Emerson Steele News

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT: Defining EXTRA-Ordinary, a unique Broadway concert event, with performances by Broadway's brightest and California's rising stars. Directed by acclaimed NYC director Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz), TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT is the culmination of a weeklong BDF musical theatre intensive workshop taught by the industry's top directors, choreographers, and industry professionals.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation presented TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT: Defining EXTRA-Ordinary, a unique Broadway concert event, with performances by Broadway's brightest and Atlanta's rising stars at the Atlanta Lyric Theatre's Jennie T. Anderson Theater on Wednesday, June 18th at 7:30 pm. Directed by acclaimed Atlanta-based director and choreographer Otis Sallid (Black Nativity, Smokey Joe's Cafe), TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT was the culmination of a five-day BDF musical theatre intensive where students had the unique opportunity to work with the industry's top directors, choreographers, and writers on new material currently being developed for Broadway. The performance featured work and appearances by film and theatre choreographer Michele Lynch (The Last Five Years, Little Miss Sunshine), the award-winning writing team of Drew Fornarola and Marshall Pailet direct from DreamWorks, Titus Burgess (Tina Fey's "Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt," The Little Mermaid), Meg Gillentine (The Producers, Cats), Craig D'Amico (Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun), A.J. Lockhart (Bring It On: The Musical), and more. Check out photos from the special event below!

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT: Defining EXTRA-Ordinary, a unique Broadway concert event, with performances by Broadway's brightest and California's rising stars. Directed by acclaimed NYC director Stafford Arima (Carrie, Altar Boyz), TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT is the culmination of a weeklong BDF musical theatre intensive workshop taught by the industry's top directors, choreographers, and industry professionals.

On April 9, more than 625 students from seven high schools and five middle schools across all five boroughs of New York City attended the all-student matinee of Violet. For many students,Violet was their first Broadway show. In the two weeks before the student matinee, Roundabout Teaching Artists visited classrooms to lead pre-show workshops that prepared students for the historical context of the musical and the production's artistic conventions. On the morning of the show, 50 freshman from FDR High School engaged in a workshop at the American Airlines Theatre, fulfilling the roles of actors, designers and marketing staff. The students researched, designed and performed two excerpts from Violet in just two hours.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT: Defining EXTRA-Ordinary, a unique Broadway concert event, with performances by Broadway's brightest and Atlanta's rising stars. Directed by acclaimed Atlanta-based director and choreographer Otis Sallid (Black Nativity, Smokey Joe's Cafe?), TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT is the culmination of a five-day BDF musical theatre intensive where students have the unique opportunity to work with the industry's top directors, choreographers, and writers on new material currently being developed for Broadway.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) just announced that Tony Award winner Levi Kreis (Million Dollar Quartet) will join the company of Violet as 'The Preacher,' beginning performances Tuesday, July 1, 2014. Violet stars two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster, Colin Donnell, Alexander Gemignani and Tony Award nominee Joshua Henry. The Tony nominated production plays a strictly limited engagement at Broadway's American Airlines Theatre (227 West 42nd Street) through August 10, 2014.

In this week's edition, we caught up with Emerson Steele, who is starring as 'Young Violet' in Violet- currently playing at the American Airlines Theatre.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation (BDF) presents TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT: Defining EXTRA-Ordinary, a unique Broadway concert event, with performances by Broadway's brightest and Atlanta's rising stars. Directed by acclaimed Atlanta-based director and choreographer Otis Sallid (Black Nativity, Smokey Joe's Cafe?), TAKE IT TO THE LIMIT is the culmination of a five-day BDF musical theatre intensive where students have the unique opportunity to work with the industry's top directors, choreographers, and writers on new material currently being developed for Broadway.

First presented in 1945, the prestigious Theatre World Awards, founded by John Willis, the Editor-in-Chief of both Theatre World and its companion volume, Screen World, are the oldest awards given for Outstanding Broadway and Off-Broadway Debut Performances. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the big night, where he chatted with all of this year's winners and presenters. Check out what they had to say below!

