With original stars Len Cariou, Penny Fuller & Lee Roy Reams, 54 Below reunited three of the original stars of this Strouse/Adams/Comden/Green smash musical Applause, in celebration of a most cherished score. The trio reminisced and re-lived adored songs such as The Best Night of My Life, Think How It's Gonna Be & One Hallowe'en along with the amazing supporting cast. Check out photos from the special event 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:
This April, May and June at 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.
The late impresario David Merrick will be celebrated at the Gala Benefit marking the 25th anniversary of the Ma-Yi Theater Company - one of the nation's leading Asian American theater troupes - on Monday, March 24 at 6 pm the Hudson Theater (145 W. 44 St.) in Manhattan, it has been announced by Jorge Ortoll, the company's executive director.
Urban Stages Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and producer Peter Napolitano present the World Premiere of Character Man. Jim Brochu's new musical memoir now at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street), with opening night set for Today March 5th. This limited run will continue through March 30th only. Robert Bartley directs, with musical direction by Carl Haan.
On Saturday evening, March 1st at 7:30pm Pace University presented American Showstoppers, with the 13-piece Fred Barton Orchestra, AN EVENING OF JERRY HERMAN. The evening was directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson and produced, orchestrated and hosted by Fred Barton, and starred Klea Blackhurst, Toni DiBuono, Jeffry Denman, Tari Kelly, Damon Kirsche, Beth Leavel, Karen Murphy and the inimitable Lee Roy Reams. The cast also featured Lianne Marie Dobbs, AJ Hunsucker, Jesse Luttrell and the Scott Thompson dancers. Click below to watch some of the evening's performances!
On Saturday evening, March 1st at 7:30pm Pace University presented American Showstoppers, with the 13 piece Fred Barton Orchestra, AN EVENING OF JERRY HERMAN. The evening was directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson and produced, orchestrated and hosted by Fred Barton, and starred Klea Blackhurst, Toni DiBuono, Jeffry Denman, Tari Kelly, Damon Kirsche, Beth Leavel, Karen Murphy and the inimitable Lee Roy Reams. The cast also featured Lianne Marie Dobbs, AJ Hunsucker, Jesse Luttrell and the Scott Thompson dancers. Check out a look back at the evening below!
Urban Stages Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and producer Peter Napolitano present the World Premiere of Character Man. Jim Brochu's new musical memoir now at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street), with opening night set for Wednesday March 5th. This limited run will continue through March 30th only. Robert Bartley directs, with musical direction by Carl Haan.
Phil Geoffrey Bond will direct FUNNY GIRL, as part of 54 Sings' series, and will feature Carole J. Bufford, Donna Lynne Champlin, Tovah Feldshuh, Debbie Gravitte, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Karen Mason, Julia Murney, Molly Pope, Emily Skinner, John Tartaglia, Donna Vivino and special guest star Mimi Hines.
THEATER TALK celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Hello, Dolly! with a trio of guests, each with a different association with the long-running show. Actress Sondra Lee was the production's original Minnie Fay; Lee Roy Reams was Cornelius in the 1978 revival and directed the second revival in 1995; and dancer Marge Champion, married to the show's director-choreographer Gower Champion, was present at the show's creation. The 1964 mega-hit was a musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, with a book by Michael Stewart, score by 26-year-old Jerry Herman and produced by the notorious David Merrick. The show's original cast included: Carol Channing, David Burns, Charles Nelson Reilly, Eileen Brennan and Ms. Lee. It ran for a record-breaking 2,844 performances from Jan. 15, 1964 to Dec. 27, 1970 and won 10 Tony Awards, a record it held for 35 years.
The newest THEATER TALK features A Tribute to Jerry Herman - occasioned by the 50th Anniversary of Herman's Hello, Dolly!, featuring anecdotes and performances by Lee Roy Reams, Klea Blackhurst and Fred Barton - and A Romance in Radio with actor Richard Seff reminiscing about his career in radio when the medium was at its peak and just beginning to lose ground to TV in the 1950s.
The newest THEATER TALK features A Tribute to Jerry Herman - occasioned by the 50th Anniversary of Herman's Hello, Dolly!, featuring anecdotes and performances by Lee Roy Reams, Klea Blackhurst and Fred Barton - and A Romance in Radio with actor Richard Seff reminiscing about his career in radio when the medium was at its peak and just beginning to lose ground to TV in the 1950s.
