Leslie Uggams News

It may not be like getting a gift on every one of the 12 Days of Christmas, but for cabaret and musical theater lovers, the 5th Annual Urban Stages Winter Rhythms series--presented over a dozen nights at the not-for-profit Off-Broadway theatre on 259 West 30th Street--could be the closest thing to opening a daily present by the tree. From December 3-15, dozens of singers and musicians will perform in an eclectic mix of a dozen shows plus late night and matinee 'extras,' with all the proceeds from ticket sales dedicated to the Urban Stages 'On Tour Outreach Program that brings more than 200 free multicultural theater and music programs to elementary and middle school age children and their families in libraries and schools throughout NYC five boroughs. Three years ago, Urban Stages Artistic Director Frances Hill brought in MAC and Bistro award-winning director, lyricist and producer Peter Napolitano to produce the Winter Rhythms program and broaden its scope.BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Columnist Stephen Hanks recently caught up with the Sol Hurok of Urban Stages to learn how Napolitano has helped Winter Rhythms evolve and to get some insights into this year's program.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Signature Theatre presents the New York Premiere of August Wilson's How I Learned What I Learned, co-conceived with and directed by Todd Kreidler, in collaboration with and featuring Tony Award-winner Ruben Santiago-Hudson. The show opened last night, November 24 in The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues), and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the big opening below!

Join The Philhallmonics swingin' and singin' their way through holiday favorites in "Man With The Bag" presented by The Lincoln Center Library for the Performing Arts and The PhilHallmonics (www.philhallmonics.com) on Saturday, December 7, 2013, 1:00 p.m. and 4:00 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance at 65th St & Amsterdam). The PhilHallmonics is led by founder, Broadway conductor and composer, Phil Hall and directed by Broadway choreographer Sharon Halley.

Legendary Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams takes part in the First Grade Theatre Study program at P.S. 212 (Midtown West School at 328 W 48th Street) today, Monday, November 18 at 1 p.m. The Study, part of the school's social studies curriculum, was started by Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher BRyan Andes as a way to introduce students to the bustling theater community in which they live.

In Nothing Like a Dame, theater journalist Eddie Shapiro opens a box full of knowledge, through in-depth conversations with twenty leading women of Broadway. The new book will be released on Febuary 7th, 2014.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano announces a series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2013, beginning on Tuesday, December 3 and running through Sunday, December 15, 2013 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $30 per show (unless otherwise noted).Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.

Legendary Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams will take part in the First Grade Theatre Study program at P.S. 212 (Midtown West School at 328 W 48th Street) on Monday, November 18 at 1 p.m. The Study, part of the school's social studies curriculum, was started by Kindergarten/First Grade Teacher Bryan Andes as a way to introduce students to the bustling theater community in which they live.

Andrea McArdle, Broadway's original Annie, will kick off the holiday season at The Abbey with Sounds of the Season, with performances on December 17th & 18th at 8 pm.

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, based upon the Paramount Pictures film, featuring music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by David Ives & Paul Blake, and directed and choreographed by Randy Skinner with musical direction by Andrew Smithson. The show runs tonight, November 7, 2013 - January 12, 2014.

On Saturday night, November 2, the Broadway community, family, and friends came together to celebrate the 50th birthday of the legendary Andrea McArdle. The birthday was a complete surprise to McArdle who was brought to the party by friend Tommy Tune under the impression that they were meeting Carol Channing for dessert! Scroll down for photos!

Happy Birthday Andrea McArdle! As 'Annie,' McArdle became the youngest performer ever to be nominated for a Tony Award as Best Lead Actress in a Musical. Also on Broadway, she starred in the Jerry Herman musical Jerry's Girls alongside Carol Channing and Leslie Uggams; she portrayed the sassy Smoking Car, Ashley, in Andrew Lloyd Webber's Starlight Express; and starred as Margy Frake in State Fair; as Fantine in Les Miserables and, most recently as Belle in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

54 Below celebrates some favorite musicals with the new series, 54 Sings. Re-live the hit songs from these groundbreaking shows, performed by some of the best in the biz and, occasionally, by the very voices for whom they were written. Kicking off the series will be 54 Sings Mame (December 8 at 9:30pm), starring: Leslie Uggams, Beth Leavel, Klea Blackhurst, Donna Lynne Champlin, Eric Michael Gillett, Annie Golden, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Dee Hoty, Pamela Myers, and Lee Roy Reams.

Rrazz Entertainment presents A Holiday Celebration of Rock, Rhythm & Soul at the Tarrytown Music Hall located at 13 Main Street in Tarrytown New York... See Bobby Rydell, , Charlie Thomas' Difters, Freda Payne, The Soul Survivors, Johnny Farina of Santo & Johnny-tickets are available now at www.TarrytownMusicHall.org or by calling 877.840.0457

Westchester Broadway Theatre presents Irving Berlin's WHITE CHRISTMAS, based upon the Paramount Pictures film, featuring music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by David Ives & Paul Blake, and directed and choreographed by Randy Skinner with musical direction by Andrew Smithson. The show runs November 7, 2013 - January 12, 2014.

Legendary concert artist and Kennedy Center Honoree Barbara Cook returns to New York City's Town Hall, 123 West 43rd Street (between 6th Avenue & Broadway,) on Thursday, November 14th at 8 PM with a new evening of song (and stories) as she continues to explore her newly-developed repertoire of jazz and swing, while also reprising her now-classic renditions of songs from Broadway and the Great American Songbook. Five weeks later, on December 19, 2013, Town Hall will overflow with the musical joys of the season when three extraordinary talents, Leslie Uggams, Marilyn Maye and Christine Andreas take the stage for Holiday Belles.

As BroadwayWorld.com continues to celebrate the site's landmark 10th anniversary, with a variety of special features, today we're turning our spotlight on the wonderful photography of Linda Lenzi.

The new Billie Holiday musical Lady Day starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, opened last night, October 3 at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical makes its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Check out photos from opening night below!

The Brooklyn-based web series East WillyB, which premiered in 2011, was created by Julia Grob and Yamin Segal, and stars Flaco Navaja, Shirley Rumierk, Rick Gonzalez, Julia Grob and Danny Hoch. Tonight, September 27, at 7:00 p.m. Museum of the Moving Image presents a theatrical screening of the first full season of the web series, plus the premiere of a never-shown musical episode, with Grob, Segal, and cast members in person. This free event is part of the Museum's ongoing series Changing the Picture, sponsored by Time Warner, Inc., that celebrates and explores the work of film and television artists of color who are bringing diverse voices to the screen.

The Development Wing which has dedicated itself to nurturing new musicals via partnerships with regional, not for profit theaters will hold its exclusive, intimate one-night-only benefit concert featuring Broadway stars singing songs from several new musicals at the historic Tewksbury, New Jersey home of Cherie King, President, The Development Wing and her husband composer, lyricist and book writer, Jonathan Brielle, Artistic Director of The Development Wing and Vice Chairman, The Johnny Mercer Foundation.