Joe Digiovanni

More than 50 actors are set to participate in The Blank Theatre's 23rd Annual Young Playwrights Festival, including Deborah S. Craig (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Julie Gonzalo (Dallas), Echo Kellum (Sean Saves the World, Ben & Kate), Missi Pyle (Gone Girl), Sara Rue (Rules of Engagement, Impastor), Lindsey Shaw (Pretty Little Liars), and Virginia Williams (Fairly Legal). Twelve winning plays by young playwrights aged 12-19 from seven different states will be presented during this year's festival at the Stella Adler Theatre in Hollywood, running from June 4-28.

There was a happening on West 44th Street! For a week, Chita Rivera brought her joyful, razzle-dazzling nightclub act to Birdland, which she calls her favorite room in the city. “These walls are filled with the best music! Playing Birdland just makes me feel cool,” she proclaimed. As if her iconic Broadway career wasn't cool enough, “Chita's Back” was a concert for the history books – with the ever-youthful legend in fine fettle; singing, dancing and telling some of the best insider stories any theater-lover could hope for. Material from Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, West Side Story and The Visitwere included, as well as a James Taylor duet with daughter, Lisa Mordente. The swinging was band led by guitarist/percussionist Michael Croiter, with Michael Patrick Walker on piano, Jim Donica on bass, and Dan Willis on saxophone.