John McDaniel News

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 tonight, April 6th at the historic Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills.

A constellation of Broadway, TV and film stars are set to perform for the 29th Annual S.T.A.G.E. Gala to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles.

ALEX NEWELL, one of the newest cast members of FOX's groundbreaking mega-hit series, 'Glee,' has been added to the cast of 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. David Galligan directs for the 29th time with John McDaniel returning as Musical Director.

Broadway's Julie Halston hosted the Third Annual Broadway Belts for PFF!to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) Monday night, February 25 at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) as part of Broadway at Birdland series. All proceeds will benefit The Michael Kuchwara Fund for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, Education, and Advocacy. BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert and you can check out highlights below!

On Monday, February 25, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the third annual Broadway Belts for PFF, which raised over $70,000 for the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation. The evening was hosted by Julie Halston, and starred Klea Blackhurst, Linda Lavin, Emily Bergl, Debbie Gravitte, Emma Hunton, Alyssa Paulsen, Robert Creighton, Max von Essen, John McDaniel, and Ed Watts. The show was directed by Carl Andress, with musical direction by Jesse Kissel.

Broadway's Julie Halston hosted the Third Annual Broadway Belts for PFF! to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) last night, February 25 at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) as part of Broadway at Birdland series. All proceeds will benefit The Michael Kuchwara Fund for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, Education, and Advocacy. BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert and you can check out photo coverage below!

After the acclaimed New York run of Steven Strafford's METHTACULAR! (presented Off-Broadway by kef theatrical productions), The York Theatre Company (619 Lexington Ave) will present a revised version of the show for one night only, tonight, February 18th at 6:30 PM.

After the acclaimed New York run of Steven Strafford's METHTACULAR! (presented Off-Broadway by kef theatrical productions), The York Theatre Company (619 Lexington Ave) will present a revised version of the show for one night only, on Monday, February 18th at 6:30 PM.

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!

Once in a generation, if we are lucky, an extraordinary talent like no other arises - one who can ceaselessly, effortlessly caress the loftiest heights of comedy and drama onstage (and sometimes onscreen), while, simultaneously, imbuing musical theatre roles with the same skill set, plus a powerhouse, quintessentially unique and resplendent vocal instrument; and, of course, that indescribable 'it' factor, too - such is the tale of Broadway's grand dame, Patti LuPone. Ms. LuPone is a part of that great pantheon of leading ladies of lore led by Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Angela Lansbury, Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters - that is, musical theatre royalty. Taking a look back at many moments in her long and varied career thus far, LuPone candidly opines about a vast array of topics and opens up about many of the remarkable figures who have played roles in her astounding time spent on Broadway, in Hollywood and on TV - among them: Stephen Sondheim, Hal Prince, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Marc Shaiman & Scott Wittman, Steven Spielberg, David Mamet, Ryan Murphy and many more. Most importantly, LuPone discusses various aspects of her ever-expanding new solo show upon which her sensational live album, FAR AWAY PLACES, is based - the songs, the stories, the themes, the collaborators and her future plans for the piece (such as her series of 54 Below shows coming up in February). Additionally, LuPone addresses appearing on GLEE, reflects on working with Jennifer Lopez and Jason Statham on PARKER, shares her thoughts on her favorite films of the year, expounds upon what roles she would like to pursue and teases about her concert with David Yazbek and the debut of her new Carnegie Hall concert as well as a return to London where she made her mark with her Olivier-winning original Fantine in LES MISERABLES - all of that and much, much more!

Following the announcement that SILENCE! The Musical would be ending its long run on December 30th, ticket sales unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume after a brief hiatus today, January 19th, at the Elektra Theatre, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.).

Beginning this Saturday, January 19th, Stephen Hanna will return to the role of Dream Hannibal in Off-Broadway's sellout sensation SILENCE! The Musical at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square. Following the announcement that SILENCE! would be ending its long run December 30th, ticket sales unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume on January 19th. Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through August 13, 2011, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, which was constructed especially for the show. SILENCE! opened at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews and spawned a highly successful L.A. production starring Davis Gaines and Christine Lakin.

Beginning this Saturday, January 19th, Broadway favorite Sean McDermott will star as serial killer Hannibal Lecter in Off-Broadway's smash hit SILENCE! The Musical. Following the announcement that SILENCE! would be ending its long run December 30th, ticket sales unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume after a brief hiatus on January 19th.

The Midtown Men featuring Tony Award Winner Christian Hoff, Michael Longoria, Daniel Reichard, and Tony nominee J. Robert Spencer, just performed at the Gramercy Theatre, and you can check out photos from the event below!

It may be more than 50 years since the 72-year-old Donna McKechnie made her Broadway debut in 'How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying,' but she seemed as nervous as an ingenue--in a good way--on the opening night of her new cabaret show Same Place-Another Time. Entering in a sparkly black blouse over a black skirt, and boogieing to the classic disco strains of "Do the Hustle," McKechnie and Musical Director/Pianist John McDaniel (leading a five-piece band) turned her opening number into a mashup with Rodgers and Hart's "Where or When" and a few bars of "Native New Yorker" thrown in just to keep up the funky disco flavor.

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 Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie, jazz, funk and R&B singer Alex Burgnon and Tony Award winner Michael Cerveris.

Tony-winner Donna McKechnie will soon grace the stage of 54 Below in a brand new show: a musical déjà vu celebrating the scintillating 70?s in New York City - the heyday of Studio 54. McKechnie, best known the world over for creating the role of Cassie in A Chorus Line, is also well-known for her Broadway appearances in State Fair, On the Town, Company, Promises, Promises and How To Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. For these five very special performances, Donna will salute this remarkable era via the music of Jim Croce, Peter Allen, Marvin Hamlisch, Billy Strayhorn, and Stephen Sondheim, with arrangements and music direction by John McDaniel. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge just chatted with the Broadway legend about the upcoming gig and you can check out the full interview below!

SILENCE! The Musical will conclude its current run tonight at the Elektra Theatre, 669 Eighth Avenue (at 42nd St.) Following the announcement that SILENCE! would be ending its long run today, December 30th, ticket sales unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume after a brief hiatus on January 19th.