PAT COLLINS’ ANNUAL BROADWAY SPECIAL RETURNS

New York, N.Y. – Theatre critic Pat Collins returns with her 15th annual one-hour special celebrating the newest shows and biggest hits on The Great White Way!

HOORAY FOR BROADWAY: A SPRING CELEBRATION is a televised journey of Broadway’s best and gives viewers a front row seat to the hottest shows in town. Tune in for the show’s “Opening Night” on Saturday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. on WNYW-FOX5 and for an “Encore Presentation” on Sunday, March 19 at 8 p.m. on WWOR-MY9.

“From Jersey Boys to Oprah’s The Color Purple and Harry Connick, Jr.’s Pajama Game, there is something for everyone this season on Broadway,” said Pat Collins, MY9 film/theatre critic.

HOORAY FOR BROADWAY: A SPRING CELEBRATION takes an intimate look at hit shows The Jersey Boys, Pajama Game, Ring of Fire, Bridge and Tunnel, and The Color Purple. In addition, the program captures highlights of Broadway fare such as Sweeney Todd, The Odd Couple and Barefoot in the Park. Tune in for a “sneak peek” of Lestat; Elton John and Anne Rice share the inside scoop and a behind-the-scenes look at the show’s preparation for its opening night. WWOR-MY9 theatre critic Pat Collins also goes one-on-one with Broadway’s hottest stars, including Harry Connick, Jr. and Michael McKean (The Pajama Game), John Lloyd Young (“Frankie Valli” in The Jersey Boys), and John O’Hurley (Chicago). She also sits down with two of this year’s leading actresses – Sarah Jones, who plays 14 different characters in her show Bridge and Tunnel, and LaChanze, “Celie” of The Color Purple.

HOORAY FOR BROADWAY: A SPRING CELEBRATION is produced by veteran producer Gail Yancosek and also includes scenes and clips from many of today’s award-winning and critically acclaimed Broadway shows. With more than 15 years of combined experience producing Broadway specials for the tri-state area, Collins and Yancosek are sure to entertain and inform television viewers and Broadway audiences alike.

HOORAY FOR BROADWAY: A SPRING CELEBRATION is an original production, hosted by MY9 film/theater critic Pat Collins and executive produced by veteran producer Gail Yancosek. This original special will air on Saturday, March 18 at 6:30 p.m. on WNYW-FOX5 and on Sunday, March 19 at 8 p.m. on WWOR-MY9.

WNYW-FOX5 and WWOR-MY9 are the FOX owned-and-operated stations in New York City, the nation’s No. 1 television market. WNYW-FOX5 is also broadcast via DIRECTV on JetBlue Airways. FOX Television Stations, Inc. is one of the nation's largest owned-and-operated network broadcast groups, and consists of 35 stations in 26 markets covering nearly 45 percent of U.S. television homes.

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