A. Davis News

Celebrated New York stage actor and stand-up comedian Mario Cantone makes his Cafe Carlyle debut, June 20 - 23.

 Broadway Producer and three time Tony Award winner Jamie deRoy held her annual Jamie deRoy & friends Tony Award show last night and the Red Carpet was rolled out at Birdland for the star studded event.  Jamie's fans and friends had their cell phone cameras at the ready as one by one Jamie introduced her award-winning cast which included, Chuck Cooper (The Life) Penny Fuller (Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret), Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In the Heights), Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) with special guest, Patti Cohenour (War Paint, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Doreen Montalvo (On Your Feet, In the Heights) and Paulo Szot (South Pacific) with Billy Stritch.  

Prospect Theater Company has announced the lineup of performers for its 2017 Annual Gala event, 'Prospect at the Penthouse: Reaching New Heights,' to be held on Monday, May 8, 2017 from 6 - 10pm at Manhattan Penthouse (80 Fifth Avenue).

Tony Award-nominee Norm Lewis, off-Broadway's newest Sweeney Todd, to spend Friday evening, April 28th at the Jeanne Rimsky Theater at Landmark on Main Street.

KIDNAP ROAD - a new play by Catherine Filloux, based on the real-life story of a female presidential candidate held in captivity for six years by terrorists in Colombia - will be given its world premiere production this spring, presented by La MaMa at its First Floor Theatre (74 E. 4 St.), with previews beginning tomorrow, April 27, prior to the official press opening on April 30. There will be a series of conversations after select shows, surrounding themes in Kidnap Road.

The new musical, ANASTASIA, dances into Broadway's Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street) tonight, April 24, 2017, produced by Stage Entertainment, Bill Taylor (Sister Act, Rocky), Tom Kirdahy (It's Only A Play, The Visit) and Hunter Arnold (Kinky Boots, Spring Awakening). The company is led by Christy Altomare, Derek Klena, John Bolton, Ramin Karimloo, Caroline O'Connor and Mary Beth Peil. Scroll down to get to know the company before they take their opening bows!

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Lisa Loeb makes her Cafe Carlyle debut, June 6-17.

The Whalephant intertwines the story of two Massachusetts men, past and present: Moses Spouter, a famed and possibly unhinged Nantucket whaling captain; and his great-great grandson, Abe Spouter, day-drunk and proud and generally pissed, who captains a whale-watching boat off the coast of Cape Cod.  It's a play about history and family, cetaceans and shanties, and the search for self at sea. Presented by Current Harbor and The Tank. Written by Kartik Naram, Directed by Jamie Watkins, and Choreographed by Annalisa Ledson. May 5-7 Fri - Sun; 7:00pm, May 12-14 Fri-Sun; 7:00pm, & May 19-21 Fri-Sun; 7:00pm at The Tank,  a home for emerging artists 151 w. 46th St. (b/t 6th and 7th Ave) 8th Floor, NYC. For Information: visit www.thetanknyc.org or call 212-563-6269.

Cafe Carlyle will welcome back Broadway legend Chita Rivera, May 9-20. Last year's sold out Cafe Carlyle debut received raves reviews. An accomplished and versatile actress/singer/dancer, Chita Rivera has won two Tony Awards as Best Leading Actress in a Musical and has received eight additional Tony nominations for an exceptional 10 Tony nominations. At the Carlyle, Chita will be accompanied by her music director Michael Croiter and trio.

Sweat, the new Broadway play opens today at Studio 54. The critically acclaimed new play from Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Lynn Nottage, comes to Broadway following its sold-out run at The Public Theater. Filled with warm humor and tremendous heart, SWEAT tells the story of a group of friends who have spent their lives sharing drinks, secrets and laughs while working together on the factory floor. But when layoffs and picket lines begin to chip away at their trust, the friends find themselves pitted against each other in a heart-wrenching fight to stay afloat. Get to know the company before they take their opening bows!

