Brian Charles Rooney News

On the night when baseball's all-stars were blasting dingers into the bleachers of Yankee Stadium, the cast of Scott Siegel's A Night At The Operetta, was having their own home run derby on the stage of Town Hall, knocking melodies by Victor Herbert, Sigmund Romberg and Rudolf Friml out of the park.  And in both cases, the crowd frequently went nuts.

ALLIES, a new rock musical featuring the songs of the legendary band Heart, will be presented in concert version at BLVD ( 199 Bowery at Spring St) on Monday, January 26th at 9:00 p.m. Industry and the general public are invited to make reservations on the show's official website at www.alliesthemusical.com. ALLIES features a book by Celina Carvajal and Maggie F. Levin. The staged concert will be directed by Sam Buggein. Paul Leschen is the music director. The cast features Ms. Carvajal, Brian Charles Rooney (Threepenny Opera), Chris Hall (Bedbugs!!!, Twist). Ryan Bogner (Bedbugs!!!, Hey, You Know What Movie Would Make A Good Musical?) will read the stage directions. In the tradition of Hedwig & the Angry Inch, ALLIES is a raw, concert-style musical about a love triangle that rocks the lives of a brother & sister. Gabby & Chris Ford are as close as struggling twenty-something siblings can be, when their bond is blown apart by the seductive - and secretive - Matt Rhode. Part live rock show - complete with roadies changing the set and a kickass lead axe - and part heartstring-plucking drama, ALLIES features the songs of the legendary band Heart, including hits like 'Barracuda,' 'These Dreams,' and 'Alone.'

MGC Productions, a new LGBT theatre company, is excited to announce that on January 19th at 9:30pm Broadway Speaks Out will be live at the Duplex on Christopher Street. The event will feature Brian Charles Rooney (Three Penny Opera), Hannah Shankman (Rent Tour), Anthony Hollock and Allison Guinn (Hair), Michael Burbach, and Elliot Roth and Jenn Lederer (Midtwenties). The show will also feature famed drag performer Sherry Vine. Hosted by MGC Productions director, Martin Gould Cummings.

ALLIES, a new rock musical featuring the songs of the legendary band Heart, will be presented in concert version at BLVD ( 199 Bowery at Spring St) on Monday, January 26th at 9:00 p.m. Industry and the general public are invited to make reservations on the show's official website at www.alliesthemusical.com. ALLIES features a book by Celina Carvajal and Maggie F. Levin. The staged concert will be directed by Sam Buggein. Paul Leschen is the music director. The cast features Ms. Carvajal, Brian Charles Rooney (Threepenny Opera), Chris Hall (Bedbugs!!!, Twist). Ryan Bogner (Bedbugs!!!, Hey, You Know What Movie Would Make A Good Musical?) will read the stage directions. In the tradition of Hedwig & the Angry Inch, ALLIES is a raw, concert-style musical about a love triangle that rocks the lives of a brother & sister. Gabby & Chris Ford are as close as struggling twenty-something siblings can be, when their bond is blown apart by the seductive - and secretive - Matt Rhode. Part live rock show - complete with roadies changing the set and a kickass lead axe - and part heartstring-plucking drama, ALLIES features the songs of the legendary band Heart, including hits like 'Barracuda,' 'These Dreams,' and 'Alone.'

ALLIES, a new rock musical featuring the songs of the legendary band Heart, will be presented in concert version at The Zipper Factory Theater (336 West 37th Street) on Monday, January 26th at 9:00 p.m. Industry and the general public are invited to make reservations on the show's official website at www.alliesthemusical.com.

MGC Productions, a new LGBT theatre company, is excited to announce that on January 19th at 9:30pm Broadway Speaks Out will be live at the Duplex on Christopher Street. The event will feature Brian Charles Rooney (Three Penny Opera), Hannah Shankman (Rent Tour), Anthony Hollock and Allison Guinn (Hair), Michael Burbach, and Elliot Roth and Jenn Lederer (Midtwenties). The show will also feature famed drag performer Sherry Vine. Hosted by MGC Productions director, Martin Gould Cummings.

