Chip Deffaa News

Monday, November 24th will be "Eddie Cantor Day" at "One Night with Fanny Brice," the long-running musical play at the 13th Street Repertory Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC).

The 13th Street Rep's 'Betty Buckley Award'-honoring a 'young artist-to-watch'--has been presented to Emily Bordonaro, 18. Tony Award-winner Betty Buckley-who was performing a concert several thousand miles away on the night of the awards presentation in New York City--presented the award via videotape.

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will present an 'Irving Berlin Teach-In,' immediately following the Sunday (November 23rd) matinee performance of Chip Deffaa's 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue.' The 'Ragtime Revue,' which has been selling out at the theater, will begin at 3 pm. The teach-in is expected to begin at 4:30 pm. Michael Townsend Wright, who previously co-starred at the theater with Giuseppe Bausilio in 'Irving Berlin's America' (as seen in the photo) will be one of the special guests at the teach-in, singing a rare Berlin ballad as well as sharing recollections and insights. (Wright may also be heard on the cast album for 'Irving Berlin's America,' which includes some never-before-recorded material.) Surprise guests with ties to Berlin and his world will be joining Wright, the cast of 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue,' pianist Richard Danley, and playwright Chip Deffaa in the teach-in.

ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa's 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue'-currently playing at the 13th Street Theater in repertory with Deffaa's long-running 'One Night with Fanny Brice'--is to receive a cast recording. The cast album will feature all of the singing actors currently appearing in the show: Rayna Hirt, Ken Adams, Michael Cyzz, Maite Uzal, Michael Kasper, Jonah Barricklo, Emily Bordonaro, Missy Dreier, K.W. Andersson; Andrew Lanctot, Ann Marie Calabro, Brandon Pollinger, and Timmy Thompson, with musical direction by Richard Danley. Deffaa will produce the album; Slau Halatyn will be the recording engineer; with production to begin later this month at Be-Sharp Studios in Astoria. The album will be released in the United States on the Original Cast Records label. It will be the sixth show of Deffaa's to get a cast album.

Award-winning cabaret, theater, and concert star Carolyn Montgomery-Forant will be a special guest at select performances of 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue' at the 13th Street Repertory Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC). Montgomery-Forant-who has won the MAC Award, the Bistro Award, and the New York Nightlife Award--will take time out from her own concert schedule to make guest appearances in the revue at the following performances: Sunday, November 16th at 3 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday November 23rd at 3 p.m.

ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa will be joined by special guests, including noted showbiz biographer Herb Goldman, writer/entertainer Brian Gari, and actor Michael Townsend Wright, for special audience 'talkback' sessions, following select performances of Deffaa's shows 'One Night with Fanny Brice' and 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue,' which are playing in repertory this fall at the 13th Street Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC).

The 13th Street Rep's 'Carol Channing Award'-honoring a rising young actor whose talent, attitude, and work ethic reflects the high standards set by the legendary Channing-has been presented to Danny Coelho. The youngest member of the theater's repertory company, Coelho, 17, was prominently featured in the musical comedy 'Theater Boys,' and will be featured next in the theater's production of 'Mad About the Boy,' set to open in early 2015. He's also been featured in the Paper Mill Playhouse Show Choir, run by Shayne Austin Miller and John Zeitun.

When ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa's "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue" opens November 9th at the 13th Street Repertory Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC), it will include some Berlin rarities and rediscoveries unheard in a century, including some never-recorded Berlin numbers.

Audiences attending the musical comedy 'Theater Boys' at the 13th Street Repertory Theater might notice a camera or two--or three!--filming this week. Brian Gari is shooting an archival video of the entire two-hour show; Sam Donnenberg continues on-location shooting for his documentary about the making of the show, 'For the Theater'; and award-winning independent filmmaker Max Galassi, from Newtown, Connecticut, will be shooting a short film in connection with the show.

