Friars Club News

12 uniquely-talented women have been hand-picked to compete in the 6th Annual "Tomatoes Got Talent" contest which celebrates the talents of women over 40.  

FX's 'Fosse/Verdon' premieres April 9! In honor of the anticipated new series, BroadwayWorld is flashing back to some of our archive photos of Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon. Check them out below!

Richard Pryor, Jr returns to his home town of Peoria to share the Glitz, the Glamour and The Gutter of IN A PRYOR LIFE, then onto Altoona Iowa

Richard Pryor, Jr Recently Announced the Publication of IN A PRYOR LIFE: Richard, Jr.'s self proclaimed 'Freakish Life' paralleled his famous father's and namesake in many ways. A Peoria whorehouse, abuse, alcohol and drug addition, as well as frequent bad decisions. However, he survived. And that's what his book is about, a real-life story of overwhelming obstacles, surviving, and thriving.

Actor Amadeo Fusca puts an original spin on the famous off-Broadway one-man show Men an Are From Mars. Women Are From Venus LIVE! at the Straz Center on March 28-31. Part theatre, part stand-up and based on the best-selling book by John Gray, Amadeo covers the stages of a relationship in a series of vignettes intermixed with real-life anecdotes and male and female characterizations.

The Footlighters Club was ground zero for Comedy yesterday as Freddie Roman, Dick Capri, Scott Record and Rick Corso celebrated one of their peers, the acclaimed entertainer Sarge who is one of the most admired improvisational comedians, singer and musical piano savant in show business. President and producer of the event Errol Dante started off the afternoon with his stirring rendition of Granada but then it was all laughs as the jokes flew wild and feverishly and there were probably more laughs at the Miami Shores Country Club per square inch than any other place on the planet. The humor heard at the Footlighters event must out of political necessity stay inside the Footlighters but rest assured no one was left unscathed.

Richard Pryor, Jr Recently Announced the Publication of IN A PRYOR LIFE: Richard, Jr.'s self proclaimed 'Freakish Life' paralleled his famous father's and namesake in many ways. A Peoria whorehouse, abuse, alcohol and drug addiction, as well as frequent bad decisions. However, he survived. And that's what his book is about, a real-life story of overwhelming obstacles, surviving, and thriving.

Born in Peoria, Illinois, on April 10, 1962, at only 6 months, the first-born son of Richard Pryor and his first wife, Patricia Watts, had to stay in the hospital for several weeks until he reached 5 pounds - and he was so small, his parents had to buy doll socks to fit his feet. 

Amas Musical Theatre and The Amas Musical Theatre Lab, in association with LaVie Productions, will present staged readings of Victory Train, a new musical, with book, music and lyrics by David Buskin and Jake Holmes.

The McCallum Theatre presents Catskills on Broadway on Friday, February 22, at 8:00pm. The Catskills Mountains of New York, the cradle of American humor, launched the careers of many of our greatest comics. In this new version of the 1991 Broadway hit, Freddie Roman, Sarge, and Mark Schiff will have you laughing at good old-fashioned comedy that brings back the golden years of the Catskills. Freddie Roman, creator and star of Catskills on Broadway, adopted the attitude that if Broadway couldn't come to the mountains, he would take the mountains to Broadway. Catskills on Broadway was a new format for the Broadway community and the production earned Freddie acclaim and a stint on the Tony Awards broadcast.

Edward R. Matthews, CEO of ADAPT Community Network, announced its 2019 ADAPT Leadership Awards Gala to take place on Thursday, March 14th, at Cipriani 42nd Street in New York City. The event will be hosted by Cara Buono, co‐star of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, and Emmy‐ nominee for her role on Mad Men. The awards honor the accomplishments of extraordinary individuals and corporations who have made an impact on people with disabilities and have inspired others through their professional and charitable endeavors. The gala benefits the important ongoing programs and services of ADAPT Community Network. This year's honorees will be announced next month.

The State Theatre will host a special Valentine's edition of Stage on Stage featuring Charlie Romo on Friday, February 8th.  The State Theatre main stage will be transformed into a "club" atmosphere, with the performers and the audience both on stage.  A cash bar will also be available on stage. The Valentine Stage on Stage is presented by RMG Insurance and includes Special guest Colette Boudreaux accompanied by Charity Wicks.

Continuing its 35th Anniversary season, Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director; Tom Toce Producer) proudly announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2018, which will begin Wednesday, December 12 featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday,December 22, 2018 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street, just East of 8th Avenue).

Over the past hundred years the theater community has celebrated some of the most notable events in Broadway's history at the Friars Club.   Last night the Barrington Stage Co. the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, Ma. under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd held their New York City Benefit in the legendary building where so many legends of the theater community have socialized and entertained each other.   John Rando the famed director was celebrated for his extraordinary talent and his contributions to BSC.  John has directed two of the most popular musicals in BSC history, The Pirates of Penzance and On the Town, which transferred to Broadway and received four Tony Award nominations, including Best Director.  At BSC John also directed The Royal Family of Broadway and Guys and Dolls and on Broadway, he won a Tony Award for his direction of Urinetown, The Musical.  

Do you want to have the best birthday party ever? First…. be talented and admired entertainers who have lots of talented friends. Then, have many adoring fans and a large loving family. Next, have Sunny Sessa and Craig Neier create and produce your celebration at the Friars Club. The Friars Club which is the ground zero gathering place for show business folks and one of a kind events (most recent the Billy Crystal Icon Award Gala) hosted Will & Anthony Nunziata's Birthday Bash last night and here is a look inside the celebration.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd, will host its annual New York City Benefit, BSC/NYC, on Tuesday, November 27, 2018, to honor director and BSC Associate Artist John Rando with the William Finn Award for Innovation and Excellence in Musical Theatre. This one-night only cabaret will take place at the Friars Club (57 East 55th Street).

When you enter the Friars Club on 55th street the world immediately becomes a better place. The first space you encounter is the Billy Crystal Room where you hear the laughter and the animated conversations as Friars share stories with one another. Last night in only the 8th time in the Club's 114-year history The Icon Award was presented by Robert De Niro to Billy Crystal at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to a capacity filled New York/Hollywood audience. The Icon Award honors individuals whose extraordinary accomplishment raise the standard of entertainment and positively redefines our culture. Billy is following in the footsteps of entertainment icons Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro.

Tony Lo Bianco, Lee Roy Reams and Steven Maglio headlined a special Veterans Day concert celebrating members of the armed forces and their families yesterday at The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street. BroadwayWorld was there and you can check out photos below!

Tony Lo Bianco, Lee Roy Reams and Steven Maglio headline a special Veterans Day concert celebrating members of the armed forces and their families at The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street, today November 10 at 3pm. Hosted by co-producer Randie Levine-Miller, "Galaxy of Stars" will donate 100% of its proceeds to the Vetwell Project of Operation Warrior Shield, whose primary mission is to provide support programs for veterans and first responders focusing on "healing the hidden wounds of war." For tickets call 212-279-4200 or visit www.triadnyc.com

Tony Lo Bianco, Lee Roy Reams and Steven Maglio headline a special Veterans Day concert celebrating members of the armed forces and their families at The Triad, 158 West 72nd Street, on Saturday November 10 at 3pm.