Grease Begins Performances on Broadway Tonight

Tonight, the new Broadway production of Grease will have its first official performance. Stars Max Crumm and Laura Osnes won the lead roles of Danny and Sandy on the reality TV series Grease - You're the One That I Want, which aired earlier this year.

Hairspray (the movie) Opens Today!

It's always exciting when a Broadway musical is made into a film, especially since the age of the movie musical has long since passed. The Broadway community always holds its collective breath, waiting to find out whether or not the film will be well-received. Unfortunately the track record has been a little hit-or-miss lately. When Chicago won the Academy Award a few years ago, everybody was proclaiming that Hollywood musicals had made a comeback. However, The Producers and Rent movies didn't do very well, and even Dreamgirls was considered a little disappointing. So will the new film version of the musical Hairspray be the next Broadway-to-Hollywood smash? For that matter, will it be a creative success? Head to the movie theater this weekend and find out!

Broadway in Bryant Park

Bryant Park, located just a block east of New York's Times Square, is once again a hosting a fantastic lunch hour treat for Broadway lovers. On Thursdays, from July 12 - August 9 (plus an extra date on Friday, Aug. 10), the casts of such Broadway and Off-Broadway shows as Mamma Mia, Spelling Bee, Spamalot, Phantom, Stomp, The Drowsy Chaperone, Avenue Q, Rent, Xanadu, Curtains, and Chicago (and many others) will be performing for free in the park. Approximately four different musicals will be featured each afternoon, from 12:30 to 1:30pm. For a listing of which ones are performing on which days, see Bryant Park's website.

Dr. Frankenstein Will Be Staying at the Hilton

Now that The Pirate Queen is set to sail out of the Hilton Theatre soon, the producers of the new Mel Brooks musical Young Frankenstein have officially announced that their show will be taking over the theater. Frank will storm Broadway on October 11 (the official opening is November 8), with Roger Bart as Dr. Frankenstein, Shuler Hensley as the monster, and Sutton Foster and Megan Mullally as the women who love them.

Broadway Stars at Barnes & Noble

The Lincoln Center area Barnes & Noble in New York City (exact address: 1972 Broadway) will be featuring some exciting Broadway events this month. First up, Audra McDonald, John Cullum, and the cast of the Broadway revival of 110 in the Shade will perform on June 5 at 5:30. The cast of The Drowsy Chaperone will appear at 5:30 on June 8. On June 14 at 5:00, David Hyde Pierce, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba, and other members of the Broadway cast of Curtains will perform. These great events are all free and open to the public, so enjoy!

Regis & Kelly Spotlight Broadway Shows

In the lead-up to the Tony Awards, Live with Regis and Kelly is having a "Broadway Week," featuring performances from Broadway musicals through June 8. The Color Purple (now starring Fantasia), Spring Awakening, Curtains, Grey Gardens, and Mary Poppins are among the shows that will be featured. Be sure to tune in -- Regis and Kelly airs at 9AM on weekdays.