Matt Bailey News

In recent weeks the cast and creative team of the new musical Queen Mother, which chronicles the life of Hannah Hill, Charlie Chaplin's troubled mother, have been in residence on the Goodspeed Musicals campus in East Haddam, Conn. The team assembled to develop this engaging piece in preparation for upcoming invite-only industry workshops at New York Live Arts on Thursday, July 31 and Friday, August 1, 2014. Broadway's Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins, Beauty and the Beast) and Katie Klaus (The Bridges of Madison County, Bonnie and Clyde) lead the cast.

The big question surrounding the fate of Harmony: Is Broadway ready for another musical about the turbulent 30s and Nazi occupation of Germany? With The Sound of Music, Fiddler on the Roof (although set in Russia and at an earlier time, it's still about the plight of the Jews) and Cabaret firmly planted in our minds as three of the greatest musicals ever written about the Nazis, do we need one more? Barry Manilow has been trying desperately for over 10 years to get his Harmony, the true story about the Comedian Harmonists, onstage. Now at the Ahmanson through April 13, Harmony is beautifully produced and mounted, exceedingly well-performed and a thoroughly moving story about 6 singers/performers whose careers and lives were interrupted and controlled by Naziism. The answer to the big question is a shaky maybe.

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' a new musical, opened last night, Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13 (Previews began March 4). Directed by Tony Speciale, with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Sussman, 'Harmony' tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in pre-WWII Germany who rose from unemployed street musicians to become world-famous entertainers, selling millions of records, starring in over a dozen films, and selling out the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Yet while The Comedian Harmonists' sophisticated music, paired with hilarious comedy, made them the brightest of stars, the group's mixture of Jews and non-Jews put them on a collision course with history. 'Harmony' is a co-production with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. Below, check out a look back at the opening night festivities, including the red carpet, curtain call, and after party!

Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' a new musical, opens next Wednesday, March 12, 2014, at 8 p.m. at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13 (Previews began March 4). Directed by Tony Speciale, with music by Manilow and book and lyrics by Sussman, 'Harmony' tells the true story of The Comedian Harmonists, an ensemble of six young men in pre-WWII Germany who rose from unemployed street musicians to become world-famous entertainers, selling millions of records, starring in over a dozen films, and selling out the most prestigious concert halls around the world. Yet while The Comedian Harmonists' sophisticated music, paired with hilarious comedy, made them the brightest of stars, the group's mixture of Jews and non-Jews put them on a collision course with history. 'Harmony' is a co-production with the Alliance Theatre, Atlanta. Below, check out a first look at the cast in action!

In 2013, Leigh Ann Larkin and Shayne Kennon starred in the Atlanta production of Harmony. Today, March 4, they will get to reprise their roles at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in LA.

Rehearsals begin tomorrow, February 11, 2014, for Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's 'Harmony,' A New Musical, which opens March 12, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and plays through April 13. (Previews begin March 4.)

Full casting is set for Barry Manilow and Bruce Sussman's "Harmony," a new musical, opening March 12, 2014, at the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and playing through April 13. (Previews begin March 4).

The NYC Cabaret Festival 2013 is under way and excited to present some exciting shows guaranteed to tickle your funny bone. From now through October 6, in addition to traditional cabaret singers and musicians - and a few not-so-traditional - NYCCF2013 is full of a full range of comedy shows for all tastes.

Theatre Aspen's 30th summer season begins today. The summer repertory season includes the Tony Award-winning epic LES MISERABLES, opening today, June 25th, the one-man comedy Fully Committed, opening July 6th and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which opens July 12th. All shows run through late August.

Theatre Aspen announced final casting for its 30th summer season this week. The summer repertory season includes the Tony Award-winning epic Les Miserables, opening June 25th, the one-man comedy Fully Committed, opening July 6th and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which opens July 12th. All shows run through late August.

Theatre Aspen announced casting for its 30th summer season today. The summer repertory season includes the Tony Award-winning epic LES MISERABLES, opening June 25th, the one-man comedy Fully Committed, opening July 6th and You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown, which opens July 12th. All shows run through late August.

Arrow Video has announced two exciting new deluxe edition Blu-ray & DVD releases from the one and only godfather of Italian horror, MARIO BAVA.

Arrow Video are pleased to announce two exciting new deluxe edition Blu-ray & DVD releases from the one and only godfather of Italian horror, MARIO BAVA.

Cutting-Edge Composers presented the next generation of musical theatre songwriters last night, July 23 at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 w. 46th Street). The event was directed and produced by Laura Pietropinto (Next to Normal), co-produced by Jillian Robbins and Musically Directed by Virginia Hart Pike. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and we bring you photos from the star-studded concert below!

After sold-out shows at the Canal Room and the Laurie Beechman, Cutting-Edge Composers brings its latest concert to NYMF tonight, July 23rd at 7 and 9:30 pm at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 w. 46th Street). Up-and-coming musical theatre writers are teamed with Broadway's hottest performers at the concert directed and produced by Laura Pietropinto (Next to Normal), co-produced by Jillian Robbins, and musically directed by Virginia Hart Pike.

After sold-out shows at the Canal Room and the Laurie Beechman, Cutting-Edge Composers brings its latest concert to NYMF on Monday, July 23rd at 7 and 9:30 pm at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 w. 46th Street). Up-and-coming musical theatre writers are teamed with Broadway's hottest performers at the concert directed and produced by Laura Pietropinto (Next to Normal), co-produced by Jillian Robbins, and musically directed by Virginia Hart Pike.

Spandex, a new musical set amidst the blistering world of the 1980's aerobics movement, will have its debut reading for industry tonight, June 14th, at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette Street).

Spandex, a new musical set amidst the blistering world of the 1980's aerobics movement, will have its debut reading for industry on Thursday, June 14th, at 440 Studios (440 Lafayette Street).

Get ready for the 2012-2013 season at the Durham Performing Arts Center! One of the major events this fall will be the arrival of the national tour of the 20th-longest running Broadway musical, Jersey Boys. At a recent event, I had the chance to chat with Matt Bailey (Tommy DeVito), Alayna Gallo (Lorraine and others), and Kevin Crewell (Bob Crewe and others) from the national touring company of Jersey Boys about the show, their experiences, and their acting beginnings. They had a lot to say, including some particularly nice things about the Durham Performing Arts Center as a venue.