Anastacia McClesky News

On August 19th, emerging writing duo Lyons and Pakchar recorded their debut album # LOVE live at The Cutting Room. The 11-song record, infusing Pop/R&B and theatre, explores the good, bad, and awkward roller coasters in human relationships and is due for a release in Fall/Winter of 2013. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Lyons and Pakchar are a new contemporary writing duo blending Pop/R&B for the Theatre. Their debut album #LOVE, which explores the good, bad, and awkward roller coasters in human relationships, will be recorded live in concert tonight, Monday, August 19th at The Cutting Room at 8pm.

Lyons and Pakchar are a new contemporary writing duo blending Pop/R&B for the Theatre. Their debut album #LOVE, which explores the good, bad, and awkward roller coasters in human relationships, will be recorded live in concert on Monday, August 19th at The Cutting Room at 8pm. Get a sneak peek at the show below!

Lyons and Pakchar are a new contemporary writing duo blending Pop/R&B for the Theatre. Their debut album #LOVE, which explores the good, bad, and awkward roller coasters in human relationships, will be recorded live in concert on Monday, August 19th at The Cutting Room at 8pm.

Sutton Foster leads Encores! Off-Center's outstanding concert production of Tesori and Crawley's underappreciated gem.

Back to where it all started, the city that never sleeps, NEW YORK CITY, 'YOU MAKE ME FEEL, MIGHTY REAL: A SYLVESTER CONCERT ' Starring Anthony Wayne returned. The show came back to NYC after sold-out runs in Miami and Washington, D.C.. Broadway Star Anthony Wayne (PIPPIN, PRISCILLA; ANYTHING GOES [2011]) directs, sings, lives and breathes life as the 1970's Disco Singer Sylvester live on Stage. Check out photos from the concert below!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Robert D. Wachs (producer of the hit films Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Coming to America), present the developmental lab of the new disco musical, Last Dance, featuring songs by the legendary Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning pop master Paul Jabara (Enough is Enough, It's Raining Men, Last Dance, and more) with book by Shaun McKenna (Lord of the Rings, The Musical).

Today we are focusing a super-special spotlight on one of the Fall's most intriguing musical entries trying out in New York, the York Theatre Company's lab mounting of the new Paul Jabara jukebox musical LAST DANCE, by talking to the show's lead, recognizable TV and film star Rob Morrow, and the show's lead producer, noted comedic shepherd and filmmaker Robert D. Wachs, whom filled me in on all aspects of the show in a comprehensive chat late last week just prior to this week's start of rehearsals. In this all-encompassing conversation, Morrow, Wachs and I discuss the genesis of the new disco-themed musical celebrating the life and career of Jabara, the accomplished Emmy, Grammy and Academy Award-winning composer of Broadway shows (RACHAEL LILY ROSENBLOOM… AND DON'T YOU EVER FORGET IT), movie songs ("Last Dance" from THANK GOD IT'S FRIDAY; the titular "The Main Event") and numerous pop/rock/disco hits, such as "It's Raining Men" by The Weather Girls, Barbra Streisand and Donna Summer's epic disco duet "Enough Is Enough (No More Tears)" and his many solo hits, as well as the finer points of the story, concept, casting and the ultimate goals of the new Philip William McKinley-directed production, which features a book by Shaun McKenna. Additionally, Morrow and Wachs each generously share showbiz tales from their storied careers involving such big names as Eddie Murphy, Michael Bennett, Jonathan Larson, Tony Scott and many more and both copiously convey their infectious enthusiasm for the forthcoming fully-produced lab presentation of the new musical that will play for five performances beginning September 20 as they prepare for its first viewing before a paying audience. All of that and much, much more awaits!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Robert D. Wachs (producer of the hit films Beverly Hills Cop, Beverly Hills Cop 2, Coming to America), presents the developmental lab production of the new disco musical, Last Dance, featuring songs by the legendary Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning pop master Paul Jabara (Enough is Enough, It's Raining Men, Last Dance, and more) with book by Shaun McKenna (Lord of the Rings, The Musical). Under the direction of Philip Wm. McKinley (SPIDERMAN Turn Off the Dark, The Boy from Oz), and with choreography by Carol Schuberg (Meet Me in St. Louis) and musical direction by Wendy Cavett (Mamma Mia!), the five-member cast also features Katrina Lenk (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark), Anastacia McClesky (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) EmmyAward nominee Rob Morrow ("Northern Exposure," "Numb3rs"), Jack Noseworthy (Jerome Robbins' Broadway) and Jill Shackner (Les Miserables). Last Dance will play 5 performances only, September 20 - 23, 2012 at at The York Theatre at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the first rehearsal below!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), in association with Robert D. Wachs has announced final casting with the addition of Katrina Lenk (SPIDER-MAN Turn Off the Dark) and Anastacia McClesky (Priscilla, Queen of the Desert) to the cast of the developmental lab of the new disco musical, Last Dance, featuring songs by the legendary Academy, Emmy and Grammy Award-winning pop master Paul Jabara (Enough is Enough, It's Raining Men, Last Dance, and more) with book by Shaun McKenna (Lord of the Rings, The Musical).

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present free staged readings of A Good Man, a new musical with music by Ray Leslee, and book and lyrics by Philip Goodman, directed by Jerry Dixon.

Rural Mississippi just after World War II is a changing place where blacks have been leaving and going north in droves. Not 'Prince' Albert - he likes it here. A poor sharecropper, but a strong man and a gifted farmer, he is proud of his leadership and standing. And when he finds out that his wife is pregnant, he decides to fulfill a dream -- to fix up and put fresh white paint on his shabby little tenant house. That simple wish turns his world upside down. Many people, not only the whites, don't want him to do it. Passions erupt, and resentment and fear gather like a dark summer storm, shattering family and community.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present free staged readings of A Good Man, a new musical with music by Ray Leslee, and book and lyrics by Philip Goodman, directed by Jerry Dixon.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Artistic Producer) will present free staged readings of 'A Good Man', a new musical with music by Ray Leslee, and book and lyrics by Philip Goodman, directed by Jerry Dixon.

Rural Mississippi just after World War II is a changing place where blacks have been leaving and going north in droves. Not 'Prince' Albert - he likes it here. A poor sharecropper, but a strong man and a gifted farmer, he is proud of his leadership and standing. And when he finds out that his wife is pregnant, he decides to fulfill a dream -- to fix up and put fresh white paint on his shabby little tenant house. That simple wish turns his world upside down. Many people, not only the whites, don't want him to do it. Passions erupt, and resentment and fear gather like a dark summer storm, shattering family and community.

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys and Understudies with its next editions of At This Performance…™ to be held on Sunday, February 13th and Monday, February 14th at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, (above the Promenade Theatre- Broadway at 76th Street), 3rd Floor at 8 PM.

Musicals Tonight! continues its ongoing salute to Broadway and Off-Broadway Standbys and Understudies with its next editions of At This Performance…™ to be held on Sunday, February 13th and Monday, February 14th at the McGinn/Cazale Theatre, 2162 Broadway, (above the Promenade Theatre- Broadway at 76th Street), 3rd Floor at 8 PM.