Lee MacDougall News

The best of Broadway will be performing FREE on six consecutive Thursdays this summer with '106.7 LITE FM's Broadway in Bryant Park 2017' - a lunchtime series on the Bryant Park Stage. Hosted by LITE FM's on-air personalities, the 17th annual presentation of open-air, On- and Off- Broadway lunch hour performances will run through Thursday, August 10. This year's 106.7 LITE FM'S Broadway in Bryant Park is presented by Aruba Tourism Authority, Lufthansa and Toyota.

Watch below as COME FROAM AWAY's Petrina Bromley,Geno Carr, De'Lon Grant, Joel Hatch, Kendra Kassebaum, Tony LePage, Lee MacDougall,Julie Reiber, Caesar Samayoa, Q. Smith, Astrid Van Wieren, Sharon Wheatley perform 'Welcome to the Rock,' 'Me And the Sky' and 'Somewhere In the Middle of Nowhere.'

The best of Broadway has performed for FREE on six consecutive Thursdays this summer with '106.7 LITE FM's Broadway in Bryant Park 2017' - a lunchtime series on the Bryant Park Stage. Hosted by LITE FM's on-air personalities, the 17th annual presentation of open-air, On- and Off- Broadway lunch hour performances will run through Thursday, August 10.

Just last night, Manhattan Theatre Club presented its annual Spring Gala at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street) honoring Matthew C. Blank, Chairman of Showtime Networks Inc. This year's Gala was hosted by Emmy and Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin and featured performances by many of the most acclaimed musicals on Broadway including Bandstand; A Bronx Tale; Come From Away; Dear Evan Hansen; Natasha, Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812; Sunset Boulevard; and a sneak peek of Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming production of Prince of Broadway.

Junkyard Dog Productions announced today that the critically acclaimed new musical COME FROM AWAY, which is nominated for 7 Tony Awards including Best Musical, won 5 Outer Critics Circle Awards including Best Musical and 4 Helen Hayes Awards including Outstanding Musical Production, and is nominated for 9 Drama Desk Awards including Best Musical and the Drama League Award for Best Musical, will launch a North American Tour across the United States and Canada at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in October 2018. COME FROM AWAY, which has been playing to standing room only audiences, features a book, music and lyrics by two-time Tony Award nominees and Outer Critics Circle Award winners Irene Sankoff & David Hein, direction by two-time Tony Award nominee and Outer Critics Circle winnerChristopher Ashley (Memphis), musical staging by two-time Tony Award nominee Kelly Devine (Rocky), and music supervision by Ian Eisendrath (A Christmas Story).

Manhattan Theatre Club will present its annual Spring Gala on Monday, May 22 at Cipriani 42nd Street (110 East 42nd Street) honoring Matthew C. Blank, Chairman of Showtime Networks Inc.

JUNKYARD DOG PRODUCTIONS and THE MUSICAL COMPANY celebrated the release of the original Broadway cast recording of Come From Away with a special in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble. Creators Irene Sankoff and David Hein will be joined by the Come From Away cast: Petrina Bromley, Geno Carr, Jenn Colella, Joel Hatch, Rodney Hicks, Kendra Kassebaum, Tony Award nominee Chad Kimball, Lee MacDougall, Caesar Samayoa, Q. Smith, Astrid Van Wieren and Sharon Wheatley, along with musical arranger and supervisor Ian Eisendrath. See all the photos from the event below!

Just last night, Theatre Forward and Chairman James S. Turley led a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue). The Chairman's Awards Gala supports the work of Theatre Forward, which is dedicated to advancing American theatres and its communities through its Educating Through Theatre and Advancing Strong Theatre initiatives.

As previously announced, Theatre Forward and Chairman James S. Turley will lead a celebration to support American theatre at the annual Chairman's Awards Gala on Monday, April 3rd, at The Pierre New York (2 East 61st Street at Fifth Avenue).

COME FROM AWAY opened earlier this month on Broadway, officially sharing the tale of a remarkable little town in Newfoundland with theatergoers. Jimmy Buffett - the inspiration for the new musical ESCAPE TO MARGARITAVILLE - stopped by the show last night. Scroll down for photos of him with the cast and creative team!

JUNKYARD DOG PRODUCTIONS and THE MUSICAL COMPANY will celebrate the release of the original Broadway cast recording of COME FROM AWAY with a special in-store performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble (150 East 86th St at Lexington Avenue) on Friday, April 7, 2017 at 4.30 PM. Creators Irene Sankoff and David Hein will be joined by the COME FROM AWAY cast: Petrina Bromley, Geno Carr, Jenn Colella, Joel Hatch, Rodney Hicks, Kendra Kassebaum, Tony Award nominee Chad Kimball, Lee MacDougall, Caesar Samayoa, Q. Smith, Astrid Van Wieren and Sharon Wheatley, along with musical arranger and supervisor Ian Eisendrath. Fans who purchase the CD at the store will be offered priority seating.

Today, NBC special correspondent Tom Brokaw joined TODAY to reveal the real-life incidents that inspired the show and examines how a small Canadian town opened its heart to stranded Americans in the aftermath of the September 11 attacks.

COME FROM AWAY opened last night on Broadway, officially sharing the tale of a remarkable little town in Newfoundland with theatre goers. Come From Away features Petrina Bromley (Stratford's As You Like It); Geno Carr (The Old Globe's Dr. Seuss' How The Grinch Stole Christmas); Jenn Colella(If/Then); Joel Hatch (Annie); Rodney Hicks (The Scottsboro Boys); Kendra Kassebaum (Wicked); Tony Award nominee Chad Kimball(Memphis); Lee MacDougall (Stratford's The Music Man); Caesar Samayoa(Sister Act); Q. Smith (Mary Poppins); Astrid Van Wieren (North American premiere of Mamma Mia!); Sharon Wheatley (Avenue Q); Josh Breckenridge (The Scottsboro Boys); Susan Dunstan (The Lion King US National Tour); Tamika Lawrence (If/Then) and Tony LePage (Rock of Ages).

The cast of the new Broadway musical COME FROM AWAY will appear on NBC's TODAY ON Thursday, March 16th.

COME FROM AWAY opened last night on Broadway, officially sharing the tale of a remarkable little town in Newfoundland with theatre goers. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was live on the red carpet last night chatting with the stars and also some Ganderites at opening night. Check out all the action below!

COME FROM AWAY opened last night on Broadway, officially sharing the tale of a remarkable little town in Newfoundland with theatre goers. Check out the cast at the opening night party below!

COME FROM AWAY opened last night on Broadway, officially sharing the tale of a remarkable little town in Newfoundland with theatre goers. Check out all the arrivals on the red carpet below!

COME FROM AWAY opened last night on Broadway, officially sharing the tale of a remarkable little town in Newfoundland with theatre goers. See the cast take their opening night bows below!

'Look for the helpers,' Fred Rogers would say. 'When I was a boy and I would see scary things in the news, my mother would say to me, 'Look for the helpers. You will always find people who are helping.''

COME FROM AWAY opens tonight on Broadway, officially sharing the tale of a remarkable little town in Newfoundland with theatre goers.