Karen Ziemba News

The brand new Elektra Theatre officially opened in Times Square this past Wednesday, July 25th. The first tenant at the Elektra Theatre is the transfer of the award-winning smash Off-Broadway hit, SILENCE! The Musical. Check out photos from the opening celebration below!

Broadway favorite and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Contact, Crazy For You, Curtains) attended 7th MONARCH, the intriguing new mystery by Jim Henry, this past Tuesday evening, July 24th at Theatre Row's Acorn Theatre. Check out a photo of her with the cast below!

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW presents GENEVA, by George Bernard Shaw - his 1938 satirical comedy about the world on the brink of WWII-tonight, July 16 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.

On July 9, Ben Vereen (Pippin, Fosse) hosted the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival opening night gala celebrating the season kick off. On hand to show support for the famed fest, which opened last night and runs through July 29, were Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical"), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dreamgirls, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Leslie Krtizer (A Catered Affair), Matt Bogart (Jersey Boys), Jeremy Kushnier (Jesus Christ Superstar), Jack Noseworthy (Sweet Smell of Success), Tom Deckman (Spamalot), Anika Larsen (Xanadu), Melissa van Der Schyff (Bonnie and Clyde), and many more. BroadwayWorld's Randy Rainbow popped by the event and wandered onto the red carpet where he ran into Ben Verren, Corbin Bleu, Karen Ziemba, and more. Check out what they had to say below!

Last night, July 9, Ben Vereen (Pippin, Fosse) hosted the 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival opening night gala celebrating the season kick off. On hand to show support for the famed fest, which opened last night and runs through July 29, were Corbin Bleu ("High School Musical"), Sheryl Lee Ralph (Dreamgirls, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Leslie Krtizer (A Catered Affair), Matt Bogart (Jersey Boys), Jeremy Kushnier (Jesus Christ Superstar), Jack Noseworthy (Sweet Smell of Success), Tom Deckman (Spamalot), Anika Larsen (Xanadu), Melissa Van der Schyff (Bonnie and Clyde), and many more. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photo coverage below!

TRIASSIC PARQ The Musical, 2010's Best Musical winner at FringeNYC, celebrated its Off-Broadway opening night Wednesday, June 27th with a post-performance party at the SoHo Playhouse. The limited engagement is set to run through August 5th. Written by Marshall Pailet, Bryce Norbitz and Stephen Wargo, TRIASSIC PARQ is directed by Mr. Pailet, with choreography by Kyle Mullins and musical direction by Zak Sandler. The cast of TRIASSIC PARQ features Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Brandon Espinoza, Wade McCollum, Claire Neumann, Lee Seymour, Shelley Thomas, and Alex Wyse. Check out photos of the cast and creative team at opening night below!

On Monday, June 25, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was presented songwriter Jack Lechner and a very talented cast of singers to the historic stage. Singing Lechner's songs and praises were Nancy Anderson, Chris Critelli, Desmond Dutcher, Jeannine Frumess, Andy Monroe, Jeremy Schonfeld, Lucas Steele, and Karen Ziemba, with musical direction by Boko Suzuki. Lechner is best known for his 2010 off-Broadway musical The Kid, co-written with composer Andy Monroe and librettist Michael Zam.

Gingold Theatrical Group's PROJECT SHAW presents GENEVA, by George Bernard Shaw - his 1938 satirical comedy about the world on the brink of WWII-on Monday, July 16 at 7pm at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. David Staller produces and directs.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presents "Here Goes Nothing," an evening of songs by Drama Desk-nominated lyricist Jack Lechner, tonight, June 25 at 7pm. Guest performers will include Jill Abramovitz, Desmond Dutcher, Jeannine Frumess, Jose Llana, Lucas Steele, and Karen Ziemba. The music director will be Boko Suzuki.

According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the US-born The First Wives Club and Dream Lover may be heading to Sydney for further development in the near future.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series will present "Here Goes Nothing," an evening of songs by Drama Desk-nominated lyricist Jack Lechner, on Monday, June 25 at 7pm. Guest performers will include Nancy Anderson, Jeremy Schonfeld, Chris Critelli, Desmond Dutcher, Jeannine Frumess, Andy Monroe, Lucas Steele, and Karen Ziemba. The music director will be Boko Suzuki.

Chita Rivera, Tony Danza, Susan Stroman, Albert Maysles, John Turturro, Tamara Tunie, Karen Ziemba, Melissa Errico, and more were among the star presenters at last night's 30th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The Astaire Awards are the only awards show to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film and were first started in 1982 by the late Fred Astaire and the late Douglas Watt (a critic and writer for the NY Daily News and The New Yorker). BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening and brings you photo coverage of the starry arrivals below.

Chita Rivera, Tony Danza, Susan Stroman, Albert Maysles, John Turturro, Tamara Tunie, Karen Ziemba, Melissa Errico, and more were among the star presenters at last night's 30th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The Astaire Awards are the only awards show to honor excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film and were first started in 1982 by the late Fred Astaire and the late Douglas Watt (a critic and writer for the NY Daily News and The New Yorker). BroadwayWorld was on hand for the evening and brings you photo coverage of the ceremony below!.

Yesterday, June 3, the Dramatists Guild Fund hosted their 50th Anniversary Gala at the Mandarin Oriental New York. This year's event, hosted by Jon Cryer, honored Chicago and Cabaret composer John Kander. Performances and tributes were given by well-known members of the theater community including Liza Minnelli, Chita Rivera, Bebe Neuwirth, Christie Brinkley, Stockard Channing, Joel Grey, Rob Marshall, Susan Stroman, Debra Monk, Karen Ziemba and Joshua Henry.

Producer Patricia Watt has announced that $25 Student Rush tickets will be available at the Skirball Center for the Performing at New York University tonight, June 4th at 7:00pm one half hour before curtain time of the 30th Fred & Adele Astaire Awards at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University.

Today, June 3, the Dramatists Guild Fund will host their 50th Anniversary Gala at the Mandarin Oriental New York. This year's event, hosted by Jon Cryer, will honor Chicago and Cabaret composer John Kander.

Welcome to Part 2 of BroadwayWorld's exclusive sit down with musical theater icon John Kander, maestro to some of the most important musicals of our time. Last time, John took us through his career from his first fateful meeting with later partner Fred Ebb to the movie musical phenomenon of Cabaret and upcoming Dramatists Guild Fund honor on June 3, 2012.

Chita Rivera, Tony Danza, Susan Stroman, Albert Maysles, John Turturro, Tamara Tunie, Karen Ziemba, Melissa Errico, Lee Roy Reams, Joe Morton, Smash choreographer Josh Bergasse and Countess LuAnn de Lesseps are all set to be presenters at the 30th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards on Monday, June 4th at 7:30pm at New York University's Skirball Center for the Performing Arts.

In this very rare sit down, we are honored to bring you an exclusive chat with musical theatre legend John Kander. In Part 1 of the interview below, John reminisces about the major milestones of his career, which will be honored by The Dramatists Guild Fund in a special ceremony on Sunday, June 3, in association with the organization's 50th Anniversary. Kander will be celebrated for contributing some of the most important works of musical theatre - along with his late partner Fred Ebb - to the canon including Cabaret and Chicago - also major motion pictures - Kiss of the Spider Woman, The Act, Woman of the Year, The Rink, Curtains, The Scottsboro Boys and more.