The Ultimate Musical Albums to Listen to for Halloween:

A Gentleman’s Guide to Love and Murder

If you want to start with a lighter fare, this morbidly hilarious show brings the mystery and the laughs right to your ears!

American Psycho the Musical

What says Halloween more than homicidal narcissism? Let Spring Awakening’s Duncan Sheik and Riverdale’s Roberto Aguirre-Sacasa bring you some bloody good fun with their 80s’esque album.

Beetlejuice the Musical

From The Whole Being Dead Thing to Day-O, the ghost-with-the-most (not going to write his name too many times) takes your ears on a frighteningly-hilarious funhouse tour.

Be More Chill

Joe Iconis and Joe Tracz’s viral soundtrack will bring even the undead back to life with its frenzied beats. Plus, there’s a song called Halloween – enough said!

Cabaret

This melodramatic classic needs no introduction. Melding sultry and scary, it’ll have you feelin’ October vibes from the very first vamp.

Carrie the Musical

Come on, come on, come on! Hold on to your prom crowns because we’ve got ourselves a bonified Stephen King cult horror story right here. The awkward perils of high school + Alice Ripley’s haunting vocals + pig’s blood = a can’t go wrong Halloween musical choice.

Dance of the Vampires (A.K.A. Tanz der Vampire)

We’re getting a little more obscure with this one, but, hang on, don’t scroll away from me! While this campy show only had 56 performances on Broadway – with Mandy Gonzalez and, the Phantom himself, Michael Crawford to boot – the soundtrack lives on, featuring a rendition of Total Eclipse of the Heart. I bet now you’re dying to listen!

Dracula the Musical

Kelli O’Hara. Need we say more? Alright, so the luscious leading lady doesn’t exactly scream Halloween, but she’s a musical dream and didn’t you see Dracula in this headline? As far as things that go bump in the night he tops the list.

Evil Dead the Musical

This rock musical based on the horror film series has developed a cult following over the years for good reason. It’s a crazy good time!

Ghost the Musical

Romance, fantasy, thrills and Caissie Levy make this passionate score listening #ghouls.

Heathers the Musical

This could be bootiful! Heather, heather, heather and the gang do not disappoint in this BIG FUN album. Laurence O’Keefe and Kevin Murphy carved out a delicious score (that doesn’t sound like air supply), headlined by the track Candy Story – which is a Halloween party bop! Once you’ve ripped through the Off-Broadway version, head to the Original West End Cast Recording for more treats.

Jekyll and Hyde

Robert Louis Stevenson’s curiously classic tale is set to gorgeous music in this musical horror-drama. Blast This is the Moment right before you step out on Halloween night.

Little Shop of Horrors

When you think horror-scifi-comedy-musical (although not sure how often people think that) you think Little Shop. This fan favorite delivers and is extra creepy this time of year.

Lizzie: the Musical
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Get ready to slay with this axe-cellent soundtrack – see what I did there? Based on the infamous real-life story of Lizzie Borden, this show most recently played off-Broadway with Eden Espinosa and Ciara Renée, who lend their stunning voices to the recording.

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
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Presenting the twisted leading man of your hallowed dreams. Traveling down fleet street this time of year is always a must, but be sure to where a smock!

The Addams Family

Let us pull you in a new direction to the sweeter side of All Hallow’s Eve. Full disclosure: this show is as Halloweenie as Broadway gets.

The Hunchback of Notre Dame

While it isn’t directly a holiday show, Alan Menken and Stephen Schwartz’s masterpiece boasts a sweeping orchestration and lingering choral elements that fit the melancholy of the season.

The Mystery of Edwin Drood
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Whip this bad boy out at your musical theatre nerds Halloween bash for frighteningly interactive fun. Listen to the soaring soundtrack in order and vote on who the killer is before listening to a confession track!

The Nightmare Before Christmas

This IS Halloween. No, really it is. Pump this kid-friendly album at your family gatherings this autumn and feel free to keep it running through Christmas.

The Phantom of the Opera

This list wouldn’t be complete without the world’s longest running and most popular musical. The iconic masked angel of music creeps it real as he belts out Andrew Lloyd Webber’s majestic music of the night.

The Rocky Horror Picture Show

You didn’t think we’d leave this off, did you? Rocky Horror is the pinnacle of Halloween musicals with showings sprouting up around the world every October. It essentially “came back from the dead,” too, growing an incredibly dedicated following after an initially poor movie opening.

War of the Worlds the Musical Version

Fun fact: this progressive rock album was named the UK’s 32nd best-selling studio album of all time in 2018. Boom it through your speakers and blast off into an epic dance party.

Wicked

Come through again, Stephen Schwartz! Fly high above your fellow trick-or-treaters as you listen to the most whimsical Broadway cast album in all of Oz.

Young Frankenstein

Let me be frank, there’s no better time to do the Transylvania mania than Halloween. This hilarious and monstrous romp will make you feel electrifyingly alive.

Zombie Prom

Putting this on the docket is a no brainer (are you sick of my corny quips yet? Don’t worry we’re almost all wrapped up – like a mummy, get it?). Anyway, this Off-Broadway musical is a zany addition if you’re into the likes of Heathers and Little Shop.

Only 25 were included here, but there are no doubt more! Let us know in the comments which are your favorite. Happy Halloween!

The post 25 Spooktacular Musicals To Listen To For All The Halloween Feels appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Okay, okay, I just made that quote up, but I feel like it should be real.

Actors are part of an odd breed of people. We have the power to create extremely inspiring and important work, but it’s no secret we also have the ability to attract mountains of judgemental looks. Although we’re each packed with countless and (don’t get me wrong) fantastic quirks, here are seven weird things you’re guilty of doing if you’re an actor:

1. Talking to Yourself

You knew this would be No. 1, didn’t you? Trust me, I get the struggle. You’re trying to cement those lines in your head while on the go, or sometimes you just need a friend to calm yourself down before an audition and you’re the only one around. Either way, to non-actors, you look 100 percent cray-cray. There’s nothing weirder than encountering a frazzled person reciting Shakespeare to themselves on the sidewalk.

