Stephen Sorokoff News

If this Jamie deRoy 25th Anniversary Show was competing against some of those great Ed Sullivan variety episodes it would have been no contest.  First of all, Jamie knows how to give an introduction, is an entertainer herself, and the best in entertainment business sign up to be in a Jamie deRoy & friends show . The Actors Fund presented this 40th annual 30th Jamie Birthday show and it was truly a spectacular event with some of the most talented performers on the stage at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at the john Jay College of Criminal Justice.  The only crime last night was that the event wasn't televised live but I'm sure excerpts will be available on Jamie's cable TV show and through the facilities of The Actors Fund.  

Feinstein's/54 Below presented the debut of Jennifer Diamond last night, and BroadwayWorld was of course on the scene to capture the evening. Check out photos below!

For generations, RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA existed only as a beloved television movie. First with a live broadcast in 1957 starring Julie Andrews; then in 1965 with Lesley Ann Warren, a version which was regularly re-broadcast into the 90s (which I grew up watching); and finally in 1997 with Brandy in the title role and Whitney Houston as her Fairy Godmother. However, in 2013, over 55 years after its first broadcast, led by Broadway's favorite princess Laura Osnes and crowned prince Santino Fontana, R&H 's CINDERELLA took its first Broadway bow. The show earned nine Tony nominations, running for nearly two years. Now, CINDERELLA's First National Tour sets up shop in its own little corner at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, with performances beginning on Tuesday night.

After a triumphant debut at Feinstein's/54 Below last March, Melissa Manchester has returned with a brand new show, and Broadwayworld was on the scene to capture the evening. Check out photos below!

Last night, Cafe Carlyle welcomed back acclaimed husband-and-wife duo John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey for a four-week engagement, November 3-28 and BroadwayWorld was there. There new show is entitled My Generation and it features selections from Mitchell to McCartney, Simon to Sondheim. Additionally, they'll be performing tracks from John's acclaimed new album, Midnight McCartney.

Last night Barrington Stage Company held it's annual New York City Benefit in the Penthouse of The American Airlines Theatre and BroadwayWorld was there.

The Friars Club became spooky today as the Monks (Friars wait staff) served Little Friars, their parents and grandparents many treats. Most kids will not get bagels & lox, blintzes, hamburgers, french fries, and ice cream when they go out trick or treating but these lucky youngsters did in clubs The Frank Sinatra Dining Magician John Pizza then entertained everyone with his tricks in the Milton Berle Room. Below, go inside the event with BroadwayWorld!

Still watching Jonathan Groff, Brian d'Arcy James and Andrew Rannells singing at the #Ham4Ham lottery? Can't wait to see Annaleigh Ashford play Sylvia? Didn't have time to check in on your favorite Broadway stars? Well don't worry BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the biggest stories from this week from Broadway and beyond with BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures.'

In an exciting new collaboration between award-winning vocalist and performer Barb Jungr and Grammy and Emmy winner John McDaniel took the stage at Feinstein's/54 Below to Sing The Beatles last night and Broadwayworld was there. There show runs through October 31, January 13 and 14 at 7pm and January 13 at 9:30pm. Barb and John will investigate The Beatles song catalog in their own unique and inimitable fashion. Barb and John celebrate Paul, John, George and Ringo with brand new arrangements, delving into some of their lesser-known songs with unexpected and captivating results.

Last night in a Long Island star studded event The Gold Coast International Film Festival and Arts Center held it's 2015 Gala at the Tilles Center. The Gold Coast Arts Center's honorees this year were, Vince Giordano, Artist of Distinction - Music, Actor Navid Negahban, Artist of Distinction, Film, and Director Patricia Riggen, Director, Woman of Influence Award.  The evening's presenters were Will Friedwald, author & music editor, Michael Cuesta, Screenwriter, director of Showtime's "Homeland" and Lou Diamond Phillips, Actor Director and the star of the upcoming fiom "The 33" The Gala Emcee was Award winning WABC correspondent Kristin Thorne.  Regina Keller Gil is founder & executive director of The Gold Coast Arts Center and Caroline Sorokoff is an associate director of the Gold Coast Arts Center and Director of the Gold Coast International Film Festival.  The festival will run November 9-15th.

On Monday, October 12, 2015, at a benefit hosted by their Junior Board of Directors, Music for Autism named Joe Iconis as their 2015 Spotlight Artist, a distinction bestowed upon one musician in the United States annually.

Abingdon Theatre Company just celebrated its 2015-2016 Season with ABINGDON: REFLECTIONS OF STARLIGHT, last night, October 26 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street in Manhattan). Richard Jay-Alexander, best known for directing Barbra Streisand and other artists in concert, directed the event, honoring Tony Award-winning costume designer Jane Greenwood, who designed Abingdon's acclaimed production of Hellman v. McCarthy; Abingdon Theatre Company's Vice Chair and former Managing Director, Heather Henderson; and one of New York's most prominent lawyers in entertainment, Mark Sendroff.

NJTV, New Jersey's public television network, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC)  presented the first performance of the American Songbook at NJPAC series and BroadwayWorld was there. Performances will be taped before a live audience in NJPAC's Victoria Theater on Sunday, October 25 and Monday, October 26 for broadcast on NJTV, WLIW and THIRTEEN next year. 

Recently nominated for the Excellence in Theatre Education TONY Award, CORINNA SOWERS ADLER returned to the Metropolitan Room last night for three shows three shows and Broadwayworld was there.  Her new show entitled, HIGH STANDARDS, is a musical journey through some of the best music ever written, reimagined by Musical Director, Alex Rybeck on piano.

Tamara Tunie  returned to Feinstein's/54 Below with her highly anticipated show which kicks  off her national cabaret tour and Broadwayworld was there last night.  The Pittsburgh daughter will wow audiences with a fresh take on the 'Legends from The Burgh,' where she repeats her sold out performance with additional, new songs celebrating the music of the legendary artists that hail from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, the city of Three Rivers.

In the opening concert of Michael Feinstein's Standard Time Series at Carnegie Hall's Zankel Hall it was all about the lyrics of Johnny Mercer. Mr. Feinstein who is the Artistic Director of Standard Time had as his Special Guest Marilyn Maye, who of course is 'Just To Marvelous For Words'. Tedd Firth was on piano along with Sean Smith , Bass and Mark McLean, drums. As in most of these concerts this Standard Time with Michael Feinstein was sold out and Broadwayworld was there to take you inside.

There are some familiar chords being heard at Cafe Carlyle as Alexa Ray Joel, daughter of music legend Billy Joel and supermodel Christie Brinkley has returned for a two week engagement. The New York Times called Joel, 'a singer following her own heart,' adding 'Her original work…is firmly grounded in a pop tradition in which streams converge, from gospel to Tin Pan Alley.' 

Last night Rita Moreno interviewed Gloria and Emilio Estefan at the 92Y and BroadwayWorld was there.  

The final night of The Mabel Mercer Foundation's New York Cabaret Convention was hosted by Klea Blackhurst. It featured the music of Marvin Hamlisch and Vernon Duke. Terri Blair the widow of Marvin was in the audience and was obviously touched by some thrilling performances of her husbands music. Check out photos from the event below!

The 3rd night of The 26th New YOrk Cabaret Convention at The Town Hall was hosted by Karen Mason and directed by Barry Kleinbort. BroadwayWorld was there for performances by Karen Mason, Sandy Stewart, Bill Charlap, Karen Ziemba, Stearns Matthews, Amra-Faye Wright, Robert Creighton, Sally Mayes, Lina Koutrakos, Jim Brochu, Steve Ross, Lauren Stanford, T. Oliver Reid, Penny Fuller & Marilyn Maye.