Brenda Braxton News

Join Dorothy in an adventure with her lovable friends as they journey to meet the Wizard in the Tony Award®-winning Broadway sensation The Wiz!

On Monday, Dec 15th 2014 over a 100 artists, musicians, educators, and entrepreneurs gathered in Harlem for Shaun Derik's annual Holiday Jazz and Toy Drive (Shaun Derik's GOOD Night). Shaun Derik is a nationally acclaimed youth empowerment speaker. His clients include the Ohio and Mississippi Departments of Education, National Police Activities League, Pride, FBLA and Big Brothers Big Sister of New York. Shaun Derik's GOOD parties feature live jazz musicians, Broadway performers, an in-house chef as guests come together to benefit a specific cause. This year's cause: Toys for Inner City Children. Scroll down for photos from the event!

On Tuesdays, today, December 2nd and 9th, Wednesday December 3rd @ 7pm, The Triad/Stage72, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts an encore performance of On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue - an homage to the now defunct historical 'Club Harlem.' Club Harlem was an Atlantic City venue, which hosted all 'the greats' such as Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

'On Kentucky Avenue -- The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue' has been presented three or four times a month periodically since February at Stage 72/The Triad, with Cheryl Freeman, Andricka Hall and Ty Stephens co-starring, Because Freeman and Hall both had previous commitments in December and were unable to perform when Stage 72 scheduled three additional performances of 'On Kentucky Avenue' on December 2, 3 and 9 at 7 PM, the producers feel fortunate that they have been able to replace them for these added performances with Tony nominee Brenda Braxton and recording artist Jenny Douglas.

On Sunday, November 23 (7 p.m.), in a celebratory landmark performance, the company of Broadway's record-breaking hit musical CHICAGO welcomed back its four original stars -- Tony Award winners Ann Reinking, Bebe Neuwirth, James Naughton and Joel Grey. CHICAGO has surpassed the run of iconic Broadway blockbuster CATS with a record-breaking 7,486 performances, making it the second longest-running show in Broadway history. Only one show -- The Phantom of the Opera -- has run longer than CHICAGO. BroadwayWorld was there for the after-party and brings you photos below!

On Tuesdays, December 2nd and 9th, Wednesday December 3rd @ 7pm, The Triad/Stage72, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts an encore performance of On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue - an homage to the now defunct historical "Club Harlem." Club Harlem was an Atlantic City venue, which hosted all "the greats" such as Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

On November 3rd at 9:30 p.m., The Metropolitan Room and Joseph Macchia present LUCK BE A LADY. The evening will showcase five fabulous ladies from Broadway. Each lady will perform their own mini set. A portion of the door will be donated to Cycle For The Cause Team Eagle.

THIS IS YOUR NIGHT! will honor Joseph Macchia at the Metropolitan Room on October 27, 2014 at p.m.

The new stage drama Stalking the Bogeymanat New World Stages (340 W. 50th St.) celebrated its official Opening Night yesterday, September 29. Based on the true story of David Holthouse as first told in the Denver Westword newspaper,STALKING THE BOGEYMAN was featured on the popular weekly public radio broadcast 'This American Life' in 2011, which prompted an array of media coverage from national and international outlets including ABC News, '20/20,' the New York Daily News, the LondonDaily Mail and more. Check out photos from opening night below!

AnthonyKen LLC and Sheryl Lee Ralph/The Diva Foundation present the Off-Broadway premiere of MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the new musical that celebrates the life of the original 1970s 'Queen of Disco' Sylvester, featuring classic songs such as '(You Make Me Feel) Mighty Real,' 'Dance (Disco Heat),' 'Do Ya Wanna Funk,' and 'You Are My Friend.' MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL stars Anthony Wayne(Pippin, Anything Goes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert) as Sylvester. MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL has a book by Anthony Wayne, direction byAnthony Wayne and Kendrell Bowman, choreography byAnastacia McCleskey, and musical direction by Alonzo Harris. The production opened last night, September 14 at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 W. 46th Street). Tickets, which are priced from $25 - $84.50, are on sale now by calling (866) 811-4111 or by visiting www.FabulousSylvester.com.

