Len Cariou News

Celebrating the American Spirit, performed by Essential Voices USA (EVUSA) and conducted by Judith Clurman along with guest artists, Broadway stars Kelli O'Hara and Ron Raines and composer-arranger Larry Hochman, represents an American songbook for the 21st century.

This October and November 54 BELOW, the new performance venue in the grand tradition of New York City nightlife, presents an exciting lineup of Broadway's brightest talent. Located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, 54 Below also continues to present its special series: Backstage, Broadway's Sunday evening cocktail party and songfest; and The Green Room, live, music, cocktails and lite fare for the after-theatre crowd.

Hard to believe, but Sweeney Todd first bowed on Broadway in late 1979 and I was in New York to witness the brilliant achievement of Sondheim, Angela Lansbury and Len Cariou and the entire creative team. It is difficult to find just the right words to express how very much this show affected me when I first saw it. Unlike some, who were abhorred by the subject content, I was mesmerized by much more than the twisted tale of revenge, which did indeed appeal to my dark side. It was the unbelievable staging and brilliant score, which to this day, I believe to be Stephen Sondheim's finest work, which grabbed hold of me and blew me away. It is opera in its most grotesque hour, an overwhelming and overpowering experience. Moonlight Amphitheatre is presenting the masterwork now onstage in Vista through October 6. And there's something to be said for seeing this musical outdoors in the night air, it's even more eerie and chilling: especially if it's a spectacular endeavor, which it truly proves to be with new artistic director Steven Glaudini's clockwork staging, and the exceedingly brilliant work from every member of the top-notch ensemble.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series presents Tony Award Nominated actress and singer Anita Gillette is presenting two evenings of music and memories while taking what's being described as 'an intimate, touching and hilarious look behind the scenes from Broadway to Hollywood' in her new autobiographical one-woman show "After All." The first event took place last night, September 24 & and the second will happen on Monday, October 1 at 7pm at Birdland (315 West 44 Street, NYC). Check out photos from the concert below!

As part of the "Made in NY" Industry Series, the Mayor's Office of Media & Entertainment and CBS will present CBS in NYC, an in-depth look at what it takes to make a television series on location in New York City. The panel, which is free and open to the public, will be held at the New York Public Library on Fifth Ave at 42nd Street on Wednesday, October 3 at 6:30pm.

So many cabaret shows, so little time . . . to write reviews that is. During his almost two years as a cabaret reviewer, BroadwayWorld.com critic Stephen Hanks managed to do a pretty good job of writing critiques during a show's run or soon after the run ended. But this summer he just couldn't keep up. Finally, here are observations on 10 performances over the past two months.

Today in 1974, A Little Night Music closed at the Shubert Theatre, where it ran for 601 performances. A Little Night Music is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler. Inspired by the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, it involves the romantic lives of several couples. Since its original 1973 Broadway production, the musical has enjoyed professional productions in the West End, by opera companies, in a 2009 Broadway revival, and elsewhere, and it is a popular choice for regional groups. It was adapted for film in 1977, with Harold Prince directing and Elizabeth Taylor, Len Cariou, Lesley-Anne Down and Diana Rigg starring.

This August and September 54 BELOW will present a new lineup of stars. Located just below legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, 54 Below also continues to present its special series: Backstage, Broadway's Sunday evening cocktail party and songfest; The Green Room, live, music, cocktails and lite fare for the after-theatre crowd.

Today we are taking a look at one of the most electrifying television series of all time as Season Four hits DVD and we approach the final season premiere tonight at 9 PM on DirecTV - the dark and spotted cat-and-mouse legal thriller DAMAGES, starring Glenn Close and Rose Byrne. By taking a closer look back at Season Four and its unforgettable guest starring performances by John Goodman, Chris Messina and Dylan Baker as Hewes & Associates became entangled with some Blackwater-esque military-minded wheeler dealers and mercenaries - as does Ellen (Byrne), now working for the DA's office - with, expectedly, it all culminating in copious bloodshed, perhaps we can uncover some clues as to where we will be heading in Season Five and the final ten episodes that begin airing tonight and the series comes to its conclusion. If the promos that have been airing on DirecTV and around the internet are any indication as to the titillating and terrifying thrills in store for us with new featured guest stars Ryan Phillippe, Jenna Elfman and Janet McTeer and the returns of Season Four standouts Chris Messina, Judd Hirsch and Zachary Boopth; as well as, one can assume, a spare ghost or two, too. Indeed, it has been a breathless and breathtaking trip so far on DAMAGES and it has been a revealing, rewarding and ultimately resplendently rich journey over the last six years or so to see the epic highs and lows of master attorney Patty Hewes, the (mostly) noble efforts of her attentive and intelligent protege Ellen Parsons and the various figures who populate the cold and foreboding atmosphere of a hellish New York City that permeates nearly every frame of every episode of the series - and always has; and, we can safely assume, always will.

