A Preview of BroadwayCon 2019

BroadwayCon 2019 takes place at New York Hilton Midtown from January 11 to 13, 2019.

What better way to chase away those January Blues than a trip to BroadwayCon 2019?! The fourth annual convention, gathering eager theatre aficionados from all over the country and from around the world, invades the New York Hilton Midtown for three jam-packed days to celebrate all things Broadway! The event kicks off tomorrow, January 11, 2019 and runs through to Sunday, January 13, 2019.

Produced by Mischief Management, BroadwayCon once again offers fans the opportunity to attend a diverse range of events with a three-day schedule that includes workshops, musical performances, panels, interviews, autograph and photograph sessions, sing-a-longs, and, of course, the opening celebration and send-off party.

For those interested in a career in theatre and the workings of Broadway from an industry perspective, BroadwayCon also offers a special "Industry Day" (taking place tomorrow, January 11 from 2pm until 6:15pm) which offers various sessions with key industry professionals. These include comedian Mike Birbiglia, Charles Flateman (from The Shubert Organization), Kurt Deutsch (from Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records), Bonnie Comley (from BroadwayHD), Lauren Reid (from The John Gore Organization), Sree Sreenivasan (Former Chief Digital Officer of Columbia University and The Metropolitan Museum of Art), David Korins (Hamilton scenic designer), Sara Flores (Director of Creative Content/Associate Producer of Macy's Branded Entertainment), Bashan Aquart (Executive Creative Director, AKA), Tom Greenwald (Co-Founder/Chief Creative Officer, SpotCo), Diana Salameh (Director of Marketing & Communications, Serino Coyne), Steven Tartick(Executive Creative Director, RPM), Emily Simoness (Co Founder/Executive Director, SPACE at Ryder Farm) and Julia Jordan (Exec Dir of The Lillys, Treasurer of The Dramatists Guild). Split up into three sessions, aspiring young professionals can expect to gain insight into everything from digital content, licensing and instagram to marketing, music and storytelling.

Other promised highlights of BroadwayCon 2019 include a special "BroadwayCon First Look" showcasing some of the exciting productions heading our way this spring, a Disney on Broadway reunion of some of the company's Broadway stars from the past 25 years, a special You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown 20 year reunion with the production's original cast members, a "BroadwayCon Cosplay Contest," a Rodgers & Hammerstein pop concert, and, of course, the spotlight sessions featuring no less than nine of your favorite Broadway shows!

Here's a closer look and some of our top preview picks for what's in store this weekend...

Friday, January 10, 2019

SPOTLIGHTS - Join the principal cast and key creative team members of these fantastic Broadway productions in the Grand Ballroom, as they share their unique behind-the-scenes stories.

Harry Potter and the Cursed Child (13:45) - Special guests include Jamie Parker, Noma Dumezweni, Anthony Boyle, and more.

Mean Girls (15:00) with Tina Fey, Casey Nicholaw, Taylor Louderman, Ashley Park, Kate Rockwell, Erika Henningsen, and more.

The Cher Show (16:15) with Stephanie J. Block, Teal Wicks, Micaela Diamond, Jarrod Spector, and more.

The Prom (17:30) with Casey Nicholaw, Beth Leavel, Brooks Ashmanskas, Christopher Sieber, Angie Schworer, Caitlin Kinnunen and more.

Be More Chill (19:40) with Joe Iconis, George Salazar, Britton Smith, and more.

PANELS - Unlike the Spotlight sessions which focus on a particular production, the panels are designed to generate a broader discussion on the themes of Broadway and are followed by a Q&A with the audience. 

Disney Theatrical at 25: The Stars Align (20:40) - Special guests include Thomas Schumacher (Disney Theatrical President), Christian Borle (Peter and the Starcatcher), Ashley Brown (Mary Poppins), Merle Dandridge (Tarzan / Aida), Susan Egan (Beauty and the Beast), James Monroe Iglehart (Aladdin), and Patti Murin (Frozen).

And here are our other top picks for Friday...

Putting It Together: The Stage Managers of Broadway (10:00)

Broadway Ensembles (11:15)

The First Pitch (12:30)

From Britain to Broadway (15:00)

Demystifying the Art of Casting (16:15)

Broadway: The Flops! A Singalong Spectacular (17:30)

AUTOGRAPH / PHOTOGRAPH SESSIONS

Christina Bianco (12:30 and13:45)

Ann Harada (10:30 and 12:30)

Jenn Colella (13:00 and 15:30)

Anthony Rapp (15:00 and 16:15)

Caitlin Kinnunen (15:00 and 16:15)

BEST OF THE REST - Our top picks from the rest of the day's events and activities...

The BroadwayCon 2019 Opening Ceremony (12:30)

Kate Lumpkin Audition Workshop (10:00)

Podcast - Theatre People LIVE! (11:15)

The Addams Family Beginner Dance Workshop (11:45)

Marni Raab Acting Workshop (11:45)

Podcast - Tannins and Tunes: Live! (13:45)

Professional Skills for Actors Seminar (13:45)

Advanced Hip-Hop Dance Workshop (15:30)

Love Songs Singalong (16:15)

R&H Goes Pop! (18:35) - Performance of contemporary covers of Rodgers & Hammerstein classics. Special guests include Jelani Alladin, Lilli Cooper, Matt Doyle, Rebecca Naomi Jones, Derek Klena, Laura Osnes, Anthony Rapp, and more.

