Des McAnuff News

This Month, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.

Redhouse Arts Center continues its commitment to fresh, innovative work with a musical written especially for Central New York, A Syracuse Christmas Carol. This musical treat infused with Syracuse flavor by LJ Fecho and Michael O'Flaherty is a family- friendly take on the Dickens' classic that is sure to put you in a festive mood this holiday season. The a?oeLove Boat's' Fred Grandy returns to the Redhouse Stage to star as Ebenezer Scrooge along with Artistic Director Hunter Foster, who will once again direct, following his recent successful Redhouse Directorial debut of RENT in September. The show is choreographed by veteran Lisa Shriver, who worked with Foster on a similar show they created for The Goodspeed Opera House in Connecticut. With hummable Christmas tunes and a Broadway style score, you can be the first to experience this memorable show which runs from December 12th thru 22nd. 

New York Stage and Film has announced that its annual Winter Gala will feature remarks by Annette Bening, Josh Groban, Michael Mayer, and Heidi Schreck; and will feature performances by Brittain Ashford, Cosmo Castaldi, Daya Curley, Sofia Dobrushin, John Gallagher Jr., Jonathan Groff, Marcy Harriell, Van Hughes, Taylor Symone Jackson, Lea Michele, Nasia Thomas, Ana Villafañe, and Candice Marie Woods.

Ain't Too Proud - The Life and Times of The Temptations will kick off the 93rd Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, alongside 'TODAY' show hosts Savannah Guthrie, Hoda Kotb, and Al Roker, with performances from the hit Broadway musical. The entire cast and band of Ain't Too Proud will perform a medley of 'Get Ready,' 'Ain't Too Proud To Beg,' and 'I Can't Get Next To You', which will air LIVE on NBC on Thursday, November 28 from 9 a.m. - noon (in all time zones).

Tony®, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, which tells the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, will return to D.C.'s National Theatre by popular demand from Tuesday, December 17, 2019 through Sunday, January 5, 2020. The show marks the ninth installment in the venue's 2019-2020 Broadway at the National series, which is set to include an unprecedented 17 productions.

State Theatre New Jersey presents the Tony, Grammy, and Olivier Award-winning musical Jersey Boys for two performances on Tuesday, December 3 and Wednesday, December 4 at 8pm. Tickets range from $40-$98.

The producers of the Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award winning musical Jersey Boys announced that John Rochette will play the role of Tommy DeVito beginning tonight, Monday, November 18, at New York City's New World Stages (340 West 50th Street) Stage 1. John has previously appeared in the Jersey Boys ensemble on Broadway, on tour and at New World Stages.

The Tony, Grammy and Olivier Award-winning hit musical JERSEY BOYS, the story of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons, celebrated 5,000 performances of its North American Tour Saturday evening, November 16 at Shea's Performing Arts Center in Buffalo, NY.  

The cast of Ain't Too Proud stopped by The View on Thursday to perform a medley of songs from the Broadway musical.

In T. Adamson's scorcher of a road trip, best friends Phoebe and Nina navigate hitchhikers, shoplifting, drugs, and a flood of selfies as they hurtle through the heart and heartlessness of America. A kaleidoscopic new play with unlimited mileage.

SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical/book by Colman Domingo, Robert Cary & Des McAnuff/songs by Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara and others/directed by Des McAnuff/choreography by Sergio Trujillo/music supervision by Ron Melrose/Hollywood Pantages Theatre/through November 24 The national tour of SUMMER: The Donna Summer Musical currently onstage at the Hollyqwood Pantages, is a feast for the eyes and ears for every Donna Summer fan. Born in 1948 LaDonna Adrian Gaines who eventually became the Queen of Disco used to skip high school classes in Boston Massachusetts and take the bus to New York to audition. She landed her first professional gig in the rock musical Hair and performed it in Munich where she created a sensation. Her hit song 'I Feel Love' brought her back to the US...and the rest is history.

New York Stage and Film is thrilled to announce that its annual Winter Gala will honor six-time Tony Award-nominated producer and philanthropist Diana DiMenna, and Academy Award and four-time Golden Globe-nominated and Tony Award-winning actor and producer Tom Hulce. The Winter Gala, a fundraising event to support New York Stage and Film's year-round theater and film development initiatives, will be held on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at The Ziegfeld Ballroom (141 West 54th Street, New York City). For more information on New York Stage and Film, please visit www.newyorkstageandfilm.org.

Today's conversation is with Lang Leav- an international best-selling author and social media sensation. She is the winner of a Qantas Spirit of Youth Award and coveted Churchill Fellowship. Her books continue to top bestseller charts in bookstores worldwide. 

There was a celebration at the Imperial Theatre earlier this week as the company of Ain't Too Proud came together to celebrate the man behind the story, Otis Willimas. Otis, one of the founding members of the Temptations, turned 78 years old. Check out photos from the festivities below!

Summer: The Donna Summer Musical is now on tour across America! SUMMER features a book by Tony Award® nominee Colman Domingo, Robert Cary and Tony Award® winner Des McAnuff, with songs by Donna Summer, Giorgio Moroder, Paul Jabara and others and is directed by Des McAnuff and choreographed by Tony Award® winner Sergio Trujillo, with music supervised by Ron Melrose and scenic design by Tony Award® nominee Robert Brill, costumes by Tony Award® winner Paul Tazewell, lighting by Tony Award® winner Howell Binkley, sound by Tony Award® nominee Gareth Owen and projections by Sean Nieuwenhuis. This tour is produced by the Dodgers and Tommy Mottola.

After a sold-out premiere this summer, on Tuesday, Dec. 3 at 9:30pm Broadway star and recording artist Luba Mason (Chicago, Jekyll & Hyde, How to Succeed, Will Rogers Follies) will bring her acclaimed Broadway-centric concert Luba Mason a?" 5' 10a?? with pianist & music director Billy Stritch (Liza Minnelli, Christine Ebersole) to Feinstein's/54 Below (254 W. 54th Street).

For those of us who began making regular pilgrimages to Palsson's Supper Club back in the early 80s to see Gerard Alessandrini's smart new revue pack with parody lyrics and impersonations that skewered the gods and goddesses of Times Square, Broadway just isn't Broadway without FORBIDDEN BROADWAY around.

Today's top stories: casting has been announced for the Broadway production of Company, and more!

It was announced today that producers Hal Luftig and Patrick Catullo will bring a new production of the classic rock opera The Who's Tommy back to Broadway in the 2021 season, directed by two-time Tony Award-winner Des McAnuff, who also directed the original Broadway production.

David Byrne's American Utopia just celebrated opening night yesterday, October 20 at the intimate Hudson Theatre on Broadway. BroadwayWorld was there for the big night and we're taking you to the star-studded red carpet below!