Martin Short News

Energetic cast brings Godspell to life at the St. Jacobs Country Playhouse, Waterloo.

Jason Alexander-actor, director, Tony Award-winner and Seinfeld alum-delivers a variety show as diverse, as entertaining, and as enthusiastic as his resume. Featuring stand-up comedy, music, audience participation and a Seinfeld Q & A, come for a unique glimpse into the multi-award winner's charismatic, enthusiastic personality.

American Lyric Theater presents the first public libretto reading for the 2013-2014 season as part of its popular series, The Living Libretto, at the National Opera Center on Wednesday, October 16th, 2013. Featuring guest actors from the Broadway and off-Broadway stage, each event is the culminating reading of an extensive libretto workshop conducted for new operas being written by ALT Resident Artists under the auspices of the company's Composer Librettist Development Program.

It's Double Jazz Weekend at the Arcada Theatre. $29 tickets get you into both shows. See below for more information on each show.

Tonight, October 4 and October 5 & 6, Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski alongside superstar guest vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Darius de Haas will join the Houston Symphony for an evening of smooth grooves, easy rhythms and timeless top 40 hits.

Fox Broadcasting Company (FOX) has given a series order to MULANEY (working title), a young ensemble comedy created, written by and starring John Mulaney

It's Double Jazz Weekend at the Arcada Theatre. $29 tickets get you into both shows. See below for more information on each show.

Welcome to BWW's exclusive talk show, BACKSTAGE WITH Richard Ridge. Follow Richard as he visits the theater's best and brightest in their dressing rooms, on their stages and favorite hang outs to talk about their lives, careers and all of the things you don't know, but want to know. In the special interview below, the creative masterminds behind NEWSIES, director Jeff Calhoun and choreographer Christopher Gattelli, chat about giving the show life on stage, their past and future projects and so much more! Click below to check out the full interview!

The Shakespeare Center of Los Angeles (SCLA) presented its 23rd Annual Simply Shakespeare benefit reading of 'The Two Gentlemen of Verona,' last night, September 25, 2013 at The Broad Stage, Santa Monica. The evening featured a star-studded cast including Sir Paul McCartney, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and William Shatner. Check out a look back at the starry red carpet arrivals below!

On September 29 (9:30pm), Broadway veteran Donna Vivino will bring 'It's Not Easy Being Green' to 54 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. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular 'Backstage' with Susie Mosher is 15:54, and more:

On October 4, 5 and 6, Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski alongside superstar guest vocalists Capathia Jenkins and Darius de Haas will join the Houston Symphony for an evening of smooth grooves, easy rhythms and timeless top 40 hits. Audiences will hear music from the kings and queens of classic soul, including Aretha Franklin, Tina Turner, James Brown, Roberta Flack, Gladys Knight, Stevie Wonder and Marvin Gaye. With songs like 'Natural Woman,' 'You are Everything,' 'Respect,' 'Signed, Sealed, Delivered, I'm Yours' and 'I Heard it Through the Grapevine,' Jones Hall is sure to be full of rhythm from this iconic musical era. Showcasing local talent, Houston-based vocalists Kam Franklin, Lisa Harris and Lucas Gorham will perform as back-up singers on many of the evening's hit songs.

Scottsdale Center for the Performing Arts will present An Evening with Jason Alexander and His Hair, a comedy variety show that features stand-up, music, improvisation and audience participation.

Actress Nicole Parker is onstage two more weekends as Fanny Brice in Funny Girl in Fullerton, through September 22 and in Redondo through September 29.

The Tony Awards telecast took home four Emmys including Outstanding Special Class Program, Outstanding Musical Direction and Outstanding Musics and Lyrics for 'If I Had Time' with lyrics by Adam Schlesinger and music by David Javerbaum.

William Blake (Echoes of Etta, The Who's Tommy, The Rocky Horror Show), John Duff (Bayside! The Musical!, Rent), Billboard recording artist and three-time Showtime at the Apollo winner Matt Cusson, Capathia Jenkins (Newsies, Martin Short: Fame Becomes Me, Caroline, or Change, Godspell, The Civil War), Leslie McDonel (American Idiot, Hairspray), N'Kenge (Motown The Musical, The Michael Jackson World Tour Tribute), Sondheim on Sondheim), Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (A Time To Kill, Carole, or Change, Radio Golf, The Wild Party, Jelly's Last Jam, Play On!), two-time Grammy Award nominee Ryan Shaw(Motown The Musical), A. J. Shively (La Cage Aux Folles, Unlock'd, February House) Rachel Valdati (My Big Gay Italian Wedding) and American Idol Top 10 Finalist Erika Van Pelt will sing songs from the Michael Jackson catalog at The Pop Show Presents…Michael Jackson! on Monday, September 16, 2013 at Birdland Jazz Club.

The 5th Annual Boston Comedy Arts Festival heats up tonight, September 7 at 8 p.m., as Kids in the Hall member Kevin McDonald headlines a strong bill at the Brattle Theatre. The bill also features an appearance by the New York City based improvised hip-hOpera North Coast and stand-up comedy from Boston area native Josh Gondelman, the co-creator of the Modern Seinfeld Twitter feed.

Roundabout Theatre Company has officially announced that Oscar nominee Michelle Williams will star for the first time on Broadway as 'Sally Bowles' in its upcoming production of Cabaret. She will take the stage at Studio 54 alongside Alan Cumming as the Emcee, reprising the role that won him a Tony Award in 1998.

A lineup of top entertainers including, Julie Andrews, Lucie Arnaz, Tony Bennett, Tim Conway, Tina Fey, Rashida Jones, Vicki Lawrence, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, Rosemary Watson and others will salute Carol Burnett at the 16th Annual Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize for American Humor on Sunday, October 20, 2013 at 8:00 p.m. The evening will pay tribute the humor and accomplishments of Carol Burnett, and will be taped by WETA Washington, D.C. as Carol Burnett: The Kennedy Center Mark Twain Prize. The program will air on PBS stations nationwide November 24, 2013 (check local listings). Artists are subject to change.

THE COLUMN Awards Board of Directors and Executive Director/Producer/Founder John Garcia have the esteemed honor to announce today that one of Broadway's biggest and most sought after stars, Rachel York will serve as Co-Host for the 15th Annual Column Awards Gala. The gala will be held Monday February 24, 2014 at the Patty Granville Performing Arts Complex with a cocktail reception at 7:00pm, curtain at 8:00pm. For all info and tix info go towww.thecolumnawards.org