Karen Ziemba News

Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premier professional Equity theatre, is proud to announce the opening of Robert Harling's heartwarming comedy, Steel Magnolias.

Four talented actresses give voice to the audiobook edition of Jennifer Weiner's new release, THEN CAME YOU, on sale July 12th, 2011. Narrating the intersecting lives of the four women with nothing - and everything - in common, AnnaLynne McCord, Jenni Barber, Aya Cash and Karen Ziemba masterfully embody the layered and compelling characters of Jules, Annie, Bettina, and India. With startling tenderness and laugh-out-loud humor, they take listeners into the very heart of women's lives and minds in this unforgettable, timely story. Through the lens of surrogacy, Weiner, and these four gifted actresses, explore definitions of motherhood and friendship, making listeners question what truly makes a family.

On Wednesday July 6 Kritzerland at the Gardenia presented a salute to the lesser known music of Kander and Ebb - The Kander and Ebb Album - two of the most prolific composers of the 20th century. Think Chicago or Cabaret, and you need go no further. These two wildly popular shows still receive international mountings and provide us with some of the greatest Broadway pop tunes ever. Ahead of their time, Kander and Ebb produced shows with a substantially dark and biting edge not found in other composers' music and lyrics. Bruce Kimmel, whose Kritzerland recording company continues to enjoy enormous success worldwide, again served as narrator of the evening telling short, funny anecdotes about his encounters with John Kander and also detailing Kander and Ebb's failures as well as successes. Liza Minnelli's Broadway career soared because of K & E - it started with Flora the Red Menace in the 60s and continued through the next couple of decades with hits and flops such as The Rink and 1977's The Act, which began in LA as Shine It On. K & E certainly didn't fare too badly either with Liza's name on their bill. Think of what she did for the movie Cabaret with her Academy Award winning turn as Sally. However, such was not the case with their film New York, New York which received some pretty scathing reviews in the late 70s; the pair were none too pleased that a small musical The First Nudie Musical (Bruce Kimmel)fared far better than their multi-billion dollar disaster. It's always such fun for theatre lovers to hear about the down side of the business, and particularly via Kimmel's straight-forward, droll take on it.

The 11th season of Broadway by the Year came to an end with this retrospective of the 1997 season.

Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director / Melissa Huber, Managing Director) presents its annual gala evening, Make Our Garden Grow, in the Harbor View Room at Battery Gardens, a beautiful and unique waterside location nestled at the southern most corner of Battery Park, on Monday, June 27, 2011 from 6pm - 10:30pm, with an 8pm concert performance featuring Broadway friends as well as Prospect stars! Battery Gardens is located inside New York City's Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street)

Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director / Melissa Huber, Managing Director) presents its annual gala evening, Make Our Garden Grow, in the Harbor View Room at Battery Gardens, a beautiful and unique waterside location nestled at the southern most corner of Battery Park, on Monday, June 27, 2011 from 6pm - 10:30pm, with an 8pm concert performance featuring Broadway friends as well as Prospect stars! Battery Gardens is located inside New York City's Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street)

Yesterday evening, June 23, Inside Broadway hosted their annual Broadway Beacon Awards. Tony Award-winner Karen Ziemba was the special guest performer for the evening, which honored Tony-winner John Larroquette of How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying, stage, film, & TV star Brooke Shields, New York City Council Speaker Christine Quinn, and managing partner & co-founder of Stonehenge Partners, Ofer Yardeni. FOX5 reporter Julie Chang served as the evening's emcee.

The Town Hall, New York's landmark concert venue, conclude the 11th season of the acclaimed Broadway By The Year® Series with The Broadway Musicals of 1997 last night, June 20th. The highlight of the evening included reunion performances from the original Jekyll & Hyde stars including Robert Cuccioli (Tony Nominee), Linda Eder (Drama Desk Nominee) and Christiane Noll.

The Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street), New York's landmark concert venue will conclude the 11th season of the acclaimed Broadway By The Year® Series with The Broadway Musicals of 1997 on Monday, June 20th at 8PM. Performers already announced from the 1997 hit Jekyll & Hyde include Robert Cuccioli (Tony Nominee), Linda Eder (Drama Desk Nominee), and Christiane Noll (who will also be directing the concert). From 1997's The Life, Lillias White (Tony Winner) and Chuck Cooper (Tony Winner) will perform, along with the newly announced Karen Ziemba (Tony Nominee) from 1997's Steel Pier (Tony Nominee), and The Scarlet Pimpernel's acclaimed star Christine Andreas. Tickets are $55 & $50 and are on sale through TicketMaster at 800-982-2787 , www.ticketmaster.com, or the Town Hall Box Office between noon and 6 PM (except Sundays) (212) 840-2824 .

Inside Broadway's Executive Director Michael Presser is pleased to announce that Tony Award-winner Karen Ziemba will be a special guest performer at Inside Broadway's 2011 Broadway Beacon Awards, being held at 5:30pm on June 23rd, 2011 at the historic Players Club at Gramercy Park.

The Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street), New York's landmark concert venue will conclude the 11th season of the acclaimed Broadway By The Year® Series with The Broadway Musicals of 1997 on Monday, June 20th at 8PM. Performers already announced from the 1997 hit Jekyll & Hyde include Robert Cuccioli (Tony Nominee), Linda Eder (Drama Desk Nominee), and Christiane Noll (who will also be directing the concert). From 1997's The Life, Lillias White (Tony Winner) and Chuck Cooper (Tony Winner). Also in the show, Karen Ziemba (Tony Nominee) from 1997's Steel Pier, The Scarlet Pimpernel's acclaimed star Christine Andreas, and Jeffry Denman, Drama Desk Nominee for Yank! These acclaimed stars will be joined by Drama Desk Nominee Christina Bianco (Forbidden Broadway, Newsical, The Musical), David Burnham (The Best is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman, Wicked), Erin Denman (42nd Street), Drew Humphrey (Irving Berlin's White Christmas), Jennifer Rias (Broadway by the Year: 1921) and Tyler Maynard (Mary Poppins).