Tip: Next time you memorize lines or rehearse in public, try pretending you’re talking on the phone. This is only half weird.

2. Doing Extreme People-Watching

“I Wan’na Be Like You” from “The Jungle Book” should be our union theme song.

Actors are chameleons, or at least we try to be. Ideally, we should be able to slip into anyone’s shoes. Although this is a really fun process, it can definitely make us public nuisances. The second we hone in on someone interesting, not only do we want to study them unnoticed for hours as if we’re watching chimps at the zoo, but we immediately want to find out if we can be like them too.

So, you start mimicking their walk while you casually stroll behind them on 5th Avenue or try to get close enough to them in the checkout line so you can study how they speak. Just think to yourself, “WWMD?” (What would Meryl do?). The answer is probably not low-key stalk people.

3. Commencing in Warmups That Definitely Make It Look Like You’re Not Okay

Actors never want to walk into an audition totally cold. We all have some kind of prep activity to get our juices flowing. However, sometimes we’re in a rush and we have to conduct that weird routine while on the go.

We trill while running down the block. We sing scales to ourselves silently (we think). We do facial exercises that probably make it seem like we need help. And don’t even get us started on the stretching. Of course, at the end of the day, if you can walk into that audition room feeling comfortable and ready, it’s worth a few side-eyes on the subway.

4. Using Your Car as Your Rehearsal Space

Owning a car is a privilege for so many reasons, but having a private and transportable rehearsal studio is the best one.

Musical theatre nerds have all had our fair share of belting out audition songs while speeding down the highway. It’s like we have our own version of “Carpool Karaoke,” sans James Corden or any celebs. Most of the time, we get so into the emotional journey of our songs that we forget we’re even driving. Art is dangerous, right?

If you’ve never driven to an abandoned lot and recited your monologue to yourself, I don’t know if we can be friends.

5. Attempting a New Accent in a Public Place

Honestly, this never gets old, and it’s extremely helpful. Ordering that burger and fries in a foreign accent will either grant you a confused look or the burger and fries, no questions asked. If you get a weird glance, you know you have more work to do on your accent. If you get the food, then eat up! You clearly deserve it.

6. Acting Like You Constantly Have an Audience

Being onstage or on set should ultimately feel real if you prepared enough and connected with your own experiences. Well, what if in real life you constantly feel like you’re on a stage or set? Do you ever have those moments where you tell a joke and hold for applause? Or what about coyly making a face to the camera when someone says something strange? It can be hard to shake being in the spotlight!

7. Performing a One-Person Show at Home for Whoever Will Watch

Enough said.

So, we’ve come to the end of this list of some of the many weird things actors do. If you know someone who acts, I hope this clarified some things. If all of these were too real for you, you’re probably an actor.

Do you have any other things to add? Let us know in the comments below…

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“Anything you do, let it come from you. Then it will be new.”

A Production That’s No ‘Ordinary Sunday’

Dubbed as an iconic work of musical theatre, “Sunday in the Park With George” was certainly “new” at the Hudson Theatre. While the marvelous Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine masterpiece is set in the 19th century, the sentiment rang present in the Sarna Lapine-led revival (yes, she is related to James).

As the show opened, Jake Gyllenhaal pierced through the bare stage, which was quite literally a blank canvas, as the obsessive George Seurat. In contrast, Tony winner Annaleigh Ashford sauntered into the spotlight, breathing an unparalleled luminosity into her portrayal of Dot. Together, as George and Dot are meant to be, Gyllenhaal and Ashford spun a magic that spoke to the vitality of art.

The majority of thespians know that, like George Seurat’s work, the concept of this show was not primarily swallowed by the masses. As far as shows go, the Pulitzer Prize-winning musical is a bit abstract. However, with the veteran team that brought the recent revival to life, “Sunday in the Park With George” can more easily appeal to the inner artist in everyone. Audiences can relate to the struggle of following a dream and the love and joy that comes along with the journey. The show is a prime example of a musical that lures audiences into a completely different world and uses that setting as a space to teach and explore. The main subject it educates on? The importance of art.

A Resonating Message in Hard Times

Although the musical is set in another century and was conceived in the 1980s, the message feels more critical now than ever before. In a society where government threatens the funding of the arts, this revival could not have come at a better time. Through artistic filter, the story showcases the unquestionable importance of art for humanity. Act 1, which stood on its own in the original Off-Broadway run of the show, primes Act 2 just as art prepares people for what happens in life.

As the show comes to an end, there is a wrenchingly beautiful exchange between George and Dot. Dot, who spent her life loving a man who was consumed by the love of his art, reveals what she learned from George: “You taught me about concentration. At first, I thought that meant just being still, but I was to understand it meant much more. You meant to tell me to be where I was, not some place in the past or future. I worried too much about tomorrow; I thought the world could be perfect. I was wrong.”

This dialogue, which exists as a form of art, is an example of how art can reach out and touch people. As George and Dot slip into the haunting duet, “Move On,” audiences are urged to live in the moment and keep going forward. George will go on to create more art, as Gyllenhaal will go on to make more movies and Ashford will continue to stun audiences with more Broadway performances. And one audience member will leave the theatre inspired to write something, anything, on how significant “Sunday in the Park With George” is.

After shaking the breathtaking show (and all its colors and lights) through a sifter, it’s not hard to see what Sondheim is saying: Art is a vehicle. It’s a vehicle for joy. For education. For grief. For inspiration. For growth. And above all, it’s important~

The post How ‘Sunday In The Park With George’ Makes A Plea For The Arts appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

With tickets just going on sale last week, we’ve decided to weave together a theatre nerds’ perfect plan for seeing “SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical for Everyone.”

