Jon Peterson News

Art-In-Relation (A.I.R.), Children's Theater of Long Beach (CTLB), and The Scottish Rite Cathedral announce a wonderful partnering of resources and talent for a 2017 holiday musical production of 'The Christmas Carol.' Plays Dec. 15, 16, 21, 22, 23 at 8 p.m. and Dec. 17 at 2 p.m. at the Ernest Borgnine Theatre, 855 Elm Avenue, Long Beach, CA.

ASCAP Award-winning playwright/producer Chip Deffaa's latest album, 'Irving Berlin: Ragtime Rarities,' is out now. The CD, featuring an all-star New York cast performing two dozen rare--and, in many cases, never-before-recorded--ragtime numbers, is the 24th CD that Deffaa has produced and the tenth dealing with master songwriter Irving Berlin.

ANNIE runs at the John W. Engeman Theatre December 31, and the critics are weighing in!

Tuesday, November 21st, will be 'Eddie Cantor Day' at the historic 13th Street Repertory Theater (50 W. 13th St., NYC), where Chip Deffaa's show 'Irving Berlin: In Person' is now playing. For 50 years, entertainer Eddie Cantor and songwriter Irving Berlin were friends. Berlin provided Cantor with some of his biggest hits, from 'Mandy' to 'You'd Be Surprised.' Cantor was singing Berlin songs (such as 'Araby') in vaudeville even before he rose to stardom in the Ziegfeld Follies (for which Berlin was a major songwriter). And Cantor continued to sing Berlin songs in films, on radio, and on TV. In 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' Jon Peterson (portraying Berlin) speaks of Berlin and sings/dances 'Mandy.'

The holiday offering from the exquisite John W. Engeman Theatre of Northport, Long Island, is an excellent production of the classic Tony winning musical Annie. Marking the half-way point of the Engeman's dazzling 11th season, this production is superbly directed by Antoinette DiPietropolo who also serves as Choreographer. Now I know you're probably thinking: Another production of Annie? Well, when you have a cast as remarkable as this, it definitely warrants another visit.

The stars came out for Nassau BOCES Long Island High School for the Arts (LIHSA) at the school's third Broadway Supports LIHSA fundraising event. The gala production featured Broadway stars who donated their time for a spectacular one-night only event to help raise money toward and awareness of LIHSA. The much-anticipated annual fundraiser for Long Island's only public high school for the visual and performing arts (LIHSA) has become a premier event for the greater theater community.

ASCAP Award-winning playwright Chip Deffaa will lead audience talk-backs after performances of his new show, 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' at the 13th Street Repertory Theater.

The John W. Engeman Theater presents ANNIE, running now through Sunday, December 31, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Performances begin November 13th for 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' written and directed by ACAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa. Jon Peterson--fresh from starring in the national tour of 'Cabaret'--stars in this new solo show at New York's historic 13th Street Repertory Theater. Richard Danley is music director.

Leapin' Lizards! The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals. The company celebrated opening last night, and BroadwayWorld was on hand to capture the event. Check out the photos below!

Leapin' Lizards! The irrepressible comic strip heroine takes center stage in one of the world's best-loved musicals. BroadwayWorld attended opening night of the stage classic and captured the company's curtain call bows.

The John W. Engeman Theater announces the cast and creative team for ANNIE.

ASCAP Award-winning playwright/producer Chip Deffaa's latest album, 'Irving Berlin: Ragtime Rarities,' will be released on November 20th.

Fresh from starring in the national tour of 'Cabaret,' Jon Peterson will star in a new solo show, 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' written and directed by ASCAP Award-winner Chip Deffaa. Performances will begin November 13th at the venerable 13th Street Repertory Theater.

The John W. Engeman Theater announces the cast and creative team for ANNIE.

Come see Broadway stars MiG Ayesa (Rock of Ages; Burn the Floor); Steven HeaveN Cantor (In Transit); Buddy Casimano (Miss Saigon); Tony Award nominee and Drama Desk Award winner Robert Cuccioli (Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark; Les Miserables; Jekyll and Hyde); Joshua Dela Cruz (Aladdin); Lana Gordon (Chicago; The Lion King; Jesus Christ Superstar); Taylor Iman Jones (Groundhog Day); Stanley Wayne Mathis (Nice Work If You Can Get It; The Book of Mormon; Wonderful Town; Kiss Me Kate; You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown; The Lion King; Jelly's Last Jam; Oh. Kay!) Jon Peterson (Cabaret); Wayne Pretlow (The Civil War); Anthony Rosenthal (Falsettos); Evan Ruggiero (Bastard Jones); Ayla Schwartz (Frozen) and Sarah Jane Shanks (Cats; Bright Star;Promises, Promises; Shrek the Musical; The Apple Tree; Wonderful Town); as well as musical director/accompanist Eugene Gwozdz at Broadway Supports LIHSA.

Fresh from starring in the national tour of 'Cabaret,' Jon Peterson will star in a staged reading of ASCAP Award-winning writer Chip Deffaa's new show 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' 7 pm., Sunday, September 24th.

ASCAP Award-winning writer/producer Chip Deffaa's new CD, 'Irving Berlin Rediscovered' - being released today - features such Broadway notables as Stephen Bogardus ('Bright Star'), Giuseppe Bausilio ('Hello, Dolly!'), and Jon Peterson ('Cabaret'), plus such nightclub and cabaret stars as Seth Sikes and Natalie Douglas.

ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa is releasing a second cast album of his show 'Mad About the Boy' today. The new album - which follows on the heels of the cast album of his recently released 13th Street Theater production - mixes performances by stars of Deffaa's original festival production, plus some very special surprise guests.

The current national tour, based on the recent Broadway revival at Roundabout Theatre Company's Studio 54 and taking up residence at the Kennedy Center through August 6, does just that - explore and provide a unique take. While there's never been anything particularly cheery about the musical, this version wonderfully embraces its darkness and cold undertones more so than a few others I have seen.