Tony award-winning director Diane Paulus of Pippin will be directing a musical adaptation of the movie Waitress that debuted in 2007. This show will be starring pop-soul singer Sarah Bareilles and there is no set date at the moment for when the show will opening. Kinky Boots, winner of six Tony awards including Best Musical announced that they will be launching a national tour beginning in 2014. Also this week marked the two-year anniversary for Spider-man: Turn Off The Dark, and there will hopefully be many more performances to follow their good streak! Peter and the Starcatcher at New World Stages has also celebrated a landmark with 100 performances Off-Broadway. It was announced that this season’s hit play Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike has extended their previously shortened run until August twenty-fifth, so if you have a chance to see the show this summer don’t miss out!

For all of you Broadway and pooch-loving fans out there, Broadway Barks is back! They will be celebrating their fifteenth year on July thirteenth, 2013 in Shubert Alley. This event produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids helps animals all across NYC in various shelters find loving homes and families or helps support veterinary costs through donations. auctions, and grants.

This week the cast of Cinderella performed at a local Barnes & Noble to promote their cast recording. (Did you see this fabulous picture of CB’s Sunny with Santino and Laura? So awesome!) There is a film adaptation of Lysistrata Jones in the works, planned to be directed by Andy Fickman. Lysistrata Jones closed in 2012 after thirty-four previews and thirty performances.

Topping off this weeks news is the announcement that the film adaptation of Into The Woods starring Meryl Streep, Johnny Depp and Emily Blunt is set to hit theatres on Christmas day of 2014! I can hardly wait.

The post This Week On Broadway: Post Tony Edition appeared first on Camp Broadway.

However, this article isn’t going to focus on who should have one Best Musical, because I personally believe that topic has been talked and fought about to the ground. Both — actually all four shows — were wonderful, which is why they were nominated. Instead, I’m going to talk about whom I personally believe got snubbed for award categories that may have been overlooked.

WARNING: Excessive Snarkiness Ahead!

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:

Okay, before we get to the inevitable Kinky Boots vs Matilda argument, I just want to give out a consolation award to a pair who wasn’t nominated:

I’m Not Really Sure What Happened Here: Rodgers and Hammerstein.

What the heck?! These iconic music writers weren’t nominated. How did this slip everyone’s mind? Everyone has been so engulfed with Matilda and Kinky Boots that it feels like we didn’t bat an eye when, arguably, the best musical theater songwriting duo of all time didn’t even get a nomination! There has been controversy with the book, and yes it wasn’t all the traditional songs (some were added from other shows), but it was still Rodgers and Hammerstein! Once it was pointed out to me that they weren’t even nominated I realized how surprising that was. Perhaps I’m overlooking a matter of eligibility? But, even if they were nominated, would they have won? I’m not sure. But they deserved a nomination.

Don’t Worry, Your Songs are Still Clever: Tim Minchin

While I’m a firm believer that we should stop talking about who won Best Musical, this had my jaw dropping – and not necessarily in a good way. Don’t get me wrong, I love Cyndi! She’s…Cyndi! But Tim has great rhymes and catchy tunes in songs and in terms of cleverness, Tim takes the cake here. Matilda was one of the few shows that actually had me walking out of the theater singing the songs I’d just heard. But maybe some of his better lyrics went unnoticed if you’re not from Britain? I, myself, am a huge fan of the lyric “Or maybe your largeness/Is a bit like a TARDIS/Considerably roomier inside,” which is REALLY CLEVER! Unless you don’t know what the heck a TARDIS is because you don’t watch Doctor Who and then you’re confused. (And now my nerd is showing!)

BEST CHOREOGRAPHY:

But…It’s a Show about Cheerleaders! Bring It On: The Musical

Say what you want about the musical, but this choreography was killer. And we’d expect nothing less from a musical about cheerleaders. So the fact that this show with incredible choreography at its core lost to a show with very little choreography was a bit…confusing? I mean, come on, it’s closed but lets give closed shows some love where love is due!

