Laurie Beechman News

Today we are talking to an instantly recognizable stage stalwart who has lit up Broadway and beyond for more than three decades since her debut in William Finn's IN TROUSERS - the one and only Mary Testa. Discussing all aspects of her exemplary new album created in collaboration with acclaimed orchestrator Michael Starobin, HAVE FAITH, Testa imparts the impetus behind the concept album and outlines what motivated the wildly eclectic song choices included on the release - ranging from the Beach Boys, Prince and Aerosmith to Michael John LaChiusa, William Finn, Jill Sobule and many more. Furthermore, Testa eloquently describes the fascinating and compelling theme upon which the album is based - the journey of a soul through life; ostensibly a search for faith - and relates the sonic experience to her own spiritual pursuits. Additionally, Testa clues us in on what we can expect from her upcoming promotional concert appearances alongside Starobin in support of the album, as well, kicking off with a concert at Barnes & Noble next week along with a series of shows at the Laurie Beechman Theater. Reflecting on the various ways in which she has seen the theatre transform over the course of her career thus far, Testa also sheds some light on many of her most celebrated roles to date, including IN TROUSERS, THE RINK, XANADU, 42nd STREET, MARIE CHRISTINE, SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, QUEEN OF THE MIST, GUYS & DOLLS, A NEW BRAIN, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, LUCKY STIFF, CHICAGO, WICKED and more. All of that, playing Barbara Bush in FIRST DAUGHTER SUITE and much, much more with one of Broadway's most reliably entertaining and endlessly inventive regulars.

For two performances only, join Jac 'N Swallow -- Jac Huberman (Broadway Idol Winner, I Love You Because) and Emily Swallow (TV's The Mentalist, Monday Mornings; Broadway's High Fidelity) -- for a night of raw, unadulterated singing and storytelling. One's a knockabout. The other's knocked up. Together, they'll knock you out! Don't miss their first, heated reunion since their last sold-out show at Joe's Pub! So come expose yourself to some rowdy, fabulous fun...Who knew cabaret could feel so good?

Having encouraged young writers for a dozen years through its annual contest for high school playwrights, The Theater Project is once again reaching out to creative young people in its thirteenth annual Young Playwrights Competition. Winners receive cash prizes and see their work performed by professional actors at the awards ceremony in March of 2015.

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club presents Katya Stanislavskaya's theatrical song cycle, WOMEN ON LOVE, Jan. 7, 2015. Featuring a cast pf Broadway, Off-Broadway and cabaret artists Theresa McCarthy (Titanic, Floyd Collins), Sally Wilfert, (Assassins), Amy Justman (Company, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder), Alyse Alan Louis (Mamma Mia!), Grace McLean (Natasha, Pierre, and the Great Comet of 1812, American Songbook Series), Lianne Marie Dobbs, and Sarah Corey

If you've been a regular reader of this particular reviewer's musings, you know that every year there are long stretches of time where I just haven't been able to critique all the shows I've seen that deserve commentary. So I end up playing what they call in sports, 'Catch-up ball,' and post a mash up of belated reviews from past shows. It's kind of like a critic's version of the song 'Six Months Out of Every Year,' from Damn Yankees. Give or take a month or two, that's usually the time period during which I store unpublished reviews in my fevered brain and then unload them all in one seemingly endless column-like this one is going to be. If my cabaret-show reviewing days will be over (as chronicled here), I might as well go out with a bang-and relieve my procrastination guilt during holiday season. Now I can scratch one New Year's resolution off the list.

It's your last week to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 26th. Voting closes at the end of the year, in under one week!

At The Laurie Beechman Theatre last Thursday night, the new dynamic duo of Carole J. Bufford and Eric Yves Garcia performed their fun holiday show, A Christmas Carole & New Year's Yves, to a full house of adoring family, friends, and fans. They were the very picture of the perfect holiday host and hostess.

The award-winning CAP21 Theatre Company will open its 2015 season with the first production of a new musical, THE ARTIST & THE SCIENTIST, with book and lyrics by Jenny Stafford, music by Brandon Anderson, and story by Jenny Stafford and Brandon Anderson. It is a love story exploring the conflicting ways in which we each see the world and the fears we have of losing ourselves in other people. THE ARTIST & THE SCIENTIST will play a limited run from February 4 -28, 2015 at the CAP21 Theatre, 18 West 18th Street, 5th Floor, New York.

Time is ticking on your last chance to vote for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 19th. Voting closes at the end of the year!

Tonight, December 18th, Broadway Sessions will celebrate the holiday season with it's 6th annual all star holiday concert.

A celebration of Dame Shirley Bassey's illustrious career, THE BOY WHO LOVED BASSEY, is an unforgettable musical tribute written by Ben Cameron and Alan Winner, with musical direction by Andy Roninson, under the direction by Cameron and starring Winner. THE BOY WHO LOVED BASSEY, returns for a one night only special engagement tonight, December 18th, at 9:30 PM at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street, New York, NY 10010).

Up-and-coming composer Briana Lynn Wolf returned to The Laurie Beechman Theatre at West Bank Cafe with 'Right Now: A Song Cycle' to raise money for Bring Change 2 Mind, a national anti-stigma organization aimed at removing misconceptions about mental illness, founded by actress Glenn Close.

MARY TESTA -- the two time Tony Award nominated singer and actress -- and MICHAEL STAROBIN, the Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger will perform four concerts in January to promote their new album Have Faith from Ghostlight Records.

MARY TESTA - the two time Tony Award nominated singer and actress - and MICHAEL STAROBIN, the Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger will perform four concerts in January to promote their new album Have Faith from Ghostlight Records. Fresh off her recent starring role on Broadway in Wicked, Mary will perform a special CD release engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theater at The West Bank Cafe January 4-5,11-12, 2015 at 7:00 PM. Music Director Michael Starobin, will join her on piano with Alisa Horn on cello. Since being released earlier this month, Have Faith was called "stunning" by Playbill, "beautifully hypnotizing" by BroadwayWorld and "a sensational CD debut, terrific from first cut to last" by the Connecticut Post. For tickets, please visit www.lauriebeechmantheatre.com. To order the album, please visit www.sh-k-boom.com/havefaith.

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, December 18th, Broadway Sessions will celebrate the holiday season with it's 6th annual all star holiday concert.

In the spirit of giving, come to Christmas Carolyn, a benefit performance for Scott Siegel's critically acclaimed concert events, Broadway Unplugged and The Nightlife Awards. The benefit concert on Dec. 22nd at the Laurie Beechman Theater is produced and hosted by Nightlife Award Winner Carolyn Montgomery-Forant.

Voting has now opened for the 2014 BroadwayWorld Cabaret Regional Awards! Check out the latest live stats as of December 4th.

Pamela Lewis (a.k.a. 'Champagne Pam'), winner of the 2013 BroadwayWorld.com New York Cabaret Award as 'Best Female Vocalist,' has announced that her new show, New York State of Mind: The Songs of Billy Joel, will open at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street, between 5th and 6th Avenues) on January 16 and 17, with both shows at 7 pm.

Cult film icon Mink Stole (Hairspray, Pink Flamingos, Cry-Baby) premieres her new holiday show 'OMG! IT'S CHRISTMAS!' in New York City beginning December 11at the Laurie Beechman Theatre, performing with her Her Wonderful Band. Performances are tonight, December 11-14 at 8:30 PM.

Tonight, December 11th, Broadway Sessions welcomes Wicked's Michael Wartella alonsgide a bevy of belting beauties including Amy Jo Jackson, Diana Huey, Sherz Aletaha, Ang Bocca and more.