Tamela Aldridge

Actor Justin Guarini hosted the Only Make Believe Gala honoring Brooke Shields on Monday November 6 at the Broadhurst Theater featuring performances by Melinda Doolittle, J Harrison Ghee, Brad Oscar, A.J. Shively, Jessica Vosk, NaTasha Yvette Williams and special appearances by Alicia Quarles, Orfeh and Umbrella Lina. See photos from the red carpet!

“The Spotlight Series” on the Broadway Podcast Network (BPN) concludes today, shining the spotlight on the world of Only Make Believe (OMB), a nonprofit organization dedicated to bringing interactive theater to children's hospitals, special education schools, and care facilities. In the six-episode series, host Patrick Oliver Jones takes listeners on a behind-the-scenes journey with OMB's dedicated team and artists, who share stories of the profound impact that OMB makes in the lives of children.

Top stories: New York, New York and Grey House close, El Mago Pop will make his make US national television debut today, and more!

In this episode, Jayke is joined by Tamela Aldridge, the Executive Artistic Director of the amazing organization, Only Make Believe! Tamela has an extensive background as an actor prior to taking over the leadership position of OMB, and she speaks to her experience of wanting to give back but not knowing how, until she auditioned and was cast in OMB shows.

One of the most well-connected but lesser known non-profits, Only Make Believe (OMB), will reach a milestone this spring when it will celebrate serving 100,000 children since its inception back in 1999.

Christopher Larkin (who starred as Young Bruce Lee in last year's reading of the Broadway-bound musical Bruce Lee: Journey to the West), Rory Lipede, and Jon-Michael Reese will star in Harrison David Rivers' WHEN LAST WE FLEW, premiering in the 2010 New York International Fringe Festival at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, with performances from August 18th-August 29th.

WHEN LAST WE FLEW begins its 2010 New York International Fringe Festival run at the Lucille Lortel Theatre August 19th, with performances thru August 29th.

Harrison David Rivers' WHEN LAST WE FLEW, premiering in the 2010 New York International Fringe Festival at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, with performances from August 18th-August 29th, begins rehearsals today, July 26th.

Christopher Larkin (who starred as Young Bruce Lee in last year's reading of the Broadway-bound musical Bruce Lee: Journey to the West), Rory Lipede, and Jon-Michael Reese will star in Harrison David Rivers' WHEN LAST WE FLEW, premiering in the 2010 New York International Fringe Festival at the Lucille Lortel Theatre, with performances from August 18th-August 29th.

Yale Rep's original musical, 'POP!' and Hartford Stage's production of Horton Foote's marathon 'The Orphans' Home Cycle' are big winners of the 20th annual Connecticut Critics Circle. Between them, Yale and Hartford took 11 awards out of a total of 19, with Yale pulling off a first-time feat of copping both outstanding play and musical.

Connecticut's Courant Blog reports the 2010 Connecticut Critics Circle winners, awarded Monday evening. Winning for Outstanding Play and Outstanding Musical of the Year is New Haven's Yale Rep, for ECLIPSED and POP!, respectively.

Hartford Stage has announced casting for Elyzabeth Gregory Wilder's gospel play Gee's Bend, which will begin performances Jan. 14, 2010. The production, directed by Hana Sharif (2009-2010 Aetna New Voices Fellow, Rise and Fall of Day; Elliott, A Soldier's Fugue), will run through February 14, 2010. Official opening night is January 20.

Sir Ian McKellen hosted the 10th Anniversary of the 'Only Make Believe' benefit at Broadway's Shubert Theatre on November 2nd.