Beckie Menzie News

Distinguished vocalist, recording artist and interpreter of the Great American Songbook Martha Lorin will appear at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal Today May 26 accompanied by legendary musical director Paul Smith for an evening of lush standards, it was announced today by producer Michael Sterling and co-producer Ralph Lampkin, Jr. of the Lampkin Music Group in Chicago.

High school vocalists from Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, Illinois and Missouri will compete on Saturday, June 1 at a regional for the Great American Songbook Vocal Academy & Competition. Sponsored by the Michael Feinstein Great American Songbook Initiative, the annual endeavor is the only U.S. competition dedicated solely to the music from Broadway, Hollywood musicals and the Tin Pan Alley era of the early to mid-twentieth century.

Distinguished vocalist, recording artist and interpreter of the Great American Songbook Martha Lorin will appear at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal Sunday May 26 accompanied by legendary musical director Paul Smith for an evening of lush standards, it was announced today by producer Michael Sterling and co-producer Ralph Lampkin, Jr. of the Lampkin Music Group in Chicago.

Acclaimed singer/songwriter/musician/producer Danny Kravitz and celebrated vocalist Dave Gallagher will be performing their just released recording The Face on national television's WGN America's The MidDay Show, Friday, February 22 at Noon (CST). Written by CGMA Covenant Award-winner Mark Masri and Juno Award-winner Stephan Moccio (Seal, Celine Dion), this hauntingly beautiful ballad.

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE cast members will be making special guest performances at 'Monday Night Live' at Petterino's (150 N. Dearborn St., Chicago), the downtown theater district go-to restaurant, tonight, Feb. 4, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. Upcoming productions of 'See What I Wanna See' and 'Little Women,' a unique 'Joseph...,' four world premieres, including 'Under A Rainbow Flag,' plus a whole bunch of special cabaret evenings, the return of 'Best Musical!' at Stage 773, and world premiere choreography by Ann Reinking!

I LOVE LUCY LIVE ON STAGE cast members will be making special guest performances at 'Monday Night Live' at Petterino's (150 N. Dearborn St., Chicago), the downtown theater district go-to restaurant, on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013 at 7:30 p.m.

On Monday, January 21, Stephen Wallem, the actor/singer best known for his role as Thor on the Emmy-winning television series "Nurse Jackie" stormed the Broadway at Birdland stage with Schwartz And All, a musical tribute to composer Stephen Schwartz.

According to the New York Daily News, Stephen Wallem, who plays Thor in Showtime's 'Nurse Jackie' will appear in the Broadway at Birdland series with 'Schwartz and All', his tribute to composer Stephen Schwartz, tonight, January 21, 2013.

According to the New York Daily News, Stephen Wallem, who plays Thor in Showtime's 'Nurse Jackie' will appear in the Broadway at Birdland series with 'Schwartz and All', his tribute to composer Stephen Schwartz, on Monday, January 21, 2013.

Producers, Eugene Dizon and Cory Goodrich have recorded a new holiday album of music SEASON OF CAROLS which features over one hundred Chicago theatre artists, singers and musicians. This new holiday CD was produced to raise funds for Season of Concern, which supports Chicago artists in need. SEASON OF CAROLS is now available for sale at www.seasonofcarols.com and will be kicked-off with a special concert tonight, December 3 at 7:30pm at Mercury Theater Chicago.

Today, BroadwayWorld.com is proud to announce the slate of nominees for the third annual BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards, the only fan-voted theater awards in the Chicagoland area! Expanded to thirty categories this year, the BCAs (or "Broadies") honor Chicago's theater productions and artists in both Equity and Non-Equity categories, including plays, musicals, revues, Theater for Young Audiences, touring shows and special theatrical events. Productions which opened between November 1, 2011 and October 31, 2012 were eligible for nomination. The BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards are the oldest and most popular of the several dozen regional BroadwayWorld Award competitions now being held in the U.S. And you can join the fun by voting for your favorites, and encouraging your friends to vote as the vote totals pile up!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to New York. Barbra, the 'Seasons Of Carols' CD release, a sing-along 'Xanadu,' 'I Love Lucy' extends, a 'Fifty Shades' parody, 'Fugitive Songs,' BET's season, 'Miss Saigon,' 'Rent' and more....

Producers, Eugene Dizon and Cory Goodrich have recorded a new holiday album of music SEASON OF CAROLS which features over one hundred Chicago theatre artists, singers and musicians. This new holiday CD was produced to raise funds for Season of Concern, which supports Chicago artists in need. SEASON OF CAROLS is now available for sale at www.seasonofcarols.com and will be kicked-off with a special concert on Monday, December 3 at 7:30pm at Mercury Theater Chicago.

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

This year, the 23rd Cabaret Convention, October 17-19 at Jazz at Lincoln Center/Frederick P. Rose Hall, continued the extraordinary levels of entertainment provided by Smith and his compatriots, as well as provided happy, personal memories of the Mercer/Smith coalescence upon which the Foundation plans to thrive in the future. Check out photos from closing night below!

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Equity Jeffs, 'Sunday' at Chicago Shakes, 'Hoodoo Love,' the new musicals 'Clear' and 'The Verona Project,' concerts of operetta and cabaret, a Chicago original cast album and more!

Lampkin Music Group is proud to present the NY Solo Debut of Singer, Laury Shelley, in 'My Time With Legrand' at the Metropolitan Room tonight and Wednesday, October 8th and 10th at @ 9:30 p.m. Two Shows Only! Music Cover : $20.00. Two Drink Minium. MAC Member Discount - $15.00. 34 West 22nd Street, NY. RSVP @ 1-212-206-0440.

Jessica Redish, founding artistic director of The Music Theatre Company (TMTC), Highland Park's Equity theatre, 1850 Green Bay Road, is proud to announce the company's fifth season. The 2012-2013 season features the mainstage production, in spring 2013, of the Tony Award-winning The Pajama Game, directed by Jess McLeod and choreographed by Founding Artistic Director Jessica Redish, three Musicals in Concert and five Artists in Concert. Season subscriptions for the Musicals in Concert series and single tickets for the 2012 - 2013 season are on sale now. To purchase subscriptions, single tickets or for more information call The Music Theatre Company at 847.579.4900 or visit www.themusictheatrecompany.org.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'A Class Act' and 'Dreamgirls' open, two takes on 'Singin' In The Rain,' 'The Book Of Mormon' and 'Sexy Baby' extend, Bailiwick Chicago's 'Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson,' and more!