Brad Simmons News

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, rock-n-roll, the jazz world and the downtown scene, including Ann Hampton Callaway, Darlene Love, Janis Siegel, Barbara Carroll, Nathan Lee Graham and more!

Backstage @ 54 Below returns Tuesday, September 18th with high energy host SUSIE MOSHER and Musical Director BRAD SIMMONS. Special Guests include VAN HUGHES (9 to 5, Hairspray & American Idiot), LESLIE McDONEL (Hairspray, American Idiot), JAY ROGERS (Howard Crabtree's "When Pig's Fly"), KIRSTEN SCOTT (Follies, Hairspray) & MATTHEW SCOTT (Jersey Boys, Sondheim on Sondeim). Featuring JESSICA VOSK (Encores!), MICHELLE DOWDY (Hairspray), JOHN PATRICK WALKER (High Fidelity, Young Frankenstein) and "LA's Next Great Stage Star" Winner JUDY MORA.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of Broadway's brightest stars.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, will welcome the following events.

That great incubator for cabaret and musical theater, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Cabaret & Performance Conference will present a very special evening in tribute to one of America's greatest and most prolific songwriters. Johnny Mercer, "AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE", A Johnny Mercer Celebration on Friday, August 3 at 8:00 PM at the O'Neill Center's Dina Merrill Theater.

This August and September 54 BELOW will present a new lineup of stars. Located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, 54 Below also continues to present its special series: Backstage, Broadway's Sunday evening cocktail party and songfest; The Green Room, live, music, cocktails and lite fare for the after-theatre crowd.

Dennis Grimaldi Productions (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Godspell, Angels in America) presents industry readings of the new musical fantasy, A Kiss From Alexander, today, May 21st at 1pm and 4pm at Shetler Studios, 244 W 54th St, #12 in Manhattan.

Dennis Grimaldi Productions (Nice Work If You Can Get It, Godspell, Angels in America) will present industry readings of the new musical fantasy, A Kiss From Alexander, Monday, May 21st at 1pm and 4pm at Shetler Studios, 244 W 54th St, #12 in Manhattan. Denis Jones (Legally Blonde, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, Broadway Bares) is directing and choreographing. Book and Lyrics is by Broadway and theatre veteran, Stephan de Ghelder. Music is by Brad Simmons, most recently musical director, Lysistrata Jones.

Spring comes to Millennium Park with Chicago-based actress and singer McKinley Carter in the finalCabaret with a View concert of the season on Monday, April 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. on the enclosed stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Titled Spring Forward/Fall Back, the evening will feature music inspired by the renewal and possibility of springtime.

Cabaret with a View returns to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Monday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. with singer/songwriter Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons in "The Next Best Thing to Love." Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, the series offers audiences a chance to sit on the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion to experience music in an intimate setting and a climate controlled environment. The evening will include both pop favorites as well as a sampling of Stovall's original music.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Bring It On,' season announcements from Broadway In Chicago, Porchlight and Paramount, Idina and Kristin tour dates, Andrew Lloyd Webber in movie theaters and more....

Spring comes to Millennium Park with Chicago-based actress and singer McKinley Carter in the finalCabaret with a View concert of the season on Monday, April 9, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. on the enclosed stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion. Titled Spring Forward/Fall Back, the evening will feature music inspired by the renewal and possibility of springtime.

Cabaret with a View returns to the Jay Pritzker Pavilion on Monday, March 12 at 7:30 p.m. with singer/songwriter Paul Oakley Stovall and Brad Simmons in "The Next Best Thing to Love." Presented by the Chicago Department of Cultural Affairs and Special Events, in partnership with the Chicago Office of Tourism and Culture, the series offers audiences a chance to sit on the stage of the Jay Pritzker Pavilion to experience music in an intimate setting and a climate controlled environment. The evening will include both pop favorites as well as a sampling of Stovall's original music.

LYSISTRATA JONES, which caught on with many critics but not with audiences, will give its final performance on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 3:00pm at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th street). Upon closing, the musical will have played 34 previews and 30 performances. Written by Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane (book) and Lewis Flinn (music/lyrics), LYSISTRATA JONES is directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Dan Knechtges.

LYSISTRATA JONES may be giving its final performance on Sunday, January 8, 2012, but as revealed last night at Seth's Broadway Chatterbox, an original cast album is on its way! Upon closing, the musical will have played 34 previews and 30 performances. Written by Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane (book) and Lewis Flinn (music/lyrics), LYSISTRATA JONES is directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Dan Knechtges. No official announcement has been made about a release date.

LYSISTRATA JONES, which caught on with many critics but not with audiences, will give its final performance on Sunday, January 8, 2012 at 3:00pm at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 West 48th street). Upon closing, the musical will have played 34 previews and 30 performances. Written by Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane (book) and Lewis Flinn (music/lyrics), LYSISTRATA JONES is directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Dan Knechtges.

Broadway's new musical comedy, Lysistrata Jones, will begin preview performances this Saturday, November 12 at 8:00pm at the Walter Kerr Theatre (219 W 48th Street). Written by Tony nominee Douglas Carter Beane and Lewis Flinn and directed and choreographed by Tony nominee Dan Knechtges, Lysistrata Jones will officially open on December 14, 2011.

Douglas Carter Beane's LYSISTRATA JONES will indeed head to Broadway in the fall, beginning previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre November 12, 2011 in anticipation of a December 14 opening. The production last played the basketball court of the Judson Memorial Church Gymnasium off-Broadway in Washington Square, opening on June 5. The production was presented by the Transport Group Theatre Company. The new musical features a book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn and will be directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges.

Though heavily speculated since the circulation of Broadway audition notices, the New York Times has just released the news that Douglas Carter Beane's LYSISTRATA JONES will indeed head to Broadway in the fall, beginning previews at the Walter Kerr Theatre November 12, 2011 in anticipation of a December 14 opening. The production last played the basketball court of the Judson Memorial Church Gymnasium off-Broadway in Washington Square, opening on June 5. The production was presented by the Transport Group Theatre Company. The new musical features a book by Douglas Carter Beane, music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn and will be directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges. The New York Times reports that capitalization is set at 6M for the new Broadway incarnation. Most of the off-Broadway cast wil transfer with the show.