Broadway Honors the Late Robert Goulet

Singer Robert Goulet passed away yesterday at the age of 73. The beloved entertainer was best known to theater fans as Sir Lancelot in the original Broadway production of the musical Camelot. Broadway paid its respect to Mr. Goulet tonight by dimming the lights of its marquees.

Broadway Stagehands Union Contract Update

The latest news in the ongoing contract dispute between the Broadway stagehands union Local One and the League of American Theatres and Producers is that the two parties will return to the negotiating table on November 7. Talks between the Broadway stagehands and producers ceased on October 9, and since that time, Local One voted to authorize a strike (if necessary) and the producers began implementing portions of their proposed contract, even though the union obviously hasn't accepted the offer. Local One leadership instructed its members to go ahead and abide by the new provisions until a new contract has been officially agreed upon.

At this stage, it's hard to say whether or not there will be a strike. The League's imposition of the new rules was an aggressive move that seemed designed to provoke, but Local One has never gone on strike before and likely doesn't want to start now. The head of IATSE, Local One's parent union, will be present at the new negotiations, which isn't necessarily a good sign, though -- an IATSE representative must be present at one round of talks before Local One is permitted to strike.

Les Miserables To Close on Broadway January 6

The current Broadway revival of Les Miserables will close on January 6, 2008. The production was originally scheduled for a limited six-month run, but extended its Broadway engagement due to high ticket demand. The original Broadway production of Les Miz played for more than 15 years and is one of the longest-running Broadway shows of all time.

Broadway Stars in New Movie Dan in Real Life

There's a whole lot of Broadway on the big screen right now, thanks to the new warm-hearted comedy Dan in Real Life, which opened in movie theaters this weekend. Playing Steve Carell's brother is Norbert Leo Butz, who has starred in Broadway musicals Wicked and Dirty Rotten Scoundrels and is currently on the Great White Way in the Mark Twain play Is He Dead? Carell's eldest daughter is played by Allison Pill, who is also currently starring in a Broadway play, Mauritius. Other Broadway regulars in the Dan in Real Life cast include Matthew Morrison, John Mahoney, and Frank Wood.

Harvey Keitel Will Star in Jerry Springer - The Opera at Carnegie Hall

Film actor Harvey Keitel will play the title role in a concert version of Jerry Springer - The Opera taking place at Carnegie Hall on January 29 and 30. Though it was a hit in London, Jerry Springer has never made it to Broadway, but concert versions of it are beginning to pop up around the country.

A Bronx Tale Opens on Broadway Tonight

Chazz Palminteri, in his Broadway debut, opens his one-man show "A Bronx Tale" tonight at the Walter Kerr Theatre. Actor/writer Palminteri, best known for his screen roles, performed A Bronx Tale Off-Broadway and in L.A. several years ago, eventually leading to the 1993 movie version starring himself and Robert DeNiro. He has now finally brought the show to Broadway, where it will play through February 10, 2008.

Laurence Fishburne To Do One-Man Show on Broadway in '08

Acclaimed film actor Laurence Fishburne will be coming to Broadway in 2008 to perform George Stevens Jr.'s one-man play Thurgood, based on the life of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall. Although Fishburne is best known for his roles in movies such as The Matrix, he is no stranger to Broadway, having won a Tony Award for his performance in Two Trains Running. The actor's most recent Broadway appearance was in the revival of The Lion in Winter.

Thurgood will begin performances on March 30th at the Booth Theatre (following the limited run of The Seafarer) and have its Broadway opening on April 20th.

The Seafarer Starts Broadway Performances Early

The new Broadway play The Seafarer, previously scheduled to start performances on October 31, will now begin its Broadway preview period on October 30. The Conor McPherson play will have its official Broadway opening at the Booth Theatre on November 15.

Sweeney Todd Soundtracks To Be Released Dec. 18

Sweeney Todd, Tim Burton's forthcoming film version of the 1979 Broadway musical, will have two soundtrack recordings, to be released by Nonesuch Records on December 18. One of them will be a special two-disc deluxe edition that features all of the music from the movie, as well as bonus material and a bound booklet. Previously, The Phantom of the Opera film took the same course, offering a deluxe soundtrack package, as well as a scaled down "highlights" recording.

