Eda Sorokoff News

The New York Pops started it's 34th season off with a glorious concert celebrating the legacy and timeless works of Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe. In the closing concert of his inaugural season in 2010, music director and conductor Steven Reineke celebrated the music of Lerner and Loewe and the response was so heartwarming that he decided it was the right time to revisit the material.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson,  hosted its annual New York City Benefit, BSC In NYC last night to celebrate the acclaimed BSC Musical Theatre Lab and honor its co-founder and Artistic Producer William Finn and Broadwayworld was there. 

Multiple Tony Award-winner Christine Ebersole made her highly anticipated return to Cafe Carlyle with an all-new show titled After The Ball, last night and Broadwayworld was there. The engagement runs through October 22.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director JuliAnne Boyd and Managing Director TriStan Wilson, will host its annual New York City Benefit, BSC In NYC, tonight, October 13, 2016, to celebrate the acclaimed BSC Musical Theatre Lab and honor its co-founder and Artistic Producer William Finn.

Ian Finkel, the World's Greatest Xylophonist and Elliot Finkel, concert pianist extraordinaire offered a first-hand account of the incredible career of their father Fyvush Finkel last night in a touching memorial at the Metropolitan Room.  Fyvush had been performing in English and Yiddish roles for nine decades before his passing this summer.  His last engagement was at Mr. Finn's Cabaret in the Berkshires, and he had invited the cheering audience at the end of the show to come to his  94th birthday celebration on Oct 9th at the Metropolitan Room.  The evening instead was celebration of his life on stage with the performances by family and friends performing his songs, stories, and jokes.  To quote one of Fyvush's jokes, if he were present he would have opened the evening by saying, "I'm celebrating my 94th birthday today!"  after the applause died down he would then look around and  continue…."but I realize looking at this audience, it's no big deal!"

Marieann Meringolo's show "Between Yesterday and Tomorrow" The Songs of Alan & Marilyn Bergman has been playing at Feinstein's/54 Below and Broadwaywolrd was there for the closing night. The New York Times' Stephen Holden has noted, 'Ms. Meringolo, a singer who bares some physical and vocal resemblance to Barbra Streisand...is not shy about emoting in grand style. She also has a sense of humor that comes into play at appropriate moments."

Horton Foote's The Roads To Home opened last night at the Cherry Lane Theatre and Broadwayworld was there for the festivities.  The Roads To Home is a Primary Stages production in association with Catherine Adler and Jamie deRoy. It's run has been extended throughSunday, November 27, 2016.

Tommy Tune and an overflow audience at The Triad on 72nd street met Patrick Rinn last night, and Broadwayworld was also there.  

Tony Award-winner Laura Benanti made her Cafe Carlyle debut last night and Broadwayworld was there. The five-time Tony nominee opened the Carlyle's fall season with Tales from Soprano Isle, which featured songs from Laura's career along with humorous anecdotes and experiences that she has encountered on and off the stage and screen. Laura just completed her Tony nominated role as Amalia Balash in the hit Broadway musical She Loves Me, She also recently garnered rave reviews for her hilarious portrayal of Melania Trump on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Laura told the opening night Cafe Carlyle audience that it was not only her Cafe' debut. As she gently patted her 5 month pregnant tummy she said it was also her daughter's.

Freddie Roman, of Catskills On Broadway fame and past Dean of the Friars Club was the MC of a Borscht Belt evening in the Jerry Lewis Monastery last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

Beloved director, producer, screenwriter and actor Martin Scorsese was honored by the Friars Club with their highest tribute last night, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the evening below! The Entertainment Icon Award was given to Scorsese, whose career spans more than 50 years, and who will be one of only a handful of recipients of the award in the Club's 100-year history.

Tony Award-nominated singer and actress Melissa Errico (Amour, White Christmas, My Fair Lady, High Society) is currently appearing at Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W. 54th St.), now through September 24, following her sold-out run at the venue this past April. BroadwayWorld has photos from her opening night concert below!

