By Brian Scott Lipton . . . Linda Purl has been a major part of American culture for 50 years, most notably through her television work in such series as The Secret Storm, Happy Days and Matlock. And while Purl continues to act regularly, her focus in recent years has...
By Ron Fassler . . . In his new memoir, Sondheim & Me: Revealing a Musical Genius, journalist Paul Salsini writes from a unique perspective. Founder and editor of The Sondheim Review, described as “the only publication devoted solely to Sondheim's work during his...
by Adam Cohen . . . Andrew Bovell is an Australian writer whose work spans both film and stage. He co-wrote the screenplay for Strictly Ballroom (1992) with Baz Luhrmann and Craig Pearce and Head On (1998) with Mira Robertson and Ana Kokkinos. His other film credits...
by Adam Cohen . . . Jim Frangione is a Massachusetts native actor, writer, director and now Artistic Director of the Great Barrington Public Theater. Jim has acted for over 30 years in New York and across the country, performing in the original Off Broadway...
By Harry Haun . . . Chita Rivera and Joel Grey are unique among theater legends. Each earned a Tony without a single line of dialogue. Their characters existed only in the songs of John Kander and Fred Ebb—Rivera as the recurring film fantasy of an imprisoned South...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . When you’ve been called “the next big thing” by Lin-Manuel Miranda, had your music featured in the same month at Mauricio Martinez’s acclaimed 54 Below show and as part of Prospect Theater Company’s revue Notes from Now, and, above all,...
Interview by Andrew Poretz . . . Theater Pizzazz spoke at length with Lorna Luft, the daughter of icon Judy Garland and producer Sid Luft, in advance of her upcoming “Joy of Spring” show at Feinstein’s/54 Below opening March 31. Lorna is warm, friendly and...
Little Girl Blue (LGB), a musical inspired by Nina Simone’s life, written by and starring Laiona Michelle (Amazing Grace, Book of Mormon, American Hero), will open Off-Broadway at the Shubert Organization’s New World Stages (Stage V) on March 14, 2022, with previews...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . As his multitudes of devoted fans know, there’s nothing quite like seeing Michael Feinstein in person, as was evidenced by his recent tribute show to Judy Garland at Feinstein’s/54 Below in December -- or will likely be proven again when he...
The former Aladdin star brings his cabaret show to 54 Below on January 31 By Brian Scott Lipton . . . Talk about getting your big break! In a matter of months, Major Attaway went from being a local actor in his native Texas to starring as the Genie in the Broadway...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . Lovers of vintage musicals in New York always want more options to see their favorite shows, and their wishes came true in February 2020 when J2 Spotlight Productions launched their initial season with acclaimed productions of Seesaw and No...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . British actor Harry Hadden-Paton took the New York theater world by storm in 2018 with his remarkable portrayal of Henry Higgins in Lincoln Center Theater’s lavish revival of My Fair Lady, which earned the now-40-year-old actor a Tony Award...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . One of the entertainment world’s most beloved performers, Jane Lynch has delighted television audiences with her Emmy Award-winning work as Sue Sylvester on Glee, Sophie Lennon on the Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, and as host of NBC's Hollywood...
Theater continues in Brooklyn, lighting up new spaces a distance away from the great lights on Broadway. TheaterPizzazz.com's Marcina Zaccaria got a chance to share a few questions with Team Assemble, artists who took advantage of this rare moment in...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . For over three decades, Carolee Carmello has proven to be the consummate musical theater actress, tackling everything from 1776 to Mamma, Mia! to Hello, Dolly! and Sweeney Todd, earning the loyal devotion of fans, along with three Tony...
By Ron Fassler . . . Playwright Joshua Allen is bringing a bit of his native Chicago to Westchester this weekend, when his new play The October Storm opens at the Hudson Stage Company. Known for presenting shows by both seasoned and novice playwrights, this will be...
What Happens in Fairyland stays in Fairyland! Theater Pizzazz had one of the best times at the meet and greet event at Gallow Green at the McKittrick Hotel for the incoming off Broadway comedy Fairycakes set to begin performances October 14 at the Greenwich House...
Video Interview By Sandi Durell . . . It was fun catching up with the young and talented Mark William who made his debut in the cabaret circuit back in November 2018, following up with several new shows and his first CD "Come Croon With Me." He hasn’t changed a bit...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . Through his stage appearances in such shows as On the Town, Hair, Scotland PA, and Hands on a Hardbody, Jay Armstrong Johnson has proven himself to be one of musical theater’s most versatile – and adorable – performers. He’s also become a...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . Sandra Bernhard has been part of our national consciousness for the past four decades, from movies such as The King of Comedy, TV shows including Roseanne and her incredible career as a live performer at the nation’s top clubs. This month,...
By Brian Scott Lipton . . . Even though he was born in Canada, Rich Little certainly qualifies as an American icon. For close to 60 years, Little has made audiences all over this country – both famous and ordinary – laugh out loud with his spot-on impressions of...
Getting to know JLY . . . by Sandi Durell . . . https://youtu.be/YZioiLh6OPk In a live interview, via Zoom, with John Lloyd Young in California and TheaterPizzazz in New York City, a unique experience unfolded getting to know this Tony Award Winner known to audiences...
By Sandi Durell . . . Robbie Rozelle will be returning to 54 Below June 24 and July 14, almost a year to the date of the release of his debut album (Songs From Inside My Locker), with a completely new show for Pride. You know him, his razor-sharp wit and after reading...
Marvelous Marilyn Keeps Revealing More Secrets Readying for the Opera House in Hudson, NY. . . By Sandi Durell . . . This legend known as Marvelous Marilyn Maye, is not your typical performing artist. No, she’s a force to be reckoned with. Maybe it has to do with her...
MARILYN MAYE by Sandi Durell . . . Always a pleasure speaking with the Marvelous one. . . and finding out new information. Ms. Marilyn always has surprises and this 93 year old super star jazz chanteuse is full of them! So without further ado I invite you to check out...
By Matt Smith . . . . . Donna Vivino . . . And now, we’ve reached the end (Maybe? Perhaps? For now? We’ll see…). In wrapping up the second edition of our Quarantine Questionnaire series, we’re once again peeling back the curtain on our participants, looking at how...
Interview by Carole Di Tosti. . . Dorothy Lyman . . . The pandemic has impacted everyone on the planet. Some individuals have used the situation to strike forge new pathways. Others have been in a static state of dysfunction. However, many are thrilled that with...
by Matt Smith . . . Another week, another set of responses! Having last week been unwaveringly open and honest about both their current state of being and their feelings for the future, our panel now returns to the lighter side, declaring the dream Broadway partner...
by Matt Smith . . . Kevin Chamberlin What’s in a word… or three? There’s no doubt the pandemic has us all navigating a cavalcade of emotions. From rage and anxiety, to excitement and hopefulness, there’s no telling what we could be feeling at any given moment. Of...
by Matt Smith . . . It’s certainly not an understatement to say life has been a rollercoaster throughout the last twelve months. And as we’ve officially surpassed a year since the shutdown of our beloved Broadway and other theaters and performing arts spaces...
Join our mailing list to receive the latest Theater Pizzazz news.