After playing sold-out runs in Los Angeles and two Off-Broadway engagements last year, Drew Droege’s acclaimed monologue play Bright Colors and Bold Patterns will return Off-Broadway beginning November 12. Directed by Michael Urie, the solo show about gay marriage will play an eight-week engagement at SoHo Playhouse. Filmed at The Skyline Hotel.
Playbill takes you on an exclusive tour of Scenic Arts Studios to see how Broadway's most vibrant backdrops—from Beauty and the Beast to Elf and more—come to life.
Fresh from its critically acclaimed world premiere engagement at Paper Mill Playhouse, Bandstand comes to Broadway with an explosive original score and choreography inspired by the high energy swing rhythms of the 1940s.
Grammy-nominated multi-platinum recording artist Josh Groban makes his long-awaited Broadway debut in The Great Comet, a unique theatrical experience taken from a 70-page slice of War and Peace by creator Dave Malloy.
Noted scenic designer, James Noone, explores the world of scenic design in Sunset Boulevard - giving an inside look into the creation, implementation, and artistry involved in designing a Broadway show.
Noted costume designer, Tracy Christensen, explores the world of costumes in Sunset Boulevard - giving an inside look into the creation, implementation, and artistry involved in designing a Broadway show.
The album was recorded last year by several of the stars from the 2016 world-premiere production in Arlington, including Heidi Blickenstaff and Emma Hunton, who starred as the mother and daughter who swap bodies for a day.
Broadway shows run like clockwork, and @TylerMount went backstage at Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 to find out what the stage management teams do to keep the performances moving without any mistakes!
Kevin Kline will return to Broadway in a revival of Noël Coward’s backstage comedy, Present Laughter. Watch as the St. James Theatre readies to welcome him back to Broadway for performances beginning March 10. Kate Burton, Kristine Nielsen, and Cobie Smulders will join Kline for the Coward comedy, set to officially open April 5.
School of Rock – The Musical’s Alex Brightman was the big man backstage at the Winter Garden Theatre even before he received his 2016 Tony nomination for Best Actor in a Musical—after all, most of his castmates are half his size. In this exclusive performance video, Brightman’s kid co-stars pick up toy instruments (Fender and Gibson have nothing on Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles guitars!) and Brightman takes lead vocals to tear it up with “Teacher’s Pet,” one of the show’s rousing Andrew Lloyd Webber/Glenn Slater anthems.
In Matilda The Musical, Christopher Sieber takes the stage as Miss Trunchbull, a headmistress determined to make the life of every student in the school as miserable as possible. Sieber is jolly fun, Trunchbull, well… not so much. How does he transform into the wicked character eight times a week? He invited Playbill backstage to find out!
Backstage at Straight, cast members Jenna Gavigan, Jake Epstein and Thomas E. Sullivan play a round of “Never Have I Ever.” As the trio reveals personal details, the talk turns to the drinking age in the U.S. vs. Canada, tattoos, wisdom teeth and the dangers of belting your favorite Wicked tune while driving.
Jake Epstein, Jenna Gavigan and newcomer Thomas E. Sullivan (he recently graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts) make up the cast of Straight, a new play that takes on issues of identity and sexuality. Despite the heady topics of the show, it‘s all fun and games backstage. In part one of this three part series, the cast plays a round of “Heads Up!,” a mobile device favorite.
Playbill went backstage with Chilina Kennedy at the Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical to get a look at how the star preps for the show. In Part One, Kennedy gets into her wig an makeup and explains the natural look of her character while revealing her tricks to get that authentic 1970s vibe.
Playbill went backstage with Chilina Kennedy at the Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical to get a look at how the star preps for the show. In Part Two, she runs through her warmup routine that features lots of yoga and stretching.
Playbill went backstage with Chilina Kennedy at the Broadway hit Beautiful: The Carole King Musical to get a look at how the star preps for the show. In Part Three, she took a moment to leave a magnetic poetry message for all the fans of the show.
On Your Feet! star Ana Villafañe gave Playbill a special backstage tour at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre. In Part One, Villafañe hopped up onstage as choreographer Sergio Trujillo ran cast members through a rehearsal of the show’s complex dance steps.
On Your Feet! star Ana Villafañe gave Playbill a special backstage tour at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre. In Part Two, Villafañe displayed the costumes (designed by ESosa) that transform her into Latin pop superstar Gloria Estefan.
On Your Feet! star Ana Villafañe gave Playbill a special backstage tour at Broadway’s Marquis Theatre. In Part Three, Villafañe popped into the wig room to take a peek at the super-curly wigs that bring “Latina fierceness” to the production.
Playbill visited School of Rock – The Musical star Sierra Boggess backstage at the Winter Garden Theatre to find out what Broadway means to her. She looked back (in song!) at The Little Mermaid and spoke about the “working magic” of her current castmates.
King of horror Stephen King went backstage at the Broadhurst Theatre to visit
Bruce Willis and Laurie Metcalf, the stars of Misery. The limited engagement show (it runs through Feb. 14) is based on King’s bestselling 1987 novel of the same name.
As Bright Star wrapped up its run at The Kennedy Center in Washington, DC, cast member Hannah Elless gave a backstage tour and revealed secrets about costumes, wigs, dressing rooms, set design and more. The new musical from Steve Martin and Edie Brickell begins on Broadway Feb. 25 at the Cort Theatre.
Backstage comedy Noises Off features several plates of sardines as key props. When Rob McClure, Andrea Martin and the cast of the Broadway revival of the show was feeling a bit peckish, there was no more appropriate snack than a tin of the overly briny fish. Are the mini fish fillets disgusting or delicious?
