Laurie Beechman News

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrates the final night of the festival tonight with UNDER CONSTRUCTION, a one-night only concert featuring special guest star, Tony Award winner James Monroe Iglehart. UNDER CONSTRUCTION takes place tonight, Monday, July 27th at 6pm at the Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe (407 W 42nd St New York).

Tomorrow, Atlanta-based actors and writers Jeremiah Parker Hobbs and Jessica DeMaria will debut their new breath-taking, folk-rock musical THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE at The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). Earlier this year, the pair debuted a semi-staged reading of the show at Atlanta's Actor's Express. Check out a video of the song 'My Amazing Grace.'

This weekend, Atlanta-based actors and writers Jeremiah Parker Hobbs and Jessica DeMaria will debut their new breath-taking, folk-rock musical THE LAST TIME WE WERE HERE at The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF). There are only two performances of this special event: Saturday, July 25, 3pm, and Monday, July 27, noon, both at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe located at 407 W. 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036.

Yet more theatre lore from the crazy world of Mrs. Smith! Here she recounts her first encounter as a young girl with legendary stage actor John Barrymore. After reading the letter she wrote him, he wisked her off for drinks at Sardi's and then up to Harlem to hear James Baldwin recite poetry - to a bongo beat. Therefore, she is saddened that the theater bearing his name has gone to the dogs. How curious. Check out the video below!

Cardinal Theatricals presents the Off Broadway premiere of Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular!, an all-singing, all-dancing 'demented cabaret on acid,' created and performed by New York based writer/actor and performance artist David Hanbury. Joining Mrs. Smith onstage will be her two 'Broadway Boys' Brandon Haagenson and Ken Lear. Directed by Andrew Rasmussen, performances began on July 10th at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenue). The show opened last night, July 20th, and BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the festivities below!

Megan Hilty and Brian Gallagher performed 'Suddenly, Seymour' from LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS at Broadway Sessions on April 16, 2015. Check out the performance below!

Cardinal Theatricals presents the Off Broadway premiere of Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular!, an all-singing, all-dancing 'demented cabaret on acid,' created and performed by New York based writer/actor and performance artist David Hanbury. Joining Mrs. Smith onstage will be her two 'Broadway Boys' Brandon Haagenson and Ken Lear. Directed by Andrew Rasmussen, performances began on July 10th at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street - between 8th & 9thAvenue). Opening Night is set for tonight, July 20th at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through September 20th. Check out a first look below!

Cardinal Theatricals presents the Off Broadway premiere of Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular!, an all-singing, all-dancing 'demented cabaret on acid,' created and performed by New York based writer/actor and performance artist David Hanbury. Joining Mrs. Smith onstage will be her two 'Broadway Boys' Brandon Haagenson and Ken Lear. Directed by Andrew Rasmussen, performances began on July 10th at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street - between 8th & 9thAvenue). Opening Night is set for tonight, July 20th at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through September 20th.

Mannyville LLC, Dramatic Question Theatre and the New York Musical Theatre Festival are proud to announce the extension of the musical Manuel versus The Statue of Liberty which will begin performances this Tuesday, July 21.

I could tell you that KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar have done it again, but the truth is that they've done it even better. Their first foray into the Stephen Sondheim songbook last summer, Our Time, consisted of she sings, he sings--each watching the other perform then offering duets. This iteration titled Another Hundred People: Sullivan and Harnar Sing Sondheim—Act II (both at the Laurie Beechman Theatre), beautifully directed by Sondra Lee, considers both characters theatrically, not just vocally, but visually.

New York Musical Theatre Festival is in full swing and BroadwayWorld has taken the time to sit down with some of the stars of this years NYMF musicals. Like any great art form, musical theatre is shaped by the events and philosophies of the day. The strength and vitality of musical theatre lie in its ability to stay fresh and relevant. It was with that idea in mind, ten years ago, that the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) was created - to provide an effective platform to introduce new shows, new perspectives, and new blood into the musical theatre canon. MEET THE STARS OF NYMF sits down with Steven G. Anthony of REAL MEN

Cardinal Theatricals presents the Off Broadway premiere of Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular!, an all-singing, all-dancing 'demented cabaret on acid,' created and performed by New York based writer/actor and performance artist David Hanbury. Joining Mrs. Smith onstage will be her two 'Broadway Boys' Brandon Haagenson and Ken Lear. Directed by Andrew Rasmussen, performances begin tonight, July 10th, at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street - between 8th & 9thAvenue). Opening Night is set for Monday, July 20th at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through September 20th.

Cardinal Theatricals presents the Off Broadway premiere of Mrs. Smith's Broadway Cat-tacular!, an all-singing, all-dancing 'demented cabaret on acid,' created and performed by New York based writer/actor and performance artist David Hanbury. Joining Mrs. Smith onstage will be her two 'Broadway Boys' Brandon Haagenson and Ken Lear. Directed by Andrew Rasmussen, performances begin tonight, July 10th, at the 47th Street Theatre (304 West 47th Street - between 8th & 9thAvenue). Opening Night is set for Monday, July 20th at 7:30pm. Performances will continue through September 20th.

MOLLY POPE -- brassy belter/whiskey guzzler/benevolent lunatic -- will continue her acclaimed concert series tonight, July 10, following her recent acclaimed Off Broadway performances in Found at the Atlantic Theater Company and Horseplay, or the Fickle Mistress at La MaMa ETC / Theatre Askew.

 ARE YOU THERE, MORGAN FREEMAN?, a new song cycle extravaganza written and performed by Brittany Velotta, will be presented in the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera gets its NY premiere as it kicks-off the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) this July. Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera has a concept, book and lyrics by Elizabeth Searle, music by Michael Teoli, and will be directed by David Alpert (If/ Then), with musical direction by Henry Aronson (Rock of Ages), and choreography by Marc Kimelman (A Bronx Tale). Tonya & Nancy: The Rock Opera will play at the PTC Performing Space (555 West 42nd St.) from tonight, July 9, through July 16, 2015.

Award-winning playwright and cult downtown comic, Andrea Alton returns to the New York International Fringe Festival with an all new multi-character solo show, Possum Creek. 

Downtown cult favorite, Molly 'Equality' Dykeman is back with an all new show. Molly Dykeman's F*cked Up Family Reunion will premiere at Dixon Place's HOT Festival on Monday, July 20 at 7:30 pm. 

National Alliance for Musical Theatre has announced the line up of new musicals for their 27th ANNUAL FESTIVAL OF NEW MUSICALS, which takes place on Thursday, October 15 and Friday, October 16 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues). Registration for Industry members is free and now open at www.namt.org/festival.

SUPER!, a new musical with book, music, and lyrics by Aaron Michael Krueger will premiere at the Midtown International Theatre Festival this coming summer. SUPER!, brought to you by the award-