She said recently that playing the iconic role of Roxie Hart 'brings out the crazy sex kitten in everyone'.
And audiences got to see if America Ferrera had indeed transformed herself from Ugly to vamp as she made her West End debut in Chicago last night. Read More...
America Ferrera is best known as the frumpy but lovable star of ABC's Ugly Betty. But now the 27-year-old is proving that she has a saucier side when the occasion calls for it. Read More...
Ugly Betty's America Ferrera is making her British stage debut as Roxie Hart in Chicago next week, and she's joined by Darius Campbell, returning to the role of Billy Flynn as Kander and Ebb's prohibition-era musical re-opens at the Garrick Theatre in London. Read More...
She won fame as the frumpy star of TV's Ugly Betty. But America Ferrera claims that taking on the role of highkicking murderess Roxie in the musical Chicago can turn anyone into a vamp. Read More...
The long-running, Tony-winning revival of John Kander, Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse's Chicago will celebrate its 15th year on Broadway Nov. 14. Read More...
The stage lights rise, revealing six feminine silhouettes behind jail bars. A spotlight shines down each of their faces as they launch into the chilling lyrics, "He had it coming." The first murderess emerges from her cell reenacting her crime verbally and physically, performing a series of ferocious kicks, dynamics turns, and precise choreography. This is the beginning of Bob Fosse's "Cell Block Tango": an iconic number from the musical CHICAGO that continues to capture audiences whether it's performed on Broadway, TV, or even at your studio's recital. Read More...
AMERICA FERRERA (Ugly Betty) is the new Roxie Hart in London’s West End! She is going to be terrific! Check out the articles below.
Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner America Ferrera, known across the world as Ugly Betty from the hit TV series of the same name, swaps her trademark braces for fishnets from 7 November for eight weeks only, when she makes her British stage debut as the alluring publicity-seeker Roxie Hart in the smash hit musical CHICAGO. Read More...
Who knew? Ugly Betty can sing! Emmy-winning actress America Ferrera will join the London cast of the long-running musical Chicago next month, EW has learned exclusively. Ferrera will play Roxie Hart, the role made famous by Gwen Verdon and Ann Reinking on Broadway and Renée Zellweger in the 2002 film. (American Idol's Kara DioGuardi is currently playing Roxie on Broadway.) Ferrera's eight-week stint will begin on November 7. Read More...
The Old Globe in San Diego is behind a fall workshop of the Broadway-aimed musical Yank!, about gay military personnel during World War II. Director David Cromer and the project's writers will explore the latest draft of the show Oct. 24-Nov. 17 in Manhattan. Read More...
Angela Cohen was in a quandary when told she'd have to cut her hair if she wanted to play a stewardess in the pilot for "Pan Am," a new ABC series that is generating some buzz. Cohen wanted the role, but her wavy, curly hair—extending halfway down her back—was part of her professional and personal identity. For starters, she was afraid she'd end up resembling a poodle. Second, she wasn't sure how a bobbed look would affect her ability to book other roles. And third, a new hairstyle would require new headshots—a time-consuming and expensive prospect. Nevertheless, Cohen complied, losing 15 inches of hair. Read More...
"American Idol may be about finding the next pop star, but it's almost as successful as a springboard to Broadway. In recent years, season 6 champ Jordin Sparks reached new heights in "In the Heights," "Grease" was the word for season 5 winner Taylor Hicks, and season 3 "Idol" Fantasia earned raves for "The Color Purple." Season 4 finalist Constantine Maroulis even scored a Tony nomination for "Rock of Ages." Read More...
Scott Bakula, best known for his Golden Globe Award-winning role as Sam Beckett in TV's "Quantum Leap" and as Captain Jonathan Archer in "Star Trek: Enterprise," is returning to his theatrical roots to appear in the Menier Chocolate Factory's world premiere of Saul Rubinek's Terrible Advice. It begins performances Sept. 22, prior to an official opening Sept. 29, for a run through Nov. 12. Read More...
Christopher Sieber has signed on to play drag star Albin opposite George Hamilton as Georges in the national tour of La Cage aux Folles. The casting represents a role switch for Sieber, who played Georges opposite the show's librettist Harvey Fierstein in the final stretch of the Tony-winning 2010-2011 Broadway revival, directed by Tony winner Terry Johnson. Read More...
The musical "Chicago" is about to finger-snap its way into the record books.
The matinee performance on Aug. 27 will mark the musical's 6,138 show, meaning it vaults over the original version of "A Chorus Line" to become the fourth longest-running show in Broadway history. Read More...
When I look back over the years and reflect on all the truly wonderful actors I've seen, there are a few performances that continue to hold power over my mind: Judi Dench in the West End production of "The Royal Family," David Suchet as Antonio Salieri in "Amadeus" at the Old Vic, Brent Carver (an astounding and surprising Tevye) in Stratford's "Fiddler on the Roof," and, of course, Patti LuPone's star turn in the last Broadway revival of "Gypsy." All these considered, there is one great performance that seems to stand out amongst the rest, one that continues to capture my soul: Christine Ebersole's tour de force in the musical "Grey Gardens." Read More...
