If there were someone to be named “Broadway’s Darling,” Mary Martin would fit the bill. Her coy smile, sweet singing, and lovely voice have graced some original roles in the Great White Way’s most beloved musicals. She earned Tony-winning leading roles in Peter Pan, The Sound of Music, and South Pacific. Martin … Read more
Who knew that a musical featuring felines could be a worldwide phenomenon? Cats is the fourth longest-running Broadway show of all time with a total lifespan of 18 years. A sung-through musical composed by Andrew Lloyd Webber, Cats, is based on the 1939 poetry collection by T.S. Eliot entitled Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats. It … Read more
Rent is an award-winning Broadway musical that ushered in a new age of pop-rock music in the Great White Way. The musical is loosely based on Giacomo Puccini’s 1896 opera La Bohème. It tells the story of a group of struggling young artists trying to survive and create a life in Lower Manhattan’s East Village … Read more
A moving yet tragic love story involving an Asian woman and her American lover, Miss Saigon is one of the highest-grossing musicals ever. It’s based on the 1904 opera Madame Butterfly by Giacomo Puccini. The setting of the plot is located to the 1970s Saigon during the Vietnam War, so the story of Madame … Read more
One of the quintessential Broadway stars, Gwen Verdon, was one of the most energetic talents ever to grace the Great White Way. She carved out a special niche in the world of dance as the muse of famous director and choreographer Bob Fosse. Verdon was the anti-Ethel – while Ethel Merman was implacable … Read more
A prolific actor on stage, television, and screen, Jonathan Groff is a recipient of a Grammy Award and a nomination for two Tony Awards. He rose to prominence in 2006 for his leading role in the original Broadway production of Spring Awakening, for which he was nominated for the Tony Award for … Read more
A fashionable stage actor, Billy Porter, knows how to own the moment, whether on the stage or not. He started his Broadway career starring at Miss Saigon and Grease and came a long way to Kinky Boots, where he earned his first Tony Award. Early Life Billy Porter (September 21, 1969) was born in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, to … Read more
If you’ve been following Broadway happenings recently, you’ve probably heard of Hamilton. This unique story of the Founding Fathers of America is an unlikely hit for Broadway, as it includes a combination of hip-hop, rap, soul, and show tunes, as well as non-white actors starring as the Founding Fathers and other historical figures. … Read more
Born in Great Britain, Julie Andrews took the American musical stage by storm. She’s a leading lady known for her soaring voice, her ability to play both comedic and dramatic roles, her old-fashioned ways, and her regal bearing. She did not play on the Broadway stage a lot, but she did have … Read more
A hit jukebox musical, 42nd Street is based on the 1932 novel by Bradford Ropes and its 1993 Hollywood film adaptation that focuses on the efforts of famed dictatorial Broadway director Julian Marsh to launch a successful stage production of a musical extravaganza during the height of the Great Depression. This all-singing … Read more
A groundbreaking, Pulitzer Prize-winning musical, A Chorus Line, set a Broadway standard when it debuted in 1975 and remains relevant today. A Chorus Line is a musical with a book by James Kirkwood Jr. and Nicholas Dante, music by Marvin Hamlisch, and lyrics by Edward Kleban. It shows an insider’s view of the casting and … Read more
An accomplished British actor, Michael Crawford, has appeared in films, television, and stage musicals. He is most notable for blossoming into a full theater legend in the late 1980s due to his impassioned performance originating the role of the Phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s award-winning and best-selling production of The Phantom of the … Read more