Famed gossip columnist Liz Smith -- 'the Grande Dame of Dish' -- has won countless honors, including an Emmy Award, in her long career. But she's never before been depicted on the stage. In 'Theater Boys' -- the new musical comedy by ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa, now playing at the 13th Street Repertory Theater -- she's not only a character in the show, she's the subject of a whole song about her, a rousing fast-boogie simply titled 'Liz Smith.' That song will also be heard on the show's cast album (sung by Ricky Schroder and the ensemble), being released today, October 18th.

Actor/director/filmmaker Sam Donnenberg has been presented with the 13th Street Repertory Company's "Giuseppe Bausilio Award." The award--named in honor of the young actor who starred on Broadway in "Billy Elliot" and co-starred at the Rep in "Irving Berlin's America" while simultaneously appearing on Broadway in "Newsies" and continuing his career as a world-class ballet dancer-is intended to honor a rising young multi-talented artist, who is simultaneously making his mark in more than one field.

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will host a cast-album release celebration tonight, October 16th, following the evening performance of ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa's musical comedy 'Theater Boys.' Those attending the release party will be able to purchase copies of the premiere recording of the show--two days before it officially goes on sale at CDBaby, Amazon, iTunes, and other retail outlets--at half the regular suggested retail price.

When ASCAP Award-winning playwright/director Chip Deffaa's 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue' has its world premiere at the 13th Street Repertory Theater on November 9th, it will be the second new show about Berlin to play the theater this year.

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will host a cast-album release celebration on Thursday, October 16th, following the evening performance of ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa's musical comedy 'Theater Boys.'

Famed gossip columnist Liz Smith -- "the Grande Dame of Dish" -- has won countless honors, including an Emmy Award, in her long career. But she's never before been depicted on the stage. In "Theater Boys" -- the new musical comedy by ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa, now playing at the 13th Street Repertory Theater -- she's not only a character in the show, she's the subject of a whole song about her, a rousing fast-boogie simply titled "Liz Smith." That song will also be heard on the show's cast album (sung by Ricky Schroder and the ensemble), being released October 18th.

Most playwrights would be happy to have one script of theirs produced in New York in a year. "Theater Boys"--which opens tomorrow, September 21st at the 13th Street Repertory Theater--is the third show by ASCAP award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa to open this year.

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will offer talkbacks--in which audience members can ask any questions they like of the actors, playwright, and choreographers-after select performances of ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa's new musical comedy, "Theater Boys." The show-about actors auditioning for a gay musical--opens Sunday, September 21st. Talkbacks will held after the following performances: Sunday, September 21st at 3 p.m; Thursday, September 25th at 7 pm; Sunday, September 28th at 3 p.m.; Thursday, October 2nd at 7 pm; Sunday, October 5th at 3 p.m.; Thursday, Oct 9th at 7 pm; Sunday, October 12th at 3 p.m; Thursday October 16th at 7 p.m.; Thursday, October 23rd at 7 pm; Sunday, October 26th at 3 pm.

It's the biggest, most ambitious undertaking in years for the historic 13th Street Repertory Theater, at 50 West 13th Street, NYC. On September 21st, they'll be launching ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa's new musical comedy "Theater Boys"-and also, during the run, the cast album for the show.

Theater-goers may be seeing double in the coming week as two different actresses-one in her 60s, the other in her teens-offer radically different interpretations of the same role, portraying legendary singing comedienne Fanny Brice. Both seasoned pro Patricia Dell, 63, and rising newcomer Chloe Brooks, 17, will appear in productions of ASCAP award-winning writer Chip Deffaa's musical play "One Night with Fanny Brice."

Casting has just been announced for the 13th Street Rep's forthcoming production of ASCAP Award-winning playwright/director Chip Deffaa's new show "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue." The show, which opens November 9th, will be the third production of Deffaa's to play this year at the 13th Street Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC, www.13thstreetrep.org); the others are Deffaa's "One Night with Fanny Brice" and "Theater Boys," playing in repertory at the theater this fall.