Bruce Vilanch News

The Broadway Beauty Pageant crowned Michael Cusumano (Mr. Chicago) the winner last evening, Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, at the benefit for The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. Michael received standing ovations for his brilliant interpretation of his Russian prima ballerina version of the film 'BLACK SWAN' dancing on pointe. A capacity crowd enjoyed the annual show again at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The award-winning Tovah Feldshuh hosted the not-to-be-missed event The other multi-talented contestants were: Matt Anctil, La Cage aux Folles; Raymond J. Lee, Anything Goes; Brandon Rubendall, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; and James Tabeek, Mary Poppins. Lee Roy Reams opened the show with a long boa singing and dancing with the contestants in a special number 'Beautiful Boys' created by Gerard Alessandrini.. Conceived byJeffery Self and directed by Ryan J Davis, musical direction byChristopher Denny, choreography by Erin Porvaznika; lighting design by Brian Tovar. The evening was produced by Wil Fisher,Ryan J. Davis, Jeffery Self and Matthew Oberstein.

Following smash hit productions in Australia, London and Toronto, PRISCILLA QUEEN OF THE DESERT THE MUSICAL began previews on Broadway on February 28 and opened on Sunday night, March 20, 2011. Here's part two of our photo coverage of the show's starry opening night red carpet arrivals!

The Broadway Beauty Pageant is TONIGHT, Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, benefiting The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth.

The Broadway Beauty Pageant adds Lee Roy Reams to open the show in a special number 'Beautiful Boys' created by Gerard Alessandrini. The award-winning Tovah Feldshuh will be the host for this not-to-be-missed event on Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, benefiting The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. The annual show will again be at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). This year's contestants are: Matt Anctil, La Cage aux Folles; Michael Cusumano, Chicago; Raymond J. Lee, Anything Goes; Brandon Rubendall, Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; and James Tabeek, Mary Poppins. Conceived by Jeffery Self and directed by Ryan J. Davis, The Broadway Beauty Pageant is musically directed by Christopher Denny, choreographer is Erin Porvaznika. Brian Tovar is the lighting designer The evening is produced by Wil Fisher, Ryan J. Davis, Jeffery Self and Matthew Oberstein.

The Broadway Beauty Pageant announced that the award-winning Tovah Feldshuh will be the host for this not-to-be-missed event on Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, benefiting The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. The annual show will again be at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street).

Be enthralled by Canadians living in New York, be excited by Canadians who have crossed the border to perform, be lured by amazing New York artists who have agreed to be honorary 'Canucks', and be held spellbound by 2011 FRIGID Festival performers.

Thursday and Friday MAR. 3 & 4---M BAR & RESTAURANT---8PM Thurs. & 8PM Fri.

QUEENS THEATRE IN THE PARK is pleased to present a one night engagement with BRUCE VILANCH, a huge comedic personality best known for his droll writing skills, his stint on ?Hollywood Squares? and playing Edna Turnblatt in Hairspray, with special guest THE BEV LESLIES. BRUCE VILANCH and THE BEV LESLIES will be at Queens Theatre in the Park (located in Flushing Meadows Corona Park, Flushing, NY.) on Saturday May 7, 2011 at 8:00 pm.

On January 16, 1964 theatergoers at the St. James Theatre first experienced what was to become perhaps the most memorable scene in musical comedy, when the curtains part atop the stairs of the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant and Dolly Levi appears in her red Freddy Wittop gown to begin her descent to 'rejoin the human race.' Forty-seven years (not to mention over 5,000 performances) later and 3,000 miles away, patrons of the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles were able to revisit a little bit of theatrical history as Jerry Herman's first Dolly, Ms. Carol Channing, again entered through parting red curtains and took the stage wearing her original 1964 gown in celebration of her 90th birthday.

Be enthralled by Canadians living in New York, be excited by Canadians who have crossed the border to perform, be lured by amazing New York artists who have agreed to be honorary 'Canucks', and be held spellbound by 2011 FRIGID Festival performers.

Join Emcee Bruce Vilanch, Davis Gaines and former HELLO DOLLY!, DOLLY's Carole Cook, JoAnne Worley and evening's host Phyllis Diller and others as they come together to honor Broadway's original DOLLY with memories, humorous storytelling and, of course, several of her signature tunes. An unplugged evening that follows a simple format, as the Los Angeles theatrical community features three time TONY Award-winner CAROL CHANNING on center stage to celebrate her 90th birthday with one of their highly acclaimed concert series entitled MUSICAL MONDAYS - A series of Cabaret events in the lobby of the historic Pantages Theatre. Produced by John Bowab and Martin Wiviott, the intimate concerts has featured some of theatre's finest performers including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Peter Gallagher, Valarie Pettiford, Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Sam Harris and Stephen Schwartz. Proceeds from this evenings benefit will go towards The Dr. Channing/ Kullijian Foundation for the Arts and The Actors Fund's comprehensive programs and services.

A trio of outstanding and hilarious judges has been announced for the 5th Smash Year of The Broadway Beauty Pageant: Bruce Vilanch is the six-time Emmy Award winner comedy writer and actor who is one of the most sought after jokesmiths in the entertainment industry. Rachael Dratch is best known for her years as a cast member of Saturday Night Live, and is an award winning comic actress from Second City. Carson Kressley was the fashion expert on Queer Eye, the host of the TV show How To Look Good Naked, and now hosts Carson-Nation on the Oprah Winfrey Network. This not-to-be-missed event will be on Monday, March 21st, 2011 at 8:00 PM, benefiting The Ali Forney Center, NYC's primary housing resource for homeless LGBT youth. The annual show will again be at the Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street).

Henry Winkler served as special guest last night (Wednesday Feb 16th) on The FIX-UP Show at the ACME Theatre in Los Angeles, following the previous weeks guest Margaret Cho. Winkler tweeted last night after the show... 'Wow, did I have a funny time and the couple who won seemed to be enjoying each other.'

Last week's concert moved faster than previous years' had, but also felt calmer and gentler, with plenty of ballads and crooned jazz standards.

Bay Street Theatre announces a special film and dance event on Saturday, February 12 at 8 pm. See Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams in the romantic film MAHOGANY followed by a dance with a DJ just in time for a special night on Valentines Day Weekend. Tickets are $25 at the door one hour before showtime. For more information log on to baystreet.org.

Jazz & Cocktails - The Lush Cabaret Life, San Francisco's only weekly column devoted to cabaret, jazz & the nightclub entertainment experience, celebrates its One Year Anniversary on February 11, 2011.

From the Cast of ANYTHING GOES and SPIDER-MAN, to the Ladies of THE VIEW, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand, Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters, Susan Boyle, Kelsey Grammer, GLEE and everyone in between...it's the BroadwayWorld.com 2011 Valentine's Day Special! Its Biggest Ever!

Jazz & Cocktails - The Lush Cabaret Life, San Francisco's only weekly column devoted to cabaret, jazz & the nightclub entertainment experience, celebrates its One Year Anniversary on February 11, 2011.

Following the success of the 2002 Actors Fund Benefit in which stars such as Idina Menzel, Sutton Foster, Ricki Lake and more played the iconic lead role in FUNNY GIRL, the Actors Fund presents a Los Angeles edition on March 14th.

Bay Street Theatre announces a special film and dance event on Saturday, February 12 at 8 pm. See Diana Ross and Billy Dee Williams in the romantic film MAHOGANY followed by a dance with a DJ just in time for a special night on Valentines Day Weekend. Tickets are $25 at the door one hour before showtime. For more information log on to baystreet.org.