THE ZIPPER FACTORY THEATER (336 West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) will present the following entertainment events in January 2009. For advance tickets to all Zipper events call OvationTix at 212-352-3101 or buy online at www.thezipperfactory.com (For IN-PERSON purchases, The Zipper Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain for all events).

THE ZIPPER FACTORY THEATER (336 West 37th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) will present the following entertainment events in January 2009. For advance tickets to all Zipper events call OvationTix at 212-352-3101 or buy online at www.thezipperfactory.com (For IN-PERSON purchases, The Zipper Box Office opens one hour prior to curtain for all events).

The New York Musical Theater Festival honored producer Robyn Goodman at its Fifth Anniversary Season Awards Gala on Sunday, November 2nd at The Hudson Theatre.

The New York Musical Theater Festival concluded its fifth season on October 5th having presented 241 performances over the course of 21 days. A record-breaking 25,000 people, selling the festival to 87.5% of capacity, attended the festival. Over 75% of productions had sold-out performances, and 11 productions extended their runs to accommodate demand.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) concludes its fifth year which featured 24 full productions, a dance series, a developmental series, concerts and special events tonight 10/5th.

Paul Leschen and Fred Sauter's new musical about a futuristic plague of mutant hair metal bedbugs is a hilarious romp with some kickass tunes. Currently part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF).

Due to popular demand and sold out performances, BEDBUGS!!! one of the most talked-about shows in this year's NYMF has just been extended. Additional performances will be Thursday, September 25th (4:30pm) and a special late night performance, Saturday, September 27th (11:00pm). 80's rock excess meets the Creature Feature in this hilarious, hard-rocking new musical by Paul Leschen and Fred Sauter directed by Samuel Buggeln. BEDBUGS!!! runs through September 27th at the TBG Theater (312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor). Tickets are $20.00 and are available at www.NYMF.org or by calling 212-352-3101.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrates its fifth year with 24 full productions, a dance series, a developmental series, concerts and special events. NYMF is an annual three-week event that has premiered over 130 musicals in its first four years - many of which have gone on to award-winning productions in New York, in regional theaters and on tour in 38 states, and nine countries worldwide.

From Upper East Side high-rises to Union Square subway benches, from a woman found dead in her infested Queens apartment to the famous Fox 5 newsroom incident, bedbugs have been getting around. The current problem has spawned new extermination businesses, bedbug specialists and websites where fellow sufferers congregate to share horror stories and resources.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrates its fifth year with 24 full productions, a dance series, a developmental series, concerts and special events.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Leschen, Mrozek & Sauter present the world premiere of BEDBUGS!!!, an official selection of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's 2008 Next Link Project.

A NIGHT AT THE OPERETTA on July 14th featured the sounds of Broadway music one rarely gets to hear anymore - Operetta - including music by Sigmund Romberg, Rudolph Friml and Victor Herbert. A NIGHT AT THE OPERETTA featured Alexander Gemignani, Lisa Howard, William Michals, Jennifer Hope Wills, Christine Andreas, Bill Daugherty, Brian Charles Rooney, Karen Murphy, John Easterlin, Jason Graae and Milla Ilieva. The show featured the dance talents of Eric Sean Fogel, J. Austin Eyer, Billy Harrigan Tighe, and Ben Franklin. The show is under the direction of Dan Foster with musical direction by Fred Barton

On May 15th David Brendan Hopes play 'Edward The King' kicked off Gayfest NYC. The play features Jo Ann Cunningham, Chad Hoeppner, Megan McQuillan, Patrick Porter and Brian Charles Rooney. It is directed by Sidney J. Burgoyne and runs at the TBG Arts Center, 312 West 36th Street, 3rd Floor through May 24th.

Ragtime, a brand new concert staging of the epic Tony Award-winning musical and the inaugural production of the Broadway in Concert series at the White Plains Performing Arts Center, performs February 1-3, 2008.