Laurie Beechman News

When New York cabaret community insiders and frequent club goers heard that Marissa Mulder was planning a Marilyn Monroe-themed show, the consensus was the vocalist's naturally breathy voice paired with a roster of songs from Monroe's films would be a good fit. Sidestepping expectations, Mulder and Director Sondra Lee have instead put together a one-woman theater piece with almost as much monologue (using Monroe's own words) as music. Equally surprising, the impressionistic show (currently in the midst of a four-show run at the Laurie Beechman Theatre after launching in February at the Metropolitan Room) features not Monroe's familiar material, but rather songs that reflect what its creators intuit as her internal life.

On Friday, June 3rd and Today, June 7th at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 2015 double MAC (Best Male Vocalist, LaMott/Friedman Recording) and Bistro (Outstanding Recording) Award winner Stearns Matthews will team up with pianists/composers/arrangers and twin brothers Adam and Matt Podd for 'ME AND THE GERSHTWINS', a musical romp through the songs of two other uber-talented brothers: George and Ira Gershwin.

Cast members from the Tony-nominated revival of The Color Purple made their way to The Laurie Beechman Theatre on Thursday evening for Broadway Sessions. It became clear pretty darn quick that we were no longer in a theater- we were at CHURCH! These cats can sing like nobody's business. And that's just what they did. They SANG!!! Cast members Rema Webb, Antoine L. Smith, J. Daughtry, Adrianna Hicks, Bre Jackson, Phoenix Best, Akron Watson and Carla R. Stewart were greeted with standing ovation after standing ovation. The cast also shared insights into their audition experiences, told us their favorite 'audience reactions', played a round of 'The Color Purple Pyramid' and joined their voices together for an unforgettable group performance of the show's 11 o'clock number, 'I'm Here.'

BROADWAY SESSIONS is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida and Footloose) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano. This Thursday night, June 9th, Broadway Sessions celebrates the Tony awards with Tony award winner Daisy Eagan, Heather Parcells, Olivia Phillip and more

BROADWAY SESSIONS BEACH PARTY is described as an evening of musical performances, games and open mic featuring a new Broadway guest each week. The show is created and hosted by Ben Cameron (Bway Wicked, Aida and Footloose) and features musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes on piano.  This Monday night, June 6th, Broadway Sessions Beach Party continues it's new weekly summer residency at the  The Ice Palace in Cherry Grove, Fire Island. The Broadway Sessions 'Beach Party' will run every Monday through Labor Day at 9pm and features new Broadway guests each week.  This week's guests are Teal Wicks and Hernando Umana. 

Today, June 3rd and Tuesday, June 7th at 7pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, 2015 double MAC (Best Male Vocalist, LaMott/Friedman Recording) and Bistro (Outstanding Recording) Award winner Stearns Matthews teams up with pianists/composers/arrangers and twin brothers Adam and Matt Podd for 'ME AND THE GERSHTWINS', a musical romp through the songs of two other uber-talented brothers: George and Ira Gershwin.

The Broadway Artists Connection (BAC) presents its ninth Broadway Artists & Friends Open Mic & Mingle hosted by 6 time Broadway Veteran Heather Parcells (TUCK EVERLASTING) Monday, June 13th 7pm (doors open at 6pm). The evening will be kicked off by a stellar line up of Broadway pros followed by selected 'aspiring artists & talented friends' at the legendary Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 W 42nd Street.

The Songwriter's Orchestra returns to (Le) Poisson Rouge for a third performance on Monday June 13th at 7pm. The concert will feature music and performances by Brittany Campbell, Kate Ferber, Olivia Harris, Janet Krupin, Britton Smith and Jazze Belle (Taylor Simone + Jett Carter).

Someone once said: 'It's May, it's May, the Lusty Month of May!' Another wise woman has also said 'And you, and you, and you... you're gonna love MAAAAAAAY!' Who really said what? Hard to say, but it seems clear that May has a profound affect on folks in musical theatre.

This Thursday night, June 2nd, BROADWAY SESSIONS welcomes cast members from the Tony nominated Best Musical Revival, The Color Purple. Color Purple cast members scheduled to perform include Antoine L. Smith, Rema Webb, Akron Watson, Carla R. Stewart, Phoenix Best, Adrianna Hicks, J. Daughtry, Bre Jackson, D'Wayne Clark and more.

This Monday (Memorial Day) night, May 30th, Broadway Sessions begins its new weekly summer residency at the The Ice Palace in Cherry Grove, Fire Island. The Broadway Sessions 'Beach Party' will run every Monday through Labor Day at 9pm and features new Broadway guests each week. Kicking off the season are special guests Daisy Eagan, Max Crumm, Travis Kent and special guest musical director Kyle Branzel.

Veteran performers Jim Brochu and Steve Ross have known one another since the 1970s, an era when New York was filled with piano bars, cabaret rooms, and nightclubs. Pause for a deep, wistful sigh. Framing their new show, Two Guys and a Grand (last Wednesday night at the Laurie Beechman Theatre), in the kind of friendly antagonism and winking shtick popular during vaudeville, the two very different performers manage to be both broad and classy.

I'LL SAY SHE IS, the legendary musical comedy that was the Broadway debut of the Marx Brothers, begins previews at the The Connelly Theater today, May 28. Opening is slated for June 2.

?Award winning TV Personality, Comedian & one of the breakout stars of Bravo TV's hit series "The People's Couch",  SCOTT NEVINS returns to New York City with his critically acclaimed comedy act for one night only!

Broadway and cabaret performers come together for a good cause on Saturday, June 4 at 7 pm at Unity Center in Norwalk, Connecticut. The 'cause' for this concert will be announced as a part of the event itself, so just come enjoy a stellar show with two for one drinks after the event at BJ Ryan's BANC House (around the corner from Unity Center).

12-year-old Tony Award honoree Sophia Gennusa (Doctor Zhivago, Matilda the Musical) just brought together some of the original cast members of MATILDA to raise money for The Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.

The New York Musical Festival (NYMF), previously known as The New York Musical Theatre Festival, confirmed the complete slate of programming and venues for NYMF 2016, taking place from July 11 through August 7 in Midtown Manhattan.

The score to Bright Star is a delicious blend of Americana, blue grass and gospel, and it's great. This last Thursday I started my day by whetting my appetite for things to come (I was seeing Bright Star on Broadway that evening before welcoming the cast to Sessions). I spent my morning listening to the cast album. I was immediately taken with it's signature sound and sweeping melodies. Steve and Edie know what they are doing. Bluegrass on Broadway… it works. How? Who cares! It works.

I'LL SAY SHE IS, the legendary musical comedy that was the Broadway debut of the Marx Brothers, originally opened 92 years ago today -- on May 19, 1924 at the 875-seat Casino Theatre on Broadway at 39th Street. It played for 313 performances before being lost to history. Thanks to Grouch Marx enthusiast Noah Diamond, I'LL SAY SHE IS will return to the stage in a historic new production at The Connelly Theater beginning previews May 28.

Direct from Broadway and in its Mid-Western premiere, the refreshingly modern romantic comedy, It Shoulda Been You launches STAGES St. Louis' celebratory 30th Anniversary Season. This hilarious and heartwarming new musical about a madcap wedding celebration will run June 3rd - July 3rd at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.