Michael Gill News

The actress Lauren Stanford pulled off a dramatic win last night, as she became the 2013 MetroStar at the Metropolitan Room in New York. A Kansas City native with musical theatre credits, Stanford edged out her four co-finalists in tight scoring that belied how strong and evenly matched this year's MetroStar Talent Challenge Top 5 had become.

After a highly competitive semi-final round of the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at The Metropolitan Room last night, five finalists were picked to move forward in the 7-week singers' competition. The five finalists, who will go head to head next Monday, August 19, are Stephen Mitchell Brown, Venessa Diaz, Jason Morris, Tony Ponella and Lauren Stanford.

On Tuesday, August 13th at 8 & 10pm, ScoBar Entertainment will present A TRIBUTE TO JULIE WILSON at Iridium NYC. Performers confirmed thus far are Eric Comstock, Baby Jane Dexter, Natalie Douglas, Antonio Edwards, Eric Engelhardt, Barbara Fasano, Terese Genecco, Jeff Harnar, Mark Hartman, Tanya Holt, Sue Matsuki , Marissa Mulder, Christine Pedi, Colm Reilly, Julie Reyburn, Ricky Ritzel, KT Sullivan, Stacy Sullivan, Grace Wall, Lennie Watts & Carol Woods.Accompanying the performers is The Barry Levitt Trio, Barry Levitt on piano, Dick Sarpola on bass & Ray Marchica on drums,

New York's hotspot offers some of Broadway's biggest stars in August and September 2013, including Paulo Szot, Brian d'Arcy James, Duncan Sheik, Emily Skinner, Adam Pascal, Anthony Rapp, Laura Benanti, Telly Leung, John Tartaglia, Morgan James, Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway, Alice Ripley, Eric Michael Gillett, Sierra Boggess, Ahrens & Flaherty, Frances Ruffelle, David Yazbeck, The Meeting, The Skivvies, Melanie Field: Goodbye for Now, Sondheim Unplugged, Ute Lemper, Moment by Moment: Songs by Alexander Sage Olyen, Lindsey Mendez, Submissions Only, Alexis Fishman, Broadway Swings, Mairi Dorman-Phaneuf featuring Jessica Molaskey and Mary Beth Peil, A Tribute to Woodstock, Tales of Joni: 54 Sings Mitchell, Donna Vivino and Not at This Performance, plus 54 Below's late night series and jazz series.

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 a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more:

Beginning tonight, 75 solo singers are competing in the sixth annual MetroStar Talent Challenge at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. Hosted by the comic actor-singer Jay Rogers, the seven-week, jury-and audience-voted competition kicks off with three weeks of trials (July 8, 15, 22), after which the Top 18 contestants will advance to the next round.

Something funny's happening to the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz. The 2013 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from tonight, July 8 through August 19.

Asolo Repertory Theatre closed its production of Noah Racey's Pulse on June 16th, 2013. Tommy Tune made a surprise appearance at the final performance to congratulate the cast and creative team. Click below to watch the emotional backstage moment!

ScoBar Entertainment will present A Cabaret Full of Cahn Artists, a tribute to the great Sammy Cahn on his 100th birthday. Produced by writer Rob Lester, the evening, which consists of two different shows (8 & 10 pm) will benefit Cabaret Scenes Magazine, with all proceeds donated to Cabaret Scenes Magazine, the only print publication of its kind, its website, www.cabaretscenes.org and the non-profit Cabaret Foundation. Associate producer is Stevie Phillips. According to producer Rob Lester, this Centennial 'Cahn-cert' includes special 'Cahn-versations' about Sammy and a 'Cahn-Test' with prizes and a raffle.

