Michael Gill News

Lifelong performer and Tony Award nominee Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Eubie!) captivates audiences with stories, songs and smooth choreography for his return to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Under the direction of Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Hines, who started performing at five years old, brings the history of American tap to life and pays tribute to his brother Gregory and the singers who inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A co-production with ALLIANCE THEATRE at the Woodruff and Cleveland Play House, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life runs tonight, November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

The musical comedy about nightclub singers and night-time musical fantasies - Humpty Dumpty Cracks Up: The Nightmare of Cabaret --- will be performed in Manhattan on November 23, 24, and 25. The cast includes cabaret singers themselves in prominent and cameo roles, along with singer-actors who are kids, teens and adults (senior citizens among them). In the year marking her triumphant nightclub return, not resting her laurels or her tuffet, singer KAREN WYMAN is featured as Little Miss Muffet, writer of self-help books for arachnophobes and bullied teens. Cabaret-goers will find other favorites in the cast such as TERESA FISCHER as the Old Woman Who Lived in a Shoe. Rotating guests in cameo and featured roles include such folks as RICKY RITZEL at the first performance, The Duplex's THOMAS HONECK at the middle performance, and CHRISTINE LAVIN on the Monday night. As the legendary Little Bo Peep, TANYA MOBERLY sheepishly appears at the first and third performances. The plot concerns a first-time cabaret performer (WENDY RUSSELL), her singer pal (BRENDA BERGMAN) and strange dreams about nursery rhyme characters putting on cabaret acts.

Arizona Theatre Company brings the tongue-in-cheek, award-winning hit Broadway musical Xanadu to the Temple of Music and Art, 330 S. Scott Ave., in Tucson from Nov. 30 - Dec. 31 and the Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe, in Phoenix from Dec. 31 - Jan. 19.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director), in association with producer/director/lyricist Peter Napolitano announces a series of musical evenings entitled WINTER RHYTHMS 2013, beginning on Tuesday, December 3 and running through Sunday, December 15, 2013 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street). Tickets are $30 per show (unless otherwise noted).Tickets may be purchased on www.smarttix.com or 212 868-4444.

54 Below celebrates some favorite musicals with the new series, 54 Sings. Re-live the hit songs from these groundbreaking shows, performed by some of the best in the biz and, occasionally, by the very voices for whom they were written. Kicking off the series will be 54 Sings Mame (December 8 at 9:30pm), starring: Leslie Uggams, Beth Leavel, Klea Blackhurst, Donna Lynne Champlin, Eric Michael Gillett, Annie Golden, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, Dee Hoty, Pamela Myers, and Lee Roy Reams.

Max McLean, Artistic Director of Fellowship for the Performing Arts, announces that the World Premiere of C.S. Lewis' THE GREAT DIVORCE will be presented at Herberger Theater Center, 222 E. Monroe St., in Phoenix, in a limited engagement from Friday, December 13 through Sunday, December 22, 2013. This journey to Heaven and Hell is a provocative exploration of human nature, featuring vivid characters drawn with Lewis' trademark wit. THE GREAT DIVORCE National Tour will visit cities including Birmingham, Kansas City, Charlotte, Charleston, Cleveland, Colorado Springs, and Columbus in 2014.

Bob O'Hare made his cabaret debut in May of 2009 with 'Home: A Musical Journey.' It was a wonderful way to kick off his summer. It was well-received, with Sandi Durell lauding its 'carefully chosen songs cleverly intertwined' and 'truly realized' performances.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities, October 25 - November 9, 2013. Joyce Cohen, Nancy Lemenager, Dennis Parlato, Kate Skinner and Michael Zlabinger make up the all-Equity cast. Check out photos of the cast in action onstage below!

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities tonight, October 25 - November 9, 2013.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities October 25 - November 9, 2013. Check out a first look below!

Lifelong performer and Tony Award nominee Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Eubie!) captivates audiences with stories, songs and smooth choreography for his return to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Under the direction of Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Hines, who started performing at five years old, brings the history of American tap to life and pays tribute to his brother Gregory and the singers who inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A co-production with Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff and Cleveland Play House, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life runs November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Sondheim Unplugged, New York's long-running hit revue (currently in residence at Manhattan's 54 Below), will make a special, one night only appearance in Putnam County on Saturday, November 23rd at 8pm at the Philipstown Depot Theatre, located on Garrison's Landing in Garrison, NY. Tickets, $25, may be obtained by visiting www.brownpapertckets.com or by calling 1.800.838.3006. A smash, sold-out success when it was presented at the Depot in 2011, the show makes its' triumphant return this Fall - get your tickets fast!

Pioneer Theatre Company presents the Pulitzer Prize-nominated drama Other Desert Cities October 25 - November 9, 2013.

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:

Last night was Falling In Love With Love: The songs of Rodgers & Hart, hosted by Andrea Marcovicci andJeff Harnar; performances by the cohosts plus, Karen Akers, Christine Andreas, Joyce Breach, Anna Bergman, Liz Callaway, Lauren Fox, Eric Michael Gillett, Clint Holmes, Todd Murray, Steve Ross, and Iris Williams. Check out photos below!

Bob O'Hare made his cabaret debut in May of 2009 with 'Home: A Musical Journey.' It was a wonderful way to kick off his summer. It was well-received, with Sandi Durell lauding its 'carefully chosen songs cleverly intertwined' and 'truly realized' performances.

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll. Jones was just honoerd during the festivities and you can check out photos below!

For four magical nights this week, the Mabel Mercer Foundation will present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from today, October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll.

Following an unprecedented thirty-one show run, SONDHEIM UNPLUGGED, the acclaimed and award-winning cabaret series, continues on Sunday, October 20 at 7pm at 54 Below. Sondheim Unplugged is currently celebrating the third year of it's smash run, having begun this journey of celebrating Sondheim in July of 2010.

For four magical nights in October, the Mabel Mercer Foundation will present a sparkling array of America's leading cabaret stars. Among the 60 outstanding artists who will take the stage at the Rose Theater at Jazz at Lincoln Center from October 7th through 10th are multiple Grammy Award winner Jack Jones, Marilyn Maye, Steve Ross, Karen Akers, Nellie McKay, and Barbara Carroll.