This post was originally published on Playbill - Features

Written by: Harry Haun

A little Body Heat is being applied to Cat on a Hot Tin Roof these days in the shapely, silk-slipped form of Kathleen Turner, hiking the theatre temperature appreciably. She turned instant star her first time on film — as the tragically literal femme fatale of the 1981’s Body Heat — and she has been circling for a Broadway opening ever since. It actually comes to pass this month when Turner stars, in her glamorous and predatory fashion, as Maggie the Cat, prowling through Tennessee William’s 1955 Pulitzer Prize–winner about Southern-fried avarice and mendacity.

This post was originally published on Playbill - News

Written by: Playbill Staff

1867 Florenz Ziegfeld Jr. is born in Chicago, Illinois. He goes on to become one of the most powerful showmen ever. His Follies, filled with beautiful women and exciting variety acts, becomes a 25-year tradition following the first Follies of 1907. He introduces talent such as Fanny Brice, Bert Williams, Ed Wynn, W.C. Fields, Marion Davies, Eddie Cantor, and Will Rogers.

This post was originally published on Playbill - Features

Written by: Hannah Vine

Stage and screen star Matthew Broderick celebrates his birthday March 21.

This post was originally published on Playbill - News

Written by: Victoria Cairl

Seeing a show in London’s West End is a special experience for many reasons, but one is the centuries-long history surrounding the dozens of theaters. Where can you learn more about those storied performance halls? Enter Neil Maxfield, owner of The West End Musical Walking Tour. He takes tourists around the famed theatre district discovering fascinating architecture, anecdotes, and historical figures from the 1700’s to today.

This post was originally published on Playbill - Features

Written by: Marc J. Franklin

Disney’s Aladdin, which opened March 20, 2014 at the New Amsterdam Theatre, celebrates seven years on Broadway today. Aladdin, directed and choreographed Casey Nicholaw, was nominated for five Tony Awards including Best Musical, with James Monroe Iglehart winning Best Featured Actor in a Musical for his performance as The Genie.

This post was originally published on Playbill - Features

Written by: Marc J. Franklin

Watching a piece of choreography, one sees image after image, animated through movement, brought to life by a performer. But distilling dance to a single picture is an art form all its own. From just a few movements, an audience can immediately discern a story, an emotion, or even identify a choreographer. The flexed jazz hands in Bob Fosse’s work in Chicago, the kick line in Michael Bennett’s work in A Chorus Line, and more all take on a life of their own when isolated from the larger body of work.

This post was originally published on Playbill - News

Written by: Andrew Gans

The Tony and Olivier-winning Jersey Boys will return to London’s West End, opening at the newly renovated Trafalgar Theatre July 28 with an official opening scheduled for August 10.

This post was originally published on Playbill - News

Written by: Playbill Staff

1872 Birthday of singer and actor Anna Held, future wife of Florenz Ziegfeld, and the classic sexy French flirt of her era. She plays that role in a series of musical vehicles including La Poupee, The French Maid, Mam’selle Napoleon, The Parisian Model, and Miss Innocence.

This post was originally published on Playbill - News

Written by: Dan Meyer

Audible continues its spring releases March 18 with an audio play version of 2020 Tony nominee The Sound Inside, starring Mary-Louise Parker and Will Hochman, reprising their roles from the Broadway production. The Adam Rapp play follows an Ivy League professor who approaches a mysterious student with a troubling proposal.

Also returning from the Broadway staging is director David Cromer, along with composer and sound designer Daniel Kluger.

This post was originally published on Playbill - Features

Written by: Nathan Skethway

Two-time Tony Award winner Sutton Foster celebrates her birthday March 18. In honor of the stage and television actor, we take a look at her greatest musical theatre performances.