Joanne Worley News

Many people do not realize, with the exception of us theatre junkies, that Billy Barnes, who regretfully passed from us in September of last year, was without a doubt the keenest composer of the theatre revue. He also created special material for TV's Laugh-In and The Carol Burnett Show, among others. His ingenious theatre revues date back to the 50s with The Billy Barnes Revue of 1959 all the way up to 1983's Movie Star, which had a long run at the Westwood Playhouse, now known as the Geffen. Bruce Kimmel remembers, as he knew the man well and recorded Billy Barnes L.A. Thanks to Kimmel a whole generation of musical theatre fans got a chance to hear up close and personal some of Barnes' greatest, saucy, yet little known achievements at a special Kritzerland show Billy! on Saturday March 2 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal.

Special guest stars tonight, February 26th include performances by Katie Thompson (From The Public Theatre's Giant and Broadway's upcoming Big Fish, composer/lyricist/recording artist - Original songs featured on FOX's 'So You Think You Can Dance'), Dani Spieler (from Broadway's Legally Blonde and the National Tour of West Side Story), Kevin Ray (singer / songwriter of Central Avenue Breakdown, New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) award winner and MAC Award nominee for his holiday album - 'Seasoned Greetings'), Anna Steele (three-time MAC Award winner and two-time Bistro and Nightlife Award winning cabaret artist), Freddie Kimmel (from the National Tour of Billy Elliott and Superfly The Musical).

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including two-time Tony nominee Tom Wopat, Broadway star Elizabeth Stanley, BACKSTAGE award-winning vocalist, director and Broadway actor Eric Michael Gillett, singer/songwriter Tony Desare, singing sensation Hilary Kole, and multiple award-winner Sarah Rice.

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Tuesday night cocktail party/songfest, "Backstage." Special guest stars on February 26th include performances by Katie Thompson (From The Public Theatre's Giant and Broadway's upcoming Big Fish, composer/lyricist/recording artist - Original songs featured on FOX's "So You Think You Can Dance"), Dani Spieler (from Broadway's Legally Blonde and the National Tour of West Side Story), Kevin Ray (singer / songwriter of Central Avenue Breakdown, New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) award winner and MAC Award nominee for his holiday album - "Seasoned Greetings"), Anna Steele (three-time MAC Award winner and two-time Bistro and Nightlife Award winning cabaret artist), Freddie Kimmel (from the National Tour of Billy Elliott and Superfly The Musical).

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Today night cocktail party/songfest, 'Backstage.' Special guest stars tonight, February 19th include performances by Kate Rockwell (Currently starring as 'Sherrie' in Rock of Ages), Lavon Fisher Wilson (currently starring in Disney's Newsies), Alex Wyse (from Broadway's Lysistrata Jones and Off-Broadway's Bare), Ryan Knowles (from NEWSical - The Musical and Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas), Jonathan Whitton (MAC and Bistro Award winning singer, as well as 'The Disney Diaries' ), cabaret singer Tori Scott.

Broadway World Los Angeles Correspondents Michael Sterling and Jerry Evans of the JLE Media Group were once again on the red carpet Tuesday, February 12, 2013 for the much anticipated Los Angeles opening of the Four-time Tony Nominated Musical Sensation JEKYLL & HYDE. Watch BWW's opening night interviews below!

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Tuesday night cocktail party/songfest, 'Backstage.' Special guest stars on February 19th include performances by Kate Rockwell (Currently starring as 'Sherrie' in Rock of Ages), Lavon Fisher Wilson (currently starring in Disney's Newsies), Alex Wyse (from Broadway's Lysistrata Jones and Off-Broadway's Bare), Ryan Knowles (from NEWSical - The Musical and Dr. Seuss's How The Grinch Stole Christmas), Jonathan Whitton (MAC and Bistro Award winning singer, as well as 'The Disney Diaries' ), cabaret singer Tori Scott.

