Harvey Fierstein News

Kinky Boots producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig, along with the True Colors Fund, announced today that cast members from Kinky Boots, including stars Billy Porter, Stark Sands and Annaleigh Ashford, will join the show's Tony Award-winning composerCyndi Lauper for a special one-night-only True Colors Cabaret, on Monday, December 16th at 7:00 PM at Birdland (315 W 44th St). Lauper will join the cast of Kinky Boots to perform an eclectic array of standards, pop hits and other songs, with musical direction by the show's Tony Award-winning orchestrator Stephen Oremus. The evening will benefit the True Colors Fund, the organization Lauper co-founded to raise awareness about and bring an end to gay, lesbian, bisexual, and transgender youth homelessness, and to inspire everyone, especially straight people, to become active participants in the advancement of equality for all.

New works home New York Theatre Barn will present the first New York City presentation of musical excerpts from Toulouse! The Musical! by Chicago-based writers Josh Walker (Jeff-nominated for music directing Sexy Baby) and John David Nelson on Monday, November 11, 2013 at 7:30 PM at the Daryl Roth Theatre in New York City as part of New York Theatre Barn's revolutionary new musical development platform NYTB in the D-Lounge, produced by Laura Brandel and Jason Najjoum. Josh Walker is currently featured in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular.

Primary Stages has announced that their annual Gala will take place Monday, November 11, 2013 at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event will honor Tony Award-winning playwright Christopher Durang and President of the General Counsel at Dramatists Play Service, Stephen Sultan. The Gala Chairs are Catherine Adler and HBO. The Tony nominated star of Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, Kristine Nielsen, will offer a tribute to Mr. Durang. Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright John Patrick Shanley will offer a tribute to Mr. Sultan. The evening will feature 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).

Newsies, the hit Tony Award-winning 'critics' pick,' celebrates the release of its first book, Newsies: Stories of the Unlikely Broadway Hit. The book will be sold exclusively for Newsiesticket holders at The Nederlander Theatre, 208 W. 41st Street, NYC and at www.newsiesbroadwaystore.com, beginning November, 4th 2013 until February 4th 2014, when it goes on-sale in retail outlets nationwide. The book retails for $25 and includes photos that have never been seen publicly.

Bucks County Playhouse has announced today that the Playhouse has selected Alexander Fraser and Robyn Goodman to assume the leadership roles of Producing Director and Executive Producer, respectively. They will be replacing outgoing Producing Director Jed Bernstein, who announced earlier this year he will be joining Lincoln Center For The Performing Arts as its next President. Fraser and Goodman will begin their duties at the Playhouse in January of 2014.

The Fabulous Palms Springs Follies will bring the curtain down on a starried 23 year history in Palm Springs with the final edition of the much ballyhooed song and dance production- this final season, appropriately entitled 'The Last Hurrah!! - opening today, November 1, 2013 with final performances in May, 2014.

Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director of Encompass New Opera Theatre, and and Honorary Chairs Harold Prince, Stephen Sondheim and Maury Yeston honored legendary lyricist, librettist and composer Sheldon Harnick last night, October 28. Starring in the Musical Salute were Kennedy Center Award Honoree/Tony Award winner Barbara Cook, four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein, Tony Award winner Lin-Manuel Miranda, record setting multi-Tony Award winner Harold Prince, beloved TV and Stage Icon Charlotte Rae, multiple Academy, Grammy, Drama Desk Award winner Stephen Schwartz, Academy and Grammy Award winner David Shire and nine time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune among others. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the event below!

Some of Broadway's best and brightest have opened up about their own personal backstage superstitions to the New York Post - from not uttering 'Macbeth,' to good luck charms, nothing's off the table when it comes to making sure everything runs smoothly on stage.

92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, continues his popular interview series, 'Broadway Talks with Jordan Roth,' with award winning stage and screen star Cherry Jones tonight, October 27 at 7:30 p.m. Ms. Jones, the Emmy and Tony Award-winning star of '24' and Doubt, will return to the Broadway stage this season as Amanda Wingfield in Tennessee Williams's The Glass Menagerie.

The 2013 Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 15 is available in theaters starting this weekend! Lovers of Broadway talent can do some early holiday shopping as well as support Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) through the purchase of this 2-disc, annual CD of original and traditional holiday music from the current 2013 Broadway line-up. Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is taking pre-orders now for Broadway's Carols for a Cure, Volume 15, and will be mailing the CDs out beginning November 1st.

