Tony Award nominee Douglas Sills has been away from Broadway for quite a while, although fans remember his acclaimed performances in such shows as Little Shop of Horrors and The Scarlet Pimpernel. He has returned to the world of musical theater as the ruthless record producer Max in the world premiere of the Broadway-bound musical White Noise, which begins an eight-week run at Chicago’s The Royal George Theatre on April 1. TheaterMania recently spoke with Sills about the show.

THEATERMANIA: How is Chicago treating you?
DOUGLAS SILLS: So far, so good. I haven’t been able to see much. My days are like this: sleep, theatre, theatre, sleep.

TM: How would you describe White Noise?… Read the rest

Each month, BroadwayWorld shines the spotlight on stage actors making their Broadway debut as part of our “Debut of the Month” series.

This month, BroadwayWorld is showcasing 25-year-old actress Sheila Vand, who is making her Broadway debut, reprising her roles as Hadia and the Iraqi Teenager in Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo, starring Robin Williams.

Vand is a recent graduate from UCLA’s School of Theater, Film & TV. Her previous stage credits include Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo at the Mark Taper Forum and Kirk DouglasTheatre, Sneaky Nietzsche, Portrait of the Architect in Ruins, and Medea.

BroadwayWorld reporter Nick Orlando spoke with Vand about her Broadway debut.

Are you ready to take on Broadway?… Read the rest

THEATERMANA: So, you are taking over the role of Gomez from Nathan Lane in The Addams Family.… Read the rest

Having just wrapped up his role as Albin in La Cage Aux Folles on Broadway, Tony and Oliver Award winner Douglas Hodge is on his way back to New York. This time, he’s heading to the legendary Café Carlyle for the debut of his cabaret show, which will run from March 15th through March 26th.

BroadwayWorld reporter Nick Orlando spoke with Hodge about his run on Broadway, working with Kelsey Grammer, and what he has planned for his debut engagement.

You are currently in Los Angeles?

Yes, I fly out tonight to New York. I’m on a redeye. I have been in meetings – speaking with people about movies.

How would you sum up your year on Broadway?… Read the rest

THEATERMANIA: Can you believe the longevity of your career? Do you plan on following Betty White and working for another decade or so?
Shirley Jones: I hope so. Producers and directors are looking at her and realizing it’s okay to get old.… Read the rest

Today, Broadway World is featuring David West Read, a young, yet already established playwright. His most recent play,The Dream of the Burning Boy, is currently part of the Roundabout Underground and is playing at the Black Box Theatre in New York City. Read is a Lila Acheson Wallace Playwriting Fellow at The Juilliard School, and a recent graduate of the MFA program in Dramatic Writing at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. His work has been featured in the Pacific Playwrights Festival at South Coast Repertory, the Samuel French Off-Off Broadway Short Play Festival, NYU’s Festival of New Works, the Toronto Fringe, and the SummerWorks Festival.

Broadway World reporter Nick Orlando spoke with Read about his current piece and upcoming projects.… Read the rest