Brian Charles Rooney News

Winners of the 2011 FringeNYC Overall Excellence Awards, as selected by an independent panel of nearly 50 theater professionals, are as follows:

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes proudly welcomed a packed house at the benefit performance of Broadway in the Berkshires on Monday, August 15th at 6:00pm in the Company's Founders' Theatre. The event raised over $60,000, which will go towards Shakespeare & Company's internationally-acclaimed Education and Training Programs. Producer and Company member, Deborah Grausman (actor and founder of Berkshire Musical Theater Workshop) assembled an all-star cast and first-rate creative team for this spectacular, one-night event. Broadway's Chip Zien (Into the Woods-the original Baker, Les Miserables, The Country Girl, People in The Picture, Falsettos, Grand Hotel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Boys from Syracuse, etc.) was the host. Director Sam Scalamoni (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Lestat) and Music Director Paul Staroba (A L ittle Night Music, Next to Normal , Grey Gardens ) headed up the creative team.

Following sixteen sold out shows, The Laurie Beechman Theatre will continue their hit series, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, for a seventeenth installment, Monday, August 29th at 7pm. With this performance, Sondheim Unplugged enters the second year of it's smash run, having begun this journey of celebrating Sondheim in July of 2010.

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes proudly announces the benefit performance of Broadway in the Berkshires Monday, August 15th at 6:00pm, Founders' Theatre, 70 Kemble Street , Lenox , MA . Proceeds will go to Shakespeare & Company's internationally-acclaimed Education and Training Programs. Producer and Company member, Deborah Grausman (actor and founder of Berkshire Musical Theater Workshop) has assembled an all-star cast and first-rate creative team for this spectacular, not to be missed, one-night event. Broadway's Chip Zien (Into the Woods-the original Baker, Les Miserables, The Country Girl, People in The Picture, Falsettos, Grand Hotel, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, The Boys from Syracuse, etc.) will host. Director Sam Scalamoni (Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Lestat) and Music Director Paul Staroba (A Little Night Music, Next to Normal, Grey Gardens) will head up the creative team.

The 3nd Annual Broadway Meows Concert for the Humane Society of New York will be presented at Don't Tell Mama, one night only, Monday, July 18th at 7pm. The evening will be comprised of songs by composer/ lyricist Seth Bisen-Hersh.

The 3nd Annual Broadway Meows Concert for the Humane Society of New York will be presented at Don't Tell Mama, one night only, Monday, July 18th at 7pm. The evening will be comprised of songs by composer/ lyricist Seth Bisen-Hersh.

The 3nd Annual Broadway Meows Concert for the Humane Society of New York will be presented at Don't Tell Mama, one night only, Monday, July 18th at 7pm. The evening will be comprised of songs by composer/ lyricist Seth Bisen-Hersh. Bisen-Hersh will be joined on stage by a phenomenal cast

Come on down to New World Stages for a special pride concert event with Kelly King and Marti Gould Cummings.

Broadway Speaks OUT and Dixon Place presented 'Broadway Sings for Japan' on Monday March 28th at 7:30pm. This benefit concert for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief was be free admission with a $10 suggested donation to help out in the relief efforts. The concert helped raise over $1,000 for Japan clean water relief.

Broadway Speaks OUT and Dixon Place are proud to present 'Broadway Sings for Japan' on Monday March 28th at 7:30pm. This benefit concert for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief will be free admission with a $10 suggested donation to help out in the relief efforts.

Broadway Speaks OUT and Dixon Place are proud to present 'Broadway Sings for Japan' on Monday March 28th at 7:30pm. This benefit concert for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief will be free admission with a $10 suggested donation to help out in the relief efforts.

Broadway Speaks OUT and Dixon Place are proud to present 'Broadway Sings for Japan' on Monday March 28th at 7:30pm. This benefit concert for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief will be free admission with a $10 suggested donation to help out in the relief efforts.

Broadway Speaks OUT and Dixon Place are proud to present 'Broadway Sings for Japan' on Monday March 28th at 7:30pm. This benefit concert for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief will be free admission with a $10 suggested donation to help out in the relief efforts.

Broadway Speaks OUT and Dixon Place are proud to present 'Broadway Sings for Japan' on Monday March 28th at 7:30pm. This benefit concert for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief will be free admission with a $10 suggested donation to help out in the relief efforts.

Broadway Speaks OUT and Dixon Place are proud to present 'Broadway Sings for Japan' on Monday March 28th at 7:30pm. This benefit concert for Japan earthquake and tsunami relief will be free admission with a $10 suggested donation to help out in the relief efforts.

Bryan Batt (actor, designer, civic activist) portrays 'Salvatore Romano' on AMC's critically acclaimed dramatic series MAD MEN by the multi Emmy award winning writer/ producer, Matthew Wiener. The hit series has received numerous awards from the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Peabody award. Broadway leading and principal roles include: 2005 revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SUESSICAL THE MUSICAL, SUNSET BLVD., SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, and CATS. Off Broadway: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CLEANS UP ITS ACT (Drama Desk Nomination). Theatrically Bryan is most proud to have created the role of DARIUS in both the N.Y. and L.A (Drama Logue Award) productions as well as the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick's ground braking comedy JEFFREY.

Bryan Batt (actor, designer, civic activist) portrays 'Salvatore Romano' on AMC's critically acclaimed dramatic series MAD MEN by the multi Emmy award winning writer/ producer, Matthew Wiener. The hit series has received numerous awards from the Emmys, the Golden Globes, the Screen Actors Guild, and the Peabody award. Broadway leading and principal roles include: 2005 revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, SUESSICAL THE MUSICAL, SUNSET BLVD., SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER, THE SCARLET PIMPERNEL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, STARLIGHT EXPRESS, and CATS. Off Broadway: FORBIDDEN BROADWAY STRIKES BACK, FORBIDDEN BROADWAY CLEANS UP ITS ACT (Drama Desk Nomination). Theatrically Bryan is most proud to have created the role of DARIUS in both the N.Y. and L.A (Drama Logue Award) productions as well as the film adaptation of Paul Rudnick's ground braking comedy JEFFREY.