John McDaniel News

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.

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented triple-threat diva known for her legendary Broadway performance as the title character in the iconic original production of ANNIE as well as notable appearances on Broadway since in STARLIGHT EXPRESS, LES MISERABLES, STATE FAIR and more - the engaging and passionate Andrea McArdle. Opening up about her life after 'Tomorrow' as well as sharing memories of her time in ANNIE, McArdle sheds some light on her idiosyncratic showbiz career and shares sensational stories from her past and present while also looking ahead to the future. Additionally, McArdle looks back on many of her most famous roles to date, including her roller skating days in STARLIGHT EXPRESS and her recent stint as MAME herself, as well as her various Judy Garland-related properties, too - the TV biopic RAINBOW and the stage adaptation of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS among them, not to mention her sensational star turn as the opener of the recent sold-out series of 10th anniversary concerts at Joe's Pub, BROADWAYWORLD.COM VISITS OZ, directed by Richard Jay-Alexander and MaryBeth Abel, where she exquisitely performed 'I'm Always Chasing Rainbows'. Plus, McArdle comments on her recent Broadway Records live album 70'S & SUNNY and the material and decade that inspired it. Most importantly, McArdle looks ahead to her new series of solo shows kicking off at 54 Below this week titled DREAM ROLES and previews some of the stupendous song selections she has chosen for the show - with material by Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse and more included! All of that and much, much more awaits in this career-spanning chat with one of Broadway's best and best-loved leading ladies.

Get a first look at official footage from the 10th Anniversary Concerts of the Boy George musical TABOO, which reunited members of the original Broadway cast at 54 Below on February 7 and 8, 2013 (ten years to the day of the final New York performance). Click below!

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: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:

Exactly ten years after closing on Broadway, Boy George's TABOO returns to New York for a very special two-night-only engagement benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. The concerts star Matthew Rowland (Boy George) and Samuel Buttery (Leigh Bowery), both of whom will be reprising their performances from the 2012 revival of TABOO at the Brixton Clubhouse in London. Jeremy Kushnier(Footloose, Jersey Boys, Jesus Christ Superstar) takes on the role of "Philip Sallon."

TONY and EMMY Award winner Leslie Uggams has replaced Faith Prince for the performance of 4 Girls 4 at the State Theatre in Easton on Friday, 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.

Amy Anzel for Sunday Monday Ltd in association with Todd Ruppert of RTR International, announced that Happy Days - A New Musical will open at the Churchill Theatre Bromley tonight, 14 January 2014, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the first ever broadcast of the classic and much loved sitcom (which aired on US TV on 15 January 1974).

Ben Freeman will take on the iconic role of 'The Fonz' in the UK Premiere and national tour of HAPPY DAYS - A New Musical, alongside Cheryl Baker as 'Mrs Cunningham' and Heidi Range as 'Pinky Tuscadero'.

Grammy and Emmy award winner John McDaniel celebrates his St. Louis roots, debuting his new show, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, featuring special guests Mary Beth Black and Cindy Degnan. The show will take place tonight, December 20th, at 7 PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center, N. Grand Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63103.

Amy Anzel for Sunday Monday Ltd in association with Todd Ruppert of RTR International, just announced that Happy Days - A New Musical will open at the Churchill Theatre Bromley on 14 January 2014, on the eve of the 40th anniversary of the first ever broadcast of the classic and much loved sitcom (which aired on US TV on 15 January 1974).

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud present the premiere of Donna McKechnie's new Talk/Variety show on Monday, December 9 at 7pm. Tony-winning choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) was Donna's Very Special Guest for the evening, with singers Nick Adams and Nikki MacCallum singing songs from Mitchell's hit shows. Donna and Jerry discussed life, love, careers and even ended the evening with a good, old-fashioned soft-shoe, after Mitchell demonstrated his most successful audition tune, 'I Love A Piano!' Scroll down for photos!

San Francisco, please join me in welcoming Tony Award winning 'Voice of Broadway,' Betty Buckley to the BroadwayWorld SF page! She brings her acclaimed show, 'The Vixens of Broadway,' to San Francisco's Feinstein's at the Nikko for 8 performances -December 5 - 15, 2013.

Grammy and Emmy award winner John McDaniel celebrates his St. Louis roots, debuting his new show, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, featuring special guests Mary Beth Black and Cindy Degnan. The show will take place on Friday, December 20th, at 7 PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center, N. Grand Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63103.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Cabaret and Broadway favorites Jeff Harnar, Linda Hart, Nicolas King and Jennifer Sheehan in 'COME FLY WITH ME' tonight, November 21, 2013.

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:

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Cabaret and Broadway favorites Jeff Harnar, Linda Hart, Nicolas King and Jennifer Sheehan in 'COME FLY WITH ME' on November 21, 2013. The evening is a centenary celebration of the lyrics of Sammy Cahn and the music of Jimmy Van Heusen and was conceived and directed by Grammy and Emmy Award winner, John McDaniel, during his first season as artistic director of the O'Neill Theater Center's Cabaret and Performance conference. Mr. McDaniel makes his New York directorial debut with this show.

On October 9, Nicolas King, dubbed 'the precociously polished crooner' by the New York Times, returned to Don't Tell Mama and you can check out photos from the performance below!

An evening with Tony Award-Winner McKechnie performs SAME PLACE, ANOTHER TIME

Amy Anzel for Sunday Monday Ltd in association with Todd Ruppert of RTR International, just announced that West End leading man and "Emmerdale" star, Ben Freeman, will take on the iconic role of 'The Fonz' in the UK Premiere and national tour of HAPPY DAYS - A New Musical, alongsideCheryl Baker as 'Mrs Cunningham' and the previously announced Heidi Range as 'Pinky Tuscadero'.