So, gather up your loved ones and take notes, because we’re about to bring you all the steps necessary for the best day ever, as SpongeBob would call it. Are you ready, nerds? (That’s your cue to shout, “Aye, aye, Captain!”)

Step 1: Buy Your Tickets!

Okay, this is an obvious one, but tickets are going faster than Squidward gets annoyed. Ticket sales began June 26, so grab your best friend and choose a date you’ll have totally free so you can plan festivities for all-day fun! Tickets can be found here.

Step 2: Make Your Visit to New York Like Bikini Bottom!

Design the perfect experience by making your visit to the Big Apple seem more like a trip to the big pineapple under the sea (see what we did there?). Since you can’t actually dive deep into the depths of the ocean while in Manhattan, we’ve compiled some excellent nautical spots to consider visiting on your journey:

• Fill your day with water at one of New York City’s waterfront piers.
• Get close to SpongeBob’s friends at the New York Aquarium.
• Float on the Hudson at the historic Lightship Frying Pan, or get in a kayak.

Step 3: Planning Your Food

This is a separate section of the planning process because as every SpongeBob fan understands, the Krabby Patty is considered sacred in Bikini Bottom. Despite there not being a Krusty Krab restaurant in New York City (anyone want to get that started?), there are definitely spots where you can grab a Mr. Krabs-approved meal:

• Check out Rasa in Greenwich Village and order the Southeast Crab sandwich.
• Head over to Flatiron to eat at L&W Oyster Co. While its very popular crab cake dish isn’t “”krusty,” it is considered “angry.”
• If you’re looking for top-notch seafood closer to the theatre, then stick around Times Square and chow down at Blue Fin . Boasting a trendy menu, this spot is right across from where the musical will play.
• Don’t listen to this withering fish! Definitely grab some chocolate before the show at Hershey’s Chocolate World and M&M’s World in Times Square — SpongeBob and Patrick will love you for it.

Of course, when in doubt, you can’t go wrong with Shake Shack.

Step 4: Binge-Watch the Show

Get excited, because now that you’ve completed all the necessary preparations, it’s time to relax and enjoy some SpongeBob. Prepare for the musical extravaganza that awaits you by watching as many episodes as you can — heck, throw a viewing party! That way, you’ll fully appreciate every homage and nuance the Broadway version pays to its animated predecessor.

After all this, you can officially quote your dear square friend and shout: “I’m ready!”

Are you pumped for the SpongeBob musical? Have any plans to hit New York City to see it? Let us know in the comments below…

The post Here’s The Best Way To See ‘SpongeBob SquarePants’ On Broadway appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Lucky for us Theatre Nerds, we caught up with the 37-year-old superstar a day before he hopped on the magic carpet for the first time. Check out our interview with Broadway’s newest Aladdin below:

Theatre Nerds: Congratulations on stepping into Aladdin! How has the journey compared to the many other shows you’ve worked on? I imagine being under Disney is magically different.

Telly Leung: This is my seventh Broadway show, and my second time replacing. I replaced Robin De Jesus in “Rent” on Broadway in 2006. Most of my Broadway experience has been originating roles, which has its own challenges: the pressure (and joy) of creating something from scratch, the constant changes during previews (what song is cut? What are the new lyrics? What joke are we trying out tonight?). But, there is a certain ownership of the material and the process that comes with originating a role.

Replacing in a show, especially in a role this big, has been a challenge. An actor always feels this constant pressure to play catch-up with the rest of the company. Luckily, I have a wonderful, warm, patient company at Agrabah, and everyone has been so supportive throughout the process. It’s truly a top-notch company. I feel very lucky.

TN: That’s wonderful! The “first look” pictures of you are awesome! Does it feel wild to be entering the world of such a beloved film?

TL: Thank you! Bravo to Matt Murphy, one of my favorite photographers in New York. There is certainly pressure to not disappoint all those people who have such a soft spot in their heart for the 1992 film. I count myself as one of those fans! All I can do is bring my sense of truth and honesty to the show, moment to moment, and attempt (to the best of my ability) to fill the big shoes left to me by the amazing Adam Jacobs, who originated the role.

TN: Did your “Allegiance” costar Lea Salonga, who is, of course, famous for voicing Jasmine and Mulan in the animated films, offer up any advice?

TL: My show-sister Lea didn’t offer any advice, but I loved hearing her talk about her wonderful experience being not one, but two Disney princesses. She had the most wonderful things to say about Alan Menken and what a warm person he is. I got to meet Alan recently at an event in Los Angeles, and it’s always a relief when you meet your heroes and they end up being as warm and down-to-earth as you hope they’d be!

TN: When you first watched the musical, what moment were you most excited to get a chance to do?

TL: Of course, I was excited to fly on that magic carpet. It’s a moment of pure stage magic that truly takes your breath away. But I was also excited to tackle “Proud of Your Boy,” Aladdin’s big “I want” song in Act 1. It’s a song that was cut from the movie, but it’s beautifully written by Alan Menken and Howard Ashman — and it has found new life in the stage production. It’s such a great exploration of Aladdin’s character, and I enjoy singing it every night!

TN: Aladdin is quite a demanding role, both physically and vocally. What measures have you been taking to prepare and to maintain stamina for the run?

TL: Aladdin is a beast of a role. One must stay healthy, hydrated and in shape to tackle it eight times a week. I eat right. I exercise. I rest. I drink lots of water. I take voice lessons. It’s a very disciplined life, but it’s worth it.

TN: I’m sure! Fresh off your incredible turn in the a-capella musical “In Transit,” have you taken anything you’ve learned from that experience and applied it to this one?

