Celebrated Broadway performer and two-time Tony Award winning actress Christine Ebersole has been cast in the new TV Land pilot “Retired at 35.”

Hollywood Reporter notes that the cast will also feature the previously announced George Segal as well as Johnathan McClain, Casey Wilson, Jessica Walter, Josh McDermott, Ryan Michelle Bathe, Matt Champagne, George Wyner, Jere Burns and Faye DeWitt.

The program “follows David (McClain), a successful young businessman who decides to leave the New York rat race behind and move into his father Alan’s (Segal) Florida retirement home.”

Ebersole performed the roles of both Edith Bouvier Beale and “Little” Edie Beale in the Off-Broadway and Broadway productions of Grey Gardens, for which the actress received the Tony Award, the Drama Desk Award, an Outer Critics Circle Award, an Obie, a special citation from the New York Drama Critics Circle and the Drama League’s 2006 Distinguished Performance of the Year Award. She also received a Tony Award for Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a Musical for the revival of 42nd Street and a 2003 Tony nomination for her performance in Lincoln Center’s production of Dinner at Eight.

Known to audiences for originating the title role in Broadway’s Mary Poppins, as well as for her esteemed portrayals as Belle in Beauty and the Beast and Kristen in On the Record, celebrated stage star Ashley Brown catches up with ShowBiz Chicago to discuss her latest musical endeavor. Continue Reading

Tony Award-winning actress Idina Menzel will appear on the breakout Fox series, Glee, during its April 2010 return, as reported by the Associated Press.

Celebrated for a host of stage roles in productions such as Wicked, The Wild Party, and Rent, Menzel is reported to portray the coach of McKinley High School’s opposing glee club, “Vocal Adrenaline”. Lea Michele’s previous Spring Awakening co-star, Tony Award nominee Jonathan Groff, is set to play the lead vocalist in the rival show choir.

“OK, listen. We had Kristin [Chenoweth] now Idina’s coming. I can’t even fathom that. I can’t even talk about it. I am so, so excited,” series regular Chris Colfer told the Associated Press regarding Menzel’s forthcoming guest spot.

Menzel earned a Tony Award for her performance as ‘Elphaba’ in Wicked. She originated the role of ‘Maureen’ in Rent (Tony nomination) and has also appeared in Aida, The Wild Party, Summer of ’42 and See What I Wanna See Off-Broadway. She has recorded three solo albums, including Still I Can’t Be Still, Here, and I Stand on Warner Brothers Records.

To celebrate opening night of the much anticipated The Addams Family, Continue Reading

Music Theatre International (MTI), the world’s premier theatrical licensor, will play a leading role on the digital stage with the launch of its free online community, MTI ShowSpaceä (www.mtishowspace.com), it was announced by Jason Cocovinis, MTI’s Director of Marketing.   Dedicated to people who love and live musical theatre, MTI ShowSpaceä offers thespians and fans a space to connect with anyone and everyone involved in the theatrical process, and serves as a continuously expanding free knowledge database so that members can make their next show their best show.  Unlike other social networking outlets, MTI has built an online community that is specific to the practice of putting on a show. Continue Reading

Photo Credit: Karl Simone

Broadway’s estimable leading man Cheyenne Jackson has had quite a blitz-filled career on and off the Great White Way. The multi-talenteed performer has captivated critics and audiences alike in such productions as Encores! Damn Yankees, Xanadu (Drama League, Drama Desk nods), All Shook Up (Drama League, Outer Critics Circle nods), and The Agony & The Agony. Continue Reading

Linda Eder’s newest CD “Soundtrack”. Available in stores now.

Acclaimed Broadway performer and recording artist Linda Eder returns to ShowBiz Chicago to discuss the release of her most recent CD, “Soundtrack”. Continue Reading

The Steppenwolf Theatre Company production of Tracy Letts’  “Superior Donuts” will close on Broadway January 3, 2010, producers have just announced. Continue Reading

Broadway’s dexterous young talent Ashley Brown makes her solo record debut with a jazz vocal album, “Speak Low”. The album will be released nationwide on January 12, 2010 via Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records and Sony distribution. The album gets its digital release via online outlets today, November 10, 2009. Continue Reading

Celebrated stage star Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins, Nine, The Music Man) recently released her third solo album recording entitled “Greenwich Time” with PS Classics. Continue Reading