Cy Coleman News

Next week Feinstein's/54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including Ben Vereen, Elizabeth A. Davis and more!

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Jesse Luttrell with the Fred Barton Broadway Band on January 29 at 9:30PM. Jesse Luttrell unleashes his shattering voice and theatrical, post-modern vaudevillian style on an evening of treasured swing, big band, and show songs. Jesse's repertoire runs the gamut from Jule Styne, Cy Coleman and Rodgers & Hart, to Anthony Newley, Jerry Herman specialties, and Peter Allen showstoppers. Fred Barton has created high-octane new arrangements and will lead his 8-piece Broadway Band. 54 Below favorite Seth Sikes will make a special appearance with Jesse, as they strut the stage in rare Jule Styne barn-burner that never fails to bring down the house. Jesse Luttrell and the Fred Barton Broadway Band play Feinstein's/54 Below (254 West 54th Street) on January 29 at 9:30PM. There is a $25-$35 cover charge, with premium seating at $65, and a $25 food and beverage minimum. Tickets and information are available at www.54Below.com. Tickets on the day of performance after 4:00 are only available by calling (646) 476-3551.

 Every season must reflect the mission of the company and for the past 13 years, Sean Murray has crafted uniquely Cygnet seasons that reflect the commitment to 'startle the soul, embrace diversity and ignite debate.' This year is no exception. The seven productions in Season 14 range from the traditional to the avant-garde and include two musical theatre classics, a two-show repertory by a Pulitzer prize-winning playwright, the return of a holiday favorite and two contemporary works sure to shock and amaze.

Happy Birthday Michael Crawford! In 1981, Crawford starred in the Original London production of Cy Coleman's Barnum (1981) as the illustrious American showman P. T. Barnum. He is best known for starring opposite Sarah Brightman in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera as the title character. In 1986, Crawford began his performance in London, continuing on to Broadway in 1988, and then Los Angeles a year later, in 1989. He played the role for 2½ years and over 1,300 performances, winning an Olivier Award (Best Actor in a Musical) and a Tony Award (Best Performance By An Actor in a Lead Role, Musical). Beginning in February 2011, Crawford has played the role of the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical version of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

Theater Works presents the Tony Award-winning musical CITY OF ANGELS, beginning Friday, February 19.

Get ready to celebrate the life of beloved American entertainer Will Rogers at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES: A LIFE IN REVUE! BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

AMERICAN SHOWSTOPPERS - featuring Fred Barton & His Orchestra and starring a cast of today's best Broadway performers - will present "An Evening with Cole Porter" at Pace University's Schimmel Center in New York on Friday, March 4 at 7:30 PM and then Kingsborough Community College's Goldstein Center in Brooklyn on Saturday, March 5 at 8:00 PM.  The cast of outstanding Broadway performers includes Beth Leavel (Tony Award winner for The Drowsy Chaperone), Sean McGibbon, Paula Leggett Chase, Damon Kirsche, Karen Murphy and Jesse Luttrell in addition to the Scott Thompson Dancers. The show is produced, orchestrated, conducted and hosted by Fred Barton with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson.

On Monday, January 4, 2016 (mostly)musicals returned to the E Spot Lounge for the 4th time with songsforanewYEAR, the company's 15th entry in a series of themed cabarets. 'We were excited to get 2016 - and the 3rd season of (mostly)musicals - off to a happy start, so the only theme was 'happy music'! There were no sad songs allowed at this show,' explains producer amy francis schott.

Last week, Broadway veteran Benjamin Eakeley delighted audiences with his charming solo cabaret Broadway Swinger at Feinstein's/54 Below. The 60s themed show featured a book by Tim Murray and Eakeley, which was filled with interesting factoids about the decade. It was also masterfully directed by JV Mercanti. Through the songs of Broadway and with a gorgeous vocal instrument, Eakeley charted how musical theater, much like the rest of America, transitioned from the saccharine sweet ideals of the 50s to the uninhibited and libidinous vibes of the sexual revolution.