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, will host its annual New York City Benefit, BSC In NYC, on Thursday, October 13, 2016 to celebrate the acclaimed BSC Musical Theatre Lab and honor its co-founder and Artistic Producer William Finn.

Get a shine on your shoes and a melody in your heart! While you're at it, 'Give a tug to your tie, put a crease in your pants,' and head to The Carlyle on Sunday nights as Billy Stritch and Jim Caruso begin their fall residency at the legendary Bemelmans.

Since her rediscovery of New York City 10 years ago, Marilyn Maye has sung on most of it's important music streets. Marilyn's re-emergence in the Big Apple began with her appearance at the Metropolitan Room with Billy Stritch. She moved uptown to Birdland at 44th street, Carnegie Hall at 57th and then Lincoln Center's Rose Hall & Appel Room at 60th. Last night she sang in a venue she was born to perform in - Dizzy's Club Coca-Cola at Jazz in Lincoln Center. Marilyn has shared stages with Dizzy Gillespie and other Jazz greats. Hearing her in the Jazz building's most intimate space was another historic milestone added to the long list of her legendary performances. Where will she be in our city next? How about 122nd street - Honorary Doctor of Great Music at Columbia University.

Susan Werner made her Feinstein's/54 Below debut last night and Broadwayworld was there. Susan performed songs from the soon to be Broadway musical, Bull Durham, material from her new PBS special, The Hayseed Project, as well as songs from her many solo albums. Susan Werner composes skillful songs that effortlessly slide between folk, jazz, and pop, all delivered with sassy wit and classic Midwestern charm. Throughout her expansive career, boundless versatility has emerged as a hallmark of Werner's talent, and has proven to be a quintessential ingredient of her engrossing musical persona.

Greatness is sometimes achieved by the collaboration of superbly talented people. Last night, in New York City it was the 50th anniversary of Julie Budd's association with pianist, arranger and musical director Herb Bernstein.

Last night, with photos of some of the greatest entertainers looking down at him in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room, Billy Stritch -- one of the most talented and creative musicians on the planet -- entertained his fellow Friars. I don't know if the velvet fog ever sang in the Monastery, but the closest you will ever get to his music is to hear Billy Stritch perform his Mel Torme show. It's the definitive interpretation of Mel's extraordinary musical genius, performed by the unequaled artistry of Mr. Stritch.

Michael Riedel, theater columnist for the New York Post and author of the best selling book RAZZLE DAZZLE The Battle For Broadway, led a panel discussion at the Friars Club last night.  The book is advertised with the slogan, "everything you wanted to know about Broadway, but were afraid to ask"! 

John Pizzarelli, the world-renowned jazz guitarist and singer, who has been called 'hip with a wink' by Town & Country, 'madly creative' by the Los Angeles Times and 'the genial genius of the guitar' by The Toronto Star brought his Swing Seven to Birdland this past week and Broadwayworld was there for his closing night.  Son of the legendary guitarist Bucky Pizzarelli, New Jersey native John Pizzarelli has become one of the most recognizable faces and voices in contemporary jazz. John Pizzarelli has had a multi-faceted career as a jazz guitarist, vocalist and bandleader, known around the world for the cool jazz flavor he brings to classic standards, late-night ballads, and each of his hugely entertaining live performances and masterful recordings. His most recent CD release, Rockin' In Rhythm, combines the enduring work of Duke Ellington with Pizzarelli's incredible ability to reinterpret the Great American Songbook. Rockin' In Rhythm is the follow up to Pizzarelli's critically-acclaimed 2008 release, With A Song In My Heart - John Pizzarelli Sings the Music of Richard Rodgers, which featured Don Sebesky's Grammy-nominated arrangement of 'Johnny One Note.' With his active touring schedule, Pizzarelli continues to charm audiences with his warmth, conversational humor, and musical moxie.