Brenda Braxton News

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances will be: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. The multi-talented cast of 12 will perform a dozen musical numbers. They are: Brenda Braxton (Spam King), Jason C. Brown (Narrator/Morgan Freeman), Trey Harrington (Kurt), Michael Mahany (Adam Levine/Mark Zuckerberg), Noah Marlowe (Young Peter), Alison Novelli (Jacqui), Heather Jane Rolff (Mrs. Oglesby), Lucas Schultz (Young Kurt), Barry Shafrin (Mittens McMittens/Emoticon), Adam B. Shapiro (Santa/Jeeves), Perry Sherman (Peter), and Bob Walton (Mr. Oglesby).

Tonight, April 27th from 6-9pm, Connolly's Klub 45 Room hosts The Cougar Ball, a black-tie (suggested) charity event benefiting The Actors Fund and the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. It is an elegant (yet cheeky) cocktail party and ballroom featuring Broadway-studded performances and concluding in a fundraising auction and celebration. Sexy young men decorate the scene, ensuring decadent treats are never far from reach, and fun is had by all.

On Sunday, April 27th from 6-9pm, Connolly's Klub 45 Room hosts The Cougar Ball, a black-tie (suggested) charity event benefiting The Actors Fund and the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. It is an elegant (yet cheeky) cocktail party and ballroom featuring Broadway-studded performances and concluding in a fundraising auction and celebration. Sexy young men decorate the scene, ensuring decadent treats are never far from reach, and fun is had by all.

On February 9, 54 Below will welcome the original company of Broadway's SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE for '54 Sings Smokey Joe's Cafe'. There will be two shows, one at 7 p.m. and one at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $50-$60. The show is described on 54 Below's website as: 'On March 2, 1995, a musical phenomenon opened on Broadway. Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber & Stoller would go on to run 2,036 performances and continue to electrify audiences around the world. '54 Below is delighted to present a one night only reunion featuring members of the original Broadway company of this swingin' hit show, including Adrian Bailey, Brenda Braxton, DeLee Lively, Deb Lyons, Frederick Owens and Darryl Williams (more to be announced!). 'Expect hit tunes including Stand by Me, Hound Dog, Charlie Brown and more! Directed by Brenda Braxton, with Musical Direction by Louis St. Louis, this will be one night you won't soon forget because Baby, That's Rock & Roll!'

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

This February and March at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond, including Christopher Sieber, Annaleigh Ashford, Randy Graff, Melinda Doolittle, Jeff Daniels, Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, Sondheim Unplugged, Taboo: 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert, Beth Leavel, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena.

This February and March at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond, including Christopher Sieber, Annaleigh Ashford, Randy Graff, Melinda Doolittle, Jeff Daniels, Linda Eder, Andrea McArdle, Sondheim Unplugged, Taboo: 10th Anniversary Reunion Concert, Beth Leavel, Lindsay Mendez and Derek Klena.

On February 9, 54 Below will welcome the original company of Broadway's SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE for '54 Sings Smokey Joe's Cafe'.

Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Rent, Dogfight, Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Showtime's 'Masters of Sex.'), Tony nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Chicago, Dreamgirls), Multi-million selling recording artist, actor, author Sam Harris (Grease!, The Life, author of the new book HAM: Slices of a Life), and Emmy and Tony nominee Michele Lee (Broadway's Seesaw, How to Succeed..., and TV's 'Knots Landing') recently gathered at 54 Below to preview their upcoming shows at the venue. Randy Rainbow was on the scene to chat with the performers and you can check out a sneak peek of their concerts below!

Tony nominee Annaleigh Ashford (Kinky Boots, Rent, Dogfight, Wicked, Legally Blonde, and Showtime's 'Masters of Sex.'), Tony nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Chicago, Dreamgirls), Multi-million selling recording artist, actor, author Sam Harris (Grease!, The Life, author of the new book HAM: Slices of a Life), and Emmy and Tony nominee Michele Lee (Broadway's Seesaw, How to Succeed..., and TV's 'Knots Landing') gathered at 54 Below today to preview their upcoming shows at the venue. BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photo coverage below!

Last night, 92Y celebrated songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night withJanis Joplin). Performers included: legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers,Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino,Sally Kellerman, Bettye Lavette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists performed some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Check out photos from the special event below!

The concert event tonight, November 14th is titled, 'Bright Stars of Broadway' and, because there are multiple blessings accounted for, the concert is dedicated to Zahava Furshpan, Bernie's mom, who died almost three years ago.

The concert event on November 14th is titled, "Bright Stars of Broadway" and, because there are multiple blessings accounted for, the concert is dedicated to Zahava Furshpan, Bernie's mom, who died almost three years ago.

54 Below celebrates some favorite musicals with the new series, 54 Sings. Re-live the hit songs from these groundbreaking shows, performed by some of the best in the biz and, occasionally, by the very voices for whom they were written. Kicking off the series will be 54 Sings Mame (December 8 at 9:30pm), starring: Leslie Uggams, Beth Leavel, Klea Blackhurst, Donna Lynne Champlin, Eric Michael Gillett, Annie Golden, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Dee Hoty, Pamela Myers, and Lee Roy Reams.

Tony Award nominated Broadway veteran Brenda Braxton's (Smokey Joe's Cafe, Chicago) gentlemen's grooming company BBRAXTON has been named the official barber for Broadway's smash hit MOTOWN THE MUSICAL.

The new Billie Holiday musical Lady Day starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, opened last night, October 3 at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical makes its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Check out photos from opening night below!

Its first time ever at Music Circus, the sizzling, sexy Kander and Ebb smash hit Chicago is the final show of the 2013 Music Circus season, with an extended run at the Wells Fargo Pavilion from August 20 - 29. The 1996 revival of this hit musical, one of the cornerstones of the choreographic Broadway legacy of Bob Fosse, won 6 Tony Awards and is still running on Broadway. With a plot centered on murderesses Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, on death row together fighting for the fame that may keep them from the gallows, the show features a number of popular songs including 'All That Jazz,' 'Razzle Dazzle' and 'Cell Block Tango.' BroadwayWorld has a first look at highlights of the production below!

The Music Circus production of the musical 'Chicago' at the Wells Fargo Pavilion runs now through August 29, 2013. Directed by Ron Kellum, choreographed by Randy Slovacek, the show features Brenda Braxton (Velma Kelly), Lindsay Roginski (Roxie Hart), Tom Hewitt (Billy Flynn), Roz Ryan (Matron 'Mama' Morton) and Ric Stoneback (Amos Hart). Click below to watch highlights from the show!

Closing the summer season with its first production of the Kander and Ebb classic, 'Chicago,' Music Circus gives Sacramento the 'old razzle dazzle them' this week at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. The production features Fosse's well-known jazz hands, which influenced so much of musical theatre, and it glitters under Randy Slovacek's choreography and David Neville's dramatic lighting. A flexible cast shows off its muscles with amazing flips and twists of the body, while the story unfolds in vaudeville-style, complete with sensual black costumes designed by Mark Koss.