Wednesday, July 22, 2015

MOONSHINE: That Hee Haw Musical - Dallas Theater Center - September 2-October 11, 2015

Dallas Theater Center website


Book by Robert Horn • Music and Lyrics by Brandy Clark and Shane McAnally
Directed by Gary Griffin • Choreographed by Denis Jones
Hilarious and downright irreverent, MOONSHINE: That Hee Haw Musical distills the spirit of an iconic television series and bottles it into an original musical comedy! Set in present-day Kornfield Kounty, this highly anticipated show introduces a new generation of irresistible characters as it tells the story of Misty Mae, the ultimate hometown girl who heads out to follow her dreams in the big city… of Tampa. When she returns home to introduce her slick city-boy beau to her friends and family, everything goes haywire! Featuring an original score by Grammy® Best New Artist nominee Brandy Clark and Grammy® Award winning songwriter/producer Shane McAnally (two of today’s most critically acclaimed country music singer / songwriters), a book by Robert Horn, direction by Gary Griffin, choreography by Denis Jones and orchestrations by Tony® and Grammy® Award winner Stephen Oremus, MOONSHINE: That Hee Haw Musical gets the Broadway treatment when it has its eagerly awaited world premiere this fall at DTC.


Friday, June 19, 2015

Villain: DeBlanks performance to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Bucks County Playhouse Education Department. - June 19, 2015

Hunter Foster and More Set for VILLAIN: DEBLANKS BC/EFA Benefit Tonight at Bucks County Playhouse


Laugh until your sides hurt tonight, June 19 at Bucks County Playhouse's late-night comedy benefit performance of Villain: DeBlanks.
After its wild success at 54 Below in New York, Villain: DeBlanks is coming to Bucks County Playhouse for its regional premiere!
Featuring the cast of BCP's smash hit, Company, this side-splitting murder mystery features Villain: Deblanks veteransJustin Guarini (Wicked and American Idol Season 1), John Bolton (A Christmas Story: the Musical), Jennifer Cody(Seussical, Disney's The Princess and the Frog), and Laura Jordan (Cry-Baby, Silence! the Musical), as well as Kate Wetherhead (Legally Blonde, "Submissions Only") and Company Director Hunter Foster (Urinetown, Bridges of Madison County).
All proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and the Bucks County Playhouse Education Department.
Read more:  http://www.broadwayworld.com/philadelphia/article/Hunter-Foster-and-More-Set-for-VILLAIN-DEBLANKS-BCEFA-Benefit-at-Bucks-County-Playhouse-20150618#

PHOTOS and Broadwayworld.com article

Wednesday, June 17, 2015

Wall Street Journal says COMPANY is "outstanding in every way" - June 11, 2015

WSJ

Gabrielle Ruiz and Justin Guarini.

‘Company’ Review: Settle In for a Play About Settling Down

The story of a commitment-phobe gets a 21st-century update.