Due to popular demand, ON KENTUCKY AVENUE, a newly revised musical revue based loosely on fact (and mostly fiction) about the people and performers who took the stage and filled the tables at the majestic Club Harlem 'on Kentucky Avenue' in the north section of Atlantic City from the 1930s until the late 1980s, will return to STAGE 72/THE TRIAD, 158 West 72nd Street, for five performances in August. The additional performances will take place on Sundays, August 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 3 PM, and Monday, August 4, at 7 PM.

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances begin next week. They are: Tonight, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; and the newly added additional show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1:00pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. A second additional performance has been added for this Sunday 7/20 at 4pm. Performances begin this weekend: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 4pm (2nd added show) & at 8pm; and the first added show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm.

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances begin next week. They are: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; and the newly added additional show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1:00pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances begin next week. They are: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; and the newly added additional show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1:00pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm.

Earlier this week, the New York Musical Theatre Festival (running July 7 - 27) presented a special preview of the 2014 featuring musical selections from: Mr. Confidential, The Gig, Valueville, Somewhere With You, Clinton, WikiMusical, Bayonets of Angst, Academia Nuts, Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade. Below, BroadwayWorld take you insid ethe special preview, which featured Lena Hall, Stephanie D'Abruzzo, J. Robert Spencer, NaTasha Yvette Williams, Robin De Jesus and more!

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances will be: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. The multi-talented cast of 12 will perform a dozen musical numbers. They are: Brenda Braxton (Spam King), Jason C. Brown (Narrator/Morgan Freeman), Trey Harrington (Kurt), Michael Mahany (Adam Levine/Mark Zuckerberg), Noah Marlowe (Young Peter), Alison Novelli (Jacqui), Heather Jane Rolff (Mrs. Oglesby), Lucas Schultz (Young Kurt), Barry Shafrin (Mittens McMittens/Emoticon), Adam B. Shapiro (Santa/Jeeves), Perry Sherman (Peter), and Bob Walton (Mr. Oglesby).

Tonight, April 27th from 6-9pm, Connolly's Klub 45 Room hosts The Cougar Ball, a black-tie (suggested) charity event benefiting The Actors Fund and the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. It is an elegant (yet cheeky) cocktail party and ballroom featuring Broadway-studded performances and concluding in a fundraising auction and celebration. Sexy young men decorate the scene, ensuring decadent treats are never far from reach, and fun is had by all.

On Sunday, April 27th from 6-9pm, Connolly's Klub 45 Room hosts The Cougar Ball, a black-tie (suggested) charity event benefiting The Actors Fund and the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative. It is an elegant (yet cheeky) cocktail party and ballroom featuring Broadway-studded performances and concluding in a fundraising auction and celebration. Sexy young men decorate the scene, ensuring decadent treats are never far from reach, and fun is had by all.

On February 9, 54 Below will welcome the original company of Broadway's SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE for '54 Sings Smokey Joe's Cafe'. There will be two shows, one at 7 p.m. and one at 9:30 p.m. Tickets are $50-$60. The show is described on 54 Below's website as: 'On March 2, 1995, a musical phenomenon opened on Broadway. Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber & Stoller would go on to run 2,036 performances and continue to electrify audiences around the world. '54 Below is delighted to present a one night only reunion featuring members of the original Broadway company of this swingin' hit show, including Adrian Bailey, Brenda Braxton, DeLee Lively, Deb Lyons, Frederick Owens and Darryl Williams (more to be announced!). 'Expect hit tunes including Stand by Me, Hound Dog, Charlie Brown and more! Directed by Brenda Braxton, with Musical Direction by Louis St. Louis, this will be one night you won't soon forget because Baby, That's Rock & Roll!'