'The Barry Z Show,' which has been covering the New York theater scene on cable TV for more than 20 years, will salute ASCAP award-winning playwright/director Chip Deffaa's theatrical productions, on a show being taped for future broadcast 10 pm, October 1st at the midtown club Don't Tell Mama. Host Barry Z, who's often saluted Deffaa's productions over the past 20 years, will be celebrating the release of Deffaa's 12th cast album, 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue.' And he will present an array of performers doing numbers from an assortment of Deffaa's shows.
The original cast album of 'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue,' which set box-office records at the 13th Street Theater, is being released September 15th. To celebrate the release, members of the company will be singing at Birdland, and on Barry Z's TV show, and promoting the album on radio programs hosted by George Bettinger, Moe Banshee, Gail Kubik, and others.
'The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue' is being released on September 15th. The show, which drew packed houses throughout its limited engagement at the 13th Street Theater, features 44 of the songs that helped make Irving Berlin the most successful songwriter in history. Some members of Deffaa's cast will perform at Birdland to help launch the new CD, which will be available via Amazon.com, CDBaby.com, iTunes, etc.
'The Barry Z Show'--which has covered theater in New York City since 1993--will be celebrating ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa's Off-Broadway musical 'Mad About the Boy' on a series of telecasts, beginning with an hour-long special airing late-night Friday, June 12th at 2 am on Time Warner Cable Channel 34. (The show will also be available on UStream.com.) The complete hour-long broadcast--produced and edited by Jonathan Ospa on location at the 13th Street Repertory Theater---may be previewed exclusively below:
The 13th Street Rep has presented its 'Lisa Lambert Award'--named after the Tony Award-winning co-creator of the musical comedy 'The Drowsy Chaperone,' and honoring an outstanding woman in theater--to actress Maite Uzal. Currently appearing in the musical 'Mad About the Boy,' Uzal is a resident member of both the New York-based Rebel Theater Company and of Chip Deffaa's repertory company at the 13th Street Theater.
The 13th Street Repertory Theater celebrated veteran stage/film/TV actor Ray DeMattis' 50th anniversary in the business -- honoring his lifetime achievements -- by proclaiming May 10th 'Ray DeMattis Day.' DeMattis was presented with a framed certificate of honor by one of his proteges -- Michael J.C. Anderson, an actor with the 13th Street Rep. And DeMattis, in turn, presented the first annual 'Ray DeMattis Award,' honoring young artists-to-watch, to actors Cody Jordan and John Brady, co-stars of Chip Deffaa's musical-comedy success 'Mad About the Boy.' They each received a plaque, a copy of a cast album featuring DeMattis ('Flora the Red Menace'), and a $100.00 honorarium.
Benjamin Grier--currently co-starring in, and serving as dance captain for Chip Deffaa's musical comedy 'Mad About the Boy' at the 13th Street Repertory Theater--has won the theater's 'Matthew Nardozzi Award,' which recognizes professionalism, a strong work ethic, and reliability, as well as talent. Nardozzi flew up from Florida to present Grier with the honor. ASCAP Award-winner Deffaa, the theater's most widely produced playwright, emceed the award ceremony, the first of several award ceremonies to be held at the theater this year.
Jon Peterson has a lot to celebrate right now. Peterson, who won numerous honors when he starred in Chip Deffaa's Off-Broadway musical play 'George M. Cohan Tonight!' at the Irish Repertory Theater, will celebrate today his tenth year of starring in the show, which--since its debut in New York--has taken him all across the country.
Jon Peterson has a lot to celebrate right now. Peterson, who won numerous honors when he starred in Chip Deffaa's Off-Broadway musical play 'George M. Cohan Tonight!' at the Irish Repertory Theater, will celebrate on Friday his tenth year of starring in the show, which--since its debut in New York--has taken him all across the country.
The 13th Street Repertory Theater will present a teach-in on the history of gay musical theater, and gay songs in pop music, following the performances next Sunday (April 26th) at 2 pm and 7 pm of its current hit musical 'Mad About the Boy.' The presentation will be moderated by ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa (creator of 'Mad About the Boy'), and will feature members of the cast, joined by a special surprise guest.
Steele Spring Stage Rights officially publishes ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa's musical play 'Irving Berlin's America'--which successfully premiered in 2014 at the 13th Street Repertory Theater in New York City--on Monday, April 20th. The 13th Street Rep will celebrate the publication on 5 pm this Sunday, April 19th. Coinciding with publication of the script, filmmaker Max Galassi is releasing a brand new video to promote 'Irving Berlin's America' -- check it out below!
Steele Spring Stage Rights officially publishes ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa's musical play 'Irving Berlin's America'--which successfully premiered in 2014 at the 13th Street Repertory Theater in New York City--on Monday, April 20th. The 13th Street Rep will celebrate the publication on 5 pm Sunday, April 19th.
The 13th Street Repertory Theater will honor the woman widely considered to be the world's greatest blues singer by making Sunday, April 19th, 'Bessie Smith Day.' The theater will be offering free admission to its new hit show, 'Mad About the Boy' (which includes a tribute to Smith) to anyone who can sing a chorus of a song recorded by Smith. ASCAP award-winning playwright/director Chip Deffaa, who's created and produced 'Mad About the Boy,' will also award prizes to those who do the best job of singing Smith's songs. Deffaa--who profiled Smith in the book 'Harlem Speaks: A Living History of the Harlem Renaissance' (Sourcebooks, Inc.) and has lectured on her (most recently at the University of Idaho)--will be the judge, assisted by members of his theater company.
ASCAP award-winning playwright/director Chip Deffaa will host talkback sessions--in which audience members can ask any questions they wish of the cast or creative team--after the following performances of his new musical comedy 'Mad About the Boy' at the 13th Street Repertory Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC).
Jon Peterson returns to the Stage Door Theatre today, March 20th in George M. Cohan Tonight! an entertaining and energetic one-man musical based on the life and career of one of America's most beloved song and dance men. The play captures the essence of the man, his music, and an era of show business and of Broadway that has rarely been matched. The production will run through April 26th.
Jon Peterson will return to the Stage Door Theatre on March 20th in George M. Cohan Tonight! an entertaining and energetic one-man musical based on the life and career of one of America's most beloved song and dance men. The play captures the essence of the man, his music, and an era of show business and of Broadway that has rarely been matched. The production will run through April 26th.
Most Off-Broadway shows don't get a cast album, but ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa's show "Irving Berlin's America" is about to get its second cast album. And this one will be released on February 2nd as a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.
The 13th Street Rep's 'George M. Cohan Song-and-Dance Award'-honoring a triple-threat singer/dancer/actor--has this year been presented to two people: Rayna Hirt and Michael Czyz. Cohan himself-the quintessential song-and-dance man-may have long since gone to his reward. But his great-granddaughter, singer/actress Jennifer Cohan Ross, was on hand to present the awards. The 13th Street Rep's 97-year-old founder/artistic director, Edith O'Hara-a longtime believer in the importance of encouraging fresh talent--was there, too, to congratulate the winners. Playwright Chip Deffaa, whose work has often been presented by the theater, emceed the event.
Steele Spring Stage Rights announced today that two new musicals are the recipients of the 2014 Stage Rights/NYMF Publishing Award: "The Snow Queen" and "Searching For Romeo."
