wnyc.org / 93.9fm / am 820

A judge has warned lawyers at the end of a two-hour hearing that she may narrow the scope of a lawsuit stemming from the Broadway production of "Spider-Man."

Four-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald is currently starring on Broadway in “The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess”– a newly reworked version of the 1935 American opera. In this special edition of Soundcheck, McDonald joins us in the Greene Space with co-star Norm Lewis to talk about updating an American classic - and to perform songs from the Broadway show.

In 2006, the low-budget indie film “Once” – starring The Frames lead singer Glen Hansard and Marketa Irglova – was a surprise success, even picking up the Oscar in 2007 for Best Original Song. Now, the film has been adapted for Broadway - and once again, it’s a hit. The show received 11 Tony nominations earlier this month, and today, we’re joined by some of the cast for a live performance.

Broadway audiences historically have been overwhelmingly white. Last season, 83 percent of Broadway audiences were Caucasians – the highest percentage since the industry began keeping numbers. But just 1.5 percent of the overall audience last season was African American – the lowest it’s ever been.

Tony- and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright David Auburn discusses “The Columnist,” along with its stars John Lithgow and Grace Gummer. It follows Joseph Alsop, a beloved and feared columnist who sits at the center of the Washington political world. As 1960s dawn and shake up America, the intense political drama Joe is embroiled in becomes deeply personal as well. “The Columnist” is playing at the MTC’s Samuel J. Friedman Theater through July 1.

The nominations for the 2012 Tony Awards were announced on Tuesday, May 1, and you can hear Leonard's conversations with many of this year’s nominees. (You can find a full list of the nominees here.) The awards will be presented on June 10.

David Cote, theater editor for Time Out New York, discusses the Tony Award nominations for the best plays and musicals on Broadway this season.

On Tuesday, actors Kristin Chenoweth and Jim Parsons announced the nominees for the 66th annual Tony Awards. The musical "Once" got the most nominations -- 11. Both "The Gershwins’ Porgy and Bess" and "Nice Work If You Can Get It" got 10 nominations, followed by "Peter and the Starcatcher," which landed nine. Get the full list of nominees here.

The new-to-Broadway production “End of the Rainbow” explores the troubled final months of actress-singer Judy Garland’s life, when she struggled with addiction, career troubles and deep-rooted emotional issues. We talk with English actress Tracie Bennett, who portrays Garland in the musical drama.

It's not a new trend, but this year many plays and dramas are seeing their full casts transfer from off-Broadway to the Broadway stage. Watch scenes from some of the season's offerings here. Plus, recommendations from the critics on what to see and what not to see.

In the past few years, many theaters have moved up their weekday curtains to 7 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. from the usual 8 p.m. start times. Learn why theaters are making the move and see our suggestions of how to entertain yourself if you show up late to your show.

Chances are if you see a Broadway musical, it's something you've already seen. The selections include many Off-Broadway transfers, revivals and movies made into stage musicals. WNYC invited Elisabeth Vincentelli, of The New York Post, and Scott Brown, of New York Magazine, to give their takes on “Evita,” “Newsies” and “Once.”

Very quietly, almost stealthily, a new king has been inaugurated on Broadway.

Box office figures released Monday show that "The Lion King" last week swiped the title of Broadway's all-time highest grossing show from "The Phantom of the Opera."

WNYC News host and reporter Richard Hake joins us for a look back at the historical events that form the basis of the new Broadway musical 'Newsies.'

PLEASE NOTE: Soundcheck's weeklong sneak preview of the "Newsies" cast recording is over. The stream has expired. Thank you for listening!

Disney's new Broadway musical "Newsies" will release an original cast recording on iTunes on April 10 and on CD on May 15. But Soundcheck premiered the album a week early with an exclusive stream. 

Playwright Edward Albee discusses “The Lady from Dubuque,” along with actress Jane Alexander, who is starring in the Signature Theatre Company’s production of the play. “The Lady from Dubuque” is playing at the End Stage Theatre at the Pershing Square Signature Center.

"Newsies," a new Disney musical starring Jeremy Jordan, opened on Broadway Thursday night at the Nederlander Theatre. Check out a slideshow of real newsboys selling papers in New York City and scenes from the Broadway musical.

The creator of kids' versions of Broadway works, a production supervisor who has overseen more than 200 Broadway shows and a mentoring program that pairs up theater professionals with New York City public high school students are among this year's recipients of the Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre.

Nick Jonas got his break singing in a hair salon in New Jersey, waiting for his mom while she got her hair done.  Now the 19-year-old is playing the lead in "How To Succeed In Business Without Really Trying" on Broadway. Watch this video of Jonas singing "I Believe In You."