Ilene Graff News

On Monday night, Over Here! The Big Band Musical was back in New York at The Triad Theatre for the first time since its original 1974 Broadway production and the joint was jumpin'. Veteran's Day proved to be the perfect time to revive this beloved celebration of the American spirit and optimism that defined the 1940's. To make it even more worthwhile, a portion of the proceeds from the evening was donated to Vietnam Veterans of America. Over Here! is one of this journalist's favorite musicals, so I was thrilled to have it back on the boards. Under the razor-sharp direction of Will Nunziata, who is quickly becoming a go-to director, this feel-good show sparkled and shined like a freshly polished diamond. It featured a stellar cast of 19, plus an 11-piece swing band, under musical director extraordinaire Blake Allen. Choreographer Andrew Black used every inch of space to give us one eye-popping musical number after another.

Los Angeles' famed 'Princess of Patter' Keri Kelsey recently hosted the 6thAnnual 'Cabaret is Alive and Well and Living in Los Angeles' last week, benefiting the Actors Fund.

Steven Brinberg a?' best known for creating and performing Simply Barbra, the acclaimed all-live homage to the legendary Barbra Streisand a?' will produce and host an all-star tribute to Marvin Hamlisch at Catalina Jazz Club (6725 West Sunset Blvd) in Los Angeles, CA on Thursday, October 24 at 8:30 PM. The evening will feature Edie Alyson (Little Shop of Horrors), Alan Bergman (Two-time Oscar-winning lyricist), Herve Coeur (Haitian singer and songwriter), Kay Cole (A Chorus Line, Bye Bye Birdie), Mary Bond Davis (Hairspray), Fay DeWitt (Flahooley), Nancy Dussault (Two-time Tony nominee), Joshua Finkel (Kiss of the Spider Woman), Ilene Graff (Grease, I Love My Wife), Natalie Lander (a?oeLegally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woodsa??), Ashley Fox Linton (Wicked), Melissa Manchester (Grammy winning singer and songwriter), J. Elaine Marcos (A Chorus Line), Barbara Minkus (Funny Girl), Jenny O'Hara (The Odd Couple, Promises Promises), Noah Weisberg (Charlie and the Chocolate Factory), Jennifer Westfelt (Wonderful Town, a?oeYoungera??), and David Zack (Sweet Smell of Success). Michael Lavine serves as Music Director. For tickets and information, please call (323) 466-2210 or visit SimplyBarbra.com.

Cabaret is Alive and Well and Living in Los Angeles, benefit concert weekend for The Actors Fund, is back for the 6th year in a row. Conceived and Directed by David Galligan, the 3-night event is presented by Fraser Entertainment Group. All proceeds benefit The Actors Fund.

It was a proud mother, Dee Wallace (ET: The Extra Terrestrial/CUJO/Critters, etc), that smiled joyously while mingling with celebrated friends and colleagues from stage and screen for the release party of her critically acclaimed actress and director and daughter, Gabrielle Stone's (Speak No Evil/It Happened Again Lat Night/After Emma), controversial new book, EAT, PRAY, #FML - A True Story of Love, Heartbreak, and Soul Searching (Available on Amazon at: https://www.amazon.com/Eat-Pray-FML-Gabrielle-Stone/dp/1733963707)

The Actors Fund in Los Angeles celebrated Broadway's Biggest Night at the 23rd Annual Tony Awards® Viewing Gala on Sunday, June 9, 2019 at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, CA. Hosted by Leslie Jordan, this year's star-studded gala honored Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award® winner Lily Tomlin with the Julie Harris Award for Artistic Achievement. BroadwayWorld's own Michael Sterling and Paul Preston of Digital Mind Productions were on hand for the festivities which included coverage of the evening's red-carpet arrivals, cocktail hour, gala dinner, live performances, silent auction, and the West Coast's exclusive live feed of the 2019 Tony Awards® broadcast from New York City. 

