Cast recording of Oklahoma! selected for 2019 GRAMMY nomination for Best Musical Theater Album. Oklahoma! - Damon Daunno, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Ali Stroker, Mary Testa & Patrick Vaill, principal soloists; Daniel Kluger & Dean Sharenow, producers (Richard Rodgers, composer; Oscar Hammerstein II, lyricist) (2019 Broadway Cast) n 1943, Decca Broadway released the first-ever cast album of all time. The musical was Rodgers and Hammerstein's groundbreaking Oklahoma!. Fast forward 76 years, the newly-relaunched Decca Broadway, part of Verve Label Group, announces the release of the new cast recording for the revival of Oklahoma! 

The 2019 revival of Oklahoma! is making history as the first time the Rodgers and Hammerstein estate has allowed new arrangements of the original score. The New York Times said of these new versions, "The well-known melodies have been reimagined – by the brilliant orchestrator and arranger Daniel Kluger – with the vernacular throb and straightforwardness of country and western ballads." Daniel Fish's reimagined revival of Oklahoma! officially opened April 7 at Circle in the Square Theatre. The cast is led by Rebecca Naomi Jones as Laurey and Damon Daunno as Curly and the cast album will be produced by Dean Sharenow and Daniel Kluger.   

Freaky Friday the Musical is now dazzling audiences on the LECOM stage. With more than 30 cast members in the production, the show provides an endless number of laughs from those "Oh, so awkward biology moments" … to heartwarming advice sibling to sibling. The show is the tale most of us know, both mothers, Katherine Blake and daughter, Ellie Blake switch bodies for the day. Ultimately coming to understand and appreciate one another. Bill Speros, who plays Mike, Katherine fiance in the show is no stranger to the LECOM stage. Speros says he was involved with the playhouse growing up and then got out of it. The father of four says his kids are to thank for his re-found involvement "The convinced me to go audition for a play last summer and I got a part," said Speros. "I re-fell in love with the whole process. " Speros said the Playhouse has given him the ability to not only do something that brings him joy but also allow him to work alongside his 7 -year-old son, William, who plays Fletcher Blake. "Just watching him every day learn and improve and have fun," said Speros. "Just really become part of the Playhouse family has been great." The show contains about six spunky dance numbers, and the master behind choreography is Melissa J Dixon. The Erie native first got involved with the Playhouse in 5th grade. Dixon would later go on to have an 11-year dancing career with Disney. "It's a fascinating correlation that I'm so honored to have been asked to choreograph a show and that it happens to tie into those Disney roots that have been such a wonderful career for me," said Dixon. Dixon says the talent and enthusiasm to perform from the cast has been wonderful. "Gives me such great joy to be here and work with these guys," said Dixon. "They have definitely left an indelible mark on my heart and I suspect they'll do that same on the Erie community." Freaky Friday The Musical will run until June 30th, at the Erie Playhouse.   SEE THE YourErie.com PAGE

Back in January Fox aired Rent, live. They have recently released the soundtrack for the show as both a digital release and a two-disc CD. The recording features 31 vocal artists and a 23-piece orchestra with new orchestrations and arrangements by Tony winner Stephen Oremus (Kinky Boots, The Book of Mormon). It features the whole company who starred in Fox's take on Rent including:  Kiersey Clemons as Joanne Jefferson, Emmy nominee and Tony Award nominee Brandon Victor Dixon as Tom Collins, Jordan Fisher as Mark Cohen, Vanessa Hudgens as Maureen Johnson, Brennin Hunt as Roger Davis, Mario as Benjamin Coffin III, Tinashe as Mimi Marquez, and Valentina as Angel Dumont Schunard. Impressive highlights from the soundtrack include Vanessa Hudgens high note in Over The Moon and Tinashe's vocals on the classic Rent song on Out Tonight. The finale Seasons of Love which features not just this cast of Rent, but a surprise appearance by the original Broadway cast is a flawless and stunning rendition and one of our favourite songs from the whole production of Rent, as it showcases the talent of the cast and why the musical is so well loved. The soundtrack is the perfect companion to broadcast and a must listen for all Rent fans. It's a faithful take on the classic and much-loved show. All the vocals are strong and it's a hugely enjoyable listen for all theatre fans. SEE THE CELEB MIX PAGE

