Joe Benincasa News

JACKIE FIVE-OH!, the all-new and recently extended show, starring 'Broadway's funniest broad', JACKIE HOFMANN, will offer a one-night-only benefit performance for The Actors Fund on MONDAY, MAY 2ND, 2011 at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). All proceeds from this special performance will benefit the programs and services of The Actors Fund.

JACKIE FIVE-OH!, the all-new and recently extended show, starring 'Broadway's funniest broad', JACKIE HOFMANN, will offer a one-night-only benefit performance for The Actors Fund on MONDAY, MAY 2ND, 2011 at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). All proceeds from this special performance will benefit the programs and services of The Actors Fund.

Following the success of the 2002 Actors Fund Benefit in which stars such as Idina Menzel, Sutton Foster, Ricki Lake and more played the iconic lead role in FUNNY GIRL, the Actors Fund presents a Los Angeles edition on March 14th.

'Nothing Like a Dame: A Party for Comden and Green' the annual all-star concert benefiting the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative took place on Monday, November 1, 2010 7:30 p.m. at The Laura Pels Theater in midtown Manhattan 111 W. 46th St. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the after party and brings you photo coverage below.

Bebe Neuwrith hosted the launch party for 'MORTICIA'S NAILS,' a brand-new limited edition set of three Morticia Addams-inspired nail polishes, created by Ms. Neuwirth and Essie Cosmetics yesterday, July 15. 100% of the profits from the sale of 'MORTICIA'S NAILS' will directly benefit The Actors Fund, the national nonprofit human services organization dedicated to helping all professionals in film, theater, television, music, opera and dance through programs that address their unique and essential needs. The event took place at the all-new Eventi Hotel. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the product launch.

As the theatrical community of NY gathered on the Great White Way to celebrate their own for the 2010 TONY AWARDS, the Los Angeles thespian society congregated 3000 miles away to cheer their colleagues via a LIVE feed, courtesy of Direct TV, as THE ACTORS FUND and host Tommy Tune honored TONY Award-winner Brian Stokes Mitchell at their 14th Annual Tony Awards Party with the Julie Harris Award. Former High School chum and dance partner Annette Bening presented the award in recognition of not only 'Stokes' theatrical accomplishments, but also his leadership as Chairman of the Board of The Actors Fund. The gala, which included a memorable performance of 'You Made Me Love You' by Lorna Luft dedicated to the evening's honoree, was produced and written by Marc Cherry and David Rambo.

On Tuesday, November 11, 2009, Stewart F. Lane and Bonnie Comley opened their home to a group of prominent New York philanthropists for a cocktail party in support of The Actors Fund Special Campaign Responding to Essential and Evolving Needs.

The production played 3 nights - July 31, August 1 and August 2 to cheering crowds, but the crazy part is - the final dress is done at 10am, in broad daylight and is open to the public, as the venue is a county-owned facility. People showed up in droves, for the run-through and cheered on the actors, the Hollywood Bowl orchestra and conductor Kevin Stites, who you will see is wearing a black, casual shirt for the rehearsal. The show's director, Richard Jay-Alexander, made a brief speech before the run, welcoming everybody, and in this exclusive footage, I was also able to catch him, in his dressing room, before the Opening Night performance.

STEVEN SCHWARTZ is, of course, one of the most important composers and lyricists for musical theatre and musical films working today, with an amazing career of stellar achievements. He has been nominated for six Academy Awards and the winner of three. His credits include the animated features Pocahontas and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, as well as last year's smash Enchanted and DreamWorks' first animated feature, The Prince of Egypt. Alongside his film work, Schwartz' incredibly successful stage productions include Godspell, Pippin, The Magic Show and the worldwide phenomenon WICKED.

The American Theatre Wing has announced the newest members of the Nominating Committee for the 63rd Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards.

The League of Off-Broadway Theatres and Producers hosted a Season Kickoff Party at Planet Hollywood on September 15, 2008. Actors, producers, playwrights, managers, theatre owners, advertising and marketing professionals and other members of the Off-Broadway community raised a glass to the upcoming season.

Well, here it is folks ?the LES MIZ finale - footage from the Opening Night performance at The Hollywood Bowl. From the overwhelming e-mail response we've received re: the LES MIZ pieces on BWW, we know it was clearly worth the trip to the West Coast to bring you comprehensive coverage.

Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing's 62nd Annual Antoinette Perry 'Tony' Awards were announced today by Tony Award Winners Sara Ramirez and David Hyde Pierce at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM. The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 23 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee. The 2008 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

'Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway', a new documentary film by East of Doheny with Albert Maysles, had its premiere Los Angeles screening on Tuesday, April 22nd.

Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway, a new documentary film by East of Doheny with Albert Maysles, premiered on Monday March 3 in New York, hosted by East of Doheny and The Actors Fund at The Paley Center for Media

On Wednesday, February 20, 2008, The Friars Club hosted a celebrity luncheon in honor of Friar Robert Klein.

Amas Musical Theatre will celebrate its 39th year with a Gala evening on Monday, March 31 featuring a special 'Blast from the Past' concert performance of Mama, I Want to Sing, a star-studded concert of the gospel, pop, and rhythm and blues hit musical that began at Amas in the early nineteen eighties. The Amas Gala will also honor award winning actress Phylicia Rashad and PricewaterhouseCoopers with 'The Rosie Award', named for Amas Founder Rosetta LeNoire.

I sat with Brian Stokes Mitchell on the lobby steps of Carnegie Hall, where one week from tonight, he will make his solo debut on the world's most famous stage with a 42-piece orchestra. Here's what he had to say...

The Tony Awards Administration Committee announced today the Nominating Committee for the 2007-2008 Broadway season

Kevin Spacey, Vanessa Redgrave, Jennifer Ehle, Xanthe Elbrick, Swoosie Kurtz, Jan Maxwell, Martha Plimpton and Julie White will join the casts of dozens of Broadway show for the annual concert 'Stars in the Alley