Category: Musicals

Broadway Records released an original off-Broadway cast recording of The Hello Girls currently available for preorder at BroadwayRecords.com and Amazon.com.

From New York to Paris, from ragtime to jazz — an ensemble of actor-musicians chronicles the story of America’s first women soldiers, The Hello Girls. These intrepid heroines served as bilingual telephone operators on the front lines, helping turn the tide of World War I. They then returned home to fight a decades-long battle for equality and recognition, paving the way for future generations.

Nominated for three Drama Desk Awards and four Outer Critics Circle Awards, The Hello Girls has music and lyrics by Peter Mills, and a book by Mills and Cara Reichel, with direction by Cara Reichel, choreography by Christine O’Grady, and music direction by Ben Moss. Orchestrations are by Peter Mills and Ben Moss, with additional drum arrangements by Elena Bonomo. Produced by Prospect Theater Company, the musical ran from November 13-December 22, 2018 at 59E59 Theaters.

The cast featured Ellie Fishman (Finding Neverland), Arlo Hill (The Most Happy Fella at Encores!), Chanel Karimkhani (The Goree All Girl String Bandat New York Musical Festival), Andrew Mayer (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), Matthew McGloin (CasablancaBox at HERE Arts), Ben Moss (Spring Awakening), Lili Thomas (Disney Millennium Symphonies with the New York Philharmonic at Avery Fisher Hall), Skyler Volpe (West Side Story at Barrington Stage), Cathryn Wake (Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812), and Scott Wakefield (Hands on a Hardbody). Elena Bonomo (Waitress) was the percussionist.

Learn more from Broadway World here.

Salman Ahmed’s dream of a Junoon reunion, which is shared by millions of Junoon fans, may not materialize just as yet. In a recent interview with GEO, Junoon vocalist and front man Ali Azmat – without whom a reunion cannot happen – categorically denied any such thing. “This news surfaces at least once every month. There is no reunion happening,” was Azmat’s curt response when contacted. Salman Ahmed, however, reiterated that it was happening, adding that Ali just did not want to talk about it yet.

While speculation on that front continues, it can be confirmed that Salman Ahmed is headed towards more international fame. Lyricist and composer Neil Berg, who’s produced musicals for Broadway (The Prince and the Pauper, The 12, Grumpy Old Men: The Musical) apparently read Salman Ahmad’s autobiography and life story of becoming a Pakistani rock star and forming South Asia’s most successful rock band Junoon as well as starting Vital Signs. Neil Berg has signed a contract with Salman based on his autobiography to produce a musical for Broadway. What more, Neil Berg & The Broadway All Stars invited Salman as a special guest to sing ‘Imagine’ by John Lennon Live onstage in front of a packed NY audience. He got a standing ovation!

Read the full article from The News here.