Karen Akers News

Actress & nightclub entertainer Lucie Arnaz and Tony Award-winning actor and clown Bill Irwin have been named co-hosts of the 10th Annual Nightlife Awards at Town Hall.

Beginning Thursday, December 1 through Friday, December 30, The RRazz Room will celebrate its first annual 'Season of Giving,' a benefit to raise funds for San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits making a difference in our communities.

Beginning Thursday, December 1 through Friday, December 30, The RRazz Room will celebrate its first annual 'Season of Giving,' a benefit to raise funds for San Francisco Bay Area nonprofits making a difference in our communities.

On Saturday, November 26, Tony Award©-Winning Composer Jason Robert Brown will appear in a masterclass to the students of the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (Ryan Scott Oliver, Artistic Director).

Today, BroadwayWorld is extremely proud to present an extensive conversation with the modern master of the musical theatre himself, Stephen Sondheim, all about the incredibly revealing and thoroughly riveting second volume of his complete collected (and annotated) lyrics (covering 1981-2011) - following last year's superlative FINISHING THE HAT - titled LOOK, I MADE A HAT. With ample insights pertaining to the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, INTO THE WOODS, ROAD SHOW, THE FROGS and many more, Sondheim and I also discuss some of his Hollywood endeavors - the proposed film adaptation of INTO THE WOODS, as well as the never-produced SINGING OUT LOUD and his Oscar-winning work for Warren Beatty's DICK TRACY - and his affection for - and process of adapting (in the case of WEST SIDE STORY, the CYMBELINE setting in THE FROGS and his recent scoring of the Public Theatre's production of KING LEAR starring Kevin Kline) - the works of William Shakespeare. Additionally, we discuss the upcoming Encores! revival of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG starring Lin-Manuel Miranda, the currently-running revival of FOLLIES starring Bernadette Peters (as well as its brand new cast album), the West End transfer of the Michael Ball/Imelda Staunton-led SWEENEY TODD in the UK and much, much more!

Andrea Marcovicci - the acclaimed singer and actress dubbed 'The High Priestess of the American Songbook' by The New York Times - will celebrate her landmark 25th anniversary at the famed Oak Room of the Algonquin Hotel. Her new show 'No Strings' runs from November 15 to December 30, featuring Music Director Shelly Markham on piano and Jered Egan on bass. For the second year in a row, Andrea will offer a special holiday performance on Monday, December 26 at 7:30 PM. The sophisticated entertainer holds the record for the longest continuous run in the Oak Room's history. Check out photos from her show below!

On Saturday, November 26, Tony Award©-Winning Composer Jason Robert Brown will appear in a masterclass to the students of the Pasadena Musical Theatre Program (Ryan Scott Oliver, Artistic Director).

Jason Robert Brown, the Tony Award winning composer, will be an honored guest at the Opening Night of his musical 13, Friday December 9 at ACT. On Thursday night, December 8 at 9:00pm, following the preview performance, Jason will present a 90 minute benefit concert at the Falls Theatre at ACT, 700 Union Street, Seattle WA.

This year's New York Musical Theatre Festival will host the New York premiere of The Big Bank, a timely musical about a bank that loves to foreclose, written by Daniel and Jacob Seligmann, directed by David Glenn Armstrong.

This year's New York Musical Theatre Festival will host the New York premiere of The Big Bank, a timely musical about a bank that loves to foreclose, written by Daniel and Jacob Seligmann, directed by David Glenn Armstrong.

Last night, September 12, FOLLIES opened on Broadway at the Marquis Theatre. Performances began on Sunday, August 7th for James Goldman and Stephen Sondheim's FOLLIES, directed by Eric Schaeffer, with choreography by Warren Carlyle and music direction by James Moore. With a 28-piece orchestra, FOLLIES features a cast of 41 and stars two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters as Sally Durant Plummer, four-time Tony Award nominee Jan Maxwell as Phyllis Rogers Stone, two-time Tony Award nominee Danny Burstein as Buddy Plummer, three-time Emmy Award nominee Ron Raines as Benjamin Stone and Olivier Award winner Elaine Paige as Carlotta Campion. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photo coverage of the opening night arrivals!

This year's New York Musical Theatre Festival will host the New York premiere of The Big Bank, a timely musical about a bank that loves to foreclose, written by Daniel and Jacob Seligmann, directed by David Glenn Armstrong.

Ray Jessel to make Palm Dessert appearance on July 31st with Songs From The Ridiculous To The Romantic By Ray Jessel

Ray Jessel to make Palm Dessert appearance on July 31st with Songs From The Ridiculous To The Romantic By Ray Jessel

The Theatre World Awards presentation were held at Jujamcyn's August Wilson Theatre, 245 West 52nd Street (home of Jersey Boys), in an invitation-only ceremony yesterday, June 7, 2011 from 2:00 to 3:45 p.m. Peter Filichia hosted, Barry Keating directed, Mary K. Botosan and Erin Oestreich were the event's producers. There was also a tribute to John Willis, founder of the Theatre World Awards, who died last summer. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening and brings you photo coverage of the arrivals below!

The Theatre World Awards for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut performances during the 2010-2011 theatrical season were presented by former Theatre World Award winners, including:Tammy Blanchard (Gypsy, 2003), Gabriel Byrne (A Moon for the Misbegotten, 2000), Zoe Caldwell (Slapstick Tragedy, 1966), Billy Crudup (Arcadia, 1995), Blythe Danner (The Miser, 1969), Edie Falco (Side Man, 1998), Tovah Feldshuh (Yentl, 1976), Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, 2007), RoseMary Harris (The Climate of Eden, 1953), and Andrea McArdle (Annie, 1977). There will also be performances by former Theatre World Award winners, including: Karen Akers (Nine, 1982), Ernestine Jackson (Raisin, 1974), and John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys, 2006).

The 2010-11 Theatre World Award winners were: Ellen Barkin, The Normal Heart; Desmin Borges, The Elaborate Entrance of Chad Deity; Halley Feiffer, The House of Blue Leaves; Grace Gummer, Arcadia; Rose Hemingway, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; John Larroquette, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying; Heather Lind, The Merchant of Venice; Patina Miller, Sister Act; Arian Moayed, Bengal Tiger at the Baghdad Zoo; Jim Parsons, The Normal Heart; Zachary Quinto, Angels in America: A Gay Fantasia on National Themes; and Tony Sheldon, Priscilla Queen of the Desert. The first annual Lunt-Fontanne Award for Ensemble Excellence will be presented to the cast of The Motherf**cker With a Hat: Bobby Cannavale, Chris Rock, Elizabeth Rodriguez, Annabella Sciorra, and Yul Vázquez. Also presented at the TWA ceremony was the third annual Dorothy Loudon Award for Excellence presented to Seth Numrich of War Horse.

Theatre World Awards for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut performances during the 2010-2011 theatrical season will be presented by former Theatre World Award winners, including: Tammy Blanchard (Gypsy, 2003), Gabriel Byrne (A Moon for the Misbegotten, 2000), Zoe Caldwell (Slapstick Tragedy, 1966), Billy Crudup (Arcadia, 1995), Blythe Danner (The Miser, 1969), Edie Falco (Side Man, 1998), Tovah Feldshuh (Yentl, 1976), Jonathan Groff (Spring Awakening, 2007), Rosemary Harris (The Climate of Eden, 1953), Kevin Kilner (The Glass Menagerie, 1995), and Andrea McArdle (Annie, 1977). There will also be performances by former Theatre World Award winners, including: Karen Akers (Nine, 1982), Ernestine Jackson (Raisin, 1974), and John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys, 2006).