Cody Williams News

It's a very exciting time at Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella because we are just days away from moving out of our rehearsal studios and into the Broadway Theatre. It's truly astounding to think about how quickly time has passed since we started this process; it's probably due to the fact that as a company we have had so much fun. The atmosphere at rehearsal has been so warm and welcoming--something that definitely is trickling down from the people in charge--so it's the perfect place to have fun and just play.

Hi! My name is Cody Williams and I am so excited to be working on Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella. Over the next month I'll be blogging about my rehearsal experience for this INCREDIBLE production. We rehearse at the historic 890 Broadway building, home to the American Ballet Theatre, Gibney Dance Center, and some of the nicest elevators in all of New York! My time with R+H's Cinderella started this summer with a month long workshop, continued with a reading in October and although we hadn't yet started actual rehearsals, we performed in the Macy's Day Parade this Thanksgiving (check that sucker of the bucket list!) We started rehearsal for the Broadway production the first week of December.

Rehearsals for RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S Cinderella will begin Thursday, December 6 with preview performances starting January 25 prior to Opening Night on Sunday, March 3. (The previously announced opening date of February 24 turned out to be Oscar Night.) The box office at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St.) will open Monday, December 17 at 10 a.m.

Complete casting has just been announced for the new production of RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, which begins performances in January on Broadway. RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA will perform at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway at 53rd St).

You choose the murderer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, the whodunit smash based on the unfinished novel by Charles Dickens and adapted by Tony Award?-winning writer/composer Rupert Holmes (Curtains). Scott Ellis (Harvey, She Loves Me) directs this rollicking musical in its first-ever return to Broadway since winning the Tony 'Triple Crown' (Best Musical, Best Book, and Best Score)!

Deadline.com reports that a deal is now in place for Belle Pictures and the Mark Gordon Company to head a film adaption of Memphis at Warner Brother's Aclon Entertainment. The film will be produced by Mark Gordon, Molly Smith and Alcon's Andrew Kosove and Broderick Johnson with a new script by Tony-winner Joe DiPietro.

Roundabout Theatre Company will present the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block (Edwin Drood), Will Chase (John Jasper), Gregg Edelman (Reverend Mr. Crisparkle), Jim Norton (Chairman) and Chita Rivera (Princess Puffer) with Andy Karl (Neville Landless), Jessie Mueller (Helena Landless), Betsy Wolfe (Rosa Bud), Nicholas Barasch (Deputy), Peter Benson (Bazzard), Robert Creighton (Durdles) and ensemble members Alison Cimmet, Nick Corley, Janine DiVita, Jenifer Foote, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Spencer Plachy, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Jim Walton and Cody Williams. The cast just met the press and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big event below!

Westport Country Playhouse's one-night-only fundraising gala, "The Full McNally: A Celebration of the Writing and Works of Terrence McNally," will take place this evening, September 24. McNally is the winner of Tony Awards for his plays "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and "Master Class," and his books for the musicals "Ragtime" and "Kiss of the Spiderwoman." His other works include "The Full Monty," and "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," which was produced at Westport Country Playhouse in 2011.

Westport Country Playhouse's one-night-only fundraising gala, "The Full McNally: A Celebration of the Writing and Works of Terrence McNally," will take place Monday evening, September 24. McNally is the winner of Tony Awards for his plays "Love! Valour! Compassion!" and "Master Class," and his books for the musicals "Ragtime" and "Kiss of the Spiderwoman." His other works include "The Full Monty," and "Lips Together, Teeth Apart," which was produced at Westport Country Playhouse in 2011.

Roundabout Theatre Company will present the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block (Edwin Drood), Will Chase (John Jasper), Gregg Edelman (Reverend Mr. Crisparkle), Jim Norton (Chairman) and Chita Rivera (Princess Puffer) with Andy Karl (Neville Landless), Jessie Mueller (Helena Landless), Betsy Wolfe (Rosa Bud), Nicholas Barasch (Deputy), Peter Benson (Bazzard), Robert Creighton (Durdles) and ensemble members Alison Cimmet, Nick Corley, Janine DiVita, Jenifer Foote, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Spencer Plachy, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Jim Walton and Cody Williams. The marquee just went up at Studio 54, and you can check it out below!

Roundabout Theatre Company announced the full cast this July for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award-winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The show is set to open on November 13, 2012 and will star Stephanie J. Block as Edwin Drood. Meet the whole cast in the video and bios below!

The 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS will play its final performance on Broadway today, August 5, 2012, after 30 previews and 1,166 regular performances. MEMPHIS opened on October 19, 2009 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street), having begun previews on September 23rd. BroadwayWorld takes you on a journey through the birth of rock 'n roll on Broadway with highlights from MEMPHIS' incredible run!

The producers of the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced today that the production will recoup its $12 million investment as of its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, August 5, 2012 after 30 previews and 1,166 regular performances. MEMPHIS opened on October 19, 2009 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street), having begun previews on September 23rd.

Roundabout Theatre Company has just announced the full cast for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award® winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The Mystery Of Edwin Drood will star Stephanie J. Block (Edwin Drood), Will Chase (John Jasper), Gregg Edelman (Reverend Mr. Crisparkle), Jim Norton (Chairman) and Chita Rivera (Princess Puffer) with Andy Karl (Neville Landless), Jessie Mueller (Helena Landless), Betsy Wolfe (Rosa Bud), Nicholas Barasch (Deputy), Peter Benson (Bazzard), Robert Creighton (Durdles), Alison Cimmet, Nick Corley, Janine DiVita, Jenifer Foote, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Spencer Plachy, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Jim Walton, Cody Williams.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced casting for the new Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award® winning musical comedy The Mystery of Edwin Drood. The Mystery Of Edwin Drood will star Stephanie J. Block (Edwin Drood), Will Chase (John Jasper), Gregg Edelman (Reverend Mr. Crisparkle), Jim Norton (Chairman) and Chita Rivera (Princess Puffer) with Andy Karl (Neville Landless), Jessie Mueller (Helena Landless), Betsy Wolfe (Rosa Bud), Nicholas Barasch (Deputy), Peter Benson (Bazzard), Robert Creighton (Durdles), Alison Cimmet, Nick Corley, Justin Greer, Shannon Lewis, Kiira Schmidt, Eric Sciotto, Jim Walton, Cody Williams. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

The producers of the 2010 Tony Award-winning Best Musical MEMPHIS announced tonight that the production will play its final performance on Broadway on Sunday, August 5, 2012 after 30 previews and 1,166 regular performances. MEMPHIS opened on October 19, 2009 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street), having begun previews on September 23rd.

The Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at is pleased to announce its 25th Anniversary Gala: Bring on Tomorrow.

The Cobb County Center for Excellence in the Performing Arts at is pleased to announce its 25th Anniversary Gala: Bring on Tomorrow.

Yank!, which played the York Theatre off Broadway in the 2009-2010 season and which has an eye for Broadway will be given a workshop this fall in NYC, backed by the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. The workshop will run from October 24 through November 17, 2011.

The new DC area theatre season begins in September. Over 50 shows are opening in our professional and community theatres. But before we move on to the new season and what's opening in September, let's look back at my personal favorite musicals, plays, and performances in both musicals and plays in the DC area - from August 2010 to August 2011.