Klea Blackhurst News

Voting is now underway for the Nashville Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January.

Voting is now underway for the Nashville Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Nashville Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Nashville Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

Voting is now underway for the Nashville Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Voting is now underway for the Nashville Awards and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below!

Birdland has announced the third year of "A Swinging Birdland Christmas," starring Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch. This will be a limited engagement of 6 performances, Friday, December 21 through Tuesday, December 25. All shows are at 6pm, except for the Monday and Tuesday, with 7pm and 10pm shows.

Not only has Natalie Douglas broken the record for playing the Broadway at Birdland stage; this past week, she went one step further - literally. She fractured her fibula a few hours before her "Freedom Songs" concert. Of course, that didn't stop her from performing, perched on a stool with her bare foot wrapped in ice! It was one of her all-time greatest concerts exuding joy, humor and her indescribable passion for civil rights songs. Check out photos from the concert below!

There may have been 40 cabaret performers strutting their stuff this past week at the 23rd New York Cabaret Convention at the Rose Theater at Lincoln Center, but the true star of the three-night extravaganza (October 17-19) was the late Donald Smith, the cabaret impresario and guru to the genre's luminaries, who died this past March at 79. Sponsored by the Mabel Mercer Foundation, which Smith founded in 1985, this year's Convention featured numerous homages to Smith from the performers, many of whom had their career's supported and advanced with the help of the colorful and beloved cabaret producer and promoter. Early in Wednesday's Gala Opening Night show, the 'first lady of the American keyboard' Barbara Carroll called her friend Donald Smith 'the quintessential New Yorker,' and when Mark Nadler closed night one with George and Ira Gershwin's 'Our Love Is Here to Stay,' he said, 'Everybody who cares about the myths of these songs are in this room tonight.' Well, it was clear that anyone who cared about Donald Smith was at the Rose Theater for at least one of the three shows.

Today, Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director announced that the Honorary Chairs, Sheldon Harnick and Maury Yeston join Encompass New Opera Theatre in celebrating Alan Menken's life in the American theatre, film and recording world tonight, October 21, 2012 at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, New York City.

This year, the 23rd Cabaret Convention, October 17-19 at Jazz at Lincoln Center/Frederick P. Rose Hall, continued the extraordinary levels of entertainment provided by Smith and his compatriots, as well as provided happy, personal memories of the Mercer/Smith coalescence upon which the Foundation plans to thrive in the future. Check out photos from closing night below!

The Paley Center for Media in New York City has an extensive lineup for the upcoming months - including exclusive premieres, tribute concerts, Q&As, and more! The full, detailed listings are below.

Jay Productions LTD is currently recording the original cast album of Jonathan Brielle's critically acclaimed musical HIMSELF AND NORA about the tumultuous romance of famed writer James Joyce and his muse, lover and most ardent supporter, chambermaid Nora Barnacle.

On Monday night, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the second week of Anita Gillette's new show, "After All." The jam-packed house stomped and cheered as Gillette sang and recalled many behind-the-scenes events during her dazzling Broadway and Hollywood career. Scroll down for photos of Gillette and more onstage!

Today, Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director announced that the Honorary Chairs, Sheldon Harnick and Maury Yeston join Encompass New Opera Theatre in celebrating Alan Menken's life in the American theatre, film and recording world on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, NYC.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presents Tony Award Nominated actress and singer Anita Gillette is presenting two evenings of music and memories while taking what's being described as 'an intimate, touching and hilarious look behind the scenes from Broadway to Hollywood' in her new autobiographical one-woman show "After All." The first event took place last night, September 24 & and the second will happen on Monday, October 1 at 7pm at Birdland (315 West 44 Street, NYC). Check out photos from the concert below!

BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture all of the excitement of the day! Here are photos from the celebrity autograph tables!

Today, Nancy Rhodes, Artistic Director announced that the Honorary Chairs, Sheldon Harnick and Maury Yeston join Encompass New Opera Theatre in celebrating Alan Menken's life in the American theatre, film and recording world on Sunday, October 21, 2012 at the National Arts Club, 15 Gramercy Park South, New York City.

Tony Award winner Linda Lavin makes nightclub appearances at 54 BELOW (254 W. 54 St. in Manhattan) yesterday, September 17 and September 23 at 3 p.m. with musical director Billy Stritch and a 5-piece combo. Check out photos from the concert below!