Ed Sullivan News

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), which recently launched its first full season in its new state-of-the-art theatre in Warwick will present Neil Simon's Broadway hit, Laughter on the 23rd Floor from January 29 - February 16.

The Tony Award-winning actor-singer-dancer Ben Vereen, who has appeared in numerous shows on Broadway and in his own one-man shows around the country, will be honored, along with 17 others, at the 29th Annual Bistro Awards gala, which recognizes outstanding achievement in New York cabaret, jazz, and comedy. The celebration will take place on Tuesday, March 4 at Gotham Comedy Club, 208 W. 23rd St. (between 7th & 8th avenues).

The National Tour of ELVIS LIVES is touted as an "unforgettable multi-media and live musical journey across Elvis' life," and it delivers. The two act show is made of four sets, or acts, that feature Elvis at key points in his career. Featuring finalists from Elvis Presley Enterprises' worldwide Ultimate Tribute Artist Contest, this high energy and exciting concert experience gives audiences, young and old, a retrospective of Elvis' career and allows us to experience not just one but four Elvis concerts in one night.

The former teen singing phenomenon Karen Wyman continues her exciting and decisive return to the live stage in her first major engagement in 25 years when the Metropolitan Room brings her back for four shows in March -- Wednesday March 5, 12, 19 and 26, all at 7pm.

In celebration of the 50th anniversary of The Beatles' legendary appearance on 'The Ed Sullivan Show,' the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra presents the Classical Mystery Tour-a symphonic tribute to the Fab Four-on February 8 and 9 in Newark and New Brunswick. The Classical Mystery Tour includes more than two dozen Beatles songs from the band's early days through the later solo years, all performed exactly as they were originally recorded.

The Columbus Symphony presents Peter Nero: The Gershwin Project at the Ohio Theatre (39 E. State St.) on Saturday, February 8, at 8pm. Tickets are $25-$68 and can be purchased at the CAPA Ticket Center (39 E. State St.), all Ticketmaster outlets, and www.ticketmaster.com. To purchase tickets by phone, please call (614) 228-8600 or (800) 745-3000.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra and Conductor John Morris Russell announce the Pops' 2013-14 season, the third under the direction of Mr. Russell. The season, presented by PNC, celebrates some of the long-admired classics of the Pops while embracing exciting new collaborations. From Broadway to rock, R&B to family concerts, Music Hall will be the home for fans of all musical genres in 2013-14. Highlights of the season include three debuts from stars Michael McDonald, George Takei and Boyz II Men, as well the return of Cincinnati favorites Ann Hampton Callaway and Megan Hilty, who wowed Pops audiences in 2009 and has since nurtured a career from stage to screen as star of the hit NBC TV series Smash.

What baby boomer does not recall exactly where she (or he) was when The Fab Four first appeared on the Ed Sullivan show 50 years ago on February 7, taking the states by storm and forever changing the musical beat in America. At The Ridgefield Playhouse on Friday, February 7, at 8 p.m. -- the exact date that the Beatles landed at what is now JFK airport -- more than 20 world-famous Beatles tribute musicians will perform the Beatles Love?album to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of The Beatles in America! The 'All You Need Is Love' tribute show will include the iconic album's 'Get Back', 'Eleanor Rigby', 'I Am The Walrus', 'Drive My Car', 'Something', 'Yesterday', 'Lucy In The Sky With Diamonds' and all the rest. An AllShows.com VIP Party Pass ($25 addt'l per person), which includes a pre-show cocktail party 6:30 - 7:15 p.m. with open bar, hors-d'oeuvre and priority parking, is available for this show by calling the box office (203-438-5795). This event is part of the Xfinity Rock Series.

Showbiz411 reports exclusively that the staff of David Letterman's 'Late Show' along with the CBS network are hoping to put together the first reunion of the surviving members of The Beatles, Paul McCartney and Ringo Starr during the first week of February.

"IT WAS 50 YEARS AGO TODAY..." is the name of the special weekend announced by Bay Street Theatre to celebrate the arrival for THE BEATLES to America 50 years ago. The ALL BEATLES weekend will include fun-filled films and concerts.

Trinity Repertory Company's Fred Sullivan, Jr., who recently won rave reviews for his portrayal as Scrooge in Trinity Rep's holiday production of A Christmas Carol, will be starring as Max Prince in Ocean State Theatre Company's upcoming production of Neil Simon's Laughter on the 23rd Floor. This semi-autobiographical comedy focuses on the hilarities that take place in the writer's room of a weekly comedy-variety show circa 1953, and the show's star, a Sid Caesar-like, Max Prince.

The first performances for THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED AMERICA: A GRAMMY® SALUTE TO THE BEATLES were announced today.

The first performances for THE NIGHT THAT CHANGED AMERICA: A GRAMMY® SALUTE TO THE BEATLES were announced today

Best of 2013 BWW Rhode Island - Critics' Picks: As Selected by Your Local Reviewers

Back by popular demand! Penobscot Theatre Company, in celebration of its 40th Anniversary Season, proudly presents the wildly popular, Forever Plaid. Beginning on New Year's Eve, the original four Plaids will take the stage in this delightful 1950's doo-wop musical, for six performances only from today, December 31 - January 5.

Last December, after I posted my list of the Best Cabaret Performers of 2012, I followed up my original 'listmania' with a column that served as a way to include some 'honorable mentions,' basically a recognition of other memorable shows and performances of songs that were striking, unique, and/or original that year. The column received a positive response so I thought I'd wheel it out again this year. So as the hours tick away on 2013 and we anticipate the coming of a new year, here is an addendum to the 2013 New York Cabaret Performers of the Year--a totally random list of 30 Honorable Mentions of the 'Best' and 'Most' in Cabaret for 2013 . . . mainly because I can and it's fun. Enjoy and Happy New Year!

The Possum Point Players have announced their upcoming 41st Season and it contains mystery, music, mayhem, maternity, and merriment!

Karen Wyman, who was a national sensation for a short time in the late '60s and early '70s before disappearing unexpectedly from the scene, has re-entered the earth's atmosphere. The rocket-voiced phenom, who electrified a packed Metropolitan Room just returned with her new show, 'The Second Time Around.' Check out photos from the concert below!

In 1969, at age 16, Bronx-born Karen Wyman became a singing sensation appearing on TV with Dean Martin, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Tonight Show, and cutting two albums. A few years later she suddenly quit singing professionally to raise a family. Now, she's back and as she proved with her new show at the Metropolitan Room, she's as good as ever.

World renowned vocal artist Johnny Mathis returns to The Orpheum Theatre tonight, December 21 at 8:00 PM for a special holiday concert, which will include songs from his newest Christmas album, Sending You A Little Christmas, released in 2013.