BEST ORCHESTRATIONS:

You were the only show with a classic orchestra!! – Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Every show has an orchestra or some kind of musical instruments to help them out. However, when I think of orchestrations, I think of a big orchestra and classic theatre…in short, I think of Cinderella. I’m not saying Kinky Boots didn’t deserve this win, their music is wonderful, but in terms of best orchestration, I gotta give it to Cinderella. The large, traditional orchestra created magic in that theater and the intricacies it pulled off in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s score were beautiful

BEST LIGHTING:

The odds were not in your favor – Kenneth Posner

This has absolutely nothing about which show deserved it, and more about the fact that Kenneth Posner was nominated for three out of the four spots (Kinky Boots, Pippin, Cinderella), and was still beat out by Matilda. The lighting in Matilda is lovely, but the win was a bit schadenfreude, you couldn’t help but laugh at how crazy that was…especially when the winning designer was no where to be seen. We also are still reeling over the nomination snub for best lighting that was Ken Billington’s design for Chaplin.

BEST SET DESIGN: 

But…did you SEE the set?? No wait, you didn’t! – Anna Louizos (Cinderella) 

Yet another category in which Cinderella was tragically overlooked. This set was fantastic, it helped tell the story, it was interactive with the story, using the trees to tell you time had passed, allowing places for transformations, so why was this amazing set, with pieces known throughout Broadway, not nominated?! I. Have. No. Idea.

–

I know you’re all waiting for me to get to the categories that everyone knows about Best Actress, Best Actor, Best Show, but I’m not going go into who should have won those categories, because these are the most subjective awards. They’re ALL talented, they ALL deserved to win, that’s why they were nominated. They were the top 5 five actors/actresses and the top 4 musicals/plays/revivals out of everything that played in between June 1^st 2012 and April 30^th 2013. It sounds corny but it IS an honor to be nominated!

As for Best Musical, which by far got the most talk in terms of what ‘deserved’ to win, here is my take on it. The Awards are fantastic to put on posters outside the theater, are great for publicity and may attract more ticket buyers, but most likely, it’s not going to change things too much. We don’t just see movies that one are up for Oscars, we don’t just watch television shows that won Emmys. Word of mouth is the best publicity a show can have, and in the end that’s all that matters in keeping a show open.

Another thing to think about is, all that matters in a show in how it made YOU feel. How did you feel at intermission? After the show? No Tony can diminish what you feel for a show that didn’t win, or make you feel as passionate about a show that did win. Shows are magic, absolute magic. Don’t let politics of a Tony’s committee stand in the way of how you feel about a show.

The post Consolation Tonys (or even Nominations!) appeared first on Camp Broadway.

The opening was the best I’ve seen in years with Neil Patrick Harris and about every show on Broadway. Even Mike Tyson was there, facing jokes from NPH (which continued throughout the rest of the night; love.)! There was even time for a Tom Hooper close up in a Les Miserables gag.

Newsies presented the performance by Best Musical nominee Matilda the Musical, which wowed with a medley of songs including “When I Grow Up” and “Revolting Children.” Speaking of musical presenters, the Chicago girls may have missed their teleprompter cue, but they sure looked good doing it! Neil Patrick Harris returned to introduce his musical/play mashups, my favorites “Children of a Lesser Godspell” and “Bring It On Golden Pond.” Judith Light won Best Leading Actress in a Play for The Assembled Parties and Gabriel Ebert took away the award for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his role in Matilda. Cinderella performed with an amazing dress transformation, perhaps giving proof to Victoria Clark’s line “You would be surprised how many dresses have crazy women in them.”

Diane Paulus and Pam Mackinnon brought girl power to the Directing category, by winning for Pippin and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf. Speaking of females, Cyndi Lauper won for Best Score for Kinky Boots, becoming the first woman to win a solo Score Tony, and Cicely Tyson won an award for her role in A Trip to Bountiful, her first win at 79 years old. Motown the Musical had the Tony’s “Dancing in the Streets,” or at least the in aisle during their performance.  Annie was up next with new Miss Hannigan, star Jane Lynch, who surprised us with her vocal chops in “Little Girls.”

