Ilene Kristen News

TAINTED DREAMS, the Emmy nominated web-series about the 'behind the scenes' drama of the fictitious soap Painted Dreams is slated to start streaming on Amazon on December 26, 2016.

The Vanity is a stylized, darkly humorous, period melodrama, which plays like a marriage of The Picture of Dorian Gray, Sunset Boulevard and Valley of the Dolls full of high drama and dirty secrets. It's 1947 and Julian Gray, a beautiful but sheltered young Plantation heir decides to start a new life in Hollywood. He finds himself the object of all sorts of hungry attention and the great director Hilton Wheeler casts him as the lead in a major motion picture. In spite of a promising future as a movie star, Julian falls in love with Stella, a makeup girl on the set of his first film. All hell breaks loose, when Julian inherits a mysterious Victorian vanity table from a distant, unknown relative and the vanity is possessed by a powerful demon. Julian is offered the chance to maintain his infamous good looks indefinitely, as long as he agrees to forsake love in favor of hedonistic pleasure. Mr. Gray is faced with an impossible choice, and is tempted in all directions by an array of technicolor characters.

Daytime television star Ilene Kristen will be featured in the staged reading of award-winning playwright Penny Jackson's AND I SAW HER on March 10 at 7:30pm at Dixon Place.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Allison Case and Andrew Kober: This is 30, Doreen Montalvo, Burtka, David, Sondheim Unplugged, and 54 Loves Billy Joel: He's Got a Way.

One of NY's hottest theaters is stepping up it's late night game. Ensemble Studio Theatre is in its second season of LAST CALL, and the theatre has had tons of off-Broadway and Broadway performers showcasing their hidden talents.

NYC Brand Production's first scripted series, Tainted Dreams garners two Independent Series Award nominations for: 'Best Ensemble Cast' and 'Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama' for Alicia Minshew best known for her role as 'Erica Kane's' daughter, 'Kendall Hart' on All My Children. Tainted Dreams' ensemble cast boasts eight of Off-Broadway's funniest folks. Stars of the Off-Broadway comedy hits, 'My Big Gay Italian Wedding,' now celebrating its 10thAnniversary Off-Broadway, and its sequel 'My Big Gay Italian Funeral' including Anthony Wilkinson (creator and executive producer of 'Wedding' and 'Funeral', Debra Toscano, Paul Moon, Brian Patrick Murphy, Brett Douglas, Erik Ransom, Meagan Robar and Marissa Perry, all moonlight as part of the Independent Series Award-nominated 'Best Ensemble Cast' from Tainted Dreams.

The Huntington's Disease Society of America ~ Greater New York Chapter (HDSA) will host its seventh annual CURTAIN'S UP FOR A CURE: A Broadway Holiday Concert, a celebration of life featuring songs by Broadway's greatest songwriters as well as holiday favorites, on Monday, December 9,2013.

“Real Housewives of New Jersey,” star Dina Manzo will film her first scenes August 8 as a member of the cast of NYC Brand Production's first, scripted dramedy, 'Tainted Dreams.”

The 6th Season of The Concerts for City Greens, free outdoor concert series, continues on Wednesday, June 26th at 6:30 pm (Rain date: Thursday, June 27th at 6:30pm.) at Tudor City Greens, with 'Summer Sambas, Showmen & Sirens ,' and will feature professional performers from Broadway and the New York City cabaret, jazz, and classical scene. All performers donate their time and talent to benefit MUSIC AND ART FOR GREEN. The concert will be hosted by Tudor City resident, Broadway and cabaret veteran Raissa Katona Bennett.

Soap Opera Socialite Productions has announced its next event, Mix & Mingle with Roxy and Delphina in New York City. Tonight, February 16th, join One Life to Live's Ilene Kristen (Roxy Balsom; Broadway: Grease, Off-Broadway: My Big Gay Italian Wedding) and Lea DeLaria (Mme. Delphina; Broadway: On the Town, The Rocky Horror Show, Off-Broadway: The Vagina Monologues, Happy Days) for an afternoon cocktail party at the Upper West Side's famed bar and restaurant, Prohibition, from noon to 3 pm. Additional special guests will be announced in the coming days.

