Bob Avian: Dancing Man, A Life in Theater as Choreographer/Director;  Tales of Collaborating with Michael Bennett in New Autobiography

By: Ellis Nassour

Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographer’s Journey (University Press of Mississippi; Hardcover; 240 pages, including16-page B&W photo album and Index; $28; E-book available) by Tony and Olivier winner Bob Avian, expertly-guided by co-writer Tom Santopietro, takes the reader beyond behind the scenes of the creation of such musicals as Company, Follies, Dreamgirls, A Chorus Line, Ballroom, and Miss Saigon and into the imagination and genius of Michael Bennett; and later, Miss Saigon.

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Bob Avian: Dancing Man, A Life in Theater as Choreographer/Director; Tales of Collaborating with Michael Bennett in New Autobiography

By: Ellis Nassour

April 8, 2020: Dancing Man: A Broadway Choreographer’s Journey (University Press of Mississippi; Hardcover; 240 pages, including16-page B&W photo album and Index; $28; E-book available) by Tony and Olivier winner Bob Avian, expertly-guided by co-writer Tom Santopietro (Broadway general manager; author of The Sound of Music Story, Considering Doris Day) takes the reader beyond behind the scenes of the creation of such musicals as Company, A Chorus Line, Ballroom, Dreamgirls, and Miss Saigon and into the imagination of Michael Bennett, Steven Sondheim, Gower Champion, Avian himself, and numerous others – many of whom are undeservedly forgotten today. 

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NYC Theater’s Future Unknown: Coronavirus Pandemic Continues to Ravage Broadway

By: David Sheward

April 4, 2020: The COVID-19 pandemic continues to ravage the New York theater world as well as all aspects of American and world society. On March 12, all Broadway theaters were ordered closed by New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.

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Theater Community Mourns the Death of Celebrated  Playwright Terrence McNally

By: Ellis Nassour

March 25, 2020: Beloved playwright Terrence McNally, a four-time Tony Award-winner, who wrote Master Class; books of musicals The Rink, Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Full Monty, Ragtime; and numerous opera librettos, died Tuesday in Sarasota, FL. He was 81. A lung cancer survivor, the reported cause of his death was the result of “complications from the coronavirus.” 

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Free online access to L.A. Theatre Works recording of ‘Lips Together,Teeth Apart’ in remembrance of playwright Terrence McNally.

March 30, 2020: L.A. Theatre Works will offer free streaming access to its recording of Lips Together, Teeth Apart from now through the end of April as a posthumous tribute to playwright Terrence McNally, who died on March 24.

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By: David Sheward

March 22, 2020: The COVID-19 or coronavirus outbreak has silenced Broadway and will likely have a devastating impact long after it has passed. To prevent the spread of this highly contagious disease, all theaters in New York City, and many across the country, are closed and two new productions have announced they will not be playing when the stages re-open. Martin McDonagh’s Hangmen and the revival of Edward Albee’s Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? have officially been cancelled. Producers cited lack of funds and scheduling conflicts respectively as reasons for the shutterings. These will likely not be the only shows to face elimination. All 41 Broadway theaters were shut down on March 12 in response to an order from New York Governor Andrew Cuomo to curtail all gatherings of 500 or more people. 

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5 Reasons Why it Would be Unconscionable to Miss Conscience

By: Iris Wiener

March 9, 2020: “Never have I ever met anyone who can make up things on the spot with such conviction,” spits Senator Margaret Chase Smith as she reflects on Senator Joseph McCarthy in one of many moments of poignant clarity and horrifying irony in the world-premiere of Tony-Award winner Joe DiPietro’s new play Conscience. Now running through March 29^th at George Street Playhouse in New Brunswick, Conscience takes audiences behind the scenes of the political world of 1950s Washington, shedding insight on the scandalously atrocious power plays, both political and personal, in the days leading up to and following Smith’s iconic “Declaration of Conscience” speech. After its delivery on the Senate floor on June 1^st, 1950, Smith rattled McCarthyism, Congress, and the nation itself. Conscience is an essential theater-going experience, and here is why:

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Spread the love all month with BroadwayHD’s special play list.

February 10, 2020:  Valentine’s Day is Friday and BroadwayHD is spreading the love with a special Valentine play list. Paired perfectly with your boxes of chocolates and wine, BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming service for theater lovers, is giving subscribers the best reason to celebrate Valentine’s Day all month long!  In honor of the special holiday, the platform has pulled together a romantic playlist featuring adored shows from An American in Paris and Phantom of the Opera, to Romeo and Juliet and Kiss Me, Kate.

