Lea Black News

Tonight at Birdland - for the first time since it debuted in Nashville in 2012 - a New York audience will finally have the opportunity to hear Marvin Hamlisch's final theatrical score for Nutty Professor, the musical based on the iconic Jerry Lewis film.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its December 2015 schedule, featuring Saxophone Summit: Joe Lovano, Dave Liebman and Greb Osby, Eliane Elias, The Birdland Big Band, Lesli Margherita, Swingin' Birdland Christmas, Freddy Cole, Jim Caruso's Cast Party and more!

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director, Peter Napolitano, Producer/Director of Musical Programming) today announced the line-up for this year's Award-Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2 and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre. WINTER RHYTHMS 2015 marks the seventh year that Urban Stages has brought noted musical artists to its stage during the holiday period. The mission of Winter Rhythms is to bring the talents of known and unknown singers, musicians, lyricists and composers to the attention of the New York theater community while performing at Urban Stages Theater. Winner of the 2015 Ruth Kurtzman Benefit Series MAC Award, WINTER RHYTHMS benefits Urban Stages' acclaimed Outreach Program, which brings more than 200 free "arts in education" presentations to libraries and schools throughout the five boroughs. This year's event features 20 shows and more than 100 artists.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Irving Berlin' arrives in town, and screenings of 'Little Shop' and 'Oklahoma!' light 'em up. Jess Godwin sang with Kristin Chenoweth, and a Thanksgiving musical prepares, as do 'Seussical,' 'The Merry Widow' and 'My Way.' And Broadway In Chicago and the Drury Lane Theatre announce lineups for 2016!

Urban Stages announces the line-up for this year's Award Winning Musical event WINTER RHYTHMS 2015, which will begin Wednesday, December 2and will feature some of New York's best musical performances through December 13, 2015 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30thStreet, just East of 8th Avenue). Tickets are $25 per show and may be purchased by visiting urbanstages.org or by calling (866) 811-4111. For complete schedule information, visit urbanstages.org.

The Museum of Discovery and Science announced that it will host the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Kids Love & Family Expo for the second year in a row today, September 12, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and September 13, 2015 from noon to 5 p.m.

The Museum of Discovery and Science announced today that it will host the Joe DiMaggio Children's Hospital Kids Love & Family Expo for the second year in a row on September 12 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and September 13, 2015 from noon to 5 p.m. It will be a fun-filled family-themed weekend event produced by Entercom South Florida 101.5 LITE-FM, Magic 102.7, 790 AM The Ticket and the new 104.3 FM The Shark.

The show recently celebrated the musicals of 1991-2015 - check out a look backstage below!

The Broadway at Birdland Concert Series presented a reading of Stephen Cole and David Evans' musical fable, 'Merman's Apprentice' on Monday, June 15. Directed by Stephen Cole and Amy Burgess, the cast featured PJ Benjamin, Austin Colby, Eddie Korbich, Brian Charles Rooney, Klea Blackhurst, Bill Nolte, Desi Oakley, Sarah Sesler, Anita Gillette, Elizabeth Teeter and F. Michael Haynie, supported by a six piece band with orchestrations by Lynn Shankel. Scroll down for photos!

The brilliant Klea Blackhurst repeated her starring role as the saucy, wisecracking housemaid Hazel in a new musical based on Ted Key's cartoon character Hazel - best known for the 1961-66 TV sitcom of the same name. Titled 'Hazel: A Musical Maid in America', the four Lab Workshop performances were May 28 and 29 at the Lyric Theatre Performance Space in Times Square. Scroll down for a peek at the cast onstage!

To celebrate Ben Rimalower's final night at Oasis in San Francisco tonight performing 'Bad with Money' and 'Patti Issues', take a look back at all the celebrities who came to see him in New York over the last year. After tonight, he continues both shows at The Duplex through April 29. Scroll down for photos!

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, presented an unforgettable one-night only benefit Monday night, The 100 Musicals in Mufti Concert Celebration. The evening honored the acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series and its landmark 100th production. All proceeds will benefit The York Theatre Company and the Musicals in Mufti Series.

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, presented an unforgettable one-night only benefit Monday night, The 100 Musicals in Mufti Concert Celebration. The evening honored the acclaimed Musicals in Mufti Series and its landmark 100th production. All proceeds will benefit The York Theatre Company and the Musicals in Mufti Series.

There are eight million stories in the Naked City-and a song to go with each of them. For decades, songwriters - from Porter, Rodgers & Hart and Ellington to Bernstein and Billy Joel have been fueled by this city's places, promises and roller coaster existence. With Lyrics & Lyricists production of New York: Songs of the City, artistic director Deborah Grace Winer had the ultimate show for New Yorkers-or anyone who's ever wanted to be one. Vocalists Klea Blackhurst, Darius de Haas, La Tanya Hall, Leslie Kritzer, Jeffrey Schecter, and pianist/vocalist Billy Stritch-brought the sounds of the city to life on March 21, 22 and 23.

In the fifth year of 'A Swinging Birdland Christmas,' singers Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso, and pianist/singer Billy Stritch have been knocking 'em dead on the stage of the historic jazz club every night.

MR. MAGOO'S CHRISTMAS CAROL, benefitting the The Actors Fund, was held last night, December 15, 2014 at 7:30 pm at The Gerald W. Lynch Theatre at John Jay College. Klea Blackhurst (Radio Gals), Janet Dacal (Wonderland, In the Heights) and Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon (Priscilla Queen of the Desert) were a part of the star studded cast that featured Tony Award nominee Douglas Sills (The Scarlet Pimpernel, Little Shop of Horrors) in the title role.

Abingdon Theatre Company - which has produced more than 83 new American plays in its 22-year history - just celebrated its 2014-2015 Season with ABINGDON: WHERE THE STARS ALIGN, its annual benefit gala and dinner,on October 20 at Espace (635 West 42nd Street in Manhattan). The entertaining evening honored Emmy Award-winning talk show host and actor Dick Cavett, star of Hellman v. McCarthy at Abingdon last season, and philanthropist Dr. Vijay K. Anand, a world-renowned endoscopic sinus surgeon and avid supporter of the arts.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, hosts a three night celebration of one of Broadway and Hollywood's most beloved and prolific wordsmiths with 'Celebrating Adolph Green: 100 Years of Wonderful' this weekend, September 25, 26 and 27 at 7PM. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the event below!

Broadway stars, producers and the Company of Jonathan Brielle's much acclaimed new musical, Himself and Nora about the tumultuous romance of famed writer James Joyce and his muse, lover and most ardent supporter, chambermaid Nora Barnacle, gathered to celebrate the release of the album produced by John Yap for noted theatrical music label Jay Records. Scroll down for photos from the event!

Symphony Space's free signature event, Wall to Wall, took up the theme with Wall to Wall Cabaret on Saturday, May 3. The lineup of nearly 50 performers was a veritable roll call of cabaret icons and rising stars, including Kate Baldwin,Klea Blackhurst, Barbara Carroll, Bill Charlap + Sandy Stewart, Barbara Cook, Judy Gold, Julie Halston, Ute Lemper, Lypsinka, Taylor Mac, Andrea Marcovicci, Marilyn Maye,Andrea McArdle, Jane Monheit, Steve Ross, Billy Stritch, and many more. James Naughton served as the evening's Master of Ceremonies. The distinguished house band for the evening was Russ Kassoff on piano, John Arbo on bass, and John Redsecker on drums.