Category: Broadway

A diverse group of performers on stage raise their fists triumphantly, dressed in colorful, eclectic costumes under bright stage lights, capturing the vibrant energy of a RENT musical performance.

How Diversity Has Shaped 20 Years of RENT

On April 29, 1996, a musical opened on Broadway that looked and sounded unlike anything that had come before it. It told a powerful, moving, heartbreaking and ultimately uplifting story of young, impoverished New York artists who were seeking to...
A diverse group of seventeen people, smiling and posing together on a stage. Dressed in casual, colorful clothing, they celebrate RENT and its timeless themes, united in a vibrant moment—20 years later, their bond endures.

20 Years Later, RENT Resonates Through Timeless Themes

When RENT opened in 1996, its glum stage reflected East Village settings mired in poverty, addiction, and disease. Twenty years later, luxury condos replace tenements, and foodies dine where squatters sought shelter. Suddenly, criticism suggesting gentrification rendered Rent irrelevant mirrors...
A group of energetic performers on stage, dressed in colorful, eclectic costumes, stand together with one arm raised triumphantly, singing under bright stage lights in a vibrant scene from the musical RENT.

5 Fun Facts About RENT

In 1996, an original rock musical by a little-known composer opened on Broadway…and forever changed the landscape of American theatre. Two decades later, Jonathan Larson’s RENT continues to speak loudly and defiantly to audiences across generations and all over the world....
Two women facing each other, smiling and playing a hand-clapping game against a plain, warm-toned background. Their light-colored, vintage-style blouses evoke the minimalism and timeless charm of The Color Purple.

Minimalism Brings Down Barriers In “The Color Purple”

In the current revival of “The Color Purple,” rural Georgia meets spare minimalism. The action takes place on a plain wooden stage. Props are few: a cluster of well-worn chairs, woven baskets, some fabric, a Bible. Even less would be...
A woman wearing a light jacket and a yellow patterned scarf smiles broadly and laughs against a warm brown backdrop, radiating joy worthy of a scene from The Color Purple.

6 Star-Studded Facts About The Color Purple

By Kristen Day Chances are, you've heard of The Color Purple. But how well do you know these famous facts about the show? The Color Purple made its Broadway debut in 2005. The producers included Oprah Winfrey and Quincy Jones....
Performers in medieval costumes sing and dance on stage, with colorful castle scenery and sparkling dancers in the background, creating a lively Spamalot musical—one of the top reasons to see Spamalot for an unforgettable theatrical experience.

5 Reasons You Have to See Spamalot

1. The Broadway production (Spamalot) won three Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was followed by two successful West End runs. 2. [Spamalot] features a chorus of hunky men and sexy dancing girls, eye-popping sets, lavish costumes, plenty of fun...
Five actors in medieval knight costumes stand in a row on stage with arms around each other’s shoulders, bringing the legend of King Arthur to life. The text “Monty Python’s Spamalot” appears boldly in front of them.

Interview with a King

Spamalot has been on Broadway since 2004, and in that time it has garnered praise from every corner of the musical theater world. The show was nominated for Tony Awards, even winning Best Musical in 2005 following the show’s debut at Chicago’s Schubert...
Five actors in medieval knight costumes stand in a row on stage with arms around each other’s shoulders, bringing the legend of King Arthur to life. The text “Monty Python’s Spamalot” appears boldly in front of them.

Monty Python’s Spamalot: Fact, Faux, or Folklore

King Arthur’s legendary “Knights of the Round Table” used to sit at a rectangular table. The Holy Grail possesses the ability to heal the sick, and provide youthfulness and food. King Arthur was not just a king, he was a...
Five actors in King Arthur-inspired medieval knight costumes stand in a row on stage, smiling and posing with hands on each other's shoulders before a grand stone castle backdrop.

Things to Know about Monty Python’s Spamalot Before the Show…

The musical Monty Python’s Spamalot is based on the film Monty Python and the Holy Grail. King Arthur and his Knights of the Round Table first embarked on a search for The Holy Grail in the very, very low-budget 1975...
A woman smiling at the camera on the left; on the right, STOMP company manager and Purdue grad Michelle Warble joins two performers banging sticks on metal barrels in a dynamic, colorful setting.

Get to know Purdue grad and STOMP company manager Michelle Warble

Story by Dannah Williams | Graduate Marketing Intern | Krannert '19 Purdue graduate and current STOMP tour manager Michelle Warble has done nothing but make her fellow Boilermakers proud. From enrolling at Purdue in the fall of 1996 to touring...
Stomp

Did you know? STOMP Edition

PERFORMANCE FACTS • STOMP has performed in over 350 cities in 36 countries worldwide. • STOMP’s New York City production will celebrate its 15th year at the Orpheum Theatre in February of 2009, which makes it one of the longest-running...
A lively stage scene from Kinky Boots shows two men holding up tall red boots and smiling, surrounded by an enthusiastic, colorfully dressed cast in a factory setting. The Kinky Boots logo appears in the corner.

Designing “Kinky Boots”

In a show called Kinky Boots, “you’ve gotta get the boots right,” says Gregg Barnes, costume and footwear designer for the Tony Award-winning musical. The show, based on a real story and independent film about a failing English shoe factory...