From Kristin Chenoweth to Deborah Cox to Idina Menzel to Barbra Streisand to Michael Crawford to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Patti LuPone, Raul Esparza, Alan Menken, Lea Salonga, Bernadette Peters, Laura Osnes, Victoria Clark, GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2013 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

On Sunday, February 3, 2013 at the North Hollywood Church of Religious Science some of Hollywood and Broadway's finest gathered to honor and remember Paul Ainsley, who passed away on January 20, 2013. The afternoon was not a memorial as much as it was a celebration - a roast - a closing night party. It was an event that would have had partying right next to all his friends. Scroll below for photos from the event!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including award-winning vocalist Eric Michael Gillett, Broadway star Chester Gregory, Grammy Award winner Joni Mitchell, BACKSTAGE, Broadway star T. Olvier Reid, Tony Award nominee Robert Cuccioli, Toni Award nominee Tovah Feldshuh and SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED.

Two-time Tony Award winner SUTTON FOSTER and Tony nominee and Grammy Award winner ANDREW RANNELLS will perform for the first time in the 29th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) 'Broadway, My Way,' being held on Saturday, April 6th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.

'Nunset Boulevard,' which stars the adorable Cindy Williams of TV's 'Laverne & Shirley' fame, is the latest installment in the well-loved series of 'Nunsense' musicals features the ever-popular sit-com star as Mother Superior, a somewhat naïve soul who takes her fellow Sisters (all from the original New York cast) to perform at the famed Hollywood Bowl...or so they believe.

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Tuesday night cocktail party/songfest, "Backstage." Special guest stars on January 29th include performances by Annie Kunke (Hairspray and If There Is I Still Haven't Found It,) Kirsten Scott (from Broadway's Follies and Hairspray,) Matthew Scott (from Broadway's Jersey Boys and Sondheim on Sondheim,) Hayley Podshun (from Broadway's Hairspray and Chaplin,), Nicholas Rodriguez (from Broadway's Tarzan) and Celisse Henderson (Godspell, and tour of Wicked).

On January 17th, TCL (formerly Grauman's) Chinese Theatre presented a public screening of 'THE BIRDS' featuring a Q&A with cast co-stars Tippi Hedren and Veronica Cartwright. Hosted by Red Line Tour's owner, Tony Hoover, the screening celebrated the 50th anniversary of Hitchcock's Masterpiece released in January, 1963. Check out photos from the event below!

On January 17, 2013 Red Line Tours launched their second set of collectors tickets, 'Directors Series,' highlighting four celebrated and iconic film directors. Designed by world-renowned artist, Andre Miripolsky, as a memento to patrons of the tour and of their visit to Hollywood. The tickets feature Charlie Chaplin, Alfred Hitchcock, Clint Eastwood and Sofia Coppola, the Silent, Golden, Modern and Contemporary eras of film. This is Red Line Tour's second installment in the series of images depicting iconic or celebrated Hollywood history. Check out photos from the launch event below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, will present the following acts.

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Tuesday night cocktail party/songfest, "Backstage." Special guest stars on January 22nd include performances by The Skivvies, from NEWSical, Christina Bianco, songwriter Bobby Cronin with Broadway's Kate Shindle from Legally Blonde, Wonderland and Andrew Kober from Hair, from Broadway's Bring It On Ryann Redmond and Sherie Sanders (Urinetown and author of Rock The Audition.)

'Nunset Boulevard,' which stars the adorable Cindy Williams of TV's 'Laverne & Shirley' fame, is the latest installment in the well-loved series of 'Nunsense' musicals features the ever-popular sit-com star as Mother Superior, a somewhat naïve soul who takes her fellow Sisters (all from the original New York cast) to perform at the famed Hollywood Bowl...or so they believe.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including four-time Tony nominee Gregg Edelman, SAG Award winner Bryan Batt, actress Molly Ringwald, BACKSTAGE, award-winner Amber Martin, Tony nominee Andrea McArdle, Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris, singer Alexander Sage Oyen, composer David Friedman and more!

For those craving a show after the show, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, offers its Today night cocktail party/songfest, 'Backstage.' Special guest stars tonight, January 15th include performances by singer and actress Anastacia McCleskey, from Broadway's Priscilla Queen of the Desert and Hair, Terese Genecco, jazz and swing vocalist and bandleader of the Little Big Band, The Chalks, a bluegrass diva trio, Jessica Hershberg, from Broadway's Baby It's You and Love and Real Estate and City Center's Encores! series Pipe Dream, and singer / songwriter Chris DiCristo.