusicalhome.com), a directory of Broadway musicals with the story, songs, merchandise, video clips, lyrics, tickets, rights & awards for almost 200 shows.Archive for Billy Elliot
2010 Olivier Award Nominations Announced
The West End’s Olivier Awards nominations are out and lots of trans-Pacific transfers are on the list, including the Broadway transfer of Spring Awakening, now on the West End, and the West-End transfers of A Little Night Music and Billy Elliot, now on Broadway.
The official awards ceremony will take place on March 21, and we’ll be announcing winners live on Twitter and on the blog here.
Here are the categories that include musicals (see a full list of this years nominees):
BEST MUSICAL REVIVAL
ANNIE GET YOUR GUN
HELLO DOLLY!
A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
OLIVER!
BEST NEW MUSICAL
DREAMBOATS AND PETTICOATS
PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL
SPRING AWAKENING
SISTER ACT
BEST ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL OR ENTERTAINMENT
Melanie C, BLOOD BROTHERS
Patina Miller, SISTER ACT
Samantha Spiro, HELLO DOLLY!
Hannah Waddingham, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Charlotte Wakefield, SPRING AWAKENING
BEST ACTOR IN A MUSICAL OR ENTERTAINMENT
Rowan Atkinson, OLIVER!
Aneurin Barnard, SPRING AWAKENING
Bob Golding, MORECAMBE
Alexander Hanson, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Tony Sheldon, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL
BEST SUPPORTING PERFORMANCE IN A MUSICAL OR ENTERTAINMENT
Sheila Hancock, SISTER ACT
Maureen Lipman, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Kelly Price, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC
Iwan Rheon, SPRING AWAKENING
BEST THEATRE CHOREOGRAPHER
Matthew Bourne, OLIVER!
Bill T Jones,r SPRING AWAKENING
Anthony Van Laast, SISTER ACT
Stephen Mear, HELLY DOLLY!
BEST LIGHTING DESIGN
BURNT BY THE SUN, Mark Henderson
ENRON, Mark Henderson
SPRING AWAKENING, Kevin Adams
THREE DAYS OF RAIN, Jon Clark
BEST COSTUME DESIGN
HELLO DOLLY!, Peter McKintosh
MADAME DE SADE, Christopher Oram
THE MISANTHROPE, Amy Roberts
PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT- THE MUSICAL, Tim Chappel and Lizzy Gardiner
BEST SOUND DESIGN
EVERY GOOD BOY DESERVES FAVOUR, Christopher Shutt
JERUSALEM, Ian Dickinson
MOTHER COURAGE AND HER CHILDREN, Andrew Bruce and Nick Lidster
SPRING AWAKENING, Brian Ronan
THE AUDIENCE AWARD FOR MOST POPULAR SHOW
BILLY ELLIOT
THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA
WAR HORSE
WE WILL ROCK YOU
WICKED
A Big Broadway News Roundup
Next to Normal Looking to Launch a National Tour
Brian Yorkey, the book writer and lyricist for Broadway’s Next to Normal, told Playbill.com, “A tour is in the works. David Stone’s at work putting it together. I think it will launch later this year, in the fall or winter.” In addition to a national tour here in the US, there is also apparently a group working on translating the show for a Scandinavian production.
Chicago Now Broadway’s 6th Longest Running Show
On Jan. 12, the Tony Award-winning revival of John Kander and Fred Ebb’s Chicago played its 5,462nd performance and became the sixth longest-running production in Broadway history, surpassing Beauty and the Beast, which previously held that position.
Finian’s Rainbow Cast Album Available Feb 2
The critically acclaimed revival of Finian’s Rainbow that just closed its doors on Broadway did have the chance to visit a recording studio before the death knells rang – capturing the beautiful voices of Kate Baldwin and Cheyenne Jackson singing some of the best songs in the Broadway musical cannon. Listen to a sample. The album is available for pre-order now.
Hair holding open casting
With nearly all of the original Broadway cast of Hair off to perform in the west-end transfer, producers are looking to cast a new group of Broadway hopefuls. Open auditions will take place from 10 AM-6 PM at the Public Theater on January 21. Actors are asked to prepare 16 bars of an up-tempo pop or rock song (with sheet music), and to bring a headshot and a resume.
Billy Elliot has Recouped its Investment
Producers of the Tony Award-winning Broadway musical Billy Elliot have announced that it has recouped its $18 million investment. The national tour of the show is set to launch in Chicago on March 18.
La Cage Aux Folles Artwork Revealed
Our Twitter and Facebook followers have had mixed opinions about it. What do you think?
An Obama Musical?
Yes. A company in Germany has created a show based on Obama’s rise to the Presidency. The title: HOPE. The video speaks for itself:
Casting changes
In the Heights
Janet Dacal (who originated Carla) and newcomer David Del Rio will be replacing Mandy Gonzalez (the current Nina) and Robin De Jesus (the current Sonny) when they leave Broadway’s In The Heights next month.