TL: Yes! I learned so much about myself vocally in “In Transit.” We all had to be vocal athletes in that show, and it was a lesson in stamina and preservation while still giving a full performance. I’ve certainly taken those lessons with me to the New Am!

“In Transit” was also a tight-knit company — a family — where everyone depended on each other. There was no lead. We were all part of an ensemble. I think this is an important dynamic to have in the theatre — even if the show has a lead. I’m playing the title character of “Aladdin” — what you may call the lead — but I don’t like to think of myself as the lead. I like to think of myself as part of a large ensemble of about 100 people — made up of dancers, actors, dressers, crew, stage, managers, ushers — that all make up the show that is “Aladdin.” That “little show,” family mentality is something I’d like to maintain and encourage during my time at Agrabah, even though it’s an enormous show.

TN: What are you most hoping your portrayal of Aladdin will give audiences?

TL: When I was in rehearsal, I had the pleasure of watching the show every night. I got to experience the emotional magic carpet ride the audience feels night after night at the New Am. The show itself is beautifully constructed, with great songs and a great story. All I have to do is take the audience with me on a little emotional rollercoaster and have them get on that ride with Aladdin.

TN: Although you’re living the dream right now, if you had a Genie suddenly poof into your life, what would your three wishes be?

TL: 1. I’d wish for the ability to fly like Superman.
2. I’d wish to go back in time and see all the Broadway shows I was too young to see! Can you imagine seeing the original productions of “Gypsy,” “Mame” and “Carousel?!”
3. I’d wish for a new president in the White House.

TN: What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring performers?

TL: Theatre is an art that doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It’s not like you’re a sculptor or a painter who can create art by himself or herself. It takes a village. Treat everyone in the collaborative process with respect, because no one job is more important than the other. The lead of the show is just as important as the person who does props or whose sole job is to sweep the stage every night.

TN: To end on a rather “Theatre Nerds-esque” note, I’m wondering if you’ve ever had a moment when you totally geeked out over a Broadway performer upon meeting them?

TL: I met Carol Channing once. I was in the presence of greatness. She was warm, charming, funny and made everyone around her feel like they were an old friend. That’s a star!

Thank you, Telly! You can catch him flying over Broadway now at the New Amsterdam Theatre in “Aladdin.”

The post Interview: Telly Leung On Stepping Into Aladdin, His Three Wishes And More! appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Besides being chock-full of animated audiences and sparkling performances, Broadway theatres are infested with ghoulish histories. Each night, after the curtain falls and everyone goes home, the Broadway spirits come out to play, illuminated by their respective theatre’s ghostlight. However, some phantoms also strut their stuff during the lively hours, playing tricks on current Broadway stars and theatre employees. From vaudeville acrobats flying across the house to former theatre owners dropping by to check up on things, we’d like to introduce you to some of Broadway’s most famous ghosts.

So, light up the fireplace and snuggle up if you dare, because it’s time for some ghost stories:

David Belasco: The Belasco Theatre

As the current house manager of the Belasco tirelessly works in her office, she’ll occasionally hear the man above stirring in his own wood-paneled space. The company comforts her on late nights, but it probably shouldn’t — especially considering that the office above is kept under tight lock and key, motion detectors and all, and has been empty for decades.

Legendary theatre owner David Belasco built the theatre that still stands in his name on West 44th Street. He spent his life there, writing, directing and managing all sorts of plays. In fact, he spent so much of his time there that he dwelled in an apartment above. So, it comes as no shock that Belasco remains in the space even after passing on in 1931.

Dubbed by Playbill as “one of the most solid theatre ghosts,” Belasco began to appear almost immediately after his death. Actors began to notice a lone, dark shadow watching their performances from the balcony. He wasn’t shy, either, going right up to the performers and shaking their hands afterward and saying they had done a fabulous job. Many actresses reportedly complained about an older man in a priest ensemble pinching their bottoms. Considering Belasco was known in his day as a flirt and “The Bishop of Broadway,” this makes sense.

In death, Belasco remains a flirt, holding a relationship with a ghost known as “The Blue Lady.” An anonymous celebrity who appeared in a show at the Belasco recently reported hearing the locked door of her dressing room open while she was taking a shower. She frantically ran out, only to find the door still securely shut. But when she went back to the bathroom, it was bathed with a strange blue glow.

Like his lover, the former theatre owner is not against manifesting himself in stereotypical ghost forms, either. He swings closed doors open, raises the curtain magically and sends out puffs of cigar smoke into the atmosphere when no one alive is smoking. He has also been known to throw wild parties with other spirits, with late-night workers hearing the noise. Despite being sealed up and shut down for years, Belasco’s private elevator has also been heard puttering up to his private office.

Playbill reported that an usher was closing up the lobby one night at the Belasco and playfully called out, “Goodnight, Mr. Belasco.” And, even though the exterior doors were pulled shut and there was no wind, all the lobby doors swung open in unison. Needless to say, the usher transferred to another theatre. It looks like Belasco doesn’t ever want the theatre to close.

Olive Thomas: The New Amsterdam Theatre

Aladdin’s Genie isn’t the only mystical creature soaring through Disney’s 42nd Street house. The New Amsterdam Theatre is home to one of Broadway’s most active ghosts: Olive Thomas.

This former Ziegfeld Follies girl has been haunting the theatre since she died of accidental poisoning in 1920. Known by her signature outfit (a green-beaded Follies dress, beaded headpiece and a sash), Thomas has been seen wandering with a big blue pill bottle. This is said to be the container that carries the mercury pills she used to poison herself.

Thomas reportedly manifests so frequently that photographs of her have been placed at every entrance of the New Amsterdam so staff can say hello and goodbye to her each day. They believe doing so has kept her mischief at bay, but that doesn’t mean she isn’t still around. In fact, every time there is a malfunction during a performance of the highly technical “Aladdin,” her name immediately comes to mind.

