Lee Graham News

Usdan Center for the Creative and Performing Arts (www.usdan.com), the renowned Long Island summer arts day camp whose 48th season kicked off today, features award-winning and fast-rising professional artists of music, dance and theater on its unique Festival Concerts series.

It feels like it could have been written yesterday, but THE COLORED MUSEUM, now in a rollicking revival at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, Mass., was actually first produced in 1986. Written by the estimable Broadway playwright and director George C. Wolfe (Jelly's Last Jam, Angels in America: Millennium Approaches) and directed here with great panache by Tony Award winner Billy Porter (Kinky Boots), this scathing "black black comedy" marches through 300 years of African American history by way of 11 funny but also penetrating living vignettes.

The Colored Museum presents 11 hilarious 'exhibits' of African-American culture - from the depths of the Celebrity Slaveship to the spinning heights of Harlem. Scroll down for a first look at the cast in action!

Catch up on the week's biggest stories from Broadway and beyond in BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures,' featuring coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights, and more. Highlights this week include coverage of a performance preview of FINDING NEVERLAND, SYTYCD winner Ricky Ubeda joining the cast of ON THE TOWN, Roundabout Theatre Company's annual Spring Gala celebrating Helen Mirren, and more!

The Colored Museum presents 11 hilarious 'exhibits' of African-American culture - from the depths of the Celebrity Slaveship to the spinning heights of Harlem. Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe's groundbreaking comedy has electrified, discomforted, and delighted audiences of all colors, skewering stereotypes and redefining what it means to be black in contemporary America. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Billy Porter, it features a wonderful cast with terrific music and dancing, and is a great night out at the theatre. Check out a sneak peek below!

The Colored Museum presents 11 hilarious 'exhibits' of African-American culture - from the depths of the Celebrity Slaveship to the spinning heights of Harlem. Tony Award winner George C. Wolfe's groundbreaking comedy has electrified, discomforted, and delighted audiences of all colors, skewering stereotypes and redefining what it means to be black in contemporary America. Directed and choreographed by Tony Award winner Billy Porter, it features a wonderful cast with terrific music and dancing, and is a great night out at the theatre.

Storyform Studios, a New York-based digital media startup, has launched an original comedy series this week titled Connection Unavailable. The show revolves around the neurotic-but-lovable members of a therapy group for social media addicts, and in a fitting twist is told across more than 20 real social media accounts, blogs, and websites belonging to these very characters seeking help (albeit in some cases half-heartedly). Viewers can follow the plot through collected 'episodes' of short video, images and text on the show's main website, cuseries.com.

LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK is the continuing concert series featuring dynamic, glamorous evenings of eclectic entertainment that celebrate the best of New York City's cultural landscape, in the tradition of The Players, the historic club where the series is presented. Curated and hosted by Emmy Award winning composer/performer Lance Horne, LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK is dedicated to presenting celebrated music, theater and cabaret stars as well as introducing dynamic rising talent. LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK will present its next evening, LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK: LOVE at The Players (16 Gramercy Park, Manhattan) on Monday, February 9th, 2015 at 8:00 PM. Special guests for this Valentines edition will include Lauren Elder (Side Show, Hair); Fair Play, the musical trio featuring original Once cast members David Abeles, Will Connolly, and Tony nominee Elizabeth A. Davis; Tony nominee Karine Plantadit (After Midnight, Come Fly Away, Movin' Out); composer/pianist Samora Pinderhughes and co-Juilliard Jazzers Riley & Jehbreal ; and the legendary Marti Stevens, protégé of Marlene Deitrich and original cast member of London's Company, High Spirits, and No Strings). Mr. Horne is the evening's Musical Director. Tickets, starting at $25, are now available online at http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/1178948.

Today we are talking to an instantly recognizable stage stalwart who has lit up Broadway and beyond for more than three decades since her debut in William Finn's IN TROUSERS - the one and only Mary Testa. Discussing all aspects of her exemplary new album created in collaboration with acclaimed orchestrator Michael Starobin, HAVE FAITH, Testa imparts the impetus behind the concept album and outlines what motivated the wildly eclectic song choices included on the release - ranging from the Beach Boys, Prince and Aerosmith to Michael John LaChiusa, William Finn, Jill Sobule and many more. Furthermore, Testa eloquently describes the fascinating and compelling theme upon which the album is based - the journey of a soul through life; ostensibly a search for faith - and relates the sonic experience to her own spiritual pursuits. Additionally, Testa clues us in on what we can expect from her upcoming promotional concert appearances alongside Starobin in support of the album, as well, kicking off with a concert at Barnes & Noble next week along with a series of shows at the Laurie Beechman Theater. Reflecting on the various ways in which she has seen the theatre transform over the course of her career thus far, Testa also sheds some light on many of her most celebrated roles to date, including IN TROUSERS, THE RINK, XANADU, 42nd STREET, MARIE CHRISTINE, SEE WHAT I WANNA SEE, QUEEN OF THE MIST, GUYS & DOLLS, A NEW BRAIN, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, LUCKY STIFF, CHICAGO, WICKED and more. All of that, playing Barbara Bush in FIRST DAUGHTER SUITE and much, much more with one of Broadway's most reliably entertaining and endlessly inventive regulars.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, November 16 at 9:30 PM to continue its landmark 6th season. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice.