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92^nd  Annual Oscars Telecast Live on ABC Sunday; 2019 Winners Olivia Colman, Regina King, Mahershala, and Rami Malek Are Among the Presenters. Expect a Kirk Douglas Tribute

By: Ellis Nassour

February 6, 2020: Once again, this year, there’ll be no host with the mostest on Sunday’s live telecast of the 92^nd annual Oscars from Hollywood’s Dolby Theatre. The plan in place is to have the usual extravaganza with literally a zillion presenters from the ranks of celebs and near celebs.

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5 Reasons Why You Should Celebrate Cole Porter with Harry Connick Jr.

By: Iris Wiener

1.      Harry Connick Jr. has an appreciation for Cole Porter that is unmatched by other artists. He recently released an album of Porter songs called “True Love,” but his new Broadway show surpasses the content on the album. The show, Harry Connick Jr.: A Celebration of Cole Porter, is a love letter to the late pianist and songwriter, both written and directed by Connick, who wears his heart on his sleeve at all turns.

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Five Reasons Why the Unauthorized Parody Love Actually is Actually Quite Lovely

By: Iris Wiener

December 16, 2019: Taking in a sickeningly sweet romantic comedy is so last year. Unsurprisingly, Tobly and Bob McSmith, the brilliant, quick-thinking minds behind Bayside! The Musical!, Showgirls! The Musical! and The Office! A Musical Parody, have concocted an epically funny gift to New York with Love Actually? The Unauthorized Musical Parody. Now running at the Jerry Orbach Theater at the Theater Center, the musical is a send-up of the 2003 film in which a panoply of loosely written relationships are explored with gooey, Christmas delight. The zany musical cleverly takes aim at the film’s most clichéd, cheesy tropes. Though there are many reasons to treat oneself to this gem, here are five:

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Warm up the Holidays with the Hot new lineup of titles on BroadwayHD this December.

December 5, 2019:  BroadwayHD, the premiere streaming service for theater fans, kicks off the month with the critically acclaimed musical film Cabaret starring Tony and Academy Award winner Liza Minnelli and Joel Grey. Del Shores’ one-man-show, Six Characters in Search of a Play, Christopher Weldon’s exuberant three act ballet, Alice in Wonderland, Collins Meets Coward starring Joan Collins, as well as the acclaimed commentary program Stravinsky Staged: The Firebird and Les Noces ballets and St. Matthew Passion concert will be available on the streaming service this month making a perfect gift for you theater loving friends this season. 

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Halloween Treats Abound with October releases on BroadwayHD 

October 20, 2019:  BroadwayHD kicked off the month of October with a binge-worthy lineup of performances that are sure to excite audiences everywhere.  Leading the charge, just in time for Halloween, is the eerie classic Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, starring Tony Award^® winners Angela Lansbury and George Hearn as Mrs. Lovett and the vengeful Sweeney Todd.  On October 17th, Jekyll and Hyde, starring David Hasselhoff in his Broadway debut, made its way to the platform.  As part of BroadwayHD’s partnership with Stratford Festival, subscribers will have access to the critically-acclaimed Stratford Stage’s 2017 production of Macbeth on October 24th, starring Ian Lake and Krystin Pellerin.  Finally, on October 31st, Hugh Grant and Elizabeth McGovern star in a dramatic tale of love and loss in The Changeling. 

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The Pass, a musical by Denise Marsa

October 11, 2019: It was 2016 and I was thinking about my life as a singer-songwriter and how it all started for me. I recalled pretending, at the age of 14, to play piano at my mom’s Art Deco vanity table, singing songs that popped into my head and sometimes writing down the words.

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Five Reasons Why Freestyle Love Supreme is a Welcome Change for Broadway

By: Iris Wiener

            October 8, 2019: Before there was Hamilton and In the Heights there was Freestyle Love Supreme. An improvisation extravaganza created by Thomas Kail, Lin-Manuel Miranda and Anthony Veneziale in 2004, the powerhouse team’s Freestyle Love Supreme combines music, humor, hip-hop and theatrics in an experience completely unique to any work ever to hit Broadway. Fresh and invigorating in its concept and execution, here is how it sticks out from the rest of what theater has to offer:

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