Laurie Beechman News

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL has announced the performers for their 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) on Monday, July 7 at 7:00 PM. Jeremiah Ginn (Murder for Two), Janet Krupin (If/Then, Bring It On: The Musical), Charlotte Maltby (Les Miserables at the Muny) and Bryce Ryness (Fly By Night, First Date, Hair), will help four emerging songwriters celebrate four of musical theater's most celebrated composers. An intimate, history-making night of songs and stories, this one-night-only concert opens NYMF with music from established and new writers alike and honors the individuals who have made an indelible mark on the musical theater community.

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 Lobby Project, a series of free pre-show events presented in conjunction with New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center series, will feature a free pre-show event before the Today, June 28 performance of Jonathan Larson's tick, tick… BOOM!. 54 Below Meets 55 Above will feature selections of Larson's rarely heard work, curated by Jennifer Tepper (programming director of the cabaret venue 54 Below) sung by Broadway performers Nick Blaemire, Joe Iconis, Anne L. Nathan, Taylor Trensch and Alysha Umphress.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival will launch this season with a special opening night 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) on Monday, July 7 at 7:00 PM. Four of musical theater's most celebrated composers will appear to be honored by four emerging songwriters for an intimate, history-making night of songs and stories, as they pay tribute to the writers who inspire us. Featuring a cast of Broadway friends, this one-night-only concert opens NYMF with music from established and new writers alike and honors the individuals who have made an indelible mark on the musical theater community.

Longtime theatrical Ad Man, Peter LeDonne, is now a New York radio host on 970 AM The Answer with Backstage with Peter LeDonne. Peter's show airs every Sunday from 12 Noon to 1 PM. He will have special guests from the world of entertainment and will provide listeners with all the information they need to know about what's going on in New York City's live entertainment scene.

After sold out runs in Australia, the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Three Fish Productions presents Der Gelbe Stern (The Yellow Star) a new musical conceived and performed by NYMF's 'Next Broadway Sensation' winner Alexis Fishman*, written by James Millar & Alexis Fishman. Der Gelbe Stern is directed by Sharone Halevy and is being staged in its U.S. premiere at The Laurie Beechman Theater @ West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th & 10th Avenues) in NYC for five performances from Monday, July 14 through Monday, July 21, 2014. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

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. Tonight, June 26th, Broadway Sessions will offer it's 3rd annual New York Musical Theater Festival sneak peek. Several of the festival's featured musicals will be on hand to present songs from their shows.

ALADDIN's leading lady Courtney Reed performed 'Gravity' at BROADWAY SESSIONS on May 23rd. Watch her sing the Sara Bareilles tune below!

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

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present THIS IS 30! a special one-night-only engagement on July 9th, 2014 at 9pm at The Laurie Beechman Theater at the West Bank Cafe.

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.

Legendary comedian Joan Rivers continues to make The Laurie Beechman Theatre in Times Square her performance home in New York City. Rivers presents an evening of her newest and most outrageous riffs on Hollywood, pop culture, celebrities, and award show fashions at The Laurie Beechman Theatre inside the West Bank Cafe (407 West 42nd Street at Ninth Avenue).

Contributing composers have been announced for the a new edition of Marc Eardley's EPIC FAIL directed by Marc Eardley and 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.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) will present two concert performances of the original musical Sing Me Home Sunday, July 20 at 8 p.m. and Monday, July 21 at 1 p.m.

Cabaret performers thinking about launching duo shows could certainly take a lesson in chemistry from watching and listening to singer Karen Oberlin and guitarist Sean Harkness in their current show, A Wish, which is based on their superb recently released CD of the same title, launched with two shows at Kitano on February 1 (to celebrate the CD release), and has taken up a once a month residency until late August at the Metropolitan Room (the next show is on June 25 at 9:30 pm). While theirs is not a romantic off-stage chemistry (both are happily quite happily married, thank you), on stage and in the recording studio Oberlin and Harkness have concocted a delicious musical interaction that conjures up romance to the nth degree.

Two years ago, The New Ohio Theatre and IRT Theater (new neighbors in the historic Archive Building on Christopher Street) kicked-off their exciting new developing and presenting initiative: the Archive Residency. The Archive Residency offers select independent theatre companies a two-year commitment of space, artistic support, and institutional continuity for the development and presentation of a new work. Now in their second-year of the Archive Residency the companies are ready to show the fruits of this process. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) in association with Chinese Mother Jewish Daughter, LLC present Rescue Rue, a new musical fairytale with puppets; Concept, Book and Additional Lyrics by Stacey Weingarten, and Music and Lyrics by Kate Steinberg & Joshua Zecher-Ross. Stacey Weingarten directs a cast of seven including Jennifer Barnhart* (Bway: Avenue Q), Nate Begle(Off Bway: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), Sarah Liz Haines* (Off Bway: Freckle Face Strawberry), Jason Jacoby* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Lisa Helmi Johanson* (Off Bway: Avenue Q), Brendan Malafronte (Nat. Tour: John Tartaglia's ImaginOcean), and Gretchen Wylder* (Off Bway: 'Til Divorce Do Us Part). Rescue Rue will be staged at the Ford Foundation Studio Theatre at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street (bet. 9th and 10th Avenues) in NYC for five performances from July 8-20, 2014. A special TDF Autism-Friendly performance will be held at July 20th at 11am. The Pershing Square Signature Center is the official hub of The New York Musical Theatre Festival. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

NiCori Studios and Productions in association with the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', on Sunday, June 22, at 3pm. Performers include Eric Yves Garcia, 4th Wall Theatre and Carole J. Bufford. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Samy Cordero.

Former Mouseketeer and musical theatre & club favorite Lindsey Alley is thrilled to present the Los Angeles premiere of her all-new show, BLOOD, SWEAT & MOUSEKETEARS for ONE NIGHT ONLY, tonight, June 10 at the Cavern Club Theatre at Casita Del Campo, 1920 Hyperion Ave. in Silverlake.

The Lobby Project, a series of free pre-show events presented in conjunction with New York City Center's Encores! Off-Center series, will feature a free pre-show event before the Saturday, June 28 performance of Jonathan Larson's tick, tick… BOOM!. 54 Below Meets 55 Above will feature selections of Larson's rarely heard work, curated by Jennifer Tepper (programming director of the cabaret venue 54 Below) sung by Broadway performers Nick Blaemire, Joe Iconis, Anne L. Nathan, Taylor Trensch and Alysha Umphress.