Kathy Najimy News

In all honesty, I was dreading seeing Broadway Across America - Houston's presentation of SISTER ACT's First National Tour at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts last night. As a fan of Alan Menken, I was elated to get my hands on a copy of the Original London Cast Recording in 2009. After giving the disc a whirl, I was anything but impressed. The musical ran at the London Palladium from June 2, 2009 to October 30, 2010. As it journeyed across the pond, the book was significantly reworked by Douglas Carter Beane for its rather successful April 20, 2011 to August 26, 2012 Broadway run at the Broadway Theatre. Between London, New York, and Houston, magic has definitely happened. The show, as it stands now, is a divinely delightful comedy that will leave audiences pumped and gushing about how truly fabulous it is.

Girl Be Heard (www.girlbeheard.org) is proud to announce the premiere of 9mm America, written and performed by ten girls (ages 14 to 23) who live in NYC neighborhoods where gun violence is a daily threat at the Planet Connections Theatre Festivity. Celebrity talk backs will be led by Nigel Barker, Lynn Nottage, Kathy Najimy, Abby Disneyand others to be announced.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: The gyspy robe gets passed again, Alan Cumming leads the Scottish play, and PIPPIN comes back to Braodway, and so much more!

As Rita Wilson continued her week-long engagement at 54 Below, a starry audience came to cheer her on. Attendees included Elvis Costello, Rosie O'Donnell, Julianne Moore, Kristin Chenoweth, Allison Williams, Brian Williams, Jane Stoddard Williams, Kathy Najimy, Natasha Lyonne, Bart Freundlich, Bryan Cranston, Peter Scolari and more. Scroll below for photos of the guests backstage with Wilson!

Broadway's powerful new production of Shakespeare's Macbeth, starring Tony and Olivier Award winner and two-time Emmy Award nominee Alan Cumming (Cabaret, 'The Good Wife'), opened on Broadway last night, April 21, 2013. Veteran stage actors Jenny Sterlin and Brendan Titley complete the cast. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the night, check out photos below from the red carpet arrivals.

On Monday evening, April 8th at the finale of Marty Richards' star-studded-sold-out Memorial to benefit his beloved New York Center For Children, which he co-founded with his wife Mary Lea Johnson Richards, Chita Rivera quieted the crowd to make an important announcement regarding the future of the American Theatre and the New York centric film and television's East Coast community. Dan Gallagher and Michael Milton, Mr. Richards' co-workers and right-hand visionaries for over fifteen years, have power-teamed with Producer/General Manager, Cheryl Dennis, to form the new Producer Circle Co. with offices in Manhattan.

BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the whole evening, including the show's star-studded theatre arrivals. Check out who was there for the big night below and CLICK HERE for Part 1!

Fans of the Disney film 'Hocus Pocus' starring Bette Midler, Kathy Najimy and Sarah Jessica Parker as the Sanderson sisters, wicked witches brought back to life on Halloween to steal the souls of children, are gathering online as a grassroots movement to bring it to Broadway. Following the success of musicals such as NEWSIES, MARY POPPINS, SISTER ACT and MATILDA; Winnie, Mary and Sarah are ready to enchant Broadway audiences.

Back to Bacharach and David is a nice little gem of a revue. I was vaguely familiar with the music, but not familiar with this particular show prior to seeing it. However, with it being directed by the fantastic Long Island theatre vet Steve McCoy, I knew the audience would be in for a treat.

...add to this 7 more, over the top, zany characters, in a story with a ridiculous plot, and you have a hilarious farce, called 'Drinking Habits' now playing at the Carrollwood Players.It is just plain FUN!

Second Stage Theatre just celebrated its annual All-Star Bowling Classic last night, February 4 at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge For over 25 years, stars of stage and screen have come out to bowl in support of Second Stage's award-winning seasons and to assist the theatre in its fund-raising efforts. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and you can check out the second part of photo coverage below. CLICK HERE to check out part 1!

Second Stage Theatre just celebrated its annual All-Star Bowling Classic last night, February 4 at Lucky Strike Lanes and Lounge For over 25 years, stars of stage and screen have come out to bowl in support of Second Stage's award-winning seasons and to assist the theatre in its fund-raising efforts. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and you can check out the first part of photo coverage below. CLICK HERE to check out part 2!

Early Monday evening, the Venice Theatre announced their 2013 to 2014 theatre season at a special Kickoff gathering at their theatre located at 140 West Tampa Avenue in Venice, Florida. Hosting the event were Exective/Artisitic Director Murray Chase and Producing Director Allan Kollar. Highlighted by performances from local actors, the duo revealed their exciting upcoming schedule:

The cast of the second season of Food Network primetime series RACHEL VS. GUY CELEBRITY COOK-OFF is revealed with a roster of star-studded and diverse competitors, which battle it out in this fast-paced and fun culinary competition.

In a pair of benefit performances this holiday season, Obie Award winner David Drake will return to the stage of Baltimore's Spotlighters Theatre for the first time in over 20 years with his acclaimed new theatrical creation Tawny Heatherton in A Very Tawny Christmas! Tonight, December 28th & 29th at 8pm, Drake's loveably eccentric showbiz survivor and "one hit wonder" from the disco zeitgeist of the 1980s will bring her blonde-swept brand of sunny, funny cheer to the Spotlighters' stage with seasonal songs, sparkly dresses and wild stories about her globe-trotting adventures.

On today's episode of 'Katie', Katie Couric made holiday wishes come true for some of the people who need it most this year. The studio audience, filled with women from some of the communities that were hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy, were surprised with a holiday giveaway. Among those assisting the big reveal was Broadway star Idina Menzel. Click below to watch!

Katie Couric is making holiday wishes come true for some of the people who need it most this year. For the episode of the syndicated daytime talk show airing WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 20, the "Katie" studio audience will be filled with women from some of the communities that were hit hardest by Hurricane Sandy (check local listings or www.katiecouric.com). Audience members arrived under the impression they were attending a show about starting over in the New Year, only to have Couric surprise them with a holiday giveaway! Click here for a preview of the show.