Shortly after the opening of “Aladdin” in 2014, Thomas made an appearance. An audience member in the orchestra asked one of the ushers for a booster seat for her child.

“We don’t like to interrupt a show,” Dana Amendola, vice president of operations at Disney Theatrical Group, told Playbill, “so we waited until the intermission and came to her with a booster. But we found she already had one. When we asked her where she had gotten it, she said a ‘lady at the back of the theatre’ had gestured to where they were. Now, we don’t have a woman at the back of the house who does that in the middle of a show. We checked, and none of the staff had done it. So you can take that how you like, but it was kind of freaky.”

The occurrence seems rare, as Thomas mainly reveals herself to men and acts flirtatious toward them.

Her spirit also recently appeared when Disney employees were talking about the movie “The Artist,” which is set in the era of silent films. After someone mentioned Thomas became a silent film star, someone made the mistake of saying the real silent-era star was actually Mary Pickford (Thomas’ sister-in-law). At that moment, a tall stack of DVDs on a nearby table flew across the room, crashing onto the floor. The group was stunned.

“They didn’t fall straight down as CDs would have done,” Amendola said. “They went flying about three feet across the room and hit a wall. This was witnessed by several people.”

Amendola went on to say ushers and overnight security have felt a presence sneak up on them and touch their back, only to find no one there. Apparently crazed fans hope for that same feeling, some trying to hide in the New Amsterdam overnight with the intention of spotting Thomas. According to Amendola, security does a special sweep each night to catch them.

Louis Borsalino, Judy Garland and Friends: The Palace Theatre

Now here is a ghost you don’t want to see. The Palace Theatre staff will warn you of the tale of Louis Borsalino. In the days of vaudeville, Borsalino had a tightrope-walking act at the Palace. Unfortunately, the acrobat fell to his death during one performance. As years passed, actors saw his ghost walking a tightrope from the house-left box up to the mezzanine. However, these stories can’t be verified. Legend has it that anyone who sees this particular ghost dies within a year.

However, don’t be alarmed if you just happened to see a ghost at the Palace. There are many other spirits in residency, including a cellist dressed all in white who was last seen during the run of “Beauty and the Beast,” a man in a brown suit who is known for haunting the offices at the theatre nightly, a young boy who will play with his toy trucks in the mezzanine and even Judy Garland. That’s right, the presence of the legend herself is palpable near a door that the theatre had constructed especially for her at the back of the house.

Of course, there are a multitude of other ghosts on Broadway. So, the next time you go to the theatre, pay attention — because the stars aren’t just on the stage and they’re dying to be in the spotlight again (*insert maniacal laughter here*).

We couldn’t pack all of the ghosts into one article so let’s talk about some others in the comments below. Any ghost stories of your own?

The post Meet Broadway’s Resident Ghosts appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Unfortunately, as a theatre nerd, you’ve most likely experienced a cringeworthy audience disruption during a show — and always during the most vulnerable scenes! Whether it’s taking a photo with the flash on (*palm to head*), Madonna texting (what?!) or the ever-rude cell phone ring (*palm to head again*), Broadway stars seem to have endured it all. While professional performers generally power through, some interruptions are far too distracting and must be stopped in order for the performance to successfully continue.

From Lin-Manuel Miranda to Laura Benanti, here are five Broadway stars who halted their show to quiet a disruptive audience member:

5. Keira Knightley in ‘Thérèse Raquin’ (2015)

The famous actress wowed audience members with her Broadway debut performance in ‘Thérèse Raquin,” but there was one attendee whose affections she could have gone without. During the first preview, the show stopped because of Keira Knightley’s stalker.

According to Broadway World, social media was abuzz with the incident, with one user detailing, “Show was stopped because an audience member, who I thought was part of the cast, stood up by the front mezzanine railing and asked Keira Knightley to marry him. He was escorted out, but not before he threw a huge bouquet of flowers from 5 rows up on to the stage.”

Another user wrote, “There was apparently a Keira Knightley stalker at ‘Thérèse Raquin,’ who came in and yelled ‘Christ was born of a virgin! Keira, marry me!’”

A Broadway World member named jacobstf took to the site’s message board to further explain what happened: “After a very awkward silence, Gabriel Ebert motioned to Knightley, they walked over to the bouquet and kicked it into the wings (which got applause). After trying to resume the show, a voice came over the speakers announcing there would be a short break.”

Yikes! Ignoring him was definitely the smartest thing to do. After the scary incident, Roundabout, which produced the show, amped up its security measures.

4. Laura Benanti in ‘She Loves Me’ (2016)

Laura Benanti called out a cell phone ring during a matinee performance of “She Loves Me” on April 2016. The Tony winner was in the middle of singing the emotionally charged song “Will He Like Me?” when she heard the interruption. Like the pro she is, she initially kept singing, softly squeezing a “Hello” into her song. As the ringing persisted, Playbill reported, Benanti became irked, saying “I’ll wait” and then “We’ll all wait” as the orchestra paused with her. As soon as the ringing subsided, Benanti picked up her song exactly where she left off.

The entertainer addressed the incident on Twitter the following day:

She also shared a link to “Look Up,” a song she performed with The Skivvies that is the perfect anecdote for rude theatergoers.

3. Annaleigh Ashford in ‘Sylvia’ (2016)

When in doubt, bark! Annaleigh Ashford told Playbill she “thought that something dire must be happening” when an audience member picked up her phone and had a full conversation during a performance of “Sylvia.” How did the Tony winner deal with the disturbance? With a completely in-character dog bark, of course!

“We’re very lucky to be in a play that is set up so that if a cell phone rings, I can bark at it. It’s much easier to recognize and acknowledge it and handle it lightly than in other plays,” Ashford told Playbill. “If the same phone goes off more than once, it’s usually someone who doesn’t know cell phones very well. Well, in this case, the second time it rang, she picked up and answered and started talking. It turned into a full conversation. The audience around her started shushing her, but she kept talking. We could hear it onstage.”

