Michele Lee News

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance. With its genre-blind booking and vast diversity of interests, the stage at Joe's Pub gives voice to a world of varied and stellar artists.

This past Wednesday and Thursday, host Jim Caruso and musical director Billy Stritch oversaw another Hollywood edition of Cast Party, the wildly successful open mic night, which tours the country celebrating local talent.

Legendary stage, film and television star Dick Van Dyke brings Step In Time! A Musical Memoir to the Audrey Skirball Kenis Theatre @ the Geffen Playhouse opening December 16. He has much to say in our interview about his career and the people he's worked with.

Parks & Recreation Commissioner Adrian Benepe and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Kate Levin today unveiled a new plaque at the TKTS booth in Duffy Square, honoring the site's history and recent restorations, while also lauding the efforts of Mayor John V. Lindsay. Mayor Lindsay was a passionate supporter of the Broadway Theatre and was instrumental in the creation of the original TKTS booth with the Theatre Development Fund in 1973, making Duffy Square ever since a destination point for those in search of reduced-price theater tickets. Also in attendance at today's unveiling were State Assembly Member Richard Gottfried; Broadway producer Hal Prince, who is Chair of the Theatre Industry Committee to Honor John Lindsay; as well as leaders of the Times Square Alliance, Theatre Development Fund, Broadway League, Broadway Association, and members of Mayor Lindsay's family.

One of the most beloved and enduring characters in the history of American popular culture is aiming to finally make her way to the Broadway stage. Hazel - the saucy maid whose wry attitude, infallible wisdom and heart of gold has captured the hearts of millions for more than 60 years - will be in the spotlight again in an exciting new Broadway musical with music by composer Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan. The veteran duo has acquired the rights to Hazel from the estate of creator Ted Key and are hoping to bring the show to the Great White Way in 2011.

Daniel Radcliffe will make his Broadway musical debut as J. Pierrepont Finch in a new production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING opening at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) Sunday, March 27, 2011, at 5pm. Radcliffe has just completed his decade-long, critically-acclaimed performance starring as Harry Potter in the largest grossing franchise in motion picture history. Directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING has a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, based on Shepherd Mead's satirical self-help book of the same name and music and lyrics by Frank Loesser. Further casting will be announced shortly. The 50th Anniversary production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING begins previews Saturday, February 26, 2011, at 8pm, and is produced by Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Joseph Smith, Michael McCabe, and Candy Spelling.

'Let's see if we can do this without a microphone,' peeped Jo Sullivan Loesser, as she prepared to fill the 1,495-seat Town Hall with 'Somebody, Somewhere,' which she introduced in the 1956 original Broadway production of The Most Happy Fella.  While the age of the widow of the great Frank Loesser is a fact you'll not find via Google, let's just say she's a few decades beyond the point where audiences would expect to hear such lovely, expressive and, yes, loud soprano tones from an unamplified voice.  The house, still and silent for those few minutes of bliss, finally erupted with appreciative cheers for the brief reminder of a time when all Broadway musicals were sung that way.

Yesterday, October 17, The Town Hall presented Broadway Originals. The afternoon featured songs and memories with performers reprising songs they introduced either in the original Broadway production or revival. This three-concert series, written and hosted by Scott Siegel for THE TOWN HALL, took place over one weekend and included Broadway Melody Makers on Friday, October 15th and Betty Buckley in Concert on Saturday, October 16 at 8PM.

BROADWAY MELODY MAKERS on Friday October 15th at 8PM, was directed by Scott Coulter, with musical direction by Ross Patterson. The cast also includes Tony Award ® winners Alice Ripley (Next to Normal, Sideshow) and Michael Cerveris (Assasins), along with Nellie McKay (Threepenny Opera), Tom Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun, A Catered Affair), and Mary Testa (Xanadu, On the Town). The concert featured songs by Jerome Kern, George Gershwin, Richard Rodgers, Cole Porter, Harold Arlen, Irving Berlin, and so many others down through the decades to the likes of Jule Styne and Cy Coleman, among others.