BroadwayCon Jukebox (21:40) - Choose the line-up of songs via a live poll which will then be performed by the likes of Alex Brightman, Tamika Lawrence, Anthony Rapp, Ryann Redmond, and Betsy Wolfe.

Saturday, January 12, 2019

SPOTLIGHTS - Saturday's spotlight sessions focus on the following fabulous Broadway productions...

Come From Away (11:15) - Special guests include David Hein, Irene Sankoff, Petrina Bromley, Alex Finke, De'Lon Grant, Caesar Samayoa, Astrid Van Wieren, and Jim Walton.

Dear Evan Hansen (11:15) with Taylor Trensch, Andrew Barth Feldman, and Michael Lee Brown.

Pretty Woman: The Musical (17:40) with Orfeh, Allison Blackwell, and Renée Marino.

You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown - 20 Year Reunion (19:30) with Roger Bart, Ilana Levine, Michael Mayer, Jerry Mitchell, Anthony Rapp, and BD Wong

PANELS - Here's our top picks of Saturday's wide selection of panels (followed by Q&A sessions)...

RENTheads: Where are we now? (10:00)

NYTW AT 40: Celebrating 40 Years of New York Theatre Workshop (12:30)

Seeing Through the Eyes of Black Female Playwrights (13:45)

Trans and Nonbinary Actors in Musical Theatre (15:00)

15 Year Celebration of Avenue Q (16:40) with Robert Lopez, Carmen Ruby Floyd, Howie Michael Smith, Erin Quill, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, and Ann Harada

AUTOGRAPH / PHOTOGRAPH SESSIONS

Brandon Uranowitz (10:00 and 11:15)

Daphne Rubin-Vega (10:30 and 11:15)

Alex Brightman (11:15 and 12:30 and 14:30)

Anthony Rapp (11:15 and 16:15)

Lesli Margherita (12:30 and 13:45)

Andrew Rannells (14:00)

BEST OF THE REST - Our top picks from the rest of Saturday's events and activities...

"The Graceful Dancer" Advanced Contemporary Theatre Dance Fusion Workshop (10:00)

Podcast - Broadway Radio: This Week on Broadway Live! (11:15)

Lecture - The History of Drag on Broadway (11:15)

Historic Hudson Theatre Tour (12:00)

BroadwayCon Cosplay Contest (12:30)

Podcast - Token Theatre Friends: Live (12:30)

A Chorus Line Intermediate Dance Workshop (13:30)

Lecture - Getting the Show on the Road 2019: More Stories Behind the Scenes of Touring Broadway (15:00)

Andrew Drost Audition Technique Workshop (15:15)

Andrew Rannells In Conversation (15:25)

High Tea with Queen Lesli: Lessons Learned from Showbiz to Rule Your Kingdom (16:15) with Lesli Margherita

Mean Girls Singalong (17:30)

Broadway Game Night (20:30)

Sunday, January 13, 2019

SPOTLIGHTS

My Fair Lady (12:30) - Special guests include Laura Benanti, Danny Burstein, Allan Corduner, and Harry Hadden-Paton.

BroadwayCon First Look (15:00) - with performances from upcoming Broadway productions such as Beetlejuice, Hadestown, Tootsie, and Kiss Me, Kate! 

PANELS - Here's our top picks of Sunday's entertaining selection of panels (followed by Q&A sessions)...

Out on Broadway (10:00) with Matt Doyle, Daisy Eagan, Raymond J. Lee, Brandon Uranowitz, and Michael Urie.

Broadway Debuts (11:15)

Behind the Music (12:30)

Rodgers & Hammerstein's Oklahoma! Then and Now: Celebrating 75 Years (13:45)

South Asians: Onstage and Backstage! (16:15)

AUTOGRAPH / PHOTOGRAPH SESSIONS

Sharon Wheatley (10:00 and 10:30)

Ben Fankhauser (10:00 and 11:15)

Ryann Redmond (11:15 and 12:30)

James Snyder (11:15 and 12:30)

James Monroe Iglehart (12:00)

Ali Ewoldt (12:30 and 13:45)

BEST OF THE REST - Our top picks from the rest of Sunday's schedule...

BroadwayCon Feud (10:00) - a game show hosted by Jenn Colella

CATS Intermediate Dance Workshop (10:00)

Lecture - Broadway Musicals in China​ (10:00)

The Second Annual BroadwayCon Lip Sync Battle (11:15)

Podcast - Call and Response Live! (11:15)

"The Enraged Accompanist" Audition Technique Workshop (11:15)

Mean Girls Beginner Theatre Dance Workshop (12:00)

Podcast - Broadwaysted LIVE! (13:45)

Absolute Beginner Tap Dance Workshop (13:45)

Whitney Sprayberry Acro Dance Workshop (15:30)

Sondheim Singalong (16:15)

BroadwayCon YouTube Send-Off Party (17:00)

So, if you're off to BroadwayCon 2019 tomorrow, we sincerely wish you a fun-filled three days amongst like-minded Broadway fans... And if you're not headed to BroadwayCon, well, then in the words of the cast of Avenue Q - it sucks to be you!

For ticketing information check out the official website of BroadwayCon.