New Hope, Pa.
The Bucks County Playhouse, a grist mill by the Delaware River that was turned into a theater in 1939, used to be one of America’s top summer-stock houses. Alas, it fell on hard times, closing down in 2010, but now it’s back in business and presenting an increasingly ambitious roster of mainstream shows. When it comes to musicals, you can’t get much more ambitious than “Company,” the 1970 show about modern marriage in whichStephen Sondheim and George Furth rewrote Broadway’s postwar playbook. So I’m thrilled to report that Bucks County’s new production, directed by Hunter Foster, choreographed by Lorin Latarro and starring Justin Guarini as the commitment-phobic, sexually ambivalent Bobby, is outstanding in every way. Not since John Doyle revived “Company” in 2006 have I seen so noteworthy a staging.
Working in tandem with Jason Sherwood and Jennifer Caprio, respectively the set and costume designers, Mr. Foster has chosen to produce “Company” not as a “Mad Men”-style period piece but in a modern-dress-and-cellphones version, discreetly altering the now-whiskery cultural references (Eleanor Roosevelt becomes Ruth Bader Ginsburg) to give it a fresher air. Not only does this approach work dramatically, but Bobby’s morbid fear of settling down is, if anything, more to the point today than it was 45 years ago. The staging, which makes advantageous use of a turntable, speeds the cast from scene to scene with unostentatious fluidity, and Ms. Latarro’s smartly crafted dances never fail to serve the plot.
Mr. Guarini’s splendidly sung Bobby put me in mind of Dean Jones, who created the role in the original Broadway production. Initially affable yet guarded, he opens up in “Being Alive” to overwhelming emotional effect. The 13 actors with whom he shares the stage all give sharply and imaginatively characterized performances. Candy Buckley and Kate Wetherhead, who play Joanne (Elaine Stritch’s old role) and Amy, have the biggest parts and thus make the deepest impressions, but there are no weak links elsewhere in the cast. The pit band is a bit on the small side but very well drilled and rhythmically tight.
Like most summer-stock productions, this one had just two weeks of rehearsal. That so fine a revival of so complex a musical should have been put together on such a tight schedule, however, borders on the miraculous. If all its present-day shows are as strong as “Company,” then the Bucks County Playhouse is surely headed back into the spotlight.

Friday, May 29, 2015

philly.com Interview - May 29, 2015


Bucks County Playhouse, 70 S. Main St., New Hope, show times vary, $29-$85, 215-862-2121, bcptheater.org.

philly.com



ZOREN: Justin Guarini has found a home on the stage

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

Tony Awards Simulcast - Times Square - BWW Interview - simulcast broadcast on June 7, 2015

BWW Interview: Deborah Cox and Justin Guarini Prep to Host the 2015 Tony Awards Simulcast!On June 7th, Broadway veterans Deborah Cox (Aida, Jekyll & Hyde) and Justin Guarini (Wicked, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown) will host the seventh annual simulcast of the Tony Awards, live from Times Square. The free event, which is open to the public, will feature special guest appearances and live performances. BroadwayWorld recently caught up with the stars on the famed red steps of Duffy Square to chat with them about the big night!

Tell us about this exciting event and what will be happening here on Tonys night.
Justin Guarini: We are very excited to be hosting the Times Square simulcast. Basically, while the Tonys are happening, as many people as can fill the Square are gonna be able to watch the show on two separate screens. The place is gonna be packed wall-to-wall with Broadway fans, all here to celebrate.
Deborah Cox: It's my first year and I'm so excited about this. It's gonna be a huge, huge party. Also, I think one of the great things is that we'll be able to engage people who may not have even known that the Tonys were happening.
BWW Interview: Deborah Cox and Justin Guarini Prep to Host the 2015 Tony Awards Simulcast!Justin, you're returning as host for a second time. What was the most fun about your experience last year?
JG: The best part was seeing just how much people loved watching the Tonys, and loved watching them live. We also had so many great live performances last year, and this year will be even more amazing. First of all, we have Miss Deborah Cox, so it's already bigger than last year!
What are you most looking forward to about this year's Tonys telecast?
JG: I always look forward to the performances. And you know, unless you're in Radio City Music Hall at the event, you don't get to see the Creative Arts Awards, but we'll be streaming those as well. As performers, we love being recognized for what we do, but there are so many talented people behind every great performance. It's really important that they're celebrated as well.
DC: Well, I just love this time of year. It's a chance to really celebrate all these amazing performers who are there, doing their thing and puttin' it down 8 shows a week! So to be able to bring recognition to them is just awesome.
Care to make any Tony predictions?
JG: This season was so strong and there were so many great shows - I mean, there are every season, but I feel like there was a lot of special stuff going on this year. I just can't wait to see who wins!

Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming will co-host the 69th Annual Tony Awards® on Sunday, June 7. The show will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall in New York City from 8:00-11:00 PM, live ET/delayed PT, on the CBS Television Network. The Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Thursday, May 7, 2015

Simulcast of the Tony Awards, Times Square - June 7, 2015



Clear Channel Spectacolor is partnering with the Tony Awards® and the Times Square Alliance to bring Broadway fans the seventh annual simulcast of the TONY AWARDS in Times Square. The free outdoor event will be hosted by Justin Guarini (Wicked, Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, American Idiot, Romeo and Juliet) and Deborah Cox (Aida, Jekyll & Hyde) on Sunday, June 7 from 4:00 - 11:00 p.m.

The annual event gives attendees a chance to be part of the full TONY AWARDS experience, including red carpet arrivals and the full awards show presentation via Clear Channel's SpectacolorHD screens in the heart of the Broadway community-New York City's Times Square.

Guest Appearances, the Red Carpet, the Tony Awards, and More
The Times Square simulcast will feature special guest appearances and performances. In addition, portions of the TONY AWARDS Red Carpet and the entirety of the TONY AWARDS show-including the Creative Arts Awards which can otherwise only be seen live inside Radio City Music Hall-will stream live, giving theatre lovers a front row seat to all of the award show action

The simulcast will take place rain or shine, with full audio and seating for 2,000 guests starting at 4:00 pm on Duffy Square and the Broadway Plaza BETWEEN 46th and 48th St, the heart of Times Square. The event is free and open to the public.

"We are so excited to have Justin return this year alongside the supremely talented Deborah Cox to host this incredible annual event," said Harry Coghlan, President of Clear Channel Outdoor New York. "Clear Channel Spectacolor is thrilled to again serve as a producing partner for such a unique celebration of the Broadway community in the heart of the Great White Way."

"This year's Times Square celebration is going to be star-studded, packed with great performances, and bigger than ever before," noted Guarini. "I couldn't be more honored to have the incredible Deborah Cox as my partner-in-crime as we take the stage to help honor the wonderful shows that make Broadway and New York City one of the premier destinations in the world."

Cox stated, "I'm very excited and thrilled to co-host and perform with Justin Guarini at this year'sTONY AWARDS in Times Square. Performing on Broadway has been an exhilarating experience for me. It is an honor to be a part of the celebration of Broadway's best!"

"We are thrilled to once again partner with Clear Channel Spectacolor, the Times Square Alliance and the city of New York to bring the TONY AWARDS broadcast to the heart of the Theater District - Times Square," said Charlotte St Martin, Executive Director of The Broadway League and Heather Hitchens, President of the American Theatre Wing. "The simulcast is the ideal opportunity for local and visiting Broadway fans to enjoy the TONY AWARDS on the big screen and cheer alongside fellow theatre enthusiasts. We look forward to another successful year!"

The Tony Awards, which be hosted by Kristin Chenoweth and Alan Cumming, will be broadcast live from Radio City Music Hall on CBS, on Sunday, June 7th, 8:00 - 11:00 PM (ET/PT time delay). The TONY AWARDS are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League. Clear Channel Spectacolor is co-producer of the 2015 simulcast and an official media partner of the 69thAnnual Tony Awards.

About the Simulcast Hosts
Grammy®-nominated, multi-platinum selling singer and entertainer Deborah Cox has been a force on the R&B and pop charts for over 20 years, with six top 20 Billboard R&B singles and 12 #1 hits on Billboard's Hot Dance Club Play chart. Her new single, More Than I Knew was released in early 2015. Cox was discovered by Clive Davis and signed to Arista Records where she released her gold-selling debut album, Deborah Cox, in 1995. Her follow up album, One Wish, produced top-selling hits, including Nobody's Supposed to Be Here, We Can't Be Friends, and It's Over Now. Through live performances and recordings, she has collaborated with CELEBRATED artists and producers ranging from Andrea Bocelli, David Foster and Cyndi Lauper to Sarah McLachlan, Whitney Houston, Kenny "Babyface " Edmonds, and Jimmy Jam and Terry Lewis.

