John Kander News

The National Theatre announces its 2014-15 season, which includes four Washington, D.C., premieres. The coming season's Broadway at the National features Tony® Award-winners Pippin and Newsies, both of which will play multiple-week engagements, as well asDirty Dancing - The Classic Story On Stage, which begins its North American tour in the nation's capital.

Williamstown Theatre Festival has announced exciting casting for their Main Stage productions, along with a several special events for their 2014 Summer Season. On the Main Stage: Festival veterans including Nate Corddry, Holley Fain, Christopher Fitzgerald and Nancy Opel join the cast of June Moon, directed by Jessica Stone (July 2- 13); Justin Long returns to Williamstown, joining Renee Fleming in the World Premiere of Living on Love(July 16 - 26), and theater veterans Judy Kuhn, Howard McGillin, festival favorite Roger Rees, and more join Chita Rivera in the John Doyle-directed production of The Visit, with choreography by Graciela Daniele (July 31 - August 17).

Talent America's 2001 "Performer of the Year" Brian De Lorenzo presents a tribute to two of the greatest singers of the American Songbook, Frank Sinatra & Tony Bennett in "Sinatra, Tony & Me", Sunday, April 27 and Sunday May 4 at 12 noon, at The Metropolitan Room, 24 W. 22nd Street, New York. Taking the stage with the Bill Zeffiro Trio, De Lorenzo appears in this encore performance following his appearance at Boston's top jazz venue, Scullers Jazz Club.

Despite an extensive and impressive career, Billy Porter recently became a household name when he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. The incandescent star released a solo album of Broadway standards, titled BILLY'S BACK ON BROADWAY. He applies a big band swing, jazz, and contemporary R&B soundscape to these hit songs, giving listeners a unique perspective on these songs.

The Olivier Awards 2014 are presented this evening - keep an eye on this page, updating live, for the results. Established in 1976, the Laurence Olivier Awards celebrate the world-class status of London's theatre and are Britain's most prestigious stage honours.

Alan Cumming and the cast of Broadway's CABARET heated up the Tonight Show stage with their performance of the Kander and Ebb classic, ' 'Willkommen' on last night's Jimmy Fallon.

Alan Cumming and the Kit Kat band from Broadway's current Cabaret revival will perform 'Willkommen' on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon tonight, April 10!

Piedmont Players Theatre will present the final 4 performances of Chicago April 9-12 at 7:30m at the Meroney Theatre. Tickets are $18 for adults and $15 for seniors and students. Wednesday is value night, in which all tickets are only $10. Tickets can be purchased by calling 704-633-5471 or online at piedmontplayers.com.

Al Tapper, composer of the Off Broadway shows Sessions, An Evening at the Carlyle and National Pastime, has won a highly prestigious Peabody Award for his documentary Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy. Tapper produced the 90 minute show for WNET. The Peabody Award celebrates excellence in broadcasting. Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy is the first documentary film to explore the phenomenal relationship that Broadway has had with Jewish Americans. From George Gershwin to Irving Berlin to Kander and Ebb to Stephen Sondheim, the Broadway musical has been dominated by Jewish writers and composers.

Roundabout Theatre Company's revival of Cabaret by Joe Masteroff, John Kander and Fred Ebb, featuring three-time Academy Award nominee Michelle Williams for the first time on Broadway as Sally Bowles, and Alan Cumming, reprising his Tony Award-winning role as the Emcee, is currently in previews on Broadway. CABARET will play a 24-week limited engagement, with an official opening on April 24, 2014 at the newly transformed Kit Kat Klub at Studio 54. Below, BWW brings you a first look at Cumming, Williams, and the entire Kit Kat company on stage and in action!

Piedmont Players Theatre along with Ed Brown & Fibrant present CHICAGO, with Book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse, Music by John Kander Lyrics by Fred Ebb, Based on the play by Maurine Dallas Watkins. The show runs today, April 3-5 and 9-12 at 7:30pm and April 6 at 2:30pm.

The music of singer/composer Alex Maxwell comes to NYC's premier cabaret venue Stage 72 at the Triad, on April 4th @ 7PM in his original show 'Alex Maxwell Plays With Himself, . . . Tonight'. The one-man show features Maxwell accompanying himself in an evening that presents a full set of original solo tracks by the Jersey artist who has recently migrated to the city. Stripped down, raw, and unfiltered his songs are laced with wit and invoke an honest look at behaviors and the human condition. Maxwell has been inspired by a plethora of artists from Lennon to Neil Young to Dylan and Cobain and has created a progressive twist on the sound of these timeless classics in the shape of Country Grunge Folk, a hybrid genre evolving all over the Tri-State area.

Alan Cumming and the Kit Kat band from Broadway's current Cabaret revival will perform 'Willkommen' on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on April 10!

Virginia's Tony-Award winning Signature Theatre announces the cast for The Threepenny Opera, Bertolt Brecht and Kurt Weill's cutting and enduring critique of capitalism and corruption. Directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner (Tender Napalm, Dreamgirls, Really Really), the production stars Mitchell Jarvis (Broadway's Rock of Ages) as the charismatic Macheath, known to popular culture as Mack the Knife.

TOO MUCH SUN - the newest play by Nicky Silver - will be given its world-premiere production this spring at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) starring the Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin, joined by the newly-announced cast: Ken Barnett, Richard Bekins, Matt Dellapina, Matt Dickson and Jennifer Westfeldt, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, The Vineyard's Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director. Mark Brokaw directs the production, scheduled to begin previews May 1 prior to an official opening night on May 18.

Urban Stages Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and producer Peter Napolitano, announced the final week of the World Premiere engagement of Character Man. Jim Brochu's new musical memoir at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). This limited run will continue through April 6th only. Robert Bartley directs, with musical direction by Carl Haan. The Final Post-Show Talk will take place on Wednesday, April 2nd with Special Guest Karen Mason (Mamma Mia, Sunset Boulevard, Hairspray), moderated by Peter Filichia.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Penny Fuller and Anita Gillette return to the stage at 54 Below with SIN TWISTERS, a new evening of story and song. BroadwayWorld brings you phOtos from the concert below!

Alan Cumming has just tweeted that he is feeling better and will be returning to the stage for tonight's preview performance of Cabaret. He tweeted, 'Thanks to my nursemaid, miss Honey, I'm getting back on the @Cabaret_Musical horse tonight. Flu is a total bitch btw.' Check below to see the picture he tweeted with his message.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that understudy Leeds Hill is on this afternoon as the Emcee in Cabaret, filling in for a sick Alan Cumming, who is hoping to return to the show tonight.