John West News

San Diego Musical Theatre announces the final production of their 2014 season, IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, December 11-21, 2014 (press opening on Friday, December 12) at the North Park Theatre.

There was a happening on West 44th Street! For a week, Chita Rivera brought her joyful, razzle-dazzling nightclub act to Birdland, which she calls her favorite room in the city. “These walls are filled with the best music! Playing Birdland just makes me feel cool,” she proclaimed. As if her iconic Broadway career wasn't cool enough, “Chita's Back” was a concert for the history books – with the ever-youthful legend in fine fettle; singing, dancing and telling some of the best insider stories any theater-lover could hope for. Material from Bye Bye Birdie, Chicago, Kiss of the Spider Woman, West Side Story and The Visitwere included, as well as a James Taylor duet with daughter, Lisa Mordente. The swinging was band led by guitarist/percussionist Michael Croiter, with Michael Patrick Walker on piano, Jim Donica on bass, and Dan Willis on saxophone.

On Monday, March 3, singer/pianist Billy Stritch debuted the first of two Birdland concerts called "I've Got Your Number - The Jazz of Cy Coleman." The next show will take place at the historic music room this coming Monday, March 10 at 7pm. Scroll down for photos!

Winners of the 2014 Joey Awards were announced last weekend at a formal evening ceremony at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Organized and overseen by the Joe Allen Academy of Arts & Bitching (JAAAB), 'The Joeys' are a set of awards given annually for excellence in food service and patronage at New York's City's famous Times Square celebrity hot-spots: Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale.

Penny Dreadful Theatre will present a brand new show about love, death and science; the world premiere and national tour of HOW TO BE IMMORTAL by Mira Dovreni. Directed by Kirsty Housley and featuring Clare Perkins, Anna-Helena McLean and John McKeever, with scientists Gareth Ackland (UCL), Anna Gutierrez-del-Arroyo (UCL), and Duncan Wilson (Manchester), the National Tour will run 28 January 2014 to ­ 23 March 2014. Press Night 29 January at 7.45pm, The Albany, Deptford, London.

The Los Angeles Master Chorale (LAMC) heralds Christmas with two matinee performances of its delightful seasonal concert, "Festival of Carols," Saturday, December 7, 2013, 2 pm, and Saturday, December 14, 2013, 2 pm, at Disney Hall. Silent Night, Hark the Herald Angels Sing, White Christmas, Deck the Hall and Santa Claus is Coming to Town are among the cherished holiday carols and traditional favorites setting a joyous mood and sung to glorious perfection by 115 members of the Chorale under Music Director Grant Gershon's baton. Also featured are the world premieres of arrangements by LAMC Swan Family Composer In Residence Shawn Kirchner - the French carol Pat-a-Pan, which he has intricately layered for women's voices and describes as "rhythmic and vibrant," and the Czech Rocking Carol, a lullaby setting for men's voices he calls "tender and soothing." Pianist Lisa Edwards and organist John West, who performs on Disney Hall's iconic pipe organ, add a delightful sonic flourish to the concert.

Jeff Glazier, a composer based in Boston Massachusetts, announces the global release of his debut album Chrysalis on October 1st, 2013.

ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla., Aug. 9, 2013 - Bayfront Westcott House B&B (BWH) invites freelance travel writers nationwide to participate in this exciting collaborative effort. One travel writer per month will be invited for a 2-night complimentary midweek stay, based on availability, in exchange for an agreed-upon writing assignment birthed from fresh content but established keyword phrases. Writers will be selected based on their portfolio, affiliations, and ability to broadcast to a specific audience as predetermined by BWH.

New York's Broadway musical theatre training institute - The Open Jar Institute - is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary of providing high school and college students the opportunity to work one-on-one with Broadway's best professionals during a special master class with Susan Stroman today, August 2nd at The Pearl Theatre (555. W. 42nd Street) at 2:30pm.

New York's Broadway musical theatre training institute - The Open Jar Institute - is celebrating it's 10th Anniversary of providing high school and college students the opportunity to work one-on-one with Broadway's best professionals during a special master class with Susan Stroman on August 2nd at The Pearl Theatre (555. W. 42nd Street) at 2:30pm.

The raucous, irreverent, and unfiltered new Off-Broadway musical comedy The Last Smoker in America, with book and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Drama Desk Nominee Peter Melnick (Adrift in Macao), with direction by Tony Award winning producer and director Andy Sandberg (Hair; Gore Vidal's The Best Man), choreography by Tony Award nominee AC Ciulla (Footloose) and music supervision, arrangements and orchestrations by Fred Lassen (The Gershwin's Porgy & Bess), just opened last night at The Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street). Opening Night is Thursday, August 2, 2012. BroadwayWorld was there for the big opening, and we bring you photos from the after party below!

After a successful year-long run in Hollywood, Calif., Worst Ever Productions presents its first installment of the cult-hit evening of comedy WORST AUDITION EVER in New York City at Joe's Pub - produced by Christine Lakin, Alec Ledd, Daniel A. Miles, and Corri English. The ticket proceeds from this performance of WORST AUDITON EVER will be donated to The Actors Fund. Artists participating include Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz, Little Mermaid), Kevin Duda (The Book of Mormon, Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Jena Friedman (writer for Late Night With David Letterman), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked, For the Record: Baz Luhrman), John West (The Drowsy Chaperone, Newsical the Musical) and Cheryl Stern (La Cage Aux Folles, Candide).

After a successful year-long run in Hollywood, Calif., Worst Ever Productions presents its first installment of the cult-hit evening of comedy WORST AUDITION EVER in New York City at Joe's Pub - produced by Christine Lakin, Alec Ledd, Daniel A. Miles, and Corri English. The ticket proceeds from this performance of WORST AUDITON EVER will be donated to The Actors Fund. Below, check out highlights from the show before it plays New York City!

After a successful year-long run in Hollywood, Calif., Worst Ever Productions presents its first installment of the cult-hit evening of comedy WORST AUDITION EVER in New York City at Joe's Pub - produced by Christine Lakin, Alec Ledd, Daniel A. Miles, and Corri English. The ticket proceeds from this performance of WORST AUDITON EVER will be donated to The Actors Fund. Artists participating include Tyler Maynard (Altar Boyz, Little Mermaid), Kevin Duda (The Book of Mormon, Les Liaisons Dangereuses), Jena Friedman (writer for Late Night With David Letterman), Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked, For the Record: Baz Luhrman), John West (The Drowsy Chaperone, Newsical the Musical) and Cheryl Stern (La Cage Aux Folles, Candide).

Yoshi's Jazz Club on Fillmore Street announced upcoming performances at the San Francisco venue.

Yoshi's Jazz Club on Fillmore Street announced upcoming performances at the San Francisco venue.

Yoshi's Jazz Club on Fillmore Street announced upcoming performances at the San Francisco venue.

Yoshi's Jazz Club on Fillmore Street announced upcoming performances at the San Francisco venue.

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!