Laurie Beechman News

Joe Iconis is a Tony Award-winning composer in the making, but until he wins that ultimate prize he's making a few stops along the way, like tonight when he and his 'Family' perform a concert of his 'Greatest Hits' at 54 Below.

Right from the Broadway production of Godspell, Hannah Elless joins the cast of Michael Ogborn's award winning musical Baby Case, playing the role of Adela St. John. Baby Case is directed by Jeremy Dobrish and produced by Charlie Fink, Michael Ogborn, Robert Soslow, Juliana Schauerman, Dorothy Flynn, Caroline Castagno, Glenn Gunderson, Kathy Lou Leone, Diane Santillo, and Anne Makara. Baby Case plays from tonight, July 16 - July 22, 2012, at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 W 42 St). Baby Case is presented by The New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Joe's Pub has announced its upcoming performances, tonight, July 16 through July 22, 2012, including 'All Aboard the Soul Train: A Tribute to Don Cornelius,' Tori Scott, Jeff LeBlanc, Carolyn Wonderland, Our Hit Parade, David Dondero, Amy LaVere, Josh Rouse, Eleni Mandell, Batz, Howard Fishman, Amber Martin, Quarteto Olinda and Pedro Moraes. See full details below!

When Phil Geoffrey Bond was named Programming Director at 54 Below, it became a given that the theatre district's spanking new nightlife venue would include on its schedule Broadway-centric evenings geared for the knowledgeable musical theatre fan who appreciates both past glories and upcoming works in progress.  The producer/host of the Laurie Beechman Theatre's popular Sondheim Unplugged series now makes a significant debut in the same capacities with New Mondays, dedicated to giving audiences a sampling of fresh material from accomplished theatre composers and lyricists.

Musical Momentum, a very unique benefit concert series, will present its second event, True Colors 2.0: A Benefit/Fundraiser for the Trevor Project at the Laurie Beechman Theater in New York on Sunday, July 29th.

Bette Midler tribute artist Donna Maxon revisits the glorious 70's with her new cabaret show BETTE & BARRY: BACK TO THE BATHHOUSE co-written by Maxon and director Michael Schiralli. Maxon stars as the Divine Miss M, performing a hilariously bawdy act of tunes, monologues, and jokes. The show co-stars musical director Fonda Feingold as Barry Manilow, and the duo proudly pays homage to the partnership that Midler and Manilow began at New York's Continental Baths in 1970.

On July 20th at 8pm a mixture of Broadway talent and nightlife personas will gather at Elmo is Chelsea to celebrate the 25th Year of Marti Gould Cummings, Brad Gardner, and Joey Contreras. This annual triple birthday event will feature some of NYC's brightest talents celebrating these three young men. Elmo is located in Chelsea on 19th Street and 7th Avenue.

Tonight, July 12th, Broadway Sessions welcomes casts and performances from new works being featured in The New York Musical Theater Festival. - The evening will feature performances from Flambe' Dreams, 6, Prison Dancer, Trouble, Stand Tall, Zapata!, Ari Gold's Bshert, Shelter, Swing State, Stealing Time and The Groove Factory. For more schedules and more information on the featured productions please visit www.nymf.org.

Shana Farr is set to perform her accalimed show, 'Whistling Away the Dark: Through Songs of Julie Andrews' on Wednesday, July 18th at 7:30 p.m. at the legendary Players Club, located at 16 Gramercy Park South. The performance is free and guests are welcome. Julie Andrews' biographer, Robert Windeler, will be joining Farr at this one-time-only performance.

Award-winning Barbra Streisand tribute artist Carla DelVillaggio makes her New York City debut in STREISAND: THE GREATEST STAR, a trilogy shows offering encyclopedic theatrical recreations of Barbra Streisand's career.

Michael Martinez and Fred Coscia will present An Evening of Music and Comedy X at Don't Tell Mama on August 3, 2012.

After sold-out shows at the Canal Room and the Laurie Beechman, Cutting-Edge Composers brings its latest concert to NYMF on Monday, July 23rd at 7 and 9:30 pm at the Theatre at St. Clement's (423 w. 46th Street). Up-and-coming musical theatre writers are teamed with Broadway's hottest performers at the concert directed and produced by Laura Pietropinto (Next to Normal), co-produced by Jillian Robbins, and musically directed by Virginia Hart Pike.

With baseball season in full swing, NATIONAL PASTIME, a new screwball musical comedy, will make its New York debut, beginning performances Off-Broadway on August 8, 2012 at the Peter Jay Sharp Theater at Playwrights Horizons in Manhattan (416 West 42nd Street).

Award-winning Barbra Streisand tribute artist Carla DelVillaggio makes her New York City debut in STREISAND: THE GREATEST STAR, a trilogy shows offering encyclopedic theatrical recreations of Barbra Streisand's career.

Stacie Perlman, First Runner Up in the 2011 MetroStar competition, makes her cabaret debut in The Story Underneath, taking you on a journey through the world of fairy tales, at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 20th Street, New York, tonight, July 10 @ 7:00 PM, Tuesday, July 31 @ 7:00 PM and Tuesday, August 14 @ 7:00 PM.

This Thursday, July 12th, Broadway Sessions welcomes casts and performances from new works being featured in The New York Musical Theater Festival. - The evening will feature performances from Flambe' Dreams, 6, Prison Dancer, Trouble, Stand Tall, Zapata!, Ari Gold's Bshert, Shelter, Swing State, Stealing Time and The Groove Factory. For more schedules and more information on the featured productions please visit www.nymf.org.

Super-highschooler Jeanette achieves everything she sets her mind to...except for love. Traveling from 8th grade awkwardness to 90210-style sexuality, her biggest crush quickly goes from 'like-like' to obsession. See what happens when Jeanette stops listening to her Magic 8 Ball and starts listening to her heart in the solo show Love. Guts. High School. A Co-Production of the Midtown International Theatre Festival.

Pittsburgh CLO will present Fiddler on the Roof, July 13-22 at the Benedum Center. This classic tale is filled with 'memorable music, rousing dances and a touch of human wisdom.'

On Sunday July 1 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal Kritzerland presented its monthly salute to a composer, July's being renowned lyricist/librettist Alan Jay Lerner. If you remember, My Fair Lady with lyrics by Lerner and music by Frederic Loewe, was one of the most popular musicals in the world and its original cast album sold more copies internationally than any other musical show for over a year. Then there were the flops such as Lolita My Love, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Carmelina and Dance a Little Closer. Kritzerland likes to present some of the more beautiful songs that would otherwise be forgotten because their fate was to be part of a turkey. With wonderful Shelley Markham as musical director, Bruce Kimmel assumed his monthly position at the pulpit with great singing guests Kim Huber, Jane Noseworthy, Chelsea Emma Franko - winner of this year's LA's Next Great Stage Star 2012, Gordon Goodman, Dennis Kyle and special guest Andrea Marcovicci.