In the true spirit of the holidays, the cast and crew of the Tony-award winning "In The Heights" made one luck fan's dream come true.  Check out this video on YouTube which features the incredibly talented Nicholas,  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2nV9IRY5A1s performing on Broadway with the cast!

Ok - no - Mel Brooks isn't taking his multi Tony award-winning musical to the ice rinks (yet..)  But after watching this great video circulating the web - well who knows what the future might hold for Max and Leo!  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-6HZ9q7RX0c

and since we're talking The Producers and videos - you might also check out this clever video (and marketing tactic) the cast of Westchester Broadway Theater's production created: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PL7YlborJ0c&fmt=18

I was very saddened to read that Michael Crichton, a writer who I admire and respect tremendously for the depth at which he tackled research for his books has passed away.  CBS writes, "Crichton is best known as the author of "Jurassic Park" and the creator of "ER." His most recent novel, "Next," about genetics and law, was published in December 2006. 

"While the world knew him as a great story teller that challenged our preconceived notions about the world around us -- and entertained us all while doing so -- his wife Sherri, daughter Taylor, family and friends knew Michael Crichton as a devoted husband, loving father and generous friend who inspired each of us to strive to see the wonders of our world through new eyes," the statement said. "He did this with a wry sense of humor that those who were privileged to know him personally will never forget."

For more, click http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2008/11/05/print/main4575403.shtml

In short - a fantastic read:

http://nymag.com/arts/theater/features/51543/

Today's New York Times has a great article about getting tickets to various cultural events including Broadway including recent stats and discounts available.  Check out this informative article by clicking here.  The article starts off, "CULTURE can be expensive, no matter which way the Dow is pointing. But in belt-tightening times, the cost of enjoying the arts in New York might seem particularly daunting." And later, "Fortunately for anyone who wants to maintain a busy cultural calendar but hears the call of frugality - and for those of us who pinch pennies regardless - New York is also the home of the bargain ticket, with an array of discounts, promotions and freebies for everything from poetry readings downtown to the glamour of opera at Lincoln Center. Click the link above to read more!

Billed as the "Soundtrack from the Motion Picture" - you can now download the songs from Joss Whedon's fantastic webisodes of "Dr. Horrible's Sing-A-Long Blog featuring Neil Patrick Harris. The website is located at http://www.drhorrible.com/  and you can click to watch episodes on iTunes as well as read the lyrics at (http://www.drhorrible.com/linernotes.html).  If you haven't watched these webisodes, they are a must. After Whedon's musical episode of Buffy several years ago and this most recent endeavor - do we see Broadway in Joss's future? I think so!  Click here to download the soundtrack!

Spoofing the recent "Legally Blonde" reality TV show on MTV, Lin-Manuel Miranda puts tongue in cheek and has produced a hilarious video you have to check out here:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K2yoyjJtKWg

Featuring Derrick Baskin (The Little Mermaid), Hunter Bell (Title Of Show), Cheyenne jackson (Xanadu), Allison Janney (9 to 5), Telly Yeung (RENT), Norm Lewis (The Little Mermaid),  Matthew Morrison (South Pacific), Bernie Telsey, Quiara Alegria Hudes, Robin DeJesus, Seth Rudetsky and Lin-Manuel himself!

Keep up the great work Lin-Manuel. We look forward to the next video production!

There's nothing more amusing than to watch performers being real (and even over the top) and genuinely having fun with each other. About a year ago, BroadwayWorld started giving FLIP video cameras to performers and productions to capture life backstage and beyond for our readers and the results have been fantastic.  Perhaps a bit of a tease, but for every funny or interesting moment presented in these videos, there's usually quite a bit of footage that isnt, can't, and shouldn't be used.  Today's RENT Flip video feature is no exception to that rule.  But that being said, if you're a fan of RENT, or just a fan of seeing how performers interact with each other backstage, then check out this video. I know you won't be disappointed.  And BroadwayWorld will be bringing you more special features as this historic musical ends its run on September 7th! 

p.s. Want $20 seats to the final performance? Check out this story on BWW.  And click here to watch the sneak peek trailer and to get information on how to get tickets to the Finale Performance in select movie theaters.

