Blog Stage - Acting in Film, TV, Theatre - Backstage

Jordan in 'Newsies' Again; Hammerstein's 3D Shows

• Jeremy Jordan will play the lead character of Jack Kelly in the upcoming Broadway musical "Newsies." Jordan recently starred in "Bonnie & Clyde" on the Great White Way, but the show just closed, allowing him to join "Newsies" in the role he originated last fall at Paper Mill Playhouse. Read the story at Playbill.

• The Hammerstein Ballroom will stage this year a series of multimedia  dance-music concerts, one of which will feature costumed actors create historical environments and interact with the audience. Check it out at The New York Times.

• The New York Times also takes a look at Eddie Brill, a comedian who books comics  for “Late Show With David Letterman.” He looks for "honesty and vulnerability" in stand-up comedians. Good luck with that.

Audition Online for Dance Theatre of Harlem

Dance Theatre of Harlem is holding online auditions for a new troupe, reported The New York Times. Theatre's professional dance company shut down in 2004, but thanks to foundations and donors contributing about $2.5 million, it is being revived as a troupe of 18 dancers. Company hopefuls can post audition videos to dancetheatreofharlem.org.

If you don't want to use the Web, in-person auditions will be available at various locations and dates listed on the company's website. Live auditions will be held for finalists overall. A portion of the revived troupe's dancers will also come from Dance Theatre of Harlem II, which is a training group comprised of students from Theatre's school.

Rehearsals for the new company are scheduled to commence in August and touring in October. The company reportedly hopes to be back in April 2013 on a New York stage.

Maher Joins Yahoo! Comedy; Schwartz Honored

• Comedian Bill Maher will perform a show at the San Jose Center for the Performing Arts that will be streamed online for free on Feb. 23. The stand-up special will be used to introduce a new Yahoo! comedy channel that will contain other original and licensed content. Read the story at The New York Times.

• Stephen Schwartz, Oscar-winning "Wicked" and "Pippin" composer and lyricist, was honored by the ASCAP foundation for his contributions to musical theater. On Wednesday, Tony-winner Adam Guettel presented Schwartz with the ASCAP Foundation Richard Rodgers Award. Click over to Playbill for more.

• Stephen Colbert interviewed David Hallberg, the first American dancer to join the Bolshoi Ballet, on Wednesday. Hallberg and American Ballet Theatre soloist Hee Seo later performed a pas de deux from "The Nutcracker." Colbert even showed off some of his dance moves and... legs. Check it out at The New York Times.

Pictured: Bill Maher (Photo: Getty Images)

City Ballet Media Suite Collecting Dust Since 2009

Even after a $107 million renovation, a part of New York City Ballet’s David H. Koch Theater sits unused? That’s right.  A media control room, which was planned to help increase audience attendance, make footage easily accessible on-line, and aid the company in recording performances for archives and broadcasts, has been collecting dust since 2009, according to The New York Times.

Gervais to Host Globes; 'Newsies' in Macy's Parade

• Ricky Gervais will officially host the Golden Globes in January. Some people found the British comic's material a bit insulting at last year's ceremony, but nevertheless he will return and promises to justify any offense taken. Check it out at Los Angeles Times. 

• "Newsies" will be coming to Broadway on a limited run in 2012, and you can catch the cast of musical in the Thanksgiving Day Parade on Nov. 24. Read the story at Playbill.

• Speaking of Thanksgiving, Los Angeles Times discusses three movies hoping to nab families during the holiday weekend. My money is on "The Muppets."

• The New York Times  looks at the protagonist of the picture book "A Very Young Dancer." As she grew older, her time at the School of American Ballet was not as idyllic as the book.  My favorite quote: "when she was really angry at a particular teacher, she would rise out of a plié, her hand extended outward, her middle finger up." You can't teach class like that.

• According to The Hollywood Reporter, there is a Woody Woodpecker movie in development. Let's hope it doesn't go the route of "The Adeventures of Rocky & Bullwinkle."

Pictured: Ricky Gervais (Photo: Getty Images)

Reality Magazine Set for January; Villella Retires

•"Glee" actress Lauren Potter was recently appointed to the President's Committee for People with Intellectual Disabilities, which provides advice about intellectual disabilities to the president and the secretary of Health and Human Services. Full story at CNN Health.

•Less money, more fun - that seems to be the motto for the producers of reality television – and they’re not stopping with the boob tube. The New York Times reported that now you can enjoy all the perks of reality stardom without the hassle of remembering to set your TiVo. For just $1.79 you can pick up a copy of Reality Weekly – a magazine dedicated solely to the stars/fans of reality television.

•Edward Villella, founder, artistic director and patriarch of Miami City Ballet, announced his retirement on Sunday. Though Villella didn't specify the reason for his retirement, there have been speculations that his age and other characteristics of his personality have caused the board to force him out. Read the full story at the New York Times.

Pictured: Lauren Potter (Photo: Getty Images)

Dance Injury Prevention Seminar Set for Nov. 12

Dancing can be beautiful - but beauty always comes with a price. That's why the Cedars-Sinai Orthopedic Center is set to host its second annual "Art of Science and Dance" seminar on Saturday Nov. 12.

This interactive conference will have physicians, therapists, and dancers who will highlight essential practices needed in order to assure the care, treatment, and prevention of any dance related injuries.

From 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. join professional guests like Dr. Rodney Gabriel, Dr. William Hohl, and Greg Louganis, as they disclose the secrets for a successful career. The registration fee includes conference materials, lunch, and validated parking: $15 off-site and $20 on-site.

Register here!

New York City Center Reopening Nears

New York City Center has spent $57 million renovating its landmark building in an attempt to continue to attract its regular attendees as well as newcomers, The New York Times reported. The renovations are said to have addressed and repaired imperfections, some of which came from simply 88 years of wear and tear.  New additions include a glass marquee with heat lamps, protruding signs now visible from Sixth and Seventh Avenues, and glass doors to allow walkers a peek inside the building.

Strand Theater To Be Renovated by 2013

The 1918 Strand Theater in Brooklyn will soon have a new look. Mayor Michael Bloomberg will break ground on Thursday for a $30 million renovation of the historic theater in the BAM Cultural District, reported The New York Times. The theater will become a new complex that will house three galleries, a television studio, a 250-seat theatre, two classrooms, an area for glass-working, and artist studios. The renovated Strand is scheduled to re-open in 2013. It will share space with the BRIC Arts Media House and the UrbanGlass reNEWal Project, as well as offer retail venues.

Baryshnikov Donates Past; New Celebrity Blog

•The New York Times reported that dancer, Mikhail Baryshnikov, has donated a cache of personal recordings, photographs, documents, letters and scrapbooks to the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts.

•The Wall Street Journal reported Monday that Yahoo has withdrawn from a bidding process for an online joint venture with the video-sharing site, Hulu. Google, Dish and Amazon are still in the running.

•Playbill announced that Cheyenne Jackson will host "Cheyenne Jackson's Cocktail Hour: Music of the 'Mad Men' Era" on Nov. 18 at Carnegie Hall.

•CelebVillage, a celebrity-centered blog affiliated with iVillage, one of the largest content-driven online community for women, launched on Monday, Oct. 10 with its very first posting from actress Denise Richards. Read the story at The Hollywood Reporter.

Pictured: Mikhail Baryshnikov (Photo: Getty Images)