Stephen Sorokoff News

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, presented Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley in Broadway and Beyond on last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Broadway's Golden Couple shared their favorite songs from the Broadway musicals they've starred in along with selections from the Great American Songbook."

William Shakespeare's hilarious farce, The Comedy of Errors is playing at the Tina Packer Playhouse at Shakespeare & Company in Lenox, Ma. and Broadwayworld attended a performance. Director Taibi Magar delivers a whirlwind of magic, music and mayhem in the rollicking production of Shakespeare's shortest comedy. Performances run through August 23.

Last night the Barrington Stage Company Musical Theatre Lab presented the East Coast Premiere of Nick Blaemire's A Little More Alive on the St. Germain Stage of the Sydelle & Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center and Broadwayworld was there.

Alysha Umphress has a special relationship with Barrington Stage Company and William Finn so it wasn't a surprise that on her day off  from On The Town she came to Pittsfield and sang in Mr. Finn's Cabaret.  It also wasn't a surprise the demand for tickets was so great that a second late show had to be added.  

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: INTO THE WOODS comes to Forest Park, MACK & MABEL take over Chichester, LOVE LETTERS heads out on tour and more!

Lost in Yonkers  opened at Barrington Stage Company last night and BroadwayWorld was there. The show is running through August 1. Winner of the Tony Award for Best Play and the Pulitzer Prize, Lost in Yonkers is a heartfelt and hilarious coming-of-age story by America's great comic playwright, Neil Simon.  Jenn Thompson makes her BSC directing debut.  She is the Co-Artistic Director of The Actors Company Theatre (TACT) in NYC, where she recently directed Beth Henley's Abundance.

Last night was the American Premiere of Carey Perfloff's Kinship at the Williamstown Theatre Festival (Mandy Greenfield, Artistic Director) and BroadwayWorld was there.

Playwright John Guare recently met with the Press to discuss the Barrington Stage Company production of his adaptation of the classic American comedy HIS GIRL FRIDAY.  Julianne Boyd, the artistic director of BSC will also be directing the production which will be on Barrington Stage's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage from Aug 6-30. Opening night is Wednesday, Aug 12.  Director Julianne Boyd and actors Christopher Innvar and Jane Pfitsch joined Mr. Guare for the Press Conference in which they all took questions.

Robert Davi the award-winning actor, screenwriter, director, producer and jazz vocalist joined Barry Manilow who is headlining this year's Independence Day celebration on the National Mall, performing July 4th with the National Symphony Orchestra. Recently Will Friedwald interviewed Mr. Davi for a documentary at the Friars Club. Davi is hailed by many as one of today's great interpreters of the "Great American Songbook."

Birdland was the scene of a very special show last night as friends and family gathered for the Wedding Celebration of Ann Hampton Callaway and Kari Strand. Broadway at Birdland and Jim Caruso's Cast Party have seen many famous and talented people on that legendary stage but it will be hard to top last night's list of guests. Broadwayworld was there and here are some of the friends and relatives of Ann and Kari.

Karen Mason returned to the legendary theatre district cabaret nightspot Don't Tell Mama--which has been a launch pad for countless future stars in cabaret and theater since it inaugurated its cabaret rooms in November 1982- Karen returned again after a highly acclaimed run in March at Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street) and BroadwayWorld was there. This is the very room that she and Nancy LaMott opened in l982. Mason at Mama's is her brand new show with great new arrangements of classics, new songs and some of the music she and her longtime composer/arranger Brian Lasser performed in those early days at Mama's. The show was directed by award winning  Barry Kleinbort, with Musical Direction and Accompaniment by Christopher Denny.

Sally Kellerman, the legendary Oscar-nominated “Hot Lips” of the original “M*A*S*H,” will bring her new show, A Little Jazz, A Little Blues, A Little Rock and Roll to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one performance only – Saturday, August 1 at 7 p.m. The show is a celebration of her 40-year cabaret career, from early years at Reno Sweeney in Greenwich Village up to recent performances in New York, Los Angeles and San Francisco. Tickets for Sally Kellerman range in price from $25 – $40 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presented Tony Yazbeck, the star of this season's On The Town revival in his Birdland solo debut on last night and BroadwayWorld was there. Yazbeck  heated up the Birdland stage in The Floor Above Me, a thrilling evening of tenor melodies and tenacious tap dancing, and will be joined by On The Town co-star Clyde Alves and tap dance sensation Melinda Sullivan ('So You Think You Can Dance,' 'Glee'). Musical direction and arrangements will be by Jerome Korman, and the evening is co-written and co-directed by Howard Emanuel & Tony Yazbeck. Jerome Korman/piano, Thomas Hubbard/bass, Tony Lewis/drums, Mark McGowan/trumpet.

Marilyn Maye was an audience member at Ann Hampton Callaway's final performance of her show 'On My Way To You' at 54 Below last night and Broadwayworld was there. Marilyn joined Ann for some spontaneous improvising and signing as did sister Liz Callaway who was also in the house. 'On My Way To You' just completed a sold out run.

Joanne Tatham reunited with long-time collaborator Eli Brueggemann, composer/musical director of Saturday Night Live (making a rare club appearance.) at Cafe Noctambulo last night and BroadwayWorld was there.

A rehearsal for the East Coast Premiere of Nick Blaemire's 'A Little More Alive' recently took place in New York City and BroadwayWorld was there. Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, announced BSC's acclaimed Musical Theatre Lab will present Nick Blaemire's new musical A Little More Alive, from July 17 through August 8 on the St. Germain Stage.  The press opening is Wednesday, July 22 at 7:30pm.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson,  presented Conor McPherson's Shining City which runs from June 18 to July 11. BroadwayWorld was at opening night.

Been watching Bombshell in Concert videos all week? Still listening to Sydney Lucas singing 'Ring of Keys'? Didn't have time check in on all of the latest Broadway news? 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.'

Stephen Hanks, Producer of Cabaret Life Productions, and Union Temple of Brooklyn (17 Eastern Parkway) are proud to announce that Musical Director/Pianist Jon Weber will perform his critically acclaimed show, From Joplin to Jarrett: 100 Years of Piano Jazz, at Union Temple tonight, June 19 at 8 pm. The one-man concert will be in the 3rd Floor Social Hall at 8 pm after the 6:30 pm Shabbat Service and dinner. Admission to the concert is FREE.

 Last night at the legendary Le Cirque, Gianni Russo dropped his tough guy image and created a musical fun filled evening.  The Cafe was packed and Gianni with his 4 piece band created a fantastic party as he went through the Sinatra American Songbook. Some of his celebrity friends were "coaxed" by Gianni to join in. Although remembered most for his portrayal of Carlo Rizzi in "The Godfather", his first acting job, his career has spanned over 40 films including such hits as The Freshman, Rush Hour, Any Given Sunday and Sea Biscuit as well as television roles in Kojak, The Rockford Files and Prison Break. And most recent.. due out this fall "Send No Flowers". Russo believes it's his crooning that separates him from the mob of other on-screen wise guys.