On Thursday, May 2nd, Richard Pryor Jr. offered fans, friends and some of his farther's co-stars a glimpse into the life of his iconic parent, Richard Pryor Senior, discussing his own self-proclaimed 'Freakish Life' that paralleled his namesake and famous father's life in many ways, found in his new memoir. In A Pryor Life, already in its second printing only days after its release. The event began with the unveiling of a costume worn by Richard Pryor Jr in the film "College Debt" co-starring Lucille Ball's granddaughter, Katherine Luckinbill, Janet Carroll and Academy Award winner, Celeste Holmes, in what would be her last film. The costume will be included in the museum's upcoming Real to Reel: Perceptions and Portrayals of LGBTQ History in Film and Television.

The results are in for the seventh annual BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards! BroadwayWorld would like to extend congratulations to all of this year's winners and nominees in the 17 categories.

Voting continues for three more weeks for the BWW Cabaret Awards!

VITELLO'S SUPPER CLUB presents ILENE GRAFF and NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE in "Together Again for the First Time" on Friday, January 11, 2019 and Saturday, January 12, 2019 at 7:30 P.M. Grammy-nominated TV mom ("Mr. Belvedere") and Broadway vet, ILENE GRAFF (Grease, I Love My Wife) and her daughter, Broadway and off-Broadway performer NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE (Women on the Verge, Chicago, Sweet Charity), are getting together for their first full-length concert at Vitello's Supper Club. From L.A. to New York, from baby ballet to Broadway premieres, this family will highlight songs and stories that show how those experiences have made their relationship stronger, more fun, more interesting, and generationally challenging.

BroadwayWorld Cabaret is pleased to announce the nominees in 17 categories for the 2018 BWW New York Cabaret Awards, brought to you by BroadwayHD!

Haul out the holly and put up the tree because the annual star-studded holiday event SPARKLE: An All-Star Holiday Concert returns to New York City on Sunday, December 2, 2018 for its 7th consecutive year, once again benefiting the programs and services of The Actors Fund.

The Actors Fund's Looking Ahead Program presented The 2018 Looking Ahead Awards on Sunday, October 28, 2018 at the magnificent Taglyan Cultural Complex in Hollywood. Hosted by Ashley Argota and Garrett Clayton, The Looking Ahead Awards honors leaders in the current and former young performer community who inspire the world by living the program's core values of growth, education, leadership and community service.

The Hollywood Museum has become the most popular depository for all things entertainment for film and television.  Among the history rich exhibits filling multiple floors is the fan favorite Dungeon of Doom, that hosts the original costumes worn by classics and iconic characters such as Frankenstein, Michael Myers (Halloween), Jason Vorhees (Friday the 13th), Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) to wardrobe from Sweeny Todd, Van Helsing, Underworld, The Walking Dead and sinister sensations induced by the original set for Silence of the Lambs in their Dungeon of Doom.

The Hollywood Museum has become the most popular depository for all things entertainment for film and television.  Among the history rich exhibits filling multiple floors is the fan favorite Dungeon of Doom, that hosts the original costumes worn by classics and iconic characters such as Frankenstein, Michael Myers (Halloween), Jason Vorhees (Friday the 13th), Freddy Krueger (Nightmare on Elm Street) to wardrobe from Sweeny Todd, Van Helsing, Underworld, The Walking Dead and sinister sensations induced by the original set for Silence of the Lambs in their Dungeon of Doom.

The Actors Fund and Fraser Entertainment are very proud to announce the 5th annual presentation of CABARET IS ALIVE AND WELL AND LIVING IN LOS ANGELES.  Conceived by renowned director David Galligan, this fifth celebration of Cabaret in L.A. will take place as a series of 3 concerts over 3 evenings at 3 different Los Angeles venues, Friday, October 12, Saturday, October 13, and Sunday, October 14.  Proceeds from all 3 shows will benefit The Actors Fund.

It was musically 'back to the future' as an icon of popular music, Bronx born, California based Melissa Manchester thrilled old and new fans at Feinstein's/54 Below last night.

Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Next month, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

A lot of passengers were blowing their horns in praise after a fantastic Dinner Cabaret Cruise in the New York City harbor supporting the Cancer Schmancer Foundation founded by Fran Drescher.