Laurie Beechman News

Up-and-coming composer Briana Lynn Wolf returns 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.

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 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.

Having seen Mary Testa in a cabaret concert in Houston, I feel I had an idea of what to expect from her and Michael Starobin's album HAVE FAITH. While I expected it to be eccentrically eclectic and haunting, nothing could have prepared me for how it was beautifully hypnotizing and simultaneously so unlike anything I've ever heard before. The unique album utilizes well-known pop songs (hits from The Beach Boys to Alanis Morissette) and songs written by William Finn and Michael John LaChiusa to explore thoughts on faith and doubt in ways that are equally alluring and unexpected.

After four years reviewing cabaret shows, more than two for BroadwayWorld, our lead New York cabaret critic Stephen Hanks will be giving up reviewing shows to be the BWW Cabaret section's Editor and lead feature writer. Here's how he became a cabaret reviewer, why he's giving it up, and who he's brought on board to make up BWW's new cabaret reviewing team.

Three-time MAC-Award nominated songwriter Patrick Dwyer returns to the Duplex with his critically-acclaimed one-man show THIRTYWHATEVER on Tuesday, December 16, 2014 at 7pm.

In the spirit of tonight's PETER PAN LIVE! on NBC, watch Adinah Alexander perform 'Never Never Land' from the musical at BROADWAY SESSIONS over the summer!

Edd Clark and Sue Matsuki kick off the holiday season by bringing their annual show, Sue & Edd's FABULOUS Christmas Show for 2 performances to Don't Tell Mama (343 West 46th Street) tonight, December 4th at 7:00 p.m., and Sunday, December 7th at 3:00.

Tonight, December 4th, Broadway Sessions welcomes Lilli Cooper and a host of Broadway kids!

This Thursday, December 4th, Broadway Sessions welcomes Lilli Cooper and a host of Broadway kids!

Direct from a smash hit, sold out show at Joe's Pub, Lisa Rothauser (The Producers) will present her one-woman show, Life. WTF? in the Rosebud Room at NYC's newest live performance venue, 42West (514 W 42nd Street), on Wednesday, December 3, 2014 at 7 pm.

Ghostlight Records has announced the release of the new CD from MARY TESTA - the two time Tony Award nominated singer and actress currently starring in Wicked on Broadway - and MICHAEL STAROBIN, the Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger. The album will be available in stores and via online outlets today, December 2, 2014. Mary and Michael 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. For tickets, please visit www.lauriebeechmantheatre.com.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, at the West Bank Cafe, presents Travis Moser in This Can't Be Love: The Songs of Rodgers and Hart tonight, December 2nd at 7pm.

On Monday, December 1, the Theater People Podcast welcomes ON THE TOWN star Alysha Umphress. Umphress shares fascinating stories from her journey with the project including her decision, after a slew of ensemble roles in Broadway shows, to only be seen for principal parts which led to this opportunity.

The Laurie Beechman Theater has announced its 2014 alternative holiday show lineup, November 28 through December 21, 2014, featuring Mink Stole, Jackie Beat and the stars of RuPaul's Drag Race (now with special brunch for some shows). Details below!

Ben Rimalower's addiction to spending beyond his means has driven him to extreme lengths all his life. In BAD WITH MONEY he charts his sometimes hilarious, sometimes harrowing struggle to overcome his problem-or get rich trying.

According to mythology, the 'Phoenix' was a bird of great beauty, said to have lived 1,000 years in the Arabian wilderness. The Phoenix burns itself to ashes on an ancient funeral pyre, only to rise again from those ashes with the renewed exuberance of youth. Its renewed life cycle symbolizes the immortality of the spirit, the rebirth of idealism, the essence of creativity, and the aura of eternal hope. With her new show at the Laurie Beechman, Visible Phoenix (which opened October 17 and returned last Friday night), multi-award winner Carolyn Montgomery-Forant has returned to the cabaret stage (after a 14-year hiatus to raise her son and run a cafe business) as the very personification of that rare beautiful bird.

PS Classics releases the latest album from The Broadway Boys, a seasonal collection entitled HARK! The album is available exclusively at iTunes and at the label's website today, November 25th, 2014, with a broader retail release to follow on December 9th. PS Classics released The Broadway Boys' debut album, Lullaby of Broadway, in the spring of 2010.

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 December 11-14 at 8:30 PM.

Danny Bernardy is set to take on the role of leading male "Andrew Polinski" in the hit Off-Broadway comedy "My Big Gay Italian Wedding" opposite creator Anthony J. Wilkinson. Currently being played by Brandon Goins, Bernardy is set to step in for the winter season beginning January 10th every Saturday at 8pm.

In the Season 3 premiere of the 'Something New' podcast, award-winning musical theatre writer Joel B. New sat down with performer and host Ben Cameron (broadwaysessions.net). Ben has appeared on Broadway in Aida and the original casts of Footloose and Wicked. His touring credits include Sweet Charity (opposite Molly Ringwald), Footloose, Fame-The Musical, State Fair and Tommy.