Christie Brinkley has just landed in town. "I love the Tower of London. I thought it was really fun!" "I love Le Caprice! I love The Ivy! I love Langan's! It's this big brasserie place and it seems so European to me!" "You know last year I went to Wimbledon for the first time ever. I felt like I was in Hogwarts. I got to sit in the royal box. That was pretty cool!" Read More...
Christie Brinkley hit the London stage for the first time this week starring as Roxie Hart in the musical CHICAGO. The show kicked off in the West End three months after her Broadway debut and will run from Monday 11 July at the Cambridge Theatre for a limited four-week season, ending on Saturday 6 August. Read More...
Broadway is crazy with two things this spring: blossoms, and Hollywood headliners. Film and TV stars taking a turn on the boards is nothing new, but this March and April, as 22 new shows open (out of a year-long tally of 42), there's a particularly lush crop. Read More...
Duncan Stewart, director of casting at the National Artists Management Co., has partnered with colleague Benton Whitley to form a new casting office, Duncan Stewart and Co., located in New York City. Heidi Birkett will represent the company in London as a consultant. Read More...
Casting director Duncan Stewart is hanging out his own casting shingle, Duncan Stewart and Co.
Stewart and colleague Benton Whitley have partnered to run the Gotham home base of the org, with another principal, Heidi Birkett, onboard in London to serve as U.K. consultant and liaison. Read More...
Duncan Stewart, Director of Casting at National Artists Management Company since 2007, has joined colleague Benton Whitley to form Duncan Stewart AND COMPANY, a New York-based legit casting office.
Heidi Birkett rounds out the principal team, acting as the firm's UK Casting Consultant/Liaison in London. Read More...
Former "American Idol" judge Kara DioGuardi, the Grammy-nominated songwriter and star of Bravo's "Platinum Hit," will make her Broadway stage debut in September in the Tony-winning revival of Chicago at the Ambassador Theatre.
DioGuardi will step into the role of merry murderess Roxie Hart for an eight-week limited engagement, Sept. 5-Oct. 30. Read More...
Supermodel Christie Brinkley, who is currently playing Roxie Hart in Broadway’s Chicago, will reprise the role in the West End edition, beginning performances July 11 for a four-week season through Aug. 6.
She will be joined by Amra-Faye Wright, who starred as Velma Kelly opposite her on Broadway, for the same run. Jonathan Wilkes will continue in the role of Billy Flynn with James Doherty as Amos Hart, Jasna Ivir as Mama Morton and R. Whitehead as Mary Sunshine, all until Aug. 27 when Chicago will leave the Cambridge Theatre. Read More...
Casting director Duncan Stewart keeps Chicago stocked with fresh (and famous) jazz hands.
Before Dancing with the Stars, there was Chicago. The long-running Broadway revival (fourteen years and counting) was an early advocate for casting celebrities to keep audiences coming back for more. Read More...
John O'Hurley will star as Billy Flynn in the national touring company production of Chicago, beginning with an engagement at Devos Hall in Grand Rapids, Michigan (May 10-11).
Subsequent stops will include the Fisher Theatre in Detroit (May 17-22); Conexus Arts Centre in Regina, SK in Canada (May 30 & 31); the Civic Center in Des Moines, Iowa (June 2-5); the Oriental Theatre in Chicago (June 7-12); the Robinson Center in Little Rock, AR (June 14-16); and Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth (June 17-19). Read More...
Stage and screen star George Hamilton will head the cast of the national tour of the Tony Award-winning Broadway revival of La Cage aux Folles, which is scheduled to play its final performance at the Longacre Theatre May 1 at 3 PM.
The national tour, which will feature Hamilton in the role of Georges, will be produced by Barry and Fran Weissler, Sonia Friedman Productions and David Babani in association with NETworks Presentations. Read More...
"Classic beauties, men and women, are usually not funny, unfortunately," says David Ziff, vice president of the on-camera commercial department at CESD (Cunningham-Escott-Slevin-Doherty) Talent Agency in Los Angeles. "So, if we find one who has improvisational or standup comedy skills, it's a winning combination in commercials and something we can promote to casting directors." Read More...
If you want to talk about persistence and dedication, then I must, in the same breath, talk about Caitlin Mundth. While there are numerous other (and possibly "starrier") examples, I think Caitlin's story is particularly impressive and inspiring. Over the course of one and a half years, Caitlin got herself on my radar and, through sheer perseverance, went from being a casual recommendation from a colleague to a respected and valuable cast member of my latest show, the Broadway production of "La Cage aux Folles," starring Kelsey Grammer and Douglas Hodge. Read More...
