Lee Summers News

ACAPPELLA, a musical about finding your own voice, conceived by Greg Cooper, with book by Vynnie Meli, music and lyrics by The Acappella Company, direction by Lee Summers and musical direction and arrangements by Evan Feist as an Invited Selection of the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival. Performances run Tuesday, July 7 at 7:00 pm, Friday, July 10 at 5:00 pm, Saturday, July 11 at 9:00 pm, Sunday, July 12 at 12:00 pm, Tuesday, July 14 at 1:00 pm at the PTC Performance Space. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the cast in action!

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Grep Cooper Productions, LLC LLC have announced that Virginia Woodruff (Violet, Leap of Faith, The Color Purple, All Shook Up, Smokey Joe's Cafe), Cheryl A. Freeman (The Who's Tommy , Disney's Hercules), Tyler Hardwick , Anthony Chatmon II , Miche Braden and Darilyn Castillo have joined the cast of ACAPPELLA. Rounding out the company are Katrina R. Dideriksen, Gavyn Pickens, Emily Goglia, Rachel Gavaletz, Janelle McDermoth, Darryl Williams, Alex Koceja and Garrett Turner.

On Monday, Dec 15th 2014 over a 100 artists, musicians, educators, and entrepreneurs gathered in Harlem for Shaun Derik's annual Holiday Jazz and Toy Drive (Shaun Derik's GOOD Night). Shaun Derik is a nationally acclaimed youth empowerment speaker. His clients include the Ohio and Mississippi Departments of Education, National Police Activities League, Pride, FBLA and Big Brothers Big Sister of New York. Shaun Derik's GOOD parties feature live jazz musicians, Broadway performers, an in-house chef as guests come together to benefit a specific cause. This year's cause: Toys for Inner City Children. Scroll down for photos from the event!

On Tuesdays, today, December 2nd and 9th, Wednesday December 3rd @ 7pm, The Triad/Stage72, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts an encore performance of On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue - an homage to the now defunct historical 'Club Harlem.' Club Harlem was an Atlantic City venue, which hosted all 'the greats' such as Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

'On Kentucky Avenue -- The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue' has been presented three or four times a month periodically since February at Stage 72/The Triad, with Cheryl Freeman, Andricka Hall and Ty Stephens co-starring, Because Freeman and Hall both had previous commitments in December and were unable to perform when Stage 72 scheduled three additional performances of 'On Kentucky Avenue' on December 2, 3 and 9 at 7 PM, the producers feel fortunate that they have been able to replace them for these added performances with Tony nominee Brenda Braxton and recording artist Jenny Douglas.

On Tuesdays, December 2nd and 9th, Wednesday December 3rd @ 7pm, The Triad/Stage72, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts an encore performance of On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue - an homage to the now defunct historical "Club Harlem." Club Harlem was an Atlantic City venue, which hosted all "the greats" such as Nancy Wilson, Sammy Davis, Jr., Ella Fitzgerald and many more.

On Monday, November 10th at 9:30pm, Tony Winner, Lillias White returns to The Triad at Stage 72 in GROWN & SEXY part 1. This intimate, unplugged 'Just A Piano' Concert will feature MICHAEL O. MITCHELL (Motown the Musical) on piano and as Musical Director.

ON KENTUCKY AVENUE lives on at STAGE 72/THE TRIAD! The newly revised musical revue, a fictional story about the people and performers who took the stage and filled the tables at the majestic Club Harlem 'on Kentucky Avenue' in the north section of Atlantic City from the 1930s until the late 1980s, has been extended for three Sunday performances on Sept. 7 (3 PM), 14 (3 PM) and 21 (7 PM). Created by Jeree Wade, who performed at the legendary nightclub and who appears in this production as one of its most popular singers Damita Jo, the production focuses on a fictional love triangle, based loosely on fact, between the club's emcee and two of its leading ladies.

Due to popular demand, ON KENTUCKY AVENUE, a newly revised musical revue based loosely on fact (and mostly fiction) about the people and performers who took the stage and filled the tables at the majestic Club Harlem 'on Kentucky Avenue' in the north section of Atlantic City from the 1930s until the late 1980s, will return to STAGE 72/THE TRIAD, 158 West 72nd Street, for five performances in August. The additional performances will take place on Sundays, August 3, 10, 17 and 24 at 3 PM, and Monday, August 4, at 7 PM.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Moldy Fig Productions, LCC present THE SONGS OF CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN, a one night only concert event. With Book by Kevin Ray, Andrea Lepcio & Dominic Taylor; Music and Lyrics by Kevin Ray; and Additional Story by Suellen Vance, the concert will be directed by Lee Summers and is set for tonight, July 22nd at 8 p.m. at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street.

