Ed Sullivan News

For the past eight years, Jim Caruso has been hosting Cast Party, a wildly popular weekly open mic night that brings both showbiz superstars and up-and-comers to the legendary Birdland in New York City

Veteran actress, singer and comedienne Andrea Wolff will star in "Loose Screws," an original musical comedy beginning on Friday, May 6th (7PM) at the Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 West 42nd Street, located in the lower level of the West Bank Cafe on Theatre Row).

RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, returns by popular demand to Hollywood's historic Pantages Theatre, where they enjoyed astounding success during their special one week engagement in 2009. RAIN will play the Pantages for the final time on April 17, 2011

For those of us who lived through the 60s and saw firsthand the arrival of the Beatles in the US and their premiere on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, we know the impact that they had on pop culture and on female fans, who screamed, yelled and literally passed out while watching them. Like Elvis, they were a phenomenon and to think of how they revolutionized music over the course of the next twenty+ years! Paul, George (deceased), John (deceased) and Ringo were IT for a long time, and now the band Rain is replicating their look and musical style to the letter on Broadway and for one week only at the Pantages. Steve Landes, Joey Curatolo, Joe Bithorn, Ralph Castelli and Mark Beyer are Rain and they are as big a smash as those Liverpool youngsters who preceded them. These very same boys who played the show at the Pantages in 2009 are back once more, but will return to New York next week.

Conquering the Broadway stage in ASSASSINS, CABARET and PROOF; commanding the attention of Radio City (and the world) at the 2009 Tony Awards; racking up rave reviews for SWEENEY TODD at the NY Philharmonic and RENT on tour, plus directing the latter last year at the Hollywood Bowl - these are just a few of the reasons why Neil Patrick Harris made COMPANY: LIVE IN CONCERT, with the NY Philharmonic, one of the biggest nights on Broadway this - or any - year. With recent news confirming that the star-studded Lonny Prince-directed concert production of the timeless 1970 Stephen Sondheim/George Furth concept musical comedy would be filmed for release in movie theaters nationwide for airings in June, it has now become the theatrical event of the season world-wide when it opens in cinemas in June. Last night, Neil was kind enough to take some time out to talk about what the work of Stephen Sondheim means to him, his take on the tricky central role of Bobby, as well as working with his celebrated co-stars Patti LuPone, Stephen Colbert, Christina Hendricks, and more, on this exceptionally exciting entertainment event! Plus, we take a look back at some of his past roles - plus, will he be returning in his Emmy-winning role of Bryan Ryan on GLEE? - and a look ahead to the season finale of his smash hit CBS comedy HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER, and the third film in the HAROLD & KUMAR series, A VERY HAROLD & KUMAR CHRISTMAS, coming later this year - in addition to news on his self-directed pilot just completed - as well as a whole lot more! We also have first news on what roles Neil wants to tackle next - MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG. perhaps? What about BARNUM? A solo album? Yet, one vital question remains above all else...

RAIN - A Tribute To The Beatles, the internationally-acclaimed Beatles concert, returns by popular demand to Hollywood's historic Pantages Theatre, where they enjoyed astounding success during their special one week engagement in 2009.

The popular open mic and Manhattan mainstay Jim Caruso's Cast Party debuts at Mayne Stage in Chicago on Sunday, April 10 at 8:30pm. Host Jim Caruso and pianist/musical director Billy Stritch have been taking their extreme open mic on the road this past year, and are thrilled to be able to celebrate the extraordinary local talent in the Windy City.