ScoBar Entertainment will present A Cabaret Full of Cahn Artists, a tribute to the great Sammy Cahn on his 100th birthday. Produced by writer Rob Lester, the evening, which consists of two different shows (8 & 10 pm) will benefit Cabaret Scenes Magazine, with all proceeds donated to Cabaret Scenes Magazine, the only print publication of its kind, its website, www.cabaretscenes.org and the non-profit Cabaret Foundation. Associate producer is Stevie Phillips. According to producer Rob Lester, this Centennial 'Cahn-cert' includes special 'Cahn-versations' about Sammy and a 'Cahn-Test' with prizes and a raffle.

Something funny's happening to the 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition, which has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz, is accepting applications through July 1. The 2013 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 8 through August 19.

Something funny's happening to the "MetroStar Talent Challenge" this year. Singer-restaurateur Carolyn Montgomery-Forant joins the permanent jury, and the comic actor Jay Rogers hosts the 6th annual edition of the singers contest at the Metropolitan Room. The exciting competition, which has launched the careers of a number of standouts in cabaret, pop and jazz, is accepting applications through July 1. The 2013 "MetroStar Talent Challenge" runs for seven consecutive Mondays, from July 8 through August 19.

Extending this season's hot streak of productions that make bold artistic statements, Asolo Repertory Theatre will present Noah Racey's Pulse. A song and dance celebration that harkens back to the golden age of hoofing, Pulse is written, conceived, and choreographed by Broadway song and dance man Noah Racey in collaboration with Broadway director and two-time Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun. Pulse opens tonight, May 23 with an 8 p.m. curtain. The show runs through June 16, 2013 in Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre located in The FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

A single line of dialogue is the catalyst for Matthew Lombardo's multi-layered and laugh-filled play LOOPED making a tour stop this week at The Bushnell in Hartford.

Extending this season's hot streak of productions that make bold artistic statements, Asolo Repertory Theatre will present Noah Racey's Pulse. A song and dance celebration that harkens back to the golden age of hoofing, Pulse is written, conceived, and choreographed by Broadway song and dance man Noah Racey in collaboration with Broadway director and two-time Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun. Pulse opens on Thursday, May 23 with an 8 p.m. curtain. Opening night will be preceded by two preview performances on Tuesday, May 21 at 7:30 p.m. and May 22 at 8 p.m. The show runs through June 16, 2013 in Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre located in The FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Stefanie Powers is a trouper who stepped into the role of Tallulah Bankhead, which was originated by Valerie Harper, when Harper's untimely diagnosis of brain cancer forced her to withdraw from the national tour of LOOPED. Although the circumstances are bittersweet, Powers' performance is informed by her working and personal relationship with the film legend. Playwright Matthew Lombardo goes to great lengths to show and tell as much detail about Bankhead as possible in the limited span of this one long afternoon in the waning months of her life.

Cathy Rigby took her final flight as PETER PAN to Neverland on Sunday, April 28th in the city where it all began - Boston.

CATHY RIGBY IS PETER PAN National Tour completes its journey in Boston where it all began for the star in 1989, with the final performance Sunday evening, April 28, at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre. Rigby gives a magical performance in an imaginative and inspiring production, supported by a cast of the highest order. Brent Barrett is a virile Captain Hook and the entire ensemble has boundless talent and energy. Life is filled with regrets - don't let missing out on this be one of yours.

Audiences are invited to discover the magic of the two-time Emmy Award winning and two-time Tony Award nominated production:Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN! Families and fans have their chance to 'fly' into the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre for this magical production running Tuesday, April 23 through Sunday, April 28. Check out the preview video below!

The Concerts for City Greens may be a Spring and Summer music extravaganza held in the lovely early evening air of Manhattan's East Side, but Broadway actress and cabaret headliner Raissa Katona Bennett, who is the concert series' founder and producer, is launching the 2013 season indoors-with a gala benefit concert featuring a star-studded lineup of performers, including quadruple-platinum songwriter and Today Show regular David Friedman as a special guest performer (with Bennett in photo, left). A celebratory retrospective of the program's first five seasons will be staged at The Laurie Beechman Theatre, 407 West 42nd Street, tonight April 23 at 7pm.