Michael Lavine News

Back on April 1, when he posted his third compilation of delayed cabaret reviews from shows staged during the winter, BroadwayWorld.com's lead New York cabaret reviewer promised Number 4 would come with arrival of summer. Okay, so he missed his self-imposed deadline by a couple of weeks. but here's yet another catch-up column with critiques of a half dozen spring shows performed by Bryan Batt, Dawn Derow, Lynly Forrest, Dennis McNeil, Anastasia Barzee, and Nina Hennessey.

Shakespeare & Company Artistic Director Tony Simotes announces a special one-night-only Benefit Performance of BROADWAY IN THE BERKSHIRES Monday, July 8th at The Tina Packer Playhouse, 70 Kemble Street, Lenox, MA. Proceeds from the event will benefit Shakespeare & Company's internationally-acclaimed Education and Training Programs.

On Sunday, April 14, Randie Levine-Miller presented and hosted Broadway Showstopper Divas --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) as an Actors Fund Benefit. The evening's theme was 'The Vets and the Yets!'-- starring the best of the best -- Broadway star and Tony nominated Anita Gillette, and Broadway actress/singer and cabaret comedienne Jackie Hoffman. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Tonight, April 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Randie Levine-Miller will present Broadway Showstopper Divas --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) as an Actors Fund Benefit.*

On Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Randie Levine-Miller will present Broadway Showstopper Divas --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) as an Actors Fund Benefit.*

On Sunday, April 14, 2013 at 7:00 PM, Randie Levine-Miller will present Broadway Showstopper Divas --'A Swell Party' at the Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street) as an Actors Fund Benefit.*

Nationally recognized actor and vocalist Gia Mora (a four-time Helen Hayes Award nominee), in association with Jonathan White, has announced the world premiere of her new solo show, Einstein's Girl, at The Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge in Hollywood for one performance only, today, February 21, at 9pm. The Gardenia is located at 7066 Santa Monica Boulevard, just east of La Brea Avenue.

Nationally recognized actor and vocalist Gia Mora (a four-time Helen Hayes Award nominee), in association with Jonathan White, has announced the world premiere of her new solo show, Einstein's Girl, at The Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge in Hollywood for one performance only, on Thursday, February 21, at 9pm. The Gardenia is located at 7066 Santa Monica Boulevard, just east of La Brea Avenue.

Nationally recognized actor and vocalist Gia Mora (a four-time Helen Hayes Award nominee), in association with Jonathan White, has announced the world premiere of her new solo show, Einstein's Girl, at The Gardenia Restaurant and Lounge in Hollywood for one performance only, on Thursday, February 21, at 9pm. The Gardenia is located at 7066 Santa Monica Boulevard, just east of La Brea Avenue.

COMMENTARY, the latest feature film by writer/director Aaron Mark (Patti Issues), which features an ensemble of Broadway veterans, will be screened today, October 20th at 4:15 PM at the Producers Club (358 West 44th St. between 8th and 9th) as part of the third annual NYC Independent Film Festival. Check out the trailer below!

COMMENTARY, the latest feature film by writer/director Aaron Mark (Patti Issues), which features an ensemble of Broadway veterans, will be screened Saturday, October 20th at 4:15 PM at the Producers Club (358 West 44th St. between 8th and 9th) as part of the third annual NYC Independent Film Festival. Check out the trailer below!

John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Carey Anderson (all from Broadway's AVENUE Q) along with Gwen Hollander (LITTLE WOMEN), Christine Toy Johnson (FALSETTOLAND), Francis Jue (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, PACIFIC OVERTURES), singer/songwriter Phoebe Kreutz, Raymond J. Lee (ANYTHING GOES), Adam Levinskas, Jose Llana (THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, RENT), Orville Mendoza (PETER AND THE STARCATCHER), Olivia Oguma (MAMMA MIA) and actress Lexi Windsor will all be on hand to perform and pay tribute to the beloved director and actor ALAN MURAOKA ('Sesame Street', Broadway's MISS SAIGON, THE KING AND I) at an evening to benefit National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) tonight, September 10 at 416 W. 42 St.

John Tartaglia, Stephanie D'Abruzzo and Carey Anderson (all from Broadway's AVENUE Q) along with Gwen Hollander (LITTLE WOMEN), Christine Toy Johnson (FALSETTOLAND), Francis Jue (THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE, PACIFIC OVERTURES), singer/songwriter Phoebe Kreutz, Raymond J. Lee (ANYTHING GOES), Adam Levinskas, Jose Llana (THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE, RENT), Orville Mendoza (PETER AND THE STARCATCHER), Olivia Oguma (MAMMA MIA) and actress Lexi Windsor will all be on hand to perform and pay tribute to the beloved director and actor ALAN MURAOKA ('Sesame Street', Broadway's MISS SAIGON, THE KING AND I) at an evening to benefit National Asian American Theatre Company (NAATCO) on Monday, September 10 at 416 W. 42 St.

During her recent show at 54 Below, Rebecca Luker's renditions of 16 Jerome Kern songs-some of which were more obscure pre-1920 ditties-were lovely and engaging. But as a complete nightclub performance, Luker's show was neither a compelling one-woman concert nor captivating cabaret.

On Saturday, May 19, 2012 Broadway Sings for Pride (www.BwayPride.org) in conjunction with the TADA! Youth Theater joined over twenty-five Broadway, Off Broadway, and National Tour performers to remind everyone 'it gets better.' The song, which included TADA!'s Resident Youth Ensemble, was done to promote equality and stop bullying. 'It Gets Better' was written in 2010 by composers, Jay Kuo & Blair Shepard after a string of LGBT suicides across the country. This song will be featured in Broadway Sings for Pride's Second Annual Gay Pride Concert on Monday, June 25, 2012 in Manhattan. For tickets and information, click here.

TADA! YOUTH THEATER presents, in conjunction with the now-playing world premiere musical UP TO YOU, IT'S UP TO YOU, a open forum event today, May 6, 2012 at 11am to discuss bullying through leadership, moderated by Miss New York Kaitlin Monte and featuring a special opening number from BROADWAY SINGS FOR PRIDE (http://bwaypride.org). The event is free, and parents and kids are especially encouraged to attend. Miss New York Kaitlin Monte has spent the year engaging discussion in schools and working with State Senator Klein to create legislative reform. Reservations can be made at www.tadatheater.com.

TADA! Youth Theater presents, (in conjunction with the now playing world premiere musical UP TO YOU), IT'S UP TO YOU, a open forum event on Sunday, May 6, 2012 at 11am to discuss bullying through leadership, moderated by Miss New York Kaitlin Monte, featuring an special opening number from BROADWAY SINGS FOR PRIDE (http://bwaypride.org/). The event is free and parents and kids are especially encouraged to attend. Miss New York Kaitlin Monte has spent the year engaging discussion in schools and working with State Senator Klein to create legislative reform. Reservations can be made at www.tadatheater.com.