Valerie Smaldone News

Actress Fran Drescher is the latest performer to join THE LINEUP of BROADWAY SINGS FOR PRIDE's 8th Annual Charity Concert 'Revolution' on Monday, June 18th at The Cutting Room in New York City. The Nanny star will be joined by Broadway/TV star Frankie J. Grande, Matt Doyle (Broadway's Spring Awakening, War Horse, The Book of Mormon), Project Runway's Sam Donovan, a special 50th reunion performance from the cast of Hair, and performances from cast members from Hamilton, Kinky Boots, Jersey Boys, Frozen, Wicked and more. This star-studded event will be filled with singing (from pop to Broadway), stories, and surprises! The proceeds will benefit The Tyler Clementi Foundation, a non-profit organization committed to end on-line and off-line bullying.

We're in the midst of award season on Broadway, which means Stars in the Alley! The free Broadway concert was held yesterday, June 1, in Shubert Alley. BroadwayWorld was in attendance and you can check out photos from the performances, including Dear Evan Hansen, Waitress, Come From Away, Spongebob Squarepants, Once on This Island and more!

On Monday, June 18, 2018, the theater world and New York communities will come together for Broadway Sings for Pride's 8th annual charity concert entitled "Revolution"!  Hair co-creator James Rado (Grammy-Award Winner) and Hair original choreographer Julie Arenal (Broadway/West End) will join over 35 tribe members to celebrate Pride with a special Hair reunion musical performance during the event.

Celebrities and 400 guests experienced an inspiring evening at The Plaza last night, in support of Point Foundation (Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students of merit. The annual Point Honors New York event raises funds for Point's higher education scholarships, as well as mentoring and leadership programs.

Celebrities and 400 guests experienced an inspiring evening at The Plaza last night, in support of Point Foundation (Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students of merit. The annual Point Honors New York event raises funds for Point's higher education scholarships, as well as mentoring and leadership programs.

Celebrities and 400 guests experienced an inspiring evening at The Plaza last night, in support of Point Foundation (Point), the nation's largest scholarship-granting organization for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer (LGBTQ) students of merit. The annual Point Honors New York event raises funds for Point's higher education scholarships, as well as mentoring and leadership programs.

On Monday, April 9th, Point Foundation will hold their annual Point Honors Gala New York to recognize leaders in the LGBTQ community and celebrate Point Scholars and Alumni. The evening will celebrate the accomplishments of LGBTQ students and honor two figures for their continued work within the LGBTQ community: Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti and journalist Ronan Farrow.

In honor of International Women's Day, the Broadway League asked 25 leading ladies of Broadway to describe Women in one word. Watch below as strong women of Broadway unite!

Actress Madeline Kahn would have turned 75 on September 29, and to commemorate her jubilee year, award-winning interviewer Valerie Smaldone has producedMadeline Kahn: Her Life Explored. The 30-minute program features an extended interview with Kahn's biographer, William V. Madison (Madeline Kahn: Being the Music, A Life), as well as excerpts from his interviews with directors Mel Brooks and Lee Roy Reams, and with Kahn's most frequent co-star, Robert Klein.

The Chemotherapy Foundation, a not-for-profit organization providing crucial start-up seed money grants for innovative cancer research projects presents a fundraiser evening on November 8 at the AMC Theatres-Empire 25, 42nd Street in New York City. This event supports an ovarian cancer research grant award.

The Tony Award winner (The Sisters Rosensweig) Madeline Kahn was lovingly remembered on what would have been her 75th Birthday by some of her show business friends at the Friars last night and Broadwayworld was there.

An evening of lively conversation and powerful presentations by three celebrated artists of our time will take place today, September 6 at 6:30PM at SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street).

The Andy Karl and Groundhog Day portrait is the newest addition to Tony Di Napoli prestigious Broadway Wall of Fame. BroadwayWorld was on hand when the portrait was unveiled and you can check out photos from the special occasion below!

An evening of lively conversation and powerful presentations by three celebrated artists of our time will take place on Wednesday, September 6 at 6:30PM at SVA Theatre (333 West 23rd Street).

STARS IN THE ALLEY, hosted by Tituss Burgess, presented its free outdoor concert yesterday in Shubert Alley, featuring the casts of ANASTASIA, BANDSTAND, COME FROM AWAY, DEAR EVAN HANSEN, MISS SAIGON and more. BroadwayWorld was there to help celebrate the season and share music with the masses, check out the photos below!

Emmy Award Winning Actor Kevin Mambo (Venus, Color Purple, FELA! title role) has been cast to read the role of intelligence expert Clint Watts in the continuing AMERICAN SCOREBOARD series' reading of the US Senate Intelligence Hearing on Russian Interference in the 2016 Election. 

Just last night, the Point Honors gala recognized individuals who have demonstrated leadership and courage and stand as role models for lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and queer young people.

NOT THAT JEWISH, written and performed by writer, actress and comedian Monica Piper (Writer of Roseanne, Mad About You, Rugrats) and directed by Mark Waldrop (Howard Crabtree's When Pigs Fly, Bea Arthur on Broadway: Just Between Friends), just opened and will play through January 2017 at New World Stages (340 W 50th St, New York, NY 10019).

The Sheen Center for Thought & Culture presents legendary rock drummer Carmine Appice in their new music and thought series called Hit Makers: Music Icons in Performance and Conversation with Valerie Smaldone. Best known for his work with Vanilla Fudge, Rod Stewart and Ozzy Osbourne, Appice will dish on his autobiography Stick It!: My Life of Sex, Drums, and Rock 'n' Roll, perform and sign books on Tuesday, June 28 at 7:30pm at The Sheen Center, 18 Bleecker Street.

STARS IN THE ALLEY, presented by United Airlines, took place just last week in Shubert Alley. Hosted by Tony nominee Sean Hayes and Mo Rocca, Broadway's best once again turned out for the annual performance - including the casts of Aladdin, An American in Paris, Beautiful - The Carole King Musical, Bright Star, Chicago, The Color Purple, Disaster!, Fiddler on the Roof, Finding Neverland, Fun Home, Jersey Boys, Kinky Boots, LES MISERABLES, Matilda The Musical, On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio & Gloria Estefan, The Phantom of the Opera, She Loves Me, Something Rotten!, Tuck Everlasting, Waitress, and Wicked.