Liz Callaway News

Today we are talking to a legendary leading lady famous for a few of the most iconic roles in some of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s and 1990s as well as a versatile vocalist and concert performer set to make her cabaret debut later this month - the ingratiating and amusing Randy Graff. Looking back at originating the role of Fantine in the original Broadway production of mega-hit mega musical LES MISERABLES and singing the unforgettable 'I Dreamed A Dream' eight times a week (and on the best-selling cast recording) as well as recounting her Tony Award-winning work in the endlessly entertaining Cy Coleman/David Zippel musical comedy CITY OF ANGELS, Graff share stories from behind the scenes and gives us a rare look at theatrical history in the making and her elemental role in both productions. Additionally, Graff opens up about some of her other most fondly remembered work, including her fantastic turn in Ed Kleban's A CLASS ACT, William Finn's FALSETTOS, Cole Porter's HIGH SOCIETY, the stage play and documentary MOON OVER BUFFALO co-starring Carol Burnett, the most recent revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and much more. Most importantly, Graff generously outlines what we can expect from her upcoming solo shows at NYC hotspot 54 Below titled MADE IN BROOKLYN, in what will actually be the stalwart star's solo show premiere. In addition to all of that, Graff also touches upon some of her big screen and small screen work, ranging from LAW & ORDER to RENT, as well as recounts some theatrical tales involving theatre greats such as Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, John Simon and more. All of that and much, much more awaits in this rich resume recounting retrospective with one of Broadway's best!

Celebrated Broadway stage star, recording artist and concert performer Liz Callaway is currently making her UK solo cabaret debut and she found some time to catch up with legendary West End diva supreme Elaine Paige while across the pond, making musical theatre history while doing so.

On Saturday, March 8 (2pm & 7:30pm) the Scripps Research Institute Auditorium will host a special concert performance of the the Maltby and Shire musical Baby, benefitting Miracle Babies. The special event will feature original Broadway cast member Liz Callaway, along with Richard Kind, Ilene Graff, Douglas Sills, Kerry O'Malley, Thomas C. Kouo, Sue Goodman, Ashley Fox Linton, Julie Garnye, Melissa Lone, Heidi Meyer, Jason Graae, Tim Nelson, David Zack, Warren Sheir, and vocal swing: Parnia Ayari.

The star-studded list of Broadway stars and A-list cabaret performers keeps growing for the 2013 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards Show, to be staged at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street near Astor Place in Manhattan) on February 23 from 6:30-8:40 pm. Added to a stellar group that includes Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Terri White, Jane Monheit and Jason Robert Brown, are Tony Award Winner (now also a cabaret performer) Alice Ripley (photo left), who will perform representing Sondheim Unplugged at 54 Below, which won the BWW Cabaret Award for Best Variety Show or Recurring Series. Broadway favorite Jackie Hoffman (Hairspray, Xanadu, Adams Family) will appear to perform and accept her BWW Award for Best Musical Comedy Performance for her show at 54 Below.

Broadway headliner, popular recording artist and concert performer Liz Callaway is set to bring her supreme singing skills across the pond today with a series of shows, marking her UK solo concert debut.

Broadway's Julie Halston, currently featured in Charles Busch's new play The Tribute Artist, will host the Fourth AnnualBroadway Belts for PFF! to benefit the Pulmonary Fibrosis Foundation (PFF) on February 24 at 7:00pm at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) as part of "Broadway at Birdland" series. All proceeds will benefit The Michael Kuchwara Fund for Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis Research, Education, and Advocacy. For more information visit www.pulmonaryfibrosis.org/broadwaybelts or contactamiller@pulmonaryfibrosis.org or call (888) 733-6741.

Neil Gooding Productions, Marika Aubrey and Hayes Theatre Co presents, The Last of the Red Hot Mamas, starring Marika Aubrey as part of its Cabaret in Residence at the Hayes Theatre Co on every Sunday from February 16 - March 2.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Kevin Dozier in 'It's About Time' tonight, January 22, 2014. MAC and Backstage Bistro Award-winning vocalist, Kevin Dozier, makes his 54 Below debut, on his 50th birthday.