In addition to a rewarding recording career, Cox has performed as part of the Tony Award-winning Broadway productions of Aida and Jekyll & Hyde. She gave a critically-acclaimed performance singing as THE VOICE of Whitney Houston for Lifetime's recent biopic of the singer, and has recorded extensively for film soundtracks including Akeelah and the Bee, Hotel Rwanda,KINGDOM Come, and Money Talks, among others. In April 2016, Cox will star in the Asolo Repertory Theatre's Broadway-bound musical Josephine. Her forthcoming album, Work of Art will be released in 2015.

Justin Guarini became a household name as the powerful singer who was the season one runner up on American Idol, however, the range of his of his many talents-from hosting and acting to becoming one of the new fresh faces of Broadway-have continued to shine in the years since. Since his starring role on Idol, and performing for sold out crowds both across the country and internationally as part of the Idols Live! tour, Guarini completed two studio albums including Justin Guarini (RCA Records) and Stranger Things Have Happened (Gregorian Music,), as well as cast recordings for Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown and Romeo and Juliet. His big screen debut, From Justin to Kelly, led to additional film and television roles, including on Run of The House, Disney's Wizards of Waverly Place, the CMT original series Gone Country, and the theatrical release of Romeo and Juliet. Guarini served as a resident host for the TV Guide Network and for various web series, including a weekly video blog for Fancast-Comcast's premiere online entertainment site.

Most recently, Guarini has emerged as one of the "new" faces of Broadway, having recently completed his fourth role as Fiyero in Wicked. He made his Broadway debut in Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown, and went on to play the role of Will in the Tony Award-winning Broadway production of American Idiot, followed by a turn as Paris in the modern day version of Romeo and Juliet. His regional theatre credits include starring roles in Paint Your Wagon, Rent, Chicago, and Joseph and the Technicolor Dreamcoat among others.

A Philadelphia native, Guarini began formal music training with the Atlanta Boys Choir and studied vocal performance, dance, theatrical arts, and film and television acting at The University of The Arts in Philadelphia.

Thursday, April 9, 2015

Beyond the 140 Interview - 2 hr. interview - April 7, 2015



Justin was a guest.  He shared information about Idol, current projects and played some games on the show. He was the only guest for the entire two hour show. It was a good interview.


[No longer Available]

Thursday, March 19, 2015

Justin to Lead Bucks County Playhouse's COMPANY, Directed by Hunter Foster - May 29-June 21, 2015




Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) Justin Guarini - the breakout star of AMERICAN IDOL and several Broadway musicals and plays - will return to Bucks County Playhouse as Bobby in COMPANY, May 29-June 21.

Playhouse Artistic Associates Hunter Foster and Lorin Latarro, who have joined forces for BCP's SUMMER OF '42, THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, AIN'T MISBEHAVIN' and NATIONAL PASTIME, will serve as director and choreographer, respectively. The creative team also includes: Jason Sherwood, Scenic Design; Jennifer Caprio, Costume Design; and Jake DeGroot, Lighting Design.

"Justin immediately came to mind as soon as we entertained the idea of bringing COMPANY to stage at BCP," said producing director Alexander Fraser.

"We are thrilled to have Justin back home at the Playhouse, in a role that is a perfect fit for his extraordinary talent," said executive producer Robyn Goodman.

This marks a homecoming for Mr. Guarani, a native Doylestown in Bucks County. After creating a sensation as the 1st runner up (to Kelly Clarkson) in the very first season of AMERICAN IDOL, Mr. Guarani's career has taken him from music to TV and film, as well as the stage: his numerous Broadway appearances include WICKED, ROMEO AND JULIET, AMERICAN IDIOT, WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN and GOOD VIBRATIONS. He is currently appearing - through March 22 - in the ENCORES! revival of the musical PAINT YOUR WAGON at City Center in New York.

With music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by George Furth, COMPANY has been one of the theatre's most enduring musicals since it debuted in 1970: It's Robert's 35th birthday, and his friends want him to settle down. During a hilarious array of interactions over dinner, drink and even a wedding, "those good and crazy people, my married friends," finally make Robert understand that being alone isn't really being alive.

