Christopher Vo News

I have been so impressed by the tremendous support and camaraderie in the Broadway community. Many from across the theater spectrum already have come to enjoy ON THE TOWN in previews. It's been inspiring to see cast members and creatives from WICKED, IF/THEN, PIPPIN, NEWSIES, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS, LITTLE DANCER, NBC's live telecast of PETER PAN, and so many others in our community excited and eager to show their support. We can always tell when our audiences are speckled with others who work on the 'Great White Way'. From the moment the house lights dim, a friendly buzz radiates onto the stage.

We just finished our first full week of previews!!! After our shows here at ON THE TOWN, there is always a crowd of fans by our stage door anxious to get their programs signed by the cast and eager to share with us their favorite aspects of the show. For most, the top of their list is the dancing.

We had our first preview performance of ON THE TOWN this past Saturday!

ON THE TOWN and TodayTix, the Broadway ticket app, just announced Broadway's first ever mobile lottery, offering $20 day-of tickets to the iconic musical comedy. The new Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN,directed by John Rando (Tony Award® for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash') officially opens on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036).

One of the wonderful things about live theater is that each audience member's experience is different. For me, a favorite aspect of live theater is its ability to suspend disbelief and to transport the audience to the world being presented onstage. When it's done well, immersion into the story-telling and production can make the audience forget, at least for a moment, that they are watching a bunch of actors in a play. The experience envelopes them, and before long the audience is crying and laughing along with the characters on the stage.

I experienced my first Broadway Sitzprobe this past weekend! The nerdy Asian boy in me needs to explain what a sitzprobe is, for those who don't already know. Sitzprobe (pronounced zits-probe) is a German-derived term literally meaning 'seated test or seated trial.' Of course, the sitzprobe process is widely used across the various performing arts. In the musical theater world, it is when the orchestra members and the actors meet for the first time and do a seated run-through rehearsal of the show. Up until Saturday, we had been listening to our rehearsal pianists and drummer. From what I understand, the score is tremendously difficult to play on the piano, as it was written to be performed by a huge orchestra. So here's a shout-out to our talented rehearsal musicians who have been holding down the fort for us during the past several weeks.

Things are moving along so quickly as the first preview performance of On The Town (September 20) approaches. We have completed teching almost half of our show. One of my favorite songs in the show is 'Lonely Town', performed by Tony Yazbeck (as the sailor Gabey). Tony's voice is hauntingly gorgeous, and the accompanying duet danced by Kristine Covillo and Stephen Hanna is stunning. On The Town is such a comedic show, so it is a refreshing change of pace when we get to the 'Lonely Town' number. I dressed up my dogs, Hugo and Banjo, in sailor outfits and took pictures of them. Enjoy. I imagine them howling out this tune while they are home alone.

Along with my Broadway debut in 'On the Town', I'm thrilled to be making my blogging debut. You can expect to hear about all the exciting happenings with our show leading up to our big opening night on October 16th. This has been an incredible journey. An exhilarating three-week whirlwind of rehearsals has led us to our first week of tech! We pretty much attempted our first stop and start run through of our show by the middle of our second week of rehearsals. The remainder of the time, our director John Rando and choreographer Josh Bergasse chipped at the bit, getting the show in tip top shape before we got into the theatre.

In the coming months, Broadway will welcome a fresh crop of productions- many of which will mark the Broadway debuts for a slew of talented actors. Whether they are fresh faces or established stars, these Broadway babies will soon take their very first bows on the grandest stages in the world. Meet all of the Great White Way's newest stars below, and be sure to let us know who you're most looking forward to seeing onstage!

Producers Howard and Janet Kagan have announced complete casting for the new revival of ON THE TOWN, the musical-comedy love letter to New York City opening on Broadway this fall. Directed by John Rando (Tony Award for Urinetown) and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse (Emmy Award winner for 'Smash') ON THE TOWN is set to begin previews on Saturday, September 20, 2014 and officially opens on Thursday, October 16, 2014 at Broadway's Lyric Theatre (213 W 42nd St, New York, NY 10036). Tickets for the new Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN are on sale now and available at Ticketmaster.com.

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, previously announced that Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Kyra Sedgwick would lead the cast of Academy Award and Tony Award winner John Patrick Shanley's new play The Danish Widow, which premieres today, July 16, and continues through July 27, 2014 at Hallie Flanagan-Davis Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College. Shanley also directs the cast which also includes multitalented Broadway vets Craig Bierko and Matt McGrath, as well as stage and screen actress Annika Boras.

Earlier this week, Steele took a break from rehearsals to chat with Broadwayworld about the new production, reuniting with his NEWSIES choreographer Christopher Gattelli, and so much more. Check out the full interview below!

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, announced that Golden Globe and Emmy Award winner Kyra Sedgwick will lead the cast of Academy Award and Tony Award winner John Patrick Shanley's new play The Danish Widow, which will premiere July 16-27, 2014 at Hallie Flanagan-Davis Powerhouse Theater at Vassar College. Shanley also directs the cast which also includes multitalented Broadway vets Craig Bierko and Matt McGrath, as well as stage and screen actress Annika Boras.

Last night, June 20, The National Academy of Television Arts & Sciences (NATAS) announced the winners of the 41st Annual Daytime Entertainment Creative Arts Emmy Awards in a sold-out, grand gala for over 1,200 attendees at the Westin Bonaventure, in downtown Los Angeles. Scroll down for the full list of winners!

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, presents the Powerhouse Theater Season, running from today, June 20 to July 27 at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York).

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, will soon present their upcoming Powerhouse Theater Season, running from June 20 to July 27 atVassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York). Members of the casts gave a special press preview yesterday and BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there to chat with the whole gang about the season!

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, will soon present their upcoming Powerhouse Theater Season, running from June 20 to July 27 at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York). Members of the casts gave a special press preview yesterday an you can check out photos below!

New York Stage and Film and Vassar College, this summer celebrating the 30th year of their Powerhouse Theater collaboration, are thrilled to reveal the first round of casting for the upcoming Powerhouse Theater Season, running from June 20 to July 27 at Vassar College (Poughkeepsie, New York).

Signature Theatre has announced a student rush policy for the world premiere of David Henry Hwang's new play Kung Fu, directed by Leigh Silverman, with choreography by Sonya Tayeh. The production runs through Sunday, April 6 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).

Signature Theatre has announced a third one-week extension for the world premiere of David Henry Hwang's new play KUNG FU, directed by Leigh Silverman, with choreography by Sonya Tayeh. The production will now play through Sunday, April 6 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues).