Stephen Flaherty News

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts celebrates the 12th Anniversary of the Millennium Stage on January 31, 2009 with 'Broadway Today'-a star-studded, free concert, produced by Michael A. Kerker and presented in cooperation with ASCAP, in the Opera House as a part of the Center's season-long artistic initiative Broadway: The Third Generation. With the composers at the piano, original cast members and Broadway stars perform signature songs that made these artists household names.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its eleventh season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 17 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, R&B, country, rock, show tunes, bluegrass and multimedia, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic contemporary songwriting. The 2009 season - January 14 through March 6 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including top vocalist Kurt Elling and country's winning Patty Loveless. It will feature the rare opportunity to hear Paulo Szot, star of Broadway's South Pacific, and film and stage star Alan Cumming, in intimate concert settings.

The second week of Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook brings to the Allen Room stage a jazz great, a new singer/songwriter, a country music classic and Broadway's newest heartthrob, all celebrating the diversity of American popular song. Singer Kurt Elling will re-create the standout recording that singer Johnny Hartman made in 1963 of the music of John Coltrane. Saxophonist Ernie Watts, The Laurence Hobgood Trio and the string quartet ETHEL will join Elling for this show, entitled Dedicated to You.

Barnes and Noble has announced the January Calendar of Music and Theatre Related Events at the Lincoln Triangle location. Barnes and Noble Lincoln Triangle is located at 66th St. and Broadway, New York City. All events are free and open to the public. For large events, B&N gives seating priority to those who purchase the promoted book or CD.

Astoria Performing Arts Center is pleased to announce the production of RAGTIME, a musical directed by APAC's very own Artistic Director, Tom Wojtunik. Ragtime will play a 3-week limited engagement at the Good Shepherd United Methodist Church (30-44 Crescent St, Astoria, NY 11102). Performances begin Thursday, February 5th and continue through Sunday, February 22nd.

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony based on the book by E.B. White, adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman, with music by Jason Robert Brown, and direction by Gary Griffin. The production features a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Jason Robert Brown. Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony is part of a season-long initiative Broadway: The Third Generation, celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers, and will appear for five performances in the Eisenhower Theater December 4-6, 2008. The theatrical adaptation is recommended for audiences aged seven and up.

Porchlight Music Theatre, Chicago's most awarded musical theatre invites guests to enjoy their first annual Holiday Sing Along Monday, December 15 at 7:30 p.m. The event will take place at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 W. Belmont, Chicago. Porchlight Music Theatre's award winning actors will sing popular holiday songs and invite guests to join in the fun.

Camp Broadway, the award-winning theater arts education and audience development company and American icon, Kermit the Frog, will lead 300 performance-loving kids, ages 10-17, in an original Closing number 'I Believe in Santa Claus,' live in the 82nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will be televised on NBC-TV on November 27, 2008 beginning at 9am.

SRT hosted its seventh annual benefit and cabaret event on November 17th at Birdland Jazz in Manhattan.

SRT's Annual Benefit features Tony, Academy and Grammy Award-winning artists in 'Sonnet Sings: The Bard, An Evening of Original Songs Inspired by the Work of William Shakespeare.' 11/17

The Kennedy Center presents the world premiere of The Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony based on the book by E.B. White, adapted for the stage by Marsha Norman, with music by Jason Robert Brown, and direction by Gary Griffin. The production features a 35-piece orchestra conducted by Jason Robert Brown. Trumpet of the Swan: A Novel Symphony is part of a season-long initiative Broadway: The Third Generation, celebrating the current generation of Broadway musical composers, and will appear for five performances in the Eisenhower Theater December 4-6, 2008. The theatrical adaptation is recommended for audiences aged seven and up.

Camp Broadway, the award-winning theater arts education and audience development company and American icon, Kermit the Frog, will lead 300 performance-loving kids, ages 10-17, in an original Closing number 'I Believe in Santa Claus,' live in the 82nd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, which will be televised on NBC-TV on November 27, 2008 beginning at 9am.

SRT's Annual Benefit features Tony, Academy and Grammy Award-winning artists in 'Sonnet Sings: The Bard, An Evening of Original Songs Inspired by the Work of William Shakespeare.' 11/17

Rejoicing over the election, Stokes performs at a L.I. benefit prior to his Feinstein's engagement this week.

Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans announce the Chicago premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical Grey Gardens, book by Doug Wright, lyrics by Michael Korie and music by Scott Frankel. The production, directed by BJ Jones with musical direction by Doug Peck, choreography by Marla Lampert and featuring Hollis Resnik, Tempe Thomas and Ann Whitney, has already been extended and will now run November 12-December 28, 2008, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its eleventh season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 17 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, R&B, country, rock, show tunes, bluegrass and multimedia, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic contemporary songwriting. The 2009 season - January 14 through March 6 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including top vocalist Kurt Elling and country's winning Patty Loveless. It will feature the rare opportunity to hear Paulo Szot, star of Broadway's South Pacific, and film and stage star Alan Cumming, in intimate concert settings.

Theatergoers will receive $10 off tickets to the Halloween performance of Porchlight Music Theatre's hit musical comedy Candide at 7:45 p.m. on Friday, October 31. The witty operetta, based on the 1759 French masterpiece by Voltaire, is running through November 2 at Theatre Building Chicago, 1225 West Belmont. For reservations call 773.325.9884.

Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans announce the Chicago premiere of the Tony Award-winning musical Grey Gardens, book by Doug Wright, lyrics by Michael Korie and music by Scott Frankel. The production, directed by BJ Jones with musical direction by Doug Peck, choreography by Marla Lampert and featuring Hollis Resnik, Tempe Thomas and Ann Whitney, has already been extended and will now run November 12-December 28, 2008, at Northlight Theatre, 9501 Skokie Blvd in Skokie.

The Duplex presents The Sum of Our Hearts- An Evening of Songs by 2008 Jonathan Larson Award Winners Jeff Thomson and Jordan Mann on Monday, October 20th, 2008, at the Duplex, 61 Christopher Street, New York.

Monsters, Witches and Ogres... OH MY! What better place to celebrate the spooks and creeps of HALLOWEEN than The Great Fright Way? In the spirit of good fun and festivities, BroadwayWorld asked some of New York's finest Broadway and Off-Broadway actors to share their craziest MEMORIES of Halloween... with PHOTOS!