Andrew Rannells, Laura Benanti, and Megan Hilty joined NPH for a hilarious song called “Television Sucks” after their shows The New Normal, Go On , and Smash got cancelled. The Rascals performed with a montage tribute of the past year of shows behind them. The nervous Jessie Eisenberg sped through a Best Play nominees montage before giving the win to Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike. Then the lovely Andrea Martin won for Best Featured Actor in a Musical for Pippin.

Neil Patrick Harris and Sandy shared a slobbery introduction before A Christmas Story performed. This show once again proves that children ran Broadway this year with a very talented young tap dancer. Then the anticipated performance of Pippin wowed the Tony crowd and showed they had “Magic to Do” at this year’s ceremony. Virginia Woolf followed this performance with a Best Revival of a Play win.

The legendary Hal Prince introduced the amazing 25^th anniversary performance of Phantom, solidifying their reign as the longest-running Broadway show. More wins, with Tracy Letts and Billy Porter, winning Best Actor in a Play for Virginia Woolf and Best Actor in a Musical for Kinky Boots, respectively. Patina Miller then won the tight race for Best Actress in a Musical for her role as the lead player Pippin (trivia time: this is now the first role to ever have garnered a Tony Award for a best actor and a best actress– Ben Vereen won for his portrayal in the original production). Cyndi Lauper gave a touching tribute in the Tony Memoriam with “True Colors”. The montage showed greats like Andy Griffith, Nora Ephron, and Marvin Hamlisch.

Kinky Boots performed and had “Everybody Say[ing] Yeah” to its winning streak. Then Pippin won for Best Revival of a Musical and had the crowd cheering. Bernadette Peters came out to announce Best Musical, which went to the popular show Kinky Boots. The producers praised it’s great message of love and tolerance, which everyone can relate to. Then Neil Partrick Harris closed out the show with a Tony “Empire State of Mind” remix with Lin Manuel Miranda at piano and Audra McDonald dropping the beat, and mic.

With a night of fantastic performances from the nominated shows, deserving wins, and record breakers for women and children, I would call this a very successful Broadway season. I can’t wait for September when we can start it all again! For the only thing we know about next year is, if there is a Tony Awards, Neil Patrick Harris is sure to be there.

The post The Year When Kids Ran Broadway– Our 67th Annual Tony Awards Rundown appeared first on Camp Broadway.

Earlier this week some of the presenters for the award show were announced and among them were Anna Kendrick, Zachary Quinto, Jesse Eisenberg, Scarlett Johansson, Audra McDonald, Megan Hilty, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Andrew Lloyd Weber and many more. The host of this years award show Neil Patrick Harris has been a tease whilst being interviewed on many different talk shows this week about what we can expect from Sunday night. Harris showed a “sneak peek” of the opening number on The Late Show with David Letterman and disclosed how they are planning to do a bigger number than what they have done in the past. (If you have missed NPH’s past two opening numbers, check them out here!) It was recently announced that the opening number this year will be featuring the work of Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda. It is sure to be a fantastic number!

Many shows have been doing a ton of press before the award show this weekend, including performing on television. The cast of Kinky Boots and Pippin both performed on The View this week, each shaking it up and showing the audience different numbers than they have previously performed on other shows. I can’t wait to see what numbers each show decides to perform for the Tony Awards! In other press news, the Tony nominees went to the top of the Empire State Building for their annual press shots to get ready for the big night. Who do you think is going to take home the big awards this weekend? Make sure to fill out a ballot and see how many you guess correctly by tuning in on Sunday night at eight o’clock on CBS!

Happy Tony Awards!

The post This Week On Broadway appeared first on Camp Broadway.

