Laurie Beechman News

Corinna Sowers-Adler, Bloomfield resident and Wilkes University Graduate, is set to make her Lincoln Center debut in the 24th Annual New York Cabaret Convention on Thursday, October 10, 2013 at 6pm in Lincoln Center's 1,300 seat Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Created in 1985 as a not-for-profit arts organization, The Mabel Mercer Foundation serves to both perpetuate the memory and spirit of its legendary namesake and to stimulate and promote public interest world of cabaret. Currently in its third decade, the Foundation and its efforts have been perhaps best summarized and recognized by a recent commendation from The Oakland Tribune: "Cabaret may not be thriving, but it is alive and well, thanks mainly to The Mabel Mercer Foundation and its support of wonderfully diverse talents."

Big Thunder Productions presents: Mercury Rising, a Benefit Concert by MSS Alums in the Big Apple, a cabaret event to be performed on Sunday, September 15th at 4pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. The event will feature songs from new, bound-for-Broadway musicals written by up-and-coming composers and lyricists from all over the globe, including Mercury Summer Stock's own Dan Marshall, Carla Rose Fisher, and Aliyana Stewart. This benefit concert will feature Broadway's Corey Mach and Drew Aber, and over a dozen of Mercury's NYC-based professional alumni, along with special guest Marissa Rosen.

One of the biggest downers perpetrated by American culture is the characterization of Labor Day weekend as the 'unofficial end of summer.' But given what has passed for cabaret entertainment-at least the shows I was able to attend--since the 'unofficial start of summer' on Memorial Day weekend, the end of summer can't come soon enough. But my dismay over the hours lost watching average shows this season was tempered a bit by the pride and joy I felt watching the June performances of three strikingly attractive and talented 30ish brunettes with powerhouse voices-- Jackie Kristel, Karen Gross and Jodi Beck, who all staged entertaining shows as spring was turning to summer.

Ali Stroker, who first rose to fame in The Glee Project on TV, and then upped the ante when she graduated intoGlee, will be making her first appearance in the next Broadway Ballyhoo on Wednesday, Sept. 11th at 10:30 PM at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. This will not, however, be the first time that Ali has appeared in a Scott Siegel show. She was originally discovered in Broadway's Rising Stars when she auditioned and was chosen by Siegel to perform in the show that he created, wrote, and hosted for The Town Hall. Ali will headline the Broadway Ballyhoo show with an all-star cast that will soon be announced.

Broadway's Frankie James Grande returns to his home town of New York with his one-man show 'Living La Vida Grande' at the Laurie Beechman Theater on September 13th-15th, 2013.

Cabaret Cares the MAC Award Winning Benfit Series returns for season 8. On Sept 21st Join Joseph Macchia for Forty and Fabulous. Joseph's Birthday Bash. When joseph turned 35 he decided no more parties or presents he wanted to celebrate his Birthday and help the children of Help Is On The Way Today. The non for profit he started 6 years ago to help children living with HIV and AIDS. Cabaret Cares has raised over $80,000 in its first seven seasons.

An exceptional line-up of talented stars has been assembled for the next Broadway Ballyhoo on Sept. 4 at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, with Tony Nominee Barbara Walsh (Company, Falsettoes, etc.) headlining, and including the star in the title role of the new Disney musical Aladdin, coming to Broadway in the Spring, Adam Jacobs(The Lion King, Les Miserables, etc.). They will be joined by Drama Desk Nominee and musical comedy star Karen Murphy (My Vaudeville Man, and twelve Broadway shows), Ali Ewoldt (Les Miserables, and currently starring as 'The Girl' in The Fantasticks at the Snapple Theater), andAlex Getlin (who has twice performed at Feinstein's at The Regency with Michael Feinstein as herguest star!).

As always, tonight's edition of BROADWAY BALLYHOO has a rich variety of exceptionally talented folks: they will provide you with a unique musical revue that will never be seen again. Tonight's performers include Janine Divita(Anything Goes), Brian Charles Rooney (The 3 Penny Opera), David Ippolito (Possibility Junkie), Milla Ilieva (nightclub star), and Broadway Rising Star, Ally Bonino.

