Barry Shafrin News

National Alliance for Musical Theatre presents the SONGWRITERS CABARET and SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE hosted by Drama Desk Nominee Kate Wetherhead, which are part of the 28th annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS.

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced this year's line-up for the SONGWRITERS CABARET and SONGWRITERS SHOWCASE hosted by Drama Desk Nominee Kate Wetherhead, which are part of the 28th annual FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS.

The first annual HARVARD-YALE CANTATA at Feinstein's/54 Below, a musical competition modeled on the legendary boat race, was nothing short of electrifying. The sold-out show directed and produced by Tom Toce (Yale '78) was one of those evenings that make you grateful and happy to live in New York among so many brilliant and passionate artists. And if you happened to attend either school, it produced a particular pride in all that is wonderful about institutions fashionable to bash in an age of reverse snobbery. (Full disclosure: I graduated from Yale in 1995.) While the second CANTATA played to a slightly smaller crowd, the show featured songs by lyricists who have made lasting contributions to popular music in the 20th Century: Alan Lerner (H '40), Tom Lehrer (H '46 and MA '47), and John Forster (H '69). In more recent years, Cambridge and New Haven have produced Broadway composers such as Larry O'Keefe (H '91 HEATHERS, LEGALLY BLONDE) and Bobby Lopez (Y '97, BOOK OF MORMON, AVENUE Q, and songs from FROZEN), the youngest of only 12 people to win an Emmy, Tony, Grammy, and Oscar.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced details for the 2014 NYMF'S NEXT BROADWAY SENSATION competition. A perennial fan-favorite, the competition will return in December with an impressive new list of celebrity mentors.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced details for the 2014 NYMF'S NEXT BROADWAY SENSATION competition. A perennial fan-favorite, the competition will return in December with an impressive new list of celebrity mentors.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents "The Songs of Adam Wachter: Just Come To This" on Monday, November 10 at 9:30pm. The evening will feature works by up-and-coming and eternally youthful musical theater composer/lyricist Adam Wachter, including original songs from his new musical Tarrytown, the hit web series "The Battery's Down" and "Submissions Only," and new material written specifically for this concert, as well as new arrangements of well-known songs from his varied career as a music director and arranger, all performed by a starry group of his obscenely talented, generous, and attention-hungry Broadway veteran friends. "Unmissable!" and "Not too lengthy!" raves several press releases.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Broadway on 22nd Street, Ryan Scott Oliver and Lindsay Mendez's ACTOR THERAPY, The Songs of Adam Wachter: Just Come to This, A Night Like This Live in Concert, and The Music of Alex Rybeck.

?Bedbugs!!! is slated to close on November 2 and wanted to celebrate Halloween in style, anyone who comes to the theatre dressed as a Bedbug will get 50% off of a full priced ticket*.

Bedbugs!!! will end its run at the ArcLight Theatre on November 2. Written by composer, Paul Leschen with book & lyricist Fred Sauter with direction and choreography of Robert Bartley with musical supervision by Deborah Hurwitz. Bedbugs!!! began performances on September 9 and opened on September 14 and was originally set to end it run on October 26, due to popular demand extended through November 2. Tickets are $25 - $89 and can be purchased by visiting BedBugsMusical.com or calling Ovationtix.com at 866.811.4111. Bedbugs!!! is presented by Dale Joan Young.

Tonight, October 16th, Broadway Sessions celebrates Off Broadway offerings The Fantasticks and BedBugs!!!, as well as the upcoming national tour of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Musical.

BROADWAY SESSIONS is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida and Footloose) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano. This Thursday, October 16th, Broadway Sessions celebrates Off Broadway offerings The Fantasticks and BedBugs!!!, as well as the upcoming national tour of The Grinch Who Stole Christmas, The Musical.

Written by composer, Paul Leschen with book & lyricist Fred Sauter with direction and choreography of Robert Bartley with musical supervision by Deborah Hurwitz. Bedbugs!!! began performances on September 9 and opened on September 14 and was originally set to end it run on October 26, due to popular demand, will now extend its run at the UWS's ArcLight Theatre (152 West 71 Street) through November 2, 2014. The cast of Bedbugs!!! performed at Times Square in Ripley's Believe it Or Not this past Saturday, and you can check out photos of the appearance below!

This Saturday October 11, 2014, the hit Off-Broadway musical BEDBUGS!!! will perform the song "Don't Let the Bedbugs Bite" as part of Comic Con's Super Week, in front of Times Square's Ripley's Believe It or Not (234 West 42nd Street) between 12pm -1pm. The cast will include Courtney Bassett, Danny Bolero, Colin Scott Cahill, Nicholas Park, Barry Shafrin and Gretchen Wylder.

Opening to amazing audience and critical response, the NY Times Critic's Pick, Bedbugs!!! will extend through November 2. Written by composer, Paul Leschen with book & lyricist Fred Sauter with direction and choreography of Robert Bartley with musical supervision by Deborah Hurwitz. Bedbugs!!! began performances on September 9 and opened on September 14 and was originally set to end it run on October 26, due to popular demand, will now extend its run at the UWS's ArcLight Theatre (152 West 71 Street) through November 2, 2014. Tickets are $25 - $89 and can be purchased by visiting BedBugsMusical.com or calling Ovationtix.com at 866.811.4111. Bedbugs!!! is presented by Dale Joan Young.

Composer, Paul Leschen (Drama Desk nominee for Twist!, Scissor Sisters) and book & lyricist Fred Sauter's (MFA, NYU Musical Theatre Writing Program) musical Bedbugs!!! is taking over the Upper West Side this week. Presented by Dale Joan Young, Bedbugs!!! is the award winning comedy sci-fi thriller rock musical. BEDBUGS!!! features the direction and choreography of Robert Bartley with musical supervision by Deborah Hurwitz. BEDBUGS!!! opened last night, September 14, and will run through October 26 at the ArcLight Theatre (152 West 71 Street). BroadwayWorld has photos of the opening night festivities below!

Dale Joan Young is bringing Bedbugs!!! back to NY. No, not those begbugs, Bedbugs!!! the award winning comedy sci-fi thriller rock musical, the brainchild of composer Paul Leschen (Drama Desk nominee for Twist! and pianist and arranger for international rock sensations Scissor Sisters) and book & lyricist Fred Sauter (MFA, NYU Musical Theatre Writing Program). BEDBUGS!!! will feature the direction and choreography of Robert Bartley with musical supervision by Deborah Hurwitz. BEDBUGS!!! begins performances tonight, September 9, and runs through October 26, celebrating its opening night on Sunday, September 14 at 7PM at the ArcLight Theatre (152 West 71 Street).

Dale Joan Young is bringing Bedbugs!!! back to NY. No, not those begbugs, Bedbugs!!! the award winning comedy sci-fi thriller rock musical, the brainchild of composer Paul Leschen (Drama Desk nominee for Twist! and pianist and arranger for international rock sensations Scissor Sisters) and book & lyricist Fred Sauter (MFA, NYU Musical Theatre Writing Program). BEDBUGS!!! will feature the direction and choreography of Robert Bartley with musical supervision by Deborah Hurwitz. BEDBUGS!!! begins performances on September 9 and runs through October 26, celebrating its opening night on Sunday, September 14 at 7PM at the ArcLight Theatre (152 West 71 Street). Tickets are $25 - $89 and can be purchased by visiting BedBugsMusical.com or calling Ovationtix.com at 866.811.4111.

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances begin next week. They are: Tonight, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; and the newly added additional show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1:00pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!