Laurie Beechman News

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Moldy Fig Productions, LCC present THE SONGS OF CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN, a one night only concert event. With Book by Kevin Ray, Andrea Lepcio & Dominic Taylor; Music and Lyrics by Kevin Ray; and Additional Story by Suellen Vance, the concert will be directed by Lee Summers and is set for tonight, July 22nd at 8 p.m. at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street.

Broadway performer and BackStage Bistro Award-winning recording artist Rebecca Spencer will celebrate her Los Angeles concert debut with a performance of FAIR WARNING at Upstairs at Vitello's on Friday, August 15 at 8:00pm.

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances begin next week. They are: Tonight, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; and the newly added additional show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1:00pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

A live recording of standout cabaret performer Travis Moser's recent solo show at the Laurie Beechman Theatre is now available to order.

Off-Broadway's award-winning Irish Repertory Theatre announces THE PARTING GLASS, a series of special one-night only events celebrating Irish arts and culture. THE PARTING GLASS, which marks the end of the Irish Rep's 2013-2014 Season, will feature traditional Irish music, dance, poetry and storytelling. The series will take place on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage of the Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street).

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. A second additional performance has been added for this Sunday 7/20 at 4pm. Performances begin this weekend: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 4pm (2nd added show) & at 8pm; and the first added show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Moldy Fig Productions, LCC present THE SONGS OF CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN, a one night only concert event. With Book by Kevin Ray, Andrea Lepcio & Dominic Taylor; Music and Lyrics by Kevin Ray; and Additional Story by Suellen Vance, the concert will be directed by Lee Summers and is set for Tuesday, July 22nd at 8 p.m. at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street.

Off-Broadway's award-winning Irish Repertory Theatre announces THE PARTING GLASS, a series of special one-night only events celebrating Irish arts and culture. THE PARTING GLASS, which marks the end of the Irish Rep's 2013-2014 Season, will feature traditional Irish music, dance, poetry and storytelling. The series will take place on the Francis J. Greenburger Mainstage of the Irish Repertory Theatre (132 West 22nd Street).

She has opened for Lady Gaga, starred in Rent and sung a duet with Idina Menzel, now Australian Idol sensation and RuPaul's Drag Race star Courtney Act returns to New York -- after 2 previous sold out engagements -- with an encore of her acclaimed solo show BOYS LIKE ME at The Laurie Beechman Theater (inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street -- at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street).

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrates emerging composers and performers with two concert series - Grassroots July 10 and 11 at 7 pm and Trailblazers July 15 at 7 pm and 16 at 7 pm - at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe? (410 West 42nd Street). Tickets are $25 and can be purchased at www.nymf.org or by calling (212) 352­3101.

Today, in honor of the kick-off of the first West End revival of world renowned mega-musical CATS we serve up a fancy feline feast.

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances begin next week. They are: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; and the newly added additional show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1:00pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal!

SOUL PICNIC PRODUCTIONS, presents Melissa Hammans in BACK TO THE GARDEN: The Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Laura Nyro on August 1st and 2nd, 2014 at Buskirk-Chumley Theatre, Bloomington, IN.

WikiMusical with a Book and Lyrics by Frank Ceruzzi & Blake J. Harris; Music by Trent Jeffords is being presented at the New York Musical Theatre Festival with performances at PTC Performance Space (Pearl Theatre Company), 555 West 42nd Street, NYC. Performances begin next week. They are: Friday, July 18 at 8pm; Saturday, July 19 at 5pm; Sunday, July 20 at 8pm; and the newly added additional show on Tuesday, July 22nd at 1:00pm; Tuesday, July 22 at 5:00 pm; and Saturday, July 26 at 9pm.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) celebrates emerging composers and performers with two concert series -- Grassroots July 10 and 11 at 7 pm and Trailblazers July 15 at 7 pm and 16 at 7 pm -- at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe? (410 West 42nd Street).

For Tonight, a new original musical, by creators Shenelle Williams, Spencer Williams and Whitney Rhodes is headed to New York City to participate in The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) as a developmental reading. For Tonight's story is inspired by the life of the writer's great-great-great-grandfather in the 1830's in Northern Wales/Liverpool. With its indie-rock inspired score and a completely original book, this story focuses on the universal themes of love, family and acceptance. The show will have three performances at The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row in July 2014.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival presents its special opening night launch event 'MEETING OUR HEROES: A Tribute to the Composers Who Inspire Us' at The Laurie Beechman Theater at The West Bank Cafe (407 West 42nd Street) tonight, July 7 at 7:00 PM.

This week's featured composers are Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin, and Jason SweetTooth Williams whose song 'Spin Those Records' from their new musical Annie Golden: Bounty Hunter, Yo! was sung by the legend herself at their concert at 54 Below. You may recognize Annie Golden from the hit TV show 'Orange is the New Black' or from the Original Broadway Cast of HAIR. Today, we are thrilled to share a clip of the song written for Annie by Joe Iconis, Lance Rubin, and Jason SweetTooth Williams!

Since I attended more than 50 shows over the past eight months (a few more than once)--the large majority of which were reviewed on these web pages—I felt I had more than enough cabaret show inventory to present my second-annual “Mid-Year Cabaret Review” citing the “20 Best Cabaret Shows and Performances” for the first half of 2014. Since the eligibility period for 2014 BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Award consideration begins with shows staged since last November (late October if it was the first of a run), I've included a few of those late 2013 shows in this group. And with the announcement of the BWW Award nominees just four months away, I've offered some projections on the Award categories for which these shows very well might receive consideration.

Casting has been announced for the new edition of Marc Eardley's EPIC FAIL directed by Marc Eardleyand presented Off-Broadway at The Laurie Beechman Theater by Graydon Gund and The New York Musical Theatre Festival. There will be three performances of EPIC FAIL July 8th at 9:30, and July 12th at 5:00 and 8:00pm. Tickets for EPIC FAIL went on sale June 16th.