John McDaniel News

TONY and EMMY Award winner Leslie Uggams has replaced Faith Prince for the performance of 4 Girls 4 at the State Theatre in Easton today, April 4. The announcement was made by the show's producer. Uggams will appear with Andrea McArdle, Maureen McGovern and Donna McKechnie. John McDaniel is the Music Director.

Grammy and Emmy Winner JOHN McDANIEL and Tony Nominee BILL RUSSELL have joined the creative team of BRAVE NEW WORLD: THE MUSICAL, currently in development, as Co-Composer and Lyricist. They join a team that already includes Ben Andron as Book Writer, Jonnie Rockwell as Co-Composer, and Tony Nominated Director, Sheryl Kaller. John McDaniel is also attached as Music Director.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners.

The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center announced today applications are now being accepted for the Fellows Program through Friday, May 9, 2014. The conference begins Wednesday, July 23rd and runs through Saturday, August 2nd, with performances every evening except Monday, July 28th. The line-up of performers for the Conference will be announced in the coming months, with tickets available in early June.

On Saturday May 10 S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theatrical Artists Goodwill Event) will present its annual show at the Saban Theatre on Wilshire Blvd in Beverly Hills, this year entitled S.T.A.G.E. Goes to the MOVIES, directed by David Galligan with musical direction from the incomparable John McDaniel. Grammy, Tony and Emmy winning composer, musician McDaniel took time out of his busy rehearsal schedule to chat about the evening.

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:

Urban Stages Founding Artistic Director Frances Hill and producer Peter Napolitano present the World Premiere of Character Man as part of its 30th Anniversary season. Jim Brochu's new musical memoir just opened Off-Broadway at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street) Wednesday March 5th. This limited run, in previews now, will continue through March 30th only. Robert Bartley directs, with musical direction by Carl Haan. Character Man will have scenic & video design by Patrick Brennan, lighting design by Meghan Santelli and sound design by Sean Hagerty. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

When four dynamic, award-winning musical stars from Broadway, film, TV and recordings come together for one night on the same stage, what transpires is an evening of song, dance, laughter and memories that will leave you seeing stars. 4 GIRLS 4 is a fabulously flirty, funny, frolic, featuring four famous females - Leslie Uggams, Maureen McGovern, Andrea McArdle and Donna McKechnie - and it takes the State Theatre stage on Friday, April 4th.

Nearly six decades into her career, Academy Award-winning singer and actress Shirley Jones makes her Cafe Carlyle debut with a two-week run of An Evening with Shirley Jones, continuing through March 15. Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winner John McDaniel (Annie Get Your Gun, Patti Lupone: Live!, The Rosie O'Donnell Show) will serve as Music director and will accompany her on piano March 4-8; actor-composer Ron Abel (Happily Divorced, I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special) will take his place for the performances March 11-15. She'll perform the songs of Rogers, Hammerstein and Hart. Check out photos from her first performance below!

Nearly six decades into her career, Academy Award-winning singer and actress Shirley Jones makes her Cafe Carlyle debut with a two-week run of An Evening with Shirley Jones, today, March 4-15.

Nikki MacCallum is returning to The Duplex with her new cabaret titled Familiar Things, which highlights the music of Kander & Ebb. With music direction and arrangements by Mark Hartman and direction by Kelvin Moon Loh, the show takes us from familiar childhood memories that one-day become unfamiliar to the unfamiliar challenges of adulthood that one-day become familiar. Throw in a middle school performance of Mr. Cellophane and Sara Lee as an eleven o'clock snack number and you have Familiar Things. The piece began development at the Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Conference this past summer, which was under the direction of John McDaniel.

On April 28, Symphony Space will host its spring gala, Fiddler at 50, to celebrate the fiftieth anniversary of Fiddler on the Roof. The evening will honor Sheldon Harnick, the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning lyricist behind the iconic musical.

Nearly six decades into her career, Academy Award-winning singer and actress Shirley Jones makes her Cafe Carlyle debut with a two-week run of An Evening with Shirley Jones, March 4-15. Grammy, Emmy and Tony Award-winner John McDaniel (Annie Get Your Gun, Patti Lupone: Live!, The Rosie O'Donnell Show) will serve as Music director and will accompany her on piano March 4-8; actor-composer Ron Abel (Happily Divorced, I Love Lucy's 50th Anniversary Special) will take his place for the performances March 11-15. She'll perform the songs of Rogers, Hammerstein and Hart.

Exactly ten years after closing on Broadway, Boy George's TABOO returned to New York for a very special two-night-only engagement benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The concert starred Matthew Rowland (Boy George) and Samuel Buttery (Leigh Bowery), both of whom reprised their performances from the 2012 revival of TABOO at the Brixton Clubhouse in London. Jeremy Kushnier (Footloose, Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar) took on the role of 'Philip Sallon.' In the video below, original 'Big Sue' Liz McCartney sings 'Talk Amongst Yourselves.'

Nikki MacCallum is returning to The Duplex with her new cabaret titled Familiar Things, which highlights the music of Kander & Ebb. With music direction and arrangements by Mark Hartman and direction by Kelvin Moon Loh, the show takes us from familiar childhood memories that one-day become unfamiliar to the unfamiliar challenges of adulthood that one-day become familiar. Throw in a middle school performance of Mr. Cellophane and Sara Lee as an eleven o'clock snack number and you have Familiar Things. The piece began development at the Eugene O'Neill Cabaret Conference this past summer, which was under the direction of John McDaniel.

Recognizable screen star and stage performer Joan Ryan will bring her solo cabaret act to the Catalina Jazz Club later this month in a special performance also featuring popular Broadway and film star Eric McCormack in an evening benefiting the Trevor Project.

Broadway, television and film star CHEYENNE JACKSON will make his first appearance in the 30th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event (S.T.A.G.E.) "S.T.A.G.E. Goes to the Movies," being held on Saturday, May 10th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills. LAINIE KAZAN, RICHARD CHAMBERLAIN, MITZI GAYNOR, and JASON GOULD will also be making their first S.T.A.G.E. appearances and Tony® Award winner BETTY BUCKLEY will make her second S.T.A.G.E. turn.