Loni Ackerman News

Marvell Repertory Theatre (Lenny Leibowitz, artistic director; Amy Estes, managing director) is NYC's only professional AEA theatre - one of a handful in US - devoted exclusively to producing new and enduring works in rotating repertory.

Marvell Repertory Theatre (Lenny Leibowitz, artistic director; Amy Estes, managing director) is NYC's only professional theatre - one of a handful in US - devoted exclusively to producing new and enduring works in rotating repertory.

Marvell Repertory Theatre (Lenny Leibowitz, artistic director; Amy Estes, managing director) is NYC's only professional theatre - one of a handful in US - devoted exclusively to producing new and enduring works in rotating repertory.

Marvell Repertory Theatre (Lenny Leibowitz, artistic director; Amy Estes, managing director) is NYC's only professional theatre - one of a handful in US - devoted exclusively to producing new and enduring works in rotating repertory.

'Let's see if we can do this without a microphone,' peeped Jo Sullivan Loesser, as she prepared to fill the 1,495-seat Town Hall with 'Somebody, Somewhere,' which she introduced in the 1956 original Broadway production of The Most Happy Fella.  While the age of the widow of the great Frank Loesser is a fact you'll not find via Google, let's just say she's a few decades beyond the point where audiences would expect to hear such lovely, expressive and, yes, loud soprano tones from an unamplified voice.  The house, still and silent for those few minutes of bliss, finally erupted with appreciative cheers for the brief reminder of a time when all Broadway musicals were sung that way.

Yesterday, October 17, The Town Hall presented Broadway Originals. The afternoon featured songs and memories with performers reprising songs they introduced either in the original Broadway production or revival. This three-concert series, written and hosted by Scott Siegel for THE TOWN HALL, took place over one weekend and included Broadway Melody Makers on Friday, October 15th and Betty Buckley in Concert on Saturday, October 16 at 8PM.

Lucie Arnaz (They're Playing Our Song), Sarah Uriarte Berry (A Light in the Piazza), Carole Demas (Grease), Loni Ackerman (So Long, 174th Street) and Nancy Opel (Urinetown), join the cast of The Town Hall's Broadway Originals on Sunday, October 17th at 3:00 PM.

Lucie Arnaz (They're Playing Our Song), Sarah Uriarte Berry (A Light in the Piazza), Carole Demas (Grease), Loni Ackerman (So Long, 174th Street) and Nancy Opel (Urinetown), join the cast of The Town Hall's Broadway Originals on Sunday, October 17th at 3:00 PM.

Today we kick off our series on the 2010 New York Musical Theater Festival with the warm and fuzzy memories - as well as some less than fond remembrances - of the life and career of Broadway triple-threat leading lady Brenda Braxton. From the original company of DREAMGIRLS on Broadway under the direction of Michael Bennett to CATS and LEGS DIAMOND and George C. Wolfe's JELLY'S LAST JAM all the way up to her many stints in the Broadway revival of CHICAGO - as well as directing and recreating the original Bennett/Avian/Peters choreography for the post-9/11 star-studded DREAMGIRLS concert starring Audra McDonald, Lillias White and Heather Headley - we talk it all, plus all the exciting new musicals she is participating in - such as her NYMF starrer TRAVELIN' and another new musical reading, as well as projects of her own creation - both onstage and, now, behind-the-scenes! Ms. Braxton was generous enough to spend some time on a rainy afternoon earlier this week to discuss her career, the state of Broadway, the necessity of new musical theatre voices, working with Michael Bennett, and all the details on the new musical she is starring in that premieres this Friday at the NYMF, TRAVELIN' as well as some exciting news of what lies ahead!

This new musical by writer/composer Michael V. Doane tells the story of a soon-to-be-sold Bronx diner and its spicy staff. As they learn of the owner's plans to sell, they proceed with another typical day...except on this day, they learn more about each other's perseverance, dreams and rewards than ever before.

This new musical by writer/composer Michael V. Doane tells the story of a soon-to-be-sold Bronx diner and its spicy staff. As they learn of the owner's plans to sell, they proceed with another typical day...except on this day, they learn more about each other's perseverance, dreams and rewards than ever before.

SOUL DOCTOR, The New Musical about the life and music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is holding its Regional Premiere in New Orleans at Muriel's Cabaret Space at Le Petit Theatre (616 St. Peter Street) from Friday, May 7th through Thursday, May 12th, before heading to Broadway in 2011.

SOUL DOCTOR, The New Musical about the life and music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is holding its Regional Premiere in New Orleans at Muriel's Cabaret Space at Le Petit Theatre (616 St. Peter Street) from Friday, May 7th through Thursday, May 12th, before heading to Broadway in 2011.

SOUL DOCTOR, The New Musical about the life and music of Rabbi Shlomo Carlebach is holding its Regional Premiere in New Orleans at Muriel's Cabaret Space at Le Petit Theatre (616 St. Peter Street) from Friday, May 7th through Thursday, May 12th, before heading to Broadway in 2011.

Celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy presents a special evening of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie de Roy & friends on Saturday, May 1st (8PM) at Primary Stages (59 East 59th Street ~between Park & Madison Avenues) with an evening of songs from Tony Award®-Winning Musicals.

Celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy presents a special evening of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie de Roy & friends on Saturday, May 1st (8PM) at Primary Stages (59 East 59th Street ~between Park & Madison Avenues) with an evening of songs from Tony Award®-Winning Musicals.

LEGACY: THE MUSICALS OF OFF-BROADWAY, Concert Presentations of Landmark Off-Broadway Musicals, will present PROMENADE as its first offering, on Monday April 12th at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) as a benefit for The Off-Broadway Alliance.

LEGACY: THE MUSICALS OF OFF-BROADWAY, Concert Presentations of Landmark Off-Broadway Musicals, will present PROMENADE as its first offering, on Monday April 12th at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) as a benefit for The Off-Broadway Alliance.

LEGACY: THE MUSICALS OF OFF-BROADWAY, Concert Presentations of Landmark Off-Broadway Musicals, will present PROMENADE as its first offering, on Monday April 12th at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street, between 8th and 9th Avenues) as a benefit for The Off-Broadway Alliance.

INTAR (Eduardo Machado, Artistic Director/John McCormack, Executive Director) and New York University's Department of English and its Program in Dramatic Literature announced some of the cast members to celebrate the 80th birthday of playwright, director and teacher Maria Irene Fornés.