Joni Mitchell News

As the 21st Century chugs along toward completing its first decade, perhaps Broadway's new role in American theatre with emerge as the place where talented composers and lyricists with interesting projects will premiere their less-inspired shows while their exciting, adventurous and better-written work continues to hide in the under-publicized shadows of Off- and Off-Off Broadway, festivals and the occasional cabaret appearance.  Just as Legally Blonde, the Broadway debut of composer/lyricists Lawrence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Sarah, Plain and Tall) and Nell Benjamin (Pirates!, Sarah, Plain and Tall) doesn't match the quality of their Off-Broadway and regional work, last season composer Tom Kitt made his first main stem appearance with the catchy-tuned and enjoyable, but not especially notable, High Fidelity while musical theatre lovers in the know were anxiously awaiting a production of Feeling Electric, his substantially superior collaboration with bookwriter/lyricist Brian Yorkey, first seen at the 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

It is with great pleasure that The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre. The West Bank Café is located at 407 West 42nd. St., at Ninth Avenue.

Ars Nova heats up July with concerts featuring Broadway's favorite siblings (Keenan-Bolger)3 and a Fridays in August special event, Rock Star Karaoke.

Fifteen young actors from across the Bay Area join musicians from San Francisco's Bird School of Music for the world premiere of the A.C.T. Young Conservatory's 'I'm Still Standing: A Celebration of the Music of Elton John.'

GLAAD Award-winning actor Alec Mapa brings solo show America's Gaysian Sweetheart to Joe's Pub for two hilarious shows.

Ravinia Festival's 2008 season opens with an exciting line-up of Latin jazz, dance, pop and cabaret.

Andrea Marcovicci returns to 'Lyrics & Lyricists'™ with an evening of gems from the post-1965 repertoire to refute the notion that rock 'n' roll killed the art of songwriting. At the final 'Lyrics & Lyricists' of the 2009 season - Did the American Songbook Really End in 1965?

'Two Steps Forward--One Look Back'--performed on Wednesday May 14 at 9:45pm at the Metropolitan Room--is a revue of folk, country, bluesy/jazzy pop, nouveau swing and singer-songwriter music of the 1950s-1980s. It is the cabaret debut of operatic singer Kathryn Allyn.

1968, a hard rock, psychedelic, Motown, folk, and country cabaret, plays May 2nd at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Two-time Obie Award winning performance artist JOHN KELLY will workshop new material for his latest solo piece DARGELOS beginning May 4. This rare opportunity to see Kelly in an intimate setting will take place for 3 consecutive Sundays at Bar 13.

Michael Martinez is proud to present An Evening of Music and Comedy III May 14 at Don't Tell Mama. This showcase and variety show will feature recording artist Casey Henry, singer Manny Simone, Scottish singer songwriter Jill Leighton, and singer Erika Dyer. Comedian Matt Florio will be the Special Guest Host for the evening. Producer Michael Martinez has previously presented showcases at Don't Tell Mama and several other New York City clubs.

Singer EMILY SAXE will make her New York concert debut at the Allen Room of Jazz at Lincoln Center on Friday, April 4 and Saturday, April 5, with shows at 8:00 PM.

Taboo star spreads his wings to perform in concerts at the Oak Room.

The West Bank Café announces our March, 2008 line-up of live entertainment, to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre

Maureen McGovern returns to the Manhattan cabaret scene with her new show A Long and Winding Road at New York City's Metropolitan Room at 7:30PM on February 13-16 and February 21-23.

Brent Barrett, Diana Canova, Tyne Daly, and David Garrison are all set as guest artists for 'Life Is a Cabaret: A Tribute to Fred Ebb,' to be presented as part of the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists series running February 23-25. Rob Fisher will be the guest artistic and musical director for the evening, which will salute Ebb, the lyricist of such shows as Cabaret, Chicago, Zorba!, and Kiss of the Spider Woman.

Bret Shuford, currently appearing in Disney's newest musical, The Little Mermaid, made his solo cabaret debut this past Sunday, January 27, 2008, at The Laurie Beechman Theatre

Here's a look at the February lineup at the Metropolitan Room:

Tonight Friday January 25 at 10:30PM, 'The After Party' is thrilled to welcome back Brandon and Ray! Also, Bret Shuford of The Little Mermaid, Johnny Niagra and Pepper Cole of Cashino and Hole-O-Matic's Karen Mack and Michael Holland. 'The After Party' is hosted by Brandon Cutrell and Alysha Umphress, featuring Lisa Asher and Ray Fellman at the piano, and held at The Laurie Beechman Theatre inside the West Bank Café (407 West 42nd Street). Admission is free!

Maureen McGovern returns to the Manhattan cabaret scene with her new show A Long and Winding Road at New York City's Metropolitan Room at 7:30 p.m. on February 13-16 and February 21-23.