After two pages of dialogue, Ashford recalled that she and costar Matthew Broderick gave up on continuing the scene, as the offending theatregoer was still disrupting the audience.

“It became very clear that the audience was so distracted that they weren’t in the world of the play anymore,” she said.

Finally, someone around the woman helped her to hang up the phone and turn it off.

“We told the audience, ‘We’re going to go back, if you don’t mind,’” Ashford said. “That got applause. We briefly talked about where to go back to, then we took positions and started the scene again. The audience was with us 100 percent.”

2. Lin-Manuel Miranda Deals With Madonna Interrupting ‘Hamilton’ (2015)

It seems like Madonna should have taken a note from her hit song, “Hung Up” and hung up her phone. While she might be an international superstar, the singer was just another audience member when she watched an Off-Broadway performance of “Hamilton” at the Public Theatre. After arriving late, the star was allegedly texting during the show, prompting Miranda himself to ban her from visiting backstage afterward.

“Tonight was the first time I asked stage management NOT to allow a celebrity (who was texting all through Act 2) backstage. #noselfieforyou,” the Pulitzer Prize-winning genius wrote in a since-deleted tweet. That’s right — not even Madonna is excused from being disruptive!

1. Patti LuPone in ‘Gypsy’ (2009)

What else did you think would be No. 1? No one should mess with Broadway legend Patti LuPone. She clearly has no patience for audience disruptions, becoming known as a performer who calls attention to the bad ones. In perhaps her most famous “audience handling,” LuPone paused her showstopping final number in “Gypsy” to yell. During “Rose’s Turn,” she certainly turned, shouting at rude audience members who were taking illegal photos throughout the show.

“Stop! Stop taking photos right now!” she screamed, schooling the offenders. “You heard the announcement. Who do you think you are? How dare you? Get them out! I won’t continue if they’re taking pictures. This is the theatre!”

A group of ushers immediately came to escort the impolite theatregoers out. Met with uproarious applause, LuPone started the show again. The incident was the day before the show closed.

Do you think the performers handled their situation well or know of another instance like this? Let us know in the comments below…

The post 5 Broadway Stars Who Handled An Audience Interruption Like A Pro appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

The punchy song, which lasts for almost eight minutes, holds 20 different homages to Broadway favorites from “Annie” to “Sunday in the Park With George.” Before you read this, give the song a listen, see how many references you can find on your own, then come back!

The following are all of the ways songwriters Wayne and Karey Kirkpatrick snuck in their nods to famous musical scores to make “A Musical” one of the biggest spectaculars in Broadway history:

1. ‘Avenue Q’

Lyrics: “Some make you happy, some make you sad
Some are quite big, some quite small”

2. ‘The Fantasticks’

Song Referenced: “Soon It’s Gonna Rain”

Lyrics: “Some are too long, someone just play the song”

In an interview with The Wall Street Journal, Wayne Kirkpatrick revealed that the reference to “The Fantasticks” was accidental. He was playing a chord progression when his brother, Karey, noticed its similarity to one in “Soon It’s Gonna Rain.”

3. Les Misérables

Lyrics: “That sounds miserable
I believe it’s pronounced misérables”

4. ‘Nice Work If You Can Get It’

Song Referenced: “Fascinating Rhythm” by George Gershwin

Lyrics: “Feel that fascinating rhythm moving to your feet
Feel your ass gyrating to that titillating beat
You slap your lap, then finger snap
That’s when you know it’s time to tap”

5. ‘West Side Story’

Song Referenced: “Tonight”

6. ‘The Music Man’

Song Referenced: “Seventy Six Trombones”

At this point in the number, ensemble members general march through center stage, donning costumes and props from the musicals they reference (such as this one).

Lyrics: “It’s a musical, whaddaya talk, whaddaya talk
It’s a musical, a Seussical? No a musical, with girls on stage”

7. ‘Seussical’

Lyrics: “It’s a musical, whaddaya talk, whaddaya talk
It’s a musical, a Seussical? No a musical, with girls on stage”

8. ‘South Pacific’

Song Referenced: “There’s Nothin’ Like a Dame”

Lyrics: “We’ve got snappy repartee
And the women are risqué
And the chorus boys are kinda gay”

In this section, several members of the ensemble cruise through with sailor hats.

9. ‘Chicago’

Song Referenced: “All That Jazz”

10. ‘Evita’

Song Referenced: “Buenos Aires”

11. ‘Rent’

Song Referenced: “Seasons of Love”

Lyrics: Some musicals are very serious

12. ‘Jesus Christ Superstar’

Song Referenced: “Superstar”

Lyrics: “All the glittering musical, a musical”

13. ‘Sunday in the Park With George’

Song Referenced: “Putting It Together”

This Sondheim tribute is so quick that you might miss it if you’re not paying attention! One measure from “Putting It Together” appears in the song.

14. ‘Annie’

Song Referenced: “It’s the Hard-Knock Life”

This iconic one is pretty obvious! Karey and Kirkpatrick revealed to the Wall Street Journal that they had considered cutting the “Annie” reference because of the bulk of homages already in this section of the song.

Lyrics: “It’s a musical for us”

15. ‘Guys and Dolls’

Song Referenced: “Luck Be a Lady”

16. ‘Sweet Charity’

Song Referenced: “Overture”/”Big Spender”

17. ‘Hello, Dolly!’

Song Referenced: “Hello, Dolly!”

18. ‘Cats’

Song Referenced: “Memory”

19. ‘Sweeney Todd’

Song Referenced: “The Ballad of Sweeney Todd”

20. ‘A Chorus Line’

Song Referenced: “I Hope I Get It”

Perhaps the most recognizable, this reference closes the epic number!