Desperate Measures - the Off-Broadway hit, which just closed at New World Stages on October 28, 2018, is a Wild West musical inspired by, meaning it's very loosely based on, Shakespeare's Measure for Measure. If you like clever, campy take-offs with a clever premise and Broadway quality music, here it is. Sure you'll miss most of the iambic pentameter dialogue from Peter Kellogg's book, but you'll get enough to show just how inventive this show is. The tuneful Old West songs, delivered by an super-fun six-member cast and a four-member band (violin and cello were added for this recording), will never let you forget you're listening to a traditional musical that's got it's soul squarely set in country-western - a bit in the vein of The Robber Bridegroom (but don't expect that show's timeless score). A beautiful booklet chockablock with color photos includes lyrics. READ THE FULL STAGEANDCINEMA REVIEW

Shakespeare never ceases to surprise me, I've seen multiple interpretations of his works set in all manner of ways and you really can set these classic stories in all manner of places and periods. Sometimes, with a bit of adaption by modern-day creatives, the unexpected happens and you end up with something substantially better than what you began with. So it is with Desperate Measures. I would have loved to have been in the room when the idea was floated to turn Measure For Measure, one of Shakespeare's problem plays into a musical set in the Wild West in 1892. Yet here it is and it's something quite wonderful. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px} READ THE FULL BRITISHTHEATRE.com REVIEW

2017 Tony winner for Best Musical "Dear Evan Hansen" heads into this weekend's Grammys as the heavy favorite to win Best Musical Theater Album. Since 2001, 10 Tony winners for Best Musical also won the Grammy. However, we shouldn't underestimate the 2017 Tony winner for Best Musical Revival, "Hello, Dolly!" It may have a secret weapon: the Grammys love divas like Bette Midler. "Dear Evan Hansen" is currently out front with overwhelming odds of 1/10. But "Hello, Dolly!" is in a decent position to upset in second place with odds of 11/1. What really gives "Hello, Dolly!" a possible competitive edge is the name that appears above the marquee: Midler.  READ THE FULL GOLDDERBY ARTICLE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 12.0px 'Helvetica Neue'; color: #606060; min-height: 14.0px}

Not starting the SpongeBob SquarePants musical cast album with "Whoooooooo lives in a pineapple under the sea?" is like not starting an Abe Lincoln musical with "Four score and seven years ago." Okay, maybe not that. Maybe it's more like not starting an Oscar Meyer musical with "my bologna has a first name." Instead, after a quick prologue, the SpongeBob album gets underway with "Bikini Bottom Day," written by Jonathan Coulton. (Disclaimer: Coulton works for NPR on Ask Me Another, and I know him well enough that we say "Oh, hey!") Like nearly all the songs in the show, which opens on Broadway in November after a successful run in Chicago, "Bikini Bottom Day" is a new song brought to the stage by an established artist. In addition to Coulton, composers include Sara Bareilles, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler of Aerosmith, T.I., Alex Ebert of Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeroes, members of Plain White T's and Panic! At The Disco and The Flaming Lips and They Might Be Giants and a bunch more. And on top of all that original music, the show includes David Bowie and Brian Eno's "No Control." CHECK OUT NPR: First Listen PAGE

Broadway is a main thoroughfare in New York City AND refers to the Theater District along Midtown Manhattan. The district is a popular tourist attraction and according to The Broadway League, over 13 million people saw a show, bringing in $1.4 billion to the NYC economy in the 2016–2017 season! We'll hear some theater favorites and new releases, and talk with star Rebecca Faulkenberry from Ground Hog Day the Musical on today's What's New. We explore George Gershwin's Girl Crazy with John Mauceri, a new release "Crazy Girl Crazy" with Barbara Hannigan; then turn to the genius of Leonard Berstein for Candide selections, and three episodes from On the Town. In 1953, the renowned playwright Lillian Hellman proposed to Leonard Bernstein that they adapt Voltaire's Candide for the musical theater: In October 1982, New York City Opera (Beverly Sills, then general manager) presented Candide in its first version for an opera house. As a full length two-act production, a great deal of music that had been cut in 1973 was reinstated, under Mr. Bernstein's supervision, by John Mauceri. New scenes were adapted from Voltaire by Hugh Wheeler, and once again Harold Prince directed.  Finally we turn to Broadway selections from 2017 including Groundhog Day the musical, Hello Dolly, Dreamgirls, and Charlie and the Chocolate Factory the musical. LISTEN TO THE Radio Purdue - WBAA SEGMENT p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

