Ben Vereen News

The Broadway Theatre Project has announced that actor, conductor, music director and vocal arranger David Loud will teach young performers aspiring to be on Broadway, at this year's summer intensive program. This summer, David Loud has asked to work with 12 of the Broadway Theatre Project's best singers in a workshop setting. He will also do a Q&A and teach master classes to all of the students.

The stars came out to see two-time Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone perform at the opening week of 54 BELOW. Visitors included LuPone's Evita co-star Mandy Patinkin; from 'The View,' Joy Behar; from '30 Rock,' Jane Krakowski; Motown legend Darlene Love; playwright Douglas Carter Beane; Tony Award winning-director Jerry Zaks; Broadway composer/lyricist Andrew Lippa; nightclub performer Natalie Douglas and more. Check out photos of the guests below!

Debra McWaters - BTP Co-Artistic Director and President, announces that Dancing With The Stars professional Ballroom and Latin dancers Nicholas Kosovich (DWTS seasons 1 and 2) and Elena Grinenko (DWTS seasons 3 and 4) will offer Q&A sessions, as well as teach Master dance technique classes to young students interested in a career in musical theatre at the Broadway Theatre Project this summer in Tampa , Florida.

Today in 1977, Pippin closed at the Minskoff Theatre, after having played 1944 performances. Pippin is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz and a book by Roger O. Hirson. Bob Fosse, who directed the original Broadway production, also contributed to the libretto. The musical uses the premise of a mysterious acting troupe, led by a Leading Player, to tell the story of Pippin, a young prince on his search for meaning and significance. The original cast included: Eric Berry, Jill Clayburgh, Leland Palmer, Irene Ryan, Ben Vereen, and John Rubinstein.

Ben Vereen returns to The RRazz Room to with his show 'Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen,' a high energy tribute to the music of Broadway, along with musical selections made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Audiences can expect to hear classics such as 'Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,' 'Mr. Bojangles' and 'Defying Gravity.' Well known to theatre audiences for his Tony Award and Drama Desk winning performance in Pippin, Vereen has also appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Chicago, Fosse and Jelly's Last Jam. He is currently celebrating the release of his CD 'Steppin' Out Live.'

Backstage Creations, specialists in award show gifts and custom backstage Celebrity Retreats™, produced the gift suite at the 2012 Tony Awards® at the Beacon Theater, in New York City. The 66th Annual Tony Awards, presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing, were televised live on Sunday, June 10th 8/7c on CBS.

Ben Vereen returns to The RRazz Room to with his show 'Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen,' a high energy tribute to the music of Broadway, along with musical selections made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Audiences can expect to hear classics such as 'Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,' 'Mr. Bojangles' and 'Defying Gravity.' We have a video of Ben's performace with the cast of HAIR, singing at a Sirius Radio event. Check it out below!

Planning a party? Need to know what's happening when tonight? Can't help yourself? Read on...

The big day is here! Follow our LIVE coverage starting from Tony Rehearsals starting at approximately 10am. Want to know who's performing what? What order to expect the awards in and other tidbits? Spoil yourself!

Yesterday, June 5, theatre legend Patti LuPone opened the new nightclub and restaurant, 54 Below, with a two-week engagement of a new act that will run through June 16. Before the star took the stage for the evening performance, she treated the press to a special sneak peek of the show and BroadwayWorld was there to talk to the star and capture her memorable performance!

Yesterday, June 5, theatre legend Patti Lupone opened the new nightclub and restaurant, 54 Below, with a two-week engagement of a new act that will run through June 16. LuPone will play the venue Tuesdays through Saturdays at 8pm and Fridays and Saturdays at 11pm. In honor of the grand opening, LuPone treated the press to a special sneak peek of the show and BroadwayWorld was there!

Accomplished actress, singer and former Las Vegas headliner Lynda Carter will perform standards, country hits and pop songs at the Suncoast Showroom July 14 and 15.