Wicked
Andy Karl (9 to 5, Legally Blonde) will join the Broadway cast of Wicked beginning Feb. 2, succeeding Kevin Kern in the role of Fiyero. Katie Rose Clarke and Jenny Fellner stepped into the roles of Glinda and Nessarose, respectively, on Jan. 14.
Chicago
Former Destiny’s Child member Michelle Williams (Aida) will replace Ashlee Simpson as Roxie Hart in Broadway’s Chicago beginning February 8.
South Pacific
On January 5, Laura Osnes (Grease, Bonnie & Clyde) returned to Broadway’s South Pacific taking over the role of Nellie Forbush from Kelli O’Hara.
Coming soon…
Zorba
The New York Post is reporting that Antonio Banderas (Nine) will be playing the title role in a Broadway production of the John Kander & Fred Ebb musical Zorba, to be directed by Gary Griffin (The Color Purple) and choreographed by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).
Monsoon Wedding
Mira Nair is working on a stage version of her film Monsoon Wedding hoping to make its Broadway debut a year from now. The show, co-written by Mira Nair and Sabrina Dhawan with music by Vishal Bharadwaj and choreography by Bill T. Jones, will combine circus acrobatics, aerial acting, theatre, music and dance.
Glee – Golden Globe, 2nd Season, Open Casting
The TV show Glee , which has featured show tunes and many Broadway actors, including Matthew Morrison (Hairspray, Light in the Piazza) and Lea Michele (Spring Awakening), took home the Golden Globe Award for Best Television Series (Comedy or Musical) and was picked up for a second season on Fox. Fans will be excited to hear that producers have announced casting for both professionals and amateurs ranging from ages 16-26. Are you enough of a gleek to make the show?
Delays…
All About Me
Previews for All About Me, the Michael Feinstein and Dame Edna show, will begin Feb. 22, three days later than originally announced.
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark
Also delayed, not so surprisingly, was Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark. The show, which producers had vehemently assured patrons would begin previews on Feb 25, will now be open sometime in 2010 – no specific dates have yet been announced.
Broadway on TV!
John Tartaglia (Shrek, Avenue Q) will appear on the February 3rd episode of Ugly Betty.
Catherine Zeta-Jones (A Little Night Music) will guest on “The Late Show with David Letterman” on Jan. 22.
Two new Billys for Broadway
Billy Elliot The Musical will welcome two new boys into the rotation of the title role! The lucky two are Dayton Tavare, who played Billy in Sydney and Melbourne, and Liam Redhead, straight out of Canada’s National Ballet School. Both boys were chosen from more than 1, 500 who auditioned for the role. They will become the 6th and 7th Billys to join the cast.
Tommy Batchelor will play his final performance as Billy on Broadway on Friday, December 11th. As previously announced, he will be staring as Billy in the Chicago production, which begins performances on March 18 at Chicago’s Ford Center for the Performing Arts before embarking on a multi-city tour.
A round-up of the latest casting changes
David Bologna leaves Billy Elliot
David Bologna, whose performance as Michael earned him a nomination for a Tony Award in Billy Elliot the Musical, plays his final performance on Sept. 27.
Laura Michelle Kelly and Christian Borle join the cast Mary Poppins
Laura Michelle Kelly, who originated the title role in Mary Poppins on the West End, and Christian Borle (Legally Blonde, Spamalot, Footloose) will join the cast of Broadway’s Mary Poppins on Oct. 12 as Mary and Bert.
Six new tribe members for Broadway’s Hair
The Tony-winning revival of Hair welcomed six new cast members to the tribe: Rachel Bay Jones and Ryan Watkinson (Xanadu), Krystal Joy Brown (High School Musical), Heath Calvert (Good Vibrations), Matt DeAngelis (Altar Boyz), Hannah Shankman (Kaspar Hauser) and Ryan Watkinson (Xanadu).
Two new Nalas and two new Simbas for The Lion King
Alphonso Romera Jones II and Marquis Kofi Rodriguez will be stepping into the role of Young Simba, and Shereen Pimentel and Shannon Skye Tavarez into that of Young Nala in Broadway’s The Lion King during the next couple performances.
Soon starring actors “stolen” from other Broadway shows, the west end and the silver screen
It’s common for actors to drop out and rotate around as new things start up, but there’s an awful lot of moving around right now. Below is a consolidation of where Broadway is now “stealing” its talent from:
Stolen from other Broadway shows
Actors Savannah Wise and Wesley Taylor are leaving Rock of Ages on September 13 to start preparing for Ragtime and The Addams Family respectively. It’s not all bad though, as Kerry Butler and Tom Lenk will step in to play their first performances in the production on September 18.