There will be a Celebration of legendary theatrical press agent Shirley Herz, on Monday, November 4th at 1:30 pm at the Samuel J Friedman Theatre, 261 West 47th Street, NYC. Some of the participants are Jeffrey Alper, Sam Altman, Barry Brown, Jan Buttram, Robert Callely, Tyne Daly, Jane Friedman, Diane Judge, Angela Lansbury, 'Charlotte Moore, Tom Rhoads, Liz Smith, Iris Williams and La Cage aux Folles' Original cast members: Betsy Craig, Dan Grady, Cady Huffman, David Jackson, Eric Lamp, Tom Sesma & Jennifer Smith. Musical accompaniment by Mark Hummel and Don Pippin.

Dopo il tutto esaurito della scorsa stagione, Enzo Iacchetti e Marco Columbro saranno ancora, a grande richiesta, la coppia protagonista de 'Il Vizietto - La Cage aux Folles', il musical firmato Massimo Romeo Piparo in scena dal prossimo martedi 22 ottobre e fino al 3 novembre al Teatro Nuovo di Milano, e ancora in tournee in diverse citta italiane fino al 6 gennaio 2014.

Spotlight on Broadway-an interactive website and multi-media project featuring the history of Broadway-has officially launched with 40 videos that chart the evolution of Broadway's 40 official theaters and honor the thousands of men and women who have worked on Broadway. Developed by the City of New York Mayor's Office of Media and Entertainment, in partnership with The Broadway League, each video was filmed inside one of the Broadway theaters and features insightful interviews with some of Broadway's most legendary performers and creative professionals.

Dopo il tutto esaurito della scorsa stagione, Enzo Iacchetti e Marco Columbro saranno ancora, a grande richiesta, la coppia protagonista de 'Il Vizietto - La Cage aux Folles', il musical firmato Massimo Romeo Piparo in scena dal prossimo martedi 22 ottobre e fino al 3 novembre al Teatro Nuovo di Milano, e ancora in tournee in diverse citta italiane fino al 6 gennaio 2014.

The Fabulous Palms Springs Follies will bring the curtain down on a starried 23 year history in Palm Springs with the final edition of the much ballyhooed song and dance production- this final season, appropriately entitled "The Last Hurrah!! - opening on November 1, 2013 with final performances in May, 2014. "The Last Hurrah" opens with sensational guest star Susan who presents her very special tribute to the holiday season with songs both traditional and contemporary. From "Boogie Woogie Santa Claus" to such classics as "Count Your Blessings" and "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas," Anton makes her third Follies appearance a last hurrah to remember!

Cagelles are a kick but romance suffers from weak singing leads in 'La Cage Aux Folles' at North Shore Music Theatre

Manhattan Theatre Club has announced that due to overwhelming demand, THE COMMONS OF PENSACOLA, the world premiere play currently in rehearsals at MTC, is extending an additional three weeks. The limited engagement, which begins previews on Tuesday, October 22 in advance of a Thursday, November 21 opening at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street), must close on Sunday, January 26. This is the last possible extension for the production.

Producers Daryl Roth and Hal Luftig just announced that Kinky Boots, this year's Tony Award-winning Best Musical, has recouped its costs in just 30 weeks. Capitalized at $13.5 million, Kinky Boots achieved this milestone faster than any big budget musical in recent history. With a Tony Award-winning score by pop icon Cyndi Lauper, a book by four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein, and direction and choreography by two-time Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell, the smash hit musical plays to standing-room-only crowds nightly and continues to shatter box office records at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street), where it started previews on March 4 and officially opened on April 4, 2013.

'Submissions Only,' the popular web series which aired its second season on BroadwayWorld.com to much acclaim, and major growth, will soon launch its highly anticipated third season. Season Three is 'coming soon,' and will be comprised of eight episodes. The star-studded season will boast such guest stars as Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Will Swenson, Malcolm Getz, Joanna Gleason, and many more. Series regulars for Season Three will includeKate Wetherhead, Colin Hanlon, Donna Vivino, Santino Fontana, Stephen Bienskie, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Max von Essen, and Marilyn Sokol. Last night, the team celebrated the launch of the new season and you can check out photos from insde the party below!

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, the creative masterminds behind NEWSIES, director Jeff Calhoun and choreographer Christopher Gattelli, chat about giving the show life on stage, their past and future projects and so much more! Click below to check out the full interview!