CrossLink Publishing is pleased to announce the release in paperback and eBook formats, As A Shield, A Davis Morgan Mystery by Danny and Wanda Pelfrey. Mr. and Mrs. Pelfrey are longtime authors who have just recently turned to fiction to create a series of mysteries featuring Davis Morgan, a former pastor turned bookseller. Both Danny and Wanda are graduates of Point Universities while Danny earned a masters from Kentucky Christian University. The mystery, set in a small north Georgia town, revolves around the discovery of a tattooed body and a long forgotten incident. Through the ups and downs of the various crises that arise, Davis is able to find assurance in a Biblical truth found in Psalms 5:12. 'For surely, O Lord, you bless the righteous; you surround them with your favor as with a shield.' While all this is happening he is faced with coming to grips with his feelings about Deidre, the roommate of his daughter, seventeen years his junior. Deborah Malone, author of the Trixie Montgomery Cozy Mystery series writes of As A Shield, 'Don't let the sleepy little town of Adairsville fool you. Underneath the quiet exterior lies mystery and mayhem.' In his review of As A Shield, Jim Richter, Global Security Director of Team Expansion states. '...Having been in law enforcement and security management for forty years, I found the small-town mystery to be a most pleasurable read, spellbinding and mysterious to the end.' CrossLink Publishing is a traditional Christian publishing company based in Castle Rock, CO. CrossLink publishes a variety of Christian based books distributed by AtlasBooks. For more information, visit CrossLinkPublishing.com.

Royal Family Production (RFP) will present a benefit workshop presentation of the new musical Brass Heart by RFP associate artistic director Jessica Wu. The musical will be directed by Chris Henry with choreography by Lorna Ventura and will take place on Sunday, April 2nd with a special pre-show cocktail reception ($250, reception begins at 5pm) and Monday, April 3rdat 12:30pm. Royal Family Performing Arts Space is located at 145 West 46th Street, 3rd Floor. Tickets can be purchased by visiting www.RoyalFamilyProductions.org.

Acclaimed singer Antonia Bennett makes her Cafe Carlyle debut, May 23 - June 3.

John Pizzarelli returns to Cafe Carlyle with an all-new show celebrating iconic singer-songwriter Johnny Mercer, April 25 - May 6. The New York Times recently described John Pizzarelli and his wife Jessica Molaskey as "the supreme nightclub act of our time." Specifically, Jazz Weekly recently raved about John Pizzarelli's Johnny Mercer program: "A gig like this oozes with style, class and fun, with Pizzarelli being one of the best ambassadors for the Great American Songbook. One of his best."At the Cafe, he'll perform Johnny's most recognizable hits as well as lesser-known gems such as "Jamboree Jones" and "Slue Foot."

Remy Bumppo Theatre Company will explore complex relationships with truth, lies, and everything in between in its 21st season, 'Truth Be Told.'

The searing new play Sweat begins previews on Broadway tomorrow Saturday, March 4 at Studio 54 (254 West 54th Street). Following a sold out, critically acclaimed engagement at New York's Public Theater, Sweat, the new play by Pulitzer Prize winner Lynn Nottage, directed by Kate Whoriskey will officially open on Broadway on March 26, 2017.

Acclaimed singer Jackie Evancho makes her Cafe Carlyle debut, April 11-22. Jackie will be the youngest artist to ever perform at Cafe Carlyle.

They say, in life, it's all about who you know. Luckily for Don Scardino and his audiences at his two shows at Feinstein's/54 Below on February 18, he has friends in very high places. The show, DON SCARDINO WITH JOHN MILLER: NOTHING TO HIDE, was Scardino's first at the cabaret venue, and the seasoned performer, director, and musician brought a welcomed (though not-so-fresh) air of breezy yesteryear listening--- along with salivating showbiz tales, of course.

Grammy nominated singer-songwriter Joan Osborne returns to Cafe Carlyle, February 28 - March 11.

Award-winning actor/singer John O'Hurley makes his Cafe Carlyle debut, March 28 - April 8.