Stolen from the West End
Broadway is also borrowing from the West End. Laura Michelle Kelly, who won a 2005 Olivier Award for her title role in Mary Poppins will be crossing the Atlantic to play Mary on Broadway starting on Oct 12.
Stolen from the Silver Screen
Big screen star Antonio Banderas, who stars in the upcoming movie version of Nine, claims he will star in Trevor Nunn’s upcoming production of Zorba, though no official information has been released about the show.
Stolen by a touring show
But one actor, 14-year-old Tommy Batchelor, one of the rotating Billys in Billy Elliot, will be actually leaving the Broadway production on Dec 11 to join the touring version of the show. The tour opens in Chicago on March 18. His Broadway replacement has not yet been announced. Who knows where they’ll steal him from?!
Casting changes for Billy Elliot on Broadway
Alex Ko will step into the title character in Broadway’s Billy Elliot as Kiril Kulish departs the show in early October. He will join David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik and Tommy Batchelor in the Billy rotation beginning the week of Oct. 5.
Also leaving the production are Haydn Gwynne, the current Mrs. Wilkinson, and David Bologna, one of the actors currently playing Michael. They will be succeeded by Kate Hennig and the current understudy for Michael, Keean Johnson, who will alternate with Trevor Braun in the role.
Casting changes for Shrek, Rock of Ages, Burn the Floor, Wicked, Chicago and Billy Elliot
There have been lots of casting changes announced in recent weeks, so rather than making you read multiple entries, I thought I would do a lovely roundup of all of them for you!
STARTING AUGUST 17
Rock of Ages
Don Stephenson (The Producers, Dracula, By Jeeves, Titanic, Private Lives, Parade, Wonderful Town) temporarily steps in for Paul Schoeffler in the role of Hertz in Rock of Ages. Schoeffler is on leave to play Lawrence in the Walnut Street Theatre’s Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and will return to the show on Oct. 26.
STARTING AUGUST 18
Burn the Floor
Anya Garnis and Pasha Kovalev (“So You Think You Can Dance”) take over for Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff (“Dancing with the Stars”) in the new musical Burn the Floor.
Wicked
Michelle Federer, who originated the role of Nessarose in the Broadway production of Wicked, returns to the role, taking over for Cristy Candler.
Chicago
Talk show host Jerry Springer is stepping into the role of Billy Flynn in Broadway’s Chicago. He will play the role through September 6.
Shrek
Ben Crawford (Les Miserables), the current standby for Brian d’Arcy James, will take over the title role in Shrek on November 10 and Robb Sapp (Wicked) will temporarily step into the role of Pinocchio, replacing John Tartaglia during his leave of absence (Tartaglia will return mid December).
STARTING AUGUST 22
Billy Elliot
Trevor Braun (Beauty and the Beast, The Little Mermaid) will join the cast of Broadway’s Billy Elliot a couple days later than originally announced (the 22nd, rather than the 18th). He and Tony nominee David Bologna will alternate in the role of Michael.
Harada, Larsen, McClure, Thomas, Chase, Harris, Bareett & Ryan join Broadway casts; Epstein a national tour
July marked a whole lot of casting changes for Broadway and touring productions. Here are some of the biggest changes:
Original and Touring Stars Head to Broadway for the End of the Avenue Q Run
Ann Harada (9 to 5), who created the character of Christmas Eve in the Tony Award-winning musical Avenue Q, returned to the show yesterday alongside several cast members from the show’s recent national tour: Anika Larsen (Xanadu, Rent), Robert McClure and Danielle K. Thomas.
Will Chase Joins Billy Elliot Broadway Cast
Will Chase (The Story of My Life, The Full Monty, Aida, Rent, Miss Saigon) returns to Broadway today in Elton John’s Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical.
Epstein Joins Tour Cast for Spring Awakening
The national tour of the Tony-Award-winning musical Spring Awakening welcomes Degrassi: The Next Generation star Jake Epstein to its cast tonight at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C.
Harris, Bareett and Ryan Take Over Chicago on Broadway
Samantha Harris, Brent Barrett (Annie Get Your Gun, West Side Story, Candide) and Roz Ryan (Ain’t Misbehavin’, Dreamgirls) begin performances as Roxie Hart, Billy Flynn and Matron “Mama” Morton tonight in Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre.
Casting Changes on Broadway; Tour News
On Broadway:
Six Feet Under’s Justina Machado will takeover the role of Daniela in Broadway’s In the Heights.
Chelsea Morgan Stock is now playing Ariel in Disney’s The Little Mermaid.
Will Chase (Rent, Aida, The Full Monty, Miss Saigon) to Join Cast of Tony-Winning Billy Elliot as Tony, Billy’s older brother.
On Tour:
Guys and Dolls has announced they will tour the recently closed Broadway production nationally for the 2010-2011 season; route, dates and casting information has not yet been announced.
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