Latest news with #HammersteinBallroom
The Independent
14-03-2025
- Entertainment
- The Independent
Broadway's Eva Noblezada, Jonathan Groff, Jeremy Jordan, Ben Platt and Kelli O'Hara star on album
Lea Salonga stepped onto a Manhattan stage last spring and sang something unusual for her — 'Edelweiss' from the musical 'The Sound of Music,' a song usually performed by the paternal Captain von Trapp. It was part of MCC Theater's annual 'Miscast' gala that's celebrating 25 years with an album of top musical theater stars performing songs from roles in which they would not traditionally be cast. It drops March 28. In addition to Salonga, the album has performances by an A-list of Broadway: Eva Noblezada, Jonathan Groff, Jeremy Jordan, Ben Platt, Kelli O'Hara, Katrina Lenk, Stephanie J. Block, Rachel Zegler, Raúl Esparza, Heather Headley, Aaron Tveit and Gavin Creel. Zegler channeled her inner green ogre for 'Who I'd Be' from 'Shrek,' and Lenk borrowed Tevye's 'If I Were a Rich Man' from "Fiddler on the Roof." Headley, who originated the role of Nala in 'The Lion King,' instead sang Simba's moving ballad 'Endless Night.' 'We have some that are just funny and silly. We have some that actually change the meaning of a song when someone sings them. We have some that's just a phenomenal person singing a phenomenal song and that's enough,' says Scott Galina, manager of musical programming and development at MCC. 'So it really feels like it captures the breadth of the way a 'Miscast' performance can land.' Other highlights include a live version of 'Take Me or Leave Me' from 'Rent' by Tveit and Creel, a capture made more special because of the death of Creel last year. And Groff and Jordan sing the two divas' anthem 'Let Me Be Your Star' from 'Smash.' Noblezada gets muscular singing 'Go the Distance' from 'Hercules,' and Platt gets in a green mood to sing Elphaba's 'The Wizard and I' from 'Wicked.' O'Hara submits a tender 'Beautiful City' from 'Godspell,' while married couple Leslie Odom Jr. and Nicolette Robinson sing 'The Human Heart' from "Once on This Island." 'There's not a track on the album that you get to and you're like, 'Oh, this is a skip,'" says Will Van Dyke, musical director for 'Miscast" for the past six years. 'That's like my goal in everything — you never want to have a skip track on there.' MCC Theater is a nonprofit, off-Broadway company that delights with its spring gala 'Miscast' surprises, which started in 2001 and went online for a few years during the pandemic. To make the new album, the performers were asked to recreate their live songs in the studio, giving engineers a cleaner sound. Whittling down the various performances over the decades to fit on a 12-album collection — called 'MCC Theater's Miscast: The Studio Sessions' — wasn't easy but some songs popped out for having made a lasting impact. 'Katrina Lenk is still hearing about people who talk about her singing 'If I Were a Rich Man,'' says Galina. 'These are moments that have become bigger for these people than we certainly ever could have intended.' MCC Theater will celebrate its 25th anniversary on April 7 with a 'Miscast' gala at the Hammerstein Ballroom. It will honor Sheryl Lee Ralph and MCC Youth Company alum and artist Travis Raeburn. The 'Miscast25' lineup will feature performances by Tituss Burgess, Cole Escola, Jordan Fisher, Steven Pasquale, Nicole Scherzinger, Britton Smith, Phillipa Soo, Ephraim Sykes, Jordan Tyson, Michael Urie and Tveit. Funds raised by the gala and the album go back to MCC Theater. Over the years, 'Miscast' has seen the landscape of Broadway change with more unconventional choices in race, gender and age. Galina points to a recent gender-swapped version of Stephen Sondheim 's 'Company' that transformed the male lead Bobbie into a woman. 'A lot of years before my time at 'Miscast,' you would have women singing 'Being Alive' from 'Company' or 'Mary Me a Little' from 'Company,'' he says. 'And now there's been a production on Broadway with a woman playing Bobbie. So, there are no rules around that anymore, which is amazing.'
