Ken Davenport News

As previously reported, The Visit's Roger Rees has taken a leave from his role in the new Broadway musical The Visit, with Tom Nelis stepping in for the time being. Today, producers have released a statement on Rees' departure, confirming it's due to medical reasons.

NBC has announced that Tony nominated actress Chita Rivera will be a guest on THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON on Thursday, June 4th.

Musical theatre star Betty Buckley recently spent time backstage at THE VISIT with Chita Rivera. In an Instagram post, Buckley wrote, 'Backstage at 'The Visit'with the incredible Broadway Star, Ms. Chita Rivera! My eyes are red from crying at the beauty of this special piece of Art & theater, centered around the extraordinary performance by beloved Chita! Amazing! She touched my heart & soul so deeply! You gotta see this!' Check out the pic below!

BroadwayWorld has learned that Roger Rees is currently on leave from The Visit, and in his place, Tom Nelis is temporarily stepping in as Anton Schell. No word yet on the duration of the hiatus. Of note, the star has also been swapped out for Nelis on the show's official web site. According to audience member reports, Nelis is giving a stellar performance in the role opposite the legendary Chita Rivera. Keep checking BroadwayWorld as we learn more!

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Brandon Sturiale in "A Second First Impression" on Friday, June 26th, at 9:30pm.

Ghostlight Records recorded the Original Cast Album of the hit, headline-making Off-Broadway musical Clinton The Musical yesterday, Tuesday, May 19 for release later this year. The production has book, music and lyrics byPaul Hodge, book by Paul Hodge and Michael Hodge, and was directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Dan Knechtges with musical direction by James Dobinson and orchestrations by Neil Douglas Reilly. Clinton The Musical is produced by Kari Lynn Hearn of CoolChic Productions, and Executive Produced by Ken Davenport. The recording will be produced by Dean Sharenow. Check out a look inside the recording studio below!

Broadway legends and Tony nominees Chita Rivera and John Kander talked to USA Today and explained how their work is their real reward.

The Visit, recently nominated for 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will host a conversation with two iconic composers following this evening's performance, May 20. Tony Award-winning composer of The Visit, John Kander, will sit down with Tony Award winning composer of the upcoming Broadway musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Producers Ken Davenport and Michael Jackowitz have announced that the new musical DADDY LONG LEGS will open this fall at the Davenport Theatre (354 West 45th Street). Based on the 1912 novel by Jean Webster, DADDY LONG LEGS features music and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Paul Gordon (Sense and Sensibility), book by Tony Award and Olivier Award winner John Caird (Les Miserables), direction by John Caird, and will star Megan McGinnis (Broadway's Les Miserables, Side Show, Little Women). DADDY LONG LEGS begins previews on September 10, 2015, and will officially open September 27, 2015. DADDY LONG LEGS plays a strictly limited engagement through January 10, 2016. Tickets are on sale now at Telecharge.com.

Ghostlight Records will record the Original Cast Album of the hit, headline-making Off-Broadway musical Clinton The Musical on Tuesday, May 19 for release later this year. The production has book, music and lyrics by Paul Hodge, book by Paul Hodge and Michael Hodge, and was directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Dan Knechtges with musical direction by James Dobinson and orchestrations by Neil Douglas Reilly. Clinton The Musical is produced by Kari Lynn Hearn of CoolChic Productions, and Executive Produced by Ken Davenport. The recording will be produced by Dean Sharenow. To sign up for updates on the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/clintonthemusical.

It was announced today that The Visit, recently nominated for 5 Tony Awards including Best Musical, will host a conversation with two iconic composers following the evening performance on Wednesday, May 20.  Tony Award-winning composer of The Visit, John Kander, will sit down with Tony Award winning composer of the upcoming Broadway musical Hamilton, Lin-Manuel Miranda.  Tickets are available for this special performance and talkback at telecharge.com (212-239-6200). The Visit is on Broadway at the Lyceum Theater (149 West 45thStreet, NYC).  Time Out New York is the sponsor for the evening. 

The Drama League (Executive Director, Gabriel Shanks) gathers for the 81st Annual Drama LeagueAwards Ceremony, hosted by 2014 Tony Award nominee, Hand to God's Steven Boyer with special guest Tyrone, today May 15, 2015 in the Broadway Ballroom at the Marriott Marquis Times Square (1535 Broadway).  Below, BroadwayWorld will be bringing you the complete list of winners live!

Yesterday evening, a couple that has been together for 33 years married in the best way theatregoers could hope to do: backstage at THE VISIT on Broadway.

From the creator of The Awesome 80s Prom comes New York's newest interactive sensation -- THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW! Created by Ken Davenport, THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW! is a brand-new interactive parody of America's favorite reality romance shows. Debuted on March 21, 2015, THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW!  continues to play every Saturday evening at 8 p.m. at 42West (514 W. 42nd St.). ABC's THE BACHELORETTE Season 11 premiere is just days away and if you want to get a quick fix ahead of the Monday, May 18th viewing, head over to THAT BACHELORETTE SHOW!

Matthew Broderick and Nathan Lane stopped by CBS's THE TALK, filming this week from New York City, to discuss their hit Broadway play, IT'S ONLY A PLAY.

KINKY BOOTS, the smash-hit musical that brings together four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein (Book) and Grammy Award-winning rock icon Cyndi Lauper (Tony Award-winner for Best Score for KINKY BOOTS), performs at the Providence Performing Arts Center (PPAC) June 9-14, 2015. KINKY BOOTS is part of the Taco/ White Family Foundation Broadway Series.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the 2015-2016 CLO Cabaret Series featuring the hilarious hit Off-Broadway comedy, ALTAR BOYZ, the Pittsburgh Premiere of Broadway's FIRST DATE and the Tony Award-winning comic mystery THE 39 STEPS.  CLO Cabaret Series packages are now on sale and can be purchased by calling our Season Ticket hotline at 412-281-2822.  Groups of 10 or more may purchase tickets by calling 412-325-1582 or emailing Groups@pittsburghCLO.org. 

The York Theatre Company and producers Amy Engelhardt and Heather Shields, will present the May installment of the new game show for musical theater lovers called Tune in Time, hosted by Emily McNamara.  Musical Director Nate Buccieri  and annoyingly insistent timekeeper Sheila Head rejoin the company on Tuesday, May 5, 2015 beginning at 7:30 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peters (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). 

The York Theatre Company and its Artistic Director James Morgan and producers Amy Engelhardt and Heather Shields, will be presenting the 8th edition of the quirky and popular musical theater game show Tune in Time, on Tuesday May 5 at 7:30 pm with a new cast of contestants and celebrity judges. Joining the songwriting fray for this round are Alan Gordon (Kleban Award for The Usual), Kathryn Hathaway (Afterland), Bill Nelson (Harmony, Kansas), Rachel Peters (curator of Cornelia Street Cafe's Otherwise Unsung series), Brad Simmons (musical director of Broadway's Lysistrata Jones), and Benjamin Velez (Pain in the Aztec). Among the celebrity judges for the next show will be Broadway Producer Ken Davenport (Altar Boyz), casting director Michael Cassara (NYMF, A Time for Singing at the York) and performer Rachel Rhodes-Devey (Merrily We Roll Along at APAC).

Yes, interactive Off-Broadway shows are a thing, and they can be really entertaining. The latest offering in the genre is THAT BACHLORETTE SHOW, which is a flirtatiously fun 90 minute dance party from the creator of THE AWESOME 80S PROM. More party than theatre, this frivolous concoction packs in the laughs and keeps the beats coming. You'll have a blast dancing the night away with Adrianna Orlando and her stable of aspiring beaus.