Brenda Braxton News

NYCDAF Executive Director Joe Lanteri director of Bright Lights! Shining Stars!, a gala event to benefit the NYC Dance Alliance Foundation has announced that 'Smokey Joe's Café' stars Brenda Braxton, Felicia Finley, Ramona Keller & Deb Lyons will reunite to perform one of the great Leiber & Stoller hits from the smash musical at the star studded gala.

TONY nominee, Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Café), Felicia Finley (Aida, Wedding Singer), Joe Iconis (Things to Ruin, Bloodsong of Love) & Chris Jackson (In the Heights) were featured performers in Theatre of Rock: People You Know Singing Songs You Don't! that took place at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Monday April 18th. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

Producers John Forslund & Electric Playground Inc. present 'THEATRE OF ROCK' People You Know Singing Songs You Dont, featuring the music of Chris Blissett & Matt Uremovich

TONY nominee, Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Cafe), Felicia Finley (Aida, Wedding Singer), Joe Iconis (Things to Ruin, Bloodsong of Love) & Chris Jackson (In the Heights) will be featured performers in Theatre of Rock: People You Know Singing Songs You Don't! that will be taking place at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on Monday April 18th at 7pm.

Hosted by Broadway's Felicia Finley (Aida, The Wedding Singer, The Life, Smokey Joe's Cafe) 'THEATRE OF ROCK' People You Know Singing Songs You Dont will feature the music of Chris Blisset & Matt Uremovich. The eventwill be directed by Broadway's Paul Stancato (The Wedding Singer, Lion King, Blue Man Group).

Producers John Forslund & Electric Playground Inc. present 'THEATRE OF ROCK' People You Know Singing Songs You Dont, featuring the music of Chris Blissett & Matt Uremovich

Grammy nominated recording artist and Broadway performer, Marty Thomas (Xanadu, Secret Garden, Wicked) prepares to redefine the nightclub scene with his new act Marty Thomas Presents: Diva at the hottest spot in Hell's Kitchen.

Grammy nominated recording artist and Broadway performer, Marty Thomas (Xanadu, Secret Garden, Wicked) prepares to redefine the nightclub scene with his new act Marty Thomas Presents: Diva at the hottest spot in Hell's Kitchen.

Audiences around the globe will now get a chance to see Love, Loss, and What I Wore, the Off Broadway hit written by Nora Ephron and Delia Ephron and presented by Daryl Roth.

The Triad Theatre Presents Tony Nominee Brenda Braxton in "It's A Wonderful Life" under the Musical Direction of Michael Mitchell.

Love, Loss, and What I Wore welcomed its newest cast members, Brenda Braxton (Chicago), Didi Conn (Grease), Kate Flannery ('The Office'), Loretta Swit ('M*A*S*H') and Mary Testa (Eat, Pray, Love; Xanadu) last night, December 9.

The Triad Theatre Presents Tony Nominee Brenda Braxton in "It's A Wonderful Life" under the Musical Direction of Michael Mitchell.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is pleased to announce the world premiere production of TRAV?LIN by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro, with musical direction by John Dipinto and choreographed and directed by Paul Stancato. TRAV'LIN will play a limited engagement at TBG Theatre, (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018). Performances begin Monday, October 11 and continue through Sunday, October 17.

A friendly giant known best for his devilish and, at times, demonic lead roles in THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW as Frank N. Furter, the eponymous DRACULA and the first replacement cast of THE LION KING as Scar - in addition to his current essaying of the role of the lecherous lawyer Billy Flynn in the smash hit Broadway revival of CHICAGO - time and perseverance has aided Tony-nominated actor Tom Hewitt in carving out a career on Broadway quite unlike most others in existence. In this comprehensive conversation we discuss his many marvelous stage performances on Broadway and beyond thus far, including his new lead role in the New York Musical Theater Festival musical THE GREAT UNKNOWN written by William Hauptman (PUMP BOYS & DINETTES) and Jim Wann (BIG RIVER) and directed by Don Stephenson. In addition to a thorough discussion of that new NYMF musical, we also talk about working with Julie Taymor on the PBS film FOOL'S FIRE and Broadway's THE LION KING, what the insane ROCKY HORROR LIVE experience was like from a stage perspective, his many stints in CHICAGO, as well as working with co-stars like Matt Morrison, Kelli O'Hara, Brenda Braxton, Charlotte D'Amboise and Chip Zien. We also discuss his feelings on Dan Savage's IT GETS BETTER campaign and what he thinks of GLEE taking on the garters, boas and stilettos of Frank & Crew when they do their ROCKY HORROR tribute later this month. Performances of the original bluegrass musical THE GREAT UNKNOWN have already begun so be sure to grab some tickets a the link below and catch the show on Sunday if you haven't done so yet!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is pleased to announce the world premiere production of TRAV?LIN by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro, with musical direction by John Dipinto and choreographed and directed by Paul Stancato. TRAV'LIN will play a limited engagement at TBG Theatre, (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018). Performances begin Monday, October 11 and continue through Sunday, October 17.

Today we kick off our series on the 2010 New York Musical Theater Festival with the warm and fuzzy memories - as well as some less than fond remembrances - of the life and career of Broadway triple-threat leading lady Brenda Braxton. From the original company of DREAMGIRLS on Broadway under the direction of Michael Bennett to CATS and LEGS DIAMOND and George C. Wolfe's JELLY'S LAST JAM all the way up to her many stints in the Broadway revival of CHICAGO - as well as directing and recreating the original Bennett/Avian/Peters choreography for the post-9/11 star-studded DREAMGIRLS concert starring Audra McDonald, Lillias White and Heather Headley - we talk it all, plus all the exciting new musicals she is participating in - such as her NYMF starrer TRAVELIN' and another new musical reading, as well as projects of her own creation - both onstage and, now, behind-the-scenes! Ms. Braxton was generous enough to spend some time on a rainy afternoon earlier this week to discuss her career, the state of Broadway, the necessity of new musical theatre voices, working with Michael Bennett, and all the details on the new musical she is starring in that premieres this Friday at the NYMF, TRAVELIN' as well as some exciting news of what lies ahead!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival is pleased to announce the world premiere production of TRAV?LIN by Gary Holmes and Allan Shapiro, with musical direction by John Dipinto and choreographed and directed by Paul Stancato. TRAV'LIN will play a limited engagement at TBG Theatre, (312 West 36th Street, NY, NY 10018). Performances begin Monday, October 11 and continue through Sunday, October 17.

Broadway's Bianca Marroquin (In the Heights, Chicago) spearheaded 'To Mexico From New York with Love,' a one-night-only benefit concert last night, September 1, at the Merkin Concert Hall in the Kaufman Center. The concert featured performances from Tony nominee Tom Wopat (A Catered Affair), Carol Woods (Chicago), Jaime Camil, Tony nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Café), Raymond Bokhour (Chicago) and many more.

Broadway's Bianca Marroquin (In the Heights, Chicago) spearheaded 'To Mexico From New York with Love,' a one-night-only benefit concert last night, September 1, at the Merkin Concert Hall in the Kaufman Center. The concert featured performances from Tony nominee Tom Wopat (A Catered Affair), Carol Woods (Chicago), Jaime Camil, Tony nominee Brenda Braxton (Smokey Joe's Café), Raymond Bokhour (Chicago) and many more.

Broadway actress Bianca Marroquin (In the Heights, Chicago) is pleased to announce details for 'To Mexico From New York with Love,' a one-night-only benefit concert on Wednesday, September 1, 2010 (8 p.m.) at the Merkin Concert Hall in the Kaufman Center (129 West 67th Street).