Express Tribune
30-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Zayn Malik professes love for his fans in Urdu
In a video clip circulating on social media, former One Direction member Zayn Malik playfully sang a short phrase in Urdu during a live performance on January 25. After fans chanted in encouragement, he delivered a melodic "Main tumse pyar karta hoon" (I love you) in his father's language, prompting loud cheers. The moment took place during a show at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York, as part of the 32-year-old singer's debut solo tour. Stairway to the Sky runs till March this year, marking stops in Europe and North America. Earlier this week, during Zayn's LA stop, former bandmate Louis Tomlinson attended his show at the Shrine Exposition Hall. As per NME, Zayn announced Louis's presence mid-show. "An old friend of mine is here. I don't want to give his location away but Louis is here tonight," said the Pillowtalk singer. With a number of covers and collaborations to his name, Zayn has tapped into his South Asian roots many times in the past. In January last year, Pakistani band AUR featured him on their track Tu Hai Kahan, taking fans by surprise with his Urdu vocals. Zayn told BBC that he was "incredibly humbled" when the band reached out to him. "I love the song and have brought some of myself to it. I hope people love what we've done," he said. The comments section under the YouTube upload of the music video brimmed with admiration. "I love Zayn's versatility and how he embraces his roots. This is a beautiful song," a user wrote. "The original version was already beautiful but with Zayn's voice it is just mesmerising," praised another. Echoing the sentiments of the One Direction singer's longtime enthusiasts, a fan gushed, "I can't even explain how I felt after listening to Zayn's verse. This is what I had always dreamt of: Zayn singing in Urdu. I never expected I would hear the high notes in Urdu. There's no way that I get to listen to this. This still feels like a dream." The intermission song, Flower, on Zayn's 2016 album, Mind of Mine, was sung in Urdu. Five years down the line, his 2021 album Nobody is Listening also incorporated Urdu lyrics. Speaking more on his music influences in an interview, he explained, "There's definitely a lot of Urdu; some nice qawwali sounds. There might even be some bhangra vibes. I have worked with [music producer] AR Rahman on one song."
Express Tribune
27-01-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Zayn Malik spotted enjoying a cigarette after NYC concert on rare public outing
Zayn Malik was spotted enjoying a rare moment of relaxation after his concert in New York City, puffing on a cigarette following the second of his two shows at Manhattan's Hammerstein Ballroom. The 32-year-old former One Direction star, who is currently on his first-ever solo tour, 'Stairway to the Sky', wore a red plaid shirt and tan pants as he exited an SUV post-performance. The tour, which supports his latest album 'Room Under the Stairs', has been a poignant journey for Zayn, especially following the tragic death of his One Direction bandmate Liam Payne. During each show, Zayn pays tribute to Payne by performing his song Stardust, whose lyrics, "Feels like stardust / Fallin' all around us / Funny how it found us," resonate deeply with fans. Zayn's tour has also gained attention for its all-female backing band, which has become a viral sensation on social media. The band, consisting of guitarist Molly Miller, drummer Baby Bulldog, singers Lisa Ramey, Tahira Clayton, and Rebecca Haviland, keyboard player Tina Hizon, and bassist Ryan Madora, has been praised for its talent and empowering presence. Lisa Ramey recently shared a photo of the group on Instagram, captioning it, "The ladies say hello." Fans have flooded social media with admiration for Zayn's decision to feature an all-women band, with one fan writing, "Zayn's all girl band is the hottest thing he could've done." Another added, "Zayn growing up surrounded by women and then later assembling a band that is predominantly female just makes me smile he really is for women by women." The tour hasn't been without its challenges, however. Zayn recently canceled a show in Newcastle due to vocal issues, issuing a heartfelt apology to fans: "I'm just going to apologise to everybody in Newcastle yesterday. I'm sorry I didn't make the show yesterday, my voice wasn't working at all." Despite the setback, Zayn's tour continues to captivate audiences, blending heartfelt tributes, musical talent, and a celebration of female empowerment. As he navigates his solo career, Zayn remains a beloved figure in the music world, with fans eagerly following his every move.