“Kids, families and theater-lovers of all ages always ask us what we think of Broadway’s latest and greatest shows,” says Hillary Reeves, Camp Broadway Communications Coordinator. “So, we compiled this list to let our community know what gets our stamp of approval this season. To create the Camp Broadway ‘Best of the Season’ list, we tapped into the expertise of our professional staff members who have extensive backgrounds and training in the Broadway arts.”

From season premieres to long-running favorites, Camp Broadway presents these “Best of the Season” picks:

Best Show for a First Time Theater-Goer
Annie

Best Show for Theater-Going Teens
Pippin

Best Show for Audiences of All Ages
Motown the Musical

Best Musical
Matilda the Musical

Best Play
Peter and the Starcatcher

Best Ensemble
Matilda the Musical

Best Show for Parents’ Night Out
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

Young Performer of the Year
Johnny Rabe, Ralphie in A Christmas Story

Showstopper of the Year
Raymond Luke, Jr. and Darius Kaleb, Michael Jackson in Motown the Musical

Role Model of the Year
Billy Porter, Lola in Kinky Boots

Ingenue of the Year
Laura Osnes, Cinderella in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Matinee Idol of the Year
Santino Fontana, Prince Topher in Rodgers + Hammerstein’s Cinderella

Leading Lady of the Year
Victoria Clark, Marie and the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella

Leading Man of the Year
Rob McClure, Charlie Chaplin in Chaplin

Legend of the Year
Andrea Martin, Berthe in Pippin

Favorite Classic
The Phantom of the Opera

Favorite Special Occasion
Wicked

Favorite Show for School Groups
Newsies

Favorite Spectacle
Spider-Man: Turn off the Dark

The post CB’s Awards Season Picks! appeared first on Camp Broadway.

BEST ORIGINAL SCORE:

Winner: Tim Minchin (Matilda the Musical)

I remember first hearing the cast album and loving the music, but actually hearing it live is a whole other experience. The music is so much fun and all the songs are so memorable.

Runner-Up: Cyndi Lauper (Kinky Boots)

It’s Ms. Lauper’s first time writing on Broadway, but she’s no stranger to the music world and it was obvious she just wanted to have fun with this musical. This infectious pop score could win her a Tony, and make history for the first female winner for Score!

BEST BOOK OF A MUSICAL:

Winner: Dennis Kelly (Matilda the Musical)

I fell in love with this movie when I was younger, and I fell in love again after seeing Matilda on Broadway. This whimsical retelling brings out the most endearing qualities of these characters and it definitely deserves a win.

Runner-Up: Harvey Fierstein (Kinky Boots)

A Tony favorite, Harvey Fierstein has done it again by bringing out the past struggles and loving qualities that bring Lola and Charlie together.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTOR IN A MUSICAL:

Winner: Gabriel Ebert (Matilda the Musical)

His hilarious performance as Mr. Wormwood makes him a nasty character that you hate to love and love to hate. He is a great comedian and stands out in this big production.

Runner-Up: Terrance Mann (Pippin)

I have seen Terrance Mann in The Addams Family, and he once again brings his great acting to the table in Pippin as Charles.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A FEATURED ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL:

Winner: Andrea Martin (Pippin)

Andrea Martin is a fantastic performer and absolutely shines in the Broadway revival of Pippin. Bringing acting and comedic chops, she is sure to win the Tony this year.

Runner-Up: Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots)

Another funny lady, Annaleigh Ashford brings her spunk and optimism to her character Lauren in Kinky Boots, making for a lovable performance.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTOR IN A MUSICAL:

Winner: Bertie Carvel (Matilda the Musical)

With his hilarious role as Miss Trunchbull, Bertie Carvel made the audience laugh throughout the show. Every line, every entrance brought you attention to him. I would be very surprised if he didn’t win this year.

Runner-Up: Rob McClure (Chaplin the Musical)

With the show’s only nomination this year, Chaplin star Rob McClure captured the famous Hollywood icon flawlessly on the stage. He may be a cane’s length away from the award this year.

