Laurie Beechman News

Hilarious music duo MEL & EL are back with a brand new edition of their long- running monthly comedy show. THE MEL & EL SHOW returns to NYC at Stage 72, 158 W. 72 Street, tonight, April 25th at 7:00PM.

Theatre professionals who missed IDAHO! at NYMF will have an opportunity to see it in staged reading this Friday, April 25th only. The new musical, named 'Best of Fest' was met with cascades of laughter during its sold-out run, prompting the festival to add extra performances. The show has been described as "a rollicking satire that takes the sexually-charged subtext of the classic musical and puts it front and center." One four-time Tony winning producer called it simply, "A hoot and a half!"

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming performances, running tomorrow, April 23 through May 4, 2014. Details below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

CrAzYToWn: my first psychopath, is creative arts therapist Jude Treder-Wolff's comic take - and true story - about a shocking encounter with a deceptive, dangerous person - the nicest guy you never want to meet. It is an insanely funny look at how working in psychiatry right about the time of savage funding cuts helps an over-eager therapist get over herself…when nothing else seemed to be working. 55% funnier than any other show with "psychopath" in the title - according to research studies we just made up.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre has announced their lineup of cabaret and comedy events for the months of May and June 2014. Check out all the dates and details below!

Shana Farr brought her solo show 'In The Still Of The Night' to the Laurie Beechman Theatre last night. Taking the audience on a musical and poetic journey through the words and music of two of the 20th century's greatest and most prolific songwriters and poets - Noel Coward and Cole Porter, it was an evening of wit, flamboyance, chic and cheek, urbanity and elegance!

4@15: Four New Fifteen-Minute Musicals, performed in conjunction with University of California, Irvine, will commence performances Friday, April 18 and Saturday, April 19, for three performances only at the Playroom Theater. Tammy Holder serves as Music Director; Brian Blythe directs.

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, April 17th, Broadway Sessions goes #Hendynation with Broadway vet Jessica Hendy and more.

CINDERELLA's Todd Buonopane performed 'Everybody's Girl' at Broadway Sessions on April 3rd, 2014. Click below to watch him sing!

Plaid Bird Productions in celebration of Blossom Dearie's 90th Birthday (April 28th, 1924) will present Jaye Maynard in 'Bird Amongst the Blossom-A Tribute to the First Blossom Dearie Songbook' on Sunday, April 27th at The Hour Glass Tavern in a Jazz Brunch 1pm, show at 2pm and Monday, April 28th at Don't Tell Mama. House opens 8:45; show at 9:15pm.

Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Eddie Marrero and his Big Band Orchestra 'Con Amor, A Concert Fiesta,' Monday, May 5 at 7 pm in the Laurie Beechman Theatre at West Bank Cafe in Times Square. Eddie Marrero is bringing plenty of Latin heat to rat-pack era standards from his latest album: 'Con Amor,' a compilation of classic songs made famous by the likes of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin and Nat King Cole such as All of Me, Besame Mucho, My Way, I've Got You Under My Skin, and many others. The Songs are performed in Spanish and English in what can only be described as a thrilling experience that is not to be missed; where cultural barriers are broken and Latin Jazz and Pop take on new meaning as they soar into the stratosphere in the universal language of love. The Great American Songbook never sounded so good and will have audiences dancing in their seats if not on their feet. Caliente!

After sold-out performances in New York City and her hometown of San Francisco, cabaret singer Carly Ozard will debut her latest show Midler on the Roof at 4:30 p.m. Sunday, May 25, 2014 at cabaret institution The Duplex, 61 Christopher Street at 7th Avenue in New York City. Tickets are $10 (plus a 2-drink minimum) and advance reservations are highly recommended by contacting (212) 255-5438 or www.theduplex.com.

Cabaret Cares/Help Is On The Way Today, a 501c non-profit organization founded by MAC Award winning producer, Joseph Macchia, will hold its annual fundraising gala (cocktails, auction, dinner, show) on May 18th at the Laurie Beechman Theater, featuring a live show with many of New York's favorite performers who donate their time and talent to this wonderful event.

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!

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.

Celebrate some of the most memorable musical moments from Broadway, featuring stars of some of Broadway's biggest hit musicals, when Mayo Performing Arts Center presents Broadway Showstoppers! tonight, April 12, 2014 at 8 pm. Tickets are $29-49.

Jeremy Kushnier, Leenya Rideout, and Jarvis Darrell will lead an army of nerds on parade in the Un-Ironically Enthusiastic concert, showcasing original songs by original geeks featuring famous noobs and all the cool kids, on Saturday May 3.

'Something New' Episode 211: Dan Radzikowski / Broadway Sessions In Episode 210, award-winning musical theatre writer Joel B. New sat down (via Skype) with Dan Radzikowski, a voice teacher/coach, performer and music director.

PATTI ISSUES - the hit solo play hailed as 'heartfelt and cleverly constructed' ' by The Boston Globe and called 'spellbinding, one of the best (and now longestrunning) offerings of the year,' by The Village Voice - is set to play Miami Beach on Friday, May 9th at 8 PM (presented by legendary Broadway and concert producer-director Richard Jay-Alexander in association with Edison Farrow and South Beach Cabaret) at The Cabaret South Beach (233 12th Street, Miami Beach, FL 33139), return engagements in San Francisco (Wednesday, May 14th at 7 PM and at 9 PM at Rebel,1760 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94102), Los Angeles (Thursday, May 15th at 7:30 PM and at 9 PM at the Cavern Club Celebrity Theater at Casita Del Campo,1920 Hyperion Ave, Los Angeles, CA 90027) and Fire Island Pines (Saturday, July 26th at 10 PM at Fire Island Pines Pavilion, Fire Island Pines, NY 11782), as well as two performances as an Official Selection of the Adelaide Cabaret Festival on Saturday, June 21st at 4 PM and 7:30 PM at the Space Theatre, King William Road, Adelaide, SA 5000, Australia. Tickets for all shows at www.PattiIssues.com.