Eda Sorokoff News

Primary Stages held their annual Gala last night, November 11, at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event honored Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang and President of the General Counsel at Dramatists Play Service, Stephen Sultan. The evening featured performances by Rachel deBenedet (Catch Me If You Can, Addams Family), Alan Paul (Grease, Oliver!, Manhattan Transfer), Michele Ragusa (Urinetown, Ragtime, A Class Act, Adrift in Macao), and Alton F. White (The Color Purple, The Lion King, Ragtime). BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos below!

Musical Mondays continues at legendary Le Cirque restaurant with international singing sensation Sabrina Wender in the Cafe. Joining in celebrating Edgidiana Maccioni's birthday was Tommy Tune and a full Cafe of well wishes for the wife of owner Sirio Maccioni.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning regional theatre in downtown Pittsfield, Massachusetts, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, celebrated BSC's New Works Initiative with a BSC in NYC at a benefit last night at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse. The event was co-chaired by Heather Nolin, Mary Ann Quinson, Rosita Sarnoff and Eda Sorokoff. Among the attendees were Tommy Tune, Julie Budd, and Producers Michael Alden and Jamie deRoy.

The New York premiere of Becoming Dr. Ruth, a warmhearted, candid and inspiring comedy starringDebra Jo Rupp, ('That 70's Show') written by Mark St. Germain and directed by Julianne Boydopened off-Broadway last night, October 29. BroadwayWorld was there for the special night and you can check out photos from the opening night theatre arrivals below!

The Gold Coast Arts Center in collaboration with the Town of North Hempstead just presented the 3rd annuAl Gold Coast International Film Festival (GCIFF), featuring fantastic films, parties, panels, and fanfare! The festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to the Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix and GCIFF has become the 'go to' Festival for film buffs and it is the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season.

Continuing through October 27, 2013 the Gold Coast Arts Center in collaboration with the Town of North Hempstead will present the 3rd annual Gold Coast International Film Festival (GCIFF), and everyone's invited-again-for fantastic films, parties, panels, and fanfare! The festival has brought the latest Hollywood hits and Indie favorites to the Gold Coast of Long Island. Add A-list celebrities and unforgettable events to the mix and GCIFF has become the 'go to' Festival for film buffs and it is the last major film festival on the East Coast before Awards season.

Richard Skipper and Julie Budd sat down down for an intimate chat to discuss Julie's career and life and the people she has worked with. She also performed a few songs! The final fifteen minutes of the event were dedicated to Julie addressing and answering questions from the audience. Julie also be met and greeted fans and friends upstairs following the interview and performance.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer;Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), continues their 29th season with a new production of their acclaimed 1995 OBIE Award winner, The Model Apartment, by Pulitzer Prize winner Donald Margulies(Shipwrecked!, Time Stands Still, Dinner with Friends, Sight Unseen). Directed by Evan Cabnet (A Kid Like Jakeat Lincoln Center Theater, The Performers on Broadway), the production will feature Mark Blum (The Assembled Parties and Gore Vidal's The Best Man on Broadway), Diane Davis (Old Acquaintance on Broadway, Regrets Only at MTC), two-time Obie Award-winner Kathryn Grody (The Marriage of Bette & Boo, Top Girls, A Mom's Life), and Hubert Point-Du Jour (Angels in America and The Brother/Sister Plays Off-Broadway). The Model Apartment runs through November 1 at Primary Stagesat 59E59 Theaters. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from opening night below!

The Actors Fund, the nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, last night presented the 2013 edition of Nothing Like a Dame: Lorna's Pink Party, a benefit for the Phyllis NewmanWomen's Health Initiative and the Dr. Philomena McAndrew Fund of Tower Cancer Research Foundation. This highly anticipated event, starring entertainment legend Lorna Luft with her special guest Liza Minnelli will continue on Monday, October 21st at 7 pm, at Birdland, 315 West 44th Street, New York City. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the concert below!

The Las Vegas-based entertainer Kelly Clinton just returned to the Cafe Carlyle as a part of the Late Night series. Check out photos from the concert below!

