Ben Vereen News

Last night, October 7, Broadway ledgend Chita Rivera returned to the stage in Chita: A Legendary Celebration, which was produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening featured the Tony Award-winning Rivera, accompanied by an onstage orchestra, revisiting songs from her pantheon of Broadway hits, including Kander & Ebb's Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie and other surprises. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the special concert below!

Last night, October 7, Broadway ledgend Chita Rivera returned to the stage in Chita: A Legendary Celebration, which was produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The evening featured the Tony Award-winning Rivera, accompanied by an onstage orchestra, revisiting songs from her pantheon of Broadway hits, including Kander & Ebb's Chicago and Kiss of the Spider Woman, West Side Story, Bye Bye Birdie and other surprises. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the after party below!

On Monday, July 30, 2013, The New York Innovative Theatre Awards (IT Awards), the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, announced the 2013 award recipients at the ninth Annual IT Awards Ceremony at Mason Hall at the Baruch Performing Arts Center in New York. The Dramatists Guild Fund was awarded the 2013 Ellen Stewart Award, presented to an individual or organization demonstrating a significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership. Playwright Tina Howe presented the award to both Gretchen Cryer, President of the Dramatists Guild Fund, and Rachel Routh, Executive Director of the Dramatists Guild Fund.

New Poll - Which Chita Rivera role is your favorite?

An extremely limited number of $40 rush tickets to the spectacular benefit concert honoring and starring Chita Rivera will be released for sale at 6:30 pm Monday, October 7, 2013.

Michael Butler, renowned theatrical producer, today announced that he will be mounting a new, Los Angeles-based production of HAiR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. The new production reunites Butler with the legendary performer Ben Vereen, with the actor/singer/consummate entertainer filling the role of Creative Advisor.

Although his career spans four decades, Clint Holmes is in the midst of a significant breakthrough. Having spent the last 20 years as one of Vegas's most successful entertainers, he has, over the last two years, in his 60s, achieved tremendous acclaim with solo shows in New York at the legendary Cafe Carlyle. Reviewing Holmes' tribute to Paul Simon and Cole Porter last year at the Cafe, Stephen Holden wrote in The New York Times that Holmes merged 'the excitement of Las Vegas and the sophistication of Manhattan' and further described Holmes as 'a brainy showman.' Holmes' 2011 Cafe Carlyle debut, Remembering Bobby Short, was equally beloved. He shifts the focus to his own remarkable life story with Stop This Train, returning to the venue trough October 12. Check out photos from the concert below!

MEMPHIS, the 2010 Tony Winning Best Musical is preparing to launch the national tour in Appleton, WI at the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center on Tuesday, October 15th. MEMPHIS is in Boise, ID for technical rehearsal at the Morrison Center with three performances beginning October 9th - 11th.

MEMPHIS THE MUSICAL will kick off the 2013-14 Broadway Series at The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts in Worcester, Nov 1-3, for five performances. Tickets are on sale now.

From the theater that brought you 2012's hit production of Joe Turner's Come and Gone, comes the Philadelphia premiere from the African-American playwright touted as the "next August Wilson," and winner of the 2013 MacArthur "genius grant," Tarell Alvin McCraney. A provocative, poignant, fiercely humorous, and ultimately universal story of a "sweet" young man's journey to discover the "secret" of who he really is and where he really came from. Days before Hurricane Katrina strikes the projects of Louisiana, the currents of his life converge, overflowing into his close-knit community and bringing three generations of characters, all named after African gods, together.

Ghostlight Records will celebrate their Original Broadway Cast Recording of the new musical HANDS ON A HARDBODY another special event this month. Green will host the concert Amanda Green and Friends at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) tonight, September 29 at 6:00 PM to celebrate the album's release. Her special guests will include Keith Carradine, Allison Case, Jenn Colella, Van Hughes, Janet Krupin, Kathleen Monteleone, Jim Newman, Jacob Ming-Trent, Jon Rua and William Youmans. The singers will be backed by members of the original Broadway 'Pit Crew' for Hardbody, including Musical Director Matt Gallagher on piano, Skip Krevens on pedal steel, Shannon Ford on drums and Skip Ward on bass.

The Brooklyn-based web series East WillyB, which premiered in 2011, was created by Julia Grob and Yamin Segal, and stars Flaco Navaja, Shirley Rumierk, Rick Gonzalez, Julia Grob and Danny Hoch. Tonight, September 27, at 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image presents a theatrical screening of the first full season of the web series, plus the premiere of a never-shown musical episode, with Grob, Segal, and cast members in person. This free event is part of the Museum's ongoing series Changing the Picture, sponsored by Time Warner, Inc., that celebrates and explores the work of film and television artists of color who are bringing diverse voices to the screen.

The Brooklyn-based web series East WillyB, which premiered in 2011, was created by Julia Grob and Yamin Segal, and stars Flaco Navaja, Shirley Rumierk, Rick Gonzalez, Julia Grob and Danny Hoch. On Friday, September 27, at 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image presents a theatrical screening of the first full season of the web series, plus the premiere of a never-shown musical episode, with Grob, Segal, and cast members in person. This free event is part of the Museum's ongoing series Changing the Picture, sponsored by Time Warner, Inc., that celebrates and explores the work of film and television artists of color who are bringing diverse voices to the screen.

Performance Network Theatre invites artists and students of all skill levels to participate in their 2013 - 2014 Curriculum by offering a wide range of courses taught by the industry's top players beginning on October 12 with Acting for the Camera with award winning writer/director Christina Morales Hemenway, as the instructor.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three new works of music theater (at Victory Gardens, Writers' Theatre and the Goodman), Ben Vereen and Audra McDonald visit, plus 'Master Class,' a new cabaret revue, improvised Sondheim, a one-night 'Whistle' and more!

Tony Award winners Tommy Tune and Ben Vereen will join theatrical icon Chita Rivera in a spectacular benefit concert honoring and starring Rivera as she celebrates her 80th birthday. Chita: A Legendary Celebration will play the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52 Street, New York City) at 8 pm on Monday, October 7, 2013. The one-night-only performance will be produced by and benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Productions (LFP), announced today the principal casting for ALADDIN AND HIS WINTER WISH, starring Ben Vereen (Broadway's Pippin and Jesus Christ Superstar) as “The Genie,” Jordan Fisher as “Aladdin” (Disney's Teen Beach Movie), Ashley Argota as “The Princess” (Nickelodeon's True Jackson VP) and Richard Karn (“Home Improvement”) as “The Sultan.”

Having Previously Paid Tribute to Paul Simon, Cole Porter and Bobby Short to Acclaim, Singer Traces Arc of His Own Singular Life with Mix of Interpretations and Originals

Atlanta Lyric Theatre, the metro area's only professional musical theatre company, will present the Broadway classic GUYS AND DOLLS at The Jennie T. Anderson Theatre at Cobb Civic Center (548 S. Marietta Pkwy., Marietta) October 25 - November 10, 2013. Tickets and information are available at www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com or 404-377-9948.