Murphy Cross News

When you're marketing a spectacular SoHo Penthouse that has a Steinway B piano and you come from the world of cabaret what do you do?  Super Real Estate impresarios Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon filled it with the music of songstress Allyson Briggs with her band Fleur Seule, (a favorite of The Rainbow Room) and have a party for your eclectic group of friends.

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, has announced the 2017 summer New2NY Series presentation of the new musical Me & Ella, written and performed by Andrea Frierson (Once on This Island, The Lion King), direction by the Tony Award-winning team of Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel (Jay Johnson: The Two and Only), with music direction and arrangements by Ron Abel (Hazel, A Musical Maid in America, 'Happily Divorced').

The New York Premiere of Church & State, the critically acclaimed play by Jason Odell Williams, opened last night at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues) for an open-ended engagement. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening bows and festivities below!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director), as part of its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, will present staged readings of two new musicals: me and ella, written and performed by Andrea Frierson, with music direction and arrangements byRon Abel; and Marry Harry, with book by Jennifer Robbins, music by Dan Martin, and lyrics by Michael Biello, at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). 

The York Theatre Company, as part of its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, will present staged readings of two new musicals: me and ella, written and performed by Andrea Frierson, with music direction and arrangements by Ron Abel; and Marry Harry, with book by Jennifer Robbins, music by Dan Martin, and lyrics by Michael Biello, at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (619 Lexington Avenue, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).  

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance officially opened in Chicago on December 28, and will play thru January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. CLICK HERE to watch Nancy Ticotin and Alexander Aguilar performa  song from the show- 'Como No.'

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of GOTTA DANCE officially opened earlier this week on December 28 and will play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Nora Dunn (Saturday Night Live) and Peach Carr (Project Runway) attended last night's (Dec 29th) performance, and you can check out a photo of them below!

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance officially opened in Chicago on December 28, and will play thru January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a look inside opening night below!

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance is now officially open and will play thru January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you more shots of the cast in action!  Want to see more?  Check out the original production photos here.

Let's check out what the critics had to say...

The pre-Broadway World Premiere of GOTTA DANCE officially opens tonight, December 28, and will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016.

The Chicago Bulls Lovables and The Swinging Seniors- the Bulls' senior dance team- and Emmy winner Jane Lynch attended the musical on Saturday night, and BroadwayWorld has photos of the cast with all of them below!

Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, recently extended one week on the heels of its first performance in Chicago on December 13. The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you highlights of the cast in action!

Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, recently extended one week on the heels of its first performance in Chicago on December 13. The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a first look at the cast in action!

Producers Dori Berinstein and Bill Damaschke have announced that Gotta Dance, the new Broadway-bound musical comedy about professional basketball's first ever aged 60-and-older dance team, has extended one week on the heels of its first performance in Chicago on December 13. The pre-Broadway World Premiere of Gotta Dance will now play through January 17, 2016, at Broadway In Chicago's Bank of America Theatre (18 W Monroe St, Chicago), before opening on Broadway in the Fall of 2016.

The Colony Theatre is thrilled to present the first production of its 41st season, the California Premiere of THE FABULOUS LIPITONES by John Markus and Mark St. Germain, directed by John Markus, with Musical Direction by Sam Kriger and Choreography by Murphy Cross. THE FABULOUS LIPITONES will preview on Wednesday, July 22; Thursday, July 23; and Friday, July 24 at 8:00pm. It will open on Saturday, July 25 at 8:00pm and continue through Sunday, August 23.

Wetrock Entertainment presented performer/writer/jazz vocalist Andrea Frierson in 'me & ella,' at 54 Below last night. "me & ella," is a musical journey back to the beginnings of a young singer enamored with Ella Fitzgerald, set against a backdrop of New York City in the 1960's. Part memory play and part tribute, 'me & ella' is both a singer's coming of age story, as well as a valentine to the First Lady of Song. Written and performed by Ms. Frierson with musical arrangements and musical supervision by Ron Abel and direction by Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel, 'me & ella'

Wetrock Entertainment is pleased to present performer/writer/jazz vocalist Andrea Frierson in 'me & ella,' a musical journey back to the beginnings of a young singer enamored with Ella Fitzgerald, set against a backdrop of New York City in the 1960's.

Wetrock Entertainment is pleased to present performer/writer/jazz vocalist Andrea Frierson in 'me & ella,' a musical journey back to the beginnings of a young singer enamored with Ella Fitzgerald, set against a backdrop of New York City in the 1960's.

El Portal Theatre and 22Q Entertainment -- Robert Levinstein& Alan Wager present Always...Patsy Cline, starring Sally Struthers and Carter Calvert as Patsy Cline, through August 3, 2014 at the historic El Portal Theatre, in the NOHO Arts District, North Hollywood, CA. Check below for photos from the opening night!