Cast of Broadway's Xanadu To Appear at Barnes & Noble Event On January 10

In celebration of the recent release of the Xanadu cast recording, Kerry Butler, Cheyenne Jackson, Tony Roberts, Mary Testa, Jackie Hoffman, and the entire Broadway company will appear at the Lincoln Center Barnes & Noble (1972 Broadway at 66th Street) on January 10 at 5:30pm. Cast members will perform songs from the show and, along with Xanadu bookwriter Douglas Carter Beane, will sign copies of the CD.

Drowsy Chaperone Closes on Broadway Today

The Broadway musical The Drowsy Chaperone has its final performance at the Marquis Theatre today, following a successful run of 674 shows and 32 previews. Happily, Drowsy still lives on through its national tour and its original Broadway cast album.

Sweeney Debuts At #56 On Billboard 200

Broadway hits the Billboard 200 this week (sort of), as the Sweeney Todd film soundtrack debuts at #56 on the music charts. That's certainly not bad for a musical, even if Sweeney can't begin to compete with those teen-centric musicals High School Musical and Hannah Montana. On the actual Top Soundtracks chart, Sweeney Todd is #8, while the original Broadway cast recording of the musical is now #11 on the Top Cast Albums chart.

Original Broadway Cast Recording For Young Frankenstein Now Available

The original Broadway cast album for the new Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein has just been released. Although the Brooks-penned score may be this glitzy Broadway show's weakest feature, the CD does boast performances from some of Broadway's most talented actor/singers, including Roger Bart, Sutton Foster, Megan Mullaly, Christopher Fitzgerald, and Shuler Hensley.

Broadway Choreographer Michael Kidd Dies

Michael Kidd, musical choreographer for both film and the Broadway stage, has just passed away at the age of 92. Winner of five Tony Awards for his Broadway work, Kidd most famously created the dances for the original production of Guys & Dolls, the film of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and the Fred Astaire/Cyd Charisse ballet in The Band Wagon. Michael Kidd also did the choreography for the Broadway musicals Finian's Rainbow, Can-Can, Li'l Abner, and The Goodbye Girl.

Sweeney Todd Opens in Movie Theaters!

Tim Burton's film version of the Stephen Sondheim/Hugh Wheeler musical Sweeney Todd opened in theaters this weekend, and so far the reception has been very positive. Not only have many of the notoriously finicky Sondheim fans given the movie two thumbs up, but so have the critics (Sweeney is currently showing an 87% positive rating at rottentomates.com) and the general movie-going audience (it's Number 4 at the box office).

Based on the Christopher Bond play (which is based on the 19th century legend of a murderous barber), the musical Sweeney Todd opened on Broadway in 1979. It was that rarest of creatures: the horror musical. Burton's largely faithful film, which stars Johnny Depp and Helena Bonham Carter, emphasizes the gloom and gore even more so. It was a risk to turn such an ambitious Broadway musical into a mainstream film, but so far it looks like the gamble has paid off.

Phantom Sequel Gets Director

When it was announced some time ago that Andrew Lloyd Webber planned to do a sequel to his massive worldwide phenomenon The Phantom of the Opera (which was based on the Gaston Leroux novel of the same name), there was some skepticism. After all, musical sequels are rare, and this sequel was to be based on a Frederick Forsyth novel "The Phantom of Manhattan," which is not nearly as well liked as the Leroux original. However, recent reports indicate that Lloyd Webber is still moving ahead with the project, to be titled Phantom in Manhattan, and that Jack O'Brien is slated to be the director. Bob Crowley will serve as set designer, and apparently Forsyth himself is working on the show's book.

Drowsy Chaperone To End Its Broadway Run 12/30

Sadly, the delightful musical comedy The Drowsy Chaperone is going to be put to sleep on December 30, when it has its final performance on Broadway. A funny and affectionate homage to old musicals, Drowsy will be missed, but it does boast a strong run of 674 performances. The show also won five Tony Awards and managed to recoup its investment (no mean feat for any Broadway musical).

West Side Story Coming Back to Broadway?

Arthur Laurents, bookwriter for West Side Story, recently indicated that he plans to bring a brand new version of the legendary musical to the Broadway stage. He claims that he's found a way to "update" the story (which is already an update of Romeo & Juliet) without changing any of the text. No details available as of yet, but in the meantime, we can look forward to the Laurents-directed revival of Gypsy (for which he also wrote the book), arriving on Broadway in early '08.

Pygmalion Closes and The Homecoming Opens on Broadway Today

Broadway debutante Claire Danes takes her final bow in Pygmalion today at the American Airlines Theatre. Meanwhile, over at the Cort Theatre, the revival of Harold Pinter's The Homecoming has its official Broadway opening.

Broadway-To-Screen Musicals Nab Globe Noms

To look at the list of Golden Globe nominations this year, you'd almost think it was the old days again, when big screen musicals were common. After a long dry spell, when the category title "Best Motion Picture - Musical or Comedy" seemed like a relic of the Golden Age, the film version of Chicago changed everything. Although subsequent Broadway-to-Hollywood transfers like Phantom and Rent weren't very successful, last year's Dreamgirls did much better with both critics and audiences.