BEST PERFORMANCE BY A LEADING ACTRESS IN A MUSICAL:

Winner: Patina Miller (Pippin)

I saw Patina last year in Sister Act and, boy, does she know how to entertain a packed theater night after night. She does Fosse and acrobatics with the best of them in this show, commanding the attention on stage. She deserves to win this round.

Runner-Up: Stephanie J. Block (The Mystery of Edwin Drood)

Drood is a fantastic show, and Stephanie had a big part in that success. She has an incredible voice and played this over-dramatic character perfectly. This may be her first Tony nomination, but Stephanie has wowed us for a while now  and it might be her time to win.

BEST REVIVAL OF A PLAY:

Winner: Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?

For audiences to be entertained in a three-hour show about marriage difficulties and raw emotion, and feel like no time went by at all, shows how great this production is. This talented cast led by Tracy Letts is a top contender for the prize.

Runner-Up: The Trip to Bountiful

This endearing story about a man bringing his mother back to her childhood home is led by and an all-star cast that includes Cicely Tyson, Cuba Gooding Jr. and Vanessa Williams, is another possible winner to look out for.

BEST PLAY:

Winner: Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike

A spectacular cast, including David Hyde Pierce and Sigourney Weaver, tell a great story, creating a hilarious night on Broadway. It’s a show that uses its actors best talents, while showing them in a new light to audiences.

Runner-Up: The Assembled Parties

A great production that shows the changes in a family over time via great writing and a great cast, including the Drama Desk winner Judith Light.

BEST REVIVAL OF A MUSICAL:

Winner: Pippin

The American Repertory Theater brought another amazing show to Broadway this season. Dianne Paulus brought in a circus-themed element to the show, while still keeping the magic of the original. Patina Miller shines as the Leading Player in an already stellar cast of actors and acrobats.

Runner-Up: The Mystery of Edwin Drood

Roundabout brings back the Best Musical winner to Broadway. In this zany review of an unfinished Charles Dickens’ book, it’s a fun night in the theater. Stephanie J. Block, Will Chase, and Chita Rivera bring together one of the best casts of the season.

BEST MUSICAL:

Winner: Matilda the Musical

A truly heart-warming story of a little girl who stands up to the evil adults in her life, it’s a David and Goliath story we can all relate to. With a beautiful set, great story, entertaining score, and a strong cast all around, I left the theater knowing I just saw the Best Musical winner.

Runner-Up: Kinky Boots

A shoe factory that faces hard times decides to get “kinky” and change their views of the world. Stark Sands and Billy Porter lead a show with an amazing production team and amazing music that will make you dance in the aisles.

While stars are walking down the red carpets on Tony Night, I will be at home in my pajamas eating a pint of ice cream in front of the TV. I hope you will join me too, for no matter who wins, it’s about celebrating the best art form in the world!

The post CB’s Tony Award Predictions! appeared first on Camp Broadway.

In the past year, Adam Kaplan has graduated college and joined one of the hottest Broadway musicals.  We recently learned more about this up-and-coming young performer.

What experience did you have growing up that made you realize performing is what you wanted to do?

Growing up, I would always sing around the house and I had an affinity for music. I wrote my first (and only) song at age four, called “Making a New Tree,” where I would rummage in the backyard picking up branches, and dead leaves and re-attaching them to “make a new tree…” When I was around seven my Dad took me to see West Side Story at The local high school. That was the first show I vividly remember seeing. I loved everything about it: the dancing, the singing, and the fact that they got to perform in front of hundreds of people. I wanted to be up there with them.

You just graduated from Elon University last spring, did you think you would be making your Broadway debut so soon after graduating?

No! I never expected it to be this soon, but I’m certainly not complaining! At school, our professors talked a lot about how your first couple of years in New York are all about “making fans,” auditioning as much as possible, getting acclimated, and adjusting to life in New York. I’m so incredibly grateful to be working at all, let alone on Broadway!

Do you feel that your training at Elon prepared you for auditioning and trying to make it on Broadway ?

