Derrick Baskin News

How did Michelle Obama, her mother Marian Robinson and daughters Malia and Sasha along with some friends to avoid the bitter health care debate in Washington, DC today? By attending the perfect 'escape' - a Broadway show.

Stars including Chita Rivera, Liza Minnelli, Mario Cantone, Kristin Chenoweth, Jason Danieley, Norm Lewis, Debra Monk, Julia Murney, Karen Ziemba, Heidi Blickenstaff celebrated all things Kander and Ebb last night at the Vineyard Theatre's Annual Gala yesterday evening, March 8. Lead by Tony Award-winning host David Hyde Pierce (Kander & Ebb's CURTAINS), the crowd paid tribute to the work of Kander and his late collaborator Fred Ebb.

The thrilling new musical MEMPHIS will fuel the imaginations of thousands of New York and New Jersey students through the new educational program INSPIRE CHANGE. Students from arts-poor schools will experience historical events in a new musical way, through tickets to the Broadway production, an in-school dynamic pre-show workshop led by a MEMPHIS cast member and teaching artists, as well as a post-show discussion with the MEMPHIS actors. Ticket to MEMPHIS, round-trip transportation and the workshop/post-show experience will be provided by the funders of INSPIRE CHANGE. The program is run by educational consultancy group iTheatrics (www.itheatrics.com).

For this evening's performance of MEMPHIS, any patron that says 'HUEY SENT ME' at the Shubert Theatre Box Office (225 W. 44th St) will receive the special snow day discount of $26.50 per ticket. This offer is good for any available seat for the 8pm performance.

Following critically acclaimed and sold-out engagements on the West Coast, the musical MEMPHIS made its Broadway debut October 19, 2009, earning accolades for its score, which features music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change).

Following critically acclaimed and sold-out engagements on the West Coast, the musical MEMPHIS made its Broadway debut October 19, 2009, earning accolades for its score, which features music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change).

BroadwayWorld's 2010 Valentine's Day gift to you, the 5th Annual 'What's the Most Romantic Broadway Love Song Ever?' brings you over 500 stars, industry professionals, and personalities from across the globe, and this year Barbra Streisand, Susan Boyle, Bernadette Peters, Cameron Mackintosh, HAIR, GLEE and many, many more!

Last night, February 8, the stars came out to honor stage and screen legend Angela Lansbury at The Drama League's 26th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY' at the Pierre New York.

Two Boots Pizza in Hells Kitchen celebrated the SLICE OF BROADWAY honoring the Broadway cast of MEMPHIS with a specialty slice entitled 'Huey's Bad Boy' - Pulled pork, red onions, Dancing Pig BBQ sauce from Memphis, and topped with homemade cole slaw. Cast members from MEMPHIS, along with BroadwayWorld, were on hand to enjoy in the tasty dedication.

The Broadway cast of MEMPHIS will join The Actors' Chapel for a Haiti benefit concert entitled 'African Saints, African Stories: An Evening of Song and Spoken Word.' The concert will feature Dr. Camille Brown, Danny Coackley, and The Amen Choir, in addition to several MEMPHIS cast members. The concert is presented by St. Malachy's - The Actors' Chapel in conjunction with The Office of Black Ministry for the NY Archdioces and will take place at St. Malachy's on February 1st at 7:00pm.

The cast of MEMPHIS is all set to Meet with Fans and Perform Live at The Pond at Bryant Park this Thursday, Jan. 21 from 11:30 - 1 pm

Let's take a look at two new recordings of a song from the forthcoming Green Day rock opera AMERICAN IDIOT that is now available on iTunes as well as the cast recording for the new Broadway musical MEMPHIS, which is available at the theatre, stores and on iTunes.

The cast of MEMPHIS is all set to Meet with Fans and Perform Live at The Pond at Bryant Park this Thursday, Jan. 21 from 11:30 - 1 pm

MEMPHIS, currently playing at The Shubert Theatre on Broadway starring Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, dedicates a special 8:00pm performance last night, January 17, to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. Following the finale, MEMPHIS leading Lady, Montego Glover, addressed the crowd, thanking them for their support of The Actor's Fund.

MEMPHIS, currently playing at The Shubert Theatre on Broadway starring Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, will dedicate the January 17 performance to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. The curtain rises on Sunday the 17th at 8:00pm.

Yesterday, January 14, MEMPHIS celebrated its 100th performance on Broadway. In honor of the event, all involved with the production, along with BroadwayWorld, celebrated at Justin Timberlake's restaurant, ‘Southern Hospitality' following the curtain.

To celebrate the 100th performance at the hit musical MEMPHIS, the first 100 people who buy tickets at the Shubert Box Office on Thursday, January 14th will get the newly released MEMPHIS Cast Album. In addition MEMPHIS will hold a lottery during the curtain call on Thursday, January 14, 2010 to invite a special member of the audience and their party to join the cast at Justin Timberlake's Manhattan hotspot Southern Hospitality. A winner will be chosen by a random seat location drawing. The lucky winner will then join David Bryan, cast and crew at the celebrity hangout Southern Hospitality. All ticket holders for the Thursday, January 14, 2010 performance are eligible.

To celebrate the 100th performance at the hit musical MEMPHIS, the first 100 people who buy tickets at the Shubert Box Office on Thursday, January 14th will get the newly released MEMPHIS Cast Album. In addition MEMPHIS will hold a lottery during the curtain call on Thursday, January 14, 2010 to invite a special member of the audience and their party to join the cast at Justin Timberlake's Manhattan hotspot Southern Hospitality. A winner will be chosen by a random seat location drawing. The lucky winner will then join David Bryan, cast and crew at the celebrity hangout Southern Hospitality. All ticket holders for the Thursday, January 14, 2010 performance are eligible.

MEMPHIS, currently playing at The Shubert Theatre on Broadway starring Chad Kimball and Montego Glover, will dedicate the January 17 performance to The Actors Fund, granting proceeds to the fund in support of their programs and services. The curtain rises on Sunday the 17th at 8:00pm.

A new post on the Memphis blog hints at the possibility of a film version of the musical,and a potential tour, all the while promoting the limited edition of the original Broadway cast recording.