Jim Brochu News

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, acclaimed performer Theodore Bikel passed away on July 21, 2015 at age 91. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in his memory on Friday, July 24, 2015 at exactly 7:45pm for one minute.

RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL just opened Off-Broadway last night, July 13th at St. Luke's Theatre. Book and lyrics for RUTHLESS! are by Joel Paley with music by Marvin Laird.  When THE BAD SEED meets GYPSY it's fun for the whole dysfunctional family! Tina Denmark is a pretty, charming and diabolical eight-year-old who 'was born to entertain.' With the encouragement of slick and overbearing potential agent Sylvia St. Croix, Tina will do anything to play the lead in her school play. The question is, where does such remarkable talent and unstoppable ambition come from? The answer is shocking in this award-winning Stage Mother of all musicals. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the opening night theatre arrivals below!

For diehard cabaret fans and lovers of live music, there's nothing like experiencing a classic show once again or seeing an award winning 'blast from the past' for the first time. That's how cabaret show producer and publicist Stephen Hanks felt and so through his new company, Cabaret Life Productions, he's launching a new monthly series at New York's Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) titled New York Cabaret's Greatest Hits. Hanks wanted the cream of the New York cabaret crop to open the series and tapped veteran cabaret star Mark Nadler, who the New York Times critic Stephen Holden has called 'Mr. Show Business' and 'an immensely talented latter-day Al Jolson.' On August 26 (7-8:30 pm), Nadler will perform his critically acclaimed show Tschaikowsky (And Other Russians), which won a 2003 Bistro Award for 'Raising Standards of Cabaret Performance,' and received MAC and Nightlife Award Nominations for 'Outstanding Performance in a Major Engagement.'

It's an undeniable, outstanding, and extraordinary musical milestone, to be sure: 2015 marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Mabel Mercer Foundation! Not only has the organization survived the ongoing and vastly fluctuating public tastes in music, lyrics, and performers, it has proliferated and burgeoned in its three decades of commitment to the classic, "Great Popular Songbook" -- both past and present.

Cy Coleman once said, 'Michele Lee is a surefire powerhouse performer. She embraces a lyric like nobody can.' Following her acclaimed 54 Below debut in 2014, this all-new at 54 Below show finds the stunning Michele Lee making a rare appearance in New York for three nights only, continuing tonight and tomorrow. Ms. Lee's new concert spotlights the music of the legendary Cy Coleman, including songs like 'Nobody Does it Like Me' and 'It's Not Where You Start' from her Tony-nominated performance in the musical Seesaw, along with other magnificent work and some surprises from Coleman's songbook.

Hill Country Community Theatre is pleased to announce its 2015-16 season. Featuring five productions, the season includes the comedy Cookin' with Gus, a holiday production of Dashing Through The Snow, the suspense thriller Dial "M" For Murder, the comedy A Little Off the Top, and the classic musical Annie Get Your Gun. This marks HCCT's 30th anniversary as a destination for exhilarating performances and entertaining theatrical experiences.

Songwriter Larry Kerchner had a great audience of fans for Hidden Treasures IV (produced by Sandi Durell) at Birdland on May 31st hosted by Klea Blackhurst, with a cast of the best of Broadway and Cabaret, including Jim Brochu, Eric Michael Gillett, Carole J. Bufford, Stacy Sullivan, Marissa Mulder, Shana Farr, Mark Nadler. Scroll down for photos!

Stars of New York's Cabaret and theatre worlds will perform the songs of renowned composer/arranger Larry Kerchner in the fourth edition of 'Hidden Treasures: Songs of Larry Kerchner.'

Al Hirschfeld immortalized celebrities, politicians, Broadway productions, films, television shows and beyond with his iconic linear drawings for nine decades, establishing himself as one of the most important contemporary portrait artists. Over a decade since the legendary artist drew his final line drawing, he continues to inspire.  This spring, Hirschfeld will be celebrated with the publication of a new book and a major exhibition at the New-York Historical Society.  Just last night the New-York Historical Society celebrated the launch of The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld. the first major retrospective of Hirschfeld. Below, check out photos from insode the special cocktail party!

