Christine Pedi News

As always, Connecticut's professional theaters offerered a bountiful selection of excellent theater in 2013. It's hard to pick just a few, but here are some of the year's standouts from the theaters I cover for BroadwayWorld.com:

At this year's dinner and holiday party set for tonight, Dancers Over 40 honors some of our outstanding - and long-time -- members: Advisory Board Members Chita Rivera (West Side Story, Bye, Bye Birdie, Bajour, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spiderwoman), and Bob Avian (Promises, Promises, Coco, Company, Follies, A Chorus Line, Ballroom), Board of Directors member Lawrence Merritt (Dear World, Applause, Pippin, Evita), and long-time DO40 members Skip Randall (Song of Norway, Make Mine Manhattan, Call Me Mister) and Louise Quick (Sweet Charity, Pippin, Best Little Whorehouse, and Fosse Assistant on Pippin, Liza with a Z and Cabaret). Also this year, DO40 is honoring Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Executive Director Tom Viola for his ongoing support of DO40 and our mission. This year's host is Christine Pedi (Chicago, Forbidden Broadway).

The customers are grown up versions of children from holiday classics. Bringing them together here is the brainchild of Artistic Director Rob Ruggiero, who expertly directs a three-actor team: Carroll as the bartender and Harry Bouvy and Christine Pedi, who bring to life male and female characters in shorts by seven different playwrights.

Grammy Award winning singer/songwriter and reality television star Kandi Burruss joins the cast of off Broadway's smash comedy NEWSical The Musical for two weeks, beginning Monday, January 13th. NEWSical The Musical is the forever changing, completely un-sanitized musical mockery of all the news that's fit to spoof. From Honey Boo Boo to selfies, Pope Francis to Miley Cyrus, marriage equality to Obamacare, NEWSical The Musical sets all of today's biggest pop culture headlines to song. NEWSical The Musical plays daily (except Wednesdays) at Theatre Row on 42nd Street. Kandi Burruss' final performance will be Sunday, January 26th.

TheaterWorks will present the holiday World Premiere Christmas on the Rocks -- an offbeat collection of twisted holiday tales by multiple nationally known playwrights. These darkly humorous stories run tonight, December 3 through 22, 2013.

At this year's dinner and holiday party, set for Dec. 15 at 9pm at LIPS Restaurant, Dancers Over 40 honors some of its outstanding - and long-time -- members: Advisory Board Members Chita Rivera (West Side Story, Bye, Bye Birdie, Bajour, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spiderwoman), and Bob Avian (Promises, Promises, Coco, Company, Follies, A Chorus Line, Ballroom), Board of Directors member Lawrence Merritt (Dear World, Applause, Pippin, Evita), and long-time DO40 members Skip Randall (Song of Norway, Make Mine Manhattan, Call Me Mister) and Louise Quick (Sweet Charity, Pippin, Best Little Whorehouse, and Fosse Assistant on Pippin, Liza with a Z and Cabaret). Also this year, DO40 is honoring Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Executive Director Tom Viola for his ongoing support of DO40 and our mission. This year's host is Christine Pedi (Chicago, Forbidden Broadway).

TheaterWorks will present the holiday World Premiere Christmas on the Rocks -- an offbeat collection of twisted holiday tales by multiple nationally known playwrights. These darkly humorous stories run December 3 through 22, 2013.

Due to a scheduling conflict, jazz vocalist Hilary Kole will replace Cyrille Aimee at tonight's November 13th performance with Freddy Cole. The performance is a part of the Courtyard by Marriott Stamford Broadway/Cabaret/Jazz series 'Perfect Pairs at The Palace,' which is also being sponsored by Norman Drubner.

At this year's dinner and holiday party, Dancers Over 40 honors some of our outstanding - and long-time -- members: Advisory Board Members Chita Rivera (West Side Story, Bye, Bye Birdie, Bajour, Chicago, The Rink, Kiss of the Spiderwoman), and Bob Avian (Promises, Promises, Coco, Company, Follies, A Chorus Line, Ballroom), Board of Directors member Lawrence Merritt (Dear World, Applause, Pippin, Evita), and long-time DO40 members Skip Randall (Song of Norway, Make Mine Manhattan, Call Me Mister) and Louise Quick (Sweet Charity, Pippin, Best Little Whorehouse, and Fosse Assistant on Pippin, Liza with a Z and Cabaret). Also this year, DO40 is honoring Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS Executive Director Tom Viola for his ongoing support of DO40 and our mission. This year's host is Christine Pedi (Chicago, Forbidden Broadway).

White Plains Performing Arts Center will host its star-studded 10th Anniversary Gala tonight, November 2nd, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Join these outstanding artists of stage and screen in an intimate venue for an unforgettable evening of your favorite theatrical moments from WPPAC's past productions and a sample of the upcoming season.

Silly Witches, starring Jackie Hoffman, Christine Pedi, Mary Testa and Kristine Zbornik, is set for tonight, November 2, 2013, at 54 Below.

White Plains Performing Arts Center will host its star-studded 10th Anniversary Gala on November 2nd, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. Join these outstanding artists of stage and screen in an intimate venue for an unforgettable evening of your favorite theatrical moments from WPPAC's past productions and a sample of the upcoming season.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th St., 54 BELOW welcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events, featuring no cover charges and low minimums:

Silly Witches, starring Jackie Hoffman, Christine Pedi, Mary Testa and Kristine Zbornik, is set for November 2, 2013, at 54 Below.

Donna McKechnie, beloved Tony-winning original 'Cassie' joins in a celebration of the upcoming fortieth anniversary of the creation ofA Chorus Line at the annual Fire Island Pines Literary and Theater Weekend, a hugely popular event held annually at The Madison Fire Island Pines.

Judy Garland. Frank Sinatra. Fred Astaire. Ginger Rogers. These are just a few of the stars of the silver screen thatChristine Pedi and Johnny Rodgers will be bringing to life in their performance "Heartthrobs & Bombshells" on Friday, October 18th at 8 p.m. atStamford's Palace Theatre. The performance is the second in the Courtyard by Marriott Stamford Broadway/Cabaret/Jazz Series "Perfect Pairs at The Palace." The series is also sponsored by Norman Drubner. Tickets are available at www.SCAlive.org.

White Plains Performing Arts Center's Board of Trustees announces its annual Gala, a celebration of the Performing Arts Center's Tenth Anniversary, to be held at the downtown White Plains theatre on Saturday, November 2 beginning at 7:30 pm. The event will honor Peter Gisondi Sr. and Tony and Anthony Goncalves for their steadfast support of the theatre and its mission. "It is my particular pleasure to single out three stellar individuals who have been with us for the last decade with ongoing support and encouragement. The Gisondi and Goncalves families are beloved members of our community and original Founders of the theatre who believe in the value of the arts to the residents of our City and region. We salute them for their leadership roles among the local business community in recognizing the theatre's contribution to the quality of life and economy of our City", said Board Chairman, John J. Ioris.

Donna McKechnie, beloved Tony-winning original 'Cassie' joins in a celebration of the upcoming fortieth anniversary of the creation ofA Chorus Line at the annual Fire Island Pines Literary and Theater Weekend, a hugely popular event held annually at The Madison Fire Island Pines.