South Park and Wicked

I have already discussed the phenomenal smash hit Book of Mormon, a musical by the creators of South Park. I just found this article about the new episode and its about another huge Tony award-winning musical, Wicked. the actual touring musical will be coming to Austin very soon and the Book of Mormon Tour will begin in Denver  in 2012.

I wonder what the guys will do with this musical?

Hugh Jackman

The show is literally called BACK ON BROADWAY. Jackman has performed on Broadway before in the musical The Boy From Oz, in the starring role of Peter Allen, and in the play A Steady Rain. He is currently in production on a movie version of the huge Broadway musical, Les Miserables and is playing the lead character Jean Valjean, along side Anne Hathaway and Russel Crowe

If you make it past the terrible intro song, you will get a preview of his show and the numbers in it. Enjoy!

Little Princess

Last night for A Little Princess. If you haven't gotten to seen it, you ca always watch the live stream, and it lasts through the end of the month!

It has been sold out the last 3 shows and I expect big things tonight from the people who get to watch it all over the world. I am so proud I got to be a part of this show.

The King's Speech

Did you know the Academy Award winning movie was based off a play? Me neither, but I do know The King's Speech is set to make its world stage premier early next year with a U.K. tour. It was one of 2010's most successful movies, winning many awards and I feel like this play has a good chance of becoming on of 2012's most successful plays.

Kathie Lee Gifford

Now I don't know if you are like me and watch The Today Show every morning, but a crucial member has been missing the last couple weeks. Kathie Lee Gifford of KLG and Hoda has been missing from New York, the musical capital of the world and is working on her musical Saving Aimee. Gifford is not only producing the show that opened just over a week ago but also wrote the book and lyrics!

Sister Act

Sister Act is in Broadway news right now because tonight there was a special performance to benefit The Actors Fund, a non-profit org that assist struggling actors (aren't we all?) I only mention it because a Texas State alum made his Broadway debut in this musical. Demond Green got his BFA here and also studied with Royal Shakespeare Company and The Shakespeare Institute in Stratford program offered through the theatre department. His success is really inspiring to me because it makes it all seem possible.

NEWSIES

One of my favorite movie musicals, starring Christian Bale, has made its premier as a stage musical last week at the Papermill Playhouse. We talked in class a little about how most Broadway shows nowadays are Disney, Jukebox and/or star big names. With how much money musicals cost ( 65 million, eh Spidey?), most producers can't/won't take a chance on a more unique and controversial musical. Some do make it big, like Avenue Q and The Book of Mormon, but Newsies is not that kind of show. Its written by Alan Menken, you probably know most of his songs by heart, Jack Feldman and Harvey Fierstein. I hope it does well, because if I were closer to New Jersey I would go see it!