Broadway Mamma Mia! Hits Milestone Today

Today, the Broadway production of Mamma Mia! became the 18th-longest running musical in Broadway history. The hit ABBA musical, which doesn't show signs of slowing down anytime soon, bypassed The Producers to gain its spot.

Broadway Cast of Wicked To Appear at FAO Schwarz For Unveiling of Wicked Dolls on Oct. 23

Elphaba and Glinda, two characters from the smash Broadway musical Wicked, are being immortalized in the form of Madame Alexander dolls. The release of the 10" dolls will be marked by the appearance of cast members from the Broadway company of Wicked, along with Alexander Doll Company designers, at FAO Schwarz (5th Avenue at 58th Street) on October 23 at 4:30pm. The Wicked cast will perform, followed by a signing.

Passing Strange Coming To Broadway

Passing Strange, the new musical by singer/songwriter Stew and Heidi Rodewald, will be coming to Broadway's Belasco Theatre in February '08. The show, which is about a young black man's journey from middle class life in L.A. to the wilds of Amsterdam and Berlin, had a successful Off-Broadway run earlier this year at the Public Theater. The entire original cast will reprise their roles for the Broadway production, which will have its official Broadway opening on February 28.

Broadway Stars Sing on CBS's Viva Laughlin Tonight

The new CBS musical drama -- yes, you read that right -- Viva Laughlin premieres tonight at 10pm Eastern/Standard time. Based on the BBC's Viva Blackpool, the Nevada-set show is about a gambler who wants to open his own casino. And characters occasionally break into song (well-known contemporary tunes, rather than original songs). Hugh Jackman and Melanie Griffith, who appeared on Broadway recently in The Boy From Oz and Chicago, respectively, will both be singing on tonight's episode. This airing of Viva Laughlin is a sort of "sneak preview" of the pilot -- the show's regular timeslot will be 8pm on Sundays.

Godspell Revival Coming To Broadway In 2008

Godspell, the Stephen Schwartz/John-Michael Tebelak rock musical based on the Gospel According to Matthew, will have its first Broadway revival in the summer of 2008. This Broadway production will reunite the team (including director Danny Goldstein) behind the 2006 Paper Mill Playhouse production of the show.

Clay Aiken To Join Broadway Cast of Spamalot

American Idol finalist Clay Aiken will be making his Broadway debut on January 18, 2008 in Monty Python's Spamalot. Aiken will be taking on the role of Sir Robin, the part originated on Broadway by David Hyde Pierce, and he is currently scheduled to be in the show through May 4.

Broadway and TV Star Megan Mullally Releases Third Solo CD

Although she is best known for her portrayal of Karen on NBC's Will & Grace, Megan Mullally has extensive stage credits, including past Broadway revivals of Grease! and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. Now on Broadway again in the Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein, Mullally is also celebrating the release of her third vocal recording, "Free Again!" now in stores.

Broadway Stagehands Union Contract Update

Some people, particularly those holding tickets for Broadway shows, have been concerned that the current contract dispute between Local One (the Broadway stagehands union) and the League of American Theatres and Producers could result in a Broadway shutdown. The latest from Local One is that they will be meeting on October 21st for a vote to authorize the union leadership to take whatever steps necessary in the event that the League implements work rules that the union has not agreed to. Even at that point, it appears that a strike couldn't happen for another 10 days. And in its entire history, Local One has yet to ever strike, so there's probably no need to panic yet.

Regardless of the outcome, certain Broadway shows (which are playing at theaters that are under a different contract) would not be affected by either a strike or a lockout. These shows include: Young Frankenstein, Mary Poppins, The Ritz, Mauritius, and Pygmalion.

Broadway-Bound A Tale of Two Cities Begins Performances Tonight in Sarasota

A Tale of Two Cities, the new musical based on the classic Charles Dickens novel, begins performances tonight in Sarasota, Florida for its out-of-town tryout. The Jill Santoriello musical is hoping to hit Broadway in early 2008, but no date has been set. Two Cities stars frequent Broadway leading man James Barbour (Beauty and the Beast, Jane Eyre) and Derek Keeling, one of the finalists from Grease - You're the One That I Want.