Kravis Center to Offer a Nonstop Series of Dazzling Performers & Productions During April, May & June 2011 Highlights Include the Beach Boys, Bill Maher, Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell, Smokey Robinson, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Yanni, The Color Purple & 18th Annual Reach for the Stars

On this very day in 1943, Michael DiFiglia was born in Buffalo, New York, and the world of Broadway would simply never be the same. Cutting his teeth with the accomplished choreography for A JOYFUL NOISE, PROMISES, PROMISES, SEESAW and COCO was merely the beginning of a career that would virtually rewrite and revolutionize the ways and means by which a director could yield ultimate control over a project. With COMPANY and FOLLIES, the later co-directing with Hal Prince, Bennett solidified himself as one of the most talented and brilliant choreographers of his generation and, shortly thereafter, proved with A CHORUS LINE that he was a master theatrical engineer with few, if any, peers. Worldwide success, Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize were just the gravy. Who else but Michael Bennett would then, or ever, receive - or should I say, earn - the credit "Entire Production Conceived, Produced and Directed by," besides him? While BALLROOM failed to live up to A CHORUS LINE in mostly every way, he soon after reinvented the wheel yet again with DREAMGIRLS in 1981. We never got to see his productions of CHESS and SCANDAL, both of which he was in the latter stages of developing at the time of his death in 1988. Broadway has never been the same since he's been gone. So, today, on the day following a glittering new production of COMPANY at Lincoln Center - with the complete dance sequence "Tick Tock" fully restored, now with five dancers - we take a tip of the top hat to the tops in taps, temerity and truthfulness onstage - the one and only Michael Bennett.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will premiere a new digital restoration of 'Bye Bye Birdie' on Wednesday, April 27, at 7:30 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Hosted by film critic Stephen Farber, the evening will feature a Digital Cinema presentation with a newly restored 4-channel stereo soundtrack, followed by an onstage discussion with special guests Ann-Margret and Bobby Rydell.

George Street Playhouse is set to present AN EVENING WITH STILLER AND MEARA on April 4 at 7:30. The intimate evening with the comic duo, hosted by GSP Artistic Director David Saint will include the couple's reminiscences about their incredible life and career, spanning decades and including working with such noted personalities as Ed Sullivan, Sir Laurence Olivier and their son, Ben Stiller, as well as their unique take on everyday life and current events. The delightful evening promises backstage stories and anecdotes sure to be unforgettable - and funny.

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops® adds a twist of comedy to its unique blend of musical entertainment with Music and Comedy featuring Robert Klein (March 30, April 1-3, 2011).

Kravis Center to Offer a Nonstop Series of Dazzling Performers & Productions During April, May & June 2011 Highlights Include the Beach Boys, Bill Maher, Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell, Smokey Robinson, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Yanni, The Color Purple & 18th Annual Reach for the Stars

Peter Nero and the Philly Pops® adds a twist of comedy to its unique blend of musical entertainment with Music and Comedy featuring Robert Klein (March 30, April 1-3, 2011).

For the past eight years, Jim Caruso has been hosting Cast Party, a wildly popular weekly open mic night that brings both showbiz superstars and up-and-comers to the legendary Birdland in New York City

Blues, Ballads and Favorites is exactly what the title describes, Vaughan's hand-picked favorites, including covers of songs by artists such as Little Richard, Jimmy Reed, Willie Nelson, Roy Milton, and Roscoe Gordon. Without any outside constraints, Vaughan was free to whittle down a list of favorite blues and R&B songs, ending up with a total of 13, each of which has special meaning to him.

Universally hailed as the reigning King of the Blues, the legendary B.B. King will perform three UK concerts in Manchester, Edinburgh and London in June 2011.

Comedians/actors Jerry Stiller & Anne Meara (@STILLERandMEARA on Twitter) will be presenting the Shorty Award in the Humor category and be inducted as members of the Real-Time Academy of Short Form Arts & Sciences, at the 2011 Shorty Awards taking place on Monday, March 28th at 6 PM.

The popular open mic and Manhattan mainstay Jim Caruso's Cast Party debuts at Mayne Stage in Chicago on Sunday, April 10 at 8:30pm. Host Jim Caruso and pianist/musical director Billy Stritch have been taking their extreme open mic on the road this past year, and are thrilled to be able to celebrate the extraordinary local talent in the Windy City.

Kravis Center to Offer a Nonstop Series of Dazzling Performers & Productions During April, May & June 2011 Highlights Include the Beach Boys, Bill Maher, Frankie Avalon, Fabian & Bobby Rydell, Smokey Robinson, St. Petersburg Philharmonic, Yanni, The Color Purple & 18th Annual Reach for the Stars