Disney's Freaky Friday started out as the beloved novel by Mary Rodgers, later became a movie, and now it has been adapted for the stage. There's also the world premiere studio recording of the production which has been released digitally by Walt Disney Records. Featuring a book by Bridget Carpenter (TV's "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood") and a score by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning team of Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics), creators of the celebrated Broadway musicals Next to Normal and If/Then, Freaky Friday had its world premiere at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA in fall 2016. The production was directed by two-time Tony nominee (Rocky Horror Show and Memphis) and artistic director of the world-renowned La Jolla Playhouse Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys; On Your Feet!). Freaky Friday the Musical is running through July 2 at the Alley Theatre.  KHOU-TV 'great day Houston' host - Deborah Duncan talked with Emma Hunton from the cast about what it's like to originate the role of Ellie in the production at the Alley Theatre.  WATCH THE VIDEO

p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} PCPA plans a 54th season of world-rocking plays and musicals from November 2017 through September 2018. PCPA's Artistic Director Mark Booher says, "We're thrilled to be bringing a season of plays that we trust will engage our audience in new ways, through stories of genuine transformation and electrifying discovery. This is our time to use great theatre to reflect, connect, and illuminate the path forward. As we all encounter the unprecedented trials and possibilities of modern life, we'll be presenting new-fashioned classics to ground us and sizzling new work to help us soar. We're counting on the Central Coast community to rise up with us." Launching the season November 9, and playing through December 23, in the Marian Theatre is the Disney musical Freaky Friday. When an overworked mother and her contrary teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again before mom's big wedding.  In this hilarious modern day fairytale based on two Disney hit movies, a mother and daughter really see what it is to be a family and experience each other's lives first-hand, if only for a day.  Freaky Friday is a delightfully entertaining musical for anyone with a perfectly imperfect family. PCPA has announced its slate of plays and musicals for its 54th season, from November 2017 through September 2018. Four of the shows are getting runs at the Solvang Festival Theater. "We're thrilled to be bringing a season of plays that we trust will engage our audience in new ways, through stories of genuine transformation and electrifying discovery. This is our time to use great theater to reflect, connect, and illuminate the path forward. As we all encounter the unprecedented trials and possibilities of modern life, we'll be presenting new-fashioned classics to ground us and sizzling new work to help us soar," said PCPA Artistic Director Mark Booher. Launching the season Nov. 9 in the Marian Theatre is the Disney musical "Freaky Friday." When an overworked mother and her contrary teenage daughter magically swap bodies, they have just one day to put things right again before mom's big wedding. Based on two Disney movies, a mother and daughter really see what it is to be a family and experience each other's lives first-hand. READ THE FULL Santa Ynez Valley News ARTICLE

I was a HUGE fan of Charlie and the Chocolate Factory when it opened at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane with a score by Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman. Audiences were presented with a theatrical extravaganza, but what really struck me was the fabulous score which used only one song from the Gene Wilder film. Shaiman and Wittman had pulled off the near impossible by channelling the Wonka zeitgeist, creating new music for Charlie of the same calibre and Bricusse and Newley's original film score. I was therefore interested to hear that for the Broadway production changes were to be made. More song moments from the film have been integrated, numbers from the London score cut (luckily the London cast album exists!) and new songs written. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} span.s1 {font: 10.0px 'Zapf Dingbats'} Christian Borle takes over the spoon of iconic chocolatier Willy Wonka and his performance is nothing short of spectacular. His tooth-tickling-tongue-twisting-triptastical performance is mesmerising. His laser-sharp diction in songs like Strike That  Reverse It is superhuman and would put a certain modern major general to shame. There's sarcasm, humour, and enormous amounts of warmth in his performance iced with a demented frosting and it comes across in droves on this recording. Borle's interpretation of the show's new finale The View From Here and the classic Pure Imagination alone place him alongside Gene Wilder and Douglas Hodge as encapsulating the magic of Dahl and Wonka. The Cast album is on Sony Masterworks Broadway READ THE FULL britishtheatre.com REVIEW

REVIEW BY Jill Weinlein - As a little girl, I enjoyed listening to Broadway musical albums over and over before seeing the show. Listening to the music, always brought excitement and enhanced the visual experience, as I knew the lyrics the actors were singing and sometimes would silently sing along with them. Recently I listened to the new Broadway cast recording of Michael Stewart and Jerry Herman's Hello, Dolly! The revival of this classic musical, based on Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, is currently winning standing ovations on Broadway. Earning 10 Tony nominations, Hello Dolly! won four Tony Awards, with one for Best Revival and the other Bette Midler as Best Actress in a Musical. This is Midler's first leading role in a Broadway musical, yet not her first time stepping on a Broadway stage. In the 1960s she was Tzeitel in Fiddler on the Roof. Listen to it often before seeing Broadway's newest Tony-winning sensation at the Shubert Theatre. READ THE FULL Stage Review

Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, the new musical based on the films of the same name, as well as the book by Roald Dahl, puts audiences inside the "world of pure imagination." Starring two-time Tony Award winner Christian Borle and directed by three-time Tony Award-winning director Jack O'Brien, this new musical features the beloved songs from the original film, including "Pure Imagination" and "The Candy Man," alongside a brand new score from the songwriters of Hairspray, Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman, a book from David Greig and choreography from Joshua Bergasse. Willy Wonka, world famous inventor of the Everlasting Gobstopper, has just made an astonishing announcement. His marvelous-and mysterious-factory is opening its gates…to a lucky few. That includes young Charlie Bucket, whose life definitely needs sweetening. He and four other golden ticket winners will embark on a mesmerizing, life-changing journey through Wonka's wondrous world.   p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} CLICK HERE FOR StageBuddy top 5 songs from new 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory' cast album. Photo credit: Joan Marcus

Three-time Grammy Award-winning legend Bette Midler's return to Broadway as Dolly Gallagher Levi in Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart's masterpiece Hello, Dolly! is the first new production of this classic musical to appear on Broadway since the original. Playing at Broadway's Shubert Theatre, and featuring direction by Tony-winner Jerry Zaks and choreography by Tony-winner Warren Carlyle, the new revival pays tribute to the original work of legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion, which has been hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theatre history. The star-studded cast includes David Hyde Pierce, Gavin Creel, Kate Baldwin, Taylor Trensch, Will Burton, Melanie Moore and Jennifer Simard. Hello, Dolly! wins 2017 Tony Awards for 'Musical Revival' Leading Actress in a Musical: Bette Midler, and for Featured Actor in a Musical: Gavin Creel p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} The Masterworks Broadway Cast Recording produced by multiple-Grammy Award® winner Steven Epstein, with a cast of 37 and 28 musicians stars Midler.

I think I might be in love. It feels strange to even express it, because it's with a show that has the worst title in the world: "Freaky Friday: A New Musical." For me that recalls the body-switching 2003 film with Jamie Lee Curtis and Lindsay Lohan, while for others it's the 1976 version with Barbara Harris and Jodie Foster. Each of them was built around the formula of a mother and daughter switching bodies, and lives. Wouldn't putting that adorable but long-forgotten story to song just make it cheesier? The words "Freaky Friday" should elicit no more than a tepid feeling of curiosity, better than what most live-action Disney movies deserve anyway. Yet the musical has an added spunk and flourish that makes it the best incarnation so far. Make no mistake, watching this new musical reminded me of seeing movies like "Mean Girls," "Easy A" and "Pitch Perfect" for the first time, which is to say it was like witnessing a supposedly unassuming middlebrow comedy that's destined, against all odds, to become a phenomenon. p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} At the Alley Theatre through July 2, "Freaky Friday" captivates from its first song, "Just One Day." Its earworm melody and singalong lyrics hide its brilliant narrative efficacy, since it both illustrates the characters' dueling, yet parallel, frustrations and foreshadows a "be careful what you wish for" plot. READ THE FULL Houston Chronicle REVIEW
READ THE FULL Houston Press REVIEW

Not every book or movie can be successfully transformed into a play or musical.Broadway actress Heidi Blickenstaff says it works for Freaky Friday "because there is magic involved, it is inherently theatrical. Because there is a fantastical element to the story - this wildly unusual body swap - it lends itself to being theatrical." Alley Theatre plays host as the national tour comes to Houston next week with the story of a mother and daughter who swap bodies for 24 hours. The Disney musical was preceded by two popular movies (1976 and 2003), whose story and inspiration came from a widely read 1972 novel by Mary Rodgers. READ THE FULL Houston Press ARTICLE

The Olivier Award-winning mastermind behind Matilda is at it again! Yes, composer Tim Minchin, the man who made a splash on the New York scene teaching us "sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty," is now back on the Main Stem letting us that "he's here and he's fine" with his new project: a stage adaptation (imported from London) of the hit 1993 Bill Murray film, Groundhog Day. Now, haters, step off - while not 100% perfect, this show absolutely succeeds in its film-to-stage transformation and the score is a huge factor as to why. While the residents of Punxsutawney are oblivious to the fact that they're re-living the same 24 hours day in and day out, Phil Connors is consistently agitated, completely aware of this nightmare he's caught up in. That means, rather than fall into the trap of repeating the same song ad infinitum (though they do do that at first, as a way to establish repetition… and it's HILARIOUS!) he can step out, and comment on the action and how he feels through song. This not only moves the story "forward" within a structure that otherwise…well…wouldn't, but provides us a deeper look on the character himself and his inner thoughts and workings, aided by Minchin's carefully written and "meaty" lyrics, set to music that'll get your toes tapping and jazz hands a-swingin'. Simply put, the score is infectious, and there's no doubt you'll find yourself listening to these songs over and over and over (no pun intended). P. S. do I need to mention the deliciously buttery vocals of Barrett Doss and - hello?! - Andy Karl?! In honor of the cast album's physical release we compiled a list of our favorite tunes off the CD, with commentary and analysis that explains why we love them so much. Check out our top five Groundhog Day numbers below!

