Friars Club News

The spirit of jazz legends Duke Ellington and Ella Fitzgerald (with a little Tito Puente) was palpable in the Milton Berle room at New York's Friars Club on April 25 for the second-annual production of Triple Threats. Broadway veterans (including Duke's granddaughter, Mercedes Ellington, who also co-produced the show) joined some of America's most accomplished jazz musicians to celebrate the April birthdays of the music greats and to honor those performers who sing, dance, and act at the highest levels.

Hard to believe, but it's been four years since we sat down with Jeremy Benton, whom we've since referred to as Broadway's Best Tap Dancer every chance we've had, and now it seems as that title has become a self-fulfilling prophecy. Just yesterday, Benton - a native of Springfield, Tennessee - was honored with a nomination for a Fred and Adele Astaire Award in the category for best off-Broadway male dancer, heralding his critically acclaimed role in Cagney, the Musical.

Last night Mercedes Ellington granddaughter of Duke Ellington and president and founder of The Duke Ellington Center For The Arts along with co-producer Judi Marks hosted a Triple Threat musical celebration at the legendary Friars Club.  It was a special evening that featured performances of the music of the three giants of Jazz and BroadwayWorld was there.

Friar Laura Slutsky hosted a lunch at the Friars Club with invited guest Robert Creighton the star of the hit musical Cagney now playing the The West Side Theatre.  The event was co-produced by Riki Kane-Larimer and Friars filled the Milton Berle Room for a lively lunch and many interesting stories about all thing Cagney, Cohan, and Creighton.   

Jerry's 90th Birthday Party soon became a telethon of happiness as the Friars evening unfolded.  The pledges given to Jerry Lewis were of love and respect and they came from his fellow Friars and entertainers jam packed into the Frank Sinatra Dining Room.  The amount of laughs in the club even created a new total of hysterics for an institution that has been the home of much laughter during its storied show biz history.

There's not a rotten one in the bunch!  12 mega-talented semi-finalists will perform in the 3rd Annual "Tomatoes Got Talent" singers contest at The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street, on Sunday March 13 at 3pm. 

Feinstein's/54 Below, comedian Jamie Pierce hosts Theatrical Hysterics, an evening of stand-up comedy at Feinstein's/54 Below tonight, March 9th, at 9:45pm, featuring very special guests Jim David, Rick Crom and Kevin Meaney.

Returning for his 57th consecutive year as a Las Vegas headliner, internationally distinguished comedian, actor and entertainer Don Rickles will perform at The Orleans Showroom on April 9 and 10.

Feinstein's/54 Below, comedian Jamie Pierce hosts Theatrical Hysterics, an evening of stand-up comedy at Feinstein's/54 Below on March 9th at 9:45pm, featuring very special guests Jim David, Rick Crom and Kevin Meaney.

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood, New Jersey presents: Robert Klein and Fort Lee's Freddie Roman - Sunday, April 3, 2016 at 3PM. Purchase tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or Box Office at 201.227.1030. 

Luckily the Sunshine Comedy Show at the Friars starts after the main course in The Frank Sinatra dining Room. Comics are an impediment for the healthy digestion of a meal. I don't think that there has ever been a person that has been in the Friars club who has not shared a laugh or left the Monastery not smiling. That in itself is a huge accomplishment, but the Friars do so much more than entertain themselves and enjoy their camaraderie. The Friar's Club Sunshine Committee (Tom DeBow chairman) is to the Friars what Ronald McDonald House is to McDonald's-they bring a ray of sunshine to those who need it most!

Vanessa Trouble, a recent addition to the membership of the Friars club introduced herself in swinging style last night to a festive bunch of Friars who came ready to dance the night away. BroadwayWorld has photos from the event below!

Mr. Maglio will entertain during the closing hour on Sunday, between 9pm-10pm, with three upbeat swinging tunes. Two Bossa Nova style songs, Lady is A Tramp and My Way, from his newly released CD Sinatra en Bossa Nova, as well as a standard version of the song, New York, New York.

400 Lucky People Got To See Show Biz History Made Last Night at the Friars Sinatra Celebration and BroadwayWorld was there, check out the photos below.

The Dean of the Friars, Larry King was interviewed by Friar Scribe Bruce Charet at the Friars Club last night and Broadwayworld was on hand to capture shots of the event. Below, peruse our photos of Larry King, Bruce Charet, and more!

Legendary entertainer Tony Bennett will be honored by the Friars Club in celebration of his storied career that has spanned 7 decades. The awards gala will be held on Monday, June 20, 2016 in New York City. The award-winning performer, who has been a Friar for more than 50 years, will receive the Club's most prestigious accolade: The Entertainment Icon Award.

In a prelude to their upcoming January 18th NYC concert at the Highline Ballroom the Nunziata brothers performed a show for a 'jury of their peers' at the legendary Friars Club last night and BroadwayWorld was there.   Check out the photos below.  

On Monday evening, January 11, 2016, Steven Maglio kicks off the Friars Club Sinatra at 100 show, with a popular Sinatra signature song, the title of which is being kept a secret. The only hint Steven Maglio will give is that it's one of the songs in his regular Saturday night show at New York City's Carnegie Club.

Lisa Lampanelli, Comedy's Lovable Queen of Mean, will bring her acerbic act to the Union County Performing Arts Center's Mainstage on Dec. 19 at 8 p.m.

The Milton Berle Room heard the sounds of past Friars, Louis Armstrong, Louis Jordan, and Louis Prima last night as Danny Bacher brought his show Swing That Music to the club.  BroadwayWorld was there for the fun.  The club has been home to many of the music world's past legends and Danny Bacher's music added to that storied tradition. Joining Danny for the evenings music and comedy were comedian Marla Schultz and jazz vocalist Alexis Cole along with Danny's 7 piece band.