Long before became known as Will Schuester — the lovable Spanish teacher and show choir director on TV’s Glee — Matthew Morrison was dancing and singing, garnering Tony nods for his work on the Broadway stage.

Through it all, there was one song he always kept at the ready: “On the Street Where You Live” from My Fair Lady.

“It is actually the song I sang for every single audition I’ve ever had in my life, including Glee; that is like my go-to audition song,” Morrison says. “It’s got a great story — it’s about a guy who is in love with a girl, but that girl doesn’t know or care that he’s alive. This guy is suffering, but he suffers so beautifully that you almost don’t want it to end. … It’s just good storytelling. You don’t find that in music so much these days. I feel like I can act these songs, and that’s a great power to have on stage.”

A pepped-up version of “On the Street Where You Live” appears on Where It All Began, Morrison’s second solo album of show tunes and American standards.

Source: NPR

‘Glee’ star Matthew Morrison is hoping to join forces with his new music label boss Adam Levine and record a pop song.

The singer-and-actor was snapped up by the Maroon 5 frontman for his new record label and the pair have discussed joining forces on a song, despite having different musical styles, reported E! online.

While Matthew’s new album, ‘Where It All Began’, is more jazz and blues inspired, Adam is best known for making thumping pop-rock songs with his band.

“We’ve certainly talked about a collaboration. Our styles and sounds are quite different but he loves my album so much and he’s a big fan of that type of music. But you wouldn’t think it because he’s such a rock star,” Mathew said.

Although he’s used to being in front of the camera after playing glee club teacher Schuester for four years, Matthew insists filming his first music video was completely different to his usual work.

“They are so different but I love both. With ‘Glee’, you learn lines, you show up and you’re good to go. But with a music video, you get involved with everything and it’s a lot more personal,” he added.

Source: Business Standard

Ray Liotta, Justin Chon and Harry Shum Jr. (“Glee”) have joined crime thriller “Revenge of the Green Dragons,” which begins production this week.

Andrew Lau and Andrew Loo are directing with Martin Scorsese exec producing. IM Global’s genre label Octane is fully financing.

The film is also “presented by” Scorsese. The director’s “The Departed” was based on Lau’s “Infernal Affairs.”

“Revenge of the Green Dragons” is adapted from Fredric Dannen’s New Yorker article, which chronicles a murder investigation involving the New York-based Green Dragons gang.

Liotta plays the lead New York detective responsible for investigating the gang.

Source: Variety

he actress and singer, Lea Michele, best known for her role as Rachel Berry in Glee is set to debut her first solo album!

Lea Michele reveals that she is “nervous” about her debut album:
“We have the album pretty much locked. Everything is being mastered right now and we’re just debating on what we want the first single to be. There are two or three right now that I feel are pretty strong. It’s really kind of happening and now I’m getting nervous. At some point, people are going to hear this! I’m just sitting in a studio.”
Lea Michele might also be planning for a tour after the release of her album! However, the Glee filming schedule looks as if Lea will be putting her tour on hold.

Source: PopStopTV

Matthew Morrison stopped by ABC‘s The View last week to talk about his getting his career break on Broadway, his new album, and collaborating with Smokey Robinson. He then performed “Come Rain or Come Shine” from his new album, ‘Where It All Began.’ Check out the appearance below!

After studying musical theater, vocal performance and dance at Tisch School of The Arts in New York, Morrison made his debut on Broadway in “Footloose,” followed by “The Rocky Horror Picture Show.” However, it was his role as Link Larkin in the original cast of the Broadway production of “Hairspray” that served as his breakthrough and led to Morrison being cast in the critically acclaimed “The Light In The Piazza.” His portrayal of young lover Fabrizio Naccarelli garnered him a Tony nomination for best performance by a featured actor in a musical. He subsequently received a Drama Desk nomination for outstanding actor in the off-Broadway musical “10 Million Miles” and reprised the role of Lieutenant Cable in Lincoln Center’s Tony-nominated production of “South Pacific.”

Morrison is the first artist signed to 222 Records, the new label started by Adam Levine, the leader of multi-platinum group Maroon 5. Following a stint on Mercury Records, Morrison is happy to be part of a label that is run by a fellow artist. “Adam’s been part of whole big label system and he knows completely what works and doesn’t,” Morrison says. “He wanted to make an artist-friendly label and he’s completely backed my vision 100%. He trusts what we’re doing.”

Though Morrison enjoys making records, they are a means to an end. The stage is where Morrison comes alive. “Performing live, I can’t even say it’s in my heart or in my soul. It’s so far down below that…It’s almost a spiritual relationship you have with an audience and how you can get them invested. It’s a beautiful partnership. It’s my oxygen, my food. It’s my water. I love it more than anything.”

Morrison’s new album of standards is a salute to the music that means the most to him. In 2011, Morrison released his first album, a pop collection of mainly originals featuring such guests as Elton John and Gwyneth Paltrow. He remains proud of that set, but admits part of the goal was to separate himself from his “Glee” character. “‘Where It All Began’ is the album I’ve always wanted to make,” he says. “This is my love, the songs I grew up listening to. These songs are so timeless and it’s something everyone can appreciate. I felt a responsibility to breathe new life into them.“

Source: BroadwayWorld.com