Lend Me a Tenor returns to Broadway

LEND ME A TENOR returns to Broadway on April 4, 2010 at the Music Box Theatre (239 West 45th Street), starring Anthony LaPaglia, Tony Shalhoub, Jan Maxwell, Mary Catherine Garrison, Jennifer Laura Thompson, Jay Klaitz, and Brooke Adams.

Preview performances will begin March 11.

The re-make of Ken Ludwig’s comedy will be directed by Stanley Tucci and is produced by The Araca Group, Stuart Thompson, Carl Moellenberg, Rodney Rigby, Olympus Theatricals, Broadway Across America, in Association with Lisa Cartwright, Wendy Federman/Jamie deRoy.

Set in the 1930s, LEND ME A TENOR is a madcap screwball comedy that takes place when Tito Merelli, the fiery-tempered and world famous Italian superstar, arrives in Cleveland, Ohio to make his debut with the local opera and promptly goes missing. As Saunders, the show’s presenter, conspires to cover for Tito’s absence, placate his hot-blooded wife, and distract his most passionate fans, chaos on a truly operatic level ensues.

Broadway’s Christmas Week Performance Schedule

Most Broadway shows have an irregular performance schedule during Christmas week, Dec. 21-27. Playbill.com has compiled the schedules of all of the Broadway shows performing during that week and New Years:

Click here for Christmas Special Schedule

Click here for New Years Special Schedule

Wicked became 20th Longest Running Show in Broadway History

Last week the Broadway smashing-hit WICKED has surpassed Avenue Q in the list of  longest-running shows in Broadway history coming into the 20th place.

Winner of 26 major awards including the Grammy Award and three Tony Awards, WICKED is the untold story of the witches of Oz. Long before Dorothy drops in, two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. WICKED tells the story of their remarkable odyssey, how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

via BBW

Video of the Week: Wicked BackStage (Part 2)

Amazing Wicked BackStage Video with Marybeth Abel,Production Stage Manager, made by BroadwayWorld

Click the image to Play the video

Idina Menzel is (YET not) confirmed for GLEE

Idina Menzel might be appearing as a new character on the TV success show GLEE when airing returns in Spring of 2010 but is YET not officially confirmed. However, many sources had agree that Ms. Menzel will be part of the second half of the season.

Idina may appear in all of the nine remaining episodes to complete first season as the coach of rival Glee Club .

Girl of the Week: Katie Rose Clarke

Katherine “Katie” Mary Rose Clarke was born in August 25, 1984. Katie is an American musical theater actress. Originally from Friendswood, Texas, she first came to national attention for her portrayal of Clara Johnson in the Broadway production, the live PBS broadcast, and the national tour of The Light in the Piazza. She made her Broadway debut in The Light in the Piazzaon December 9, 2005, at the age of 21, at the Vivian Beaumont Theatre in New York City under the name “Katie Clarke”.Clarke replaced Kelli O’Hara in the part of Clara Johnson, after O’Hara had left the show to play Babe Williams opposite Harry Connick, Jr. in The Pajama Game.

She got her start acting at the United Methodist Church. Clarke is a graduate of Sam Houston State University. Her other theater credits include Craig Lucas’ 2007 play Prayer for my Enemy at the Long Wharf Theatre in New Haven,Connecticut and the Deborah Abramson/William Finn musical revue “Travels With My Discontent” at the Barrington Stage Company. She also performed in the regional production of TUTS Houston Anything Goes in the ensemble. She was profiled in The New York Times in January 2006.

Katie recently portrayed the role of Glinda in 1st National Touring production of the musical Wicked. Her first performance was on November 6, 2007 replacing Christina DeCicco. She starred alongside Carmen Cusack and later Donna Vivino as Elphaba. She left the tour on August 16, 2009 and was replaced by Chandra Lee Schwartz. Now she is to be returning to her role to replace Erin Mackey -this time in Broadway- as from mid January.

Jenny Fellner and Katie Rose Clarke joins Wicked in Broadway

Jenny Fellner joins Katie Rose Clarke as the new recently acquisitions for Wicked in Broadway.

Katie Rose Clarke will play Glinda and Jenny Fellner will portray Nessarose in the Broadway production of Wicked at the Gershwin Theatre, beginning on January 12.

They replace Erin Mackey and Michelle Federer, respectively, who will play their final performance on January 10.

Video of the Week: Wicked BackStage

Amazing Wicked BackStage Video with Marybeth Abel,Production Stage Manager, made by BroadwayWorld

Click the image to Play the video

Katie Rose Clarke Returns to Wicked

Former Glinda is the 1st National Tour of Wicked, Katie Rose Clarke, is returning to her role to replace Erin Mackey in Broadway.

According to sources, Katie Rose Clarke is to return to WICKED making her Broadway debut in January 18th, 2010.

Katie had her first performance on November 6, 2007 replacing Christina DeCicco in the National Touring. She starred alongside Carmen Cusack and Donna Vivino as Elphaba. She left the tour on August 16, 2009 and was replaced by Chandra Lee Schwartz.

Wicked shows at the Gershwin  Theatre in Broadway.

Legally Blonde Opens in December in West End

Legally Blonde is scheduled to start previews on December 5th at the Savoy Theater. The initial booking has it running through May 23, 2010.

The West End Elle Woods is expected to be played by Sheridan Smith while Peter Davison, Duncan James, Alex Gaumond, Aoife Mulholland and Susan McFadden are to join her.