James Sims

James Sims

  • U2 Debut Song from Broadway’s Upcoming ‘Spider-Man’ Musical

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    James Sims

    Broadway fans were first introduced to original music from Broadway’s upcoming ‘Spider-Man, Turn Off the Dark’ during a recent performance by actor/musician Reeve Carney on “Good Morning America,” but up until last night, the writers of that song — U2’s Bono and the Edge — haven’t played the song for audiences. During a stop on…

  • Ken Davenport Wants to Democratize Broadway

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    James Sims

    Ken Davenport wants to democratize the mostly elite inner circle of Broadway producers, and he’s attempting to stir things up by reaching out to everyone for help in getting a new musical funded through the concept of crowd sourcing. Meaning, he wants you to invest a few bucks in his show. “So many people have…

  • Stephen Sondheim Theatre Gets Unveiled on Broadway

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    James Sims

    There was perhaps no better way to kickoff the latest Broadway season than to usher in a new era in Times Square with a celebration of the preeminent composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim. The creator of such classic musicals as Sweeney Todd, A Little Night Music and A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to…

  • My Summer Blogging for Lincoln Center

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    James Sims

    As summer rolled through New York City, and Broadway geared up for its latest season, I took time away from Times Square and travelled uptown, to Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts, where I spent the warmer months working as the cultural institutions first Blogger-in-Residence.

  • Broadway’s Spider-Man Musical Creates Social Buzz with GMA Debut

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    James Sims

    Talk of the upcoming musical Spider-man: Turn off the Dark actually coming to fruition on Broadway has been circling Times Square for a long while now, mostly due to the big names involved – U2’s Bono and the Edge have written the music while director Julie Taymor (Lion King) is directing – and the complete…

  • Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Love Never Dies’ Ditches Broadway

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    James Sims

    Love Never Dies, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s stage sequel to the long-running Phantom of the Opera, might have been dealt a fatal blow, thanks in part to devastating reviews on the West End and a director and choreographer jumping ship, all before a promised Broadway run. Michael Ridel reports in the New York Post: “In the theater,…

  • Sutton Foster Gets Dirty in ‘Trust,’ Proving Only Reason to See Production

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    James Sims

    Hollywood stars coming to Broadway continues to be a talking point in many theatrical circles, but what about the A-list theatrical talent making the rounds in and around Times Square?  Sutton Foster is one of those Broadway stars that haven’t had success up on the silver screen, but when it comes to the live stage,…

  • Colleen Ballinger Talks YouTube Character Miranda Sings

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    James Sims

    Breaking into show business can be a monumental task for entertainers, but as sites like YouTube provide unknown creative types with an outlet, and millions of viewers, the road to stardom is quickly being repaved. Now, people like Justin Bieber can skyrocket to superstardom by creating a homemade video presence online, showcasing their musical talent.…

  • Harry Connick Jr. Brings New Orleans to Broadway

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    James Sims

    One man. A 20-member band. A single piano. And a Broadway stage. Quite a potent combination when that man happens to be Harry Connick Jr. The smooth singing star wrapped up a short concert run at the Neil Simon Theater this past weekend, with cameras rolling for a future release. Broadway has been full of…

  • Disney Hurts Hand-Drawn Animation with ‘Beauty and the Beast’ 3D

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    James Sims

    Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” a film that set the standard for not just animation, but for the art of musical storytelling, garnered such critical praise in its initial theatrical release that it received multiple Academy Award nominations. Had Walt Disney been alive, he would have surely been proud — the founding father of Walt…