Rita McKenzie News

The 17th annual Broadway Barks fundraiser - the star-studded dog and cat adoption event to benefit New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies founded by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore - was held July 11 in Shubert Alley. This year's event was co-hosted by Tony winner Peters and Tony nominee Andrew Rannells. BroadwayWorld brings you lots of photos with your favorite Broadway stars and some adorable animals!

RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL opens Off-Broadway tonight, July 13th at St. Luke's Theatre. Book and lyrics for RUTHLESS! are by Joel Paley with music by Marvin Laird. Joel Paley also directed the original production as well as productions in L.A., South Beach and the record-breaking concert event starring Bernadette Peters. He will once again serve as director of the newest incarnation ofRUTHLESS!, with Marvin Laird on board as music supervisor as well.

The 17th annual Broadway Barks fundraiser was held July 11 in Shubert Alley. Broadway's brightest were in attendance, including Tony Award-winner Lena Hall. Below, check out a photo of Hall with Lawrence Leritz with their newly-adopted pups!

The entire company of Ruthless! The Musical will join host Bernadette Peters at the 17th annual Broadway Barks fundraiser today, July 11th at 5 PM in Shubert Alley.

The entire company of Ruthless! The Musical will join host Bernadette Peters at the 17th annual Broadway Barks fundraiser this Saturday, July 11th at 5 PM in Shubert Alley.

BROADWAY BARKS announces their 17th annual star-studded dog and cat adoption event to benefit New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. Founded by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, this event features celebrities from the hottest shows on Broadway.  The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will take place on Saturday, July 11 in Shubert Alley (located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). The festivities begin at 3:00 p.m. where you meet all the adoptable dogs and cats; celebrity presentations of adoptable pets will take place between 5:00-6:30 p.m. This year's event will be co-hosted by Bernadette Peters and Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon, HBO's 'Girls'). The event is free and open to the public.

RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL is set to open Off-Broadway Monday, July 13th at St. Luke's Theatre. Preview performances began on June 25th. Book and lyrics for RUTHLESS! are by Joel Paley with music by Marvin Laird. Joel Paley also directed the original production as well as productions in L.A., South Beach and the record-breaking concert event starring Bernadette Peters. He will once again serve as director of the newest incarnation ofRUTHLESS!, with Marvin Laird on board as music supervisor as well.

BROADWAY BARKS announces their 17th annual star-studded dog and cat adoption event to benefit New York City animal shelters and adoption agencies. Founded by Bernadette Peters and Mary Tyler Moore, this event features celebrities from the hottest shows on Broadway.  The event, produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will take place on Saturday, July 11 in Shubert Alley (located between 44th and 45th Streets, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue). The festivities begin at 3:00 p.m. where you meet all the adoptable dogs and cats; celebrity presentations of adoptable pets will take place between 5:00-6:30 p.m. This year's event will be co-hosted by Bernadette Peters and Andrew Rannells (The Book of Mormon, HBO's 'Girls'). The event is free and open to the public.

RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL entertained the crowd on Fran Drescher's New York Harbor cruise to kick off Gay Pride Week last Sunday, June 21st. A benefit for Cancer Schmancer, the floating party was held aboard the Hornblower Hybrid. Patti LuPone joined the festivities immediately following her matinee of SHOWS FOR DAYS along with other celebrity guests including Thomas Roberts, Patti Stanger, Jill Zarin, Peter Marc Jacobson, and Ann Hampton Callaway.

Broadway lovers (and haters) rejoice, because the funniest and bloodiest musical about what it takes to make a child a star is returning to Off-Broadway. RUTHLESS! is set to begin performances tonight, June 25th at St. Luke's Theatre in the heart of the Theater District, with the official Opening Night on Monday, July 13th.

Broadway lovers (and haters) rejoice, because the funniest and bloodiest musical about what it takes to make a child a star is returning to Off-Broadway. RUTHLESS! is set to begin performances June 25th at St. Luke's Theatre in the heart of the Theater District, with the official Opening Night on Monday, July 13th. Book and lyrics are by Joel Paley and music by Marvin Laird. Joel Paley also directed the original production of RUTHLESS! as well as productions in L.A., South Beach and the record-breaking concert event starring Bernadette Peters. He will once again serve as director of the new production, with Marvin Laird on board as musical supervisor as well. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the stars!

