John Lee News

Following a twenty year absence from the New York cabaret scene, Jenifer Lewis returns to the Big Apple for seven performances only at 54 Below. From Broadway's Eubie to Hairspray, television's Jackie's Back to Strong Medicine, and film's What's Love Got to Do With It, Beaches, Cars and The Princess and the Frog, Jenifer Lewis, one of Bette Midler's most infamous Harlettes, is a force of nature whose voice is as distinctive as her take no prisoners sense of humor. Earlier today, Lewis and Shaiman met the press, and you can check out a photo preview from the festivities below. Be sure to check back later for full coverage!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) announced today that the first preview of INTO THE WOODS at the Delacorte Theater on Monday, July 23, has been postponed due to weather delays. The first preview will now take place on Tuesday, July 24 at 8:00p.m.

The Blue Note announces its lineup for the Late Night Groove Series, Brunch and Monday nights, tonight, July 20-July 23, featuring the Randy Oxford Band, Dwight & Nicole, Ben Monder Trio and Michelle Carr. See full details below.

Anthony Freud, general director of Lyric Opera of Chicago, announced today the creative team and performance dates for Oklahoma! The classic American musical by Richard Rodgers and Oscar Hammerstein II will receive its Lyric Opera premiere in May 2013, following the company's regular opera season.

Some of Broadway's legendary leading ladies came out for Ben Vereen's opening week at 54 Below. Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera and Bebe Neuwirth were among the stars to catch 'Steppin' Out with Ben Vereen' and visit with the star backstage following the performance. Other notable guests included Rachelle Rak (Catch Me if you Can). Check out photos of Vereen and his guests below!

The Public Theater will begin previews on Monday, July 23 for Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, the second show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte Theater in Central Park. Directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel, INTO THE WOODS will continue for five weeks through Saturday, August 25, with an official press opening on Thursday, August 9.

Tonight, July 15, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, welcomes Andrea McArdle (Annie, Beauty and the Beast), Christine Pedi (Newsical, Forbidden Broadway, Talk Radio) and Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Lysistrata Jones, Hairspray, Triassic Park) as the special guest stars at the venue's weekly Backstage event. Susie Mosher (Hairspray, 'The L Word') is this week's host for Backstage.

This Sunday, July 15, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, welcomes Andrea McArdle (Annie, Beauty and the Beast), Christine Pedi (Newsical, Forbidden Broadway, Talk Radio) and Lindsay Nicole Chambers (Lysistrata Jones, Hairspray, Triassic Park) as the special guest stars at the venue's weekly Backstage event. Susie Mosher (Hairspray, 'The L Word') is this week's host for Backstage.

Variety reports that Bradley Whitford is in early talks to join the cast of Disney's SAVING MR. BANKS. The actor would join previously announced cast members Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson on the film. John Lee Hancock will direct with a script by Kelly Marcel.

54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, hosts some of Broadway's brightest stars tonight, July 9 through July 22. Coming up are Ben Vereen, Bucky Pizzarelli, Maury Yeston, MX Justin Vivian Bond, Joe Iconis, Jamie Deroy, Rebecca Luker, Annie Golden, Mara Davi and more.

For two performances only tonight, July 6 and tomorrow night, July 7 at 8PM, 54 Below will present Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker in an evening of Jerome Kern music. 'Rebecca Luker Sing Jerome Kern' is the perfect marriage of one Broadway's most glorious voices with one of Broadway's greatest composers. Luker covers 30 years of songs including 'Can't Help Lovin' That Man,' 'The Folks Who Live on the Hill,' 'The Song is You,' 'BIll' and many others.

The Blue Note announces its lineup for the Late Night Groove Series, Brunch and Monday nights, July 20-23, featuring the Randy Oxford Band, Dwight & Nicole, Ben Monder Trio and Michelle Carr. See full details below.

Next week, for two performances only on July 6 and 7 at 8PM, 54 Below will present Tony Award nominee Rebecca Luker in an evening of Jerome Kern music.

Five-time Grammy award winning legend and Blues Hall of Fame Inductee Robert Cray will release a brand new studio album "Nothin But Love" on Monday August 27th, his UK tour kicks off today, June 26th with a date at the Shepherds Bush Empire (as part of London Blues Fest).

'New Mondays' at 54 BELOW continues tonight, Monday, June 25 at 7 p.m. with brand new tunes from Amanda Green (High Fidelity, Bring It On), Jeff Blumenkrantz (Urban Cowboy), Laurence O'Keefe (Bat Boy, Legally Blonde), and the vocal talents of Tom Compton, Michelle Duffy, Rachel Flynn, Ann Harada, Julia Murney, Kevin Pariseau, Alysha Umphress and Michael Winther.

Manhattan Theatre Club has created a special short film in celebration of Lynne Meadow's 40th anniversary as the visionary and artistic leader of the organization. The film premiered on Monday, June 18 during a special tribute event honoring Meadow at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre - now view the video below!

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) announced complete casting today for Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved musical INTO THE WOODS, directed by Timothy Sheader with co-direction by Liam Steel. Ellen Harvey (Cinderella's Stepmother); Bethany Moore (Stepsister); Jennifer Rias (Stepsister); Sarah Stiles (Little Red Ridinghood); and Kristine Zbornik (Jack's Mother) complete the cast with Chip Zien, who originated the role of the Baker in the 1987 Broadway production, playing Mysterious Man.

Backwoods 1800s America proves an unlikely, but ideal setting for Shakespeare's As You Like It in director Daniel Sullivan's enormously entertaining Delacorte production that mixes dexterous wordplay with rowdy comedy.

According to the 54 BELOW website, Patti LuPone, who had previously extended her run at the nightclub to take over for Andrea Martin, has now canceled the rest of the engagement due to illness.

The Public Theater's AS YOU LIKE IT, the first show of The Public's 50th Anniversary season at the Delacorte, officially opened last night, June 21 and continues through Saturday, June 30.