Ben Vereen News

Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, will celebrate Thanksgiving with special prix fixe menu from Executive Chef Lynn Bound. On Thursday, November 24, indulge in a festive Thanksgiving feast that includes classic holiday dishes and contemporary seasonal favorites.

Well, it's finally over! After what feels like an unprecedentedly long election cycle, Donald Trump has been elected President of The United States of America! The Broadway community has been incredibly vocal in its support of Hillary Clinton as a result of some of the dangerous and discriminatory rhetoric preached by the opposing candidate.

Kyle Riabko - star and creator of the hit West End show Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined and the earlier acclaimed Off-Broadway version What's it All About? Bacharach Reimagined - will return to Joe's Pub at The Public for two solo concerts by popular demand on Wednesday, February 15, 2017 at 7:00 PM and Saturday, February 18, 2017 at 9:30 PM. 

The Martina Arroyo Foundation's 12th Annual Fundraising Gala, a celebration of Prelude to Performance, Role Class and Outreach Programs, will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 beginning with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6:30pm in the Grand Salon of the JW Marriott Essex House,160 Central Park South, NYC.

Ghostlight Records has announced that Close to You: Bacharach Reimagined from KYLE RIABKO is now available from Spotify and other streaming services.

The Martina Arroyo Foundation's 12th Annual Fundraising Gala, a celebration of Prelude to Performance, Role Class and Outreach Programs, will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 beginning with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6:30pm in the Grand Salon of the JW Marriott Essex House, 160 Central Park South, NYC.

This November, Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. Scroll down for details!

After you've had enough turkey and family drama this Thanksgiving, why not join us for an evening of comedy, music and sequins! Liberace lived a life of flamboyance, sparkle, and lavish costumes. In this funny and touching tribute, the virtuoso musician gets one last chance to glitter and shine as he tickles the ivories through his favorite songs. Miss Peggy Lee is beyond description.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for The Old Globe and University of San Diego Shiley Graduate Theatre Program presentation of William Shakespeare's The Two Gentlemen of Verona, running November 12 - November 20 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, directed by Richard Seer, Director of Professional Training for the M.F.A. program, as part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is Saturday, November 12 at 8:00 p.m.

Ghostlight Records will release the original cast recording of the musical The Apprenticeship of Duddy Kravitz online and in stores on Friday, December 2, 2016.

Casting is announced for the Lythgoe Family Panto!

Ghostlight Records will preserve the Lincoln Center Theater production of William Finn and James Lapine's Tony Award-winning musical with a new Broadway cast recording to be released later this season. The new two disc-set will mark the first time the landmark show has been recorded in its entirety.

CEK Productions presents the World Premiere of LUSH LIFE, book by Carole Eglash-Kosoff, musical direction and arrangements by Rahn Coleman, choreography by Cassie Crump and direction by John Henry Davis. LUSH LIFE begins previews Friday, November 11, 2016 and opens Friday, November 18 at 8pm. The production runs through Sunday, December 18 at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

On Monday night, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present NY1 theater journalist Frank DiLella and the seventh episode of his new talk show, 'Show Biz After Hours With Frank DiLella.' Frank's very special guests were Ben Vereen, Motown's Charl Brown, Sarah Kowalski, Alison Mahoney, Dan DeLuca, Marla Louissant, and Kalli Siringas. Scroll down for photos!

Panto at The Playhouse, now in its fifth year, has become a "must-do" holiday tradition for Southern California residents. A CINDERELLA CHRISTMAS is the latest Holiday Spectacular  presented by The Pasadena Playhouse and Lythgoe Family Panto in the style of the traditional British Panto. A Panto is interactive holiday fun for all ages, and the timeless tale of Cinderella will feature comedy, magic, dancers from "So You Think You Can Dance" and contemporary music from Taylor Swift to the Bee Gees. Panto at The Playhouse productions have featured luminaries from the worlds of music, theatre and television, including Sabrina Carpenter, John O'Hurley, Ariana Grande, Ben Vereen, Olivia Holt and Lucy Lawless.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its lineup for October 24-30, featuring Kurt Elling, ShowBiz After Hours with Frank DiLella with Special Guests Ben Vereen and Charl Brown, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, and more!

Transcend your expectations as THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW: LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN arrives on an extended cut DVD on December 6th!

I am aware that what I am about to write is likely going to be a critical outlier, but I didn't hate FOX's television adaptation of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW, which they clumsily subtitled LET'S DO THE TIME WARP AGAIN. Now, I didn't particularly like it either, but to be frank (pun intended), I was expecting it to be far, far worse. While I am not a ROCKY HORROR expert, there didn't appear to be any horrendous missteps in the broadcast, in fact there were moments, even entire scenes, that were passably entertaining. However, on the whole, the endeavor just kept bringing to mind one simple question; 'Why?'

Christinia MIlian plays Magenta in this remake of THE ROCKY HORROR PICTURE SHOW , on October 20th on Fox. Check your local listingins and get ready to do the Time Warp again!

The Friars Club hosted a one night only event last night that will be remembered for many years by Ben Vereen.  Chita Rivera brought him to the club for what Ben thought was a small dinner in his honor.  When Ben walked out of the elevator the huge mahogany  doors of the Milton Berle Room and Barbra Streisand Room swung open to a capacity crowd of Friars shouting "SURPRISE" and singing Happy Birthday.   It was an emotional happy celebration as Ben's many friends toasted the legendary performer and humanitarian.  Friar Board Member and Chairman of the Friars Admission Committee Bill Boggs officially made Ben Vereen an Honorary Friar.  As Bill pointed out to Ben in his presentation,  " I have the power to bestow this title on you….. being an Honorary Member entitles you to walk into the club at any time, enjoy a great meal in the Frank Sinatra dinning room…..and pay for it! "