Today we are talking to a legendary leading lady famous for a few of the most iconic roles in some of the most memorable musicals of the 1980s and 1990s as well as a versatile vocalist and concert performer set to make her cabaret debut later this month - the ingratiating and amusing Randy Graff. Looking back at originating the role of Fantine in the original Broadway production of mega-hit mega musical LES MISERABLES and singing the unforgettable 'I Dreamed A Dream' eight times a week (and on the best-selling cast recording) as well as recounting her Tony Award-winning work in the endlessly entertaining Cy Coleman/David Zippel musical comedy CITY OF ANGELS, Graff share stories from behind the scenes and gives us a rare look at theatrical history in the making and her elemental role in both productions. Additionally, Graff opens up about some of her other most fondly remembered work, including her fantastic turn in Ed Kleban's A CLASS ACT, William Finn's FALSETTOS, Cole Porter's HIGH SOCIETY, the stage play and documentary MOON OVER BUFFALO co-starring Carol Burnett, the most recent revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF and much more. Most importantly, Graff generously outlines what we can expect from her upcoming solo shows at NYC hotspot 54 Below titled MADE IN BROOKLYN, in what will actually be the stalwart star's solo show premiere. In addition to all of that, Graff also touches upon some of her big screen and small screen work, ranging from LAW & ORDER to RENT, as well as recounts some theatrical tales involving theatre greats such as Stephen Sondheim, Leonard Bernstein, John Simon and more. All of that and much, much more awaits in this rich resume recounting retrospective with one of Broadway's best!
On Saturday evening, March 1st at 7:30pm Pace University will present American Showstoppers, with the 13 piece Fred Barton Orchestra, AN EVENING OF JERRY HERMAN. The evening is directed and choreographed by Scott Thompson and produced, orchestrated and hosted by Fred Barton.
Over the weekend, Richard Skipper kicked off a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of HELLO, DOLLY! with members of the original Broadway cast! In attendence for the special reunion were Nicole Barth (Original cast), Paul Berne (dancer, Original Company), Carleton Carpenter and Johnny Beecher (Sheridan (Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker: Mary Martin International Company), Wayne Clark (first National Company with Carol Channing), John Anthony Gilvey, David Hartman (Rudolph and Stage Manager: Original Company), Charles Karel (Original cast), Jan LaPrad (Original Company dancer), Joan 'Buttons' Leonard (original company), Bob Lydiard (Cornelius Hackl, Carol's first Broadway Revival), Lee Roy Reams (Cornelius Hackl 1977 tour and Broadway Revival, director 1996 Broadway tour and Revival),Megan Thomas (Carol's last tour), Andrea Bell (started with Carol Channing, as Ermengarde at the age of seventeen, in Carol's FIRST national tour as well as other productions.) Ron Young (dancer original cast).
BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos from the reunion below!
Richard Skipper is kicking off a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of HELLO, DOLLY! with members of the original Broadway cast!
Scheduled to appear: Nicole Barth (Original cast), Paul Berne (dancer, Original Company), Carleton Carpenter and Johnny Beecher (Sheridan (Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker: Mary Martin International Company), Wayne Clark (first National Company with Carol Channing), John Anthony Gilvey: Author, Before the Parade Passes By: Gower Champion and the Glorious American Musical (click here), David Hartman (Rudolph and Stage Manager: Original Company), Charles Karel (Original cast), Jan LaPrad (Original Company dancer), Joan 'Buttons' Leonard (original company), Bob Lydiard (Cornelius Hackl, Carol's first Broadway Revival), Lee Roy Reams (Cornelius Hackl 1977 tour and Broadway Revival, director 1996 Broadway tour and Revival), Megan Thomas (Carol's last tour), Andrea Bell (started with Carol Channing, as Ermengarde at the age of seventeen, in Carol's FIRST national tour as well as other productions.) Ron Young (dancer original cast).
Richard Skipper will be kicking off a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of Hello, Dolly with members of the original Broadway cast! Flea market: 12:30 - 2:00- Great place to find music sheets, tapes, CD's etc. Members may bring their CD's to sell at the CD table.
Urban Stages, in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano have announced additions to WINTER RHYTHMS 2013 performer line-up now running throughSunday, December 15, 2013 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $30 per show (unless otherwise noted).Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.