The Hunchback of Notre Dame cast members Samantha Massell, Nora Menken, Beth Kirkpatrick and Anise Ritchie took Playbill backstage to show off their favorite (and sometimes most challenging!) costumes to wear and shared the doo-dads, good luck charms and tchotchkes that they keep on hand in their dressing room. When all of that was said and done, a special guest popped in for a "Shake It Off" dance party! Watch Ciara Renée prep her hair and makeup for her character Esmeralda.
Inspired by the Oscar-winning film of the same name, the new musical An American in Paris features a book by Craig Lucas and a score comprised of George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin songs ("I Got Rhythm," "'SWonderful,") and orchestral pieces ("Concerto in F," "2nd Prelude"). After a Nov. 22-Dec. 10 world premiere at the Théâtre du Châtelet in Paris, the production will arrive on Broadway March 13 at the Palace Theatre. Here, cast members Will Burton, Jill Paice, Rebecca Eichenberger, Sam Strasfeld, Heather Lang and Robert Fairchild lead the way as they tour Paris and take a look at the show both onstage and backstage. See show details.
From the mind of creator Jonathan Christenson (director, book, music and lyrics) comes Nevermore — The Imaginary Life and Mysterious Death of Edgar Allan Poe. The musical combines fact and the author's own macabre fiction to tell his life story. Playbill went backstage with production designer Bretta Gerecke to take a look at the unusual upcycled props and costumes that give the Off-Broadway show its striking gothic look. See a musical preview of the show, now playing at New World Stages.
After almost five years on Broadway (and before that a year-plus Off-Broadway run), Rock of Ages will rock no more. On Jan. 8, the show will close after 22 previews and 2,328 regular performances, making it the 27th longest-running Broadway show of all time. Here, YouTube sensation Chester See (he plays Stacee Jaxx) takes camera in hand to document the final days of the now iconic show. Watch Part Two.
On Jan. 18, the now iconic Rock of Ages will lower its curtain for the last time. After 22 previews and 2,328 regular performances, the production will come to a close as the 27th longest-running Broadway show. Here, YouTube sensation Chester See (he plays Stacee Jaxx) documented the goings-on during a typical intermission, mostly involving the antics of Frankie James Grande. Watch Part Three.
On Jan. 8, Rock of Ages will come to a close as the 27th longest-running Broadway show with 22 previews and 2,328 regular performances on the record. In this series of exclusive backstage videos, YouTube sensation Chester See (he plays Stacee Jaxx) takes Playbill behind the scenes. Here, he interviews cast and crew to find out what they will miss the most about working on the now iconic musical. Watch Part One.
"On Stage Across America" tracks down The Illusionists, now on tour after a Broadway run. The performers are international magicians, escape artists and tricksters of all kinds including Adam Trent, a "futurist" who brings the digital realm into his world of magic. Go backstage at Cabaret.
In January's episode of NY1's "On Stage Across America," host Frank DiLella goes backstage at the revival of Cabaret and becomes a Kit Kat Boy for a day — and even relearns the saxophone (he last played in high school) to jam with the orchestra! See how Broadway costumes are cleaned.
On the Town's Elizabeth Stanley took video camera in hand to document everything that happens on an opening night on Broadway. In the final part of the series, Stanley captures the excitement of the storied Gypsy Robe ceremony. This Broadway tradition dates back to the 1950s and celebrates the dedication of long-time but often under-appreciated performers — for each new musical, the ensemble member with the most Broadway credits is awarded the Robe in an opening night ceremony. Watch Part Two.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts presents the world-premiere production of Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty's (music) Little Dancer. Set in the harsh backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet, the new musical is a fictionalized look at the life of the young ballerina who posed for Edgar Degas and became, inadvertently, the most famous dancer in the world.
On the Town's Elizabeth Stanley took video camera in hand to document everything that happens on an opening night on Broadway. In Part Two of the series, Stanley pops into the dressing rooms of her castmates (including Alysha Umphress, Jay Armstrong Johnson, Megan Fairchild and Jackie Hoffman) to see what opening night gifts they've gotten and to help get them even more fired up for the show! Watch Part One.
On the Town's Elizabeth Stanley took video camera in hand to document everything that happens on an opening night on Broadway. In Part One of the series, Stanley gets up entirely too early and has a delicious breakfast before heading to the Lyric Theatre. There, she gives a peek at her dressing room and all of her opening night gifts, as well as sharing the opening night gifts she has in store for others. If you've seen the show, you'll understand why T. Rexes are featured in abundance! See highlights from the production.
The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts will present the world-premiere production of Little Dancer. Set in the harsh backstage world of the Paris Opera Ballet, the new musical is a fictionalized look at the life of the young ballerina who posed for Edgar Degas and became, inadvertently, the most famous dancer in the world. Here, the cast (including Rebecca Luker as Adult Marie van Goethem, New York City Ballet principal dancer Tiler Peck as Young Marie van Goethem and Boyd Gaines as Edgar Degas) runs through four of the show's Lynn Ahrens (book and lyrics) and Stephen Flaherty (music) penned tunes. Five-time Tony winner Susan Stroman directs and choreographs. Read the Playbill story about ballet dancers making their marks on Broadway.
Kyle Taylor Parker stars as Lola alongside Steven Booth's Charlie Price in the national touring production of Kinky Boots. Here, KTP (as Parker is more familiarly known) arrives in Las Vegas for the first stop on the tour and gives a backstage peek at the Smith Center for the Performing Arts. Then, the cast readies for the first preview by running through the show’s numbers with the live orchestra and getting an inspirational speech from director Jerry Mitchell. Watch Parts 4 and 5.