The Theatre World Awards are presented annually at the end of the theatre season to six actors and six actresses for their significant, reviewable, debut performances in a Broadway or Off-Broadway production. The ceremony is a private, invitation-only event followed by a party to celebrate the new honorees and welcome them to the Theatre World 'family.' In what has become a highly entertaining and often touching tradition, 12 previous winners serve as the presenters, and often relive moments from past ceremonies and share wonderful stories rarely heard at other theatrical awards. Check out potos from insode this year's ceremony below!

'Bunheads' scribe Amy Sherman-Palladino talks about her first Broadway producing experience for the Sutton Foster-led VIOLET

The Theatre World Awards took place last night, June 2, at Circle in the Square (West 50th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue), home of the current Broadway revival of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. 2014 Honorees for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance included: Paul Chahidi, Nick Cordero, Bryan Cranston, Mary Bridget Davies, Sarah Greene, Rebecca Hall, Ramin Karimloo, Zachary Levi, Chris O'Dowd, Sophie Okonedo, Emerson Steele, and Lauren Worsham. The 2014 Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater Winner went to Celia Keenan-Bolger for her performance as Laura in The Glass Menagerie and the 2014 John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre Winner went to Christopher Plummer.

The Theatre World Awards has announced the roster of presenters for the 70th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony that include DeAdre Aziza, Dylan Baker, Len Cariou, Tovah Feldshuh, Trent Kowalik, Jefferson Mays, John McMartin, and Zachary Quinto, with special performances by Mr. Cariou and Rob McClure, Monday evening, June 2, 2014 beginning at 7:45 p.m. at Circle in the Square (West 50th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue), home of the current Broadway revival of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.

Look, we get it, whether due to budget or geography, you didn't see every show of the Broadway season, but that doesn't mean you can't be fully up-to-date for this Sunday's Tony Awards. To help get you prepared for theatre's biggest night, BroadwayWorld has put together the ultimate Tonys Crash Course. We've outlined all of the shows nominated in the Best Musical and Best Revival of a Musical categories, and provided you 'study materials' as only BWW can, by mining our one-of-a-kind archives.

Today, Emerson chats exclusively with BWW about working with her biggest idol, Sutton Foster and why her Broadway debut experience has been 'truly indescribable!'

Sutton Foster and the cast of the Broadway musical VIOLET performed on THE VIEW this morning. The musical has picked up four 2014 Tony nominations, including Best Revival of a Musical and Best Performance nods for Foster and Joshua Henry. Below, check out the cast's performance of 'All to Pieces'!

Just last night, May 12, Tiffany Schleigh presented Cabaret for a Cause, a one-night-only event to benefit St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. The speial event was held at Galapagos Art Space and was dedicated to Shannon Tavarez (The Lion King) (January 20, 1999-November 1, 2010). BroadwayWorld brigs you photos from the special event below!

The Philadelphia intensive at the Kimmel Center for Performing Arts will include master classes devoted to mastering the college audition process led by Mary Anna Dennard, top college audition coach and author of 'I Got In!' Joining Dennard will be representatives from top musical theatre schools including, Kaitlin Hopkins (Texas State University), Grant Kretchik (Pace University, Dyson College), Robin Lewis (Rider University), Barbara MacKenzie-Wood (Carnegie Mellon University), Mark Madama (University of Michigan), and Amy Rogers (Pace University).

The 2014 Honorees for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut Performance, the 6th Annual Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence in the Theater for an Outstanding Performance in a Broadway or Off-Broadway Production, and the John Willis Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Theatre, were announced today by the Theatre World. The winners will be celebrated at the 70th Annual Theatre World Awards Ceremony set Monday evening, June 2, 2014 beginning at 6:45 p.m. at Circle in the Square (West 50th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue), home of the current Broadway revival of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill.

The Broadway Dreams Foundation will give aspiring performers across the country their "big break" when the program embarks on Take It To The Limit: Defining EXTA-Ordinary, the 2014 Summer Performing Arts Intensive Tour. The national non-profit training program will present an incredible roster of Broadway directors, performers, and industry insiders who will offer highly personalized musical theatre training and mentoring through unique, week-long performing arts intensive workshops for students of all ages, skill levels, and socio-economic backgrounds.