The latest rendering, "Hidden Treasures IV," debuts at Birdland on SUNDAY, MAY 31st, 6 p.m. featuring the best of the best of Broadway and Cabaret performers, including Klea Blackhurst (host), Mark Nadler, Alexis Cole, Jim Brochu, Carol J. Bufford, Natalie Douglas, Eric Michael Gillett, Marissa Mulder, Stacy Sullivan, Shana Farr, Karen Oberlin and many more. Tex Arnold musical directs.

New York Cabaret Community Honors Actor/Director/Photographer RUSS WEATHERFORD With All-Star Show at Metropolitan Room.

Help Is On The Way Today will hold its annual fundraising Gala on Sunday, May 17th, at Metropolitan Room.  

Help Is On The Way Today will hold its annual fundraising Gala on Sunday, May 17th, at Metropolitan Room.  Help Is On The Way Today is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2005 by MAC AWARD winning producer, Joseph Macchia, to assist children and youth living with HIV and AIDS. The full lineup of incredible talent has been confirmed. Solo performers include:

Bernie Furshpan, operating partner of the Metropolitan Room served up Champagne at a reception to celebrate Julie Budd's Residency at the Cabaret. Lots of show biz friends turned out to congratulate Julie on her "new home".  Julie's first show is on May 14th and Richard Skipper her publicist announced the the opening performance is almost sold out.

Cabaret Cares/Help Is On The Way Today will hold its annual fundraising Gala on Sunday, May 17th, at Metropolitan Room in the fashionable Flatiron District at 34 West 22nd Street (between 5th and 6th Avenues). Help Is On The Way Today is a 501c3 non-profit organization founded in 2005 by MAC AWARD winning producer, Joseph Macchia, to assist children and youth living with HIV and AIDS.

Songwriter, performer, producer, and now activist, Bobby Horowitz, has put yet another spin on the series/variety show, with her refreshing take on the subject of 'ageism' in America. Called It's Just a Number (starting with six dates running from April to October at The Metropolitan Room), Horowitz's show theme champions the notion that age truly is just a number. Featuring a different group of cabaret's best performers for each show, the series honors a person who after the age of 50 either began a new career, resumed a career, is attempting to attain knowledge in a new field, or established a new organization with the purpose of helping people. This past Saturday afternoon, Alice Fisher, who presently serves as Director of Community Outreach in the Office of NYS Senator, Liz Krueger, was the first honoree.

Sam Underwood and Nana Visitor will Co-Host a special one-night only event, Living Room Reunion, a benefit evening to launch and support the new charitable filmmaking company, The Production Farm, on Monday evening, April 27, 2015 at Saint Peter's Church (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Sponsored by Barrier Brewing Co., ticket information is available via email at info@theproductionfarm.org

One of New York cabaret's most beloved personalities, songwriter and performer Bobbie Horowitz is producing a new variety show series at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) dedicated to the proposition that age truly is just a number. Each show in the series, It's Just a Number!, will feature some of cabaret's best performers and 'Honor a person who after age 50 either began a new career, resumed a career, is attempting to attain knowledge in a new field, or established a new organization to help people.' The series (six shows between April and October to start) launches on April 11 at 1 pm and will honor long-time social justice advocate Alice Fisher, creator of 'The Radical Age Movement,' a grassroots nationwide effort that challenges traditional notions of aging and introduces new ideas for building co-creative and interdependent communities.

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, presented an unforgettable one-night only benefit Monday night, The 100 Musicals in Mufti Concert Celebration. The evening honored the acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series and its landmark 100th production. All proceeds will benefit The York Theatre Company and the Musicals in Mufti Series.

One of New York cabaret's most beloved personalities, songwriter and performer Bobbie Horowitz is producing a new variety show series at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) dedicated to the proposition that age truly is just a number. Each show in the series, It's Just a Number!, will feature some of cabaret's best performers and 'Honor a person who after age 50 either began a new career, resumed a career, is attempting to attain knowledge in a new field, or established a new organization to help people.' The series (six shows between April and October to start) launches on April 11 at 1 pm and will honor long-time social justice advocate Alice Fisher, creator of 'The Radical Age Movement,' a grassroots nationwide effort that challenges traditional notions of aging and introduces new ideas for building co-creative and interdependent communities.