Today we are concluding our two-part look at the life and career of legendary stage and screen icon Christopher Plummer by focusing on some of the finest films, television and filmed stage performances of his career thus far, as we anticipate the nationwide release of his newest stage and screen venture, the cinematic presentation of his recent turn as Prospero at the Stratford Shakespeare Festival in Des McAnuff's THE TEMPEST, presented by Fathom-equipped movie theaters on June 13, followed by a Q&A with Plummer. From his stage debut in the late-1940s through to his spectacular screen career begun with Sidney Lumet's STAGE STRUCK in 1958, in this career-spanning clip collection we will be sampling many of the most memorable and most notable projects from a rich resume ranging from almost every major male role in the canon of Shakespeare - AS YOU LIKE IT to THE WINTER'S TALE - to the work of Lilian Hellman, Bertolt Brecht, Henrik Ibsen, Anton Chekhov and Peter Shaffer to Rodgers & Hammerstein's THE SOUND OF MUSIC on film to the Tony Award-winning Anthony Burgess musical adaptation of CYRANO onstage, to TV's THE THORN BIRDS and ON GOLDEN POND all the way to last year's double-header of brilliance in both David Fincher's THE GIRL WITH THE DRAGTON TATTOO and BEGINNERS, the latter being the part for which Plummer finally received a Best Actor Academy Award. Of course, besides his well-earned Oscar, Plummer has amassed many other top honors over the course of his sixty-year-career, as well - two Tony Awards (for CYRANO, a musical, and BARRYMORE, a two-person mostly monologue); a Golden Globe; two Emmy Awards; a SAG Award; a Genie; the list goes on and on… as does Christopher Plummer's reputable and riveting career.

Katselas Theatre Company presents the world premiere of BEAUTIFIED by multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco, opening tonight, May 25, 2012 with reception to follow and then 8pm Friday and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through July 1, 2012 at the Skylight Theatre 1816 N. Vermont, LA 90027.

Katselas Theatre Company will present Tony Abatemarco's BEAUTIFIED, described as 'a riotous new romp through four decades in a Massachusetts beauty parlor.'

With the 2012 election coming up in November, political parodies are everywhere, and it's about time that some gave the race a Broadway twist. In the video below, Roy Zimmerman puts a different spin on SWEENEY TODD with 'Romney Mitt, the Demon Barber of Wallstreet.'

The 28th Annual STAGE Benefit was held last weekend at the Saban Theatre Beverly Hills to benefit AIDS Project Los Angeles. Entitled 'Original Cast 3,' it featured performers doing songs from shows with which they are associated. The event raised more than $200,000 for APLA's work with clients living with HIV and AIDS in Los Angeles County. See photos of Adrienne Barbeau, Lillias White, Sharon Catherine Banks, Loretta Divine, Brian Lane Green and more performing on stage below!

Katselas Theatre Company will presents the world premiere of BEAUTIFIED by multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco, opening Friday, May 25, 2012 with reception to follow and then 8pm Friday and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through July 1, 2012 at the Skylight Theatre 1816 N. Vermont, LA 90027.

The 28th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E.- just presented ORIGINAL CAST 3, a musical celebration showcasingartists from theater, television and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions. This year, the annual event, which benefits AIDS Project Los Angeles, returned to the Saban Theatre Beverly Hills. Check out photos from the celebration below!

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY continued its Spring 2012 season with Randie Levine-Miller's "SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS - A SWELL PARTY" on April 29 starring Tony Award nominated actor Stephen Bogardus, Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu, Bistro Award winner Nicolas King, star lead singer from The Platters Myles Savage, and acclaimed vocalist/actor Kevin Spiritas.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Spring 2012 season with Randie Levine-Miller's "SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS - A SWELL PARTY" tonight, April 29 starring Tony Award nominated actor Stephen Bogardus, Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu, Bistro Award winner Nicolas King, star lead singer from The Platters Myles Savage, and acclaimed vocalist/actor Kevin Spiritas.

The 28th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E. presents ORIGINAL CAST 3, a musical celebration showcasing artists from theater, television and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions, tonight, April 28 at 7:30PM. This year, the annual event, which benefits AIDS Project Los Angeles, returns to the Saban Theatre Beverly Hills.

The 28th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E.- presents ORIGINAL CAST 3, a musical celebration showcasingartists from theater, television and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions, for one-night-only, tonight, April 28 at 7:30PM. This year, the annual event, which benefits AIDS Project Los Angeles, will return to the Saban Theatre Beverly Hills.