Lynne Shankel News

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551. 54 BELOW welcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events:

Notable Broadway arranger, orchestrator and musical director Lynne Shankel will present an evening of original songs later this Fall at popular NYC cabaret venue 54 Below, titled SHANKTUNES: A NIGHT OF ORIGINAL SONGS BY LYNNE SHANKEL.

Virginia's Signature Theatre presents the world premiere musical Beaches, opening tonight, March 4, 2014, and playing through March 30. Adapted from the beloved 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart, Beaches is directed by Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). This heartfelt chronicle of a decades-long friendship between two unforgettable women stars Mara Davi (Broadway's A Chorus Line and The Drowsy Chaperone) as Bertie and Alysha Umphress (Broadway's American Idiot and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Cee Cee Bloom.

The Broadway-aimed musical Allegiance, currently starring George Takei, Lea Salonga, and Telly Leung, has created a Priority Access Pass to give more theatregoers a chance to see the production. The show premiered at San Diego's The Old Globe in September 2012 and quickly sold out, leaving many fans without a chance to see the show at all. A fan who purchases a Priority Access Pass for $5.00 is guaranteed a reserved and numbered spot on a list of theatregoers who get first shot at purchasing tickets when they go on sale - ahead of the general public.

Due to popular demand Virginia's Signature Theatre announces that the world premiere musical Beaches is now extended through March 30, 2014. Adapted from the beloved 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart, Beaches is directed by Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet). This heartfelt chronicle of a decades-long friendship between two unforgettable women stars Mara Davi (Broadway's A Chorus Line and The Drowsy Chaperone) as Bertie and Alysha Umphress (Broadway's American Idiot and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Cee Cee Bloom.

This spring, Virginia's Signature Theatre will present the world premiere musical Beaches, adapted from the beloved 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart. Directed by Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), this heartfelt chronicle of a decades-long friendship between two unforgettable women will star Mara Davi (Broadway's A Chorus Line and The Drowsy Chaperone) as Bertie White and Alysha Umphress (Broadway's American Idiot and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Cee Cee Bloom. Click below for a first listen to the song 'Extraordinary', featuring Umphress and Davi!

Virginia's Signature Theatre just announced the full cast of this spring's world premiere musical Beaches, adapted from the beloved 1985 novel by Iris Rainer Dart. Directed by Signature Theatre's Artistic Director Eric Schaeffer (Broadway's Follies, Million Dollar Quartet), this heartfelt chronicle of a decades-long friendship between two unforgettable women will star Mara Davi (Broadway's A Chorus Line and The Drowsy Chaperone) as Bertie White and Alysha Umphress (Broadway's American Idiot and On a Clear Day You Can See Forever) as Cee Cee Bloom.

Joe's Pub has announced performances for this week (Dec. 16-22,) including BASQUIAT, 5TH ANNUAL NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS: A CONCERT TO BENEFIT ASTEP, MIKE ERRICO HOLIDAY SHOW, ETHAN LIPTON & HIS ORCHESTRA, JACKIE HOFFMAN: HEBE FOR THE HOLIDAYS, THE HOT SARDINES, THE ANNA COPA CABANNA SHOW, STARSKY + COX: YULE LIVE, LEA DELARIA: F*#K! IT'S CHRISTMAS!, REVEREND BILLY & THE STOP SHOPPING CHOIR, and JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND AND FRIENDS: LET IT SHOW!.

5TH ANNUAL NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS: A Concert to Benefit ASTEP, is back by popular demand tonight at Joe's Pub. The evening will feature Broadway's most sought-after talent singing fresh, original approaches-pop, soul, R&B, rock and more-of holiday songs off New York City Christmas the album, available for purchase at the concert. ALL proceeds from tickets to the show and album sales go to supporting ASTEP's mission to connect performing and visual artists with underserved youth in the U.S. and around the world to awaken their imaginations, foster critical thinking, and help them break the cycle of poverty.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its holiday highlights (Dec. 15 - 31), featuring performances by JOHN ROBERTS, 5TH ANNUAL NEW YORK CITY CHRISTMAS, MIKE ERRICO, JACKIE HOFFMAN, THE HOT SARDINES, STARSKY + COX, LEA DELARIA, JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, BABY DEE & LITTLE ANNIE, and SANDRA BERNHARD.

Anyone who knows Mary-Mitchell Campbell knows her passion for music and certainly, by now, knows of her passion for ASTEP - Artists Striving To End Poverty, of which she is the Founder and Executive Director.

While its arrival on Broadway is still in the works, fans need not wait any longer to hear music from the show. A mIni-album was released today, featuring six songs from the new musical. Click here to buy it now!

Ars Nova announces its December lineup which will feature new work from 2013 Artists-in-Residence and a climactic New Year's Eve fundraiser event to close out its 10th Anniversary Season. All shows are at 8pm unless otherwise noted. Details below!

Allegiance - A New American Musical, has been eyeing a Broadway run since it premiered at San Diego's Old Globe last fall. Since then, a New York City reading was held, led by Lea Salonga, George Takei and Telly Leung, all of whom starred in the San Diego production, as well as a recent backers screening in Austin. A production source told BroadwayWorld that ALLEGIANCE is aiming for Broadway, possibly in the spring of 2014, but there are numerous variables including star schedules and theatre availability that need to line up, so there is yet no official plan.

Ars Nova announces its December lineup which will feature new work from 2013 Artists-in-Residence and a climactic New Year's Eve fundraiser event to close out its 10th Anniversary Season. All shows are at 8pm unless otherwise noted. Details below!

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced additional casting and creatives for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) announced initial casting for the 25th Annual Festival of New Musicals on Thursday, October 17 and Friday, October 18 at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

Goodspeed Musicals has announced the cast of LMNOP, an edgy new musical about an island whose citizens begin to lose their freedoms one letter at a time. The musical will run from July 25 to August 18 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. ­- Goodspeed's home for developing fresh, innovative, and original new musicals. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production highlights below!

Goodspeed Musicals has announced the cast of LMNOP, an edgy new musical about an island whose citizens begin to lose their freedoms one letter at a time. The musical will run from July 25 to August 18 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn. ­- Goodspeed's home for developing fresh, innovative, and original new musicals. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below!

Actor George Takei stopped by CBS SUNDAY MORNING to talk about his life before his STAR TREK stardom, which began in an Arkansas internment camp during WWII, his latest project -- the Broadway-bound musical ALLEGIANCE with Lea Salonga, Telly Leung and more, and his recent Internet fame and gay rights activism. Watch the interview below!