Paul Michael Valley

As the days dwindled down to a precious few in 2014, a few cabaret goers and performers in what is affectionately but also self-mockingly called the “cabaret community” would sidle up and ask if I was planning my annual end-of-the year “Best Of” column, similar to the “Top 20 Bests and Favorites” piece over the first half of the year I posted back in early July. I would respond in the negative with very reasonable and believable excuses, but the truth is I didn't want to reveal my “Bests” of the year until the voting for the 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards had ended. There's enough baggage and backstage whispering that comes with administering the BWW Awards, so I wasn't about to publish any opinions that might influence the vote while it was in process. I may be crazy but I'm not masochistic. But now all bets are off. You want lists? I'll give you lists.

It is one of the most wondrous moments in all of Shakespeare's plays; the moment near the end of The Winter's Tale when the statue of Hermione comes to life. Whether it is magic, divine intervention, or merely the resolution of a well-concealed plot, it doesn't matter. It never fails to leave me with a catch in my throat and a feeling of awe at the ability of theatre to engender so affecting a response.

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for Shakespeare's spellbinding romance The Winter's Tale. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his Old Globe directorial debut with the show, the first indoor Shakespeare production at the Globe in over a decade. The Winter's Tale will run Feb. 8 - March 16, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the OldGlobe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Feb. 8 - Feb. 12. Opening night is Thursday, Feb. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Meet the cast in the photos below!

The Old Globe today announced the complete cast and creative team for Shakespeare's spellbinding romanceThe Winter's Tale. Artistic Director Barry Edelstein makes his Old Globe directorial debut with the show, the first indoor Shakespeare production at the Globe in over a decade. The Winter's Tale will run Feb. 8 - March 16, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the OldGlobe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run Feb. 8 - Feb. 12. Opening night is Thursday, Feb. 13 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets can be purchased online at www.TheOldGlobe.org, by phone at (619) 23-GLOBE, or by visiting the Box Office at 1363 Old Globe Way in Balboa Park.

Robert Petkoff is joining Broadway & film star Robby Benson and Tony nominee Josh Young in the upcoming special invitational presentation of selections from the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smithand book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, today, December 11th and December 12th at Lincoln Center's Clark Studio Theater.

Broadway and film star Robby Benson and Tony nominee Josh Young are set to star in the upcoming special invitational presentation of selections from the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, December 11th and 12th at Lincoln Center's Clark Studio Theater. AMAZING GRACE has been in development over the past four years and the musical had a record-breaking run at Goodpeed's Norma Terris Theatre last summer. Under the direction of Gabriel Barre, the cast will also feature Robert Petkoff (Fiddler on the Roof, Ragtime), Whitney Bashor (The Fantasticks, Happy Days), Chris Hoch (Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime, Memphis), and Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!, Once on This Island).

Robert Petkoff is joining Broadway & film star Robby Benson and Tony nominee Josh Young in the upcoming special invitational presentation of selections from the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smithand book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, December 11th and 12th at Lincoln Center's Clark Studio Theater. AMAZING GRACE has been in development over the past four years and the musical had a record-breaking run at Goodpeed's Norma Terris Theatre last summer. Under the direction of Gabriel Barre, the cast will also feature Whitney Bashor (The Fantasticks, Happy Days), Chris Hoch (Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime, Memphis), and Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!, Once on This Island).

Broadway and film star Robby Benson and Tony nominee Josh Young are set to star in the upcoming special invitational presentation of selections from the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, December 11th and 12th at Lincoln Center's Clark Studio Theater. AMAZING GRACE has been in development over the past four years and the musical had a record-breaking run at Goodpeed's Norma Terris Theatre last summer. Under the direction of Gabriel Barre, the cast will also feature Whitney Bashor (The Fantasticks, Happy Days), Chris Hoch (Beauty and the Beast, Spamalot), Quentin Earl Darrington (Ragtime, Memphis), and Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!, Once on This Island).

Goodspeed Musicals takes to the high seas with the new musical Amazing Grace. This tale about a slave trader who sees the light and dedicates himself to ending slavery will run from tonight, May 17 through June 10, 2012 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., Goodspeed's home for developing new works.

Goodspeed Musicals takes to the high seas with the new musical Amazing Grace. This tale about a slave trader who sees the light and dedicates himself to ending slavery will run from May 17 through June 10, 2012 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., Goodspeed's home for developing new works. Amazing Grace is sponsored by Essex Savings Bank.

Producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland, currently represented Off-Broadway with the hit play Freud's Last Session, has assembled a starry cast for today's (November 14th) special invitational presentation of the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, at the New 42nd Street Studios.

Producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland, currently represented Off-Broadway with the hit play Freud's Last Session, has assembled a starry cast for the upcoming special invitational presentation of the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, on Monday, November 14th at the New 42nd Street Studios. This will be only the second public reading of AMAZING GRACE, which has been in development for the past three years. Under the direction of Gabriel Barre, the cast will feature Josh Young (Judas in Broadway's upcoming Jesus Christ Superstar) as John Newton, Laura Michelle Kelly (Olivier Award winner for Mary Poppins), Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown, Side Show), Alan H. Green (Sister Act, Spelling Bee), Chris Hoch (Spamalot, Shrek), and Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!)

Producer Carolyn Rossi Copeland, currently represented Off-Broadway with the hit play Freud's Last Session, has assembled a starry cast for the upcoming special invitational presentation of the original new musical AMAZING GRACE, with music & lyrics by Christopher Smith and book by Mr. Smith & Arthur Giron, on Monday, November 14th at the New 42nd Street Studios. This will be only the second public reading of AMAZING GRACE, which has been in development for the past three years. Under the direction of Gabriel Barre, the cast will feature Josh Young (Judas in Broadway's upcoming Jesus Christ Superstar) as John Newton, Laura Michelle Kelly (Olivier Award winner for Mary Poppins), Jeff McCarthy (Urinetown, Side Show), Alan H. Green (Sister Act, Spelling Bee), Chris Hoch (Spamalot, Shrek), and Harriett D. Foy (Mamma Mia!)

The company of Any Given Monday - Lauren Ashley Carter (Night Sky), Michael Mastro (recent Broadway includes Twelve Angry Men, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Hillary B. Smith ('One Life to Live') and Paul Michael Valley ('Another World,' 1776), playwright Bruce Graham and director Bud Martin - celebrated their opening night performance on Wednesday, October 12 at Bistro 60.

The company of Any Given Monday - Lauren Ashley Carter (Night Sky), Michael Mastro (recent Broadway includes Twelve Angry Men, Cat on a Hot Tin Roof), Hillary B. Smith ('One Life to Live') and Paul Michael Valley ('Another World,' 1776), playwright Bruce Graham and director Bud Martin - celebrated their opening night performance on Wednesday, October 12 at Bistro 60.