Rehearsals began June 2nd for the all-new production of RUTHLESS! The Musical. Broadway lovers (and haters) rejoice, because the funniest and bloodiest musical about what it takes to make a child a star is returning to Off-Broadway! RUTHLESS! is set to begin performances June 25th at St. Luke's Theatre in the heart of the Theater District, with the official Opening Night on Monday, July 13th. Book and lyrics are by Joel Paley and music byMarvin Laird. Joel Paley also directed the original production of RUTHLESS! as well as productions in L.A., South Beach and the record-breaking concert event starring Bernadette Peters. He will once again serve as director of the new production, with Marvin Laird on board as musical supervisor as well.

Rehearsals are set to begin today for the all-new production of RUTHLESS! The Musical. Broadway lovers (and haters) rejoice, because the funniest and bloodiest musical about what it takes to make a child a star is returning to Off-Broadway in just a few short weeks! Tina Denmark is a pretty, charming and diabolical eight-year-old girl who 'was born to entertain.' With the encouragement of slick and overbearing potential agent Sylvia St. Croix, Tina will do anything to play the lead in her school play, and we mean anything. The question is, where does such remarkable talent and unstoppable ambition come from? The answer may shock you when you see this award-winning Stage Mother of all musicals.

Tina Denmark is back! The diabolical tot who will do anything to be a star, the gal who sets things spinning in RUTHLESS! The Musical, originally staged in New York 22 years ago, winning both the Drama Desk (Best Lyrics) and Outer Critics Circle Award (Best Musical). But make no mistake - this is not your mother's RUTHLESS! This is no mere revival, but a newly imagined meditation on narcissism, talented tykes and stage mothers in this post 'Toddlers and Tiaras' and Honey Boo Boo world!

Ruthless! The Musical, the award-winning Off-Broadway musical comedy (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle) is back by popular demand after a record-breaking, sold-out nine performances to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. 'RUTHLESS!' has come to be known as the Stage Mother of All Musicals, is back at Stage 72 at the Triad beginning tonight, October 23rd for an extended run.

Ruthless! The Musical, the award-winning Off-Broadway musical comedy (Drama Desk, Outer Critics Circle) is back by popular demand after a record-breaking, sold-out nine performances to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. 'RUTHLESS!' has come to be known as the Stage Mother of All Musicals, is back at Stage 72 at the Triad beginning on October 23rd for an extended run.

Tina Denmark, the diabolically talented tyke in the award-winning musical Ruthless! returns to New York for nine performances only to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, continuing September 8; 12-13; 15; 19-20 and 22, 2014 at 7:00pm. Performances will be held at Stage 72 at The Triad (158 W 72nd St, NYC). Check out photos from inside the first performance below!

Like the role she will be playing in a new production of 'Ruthless!,' the cult-hit musical, Sophia Anne Caruso is a young actress who will do anything to get the part. The triple threat tween will follow in the tap shoes of Laura Bell Bundy('Hairspray,' 'Legally Blonde') Britney Spears and Natalie Portman. Before they became stars, all three young actors were cast as the diabolically talented Tina Denmark. Of Caruso, Author/Director, Joel Paley says, 'We didn't find her, she found us!' Sophia tracked down the creators while they were trying out rewrites for a new Connecticut production, writing to tell them that after having been cast as Tina in regional theatre, one of the principle actors suffered a fatal heart attack during the dress rehearsal. The show never opened. Although heartbroken and terribly shaken ('It was the worst thing that ever happened in my life') she assured us she knew the role backwards and forwards and was more determined than ever to play Tina. 'We had to meet her. She was Tina Denmark.' An audition was arranged and the rest is going to be history!

Everything's coming up Merman from today, August 21 through August 24, 2014, as Stoneham Theatre presents Ethel Merman's Broadway, the Award-Winning, critically acclaimed musical celebration of Broadway's greatest singer: Ethel Merman! Stage and TV star Rita McKenzie recreates the amazing life of 'La Merm,' with songs from such hit musicals as Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, and more.

Like the role she will be playing in a new production of 'Ruthless!,' the cult-hit musical, Sophia Anne Caruso is a young actress who will do anything to get the part. The triple threat tween will follow in the tap shoes of Laura Bell Bundy('Hairspray,' 'Legally Blonde') Britney Spears and Natalie Portman. Before they became stars, all three young actors were cast as the diabolically talented Tina Denmark. Of Caruso, Author/Director, Joel Paley says, 'We didn't find her, she found us!' Sophia tracked down the creators while they were trying out rewrites for a new Connecticut production, writing to tell them that after having been cast as Tina in regional theatre, one of the principle actors suffered a fatal heart attack during the dress rehearsal. The show never opened. Although heartbroken and terribly shaken ('It was the worst thing that ever happened in my life') she assured us she knew the role backwards and forwards and was more determined than ever to play Tina. 'We had to meet her. She was Tina Denmark.' An audition was arranged and the rest is going to be history!