While the musical version of Freaky Friday continues playing all over the country, Disney Theatrical Productions has decided to make a television movie of the adaptation, to be aired on Disney Channel. Freaky Friday was originally a novel by Mary Rodgers, published in 1972, and has been adapted as a film twice. It's a sweet story of a mother and daughter swapping bodies. It was developed as a musical by Disney, and premiered in Virginia in 2016. The show is currently playing in Cleveland, and will be in Houston later this summer. Aside from the beloved source material, Freaky Friday is notable for the creative team. The music is being written by Tom Kitt and Brian Yorkey, the incredible duo behind Next to Normal and If/Then. Notably, this is the first musical they've worked on that's an adaptation of existing material. For fans who are too eager to hear the music to wait for the TV movie, a cast album was released in February. The book of the musical is by Bridget Carpenter, and no director has been announced yet. But the movie is scheduled to film this fall. SEE THE Hypable PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px} span.Apple-tab-span {white-space:pre}

Disney's Freaky Friday musical is apparently looking to leap from the stage to the small screen. Playbill reports that casting notice indicated that the show is being adapted for television and will shoot this fall. The book for the musical, which debuted in Arlington, Virginia last year, was written by Bridget Carpenter and the score was penned by Tom Kitt and Kevin Yorkey. Freaky Friday is currently playing the Cleveland Playhouse through May 20th and is slated to run at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas from June 2nd to July 2nd. The cast recording on Walt Disney Records, features the book by Bridget Carpenter (TV's "Friday Night Lights" and "Parenthood") and the score by the Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award®-winning team of Tom Kitt (music) and Brian Yorkey (lyrics), creators of the celebrated Broadway musicals Next to Normal and If/Then, Freaky Friday had its world premiere at the Tony Award-winning Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA in fall 2016. The production was directed by two-time Tony nominee (Rocky Horror Show and Memphis) and artistic director of the world-renowned La Jolla Playhouse Christopher Ashley and choreographed by Olivier Award winner and Tony nominee Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys; On Your Feet!).  SEE THE LaughingPlace.com PAGE p.p1 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial} p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Arial; min-height: 11.0px}

Many know Mary Rodgers as the daughter of Richard Rodgers the composer of such classic musicals as "Oklahoma" and "Carousel." Others are aware that she collaborated on the musicals "Once Upon a Mattress" and "The Mad Show." Some might know that she is the mother of Tony Winner, Adam Guettel ("The Light in the Plaza"). Ask any tween or teen and they will probably relate that Rodgers wrote the 1972 book, "Freaky Friday." Yes, that "Freaky Friday." The one which tells the tale of a mother and daughter switching bodies, which was made into three different Walt Disney Company films, including one version whose screenplay was actually written by Mary Rodgers, herself. p.p2 {margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; font: 10.0px Helvetica; min-height: 12.0px} The musical version of the story, which is based on the original Rodgers' book, as well as the films, is set in present time Chicago. It debuted at the Signature atre in Arlington, Virginia on October 4, 2016, where reviews hailed it as "a polished, peppy, modern fairy tale." A production was staged at California's La Jolla Playhouse in 2017, where it had an extended run. Much of that cast is now on stage at Cleveland Play House. READ THE FULL BroadwayWorld REVIEW

You probably know Steve Martin by his comedic roles on Saturday Night Live and beyond, but did you know he is also a lifelong banjo player? (And a Grammy-winning one at that!) In recent years, he's turned his focus away from making movies and has partnered with singer-songwriter Edie Brickell, who's enjoyed a long career as both a solo artist and as frontwoman, most notably of the New Bohemians. Together, they've put out two albums - 2013's Love Has Come For You, which earned them a Grammy for Best American Roots Song, and 2015's So Familiar. Their collaboration has also spawned a musical, Bright Star, which premiered in 2014 and debuted on Broadway this March. Bright Star is set in the Blue Ridge Mountains of North Carolina in 1945 and 1946 with flashbacks to 1923. It follows successful literary editor Alice Murphy, who mentors aspiring writer Billy Cane, a young soldier recently returned home from World War II. Martin and Brickell recently visited the SiriusXM studios for a Coffee House Live performance, treating an exclusive group of fans to their songs Sarah Jane and the Iron Mountain Baby (from their first album) and The Sun Is Gonna Shine (from Act II of Bright Star). You can hear the Coffee House Live special in full on The Coffee House (Ch. 14) Thursday, 4/28 at Noon with replays 4/28 at 3 pm ET; 4/29 at 12 am and 10 pm ET; 4/30 at 10 am and 8 pm ET; and 5/1 at 6 pm ET.