Legally Blonde To Air Tomorrow on MTV

Remember to tune into MTV tomorrow, October 13, at 1pm to see the taping of the Broadway production of Legally Blonde. It was originally scheduled to air late last month, but postponed (presumably to allow more time to publicize it). In case you miss the 1pm showing, it is expected to re-air again at 8pm, and then the next day at 1pm.

The Ritz Opens Today on Broadway

The Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Terrence McNally's farcical play The Ritz opened this evening on Broadway at Studio 54. The production, which stars Rosie Perez and Kevin Chamberlain, will play a limited run that ends on December 2nd.

Broadway Producers and Stagehands in Troubled Contract Negotiations

Things are getting tense between the League of American Theatres and Producers and Local One (aka the stagehands union). On October 9, following a month of contract negotiations, both sides presented what they considered to be their final offers -- which are, needless to say, incompatible. Hopefully the League and Local One will work out their differences soon, or else Broadway could come to a standstill. Without stagehands, the show simply can't go on.

Sopranos Stars Hit Broadway

Aida Turturro and Vincent Pastore, best known for their roles as Janice Soprano and Sal "Big Pussy" Bonpensiero on the acclaimed HBO series The Sopranos, will be joining the Broadway cast of Chicago on November 19. Turturro will be taking on the role of Matron "Mama" Morton, while Pastore will play sad sack Amos Hart.

Cast of Broadway's Grease To Appear at Virgin Megastore Today

Max Crumm, Laura Osnes, and other members of the cast of the current Broadway revival of Grease are appearing today at the Virgin Megastore in Times Square at 6:30pm. The Grease kids are gathering to celebrate the new Broadway cast recording of the show, which was released on October 2. Crumm, Osnes, and company will perform four songs at the event, and then they will sign copies of the CD for fans.

Rosie O'Donnell's Artwork To Appear Off-Broadway

Broadway booster and sometime Broadway star Rosie O'Donnell is now coming out as an artist. From October 9 through December 2, she will have a gallery show entitled "Solace" at the Off-Broadway complex New World Stages. O'Donnell most recently starred on Broadway as a replacement in the Fiddler on the Roof revival, and prior to that appeared in the previous Broadway revival of Grease and in the Ahrens & Flaherty musical Seussical.

George Wendt to Play Edna in Broadway Hairspray

Beloved Cheers barfly George Wendt will join the cast of Broadway's Hairspray on October 23 in the role of Edna Turnblad (originated by Harvey Fierstein on Broadway, and by John Travolta in the hit film version of the musical). Wendt, who has recently appeared on stage in Art and 12 Angry Men, is scheduled to be Broadway's Edna through January 20, 2008.

Carpinello Won't Return to Broadway's Xanadu

Although it shouldn't be a surprise to anybody at this point, a producer of Xanadu has finally made the announcement that James Carpinello won't be returning to the show. Carpinello originated the role of Sonny in Xanadu on Broadway, but was injured during previews, at which point Cheyenne Jackson took over the part. Carpinello was initially expected to return after he recovered, but it's now official that Jackson will continue to play Sonny on Broadway.

Broadway, Film, and TV Actor George Grizzard Dies

Actor George Grizzard, perhaps best known for his work in Edward Albee's plays (he was Nick in the original Broadway production of Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?), died from lung cancer on October 2nd, at the age of 79. His most recent theater roles included a revival of Albee's Seascape on Broadway, and Off-Broadway in Paul Rudnick's Regrets Only.

25th Anniversary Edition of Forbidden Broadway To Be Recorded on DRG

Forbidden Broadway: Rude Awakening, the latest incarnation of the cheeky Off-Broadway review that merrily skewers Broadway shows, will be captured on CD as a part of Forbidden Broadway: The 25th Anniversary, to be released on DRG in January 2008. This ninth Forbidden Broadway recording will not only include Rude Awakening material, but will also contain songs from previous editions of the show that never made it onto disc before.

Parade Gets New Life in London

The Jason Robert Brown/Alfred Uhry musical Parade, which premiered on Broadway in the 1998-1999 season, is getting great reviews in its London production at the prestigious Donmar Warehouse. And word is that this production will also yield an original London cast recording. Great news for fans of this musical drama about Leo Frank, which had an all-too-brief life on Broadway.