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center. Last night was Before The Parade Passes By, hosted by KLea Blackhurst and starring Corinna SowersAdler, Raissa Katona Bennett, William Blake, Kevin Dozier, Liam Forde, John Forster, Gregory Generet,Tanya Holt,Eva Kantor, Stearns Matthews, Sally Mayes, Colleen McHugh, Marissa Mulder, Sidney Myer, Mark Nadler, Georga Osborne, and Nick Ziobro.

On October 9, Nicolas King, dubbed 'the precociously polished crooner' by the New York Times, returned to Don't Tell Mama and you can check out photos from the performance below!

Primary Stages presents the World Premiere of Bronx Bombers, written and directed by Tony Award nominee Eric Simonson (Broadway's Lombardi). The production opened last night, Tuesday, October 8, and features Francois Battiste (Broadway's Magic/ Bird) as Reggie Jackson and Elston Howard,Chris Henry Coffey (Off-Broadway's Water by the Spoonful) as Joe DiMaggio,Bill Dawes(Broadway's Lombardi) as Mickey Mantle/Thurman Munson,Christopher Jackson(Broadway's In the Heights, Memphis) asDerek Jeter, Wendy Makkena (Broadway's Side Man) as Carmen Berra, Keith Nobbs (Broadway's Lombardi) as Billy Martin, Richard Topol (Broadway'sThe Normal Heart, The Merchant of Venice) as Yogi Berra, John Wernke (Broadway's The Lyons) as Lou Gehrig, and C.J. Wilson (Happy Now? at Primary Stages, Broadway's The Big Knife,Glengarry Glen Ross) as Babe Ruth. Bronx Bombers runs through October 19 at Primary Stages at The Duke on 42nd Street. Check out a look back at the opening night festivities below!

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll. Jones was just honoerd during the festivities and you can check out photos below!

A tribute to one of the great Friars was held at the legendary club last night. Significantly it was held in the Frank Sinatra room, the crooner who is most identified with Sammy Cahn's songs. Songwriter Sammy Cahn career was presented in live performance, rare video clips, and historical lecture.

On Friday, October 4, The New York Pops, led by Music Director Steven Reineke, opened its 2013-2014 concert season at Carnegie Hall with special guest Chris Botti. The internationally renowned jazz trumpeter joined The New York Pops to perform a new spin on classic standards and other favorites. Check out photos from inside the rehearsal and after party below!

Continuing on October 9, two beloved Tony-nominated Broadway actresses, Anita Gillette & Penny Fuller, join forces for a delectable evening of humorous reflection and harmonious song in Sin Twisters, a show with a devilish spoonerism of a title. On the streets of Manhattan and Los Angeles, these vibrant and savvy veterans of over two dozen Broadway productions, as well as countless films and television shows, are constantly being mistaken for each other, although one is at least three inches taller, and one is a blonde and the other, a redhead. Yet, during their respective careers, they have both tackled some of the same parts, including the plum role of Sally Bowles in the original Broadway production of Cabaret. Sin Twisters joyfully celebrates these similarities but also gives full voice to these two remarkable performers' differences as artists and as women. This show is a must for anyone who loves theater lore and cherishes the enduring bonds of friendship. Check out photos from their 54 Below concert below!

Just last week, Natalie Douglas made her Cafe Carlyle debut over two nights on September 27 and 27. Check out photos from the concert below!

New York's wonderfully-appointed cabaret hot-spot The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street ~ btw. 5th & 6th Avenues) kicked off the fall season on the first evening of Autumn with celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy for a special edition of her Multi MAC award-winning Variety Show, Jamie deRoy & friends, last night.

ScoBar Entertainment and Iridium NYC last night presented a one-night-only Tribute to Ervin Drake. The evening celebrated the life and music of legendary 94-year-old American songwriter whose works include Great American Songbook standards such as 'It Was A Very Good Year,' which was popularized by Frank Sinatra. Drake, who was inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame in 1983 also wrote the songs 'I Believe,' 'Good Morning Heartache,' 'Tico-Tico,' 'Perdido,' 'Now I Have Everything,' 'A Room without Windows,' 'AL DI LA,' & 'Quando Quando.' He is also the composer and lyricist of the 1964 Broadway show, What Makes Sammy Run.