The 5th installment of Dallas Dubois' acclaimed 'Distorted' drag show series is here! Dubois and her merry band of drag stars -- whose DISTORTED DIZNEE show has developed a cult following -- put a bawdy twist on your favorite movie moments in DISTORTED HOLLYWOOD. This Las Vegas-style drag extravaganza stars Dallas DuBois, Holly Dae, Pixie Aventura, Brenda Dharling and Bootsie LeFaris. Performances begin October 11 where it will run in rotating rep with DISTORTED DIZNEE (replacing long-running hit DISTORTED BROADWAY) at The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

THE BOY WHO LOVED BASSEY, directed by Ben Cameron, will play a two performance limited engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Downstairs at the West Bank Cafe (407 W 42nd Street). Performances are on September 9th and 16th at 7:00 pm.

Kim Coles, the hilarious star of hit TV shows Living Single, Frasier and In Living Color, returns to New York with her acclaimed one-woman show OH BUT WAIT, THERE'S MORE!?.? Written and performed by Kim Coles and directed by Scotch Ellis Loring, this limited engagement will be presented October 4 -13 at The Laurie Beechman Theater at West Bank Cafe.

If Opera be the Food of Love, Eat On, starring Chef Matthew Passaclacqua of Lure Grill & Wendy Taucher Dance Opera Theater. The Opera Dinner will be presented on Saturday, October 19th, 2013 at the Winnetu Oceanside Resort – Lure Grill (31 Dunes Road Edgartown, MA 02539). The evening combines opera classics, great food, in a lovely setting for this unique cabaret-style event. This special event is a part of the annual Martha's Vineyard Food & Wine Festival - a celebration of sea, farm and vine (October 17-20, 2013).

This coming Wednesday night's Broadway Ballyhoo will feature an eclectic cast at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. At 10:30 PM (doors open at 10 PM), the joint will be swinging with the sensational sound ofThe Anderson Twins (famous for their 59E59 shows), the thrilling voice of Jeanette Bayardelle, who is currently starring to critical acclaim in her one woman show, Shida,at Ars Nova, exciting song and dance man Derek Rowland (Time Step), the beautiful and talented Rebecca LaChance who is heading to Broadway this Fall inBeautiful: The Carole King Musical, Broadway Rising StarJustin Talkington, and More!

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 18, 2013 - Sunday, August 18, 2013.

Today's edition features the late Laurie Beechman with her Theatre World Award in 1982. Beechman made her Broadway debut in the original cast of ANNIE, and later starred as 'The Narrator' in the original cast of JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, scoring a Tony nod for her work. She also starred in PIRATES OF PENZANCE, CATS, LES MISERABLES, CARRIE, and more. After a long battle with ovarion cancer, Beechman died in 1988 at the age of 44.

Nikki Bohne (Bring It On, Legally Blonde), Brett Theile (Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark), Max Chernin (RATED RSO: MT-17, NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation), Cait Doyle (Hot Mess in Manhattan), and Cathryn Salamone (All of My Friends are Whores: Pace University Does Drew Fornarola) are the cast of Broadway and Off-Broadway actors who will take part in a one-night-only concert of songs by new musical theatre writer Addison O'Donnell August 17th in New York City.

It's gay; it's camp; it's Gay Camp! Following its sold-out run as part of the 2012 New York International Fringe Festival and subsequent Fringe Encore Series, the show's creators are returning with an even more laugh-packed run of the hit play Gay Camp, opening at the Duplex Cabaret Theatre tonight, August 17, 2013 at 6:30pm.

RuPaul's Drag Race winner Jinkx Monsoon performed 'Everybody's Girl' at Broadway Sessions on July 18th, 2013. Watch her sing below!

Nightlife Award winner Carole J. Bufford, Tony Bennett's favorite singer Allan Harris, musical theater comet Jillian Louis (winning performance citations the last two years in a row at NYMF), cabaret star Frank Dain and Broadway Rising star Michelle Cameron will star in the next edition of Scott Siegel's BROADWAY BALLYHOO! tonight, August 14 at 10:30 p.m. at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

By overwhelming popular demand, what began as a one-night-only engagement has ballooned into a full-fledged Off-Broadway run! Now, RuPaul's Drag Race favorite Jinkx Monsoon announces a fourth extension of her New York theater debut in THE VAUDEVILLIANS, a musical comedy co-starring composer and musician Richard Andriessen. Performances will now run through October 29 at The Laurie Beechman Theater (inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street -- at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street). Performance times vary. Tickets are $25 (plus a $15 food/drink minimum.) A $50 VIP ticket including priority seating and meet-and-greet is also available. To purchase tickets, call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.