LIVE FROM GRAMERCY PARK at The Players with LANCE HORNE - the new concert series dedicated to presenting the best music, theater and cabaret stars along with dynamic rising talent - will take place tonight, October 27th at 8:30 PM.

Casting has been announced and a complete schedule is set for SUMMERWORKS 2014 - the annual season of new plays presented by the four-time Obie Award-winning theater company Clubbed Thumb -- it has been announced by Maria Striar, Clubbed Thumb's Producing Artistic Director. SUMMERWORKS 2014 will be presented May 30 to July 5 at The Wild Project (195 E. 3rd St.) in Manhattan. Single tickets are now on sale for $18, students tickets are $15 and festival passes are $45. Tickets can be purchased at www.clubbedthumb.org or by calling OvationTix at (866) 811-4111. SUMMERWORKS 2014 will feature productions of three new plays: 41-DERFUL written and directed by Jenny Schwartz; I'M PRETTY f**kED UP by Ariel Stess, directed by Kip Fagan, and 16 WORDS OR LESS by Peggy Stafford, directed by Portia Krieger.

Beginning March 17th, Bar Nana will host 'Cabaret on the Rocks.' Each Monday night at 9PM (doors at 8PM), top Broadway performers will bring live music and entertainment to the intimate scene of Bar Nana. Below is a list of performers and their scheduled dates.

Cabaret is one of the most commonly known musicals in the world which means audiences are going to come in with expectations. Now, what does that mean for a new production of it? It means the crew and cast want to try new things to make it feel fresh. That is exactly what Playhouse in the Park's production did, they tried new things and some things worked and others did not.

Show-stopping choreography. Unforgettable songs. Playhouse audiences are invited to take a seat at the Kit Kat Club as the excitement of big Broadway musicals returns to the Robert S. Marx Theatre stage with CABARET, now playing through Nov. 16. English singer Sally Bowles and American novelist Clifford Bradshaw fall into a stormy romance as Nazi influence rises in pre-war Berlin and the political axis shifts. Check out a first look below!

Show-stopping choreography. Unforgettable songs. Playhouse audiences are invited to take a seat at the Kit Kat Club as the excitement of big Broadway musicals returns to the Robert S. Marx Theatre stage with CABARET, from Oct. 19 through Nov. 16. English singer Sally Bowles and American novelist Clifford Bradshaw fall into a stormy romance as Nazi influence rises in pre-war Berlin and the political axis shifts.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis kicks off their season with a lively and captivating production of CABARET, Kander and Ebb's dark and cynical examination of life in Berlin prior to Hitler's ascension. This sleek, sexy, abrasive and poignant musical is solidly performed by both the cast, and the musicians portraying the Kit Kat Club house band. There's a lot of fine theatre taking place in St. Louis at the moment, but you'd be doing yourself a disservice if you didn't take the time to check out this decadent delight.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents the sensational musical Cabaret, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge. This classic American musical will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, tonight, September 11-October 6, 2013.

The Repertory Theatre of St. Louis (The Rep) presents the sensational musical Cabaret, with book by Joe Masteroff, music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb, and directed and choreographed by Tony Award nominee Marcia Milgrom Dodge. The production stars Nathan Lee Graham, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, and Liz Pearce. This classic American musical will be performed on the Browning Mainstage of the Loretto-Hilton Center for the Performing Arts, 130 Edgar Road (on the campus of Webster University), Webster Groves, September 11-October 6, 2013. Check out the promotional shots below!

Today we are talking a phenomenally talented performer known for his decades treading the boards in a number of featured and lead roles, most recently wowing crowds with his turn as one of the title characters in THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS - the engaging and golden-voiced Norm Lewis. Discussing many of his most celebrated roles as well as some more obscure, Lewis paints a vivid picture of his career trajectory thus far and shares compelling and candid stories of working on productions as varied and diverse as the original Broadway versions of THE WHO'S TOMMY, SIDE SHOW, THE WILD PARTY, AMOUR, THE LITTLE MERMAID and SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM as well as his sensational work regionally in projects such as his recent essaying of Javert in LES MISERABLES at The Muny (to say nothing of the 25th Anniversary live at the 02) as well as turns in SWEENEY TODD and THE WIZARD & I: THE MUSIC OF STEPHEN SCHWARTZ among many others. Additionally, Lewis sheds some light on his recent onscreen work, clueing us in on how he became involved with hit nighttime soap SCANDAL and how he enjoyeds working with co-stars Kerry Washington and Tony Goldwyn on it - and if we will possibly see him in Season Three, perhaps. Plus, Lewis opens up about his upcoming solo gigs and performing plans - including first news on his starring part in the upcoming Public Theater musical version of THE TEMPEST - as well as touches upon a host of topics ranging from his appearances at spectacular special events - DREAMGIRLS: IN CONCERT, HAIR: IN CONCERT, TWO GENTLEMEN OF VERONA in the Park - to his appearance in SEX & THE CITY 2 (opposite Liza Minnelli) to recording studio work, dream projects, future goals, favorite workshop/reading experiences and much, much more!