BroadwayCon: Full Schedule

Below is the archived schedule from BroadwayCon 2016. Please note that it may not accurately reflect everything that took place, as we made on-the-fly changes due to the blizzard.

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For most programming, you do not need to sign up in advance! For the most part, admission is first-come, first-served. Exceptions to this include workshops and autograph/photobooth sessions - more information about these can be found on our website. Adding a panel to your schedule does not guarantee admission to the panel.

10:00am EST

There's Nothing Like a Show on Broadway: The 'I Love Everything!' Meetup

Do you read every review of everything? Was planning your BroadwayCon schedule overwhelming because you wanted to do all of it? Just want to talk about every show, every actor, and every theater? Grab your Playbill collection, throw on a show t-shirt, and come geek out!

Friday January 22, 2016 10:00am - 10:50am EST
Murray Hill

Meetup

11:00am EST

The Room Where It Happens: The Hamilfans Meetup

You could’ve been anywhere in the world today, and you’re here with us. Are you ready for a Hamilton fan meetup? If you’ve been listening to the cast album every hour of every day since it was released, are crazy about America’s favorite fighting french bread (large baguette!), and think Eliza Hamilton is a precious cinnamon roll too pure for this world, this is the meetup for you. Meet others who are just as addicted as you are, sing some songs, have some rap battles, and indulge in your favorite Hamilton-related fannishness. #YAYHAMLET!

Friday January 22, 2016 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Murray Hill

Meetup

1:00pm EST

Look, They Made a Hat and They're Wearing it Too

It’s one of theatre’s biggest juggling acts: doing double duty as a show’s writer and
its star. How do you balance trying to keep up with lines that need fine-tuning while remembering what to say next? These panelists will tell you all about what it’s like to do this intricate dance.

Moderators

Laura Heywood

@BroadwayGirlNYC

When it comes to Broadway, Forbes calls Laura Heywood "the most vocal and visible supporter in the business.” Her formerly anonymous alter-ego, @BroadwayGirlNYC, is widely regarded as a leading advocate, ambassador, and best friend to Broadway. With experience as a national talk... Read More →

Speakers

Hunter Bell

Hunter has received an Obie Award, Drama League nomination, and Tony nomination for the original Broadway musical [title of show]. Other credits include the books for Found: A New Musical (Atlantic Theater Company), Now. Here. This. (Vineyard Theatre), Silence! The Musical, Bellobration... Read More →

Jeff Bowen

Jeff Bowen wrote the music and lyrics for and starred in the Broadway musical [title of show] (OBIE Award) and Now. Here. This. Additionally, he has written music and lyrics for Villains Tonight! (Walt Disney Company) and the theme songs for the web series "the [title of show] show... Read More →

Lonny Price

Lonny Price most recently directed the stage and film versions of the New York Philharmonic’s productions of Stephen Sondheim’s Sweeney Todd and Company. He earned Emmys for his work directing Sondheim: The Birthday Concert, Sweeney Todd (with Patti LuPone and George Hearn), and... Read More →

Friday January 22, 2016 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Murray Hill

Panel

6:00pm EST

Classics Singalong

Get ready to sing your heart out with an hour filled with some of Broadway's most legendary tunes. From Guys and Dolls to West Side Story to Evita, this singalong will put your classic-musical-loving chops to the test!

Friday January 22, 2016 6:00pm - 6:50pm EST
Murray Hill

Singalong

11:00am EST

Do You Hear the People Sing?: Broadway Sound Design

If you can hear the people sing, it’s only because of the sound designers working tirelessly to give every audience member the same auditory experience. How do the experiences of working in different Broadway theatres compare? How does the placement of the band affect the sound design of musicals? And how do you even amplify sound in a hundred-year-old theatre?

Moderators

Robert Viagas

Robert Viagas is an author, editor, journalist, librettist, and project manager with more than thirty years of experience working on Broadway, most of it with Playbill Inc. and the Tony Awards. Viagas was founding editor (1994) of Playbill.com. He has published 19 books on performing... Read More →

Speakers

Jill B.C. Du Boff

Kai Harada

Sound Designer

Sound designs include Allegiance, Gigi, Brooklynite (Vineyard Theatre), Little Dancer (Kennedy Center), On the Town, Follies (Drama Desk Award and Tony Award nomination), Fun Home (Drama Desk Award nomination), First Date, Million Dollar Quartet, Zorro (Moscow, Atlanta), Hinterm Horizont... Read More →

Leon Rothenberg

Leon is a Tony award-winning Sound Designer based in New York City who has designed for a number of environments including theater, film, dance, installation and the circus. Recent credits include musicals and plays across the country at venues such as the Old Globe, Arena Stage... Read More →

Nevin Steinberg

Saturday January 23, 2016 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Murray Hill

Panel

12:00pm EST

Build a Big, Bright, Beautiful World: Broadway Set Design

It's often one of the first things the audience sees when entering the theater and it sets the tone for the entire evening. So what's the process behind designing Broadway sets? Join a panel of Broadway set designers to learn about how they work and see examples from the projects they're proudest of.

Panelists are being added! Check back soon!

Moderators

Robert Viagas

Speakers

Neil Patel

Donyale Werle

Donyale Werle is a Brooklyn, NY-based theatrical set designer who supports & employs sustainable practices in scenic design. She is the Co-Chair (with Bob Usdin) of the Pre/Post Production Committee for the Broadway Green Alliance. Donyale works with salvaged materials to create unique... Read More →

Saturday January 23, 2016 12:00pm - 12:50pm EST
Murray Hill

Panel

1:00pm EST

The Untold Stories of the Palace Theatre

Theatre historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper brings her “Untold Stories of Broadway” book series to life on this panel, featuring several theatre professionals who have “played the Palace” over the years. From “the Judy Garland staircase” to the famed Palace ghosts, hear what makes the Palace Theatre different from every other Broadway house. Our panelists will share what it was like to work in the same theatre, years apart, and tell you the hidden secrets of the Palace.

Moderators

Jennifer Ashley Tepper

Jennifer Ashley Tepper is the Director of Programming at Feinstein’s/54 Below and the author of The Untold Stories of Broadway book series. As the leader of Feinstein’s/54 Below’s creative team, Tepper is responsible for programming every show at the Broadway supper club and... Read More →

Speakers

Loni Ackerman

Loni Ackerman’s magnetism and dynamic vocal prowess as a Broadway musical theater star, has made her a longtime favorite of Broadway theatergoers. She captivated New York audiences in such coveted roles as Eva in Evita and Grizabella in Cats. Other Broadway credits include leading... Read More →

Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Andrew Keenan-Bolger is an actor, director, author and filmmaker. He is appearing as Jesse Tuck in Tuck Everlasting on Broadway beginning March 2016. He created the role of Crutchie in the original Broadway cast of Newsies (Outer Critics Circle nominee). Other Broadway: Mary Poppins... Read More →

Lee Roy Reams

Tony Walton

Tony Walton is a director/designer honored with 16 Tony Award nominations for his Broadway sets and costumes, including wins for Pippin, House of Blue Leaves, and Guys and Dolls. He also earned Academy Award nominations for “Mary Poppins,” “The Wiz,” and “Murder on the... Read More →

Saturday January 23, 2016 1:00pm - 1:50pm EST
Murray Hill

Panel

2:00pm EST

Color and Light: Broadway Lighting Design

How do you use lighting to tell a story? How do you adjust when a set piece or dancer interferes with your design? How do you work within the limitations of each theatre? And how are new technologies changing the way designers are able to carry out their visions? Join some of Broadway’s top lighting designers as they answer these questions and more.

Speakers

Ken Billington

Lighting Designer, Chicago, Sweeney Todd

Ken has worked as a lighting designer on almost 100 Broadway shows including such theater milestones as Sweeney Todd and the current Chicago; as well as: Dames at Sea, Act One, Hugh Jackman Back on Broadway, Sondheim on Sondheim, White Christmas,Sunday in the Park with George (2008), Annie (1997... Read More →

Jeff Croiter

Natasha Katz

Natasha Katz is a lighting designer who works extensively in the worlds of Broadway, opera, and ballet. She won the 2015 Tony Award for Best Lighting Design of a Musical for her work on An American in Paris. She has been nominated for 12 Tony Awards, winning 5 times. Her more than... Read More →

Kenneth Posner

Kenneth Posner is a lighting designer with more than 50 Broadway play and musical theatre credits. He also designs extensively for off-Broadway, resident theatres, and touring productions throughout the United States, as well as internationally. Selected Broadway credits: On Your... Read More →

Philip S. Rosenberg

Lighting Designer

Broadway: The Elephant Man, It's Only A Play, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder. Off-Broadway credits include Explorers Club and Cactus Flower. Regional credits include: Kennedy Center, La Jolla Playhouse, Ford's Theatre, The Guthrie Theater, The Old Globe, TheatreWorks, Hartford... Read More →

Robert Viagas

Saturday January 23, 2016 2:00pm - 2:50pm EST
Murray Hill

Panel

3:00pm EST

Broadway Time Machine: 1979

Have you ever wanted to take a time machine to explore what it was like in a different year on Broadway? Now you can! This panel will transport you to 1979, when shows
like Sweeney Todd, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Elephant Man, Evita,
and so many others were on the boards. Hear what it was like to work on Broadway in 1979 from panelists who were there! Your tour guide in this time warp adventure will be theatre historian Jennifer Ashley Tepper.