100%. I can say with totally certainty that without my four years at Elon I would not be where I am today. I cannot speak highly enough of the program and my time there. I didn’t dance before I got to school—I hadn’t taken a formal dance class. They whipped my butt into shape. Do I have much more to learn? Absolutely! But my four years taught me a lot about myself, auditioning, being truthful with my performances and, most importantly, the value of community.

How excited were you when the opportunity presented itself to be part of Newsies? 

I don’t think I’ll ever forget how I felt when I heard the good news. I’m young, and so it seems silly to say this… but being in Broadway is what I’ve wanted to do my entire life. It’s been my dream for as long as I can remember. I think that some people at home equated me saying that I wanted to be on Broadway with my brother saying he wanted to play in the MLB—a far-fetched dream. So the fact that I’m doing this incredible show every night, at age 22, quite literally living my dream, has yet to get old… I don’t think it ever will!

What has it been like being in a show with such a large fan base like Newsies? 

What is your favorite part of the show? Your favorite part of getting to understudy Jack Kelly?

The fansies are UNREAL!  At first it was a bit overwhelming, but I was well warned by the cast about their love and support. Our show wouldn’t be what it is without the fansies, and we all recognize that. I think I had less than 300 followers on Twitter before I joined the cast, and I just reached over 2,000 the other day. I still have a ways to go to catch up to some of the other boys, but I love it!

My favorite part of the show is the sense of community on and off stage. We have just as much fun backstage as we do onstage—it is an amazing group of talented, kind individuals. But my favorite number is “King of New York.” Being one of the Delancey brothers, there are certain numbers I can’t be in. Luckily, I get to double as Mike, the newsie, and he appears in other sections of the show. “King,” however, is the first time where I get to fully join the world of the newsboys and dance Christopher Gattelli’s incredibly fun choreography.

My favorite part of understudying Jack Kelly…hmm… that’s tough! Jack is an incredible role. I don’t think that there’s any other role like it on Broadway right now. But, I guess my favorite part is getting to sing Santa Fe at the end of Act 1. I mean, damn, Alan Menken and Jack Feldman know how to write a song!

Were you a fan of the show prior to joining the cast?

I wouldn’t call myself a fansie, but I loved it when I saw it for the first time back in September. The show is electric, there’s no denying that. It was so clear that cast was having an amazing time up there, and that kind of energy totally affects the way the audience perceives and responds to the show.

What do you enjoy doing in your spare time?

In my spare time recently I have enjoyed sleeping. Man, this show is exhausting! I have a lot of friends from college who are in the city so I love catching up with them, and exploring the city. I’m a big foodie, so in my spare time you’ll probably find me eating. I also love to travel!

Prior to going into Newsies, what has been your worst flubbed line/missed cue/onstage mishap?

There has to be something better than this story, but right now this is all I can remember… My first show was Winnie The Pooh and I was the all-too-important role of the porcupine. My dad made my costume by attaching broom bristles to a brown sweatshirt and sweatpants. One of my few lines was in the “prologue” of the show, and when my line came I was just staring blank faced into the audience. The skunk next to me gave me a big nudge of his elbow to try to get me to say my line. Rather than thanking him, I shoved him back, quickly realized what had happened, and said my line.

What is your dream role?

Right now I don’t know that I have a dream role. For a while it was Tony in West Side Story, mostly because that was the first show I remember seeing—and who wouldn’t want to sing “Maria?” But I think my dream is to originate a leading role from the ground up: reading, workshop, etc, to Broadway. That would be the coolest.

Favorite show, other than Newsies, currently running?

I just recently saw Matilda, and thought it was absolutely brilliant. But, honestly, I am a sucker for Wicked. The music, the spectacle, the performances… It’s just so magical—plus I’d love to play Fiyero one day!

The post Interview with Adam Kaplan appeared first on Camp Broadway.