This year, things are looking even brighter. Hairspray (which is still playing on Broadway) was a big, fat summer hit, and the dark slasher musical Sweeney Todd is looking like it will do bloody good box office this Christmas. Both films snagged Golden Globe noms in the aforementioned category, and a third musical also made the cut -- Across the Universe, director Julie Taymor's (The Lion King) film musical that utilizes Beatles songs to tell its story. A couple other musical films that weren't honored still had stars that were recognized (Amy Adams in Enchanted, John C. Reilly in Walk Hard), and both Sweeney and Hairspray's stars got acting nominations (Johnny Depp and Helen Bonham Carter, Nikki Blonsky).

Broadway Revival of Company To Air in February

A broadcast date has been set for the airing of the recent Broadway revival of the musical Company, which was taped during its run last season. Company will air on PBS as a part of its "Great Performances" series on February 20, 2008. (But be sure to check local listings, because sometimes different affiliates air programs on slightly different dates.)

Big Stars Will Be in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof Revival

The cast of the forthcoming all-black revival of Tennessee Williams' Cat on a Hot Tin Roof is boasting a quartet of big names. It has just been announced that Terrence Howard (Crash, Hustle & Flow) will star as drunk jock Brick, making his Broadway debut. Opposite him as feisty Maggie will be Anika Noni Rose (Dreamgirls), whose turn in Caroline, or Change on Broadway earned her a Tony Award. And stage stalwarts James Earl Jones and Phylicia Rashad will take on the roles of Big Daddy and Big Mama, respectively. Cat on a Hot Tin Roof officially opens on Broadway on March 6.

Broadway Stagehands Approve Contract

It's official! Local One, the Broadway stagehands union, has ratified its contract with the League of American Theatres and Producers. Though the details of the contract, which was tentatively agreed upon between the two parties after a three-week Broadway strike and extensive negotiations, are unknown, it will be in effect for five years.

Is He Dead? Opens, The Ritz Closes on Broadway

Today marked the final performance of the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of Terrence McNally's farce The Ritz at Studio 54. Meanwhile, over at the Lyceum Theatre, the Mark Twain play Is He Dead? (adapted by David Ives) enjoyed its Broadway opening. This is the first production of the Twain comedy, which was only recently re-discovered, and it stars Broadway regular Norbert Leo Butz as an artist who fakes his own death.

Broadway and the Grammy Awards

The 50th Annual Grammy Award nominations were recently announced, and several Broadway shows are among this year's selections. Nominated in the Musical Show Album category are a new West Side Story recording, the recent revival of Company, Grey Gardens, and cast albums for two musicals that are still wowing audiences on Broadway, Spring Awakening and the revival of A Chorus Line. Broadway musicals are further honored by the Grammys in the form of the soundtracks to the new movie versions of Dreamgirls and Hairspray, which were both nominated for Best Compilation Soundtrack for Film/TV/Visual Media. Dreamgirls even snagged a Best Song Written for Film/TV/Visual Media nomination for "I Love You I Do".

The Duke of Broadway: John Schneider To Play Billy Flynn in Chicago

The Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider is to be the latest in a very long line of former TV celebrities to join the cast of the Broadway revival of Chicago. On January 14, Schneider will begin a two-month stint in the role of Billy Flynn, the too-slick lawyer who knows how to razzle dazzle a courtroom (and, hopefully, a Broadway audience!). Schneider is not new to Broadway, having made his debut in Grand Hotel, in addition to many other theater credits outside of Broadway.

Seafarer Sails on Broadway Tonight

The Broadway openings keep on coming. The Seafarer officially opens tonight at the Booth Theatre, three weeks later than originally planned (delayed due to the Broadway strike, obviously). This production of Conor McPherson's play, starring David Morse and Ciaran Hinds, comes to Broadway following a run at London's National Theatre. Other McPherson plays that have appeared on Broadway include The Weir and Shining City.

David Hyde Pierce To Keep With Curtains Till Summer

David Hyde Pierce, star of the Broadway musical mystery comedy Curtains, will be staying with the show until summer 2008. It is usually tough to keep a big name on Broadway for more than a year at a time, but Pierce has stated that he's enjoying Curtains so much that he felt compelled to stick with it longer than he was originally contracted to. Pierce won a Tony Award last year for his role as Lt. Frank Cioffi, the Broadway-loving detective. He has appeared on Broadway a few times before Curtains too, most notably in Spamalot and The Heidi Chronicles.

It Feels Like August on Broadway

August: Osage County, another new show delayed by the strike, finally opens on Broadway tonight. The dark dysfunctional family comedy is by Tracy Letts (Bug, Killer Joe) and has a daunting three hour running time. But word is that the play, which had an acclaimed summer run at Chicago's Steppenwolf Theatre, is fantastic.

Farnsworth Finally Gets Its Broadway Opening

The Farnsworth Invention opens on Broadway tonight at the Music Box Theatre. The Aaron Sorkin drama was originally scheduled to have its official opening on November 14, but was delayed due to the Broadway stagehands strike which began on the 10th. Farnsworth stars Hank Azaria and Jimmi Simpson as two men battling for the patent on that extraordinary invention known as the television.

End of Strike Brings Broadway Ticket Discounts

No sooner had the Broadway stagehands' strike ended and shows started offering up discounted tickets to entice audiences back to the theater. Although the hot ticket shows like The Lion King and Wicked are still charging full price, and discounts continue to be scarce during the upcoming Christmas and New Year's weeks, most shows are offering terrific ticket discounts up until then. Broadway plays and musicals from August: Osage County to Xanadu are offering up cheap tickets, so get them while you can!