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Jesse Luttrell with the Fred Barton Broadway Band on January 29 at 9:30PM.

(mostly)musicals returns to the E Spot Lounge on Monday, January 4 with songsforanewYEAR, the company's 15th entry in a series of themed cabarets. 'We can't wait to get 2016 - and the 3rd season of (mostly)musicals - off to a *happy* start. There are no sad songs allowed at this show!' explains producer amy francis schott.

Thirty years ago, championed by Liza Minnelli (Ira Gershwin's goddaughter), young Michael Feinstein debuted at the iconic Oak Room of The Algonquin Hotel. I was there, having been escorted by an older, more sophisticated friend. As I recall, Feinstein was alone at the piano; thoroughly engaging, telling stories of his time as Ira Gershwin's assistant, even then, peppering the show with lesser-known songs. This past Sunday, this standard bearer of The American Songbook began a run (through December 30) in partnership with the New York club now bearing his name, Feinstein's/54 Below (“The only place I have to sleep with myself to get the job,” he quipped). Though he's performed in the city since the 2012 closing of his room at Loew's Regency Hotel, the artist no longer had a place to call home in New York. This has happily been rectified.

Get ready to celebrate the life of beloved American entertainer Will Rogers at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue!

Today in 1989, City of Angels opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre), where it ran for 879 performances. City of Angels is a musical comedy with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, and book by Larry Gelbart. The musical weaves together two plots, the 'real' world of a writer trying to turn his book into a screenplay, and the 'reel' world of the fictional film. The musical is an homage to the film noir genre of motion pictures that rose to prominence in the 1940s. It was directed by Michael Blakemore with sets designed by Robin Wagner and costumes by Florence Klotz.

Today, December 8, Palm Beach Dramaworks launches the third season of its highly successful Dramalogue - Talking Theatre! series with Paul Gemignani: Musical Theatre's Master Maestro. The program features the esteemed Broadway musical director in conversation with Sheryl Flatow. Gemignani, recipient of the 2001 Lifetime Achievement Tony Award, will discuss a remarkable career still going strong after more than 40 years, and talk about how he helps shape a show and bring a score to life. The program will be presented twice, at 2pm (limited seating available) and 7pm at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre.

Signature Theatre presents WEST SIDE STORY, directed by Signature Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Signature's Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret). The musical, a collaboration of music, dance and theater giants Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Jerome Robbins and Arthur Laurents, is considered by some to be one of the greatest musicals of all time. WEST SIDE STORY will run from tonight, December 8 - January 24 in Signature Theatre's intimate MAX Theatre.

? Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA (EVUSA), one of New York's preeminent choral ensembles, presented SING CHRISTMAS, a sing-along of traditional carols and holiday songs by Broadway's finest, last night at Feinstein's / 54 Below.

Since last Thursday was Thanksgiving, tonight will likely be the first time this season that you are going to be experiencing the severe symptoms of acute #TGIT withdraw. Unfortunately, after the November Sweeps period ended, ABC and Shonda Rhimes are keeping her doctors, gladiators, and murderers on the shelf until February 11th, when another sweeps period is in full effect. So, to help ween you off of your OPA addiction (you can't just quit Olivia cold turkey, ask Jake and Fitz), I have assembled a group of clips that show your favorite SCANDAL stars in a slightly different light than you are accustomed to, namely, singing showtunes! 

Musical Theatre West's (MTW) Reiner Staged Reading Series returns in 2016 with four one-night only performances of classic and forgotten Broadway gems, including Pal Joey (January 24, 2016); On the Twentieth Century (May 16, 2016); Donnybrook! (June 12, 2016); and Li'l Abner (August 28, 2016).  All performances take place at the University Theatre at California State University, Long Beach (off 7th Street between East and West Campus Drive, Parking Lot 7). 

Judith Clurman's Essential Voices USA (EVUSA), one of New York's preeminent choral ensembles, will present SING CHRISTMAS, a sing-along of traditional carols and holiday songs by Broadway's finest, tonight, December 3 at 9:30pm at Feinstein's / 54 Below.