Ed Kleban News

Two-time Drama Desk nominee and Long Island native Joe Iconis will offer a free concert in The Green Room at John W. Engeman Theater on Friday, August 20th.

Two-time Drama Desk nominee and Long Island native Joe Iconis will offer a free concert in The Green Room at John W. Engeman Theater on Friday, August 20th. No tickets are required for the event, which will begin immediately following that evening's performance of DAMN YANKEES (now starring Andre De Sheilds, Austin Miller and Jessica Lee Goldyn). Audience members just attending the Iconis concert are encouraged to arrive at the theater no later than 11:00pm.

The Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree comes to the Laurie Beechman Theater for four Mondays nights in August: the 9th, the 16th, the 23rd, and the 30th. All shows are at 9:30PM. Tickets are $10 and reservations can be made by calling (212) 695-6909.

The Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree comes to the Laurie Beechman Theater for four Mondays nights in August: the 9th, the 16th, the 23rd, and the 30th. All shows are at 9:30PM. Tickets are $10 and reservations can be made by calling (212) 695-6909.

The Joe Iconis Rock and Roll Jamboree comes to the Laurie Beechman Theater for four Mondays nights in August: the 9th, the 16th, the 23rd, and the 30th. All shows are at 9:30PM. Tickets are $10 and reservations can be made by calling (212) 695-6909.

Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie, one of Broadway's most beloved and esteemed performers, will present the New York premiere of her critically-acclaimed solo show, My Musical Comedy Life (directed by Richard Jay-Alexander), at the Laurie Beechman Theatre for one performance only, Wednesday, July 28th at 8pm. There is a $35 cover charge, as well as a $15 food/beverage minimum (a full dinner menu is available). The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located within The West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd St. (@ 9th Ave)., in the heart of New York's theatre district. For tickets, please contact Smarttix at www.smarttix.com or 212 868 4444.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre announce that Tony Award-winner Donna McKechnie, one of Broadway's most beloved and esteemed performers, will present the New York premiere of her critically-acclaimed solo show, My Musical Comedy Life, at the midtown venue for one performance only, Wednesday, July 28th at 8pm.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Producing Artistic Director), will present free staged readings of SAVING THE MuSE, a new musical with music and lyrics by the late Edward Kleban, book by Linda Kline, and directed and developed by Michael Bush, on Monday June 28 at 6:00pm, and Tuesday, June 13 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm at Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Avenue (10th Floor).

Musical Theater punk Joe Iconis (two-time Drama Desk nominee for Ars Nova's Bloodsong of Love: The Rock'n'Roll Spaghetti Western) performs a stripped-down evening of his original tunes- both classic and brand new.

Musical Theater punk Joe Iconis (two-time Drama Desk nominee for Ars Nova's Bloodsong of Love: The Rock'n'Roll Spaghetti Western) performs a stripped-down evening of his original tunes- both classic and brand new.

Today, I am sharing with you Part II of my exclusive InDepth InterView with legendary Broadway star Donna McKechnie who is perhaps best known as the genius director-choreographer Michael Bennett's muse and primary interpreter as well as the originator and inspiration for the character of Cassie in A CHORUS LINE - for which she won Best Actress In A Musical at the 1976 Tony Awards - in addition to her many roles on Broadway and the West End, as well as all over the country on tours of every kind over the years. In Part II of this comprehensive chat we discuss her new show with Kaye Ballard and Liliane Montevecci that kicks off next year titled BROADWAY LADIES, working with choreographers Jerome Robbins and Ron Field, Bennett's thoughts on Leonard Bernstein, Robbins and ON THE TOWN, what Robbins work meant to Bennett growing up, what Gwen Verdon's work meant to her, her thoughts on punk rock and amplification in the theatre as well as working with Rock Hudson, Dick Van Dyke and, of course, Bennett himself.

On June 21st from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., as part of Make Music New York, Joe's Pub will present performances at the Astor Place Cube located at Cooper Sq at Lafayette St. In its fourth year, Make Music New York (MMNY) is a unique festival of free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 327 cities around the world - a global celebration of music making.

Today, I am sharing with you Part I of my exclusive InDepth InterView with legendary Broadway star Donna McKechnie who is perhaps best known as the genius director- choreographer Michael Bennett's muse and primary interpreter as well as the originator and inspiration for the character of Cassie in A CHORUS LINE - for which she won Best Actress In A Musical at the 1976 Tony Awards - in addition to her many roles on Broadway and the West End, as well as all over the country on tours of every kind over the years. In Part I of this comprehensive chat we discuss her earliest featured roles on Broadway, working on the groundbreaking COMPANY and her thoughts on collaborators Bennett, Sondheim and Hal Prince; as well as her thoughts on the current state of Broadway, the out-of-town experience in the Golden Age and creating Cassie in A CHORUS LINE. Plus, of course, we discuss her fantastic new show and much, much more!

It's that time of the year again for the recognition of some amazing up and coming talent on the theatre scene, specifically, the 20th Annual Kleban Awards. The Kleban Foundation is pleased to announce that the 20th Annual Kleban Prize for the most promising musical theater lyricist has gone to Peter Mills and the award for the most promising musical theater librettist has gone to Barry Wyner. The 2010 awards will be presented on June 21, 2010, in a private ceremony (by invitation only) at ASCAP.

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff/Producing Artistic Director), will present free staged readings of SAVING THE MuSE, a new musical with music and lyrics by the late Edward Kleban, book by Linda Kline, and directed and developed by Michael Bush, on Monday June 28 at 6:00pm, and Tuesday, June 13 at 3:00pm and 7:00pm at Ripley-Grier Studios, 520 Eighth Avenue (10th Floor).

When A Chorus Line premiered at Joe Papp's Public Theater in 1975, its bold form changed the face of the American musical. I wonder if James Kirkwood and Nicholas Dante (book), Ed Kleban (lyrics) and Marvin Hamlisch (music) really knew the impact that their soon-to-be Pulitzer Prize winning drama would hold for future generations as it moved from Joe Papp's Public Theater to Broadway? It promised to be be a singularly sensational success all over the globe for decades. And - in 2010 - it still remains one of the most thrilling musicals ever.

On June 21st from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m., as part of Make Music New York, Joe's Pub will present performances at the Astor Place Cube located at Cooper Sq at Lafayette St. In its fourth year, Make Music New York (MMNY) is a unique festival of free concerts in public spaces throughout the five boroughs of New York City. MMNY takes place simultaneously with similar festivities in more than 327 cities around the world - a global celebration of music making.

Broadway actress/singer Janene Lovullo returned to the concert stage after a ten-year hiatus @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's on Sunday, May 23 with a superior evening of song entitled You Are My World. She was accompanied at the piano by fine musical director Chris Marlowe.

Ars Nova, under the leadership of Artistic Director Jason Eagan, will present the world premiere of the new musical BLOODSONG OF LOVE with book, music & lyrics by Joe Iconis and directed by John Simpkins. BLOODSONG OF LOVE, which was commissioned and developed by Ars Nova, began previews on April 1st prior to an official press opening of April 15th at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues) in Manhattan.

Ars Nova, under the leadership of Artistic Director Jason Eagan, will present the world premiere of the new musical BLOODSONG OF LOVE with book, music & lyrics by multi-award winner Joe Iconis, and directed by John Simpkins. BLOODSONG OF LOVE, which was commissioned and developed by Ars Nova, will begin previews on April 1st prior to an official press opening of April 15th at Ars Nova (511 West 54th Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues) in Manhattan.