COMPANY follows Bucks County Playhouse's season opener, the musical NATIONAL PASTIME, running April 2-19. BCP's 76th anniversary season will continues this summer with ON GOLDEN POND and ANIMAL CRACKERS, and closes with IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE: A LIVE RADIO PLAY in December.

Following last season's Broadway production of Terrence McNally's play MOTHERS AND SONS - which began its journey at Bucks County Playhouse in 2013 - it was recently announced that another BCP production, MISERY, based on Stephen King's novel, will open on Broadway this Fall starring Bruce Willis, marking the 2nd time in three years that a BCP show has landed on the Main Stem.

Alexander Fraser is BCP'S Producing Director; Robyn Goodman is Executive Producer; Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler are Producers.

Tickets to Bucks County Playhouse productions start at $29 and can be purchased by calling 215-862-2121 or online at bcptheater.org
© 2015 Copyright Wisdom Digital Media. All Rights reserved.

Video musical highlights from Paint Your Wagon - March 18, 2015





Tuesday, March 3, 2015

Pops Concert - March 15, 2015

more PHOTOS




Pops Concert 

Monday, February 23, 2015

Justin in "Paint Your Wagon" - March 18-March 22, 2015


Keith Carradine, Jenni Barber, Justin Guarini & More Set for Lerner and Loewe’s Paint Your Wagon at Encores!

This Lerner and Lowe tuner has found its wand’rin’ stars! Two-time Tony nominee Keith Carradine (Hands on a Hardbody, The Will Rogers Follies) and Alexandra Socha (Fun Home), along with Wickedalums Jenni Barber and Justin Guarini, will headline the previously announcedproduction of Paint Your Wagon. Part of New York City Center’s 2015 Encores! season, the show will be directed by Marc Bruni and choreographed by Denis Jones and run March 18 through March 22.

The Paint Your Wagon cast will also include Robert Creighton, Caleb Damschroder, Nathaniel Hackmann, Robyn Hurder, Melissa van der Schyff, Scott Wakefield and William Youmans, with Darien Crago, Steve Czarnecki, Nicolas Davila, Casey Garvin, Shonica Gooden, Timothy Hughes, Naomi Kakuk, Justin Keyes, Jenny Laroche, Melissa Hunter McCann, Harris Milgrim, Kevin Munhall, Kristin Piro, Robbie Roby, Jason Simon, Kevin Vortmann, Nicholas Ward and Mikey Winslow. Additional casting will be announced later.

Before My Fair Lady and Camelot, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe wrote Paint Your Wagon, a 1951 musical about a dreaming gold prospector (Carradine) whose daughter (Socha) finds gold—and love—changing their lives forever. Paint Your Wagon opened at the Shubert Theatre on November 12, 1951 and ran for 289 performances. Songs include “They Call the Wind Maria,” “I Talk to the Trees” and “Wand’rin’ Star.”

Friday, February 20, 2015

Justin to Star in a Lab Presentations of "Brave New World: A Brand New Musical" - February 23 and 24, 2015






👤by BWW News Desk
February 19


The Sheryl Kaller helmed musical adaption of theAldous Huxley classic BRAVE NEW WORLD will present two presentations on February 23rd at 3PM and February 24th at noon following the culmination of a two week experimental AEA Lab.
BRAVE NEW WORLD: A BRAND NEW MUSICAL has a book by Ben Andron, Music byJonnie Rockwell and Grammy & Emmy Award Winner John McDaniel and lyrics by Tony NomineeBill RussellAndy Einhorn is the Music Director for the AEA lab. Srda Vasiljevic is the Associate Director for the AEA lab.
The cast will feature famed American Idol Justin Guarini as Director Thomas Mond, Zak Resnick as John, Jason Tam as Bernard, Alison Luff as Lenina,Leah Hocking as Linda and also includes Michael TacconiMax CrummMichael Lowney, Tyler Hardwick, Corey Mosello, Jonathan DavidKayla FosterKatie KlausJessie Hooker Marissa McGowanLizzie Klemperer and Jade Eshete in the ensemble.
BRAVE NEW WORLD: A BRAND NEW MUSICAL tells the story of a future in which everybody is happy... because anything that could cause pain has been eliminated. True love (and its inevitable heartbreak) has been replaced with free sex; religion and artistic expression have been replaced with mindless sport & distraction, & citizens are brainwashed & drugged into a perpetual state of happiness. Humans don't even reproduce anymore; they are hatched in test tubes to avoid the dangers of family. But there are reservations where savages still live according to the "old" ways.

