Landing a starring Broadway role as the “King of New York” — aka Jack Kelly in the hit Broadway musical Newsies at the Nederlander Theatre – is certainly a dream come true for Corey Cott. The actor, who just graduated from Carnegie Mellon University’s School of Drama this past May, recently spoke with TheaterMania about his ambitious debut on the Great White Way.

THEATERMANIA. How did this role come about?
COREY COTT: I was auditioning for a bunch of stuff while I was in college. One day, I went to [casting director] Bernard Telsey’s office to audition for something else and found out that Newsies was looking for a Jack Kelly standby.… Read the rest

Perez Hilton launched his celebrity entertainment blog PerezHilton.com  in 2004, and has since created a media empire that includes television, radio, and music. Now, he’s making his New York stage debut in the Off-Broadway hit NEWSical the Musical at Theatre Row’s Kirk Theatre, September 8-October 7.

TheaterMania recently spoke with Hilton about his acting background, changes in the show, which celebrity friends he expects to see in the audience, why Oprah inspires him, and his career aspirations.

THEATERMANIA: You graduated from NYU with a BFA in Drama. Did you ever consider acting for a living?
PEREZ HILTON: I gave acting a shot when I graduated, but it didn’t work out.… Read the rest

In less than two years, Jared Gertner went from being an understudy to playing Elder Cunningham in the blockbuster Tony Award-winning musical The Book of Mormon at Broadway’s Eugene O’Neill Theatre to headlining the show’s first national tour, which launches on August 14 at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in Denver, Colorado. TheaterMania chatted with Gertner about his journey with the show, performing at the Tony Awards, and his expectations of life on the road.

THEATERMANIA: How would you describe going from understudy to taking over the lead role of Elder Cunningham on Broadway, and now on tour?
JARED GERTNER: It’s been an incredible journey. I never covered a role before; I was never a standby.… Read the rest

THEATERMANIA: How would you describe the show?
FARAH ALVIN: It is a very broad comedy in the style ofAvenue Q. It has this equal opportunity vibe of making fun of everyone.

TM: Do you think this is a topical subject?… Read the rest

Broadway veteran Aaron Lazar has wowed theatergoers in such shows as A Little Night Music, Les Misérables, The Light in the Piazza, and recently starred opposite Megan Hilty and Rachel York in the acclaimed City Center Encores! production of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. He has now returned to the Great White Way as Sam Carmichael in Benny Andersson and Björn Ulvaeus’ global smash hit musical, Mamma Mia!. TheaterMania recently spoke with Lazar about his latest role.

THEATERMANIA: How did Mamma Mia! come about for you?
AARON LAZAR: It was pretty standard. My agent called and I went to audition. I had never seen the show. So I saw it and had way more fun than I ever thought!… Read the rest

We are only one day away from the American Theatre Wing’s 66th Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards, hosted by Neil Patrick Harris. If you are in a Tony pool, here are my predictions:

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Jeremy Jordan (Newsies)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical:
Audra McDonald (Porgy and Bess)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Featured Role in a Musical:
Michael Cerveris (Evita)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Musical:
Judy Kaye (Nice Work If You Can Get It)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role in a Play:
 James Corden (One Man, Two Guvnors)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play:
Nina Arianda (Venus in Fur)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Featured Role in a Play:
Judith Light (Other Desert Cities)

Best Revival of a Play:
Death of a Salesman

Best Revival of a Musical:
Porgy and Bess

Best Play:
Claybourne Park

Best Musical:
Once

Let’s see what happens tomorrow night!… Read the rest

In a change of pace, Donovan is currently starring in the world premiere of Kenneth Lonergan‘s comedy Medieval Play at Off-Broadway’s Signature Theatre. TheaterMania recently chatted with Donovan about his latest role, his new NBC show, Infamous with Victor Garber, and what it’s like to work behind the scenes on Glee.… Read the rest

Now, Spencer is taking on the role of small-town girl Sherrie in the hit Broadway musical, Rock of Ages, at the Helen Hayes Theatre. TheaterMania recently chatted with Spencer about the show, learning how to work the stripper pole, and celebrating the Tony Award nomination of her fiancé, Newsies star Jeremy Jordan.… Read the rest

After coming to national attention on MTV’s Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods, Rachel Potter has starred in such hit shows as Wicked and The Addams Family. She is currently appearing as the Mistress in the Broadway revival of the musical Evita, now at the Marquis Theatre, and will appear in concert at Joe’s Pub on Sunday, May 13 at 9:30pm to celebrate her new country music EP, Live the Dream, with special guest Constantine Maroulis.

TheaterMania recently talked to Potter about working with her Evita co-star Ricky Martin, receiving praise from Andrew Lloyd Webber, and her upcoming album and concert.

THEATERMANIA: How was the opening night of Evita?… Read the rest