Lauren Kennedy News

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Caf? (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, THE AFTER PARTY. Now going strong it's third, THE AFTER PARTY is billed as 'a weekly schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined.' Every Friday from 10:30 pm until the wee hours, pros from Broadway and aspiring stars alike belt it out on the stage of The Laurie Beechman Theatre. Join hosts BRANDON CUTRELL (MAC & Bistro Award winner) and ALYSHA UMPHRESS (XL Star) with RAY FELLMAN (Captain Louie) at the piano for this weekly party in the theatre district. There is no cover charge for this event. Come and sing yourself as the mic is always open, or sit back and enjoy a cocktail with friends. Located just blocks from the Great White Way, you never know who might drop in.

Acclaimed New York based singer/songwriter Jeremy Schonfeld will take the stage at Boston University's GSU Conference Auditorium on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 8:00pm in collaboration with Boston University's premiere musical theatre group, BU on Broadway. With music from 37 Notebooks, Drift, and other upcoming projects, the solo piano concert features special guest Amy Spanger. The concert will also feature students from BU On Broadway who auditioned for the concert via YouTube, who will collaborate with Schonfeld and Spanger to perform material in the end-of-the-semester concert.

News from Broadway and theater in the Baltimore/Washington area

VANITIES, A New Musical by Jack Heifner, with music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by two-time Tony? Award-winner Judith Ivey and musical staging by Dan Knechtges, has postponed a planned Broadway run.

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony based on the book by E.B. White, adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman, with music by Jason Robert Brown, and direction by Gary Griffin. The production features a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Jason Robert Brown. Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony is part of a season-long initiative Broadway: The Third Generation, celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers, and will appear for five performances in the Eisenhower Theater December 4-6, 2008. The theatrical adaptation is recommended for audiences aged seven and up.

POZ's 'Bacharch to the Future' Fundraiser brought music and promise to the New World Stages on Monday, December 1, 2008, World AIDS Day. The premier performance of Bacharach to the Future, a fund-raiser for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, honored music legend Burt Bacharach, the composer of 'That's What Friends Are For,' the pioneering recording that benefited The Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR) in 1985.

POZ's 'Bacharach to the Future' Fundraiser comes to New World Stages in New York on Monday, December 1, 2008, World AIDS Day. Members of BroadwayWorld can purchase tickets to 'Bacharach to the Future' for $41.50.

Acclaimed New York based singer/songwriter Jeremy Schonfeld will take the stage at Boston University's GSU Conference Auditorium on Thursday, December 11, 2008 at 8:00pm in collaboration with Boston University's premiere musical theatre group, BU on Broadway. With music from 37 Notebooks, Drift, and other upcoming projects, the solo piano concert features special guest Amy Spanger. The concert will also feature students from BU On Broadway who auditioned for the concert via YouTube, who will collaborate with Schonfeld and Spanger to perform material in the end-of-the-semester concert.

POZ's 'Bacharch to the Future' Fundraiser comes to New World Stages in New York on Monday, December 1, 2008, World AIDS Day. Christopher Jackson ('In the Heghts') and Kerry Butler ('Xanadu' and 'Hairspray') will join this landmark New York City Event.

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony based on the book by E.B. White, adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman, with music by Jason Robert Brown, and direction by Gary Griffin. The production features a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Jason Robert Brown. Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony is part of a season-long initiative Broadway: The Third Generation, celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers, and will appear for five performances in the Eisenhower Theater December 4-6, 2008. The theatrical adaptation is recommended for audiences aged seven and up.

VANITIES, A New Musical by Jack Heifner, with music and lyrics by David Kirshenbaum, directed by two-time Tony® Award-winner Judith Ivey and musical staging by Dan Knechtges, will open on Broadway Thursday, February 26, 2009 at the Lyceum Theatre, 149 West 45th Street (preview performances will begin Monday, February 2).

Jeremy Schonfeld's 'DRIFT' BENEFIT took place on November 3rd At BB KING BLUES CLUB. This one night only event was a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and The Broadway Dreams Foundation and was presented with Scott Coulter and Michelle Kinney and The Path Fund Inc.

Jeremy Schonfeld's 'DRIFT' BENEFIT will take place on November 3rd At BB KING. DRIFT will feature Kris Coleman (Jersey Boys), Jarrod Emick (Tony Award Winner for Damn Yankees), Adam Kantor, Terrence Mann (Tony Nominated star of Les Miserable and Beauty and the Beast), Karla Mosley (Expatriate), Julia Murney (Wicked), Adam Cantor (Spring Awakening) and Adam Pascal (Rent.) BroadwayWorld was invited to cover the rehearsal as Adam Pascal worked on his songs before the event tomorrow night.

An all-star benefit concert performance of DRIFT, with music and lyrics by Jeremy Schonfeld and directed by Lauren Kennedy, will be presented at BB King Blues Club & Grill on Monday, November 3 at 8PM. The rock-musical weaves raw and gracefully honest songs together to tell the story of one man's divorce and reconciliation. DRIFT - In Concert boasts the talents of Adam Pascal, Adam Kantor, Terrence Mann, Jarrod Emick and Julia Murney.

Adam Kantor, who made his Broadway debut as the final Mark in Rent, will replace Hunter Parrish in the all-star benefit concert performance of DRIFT with music and lyrics by Jeremy Schonfeld.

Several great performers have joined the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals on October 20 & 21 at New World Stages and more have been added to the benefit concert A Toast for 20! on October 19th at COMIX.

To commemorate their 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals, the National Alliance of Musical Theatre (NAMT) will celebrate with a benefit concert open to the public entitled A Toast to 20! on Sunday, October 19 at Comix in New York.

Several great performers have joined the National Alliance for Musical Theatre's 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals on October 20 & 21 at New World Stages and more have been added to the benefit concert A Toast for 20! on October 19th at COMIX.

To commemorate their 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals, the National Alliance of Musical Theatre (NAMT) will celebrate with a benefit concert open to the public entitled A Toast to 20! on Sunday, October 19 at Comix in New York.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) and Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the directors and casts for the eight musicals being presented at its 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals at New World Stages (340 West 50th St) on Monday, October 20 and Tuesday, October 21, 2008. Also, announced were the line-up for this year's Songwriter Showcase happening during the Festival.