Matilda the Musical

Matilda was originally performed by the Royal Shakespeare Company at Stratford-Upon-Avon and was transferred within a year to London’s West End because of its massive success. Filled with brilliantly choreographed dance numbers, gorgeous songs, and framed by a miraculous set, Matilda is a revelation. Matilda brings a fresh and original musical to Broadway that people of all ages will surely adore. Some of the featured characters include Miss Trunchbull (Bertie Carvel) and Miss Honey (Lauren Ward) who have both been a part of the cast since it first premiered. Also four girls who each get to bring something special to the role share the title role of Matilda.

Joining the ensemble are some familiar faces from the Broadway community including Ryan Steele, Thayne Jasperson and Clay Thomson (Newsies) and Taylor Trensch (Bare the Musical). The musical has received unanimously rave reviews since the RSC Stratford Production and The Daily Telegraph even called it “the best British musical since Billy Elliot.” At the Laurence Olivier Awards, which are the British equivalent to the Tonys, it brought home awards for Best New Musical, Best Actor in a Musical (Bertie Carvel), Best Actress in a Musical (the Matildas), Best Director, Theatre Choreographer, Set, and Sound Design.

Matilda has brought up a lot of buzz because of its huge recognition in England and therefore many of the previews have been sold out. Often when shows transfer from the West End to Broadway, it can be rocky. With Matilda, it was quite the contrary. As soon as the letters were hung on the marquee at the Shubert Theatre, the Broadway community began to buzz with excitement. I am thrilled to see this West End hit finally reach the Great White Way. I can’t wait to see this amazing show this summer on my trip to New York! Matilda was nominated for a whopping twelve Tony Awards including Best Musical. It’s easy to see why, I’m in love with it and I haven’t even seen it yet! The unique score is magnificent and carries through this wonderful story. Watching Matilda, you will learn the benefits of being “Naughty” and remember the magic and wonder that comes along with being a child. It is a West End phenomenon that is sure to create some magic on Broadway for years to come.

Matilda is currently playing at the Shubert Theatre. Previews began on March 4 and it officially opened on April 11, 2013. You can purchase tickets from their website.

The post We Review MATILDA THE MUSICAL! appeared first on Camp Broadway.

This past week the cast of Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark celebrated their 1000th performance on Broadway and the cast of Cinderella celebrated their one-hundredth performance. Maybe they will one day be celebrating the same milestone that Spider-Man just reached? Both are very exciting times for both companies! Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana of Cinderella were announced to be the hosts of this year’s National High School Musical Theatre Awards which will be held at the Minskoff Theatre, currently home to The Lion King on Broadway. In other exciting news, it was just announced that the Broadway production of Les Miserables coming in 2014 will be back to it’s home at the Imperial Theatre starting in March.

One event that has received a ton of buzz this week was held by the company better known as Broadway’s favorite cookie, Schmackary’s. In efforts to raise money for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids (BCEFA), Schmackary’s held “Broadway Bakes” where Broadway stars sold cookies and the money raised went to BCEFA. Some guest bakers included Seth Rudetsky, Stephanie J. Block, Laura Osnes, Santino Fontana, Jeremy Jordan, Lilla Crawford, Corey Cott, Ryan Steele, Ben Fankhauser, the Keenan-Bolgers, Benj Pasek and Justin Paul. Some items from shows were auctioned off and some guest bakers were even bribed to do fun little tasks like sing parodies of songs from their shows like the guys from Newsies did for fifty dollars! If you had the chance to go out to this event, who did you see? If you could have any Bway star sell you some Schmackary’s who would you want it to be? Let us know!

This was certainly a musically-pleasing week that included a sneak peek listen to the original revival cast recording of Pippin thanks to Entertainment Weekly, and the original cast recording for Kinky Boots was released on Spotify and iTunes. You can also find the music to Murder Ballad on both their website or on Spotify! It was also announced that Scandalous released a digital download for their cast album and physical copies will be released on June 15th.

That’s it for this week! Check out some of the great cast recordings that have been released and get ready for the Tony’s!

The post This Week On Broadway: NHSMTA Hosts Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana Announced and more! appeared first on Camp Broadway.

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