One of Rodgers & Hammerstein's finest works, The King and I   boasts a score which features such beloved classics as "Getting To Know You," "Hello Young Lovers" and "Shall We Dance." Set in 1860s Bangkok, the musical tells the story of the relationship that develops between the King of Siam and a British schoolteacher, Anna Leonowens. This critically acclaimed revival, starring Kelli O'Hara and Ken Watanabe, received an impressive nine Tony Award nominations. The Decca Cast Recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's  The King and I  is a WFMT: Chicago 'New Release of the Week'  Featuring - Overture; Scene 1; Scene 2 (13:45) Kelli O'Hara (Anna); Jake Lucas (Louis); Ashley Park (Tuptim); Orchestra / Ted Sperling  

Beautiful: The Carole King Musical tells the inspiring true story of King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, ｳto becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than BEAUTIFUL music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation. Beautiful: The Carole King Musical wins 57th Annual GRAMMY Awards for 'Best Musical Theatre Album'

On Friday the 57th Annual Grammy Awards revealed it's winners. and Crossover Media Artists and Projects received 12, 2015 Nominations: including the latest cast album: Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, in the Best Musical Theater Album category. BEAUTIFUL tells the inspiring true story of Caole King's remarkable rise to stardom, from being part of a hit songwriting team with her husband Gerry Goffin, to her relationship with fellow writers and best friends Cynthia Weil and Barry Mann, ｳto becoming one of the most successful solo acts in popular music history. Along the way, she made more than BEAUTIFUL music, she wrote the soundtrack to a generation.

Idina Menzel and Tom Kitt of If/Then will appear on  WNYC - New York "SoundCheck" Thursday, July 24. Accompanied by a pianist, Idina will perform "You Learn To Live Without" and "Some Other Me" with Tom Kitt singing Anthony Rapp's part. The show will also include music from the cast album in the intro and outro. "Souncheck" live streams on soundcheck.org and wnyc.org this Thursday from 1:45pm – 2:15pm and then will be on air in the first week in August (airdate TBA).

Chuck Rich's weekly Movie Review segment for "America This Week with Jim Bohannon," concludes with Beautiful - The Carole King Musical as 'music selection for the week.' "America This Week" is heard each weekend on 90 WestwoodOne radio affiliates. Check out the attached audio excerpt.

Nominations for the 68th annual Tony Awards have been announced. Revealed live this morning by Lucy Liu and Jonathan Groff (with host Hugh Jackman dropping by), The awards, which honor the best of this year's Broadway season, will be handed out on June 8 in a ceremony hosted by Jackman airing live on CBS. Multiple Crossover Media Artists & Projects receive nominations.