Today we are talking to the Tony Award-nominated Best Featured Actor In A Musical who has set Broadway ablaze with his much-talked-about portrayal of Judas in Des McAnuff's spectacular revival of Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's seminal rock opera, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR - the electric and charismatic Josh Young. Tracing his journey with the Biblically-themed musical from the hallowed grounds of the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Canada - where he first made his mark on the theatre world with his acting of another iconic Lloyd Webber/Rice anti-hero, Che in EVITA; as well as THE GRAPES OF WRATH - all the way to La Jolla in California, and, now, to eight performances a week on the Great White Way, Young shares his overflowing enthusiasm for the theatrical form and details his life as a performer; a veritable dream come true for the self-proclaimed Broadway baby. In addition to all about his perspective on Judas and his thoughts on the daring and innovative SUPERSTAR, Young also describes working with Tony-winning director Des McAnuff and how his training at the Royal Shakespeare Festival has prepared him for the rigors of a Broadway hit. Plus, Young looks back on past performances and his favorite roles to date as well as shines a light on some of the parts he would consider taking on in the future, both near and far. Plus, Young reacts to his Tony Award nomination, fills us in on genesis of the many new lyrics for the heavenly SUPERSTAR revival, shares thoughts on GLEE, SMASH and much, much more!

Joining the ranks of an already impressive group of Master Artists at this years' Broadway Theatre Project, Debra McWaters - BTP Co-Artistic Director and President, announces that Dancing With The Stars professional Ballroom and Latin dancers Nicholas Kosovich (DWTS seasons 1 and 2) and Elena Grinenko (DWTS seasons 3 and 4) will offer Q&A sessions, as well as, teach Master dance technique classes to young students interested in a career in musical theatre at the Broadway Theatre Project this summer in Tampa , Florida.

Rob McClure, who originated the role of Chaplin at the La Jolla Playhouse, will star in the title role of the new Broadway musical CHAPLIN. A new musical depicting the life of film icon Charlie Chaplin, with music and lyrics by Christopher Curtis and book by three-time Tony Award-winner Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray) and Christopher Curtis, CHAPLIN will open on Broadway on Monday, September 10, 2012 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Previews will begin Tuesday, August 21, 2012. Acclaimed director/choreographer Warren Carlyle (Finian's Rainbow, Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway) directs and choreographs the production. Additional casting and additional creative team to be announced soon.

This June, 54 BELOW, a new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife opens its doors to the public. The venue, located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway brightest talent.

Ben Vereen returns to The RRazz Room to with his show 'Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen,' a high energy tribute to the music of Broadway, along with musical selections made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra and Sammy Davis, Jr. Audiences can expect to hear classics such as 'Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries,' 'Mr. Bojangles' and 'Defying Gravity.' Well known to theatre audiences for his Tony Award and Drama Desk winning performance in Pippin, Vereen has also appeared on Broadway in Wicked, Chicago, Fosse and Jelly's Last Jam. He is currently celebrating the release of his CD 'Steppin' Out Live.'

Huntington Beach High School and Academy for the Performing Arts senior Elizabeth Romero won the Spotlight competition for non-classical voice after performing at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion on Saturday night in their annual event, hosted by Broadway star Ben Vereen. Selected as one of eight award winners out of 2300 students from 400 schools, Elizabeth will receive a $5,000 cash scholarship. In other news, HB APA's production of Damn Yankees soared in performance at the John Raitt Awards in Fullerton on Sunday.

LEAP OF FAITH opened on Broadway last night, April 26th, with four-time Tony nominee Raúl Esparza leading the company along with Jessica Phillips, Kendra Kassebaum, Kecia Lewis-Evans, Leslie Odom, Jr., Krystal Joy Brown and Talon Ackerman. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the show's celebrity red carpet!

BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture all the red carpet arrivals of GHOST THE MUSICAL's opening night on Broadway - April 24, 2012!