Fox News reports that former New York City Mayor Ed Koch, known for his trademark question, 'How'm I doing?, died early this morning, Friday, February 1st. His 1984 memoir, 'Mayor,' was a best seller that was turned into the off-Broadway musical by the same name.

Soap Opera Socialite Productions has announced its next event, Mix & Mingle with Roxy and Delphina in New York City. On February 16th, join One Life to Live's Ilene Kristen (Roxy Balsom; Broadway: Grease, Off-Broadway: My Big Gay Italian Wedding) and Lea DeLaria (Mme. Delphina; Broadway: On the Town, The Rocky Horror Show, Off-Broadway: The Vagina Monologues, Happy Days) for an afternoon cocktail party at the Upper West Side's famed bar and restaurant, Prohibition, from noon to 3 pm. Additional special guests will be announced in the coming days.

A once in a lifetime event will take place on January 14th, 2013 at 7:00 pm when original Broadway cast members and creators from the landmark musicals GREASE, NINE and GRAND HOTEL reunite to help one of their own in KATHI MOSS' RAMA-LAMA-DING DONG REUNION! The Actor's Fund Benefit will be at The Alice Griffin Jewel Box Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street.

Original Broadway cast members and creators from the landmark musicals GREASE, NINE and GRAND HOTEL will reunite on January 14th for "KATHI MOSS' RAMA-LAMA-DING DONG REUNION!" - a one-night-only benefit for The Actors Fund.

ITHT has announced the triumphant return of the incredibly gifted actress and singer, Carole Demas in a concert created to benefit Irvington Town Hall Theater. Star of Broadway, television, cabaret, concerts and more, Ms. Demas, best known as the originator of 'Sandy' in Broadway's Grease, was Luisa in NYC's The Fantasticks, introduced the title role in Stephen Schwartz's The Baker's Wife and starred in TV's iconic Magic Garden, PBS's Great Performances and other shows.

ITHT is has announced the triumphant return of the incredibly gifted actress and singer, Carole Demas in a concert created to benefit Irvington Town Hall Theater. Star of Broadway, television, cabaret, concerts and more, Ms. Demas, best known as the originator of 'Sandy' in Broadway's Grease, was Luisa in NYC's The Fantasticks, introduced the title role in Stephen Schwartz's The Baker's Wife and starred in TV's iconic Magic Garden, PBS's Great Performances and other shows.

BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the opening night fun on Monday, September 17th - check it out!

Naked Boys Singing!, the outrageous musical comedy that ran off Broadway for thirteen years before closing five weeks ago, is back - bigger and better than ever! New staging, new boys, same costumes. Based on the successful long-running Provincetown production, from Drama Desk nominee Tom D'Angora (NEWSical The Musical) and Michael D'Angora, the show is an hour of non-stop comedy, nudity, dancing, and as the title says, singing! Naked Boys Singing! opened on April 5th at Theatre Row's Kirk Theatre. Check out the photos of the opening night arrivals below!

The Night of a Thousand Gowns celebrating the LGBT community - the colorful cross-dressing segment of that community -took place on Saturday, March 31 in New York City. In its twenty-six year history, the Court has donated over a million dollars to worthy LGBT, HIV/AIDS and youth enrichment related causes. This year the Night of a Thousand Gowns raised important funds to benefit PFLAG NYC and New Alternatives. BWW was there to cover this event. Check out the red carpet photos below!

The 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual auction of handmade, one-of-a-kind, theatrically costumed teddy bears, raised a record-setting $198,300 on Sunday, benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Broadway lovers and teddy bear collectors came together yesterday, March 18 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42nd Street) for one last time to bid on - and bid adieu to - museum-quality bears representing legendary theatrical characters and autographed by the stars who made those characters famous. The cumulative fundraising total for the 15 editions of THE BROADWAY BEARS auctions is a remarkable $2,048,427. The previous fund-raising record was $170,000 set in 2002.