A reading of Harriet, a musical based on the life of Harriet Tubman, will be presented today, July 16, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Sunday, July 20 at 12 p.m. in The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th Avenue & Dyer Avenue). Harriet is an official selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

'On Kentucky Avenue,' the musical revue about the fabled Atlantic City nightclub Club Harlem which reigned supreme in Atlantic City in the years before the casinos came into vogue, has announced that it will be presented for five performances in August at Stage 72/The Triad in preparation for a tour and Broadway production in 2015.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival and Moldy Fig Productions, LCC present THE SONGS OF CENTRAL AVENUE BREAKDOWN, a one night only concert event. With Book by Kevin Ray, Andrea Lepcio & Dominic Taylor; Music and Lyrics by Kevin Ray; and Additional Story by Suellen Vance, the concert will be directed by Lee Summers and is set for Tuesday, July 22nd at 8 p.m. at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street.

A reading of Harriet, a musical based on the life of Harriet Tubman, will be presented on Wednesday, July 16, at 4 p.m. and 8 p.m., and on Sunday, July 20 at 12 p.m. in The Studio Theatre at Theatre Row, 410 West 42nd Street (between 9th Avenue & Dyer Avenue). Harriet is an official selection of the 2014 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

On Sunday, May 25th @ 3pm The Triad/Stage72, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts an encore performance of On Kentucky Avenue: The Atlantic City Club Harlem Revue - an homage to the now defunct historical "Club Harlem," a performance venue, which hosted all "the greats" such as Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. On Kentucky Avenue stars Broadway and recording artist Ty Stephens (Sophisticated Ladies), Cheryl Freeman ("The Acid Queen" from The Who's Tommy), recording artist Andricka Hall, Jeree Wade as 'Damita Jo' and Lee Summers (Original Dreamgirls) as comedian 'Slappy Black.'

On Tuesday, April 22nd @ 7pm Stage72/The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts On Kentucky Avenue: The Club Harlem Revue - an homage to Atlantic City's now defunct historical "Club Harlem," a performance venue, which hosted all "the greats" such as Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. On Kentucky Avenue stars Broadway and recording artist Ty Stephens (Sophisticated Ladies), Cheryl Freeman (The Who's Tommy), recording artist Andricka Hall and features the shows creator, Jeree Wade as 'Damita Jo' and Lee Summers (Original Dreamgirls) as comedian 'Slappy Black.'

Tonight, March 27th at 7:00pm Stage72/The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts On Kentucky Avenue: The Club Harlem Revue - an homage to Atlantic City's now defunct historical 'Club Harlem,' a performance venue, which hosted all 'the greats' such as Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. On Kentucky Avenue stars Broadway and recording artist Ty Stephens (Sophisticated Ladies), Cheryl Freeman (The Who's Tommy), recording artist Andricka Hall and features the shows creator, Jeree Wade as 'Damita Jo' and Lee Summers (Original Dreamgirls) as comedian 'Slappy Black.'

On Thursday, March 27th at 7:00pm Stage72/The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts On Kentucky Avenue: The Club Harlem Revue - an homage to Atlantic City's now defunct historical "Club Harlem," a performance venue, which hosted all "the greats" such as Nancy Wilson, Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and many others. On Kentucky Avenue stars Broadway and recording artist Ty Stephens (Sophisticated Ladies), Cheryl Freeman (The Who's Tommy), recording artist Andricka Hall and features the shows creator, Jeree Wade as 'Damita Jo' and Lee Summers (Original Dreamgirls) as comedian 'Slappy Black.'

Entertainer, vocalist and jazz aficionado Keith A. Dames takes a musical journey through the Billie Holiday songbook at 'Homage To Eleanora' on Sunday, April 6th at Stage 72 (aka Triad Theater) in Manhattan at 8:00pm.

Due to excellent reviews and increased audience support, ON KENTUCKY AVENUE, the musical revue based loosely on fact and mostly fiction about the people and performers who took the stage and filled the tables at the majestic Club Harlem 'on Kentucky Avenue' in the north section of Atlantic City from the 1930s until the late 1980s, has added three performances to its schedule at STAGE 72/THE TRIAD, 158 West 72nd Street. The additional performances have been added on Tuesday, March 11, at 8 PM; Sunday, March 16, at 7pm and Thursday, March 27, at 7 PM.