WATCH THE ANNOUNCEMENT

Masterworks Broadway proudly announces the signing of the Original Broadway Cast Recording of Bullets Over Broadway. Produced by Doug Besterrman and engineered by Frank Fillipetti, the album will be recorded on April 14, and the cast recording will be available for download via all digital service providers June 3 with the CD available everywhere June 10. Visit MasterworksBroadway.com for more information.  Producers Letty Aronson and Julian Schlossberg present the world premiere production of the brand new musical comedy Bullets Over Broadway, written by Woody Allen and based on the screenplay by Allen and Douglas McGrath for the 1994 film. Directed and choreographed by five-time Tony Award® winner Susan Stroman, BULLETS OVER BROADWAY began preview performances on Tuesday, March 11 and will officially open Thursday, April 10, 2014 at The St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street). Bullets Over Broadwaytells the story of an aspiring young playwright (Braff) newly arrived on Broadway in 1920's New York who is forced to cast a mobster's (Pastore) talentless girlfriend (Yorke) in his latest drama in order to get it produced. Bullets Over Broadwayfeatures Brooks Ashmanskas (The Producers) as "Warner Purcell," Golden Globe® and Emmy Award nominee Zach Braff ("Scrubs," Garden State) as "David Shayne," Nick Cordero (Rock of Ages) as "Cheech," Tony Award® nominee Marin Mazzie (Passion; Ragtime; Kiss Me, Kate) as "Helen Sinclair," Vincent Pastore ("The Sopranos") as "Nick Valenti," Betsy Wolfe (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) as "Ellen," Lenny Wolpe (The Drowsy Chaperone) as "Julian Marx," Heléne Yorke (Grease) as "Olive Neal" and Tony Award® winner Karen Ziemba (Contact) as "Eden Brent." Bullets Over Broadwaywill also feature Clyde Alves (Nice Work if You Can Get It), Jim Borstelmann (Chaplin), Preston Truman Boyd (Big Fish), Janet Dickinson (How The Grinch Stole Christmas), Bryn Dowling (Big Fish), Kim Fauré (Anything Goes), Paige Faure (Cinderella), Casey Garvin (Bare), Kelcy Griffin (Broadway debut), Dan Horn (Cinderella), Sarah Lin Johnson (Broadway debut), Andy Jones (Cinderella), Amanda Kloots-Larsen (Follies), Kevin Ligon (The Chosen), Synthia Link (Big Fish), Brittany Marcin (Anything Goes), Paul McGill (La Cage aux Folles), James Moye (Million Dollar Quartet), Beth Johnson Nicely (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Eric Santagata (Chaplin) and Kevin Worley (Cinderella). Five time Tony Award® winning director and choreographer Susan Stromanbrings the new musical to the stage with a design team of Broadway veterans including Santo Loquasto (scenic design), William Ivey Long (costume design), Donald Holder (lighting design), Peter Hylenski (sound design), Paul Huntley (wig and hair design), William Berloni (animal training),  Glen Kelly (music supervision and adaptation / additional Lyrics), Doug Besterman (orchestrations) and Andy Einhorn (music direction/conductor and vocal arrangements). The Broadway production of Bullets Over Broadway features existing music of the period. Bullets Over Broadwayis produced by Letty Aronson and Julian Schlossberg and co-produced by Edward Walson, Leroy Schecter, Roy Furman, Broadway Across America, Just for Laughs Theatricals/Jacki Barlia Florin, Harold Newman and Jujamcyn Theaters and associate producer Don't Speak, LLC. Sony Music Masterworks comprises the Masterworks, Sony Classical, OKeh, Portrait, Masterworks Broadway and Flying Buddha imprints. For email updates and information please visit www.SonyMasterworks.com For more information on the musical, please visit www.BulletsOverBroadway.com. Facebook: facebook.com/BulletsOverBway
Twitter: @BulletsOverBway
YouTube: youtube.com/bulletsoverbway
Instagram: instagram.com/bulletsoverbway

It's been a while since midtown Manhattan has seen Stew, the Tony-winning coauthor and star of the semiautobiographical musical Passing Strange. The show closed in 2008, and since then Stew has been spending his time playing clubs and writing is now booked at 54 Below this  Friday and Saturday with The New Stew Review. TheaterMania caught up with the songwriter to chat about the engagement, which will blend old songs and new and feature a host of "special guests."

Congratulations to Crossover Media Cast Album of Kinky Boots on Masterworks Broadway for it's 2014 GRAMMY Nomination in the Best Musical Theater Album category. The 56th Annual GRAMMY Awards will air Sunday, Jan. 26, 2014, on CBS.

Kinky Boots Cast members Billy Porter(Lola) and Stark Sands(Charlie Price) discuss the hit musical on WNYC's Leonard Lopate Show. Created by Award-winner Harvey Fierstein and Cyndi Lauper, Charlie Price has suddenly inherited his father's shoe factory, which is on the verge of bankruptcy. Trying to live up to his father's legacy and save his family business, Charlie finds inspiration in the form of Lola, a fabulous entertainer in need of some sturdy stilettos. "Kinky Boots" is playing at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre.

Actor Billy Porter talks about his best actor Tony win and joins his fellow "Kinky Boots" castmates on the TODAY Show for a performance of the finale number of the show, which won six Tony awards. Catch the video here

