Thomas Murray News

This week at Joe's Pub at the Public, August 19-25, will feature FRANCINE REED, LATRELL LIVE TONIGHT, KAYLYN MARIE / SIMON PYLES, TATIANA EVA-MARIE AND THE AVALON JAZZ BAND, TRIBUTE TO LES PAUL, GABRIEL RIOS, BROMANCE IN CONCERT, NIKKA GRAFF LANZARONE, THE LOOKING, FRANK BANG & THE SECRET STASH, THE TEKTONIC BY DANA LEONG, ECHOES OF ETTA, KENNY BRAWNER IS RAY CHARLES, and OUR LADY J.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announces the opening of the sixth production of the 2013 Main Stage season: The World Premiere musical, The Bridges of Madison County, opens tonight and plays on the Main Stage through August 18, following preview performances that began August 1. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Sh-K-Boom / Ghostlight Records will release the 2013 Off-Broadway cast recording of the hit Second Stage Theatre production of The Last Five Years, created and directed by Jason Robert Brown, both in stores and via online outlets on September 24. Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) extended this production starring Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe three times. To pre-order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/thelastfiveyears-new.html.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was presented the 2012 BroadwayWorld Best Male Vocalist winner William Blake in concert on Monday, July 22nd at 7pm. It was Blake's sixth concert at the historic venue. Tony winners and Birdland regulars Chita Rivera and Steve Kazee were both in the house to cheer! Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their exciting line-up of unmatched talent for this week, July 22 - July 28, 2013.

Williamstown Theatre Festival Artistic Director Jenny Gersten announced today the full cast and creative team for the sixth production, the third and final of the 2013 Main Stage season: The Bridges of Madison County will be presented on the Main Stage from August 1 - 18, 2013. Press night is Saturday, August 3 at 8:00 p.m.

The Major League Baseball All-Star break (the game is on Tuesday night) has always been considered the midpoint of the season and as a lifelong fan I've always enjoyed reading those analyses from writers that assess the best performances of the first half. Since July is also the middle of the calendar year, I thought it might be fun to present a cabaret equivalent of a baseball midseason report. So . . . (drum roll) . . . presenting the Best (and My Favorite) 20 New York Cabaret Shows and Performances of (the first half) of 2013.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their exciting line-up of unmatched talent for July 22 - July 28, 2013.

In May, it was announced that Ghostlight Records will preserve the hit Second Stage Theatre production of The Last Five Years, created and directed by Jason Robert Brown. Second Stage Theatre has extended this production starring Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe three times. The Last Five Years is performed at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre (305 West 43rd street) through today, May 18, 2013. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a flashback of the musical's run off-Broadway!

Joe's Pub at The Public welcomes world premieres, highly-anticipated debuts and the return of many esteemed performers this May and June. Funny girl JULIE KLAUSNER makes her debut with two evenings of cabaret. Legendary downtown performance artist JOHN KELLY returns to premiere Rebel Songs. The 60s-inspired flight attendant PAM ANN returns for five nights in the Cockpit. Elsewhere: Tony Award-winners TONYA PINKINS and LIN-MANUEL MIRANDA, Once star CRISTIN MILIOTI, TAYLOR MAC'S epic exploration of popular music, a special appearance from Justin Vivian Bond, JOEY ARIAS, the greatest rapper in the world, CHAMPAGNE JERRY and more. Read on for more May and June cabaret, comedy, Broadway and musical theater highlights at Joe's Pub at The Public.

Ghostlight Records will preserve the hit Second Stage Theatre production of The Last Five Years, created and directed by Jason Robert Brown. Second Stage Theatre has extended this production starring Adam Kantor and Betsy Wolfe three times.

Grammy Award-winning concert organist Paul Jacobs performs Camille Saint-Saens's Symphony No. 3 with the Millersville University Orchestra conducted by Dr. Vera Volchansky. This evening will conclude the celebration of the opening of the Winter Visual and Performing Arts Center, and is dedicated to celebrating the newly-installed Walker Organ.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its cabaret, Broadway and comedy acts today, April 21-July 28, 2013, including: Lindsay Mendez and Michael Holland, Leslie Kritzer, Megan Hilty, Bridget Everett, Song of a Convalescent Ayn Rand, Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons, NYU Tisch Presents, Blake Pfeil, Storm Large, Nicole Henry, Erin Markey, Joey Arias, Taylor Mac, William Blake, Moments with Ravi, Natalie Joy Johnson, Champagne Jerry, Wau Wau Sisters, The Georges, Pam Ann: Cockpit, Missi Pyle, John Kelly, Tori Scott, Murray Hill and Vagabond Opera.

Texas born and bred singer William Blake--who came to New York six years ago at age 24--has lately taken the town by storm with his terrific tribute show to the legendary Etta James. In the process, Blake has also managed to transform some of the town's most prestigious nightclub/cabaret venues into his own personal concert halls. First it was at Birdland, where in the summer of 2012 and with the support of 'Cast Party' impresario Jim Caruso, Blake launched his Echoes of Etta raucous, standing-room only crowds. Then last February, Blake, his five piece band and three girl backup singers, overpowered Joe's Pub. But the last two nights might have been Blake's most impressive performances to date, as he totally captured the crowd at the elegant and sedate Cafe Carlyle (for the room's new 10:45 'Second Act' sets). It was almost as if you were experiencing an R & B concert at Carnegie Hall.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its cabaret, Broadway and comedy acts April 21-July 28, 2013, including: Lindsay Mendez and Michael Holland, Leslie Kritzer, Megan Hilty, Bridget Everett, Song of a Convalescent Ayn Rand, Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons, NYU Tisch Presents, Blake Pfeil, Storm Large, Nicole Henry, Erin Markey, Joey Arias, Taylor Mac, William Blake, Moments with Ravi, Natalie Joy Johnson, Champagne Jerry, Wau Wau Sisters, The Georges, Pam Ann: Cockpit, Missi Pyle, John Kelly, Tori Scott, Murray Hill and Vagabond Opera.

Second Stage Theatre's acclaimed production of Jason Robert Brown's musical, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, has received a third and final one-week extension, and will now end its run on Saturday, May 18. The musical has broken box office records for the off-Broadway institution and ranks among the longest-running productions in Second Stage's 34 year history.

Forever Dusty, the new musical about the life and times of legendary icon Dusty Springfield, will play its final New York performance at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) tonight, April 7.