Corbin Bleu became a household name as Chad Danforth in Disney’s smash hit television movie
High School Musical, and later made his Broadway debut in 2010 as bodega-owner Usnavi in the Tony Award-winning musical
In the Heights. He recently returned to the Great White Way to star as Jesus in the revival of the legendary musical
Godspell at
Circle in the Square. TheaterMania recently spoke with Bleu about taking on this demanding role.
THEATERMANIA: Is your second time on Broadway a bit easier than the first?
CORBIN BLEU: No! It’s actually the complete opposite. For me, on a personal level, when you get another chance at something, you want to do it better than the last time.… Read the rest
Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty have created scores for a host of musicals and films, earning a Tony Award, two Oscar nominations (for the animated film
Anastasia), and a slew of other honors along the way. Right now, however, the ever-busy pair are preparing for new productions of two of their biggest hits,
Once on This Island, which will play New Jersey’s
Paper Mill’s Playhouse, May 30-June 24, and
Ragtime, which will play London’s
Open Air Theatre, May 18-August 8, as well as creating a musical version of the hit film
Rocky.
On April 30, The New York Pops will honor this dynamic duo during its annual birthday gala at Carnegie Hall with an evening of their songs entitled Journey On, featuring a star-studded line-up including, LaChanze, Norm Lewis, Marin Mazzie, Andrew Rannells, and many more.… Read the rest
Caissie Levy has wowed audiences in such shows as
Hairspray, Wicked, Rent, and most notably, the Broadway revival of
Hair, in which she played Sheila. Now, Levy has returned to New York to star as Molly Jensen, who is haunted by the spirit of her dead husband Sam, in
Ghost The Musical now at Broadway’s
Lunt-Fontanne Theatre. TheaterMania caught up with Levy during previews to discuss her return to the Great White Way in this highly anticipated show.
THEATERMANIA: You originated the role in Manchester and London. How did your casting initially come about?
CAISSIE LEVY: I met our director, Matthew Warchus, in 2009 while I was doing Hair in New York.… Read the rest
Up-and-coming Broadway actor Ben Fankhauser is making his Broadway debut in Disney’s Newsies, a musical based on the 1992 hit movie about the New York City newsboy strike of 1899. After a successful run at Paper Mill Playhouse, the highly anticipated show is coming to Broadway for a strictly limited engagement (March 28 through August 19, 2012).
Fankhauser is playing the role of newsboy Davey, which he originated during the Paper Mill run. He is a recent graduate of Ithaca College, where he received his BFA. Fankhauser’s other theater credits include Ernst in the first national tour of the Tony-winning musical Spring Awakening.
About.com’s Nick Orlando chatted with Fankhauser about his Broadway debut.
… Read the rest
Alexis Bledel starred on the critically acclaimed television series
Gilmore Girls for seven seasons, earning two Teen Choice Awards for her portrayal of Rory Gilmore. Since then, Bledel has gone on to appear in numerous films, including
Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants, Sin City, and
Tuck Everlasting, and made her stage debut last year Off-Broadway in
Love, Loss and What I Wore.She’s currently starring in the world premiere of Matt Charman’s
Regrets, being presented by Manhattan Theatre Club at
New York City Center -Stage I, in which she plays Chryssie, a young prostitute in Reno who hooks up with the residents of a camp for soon-to-be divorced men.
… Read the rest
Christopher Jackson made his Broadway debut as Simba in
The Lion King and played Benny in the Tony Award-winning musical
In the Heights. In addition to his acting work, Jackson has written songs for will.i.am, Sean Kingston, LL Cool J, and Mario; released his debut solo R&B album,
In the Name of Love, last year, and is composing songs for PBS’
Sesame Street.
He is currently playing the role of nightclub owner Delray in the Tony Award-winning musical Memphis, now at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre, for a limited engagement through February 27. TheaterMania chatted with Jackson about his role in the musical.
THEATERMANIA: How did your interest in Memphis come about?… Read the rest
After a stint on the fourth season of American Idol, Constantine Maroulis moved on to Broadway, starring first in The Wedding Singer and then in Rock of Ages, originating the role of wannabe rocker Drew, and earning a Tony Award nomination for Best Actor. Now, Maroulis is kicking off 2012 as nerdy scientist Melvin Ferd the Third in The Toxic Avenger at the Alley Theatre in Houston, Texas. TheaterMania caught up with Maroulis to discuss the show, his experiences with Rock of Ages, and his advice for other reality show contestants.
THEATERMANIA: What made you want to do this show?
CONSTANTINE MAROULIS: I have been a fan of co-writers David Bryan and Joe DiPietro for a long time.… Read the rest
Broadway has some familiar — and fantastic — female faces back on the boards: Carolee Carmello has joined the cast of
Sister Act as Mother Superior; Rebecca Faulkenberry is now starring in
Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark as Mary Jane; and Emily Padgett has returned to
Rock of Ages as Sherrie. TheaterMania recently spoke to these three talented ladies about their latest gigs.
THEATERMANIA: This has been a busy year for you, fromThe Addams Family to Saving Aimee and now Sister Act. How did this job come about?
CAROLEE CARMELLO: I’m not totally sure. I didn’t audition. I got a call from my manager while I was in Seattle doing Saving Aimee.… Read the rest
Aaron Carter rose to fame as a teen pop star when his first full-length solo album,
Aaron Carter achieved gold status worldwide, while his follow-up,
Aaron’s Party, went triple-platinum. He made his Broadway debut in the musical
Seussical in 2001 and is now back on the New York stage as Matt in the long-running Off-Broadway show,
The Fantasticks, at the Snapple Theater Center. TheaterMania recently spoke with Carter about the production, how it feels to be back in New York, and his music career.
THEATERMANIA: What’s it like being on stage again in a musical?
AARON CARTER: It’s great! I have been performing my whole life. When I’m not performing, I’m bored.… Read the rest
Gideon Glick made his Broadway debut as Ernst in
Spring Awakening in 2006, after which he went on to perform in Roundabout Underground’s production of Stephen Karam’s
Speech and Debate and Broadway’s
Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark, until his role was cut during the musical’s lengthy preview period.
Now, Glick returns to the stage as Jacob in MCC Theater’s world premiere of Thomas Higgins’ Wild Animals You Should Know, co-starring Tony Award winner Alice Ripley, which begins previews on November 3 at the Lucille Lortel Theatre. TheaterMania spoke with Glick in between rehearsals about his career.
THEATERMANIA: How does it feel to be back on stage?
GIDEON GLICK: It’s lovely. Spider-Man was a great experience.… Read the rest