See rest of great article here:
BroadwayWorld

Playbill

Broadway.com

TheaterMania


Wednesday, February 18, 2015

Justin stars as 'Lil Sweet in Diet Dr. Pepper TV Commercial - February 16, 2015



Justin Guarini Rocks Out as Metal Man ‘Lil’ Sweet’ in Hilarious Dr Pepper Ad

No, that’s not the Darkness’s Justin Hawkins or Stix Zadinia from Steel Panther rocking out in that new, going-viral-as-we-speak Diet Dr Pepper commercial. It’s not even American Idol’s Constantine Maroulis in full-on Rock of Ages mode. It’s actually another American Idol alum (and another Justin), Justin Guarini — and clearly “self-employed” rocker Lil’ Sweet is the role he was born to play.
“Lil’ known fact about Lil’ Sweet: He sings in the key of sweet and always carries a spare six pack of Diet Dr Pepper with him. No one knows where he keeps it, though,” the soft drink’s YouTube channel states.
Justin Guarini Rocks Out as Metal Man ‘Lil’ Sweet’ in Hilarious Dr Pepper Ad
But it’s pretty well-known that Lil’ Sweet is actually the Season 1 Idolrunner-up… even if Justin is somewhat unrecognizable wearing Aqua-Netted long locks even lusher than his famous Sideshow Bob curls and a sparkly gypsy scarf that looks like it was plucked from ex-Idoljudge Steven Tyler’s closet.
Seriously, if Justin Guarini had looked and sounded like this back in Season 1, I totally would have voted for him.

Atlanta Journal-Justin one of Most Successful AI Finalists - February 11, 2015



10.  
Justin Guarini. The season one runner up co-starred in the ill-fated “From Justin to Kelly” film to play off their “rivalry” and “romance” after season one of “American Idol.” I’m not sure either wants to remember that one. Justin did some hosting for the TV Guide Channel related to ‘Idol.” He made a brief appearance on the Broadway adaptation in “Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown” in 2010. In 2011, he came to Atlanta briefly for a test run of Stephen King‘s “Ghost Brothers of Darkland County.” From 2013-2014, he played Paris in the Broadway revival of “Romeo and Juliet,” followed by “Wicked” in 2014.

Atlanta Journal

"Well played, Justin Guarini: 'From Justin to Kelly' is magic" - Zap2it - January 30, 2015



Justin Guarini, first-ever "American Idol" runner-up, star of "From Justin to Kelly" and enduring pop culture punchline, has an excellent sense of humor about his place in history.

The actor/singer/hair icon, as his Twitter bio states, has recently begun responding to joking tweets about him and his past work with his tongue fully placed in his cheek.

Because it's Friday, and on Friday why not Google yourself, Guarini began posting screenshots of tweets making fun of him. "Do you ever wonder how different our lives would be if Justin Guarini won American Idol?" asked one. 
Exactly. Mom jeans for everyone.

Solid punchline, Guarini.


Or how about this one, of a twentysomething girl asking whether her 14-year-old self or her "From Justin to Kelly" poster is more tragic: 
She misspelled *magic


But the best tweet comes as a response to one user calling Guarini out for trolling Twitter for tweets about himself. Take it away, Justin: 

@kiddbaldwin @davidstassen of course I am. It's Friday night, isn't it?

Zap2it