Enjoy this read? Then you’ll love Joanna S. Kao’s interactive feature that allows you to reveal each reference while you listen!

The post A Guide To Every Musical Reference in ‘A Musical’ From ‘Something Rotten’ appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

Here are 10 Hollywood stars not widely known for their stage work who have recently lit up the Great White Way performing in a musical:

1. Hugh Jackman, “The Boy From Oz” (2003)

While he was recognized worldwide as Wolverine, Hugh Jackman swapped his claws and brooding emotion for sparkles and sequins to make his Broadway debut. In the lead role of Peter Allen, Jackman won a Tony Award for “The Boy From Oz.” He loved the experience so much that in 2006, he reprised the role for the Australian arena tour, directed by “High School Musical” and “Hocus Pocus” legend Kenny Ortega.

Fun Fact: For some audience members, it was hard to shake Jackman’s “X-Men” vibe. “During ‘The Boy From Oz,’ there was one scene where I was kissing Jarrod [Emick], who played my boyfriend,” Jackman told The New York Times, “and an audience member yelled, ‘Don’t do it, Wolverine!’ I lost it. I literally lost it. The whole audience loved it. I mean, you can’t deny Wolverine.”

2. Catherine Zeta Jones, “A Little Night Music” (2009)

Catherine Zeta-Jones won the Best Leading Actress Tony Award for her portrayal of Desiree in this musical. Starring alongside the incomparable Angela Lansbury, the actress poured her heart into the performance, notably nailing Sondheim’s song, “Send in the Clowns.” Now, if only we could get her and Renée Zellweger to star in “Chicago!”

Fun Fact: Zeta-Jones told Playbill that she hopes to play Mama Rose in “Gypsy” on Broadway one day.

3. Emma Stone, “Cabaret” (2014)

Emma Stone earned rave reviews for her turn as Sally Bowles in the revival of “Cabaret.” She took over the part after Michelle Williams and starred in the show with Alan Cumming.

Fun Fact: The star has revealed in various interviews that the role is a huge reason she was cast in “La La Land.” When Damien Chazelle (the film’s writer and director) saw her onstage in 2014, he immediately pictured her as the lead in his musical film. Stone also said that performing on Broadway helped her have the confidence to accept the role in the now-acclaimed “La La Land.”

4. Neil Patrick Harris, “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (2014)

When it was announced that this cult favorite would be opening on Broadway, fans had high hopes. Of course, Neil Patrick Harris didn’t disappoint, and even won a Tony Award for his transformation into Hedwig.

Fun Fact: Since the cast was so small, Harris had three adjoining dressing rooms backstage: a pink room where he got made up, a relaxation room with a couch and a physical therapy room to warm up in, according to Vulture.

5. Matthew Morrison, “Finding Neverland” (2015)

While Matthew Morrison is no stranger to Broadway, he was considered to be the more bankable replacement for Jeremy Jordan when “Finding Neverland” hit New York City. However, the “Glee” star conjured up a magical performance as J.M. Barrie, delighting audiences and earning a Drama Desk Award nomination.

Fun Fact: In an interview with Broadway.com, Morrison said the choreography was so challenging to execute night after night that he started taking ice baths.

6. Jennifer Hudson, “The Color Purple” (2015)

Jennifer Hudson took her bounds of live experience to Broadway, making her Broadway debut as Shug Avery in a revival of “The Color Purple.” Although the Oscar winning performer said that “being a celebrity” was a big reason why she was hired, her charming performance delighted lucky attendees.

Fun Fact: According to Broadway Black, Hudson initially thought it was “weird” that she was called to play Shug, as she related more to Celie in her heart. However, she soon realized that she had some of Shug’s fire in her.

7. Josh Groban, “Natasha, Pierre and the Great Comet of 1812” (2016)

There is so much weight in The New York Times calling a performance “absolutely wonderful.” Josh Groban made his Broadway debut as Pierre in this musical adaptation of “War and Peace.” He left viewers intoxicated and was even named Broadway.com’s “Star of the Year” in 2016.

Fun Fact: Groban fell into the orchestra pit one night during a heated scene. “I kept stomping and stepping forward, and I didn’t realize where my feet were,” he recalled in an interview with The Guardian. “Usually I’m a little further back. I missed because the strobe lights are so disorienting. I said, ‘You bully! You scoundrel!’ It was like a vaudevillian slapstick routine. I fell smack-dab right onto the drumset. I had fat padding on, so I didn’t feel a thing. But my ego was bruised.”

8. Taran Killam, “Hamilton” (2017)

The “Saturday Night Live” alum assumed King George’s throne this year, doing the impossible and making “Hamilton” even better. Taran Killam kills it as the pompous tyrant in his Broadway debut.

Fun Fact: Killam was extra nervous to step into the king’s heeled shoes, not only because it’s, well, “Hamilton,” but because he’s friends with Lin-Manuel Miranda and the show’s director, Thomas Kail. He told The New York Times, “I don’t want to let my friends down, more than anything.”

9. Ben Platt, “Dear Evan Hansen” (2016)

You might say that Ben Platt is “pitch perfect” in “Dear Evan Hansen.” The film star originated the show’s title role as far back as its Washington, D.C. tryout in 2015. Now on Broadway, Platt plucks at the heartstrings of audiences night after night in what’s being called a can’t-miss performance.

Fun Fact: Platt’s dad is famed producer Marc Platt (“Wicked,” “La La Land”). He encouraged his son to follow his bliss when he recognized his passion.

10. Glenn Close, “Sunset Boulevard (1994/2017)

Glenn Close began her career on the stage but hit celebrity status in the 1980s for her Oscar-nominated turn in “The World According to Garp” and later, the box office smash “Fatal Attraction.” To ‘90s kids, she eventually became feared for her performance as Cruella de Vil in “101 Dalmatians,” for which she was nominated for a Golden Globe.

