David Friedman News

Desperate Measures, now playing at New World Stages, opens tomorrow, Wednesday, June 13.

Season Two of the hit music competition series THE FOUR: BATTLE FOR STARDOM premieres Today, June 7 (8:00-10:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. Grammy(R) Award-winning musician, record producer and songwriter Sean 'Diddy' Combs; super producer DJ Khaled; and Grammy(R) Award-winning recording artist and songwriter Meghan Trainor will return as panelists, alongside Grammy(R) Award-winning, multi-Platinum solo artist Fergie as host.

Desperate Measures, a new musical comedy gone wild with music by David Friedman(Listen To My Heart), book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina), and directed by Bill Castellino(Cagney, Marry Harry) is one of the most winning off-Broadway shows of the year. TV and current star of Amy and the Orphans, Jamie Brewer, stopped by for a visit with the cast backstage. Check out photos below.

Desperate Measures, a new musical comedy gone wild with music by David Friedman (Listen To My Heart), book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina), and directed by Bill Castellino(Cagney, Marry Harry) is one of the most winning off-Broadway shows of the year.

Winners for the 63rd Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced just last night at The Town Hall. In keeping with Drama Desk's mission, nominators considered shows that opened on Broadway, Off Broadway and Off-Off Broadway during the 2017-2018 New York Theater season in the same competitive categories.

The time has come for the 63rd Annual Drama Desk Awards, hosted by Michael Urie, June 3 (8:00 PM) at The Town Hall in Manhattan.

Beginning performances at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues), for an open-ended engagement beginning May 30 with opening night set for June 13, Desperate Measures features: Gary Marachek (Eleanor) as Father Morse, Lauren Molina (Rock of Ages) as Bella Rose, Sarah Parnicky (Show Boat at Houston Grand Opera) as Susanna/Sister Mary Jo, Conor Ryan ('Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert') as Johnny Blood, Peter Saide (Skin Tight) as Sheriff Green, Nick Wyman (Les Miserables) as Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber and Anthony Festa, Celia Hottenstein, and Tom Souhrada.

DESPERATE MEASURES, a musical comedy gone wild with music by David Friedman (Listen To My Heart), book and lyrics by Peter Kellogg (Anna Karenina), and directed by Bill Castellino (Cagney, Marry Harry), will play New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues), it was announced today by producers Pat Flicker Addiss and Mary Cosette. Following critical and audience acclaim at The New York Musical Festival and The York Theater Company, performances for the open-ended engagement begin May 30th and opening night is set for June 13th.

The Outer Critics Circle announced the winners for its annual awards on Monday, May 7th and the annual Gala Awards Dinner and presentation of awards to the winners was held yesterday, Thursday, May 24th at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant. BroadwayWorld attended the big event and we're taking you on the red carpet with all of the stars. Check out the photos below!

Beginning performances at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street between 8th and 9th Avenues), for an open-ended engagement beginning May 30 with opening night set for June 13, Desperate Measures features: Gary Marachek (Eleanor) as Father Morse, Lauren Molina (Rock of Ages) as Bella Rose, Sarah Parnicky (Show Boat at Houston Grand Opera) as Susanna/Sister Mary Jo, Conor Ryan ('Jesus Christ Superstar Live in Concert') as Johnny Blood, Peter Saide (Skin Tight) as Sheriff Green, Nick Wyman (Les Miserables) as Governor von Richterhenkenpflichtgetruber and Anthony Festa, Celia Hottenstein, and Tom Souhrada.

The Off-Broadway League are presenting awards in 19 categories for the 33rd Annual Lucille Lortel Awards for Outstanding Achievement Off-Broadway and we're bringing you the winners live.

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators for media covering New York theatre announced today its award winners for the 2017-18 season in 27 categories.

Desperate Measures will make its highly anticipated return to New World Stages beginning May30 with opening night set for June 13. 

It was January 25 2011 and Raissa Katona Bennett brought her new show, exploring the music of Jerome Kern to Feinstein's at The Regency Hotel. It got rave reviews from the critics at that time. Amazingly looking and sounding even better, Raissa returned to the cabaret stage last night at The Laurie Beechman Theatre's West Bank Cafe' and Broadwayworld was there. Check out the photos.

In the past few weeks, we've watched the nominations roll in. Today the final crop of nominees have been revealed, all leading to next week's ultimate announcement- the 2018 Tony nominations.

Broadway actress-singer, MAC and Bistro Award winner, Raissa Katona Bennett, returns to the cabaret stage in April celebrating the release of her third recording, CAN'T HELP SINGING - THE MUSIC OF JEROME KERN. This romantic celebration of Kern's greatest hits, including 'Smoke Gets in Your Eyes,' 'All the Things You Are' and 'The Way You Look Tonight,' will play April 26th & May 3rd at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Pianist, Jon Weber, joins Katona Bennett as Musical Director for this engagement. The Laurie Beechman Theatre is in the rear and downstairs at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street, NYC 10036. For tickets/reservations call 212.695.6909 or visit: https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pr/986039.

Stars from some of the most popular shows on Broadway, including Angels in America, The Band's Visit, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, Hello, Dolly!, The Lion King, Mean Girls, Once on This Island and SpongeBob SquarePants, gathered today at the Minskoff Theatre for the 32nd annual Easter Bonnet Competition. What were the results of this fundraising season? A whopping $5,721,879!

The Off Broadway Alliance, the organization of Off Broadway producers, theaters, general managers, press agents, and marketing firms, will hold the next event in its Seminars series focused on the Off Broadway Producing Process on Saturday April 28th 2018.

Outer Critics Circle, the organization of writers and commentators covering New York theater for out-of-town newspapers, national publications and other media beyond Broadway, announced today (April 24, 2018) its nominees for the 2017-18 season. Broadway's "Come From Away" starJenn Colella along with "The Band's Visit" sensation Katrina Lenk presided over the (11AM) announcement ceremony in the Oak Room at New York's renowned Algonquin Hotel (59 W 44th Street). 

Stars from some of the most popular shows on Broadway, including Angels in America, The Band's Visit, Dear Evan Hansen, Frozen, Hello, Dolly!, The Lion King, Mean Girls, Once on This Island and SpongeBob SquarePants, will make special appearances at the 32nd annual Easter Bonnet Competition on Monday, April 23, at 4:30 pm and Tuesday, April 24, at 2 pm.