Bette Midler News

This January and February 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

As 2014 draws to a close, co-owners of the Alexander Bar, Cafe and Theatre Nicholas Spagnoletti and Edward van Kuik, theatre manager Jon Keevy and night manager Esthie Hugo take a look back at the past year.

Songwriter Larry Henley, best known for the '80s hit 'Wind Beneath My Wings' died in Nashville on Thursday, at age 77.

Two added performances of LYPSINKA! THE BOXED SET have just been added to the schedule: Sunday, December 21 at 7 PM and Sunday, December 28 at 3 PM.

A feature on FIRST WIVES CLUB musical's official blog details Broadway in Chicago's recent event to introduce the show at Chicago Playhouse. The evening featured a 'trio of musical legends' -- Eddie Holland (pictured left), Lamont Dozier, and Brian Holland -- the Motown songwriting team behind the score for FIRST WIVES CLUB. Click HERE to read the full report and check out photos from the event!

The Laguna Playhouse will present the beginning of 2015 in a most spectacular fashion with the return of superstar comedienne Rita Rudner who will be performing, RITA RUDNER: OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE RITA, to start the New Year right with joy and laughter. OUT WITH THE OLD, IN WITH THE RITA will perform on Wednesday, December 31 at 7pm at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

The hilarious one-woman play I'll Eat You Last: A Chat with Sue Mengers currently plays as a season extra at the Unicorn Theatre in Kansas City. John Logan (writer of Tornado!, Star Trek Nemesis, and The Last Samurai among others) wrote the one-act play specifically for Bette Midler who starred in the Broadway production in 2013 and later in Los Angeles.

Julien's Auctions, the auction house to the stars, concluded a whirlwind two-day auction of Property from the Life and Career of Award Winning Actor Burt Reynolds. The exciting auction event featuring personal effects, career memorabilia, and a museum-caliber fine art collection took place at the Palms Casino Resort in Las Vegas on Thursday and Fridaywith bidders from around the world bidding high and bidding often.

This Sunday, Play Club kicks off its third year with the second annual Dassie Awards, celebrating theatrical excellence in Cape Town, along with the cynical and witty one-act one-hander THE SANTALAND DIARIES, all at the beautiful new space Miao in De Waterkant.

Kyle DeSantis, President of Drury Lane Theatre, announces today that the Broadway-bound production, BEACHES will replace DEATHTRAP from June 24 through August 16 during the 2015-2016 season. Presenting the first new work on the Drury Lane stage in 21 years, BEACHES signifies the theater's renewed dedication to develop new works.

Having seen Mary Testa in a cabaret concert in Houston, I feel I had an idea of what to expect from her and Michael Starobin's album HAVE FAITH. While I expected it to be eccentrically eclectic and haunting, nothing could have prepared me for how it was beautifully hypnotizing and simultaneously so unlike anything I've ever heard before. The unique album utilizes well-known pop songs (hits from The Beach Boys to Alanis Morissette) and songs written by William Finn and Michael John LaChiusa to explore thoughts on faith and doubt in ways that are equally alluring and unexpected.

The 13th Street Rep's 'George M. Cohan Song-and-Dance Award'-honoring a triple-threat singer/dancer/actor--has this year been presented to two people: Rayna Hirt and Michael Czyz. Cohan himself-the quintessential song-and-dance man-may have long since gone to his reward. But his great-granddaughter, singer/actress Jennifer Cohan Ross, was on hand to present the awards. The 13th Street Rep's 97-year-old founder/artistic director, Edith O'Hara-a longtime believer in the importance of encouraging fresh talent--was there, too, to congratulate the winners. Playwright Chip Deffaa, whose work has often been presented by the theater, emceed the event.

First Wives Club, a new Broadway-bound musical, will soon premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre. Tony Award-winner Faith Prince will play 'Brenda,' Mamma Mia's Christine Sherrill will play 'Elise,' and Wicked star Carmen Cusack will play 'Annie,' in the iconic roles created on film by Bette Midler, Goldie Hawn and Diane Keaton, respectively. With a book by five-time Emmy Award nominee Linda Bloodworth Thomason, direction by Simon Phillips and songs by Motown legends Holland-Dozier-Holland, First Wives Club: The Musical will have its out-of-town premiere at Chicago's Oriental Theatre (24 W Randolph Street). Previews begin February 17, 2015 and opening night is set for March 11, 2015 for a run that will go through March 29, 2015. Below, watch as the songwriting team chats about creating the new musical!

The Grand 1894 Opera House presents a return engagement by Grammy Award-winning vocalist Steve Tyrell, Sunday, January 11, for one performance at 4pm. Tickets may be purchased at The Grand's Box Office by calling 409.765.1894, 800.821.1894; online -www.thegrand.com.

Midler, who later called a truce on Twitter, yesterday went one step further to Tweet this offer to the young singer

ROCKWELL Table and Stage, L.A.'s premier spot for extraordinary entertainment and dining is thrilled to announce its Holiday line-up of events with something for everyone including A Jeff Goldblum Christmas Eve, "SCREAM" Extends, Donny Most, Lee Lessack and so much more! ROCKWELL Table and Stage is located at 1714 N. Vermont in Los Feliz.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: ASSASSINS opens in London, CHICAGO welcomes a new 'Billy Flynn' and 'Mama Morton', Jim Parsons returns to Roundabout for its 'MERTON' benefit reading and more!

This December the national tour of SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL is coming to the Garden State with stops in New Brunswick and Morristown. First up, the show will play the historic State Theatre in New Brunswick for three performances on December 12th and 13th. The SISTERs then swing back through New Jersey to perform at the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts in Morristown on January 31st and February 1st.

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: Julie & Julie: Than & Now, James Snyder: A First New York Holiday Road with Friends, Annaleigh Ashford: Lost in the Stars, 54 Below Celebrates Frank Wildhorn, and Matt Doyle & the Whiskey 5.

Marking 27 days until Christmas, today we pay tribute to an instantly recognizable Oscar-winning seasonal selection penned by Golden Age Broadway and Hollywood music master Frank Loesser, 'Baby, It's Cold Outside'.