Prospect Theater Company (Cara Reichel, Producing Artistic Director / Melissa Huber, Managing Director) presents its annual gala evening, Make Our Garden Grow, in the Harbor View Room at Battery Gardens, a beautiful and unique waterside location nestled at the southern most corner of Battery Park, on Monday, June 27, 2011 from 6pm - 10:30pm, with an 8pm concert performance featuring Broadway friends as well as Prospect stars! Battery Gardens is located inside New York City's Battery Park (opposite 17 State Street): www.BatteryGardens.com. Tickets for the entire evening, which includes a cocktail hour, seated dinner, performance, and after-party, range from $250 - $500 and are available until June 22nd by calling 212-594-4476 , or visiting www.ProspectTheater.org and downloading the mail order form.

The silent auction that will take place during 42nd Street Moon's annual fundraiser Scandals, Follies & A Bowl of Cherries on Monday, June 20 at the Alcazar Theatre, is now also offered online from today through June 18. Numerous items are featured, including an unusual and very special Broadway Kissing Booth -- a must for any collector of Broadway Memorabilia. For this unique offering, a framed photo is matched with a lipstick impression 'kiss' and autograph of a major Broadway star. The starting bid on each of these is $50.

The Town Hall (123 W 43rd Street), New York's landmark concert venue will conclude the 11th season of the acclaimed Broadway By The Year® Series with The Broadway Musicals of 1997 on Monday, June 20th at 8PM. Performers already announced from the 1997 hit Jekyll & Hyde include Robert Cuccioli (Tony Nominee), Linda Eder (Drama Desk Nominee), and Christiane Noll (who will also be directing the concert). From 1997's The Life, Lillias White (Tony Winner) and Chuck Cooper (Tony Winner) will perform, along with the newly announced Karen Ziemba (Tony Nominee) from 1997's Steel Pier (Tony Nominee), and The Scarlet Pimpernel's acclaimed star Christine Andreas. Tickets are $55 & $50 and are on sale through TicketMaster at 800-982-2787 , www.ticketmaster.com, or the Town Hall Box Office between noon and 6 PM (except Sundays) (212) 840-2824 .

Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew M. Horn, Executive Director) and Edmund Gaynes, in association with Don and Lizanne Mitchell, will present The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, a musical by Angelo Parra, conceived and directed by Joe Brancato.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's new feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more!

Penguin Rep Theatre (Joe Brancato, Artistic Director, and Andrew M. Horn, Executive Director) and Edmund Gaynes, in association with Don and Lizanne Mitchell, will present The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, a musical by Angelo Parra, conceived and directed by Joe Brancato.

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, hosted by Bebe Neuwirth and Lee Roy Reams at the magnificent Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU once again honored excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Susan Stroman took top honors for Best Choreographer on Broadway in a field of nine nominees for her stunning work in 'The Scottsboro Boys'. It was a record breaking 5th Astaire Award for the 5 time Tony Award and 5 time Drama Desk winner. Two time Tony Award Winner Bebe Neuwirth presented the award to Ms. Stroman. Sutton Foster star of 'Anything Goes' took home her second Astaire for Best Female Dancer on Broadway for her rousing performance as 'Reno Sweeney'. Her first Astaire was for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Desmond Richardson, Tony nominee for 'Fosse' and co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet presented the award to Ms. Sutton. First timer Norbert Leo Butz star of 'Catch Me if You Can' took the prize for Best Male Dancer on Broadway presented by Tony and Drama Desk winner Karen Ziemba . Australia's Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon won the Astaire for Excellence in Choreography in Film for their breathtaking dances in 'Mao's Last Dancer' presented by Tony Award winner Bill Irwin. Legendary dancer, choreographer, teacher and founder of the National Dance Institute Jacques d'Amboise received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award named for the late drama critic and co-founder of the Award with Fred Astaire. Following a major tribute in dance including a brilliant performance by NYCB's Russell Janzen of a piece from the ballet 'Who Cares' created by George Balanchine and first danced by d'Amboise; an exuberant performance of 'Shall We Dance' by d'Amboise's students at the National Dance Institute and praiseful introductions by Len Cariou, Charlotte & Christopher d'Amboise, Brian Stokes Mitchell presented the award to Mr. d'Amboise.

Yesterday, May 15, the 2011 Fred and Adele Astaire Awards were held at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at NYU. The Fred & Adele Astaire Awards afe the only awards to recognize excellence in dance & choreography on Broadway and in film. On hand to celebrate were some of Broadway and film's greatest talents including Daniel Radcliffe, Benjamin Millepied, Sutton Foster, Christie Brinkley, Bebe Neuwirth, Lee Roy Reams, Ava Astaire, Norbert Leo Butz, Aaron Tveit, Len Cariou, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Bill Irwin, Maurice Hines, Christine Andreas, Karen Ziemba, Nick Adams, Kathleen Marshall, Desmond Richardson, Young Dancers from the National Dance Institute, Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award recipient Jacques d'Amboise and more.

Oh April 10, MSG Productions presented the Manhattan mainstay, "Jim Caruso's Cast Party" at the Mayne Stage in Chicago.