Needless to say, by the time Close starred as Norma Desmond in the American premiere of “Sunset Boulevard” in Los Angeles in 1993, she was incredibly well known. A year later, the star opened the show on Broadway with such buzz that the production broke the record for the highest advanced ticket sales at that time. In 1994, Close won a Tony Award, and now, she’s back reprising her role and is better than ever!

Fun Fact: After “Sunset Boulevard” first closed on Broadway, Close was haunted by the role. She felt like Norma was with her daily while she would do “mundane things” such as pack her kid’s lunch and drive her to school. “It was as if Norma was sitting across from me saying, ‘Children? Sandwiches? Where am I?’” she told NBC New York.

We couldn’t include every great celebrity musical performance, so be sure to let us know your favorites in the comments section below…

The post 10 Best Celebrity Performances In Recent Broadway Musicals appeared first on Theatre Nerds.

From Robert Pattinson to Emma Stone, here are seven well-known actors who got their start in community theatre:

1. Robert Pattinson

The mega-famous “Twilight” star says he “owes everything” to community theatre.

Before sinking his fangs into the hearts of teenage girls everywhere, Robert Pattinson discovered his love of acting in community theatre. Propelled by the desire to meet girls, he auditioned for a local amateur dramatic society, the Barnes Theatre Club, in Southeast London. Although he didn’t find a girlfriend there, a talent agent spotted him during a show at the theatre. As fate would have it, the agent introduced Pattinson to the then-director of “Harry Potter,” Mike Newell, who cast him as Cedric Diggory. The rest, of course, is history.

“I just decided that I should try to act,” Pattison told Mirror. “So I auditioned for ‘Guys and Dolls’ and got a little tiny part as some Cuban dancer, and then I got the lead part, and then I got my agent. I owe everything to the Barnes Theatre Club.”

2. Kristen Bell

Do you want to build a … banana? Prior to reaching stardom with hit films such as “Frozen,” Kristen Bell was vying for roles in community theatre. She “flipped out” and cried at her first community theatre audition for a part in “Raggedy Ann and Andy.” Bell told NY Daily News that she ended up being cast “in the complex and dual role of the banana in the first act and the tree in the second act.”

Bell continued acting in community theatre up until college, saying that the friendships she made encouraged her to pursue her passion.

3. Chris Evans

Chris Evans didn’t start out as a superhero. The “Captain America” star grew up performing in community theatre, acting with his two sisters and his brother in a children’s company called the Concord Youth Theatre.

“Each of us have done at least 15 to 20 shows there,” Evans told Backstage. His family was so into the Concord Youth Theatre that when Evans was around 18, his mother took over as the artistic director there and has been ever since. Seeing his older sister, Carly, onstage inspired Evans to be an actor.

“Her play would end, and she’d get flowers and candy, and it just seemed like such a good time,” he said. “She was having a ball and hanging out with her acting friends — it just looked awesome. I was like, ‘I’ll give this a shot.’”

So, he got involved in the theatre. “I fell in love,” he said. “I started doing plays year-round. I was always onstage.”

4. Jane Krakowski

The “30 Rock” and “Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt” star credits community theatre for fostering her love of acting. In fact, Krakowski practically grew up at the Barn Theatre in New Jersey.

“My parents were involved in community theatre in New Jersey. Instead of hiring a babysitter, they would take me with them,” Krakowski told Newsday. “So my love of acting seeped in from watching my parents and seeing them have fun. When I was very little, I was in ‘A Christmas Carol,’ and my mom was Mrs. Cratchit. I also was in ‘Gypsy,’ and my dad was Herbie. Every time there was a part for a kid, they would see if they could sneak me in.”

5. Anna Kendrick

With her “pitch perfect” presence, Anna Kendrick is currently a go-to performer for musical theatre films. Despite hitting it big with a Broadway role in “High Society” at age 12, the Oscar nominee’s first taste of theatre was through auditioning for local shows.

“My first audition was for ‘Annie,’ when I was like five years old and auditioning for community theatre,” the Maine native told E! News. The “Into the Woods” actress didn’t get the lead that time around, but she did play one of the other orphans in the production. Kendrick remembers the experience fondly, telling NPR that singing “Hard-Knock Life” was “the best.”

In an interview with The Portland Press Herald, Kendrick recalls doing multiple community theatre shows. “I think I only did shows at Lyric Theatre and smaller places,” she said. “I had some very formative experiences.”

6. Kristin Chenoweth

Now a veteran performer of Broadway stages (not to mention a Tony and Emmy winner), Kristin Chenoweth started out learning the ropes on a community theatre stage. The “Wicked” star played in musicals such as “Anything Goes” at the Theatre Tulsa during her college years. Located in Oklahoma, Theatre Tulsa is the seventh longest-running community theatre in America and strives to educate artists through training and experience.

Chenoweth isn’t the only star to come out of the Theatre Tulsa, with actress Jeanne Tripplehorn and author Sam Harris receiving their first stage experiences there as well.

7. Emma Stone

Although she is now a Hollywood darling (and a Best Actress winner!), Emma Stone began performing at a small theatre in her hometown in Arizona. The Valley Youth Theatre was a haven for Stone, who has said that performing helped curb her panic attacks when she was growing up.

Before leaving for California, Stone played in 18 different shows at the nonprofit theatre, including “Winnie the Pooh,” “The Princess and the Pea,” “The Little Mermaid” and “Cinderella.”

Bob Cooper, an acting coach at VYT who has known Stone since she was 11, revealed in an article with Daily Mail that she credits the local theatre for giving her the skills she needed.

“Thank you thank you thank you,” she wrote to him. “It’s all because of you.”

Do you have any other cool stories about stars in community theatre? Let us know in the comments below!

The post 7 Famous Actors Who Got Their Start In Community Theatre appeared first on Theatre Nerds.