Broadway at Birdland has announced the upcoming Mentor Monday with Tony Award-winner Lillias White, featuring composing team Lyons & Pakchar, on Monday, January 27 at 10 PM.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Kevin Dozier in "It's About Time" on January 22, 2014. MAC and Backstage Bistro Award-winning vocalist, Kevin Dozier, makes his 54 Below debut, on his 50th birthday. Featuring standards, Broadway, jazz, and pop songs from Kevin's studio recordings, 'Love-Wise' and 'Love's Never Lost', as well as new arrangements set for Kevin by the incomparable Marilyn Maye, You will be taken on a journey exploring love and the passage of time. Hear the singer The Huffington Post described as 'immensely likable...he brings to his crooning a tone remarkable for its simultaneous vulnerability and power. One of those romantic outings that might in an earlier time have been described as songs for swinging lovers.'

It's a rare occasion to hear a singer who transports you and I hope everyone has that opportunity at some point in their lives. I've been lucky enough to have this happen more frequently than most. Laura Benanti singing 'Unusual Way' in Nine, Liz Callaway doing 'Meadowlark,' Celia Keenan-Bolger singing 'Hold On' from The Secret Garden. Those moments where the singer holds you in the palm of their hand and takes you on a journey.

Laura Benanti, Terri White, Jane Monheit, Jason Robert Brown, and the Callaway Sisters Among First Wave of Performers Slated for BroadwayWorld Awards NY Cabaret Show, 2/23

Broadway headliner, popular recording artist and concert performer Liz Callaway is set to bring her supreme singing skills across the pond later this month with a series of shows, marking her UK solo concert debut.

It's finally official. After more than a month of voting--following a month-long nomination process--approximately 7,000 voters have selected the winners of the BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Awards for 2013. Self-proclaimed cabaret “Diva” Ann Hampton Callaway and her Broadway baby sister Liz Callaway are either the principals or connected to four awards out of this year's 18 categories, including “Best Duo or Group Show” for the return after 18 years of their critically-acclaimed sister act Sibling Revelry, and “Best Tribute Show” to Ann for her exciting homage to Sarah Vaughan, From Sassy to Divine. Ann's musicians for her Sarah Vaughan show at Dizzy's Jazz Club at Lincoln Center took the Award for “Best Band or Orchestra,” and Alex Rybeck received the most votes as “Best Musical Director” for Sibling Revelry, which was staged in August at 54 Below.

2014 sees some new names and some returns to The Crazy Coqs. January starts with the London debut of the sizzling cabaret performer Carole J .Bufford and her show Body and Soul (tonight, January 7 - 11) followed by the popular Broadway star Brent Barrett and his show Night Songs (January 14 -18) and then actress and singer Linda Purl with her show Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era of the 40s & 50s (January 21 - 25).

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:

In her acclaimed club act "Now You Know: An Evening of Steve, Lenny - and Annie," Broadway vet Ann Morrison (Merrily We Roll Along, Lovemusik) shares her intriguing and unusual life journey woven in and around songs from two of her musical mentors - Leonard Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim.

Voting is now underway for Cabaret! We have a record number of votes in already, but if you haven't voted yet, click here to vote! If you have voted already, tell your friends.

Today we are taking a look at a sensational seasonal showstopper by one of Broadway's best songwriters, Frank Loesser, performed by a line-up of legendary greats sure to start your 2014 off on the right foot - and left!

Last December, after I posted my list of the Best Cabaret Performers of 2012, I followed up my original 'listmania' with a column that served as a way to include some 'honorable mentions,' basically a recognition of other memorable shows and performances of songs that were striking, unique, and/or original that year. The column received a positive response so I thought I'd wheel it out again this year. So as the hours tick away on 2013 and we anticipate the coming of a new year, here is an addendum to the 2013 New York Cabaret Performers of the Year--a totally random list of 30 Honorable Mentions of the 'Best' and 'Most' in Cabaret for 2013 . . . mainly because I can and it's fun. Enjoy and Happy New Year!