Kinky Boots, the new smash hit Broadway musical that brings together four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Music & Lyrics), will be taking over the airwaves on Sirius XM this Memorial Day Weekend, offering a preview of the show's Original Broadway Cast Recording (Masterworks Broadway), one of the most anticipated Broadway CDs in years. Sirius XM listeners will be the first to hear the new Kinky Boots recording before its Tuesday, May 28 release, and they'll get the scoop on the 13-time Tony nominated musical with in-studio conversations from Cyndi Lauper, Harvey Fierstein, Jerry Mitchell and the show's stars, Billy Porter, Stark Sands, and Annaleigh Ashford. They'll take over Sirius XM's 'On Broadway' channel all weekend long to play songs from the new album and some of their own favorite showtune picks. The Kinky Boots takeover weekend will have its grand finale on Monday night on the 'Showtime' channel, which will offer listeners the chance to hear the entire show, complete and uninterrupted, for the very first time. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, Kinky Boots began performances on Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street), and opened on Thursday, April 4, 2013. Kinky Boots has been nominated for thirteen 2013 Tony Awards, including Best Musical, making it the most Tony-nominated show of the season. Already, the Outer Critics Circle and Drama League have named it Best Musical, and it won the Broadway.com Audience Choice Award for Favorite New Musical, among many other accolades. Read more about Sirius XM Features KINKY BOOTS This Weekend by broadwayworld.com

Tune in / Thursday, June 20, at 11:35 PM to The Tonight Show with Jay Leno with Kinky Boots BOOK Writer Harvey Fierstein   Kinky Boots album cover will be shown during intro  

Kinky Boots, won big on Broadway's biggest night, the 67th Annual Tony Awards. Taking the evening's top prize of Best Musical, the Harvey Fierstein / Cyndi Lauper show took six awards in all including Best Score of a Musical awarded to long-time Sony artist Cyndi Lauper. The Original Broadway Cast Recording is now available on Masterworks Broadway! 

"Once" has done it a second time. After winning the 2012 Tony for Best Musical, the hit Broadway show scored another big win at the 55th annual Grammy Awards by taking the golden gramophone for Best Musical Theatre album. The producers and cast took the award over such popular shows as Follies, Newsies, the revival of Porgy and Bess, and Nice Work if you can get it (the latter two both being by the Gershwins) However, despite the stiff competition, for most musical theatre fans the win didn't come as much of a shock; Once is no stranger to awards. It's source material, a 2006 film of the same name, won an Oscar for its original song "Falling Slowly," which also appears on the Broadway Cast album. "Just when you think things can't get sweeter, this happens," said Steve Kazee, one of the stars of the show. Although the New York based stars Kazee and Cristin Milioti and? producers Stephen Epstein and Martin Lowe couldn't be there in person to accept the award, it was presented at the untelevised Grammy's ceremony earlier in the day. "We recorded the album in one day a little over a year ago," said Kazee. "It's a testament to the cast and especially to Steve and Martin. They came in and knew exactly what they wanted."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGLh9GchpE4&feature=player_embedded
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uAnD-bCo0aY With the Tony Awards taking place this Sunday, Crossover Media is proud to be representing Once and Newsies, two musicals nominated and competing for Best Musical. Competing with each other, as well as with Leap of Faith and Nice Work if You Can Get It, it'll be an exciting night to find out musical claims the top honor. Newsies has been nominated for eight Tony Awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Original Score Written for the Theatre, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, and Best Scenic Design of a Musical. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q5wvimJFi9s&feature=player_embedded Once is nominated for eleven Tony awards, including Best Musical, Best Book of a Musical, Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Musical,Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical, Best Direction of a Musical, Best Choreography, Best Orchestrations, Best Sound Design of a Musical, Best Scenic Design of a Musical, and Best Lighting Design of a Musical. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mGLh9GchpE4&feature=player_embedded Both Newsies and Once are new musicals that are based on movies of the same names, as well as their competition Leap of Faith. Tune in to the Tony's, Sunday, June 10th, 8/7c on CBS to find out how well these Crossover artists do!

Once scored not only once, but eight times at this year's Tony Awards. Bringing home the Tony for Best Musical, Once beat out its rival Crossover client Newsies. Once also received the Tony awards for: Best Book of a Musical (Enda Walsh), Best Actor in a Musical (Steve Kazee), Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Bob Crowley), Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Natasha Katz), Best Sound Design in a Musical (Clive Goodwin), Best Direction (John Tiffany), and Best Orchestrations (Martin Lowe). Check out the cast performance at the Tony's: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8RebiKimpx4&feature=player_embedded Based off the 2006 film of the same name, the cherished cult favorite of many young musicians and film buffs alike has attracted a steady, but humble stream of attention from the Broadway community since opening on the Great White Way. With a talented cast of actor-musicians, Once tells the story of Guy meets Girl (quite literally the names of the main characters), who connect through a love of music. Hauntingly beautiful music and simple design and choreography construct this relatable tale and make Once the standout musical of the season. For more information on the musical, or to buy tickets and the soundtrack, please visit http://www.oncemusical.com/index.html.