Lucie Arnaz (They're Playing Our Song), Sarah Uriarte Berry (A Light in the Piazza), Carole Demas (Grease), Loni Ackerman (So Long, 174th Street) and Nancy Opel (Urinetown), join the cast of The Town Hall's Broadway Originals on Sunday, October 17th at 3:00 PM.

Judy Kaye Completes the Cast of Broadway Melody Makers on October 15th forTHE TOWN HALL'SAnnual Broadway Cabaret FestivalOctober 15th, 16th and 17th Tony Award ® winner Judy Kaye (Phantom, Souvenir, Mama Mia) completes the cast of THE TOWN HALL's Broadway Melody Makers on Friday, October 15th.

Broadway's Melody Makers on Friday, October 15 - Starring Tom Wopat, Ana Gasteyer, Mary Testa, Nellie MacKay and More!

Lucie Arnaz (They're Playing Our Song), Sarah Uriarte Berry (A Light in the Piazza), Carole Demas (Grease), Loni Ackerman (So Long, 174th Street) and Nancy Opel (Urinetown), join the cast of The Town Hall's Broadway Originals on Sunday, October 17th at 3:00 PM.

Judy Kaye Completes the Cast of Broadway Melody Makers on October 15th forTHE TOWN HALL'SAnnual Broadway Cabaret FestivalOctober 15th, 16th and 17th Tony Award ® winner Judy Kaye (Phantom, Souvenir, Mama Mia) completes the cast of THE TOWN HALL's Broadway Melody Makers on Friday, October 15th.

Alice Ripley, Tony Award®-winner for her starring role in Next to Normal, and Michael Cerveris, Tony Award®-winner for Assasins and 4-time Tony Award® nominee, join the cast of THE TOWN HALL's Broadway Melody Makers on Friday, October 15th. The evening celebrates legendary composers of The Great White Way and is the first concert in THE TOWN HALL's 5th Annual Broadway Cabaret Festival. This three-concert series, written and hosted by Scott Siegel for THE TOWN HALL, takes place over one weekend and includes Betty Buckley in Concert on Saturday, October 16 at 8PM and Broadway Originals on Sunday, October 17th at 3PM. Tickets are $55 and $50 at Ticketmaster.com, (800) 982-2787, or at The Town Hall Box Office (123 West 43rd Street) between noon and 6PM (except Sundays), 212-840-2824. For more information, visit www.the-townhall-nyc.org.

On Monday, September 13, The Actors Fund hosted a party for 'The Friends of The Lillian Booth Actors Home' at Gloria Crest, in Englewood, NJ, the former estate of film legend Gloria Swanson and now the home of the evening's hosts Jan and Edward Turen. The Turens welcomed Tony Award-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the evening's entertainment host Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth. Emmy and Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams, Tony Award-nominated actor/singer Tom Wopat and singer-songwriter-pianist Peter Cincotti and his band, among others performed. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

The Actors Fund will host a party for 'The Friends of The Lillian Booth Actors Home' on Monday, September 13 at 6 pm at Gloria Crest, in Englewood, NJ, the former estate of film legend Gloria Swanson and now the home of the evening's hosts Jan and Edward Turen. The Turen's will welcome Tony Award-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the evening's entertainment host Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth. Emmy and Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams, Tony Award-nominated actor/singer Tom Wopat and singer-songwriter-pianist Peter Cincotti and his band are scheduled to perform.

Broadway's Melody Makers on Friday, October 15 - Starring Tom Wopat, Ana Gasteyer, Mary Testa, Nellie MacKay and More!

The Actors Fund will host a party for 'The Friends of The Lillian Booth Actors Home' on Monday, September 13 at 6 pm at Gloria Crest, in Englewood, NJ, the former estate of film legend Gloria Swanson and now the home of the evening's hosts Jan and Edward Turen. The Turen's will welcome Tony Award-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the evening's entertainment host Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth. Emmy and Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams, Tony Award-nominated actor/singer Tom Wopat and singer-songwriter-pianist Peter Cincotti and his band are scheduled to perform.

LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, winner of three 2010 Tony Awards, including Best Revival of a Musical, welcomes new cast members Allyce Beasley and Matt Anctil to the company. The production, starring five-time Emmy Award winner Kelsey Grammer and Tony and Olivier Award winner Douglas Hodge, is playing at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).