Donna McKechnie News

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold another in its series of seminars focused on the culture, business and history of Off Broadway today, Sunday, December 2nd.

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold another in its series of seminars focused on the culture, business and history of Off Broadway on Sunday, December 2nd.

SILENCE! The Musical will end its 18-month run Sunday evening, December 30th at the Elektra Theatre. The production will have played a total of 447 performances and eight previews. Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through August 13, 2011, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, which was constructed especially for the show. SILENCE! opened at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews and spawned a highly successful L.A. production, which is currently running through December 9th at the Hayworth Theatre starring Davis Gaines and Christine Lakin.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY continues its Fall 2012 season with the New York solo debut of Broadway legend Tommy Tune. Broadway's tallest tapper takes to the city's smallest stage, dancing, singing and tale-telling through 50 years of big time showmanship, all on only 4 square feet! This intimate evening - featuring Musical Director Michael Biagion piano - runs for six shows on three nights: November 18, 25, and 26 at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). Check out photos from his first concert below!

At this year's dinner and holiday party, Dancers Over 40 honors the some of our outstanding - and long-time -- members: Advisory Board Member Carol Lawrence (West Side Story, Subways are for Sleeping, New Faces of 1952), Board Member Lee Roy Reams (Sweet Charity, Applause, 42nd Street, La Cage aux Folles, The Producers), Advisory Board Member Larry Fuller (Evita, Sweeney Todd, On the Twentieth Century, Merrily we Roll Along - choreographer), former Board Member George Marcy (West Side Story, Damn Yankees, Carnival, Man of La Mancha) and Norma Doggett-Bezwick (performed in Jack Cole's first Broadway musical, Magdalena, the movie Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, and Bells are Ringing, on Broadway). Every one of our members know them, the theater and dance community here and around the country seek them out. Each has a very passionate following. And their fans are legion.

Sam Rogers will be the new Dream Hannibal in Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical beginning tomorrow, November 21st at the new Elektra Theatre in Times Square.

No Rules Theatre Company, now in their 4th Season, will begin residency at Signature Theatre with Peter Shaffer's 'Black Comedy' February 7 - March 2, 2013.

David Ayers is set to return as serial killer Buffalo Bill in Off-Broadway's SILENCE! The Musical tomorrow, November 20th at the new Elektra Theatre in Times Square.

Off-Broadway's sellout sensation Silence! The Musical will celebrate its 400th performance today, November 18th at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.).

Off-Broadway's sellout sensation SILENCE! The Musical will celebrate its 400th performance at the 3 PM matinee this Sunday, November 18th at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.) Winner of the 2012 Off Broadway Alliance Award for Best Musical, SILENCE! The Musical is the unauthorized parody of The Silence of the Lambs, with book by Hunter Bell, music & lyrics by Jon and Al Kaplan, and direction & choreography by Tony Award winner Christopher Gattelli. After opening at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews, the show immediately became a sold-out phenomenon and was selected by Time Magazine as one of the year's Top 5 Musicals.

GPR Records (Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, Richard Cohen, artistic directors)releases a children's CD of Catherine Zeta-Jones narrating The Runaway Bunny, based on the best selling children's classic by Margaret Wise Brown. Michael Douglas narrates everyone's favorite elephant - The Story of Babar - The Little Elephant, a 1931 classic written by Jean de Brunhoff. Also on the CD will be English Baritone Mark Stone singing Goodnight Moon also by Margaret Wise Brown. The CD, distributed by Naxos, will be released today, November 15th and will be available at www.GPRRecords.com, Amazon, and iTunes.

New York City Center celebrated the 20th Anniversary of its Tony Award-winning Encores! series on November 12 with a Gala Benefit starring Raul Esparza and Kelli O'Hara, and featuring performers who have starred in Encores!productions over the past two decades. The evening raised $1.6 million to help fund City Center's artistic and education programs. Check out photos from the event below!

The final block of tickets is now on sale for the Los Angeles Company of the Off-Broadway smash hit Silence! The Musical at the Hayworth Theatre. SILENCE! is now playing through December 9, 2012.

New York City Center will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its Tony Award-winning Encores! series tonight, November 12 with a Gala Benefit starring Raul Esparza and Kelli O'Hara, and featuring performers who have starred in Encores! productions over the past two decades.

On Sunday, December 2, Rubicon Theatre Company will present a benefit performance of Love, Loss, and What I Wore with a star-studded cast of women including Emmy and Tony-winner Tyne Daly, Amy Peitz and Amanda McBroom.

Brett Smock and Drew Brody will present an Industry-only reading of their new musical: The Mudge Boy, on November 29th, 2012 at 3pm. The event will feature Donna McKechnie (Irene), James Crichton (Duncan Mudge), Mike Masters (Edgar Mudge), John Arthur Greene (Perry Foley), Jennifer Simard (Emily Foley), Brent Black (Juster Pelkey / Merritt Foley), Lilli Cooper (April), Caitlin Kinnunen (Tonya), Bart Mather (Travis), Jim Schubin (Scotty).This powerful, controversial new work is based on Michael Burke's 2003 film, The Mudge Boy and has been in development for several years. This reading will serve as its official launch.

Nobody's Business Trio will warm up the Metropolitan Room on December 15, 2012, at 9:30 pm as they invite you "Home for the Holidays." Cold wintry weather can wait out by the curb while hearts inside alternately melt and dance. Vocalists Alecia Evans, Cadden Jones and Linda Sue Moshier comprise an entrancing unique ensemble that electrifies audiences with its astonishing range of harmonization. The group's unparalleled sound derives from an uncommon blend of an opera singer, a pop singer and a jazz singer.

Legendary Broadway Music Director Darren Cohen signs on as Vocal Harmony Specialist and Music Director for The Youth Orchestra of the Low Country's 40th anniversary concert series kickoff performance 'Absolutely Andrew'. "Absolutely Andrew" is a musical tribute to legendary Broadway composer, Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, that will feature pieces from each of his Broadway hits including 'Evita", 'Cats", and 'Phantom of the Opera".