If you haven't seen this viral video, you have to check it out! It's Broadway and television star, Kristin Chenoweth (currently in the hit show "Pushing Daisies") singing about Crystal Meth during an intervention.  It's got a bit of adult language (consider this the warning for the younger viewers) but you can't help but smile or laugh at the performance Kristin gives to this short film - complete with special effects!

Click here to watch now! 

 "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" is sure to become a popular catch phrase after today when people around the US sit down to watch the new film, Hamlet 2 which was "The hit, the very palpable hit" of the 2008 Sundance Film Festival.

Spring Awakening fans will enjoy Phoebe Strole and Skylar Astin's roles in this hilarious comedy directed by Andrew Fleming who co-wrote the script with South Park: Bigger Longer & Uncut's scribe, Pam Brady.

If you haven't heard of this "musical" comedy yet, you can check out BroadwayWorld's exclusive sneak peek, an interview with Phoebe, Skylar and Steve Coogan here - and don't forget to enter the contest where you can win Dinner for 2 at Tony's DiNapoli in Times Square, 2 free tickets to Hamlet 2, gift bags and more!

Oh.. Steve Coogan? Aside from being a great comedian - also is featured in Tropic Thunder currently in theaters too!

Can't get enough of the catchy tune, "Rock Me Sexy Jesus" (it's pretty addicting) - click here to watch the music video!

Hamlet 2 is an irreverent comedy centering on one teacher's overzealous quest to mount a high school musical and also stars Catherine Keener, David Arquette, Amy Poehler and Elisabeth Shue as herself.

Two stories piqued my interest this morning as I perused the internet.  The first is a great article featuring Richard Griffiths who co-stars alongside Daniel Radcliffe in Equus this season (and also in the Harry Potter movies).  While there are many amusing quotes in the piece, this one in response to his late-in-life successes amused me most:

"He's watched with mild amusement as his co-star Radcliffe's profile has soared. "He's the polar opposite of my experience: He's 19 and a multimillionaire. What's not to want about that?"  That's not to mean Griffiths is a happy promoter of his art. Beware starry-eyed youth: Years of struggle have left a somewhat bitter taste in his mouth.

Daniel Radcliffe, known throughout the world as Harry Potter in the highly successful film series has been in the news recently for two very different reasons.

Anyone following the theater scene knows that Radcliffe will be baring it all in the upcoming Broadway revival of "Equus" - but in a recent interview, the Harry Potter star revealed that he will also appear nude in the final installment of the film franchise, "Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows."  The internet was all a-buzz when these risque pictures appeared online.

Daniel is also making headlines with his admission that he suffers from mild form of dyspraxia which makes it difficult for him to tie his own shoelaces.  To read more, check out this article in the Daily Mail.

EQUUS begins preview performances on Broadway on September 5th prior to opening night on September 25.  EQUUS will play a strictly limited engagement through February 8, 2009. Tickets range in price from $116.50 to $61.50. Fifty-two seats located on the stage are on sale for each performance, as well. For performance and ticket information, call Tele-charge at 212-239-6200 or visit www.telecharge.com

When Rob asked me if I was interested in having my own blog on BroadwayWorld I had to give it some thought.  I haven't been a regular blogger before whether it was on LiveJournal or FaceBook, etc., but here, on BroadwayWorld it did intrigue me because I thought there were things that I thought I could bring to the table which readers would be interested in.  So, as you can see, I said "Yes" to Rob after I defined for myself what this space would be used for.  The Call Board will be a place you can read about various issues and current events surrounding theater, catch up on some interesting features you might have missed on BroadwayWorld - both recent and from the archives, and it will also be a place where you can learn more about the site itself.

With RENT coming to an end on September 7th, I thought I'd share some links with you to video features you might not have seen.  This first is a 30 minute sneak peek we did for the motion picture of RENT: http://www.broadwayworld.com/videoplay.cfm?colid=5961&a=on

The second is the first video in the 30 Days of RENT series: http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=15931

and finally, this third entry features Anthony and Adam making their triumphant return to RENT last August:  http://broadwayworld.com/viewcolumn.cfm?colid=20449