Moderators

Jennifer Ashley Tepper

Speakers

Cleve Asbury

Cleve was recently seen as “Mr. Greenway” in Paper Mill’s production of Elf, and “Mr. Ovington” in the Broadway hit How To Succeed In Business WIthout Really Trying. He’s also been featured in ten other Broadway musicals. He was critically acclaimed as George M. Cohan... Read More →

Randy Graff

Broadway : Fiddler On the Roof (Drama League nom.), A Class Act ( Tony, Drama Desk nominations), City Of Angels ( Tony , Drama Desk Awards), Moon Over Buffalo, Laughter On The 23rdFloor, High Society, Falsettos, Les Miserables(original Fantine, Helen Hayes nom.). Off-Broadway: Motherhood... Read More →

Debbie Gravitte

Debbie Gravitte has enjoyed a varied career that has taken her from the Broadway stage to the concert stage and beyond. She won a Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Musical for her performance in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, along with a Drama Desk Award Nomination and New York... Read More →

Sarah Rice

Sarah Rice began her career as The Girl in the long-running Off-Broadway production of The Fantasticks. She originated the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd on Broadway for which she won a Theatre World Award. She can be heard on its Grammy Award-winning original cast album. As a performer... Read More →

Saturday January 23, 2016 3:00pm - 3:50pm EST
Murray Hill

Panel

4:00pm EST

The Keenan-Bolger Survival Guide

So you’re studying performance? Good for you! But if you move to New York to pursue a career, you may find that there are parts of pounding the pavement that no one prepared you for. Spend an hour with Andrew and Celia Keenan-Bolger as they share what they’ve learned about life as a performer in the big city.

Speakers

Andrew Keenan-Bolger

Celia Keenan-Bolger

Broadway: The Glass Menagerie (Tony Award Nomination, Drama Desk Award, Dorothy Loudon Award), Peter And The Starcatcher, (Tony Nom, Drama Desk Nom, Drama League Nom), Les Miserables (Drama Desk nom.), The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee (Tony Nom, Drama Desk Award for Best... Read More →

Saturday January 23, 2016 4:00pm - 4:50pm EST
Murray Hill

Discussion

5:30pm EST

The BroadwayCon Stage Door

Saturday January 23, 2016 5:30pm - 7:00pm EST
Murray Hill

8:30pm EST

Broadway Team Quiz

Bring your love of theatre and every bit of trivia you’ve picked up along the way. Bring a friend or two or three and survive several rounds of tough questions. The winning team will receive special prizes and have a moment in the limelight!

Saturday January 23, 2016 8:30pm - 10:00pm EST
Murray Hill

Game

11:00am EST

Insiders, Outsiders, and Masked Avengers: Your Role in the Broadway Community

With constant Instagrams of backstage life, new podcast episodes every week, and the collective live tweeting of major Broadway moments, social media allows actors and fans alike to participate in the Broadway community. But how do you use these tools to strengthen your networks and form new bonds? What is it like to become a thing? Hear from actors, podcasters, and (formerly) anonymous Twitter personalities about making their mark on the Broadway community from the inside, the outside, and the in-between.

Moderators

Jennifer Spitulnik

Jennifer Spitulnik’s researches maps the Broadway community’s public, digital storytelling on social media, which basically means she gets to spend a lot of time on Twitter. Her book on the subject has been selected for the Folklore Studies in a Multicultural World Series, and... Read More →

Speakers

Aaron J. Albano

Aaron J. Albano hails originally from the West Coast where he began performing professionally at the age of 15 in San Jose, CA. After attending the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), majoring in musical theatre, he made his Broadway debut in the original... Read More →

Andrew Briedis

Andrew Briedis is a writer, and creator of Annoying Actor Friend, a satirical Internet personality that makes cultural commentary on the Broadway community. For over three years, Andrew operated anonymously under the Twitter handle @Actor_Friend, and on annoyingactorfriend.com. He is the author of "#SOBLESSED: the Annoying Actor Friend's Guide to Werking in Show Business" (2013) and "#GRATEFUL: Everything Happens for a Reason" (2015). Annoying Actor Friend was a finalist in the 2015 Shorty Awards—which honor excellence in social media. "#SOBLESSED: the A... Read More →

Laura Heywood

@BroadwayGirlNYC

Patrick Hinds

Host, Theater People podcast

Patrick Hinds is THRILLED to be making his Broadway(con) debut! He is the creator, co-producer, and host of the popular "Theater People" podcast, a show featuring full-length interviews with Tony winners, Broadway legends, and today’s brightest theater stars. Now in its third year, Theater... Read More →

Nikka Graff Lanzarone

Nikka believes in telling stories from another angle. Finding out what the other side thinks, and making everyone feel heard and important. She believes in kindness, compassion, and humor above all. But when people ask for a bio, this is what she says: Nikka Graff Lanzarone first... Read More →

Erin Quill

Erin Quill holds a BFA from Carnegie Mellon University in Performance. An original Broadway cast member of Avenue Q, she's also been seen as Madame Liang in the 50th anniversary production of Flower Drum Song, and as Lady Thiang opposite Debby Boone in The King and I, among... Read More →

Sunday January 24, 2016 11:00am - 11:50am EST
Murray Hill

Panel