Laurie Beechman News

Some of the best designers from Broadway, Project Runway and fashion come out to design one of a kind backpacks for Help Is On The Way Today's Project Backpack drive designer auction. Help Is On The Way Today is a non-for-profit organization that helps and assists children living with HIV and AIDS in New York City. The mission of the organization is to step in when government agencies fall short. Founded by Joseph Macchia in 2006, Help Is On The Way Today works with clinics, hospitals, and group homes in the Tri State Area.

Katie Thompson was last seen in Michael John LaChusia's GIANT at The Signature Theater in Washington D.C. where she recieved rave reviews! In New York she has performed in workshops for Duncan Sheik's The Lighthouse Project, Michael John LaChusia's Giant and Scott Alan's Piece, and sang at Broadway's Acoustic Soul and Broadway Loves Country as the only performer not IN a Broadway show.

Cabaret Cares the monthly benefit series that raises funds for Broadway Cares Equity Fights AIDS and Help Is On The Way Today returns in August. Created in 2005 by cabaret producer Joseph Macchia Cabaret Cares was created to help raise funds for Broadway Cares. The series was then a weekly summer series at Helen's cabaret room that brought together the best of the Broadway and Cabaret community.

August is Joan Rivers month! On August 5th, TV Land premieres 'How'd You Get So Rich?' hosted by the legendary comedian. On August 9th, the Comedy Central Roast of Joan Rivers will air. And on August 4th, the legendary comedian returns to Times Square for 6 performances. Rivers will present 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).

Broadway Sessions w/ Ben D is thrilled to welcome Katie Thompson and the music of Bobby Cronin July 28th.

The fifth year of the acclaimed series, ?Monday Nights, New Voices,' will continue on July 27th, with special guest host, Carly Jibson, who is was most recently seen in Broadway's Crybaby.

Josh Young presents Cutting-Edge Composers, A New Generation of Musical Theater Songwriters

Rosemary and Time is an inspired title for Liz McCartney's tribute to the late Rosemary Clooney, an amalgam of Clooney's songs and a biographical walk through a famous life.

Friday July 24th THE AFTER PARTY is thrilled to welcome In The Heights' DOREEN MONTALVO, hosted by BRANDON CUTRELL and featuring RAY FELLMAN at the piano with BECCA JOHNSON and GABRIELLE STRAVELLI.

The mission of The 9/11 Report: A Bipartisan Musical Fantasia is to humanize the players of the event and to encourage discussion. The piece is an innovative, edgy, thought-provoking original work, which combines elements of song, dance and theatre to examine the details of The 9/11Report.

On Friday, July 31st, composer/lyricist Rob Shapiro will present Easily Distracted: Songs of Rob Shapiro at the Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Katie Thompson was last seen in Michael John LaChusia's GIANT at The Signature Theater in Washington D.C. where she recieved rave reviews! In New York she has performed in workshops for Duncan Sheik's The Lighthouse Project, Michael John LaChusia's Giant and Scott Alan's Piece, and sang at Broadway's Acoustic Soul and Broadway Loves Country as the only performer not IN a Broadway show.

Friday July 17th THE AFTER PARTY is thrilled to welcome Hair's ANDREW KOBER plus Cashino's SUSIE MOSHER featuring Avenue Q's MARK HARTMAN at the piano.

YALE REPERTORY THEATRE (James Bundy, Artistic Director; Victoria Nolan, Managing Director) will present the world premiere of POP!, a new musical with book and lyrics by Maggie-Kate Coleman and music by Anna K. Jacobs, directed by Mark Brokaw, at Yale Repertory Theatre (1120 Chapel Street), November 27-December 19, 2009. Opening Night is December 3.

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, Ergo Theatre Company and Erica Ruff present REACH THE SKY: A Live CD Concert Event featuring the music of BOBBY CRONIN

Josh Young presents Cutting-Edge Composers, A New Generation of Musical Theater Songwriters

The fifth year of the acclaimed series, ?Monday Nights, New Voices,' will continue on July 27th, with special guest host, Carly Jibson, who is was most recently seen in Broadway's Crybaby.

Rosemary and Time is an inspired title for Liz McCartney's tribute to the late Rosemary Clooney, an amalgam of Clooney's songs and a biographical walk through a famous life.

Tonight, Friday, July 10th THE AFTER PARTY is thrilled to welcome back Guys and Dolls' TITUSS BURGESS plus we say goodbye (but only for five months!) to ALYSHA UMPHRESS. Alysha has been cast in the new Green Day musical American Idiot. She leaves us to begin rehearsals before heading to Berkeley Repertory Theatre, which is where the show will premiere.

On Friday July 3rd members of the San Francisco casts of ?Wicked' and ?Spamalot' will join Composer and Lyricist Scott Alan for a concert of his songbook at the Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko.