Paul Shaffer News

When blind guitar legend Joey Stuckey gives inspirational talks about overcoming odds and helping people define success on their own terms, he's big on the concept of living a life of intention. Yet when the veteran blues rocker booked his progressive Americana trio into the legendary Sun Studio for a three hour session on an off day from their tour, he had no specific plan except to record a few originals and covers. Letting the legendary spirits in the room (Roy Orbison, Johnny Cash, Elvis, et al), the vintage 50's-60's equipment and the refreshing spontaneity of a live in the studio opportunity take over, Stuckey created In The Shadow of the Sun, the most unexpected and amazing full length album of his career. 

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Begin your Tuesday the only way Broadway fans know how: by catching up on the latest news!

Below, watch as they are joined onstage by Tony winner Alice Ripley to perform songs from the show, including Ripley's rousing rendition of 'Bless the Lord.'

I am forever excited with GMCLA's Holiday Spectacular, this year entitled Calling All Angels....and this is their 40th anniversary season. The concert was performed Saturday and Sunday December 15 and 16 at the Alex Theatre in Glendale. The level of singing under Dr. Joseph Nadeau's superior direction was top notch. What we as an audience looked forward to was solemnity...and ... fun.

BroadwayHD, the world's premiere online streaming platform delivering more than 250 premium live productions to theatre fans globally, today announced that the Geffen Playhouse production of the Drama Desk Award-winning piece The Lion will debut on the platform December 6.  The Lion will join Pulitzer Prize-winning show Long Day's Journey Into Night, and Pulitzer Prize Finalist Play Thom Pain, as the third title to stream on the platform, in partnership with Geffen Playhouse.  The show is directed by Kevin S. Bright, an Emmy Award Winning Executive Producer of the hit television series Friends and produced by Gil Cates Jr (Executive Director of Geffen Playhouse) and Eva Price (Tony-Winning Broadway Producer), and Executive Produced by Bright, Candice Abela Mikati and Fouad Mikati.

'Orphaned Songs for Orphaned Starfish' - a concert of composer Stephen Schwartz (Monday, November 19 at The Cutting Room), was an evening of unsung/cut songs from Wicked, Pippin, Working, and Children of Eden along with a new duet from the stage production of The Prince of Egypt. The concert also included some favorites from The Bakers Wife, Magic Show, Pippin, Pocahontas, Wicked and his opera Seance On a Wet Afternoon. The benefit evening for The Orphaned Starfish Foundation raised over $60,000.

If you were in The Cutting Room for the Stephen Schwartz Concert for the Benefit of the Orphaned Starfish Foundation it is a night you will probably cherish forever. The music of Stephen Schwartz performed by an incredible array of Broadway and stage talent was one of the most inspiring and remarkable events to be a part of.

When you enter the Friars Club on 55th street the world immediately becomes a better place. The first space you encounter is the Billy Crystal Room where you hear the laughter and the animated conversations as Friars share stories with one another. Last night in only the 8th time in the Club's 114-year history The Icon Award was presented by Robert De Niro to Billy Crystal at the Ziegfeld Ballroom to a capacity filled New York/Hollywood audience. The Icon Award honors individuals whose extraordinary accomplishment raise the standard of entertainment and positively redefines our culture. Billy is following in the footsteps of entertainment icons Douglas Fairbanks, Cary Grant, Frank Sinatra, Martin Scorsese, and Robert De Niro.

Ever wanted to know what goes down when celebrities gather for dinner? Well, now you can. Later this month, country legend TG Sheppard and his better half, singer-songwriter Kelly Lang, are inviting everyone to dine at their table, giving fans the chance to see what happens, first-hand.

Dan Aykroyd and Judith Belushi Pisano have announced that The Official Blues Brothers Revue will appear at M Resort Spa Casino on Saturday, Jan. 12. The duo, comprised of Kieron (Elwood Blues) Lafferty and Wayne (Jake Blues) Catania, were hand-picked by Aykroyd, Belushi Pisano and original Blues Brothers Musical Director, Paul Shaffer to carry the torch first lit by the iconic duo of Aykroyd and John Belushi on Saturday Night Live in 1978 and later immortalized in the eponymous blockbuster 1980 film directed by John Landis.

Musician and Producer Matt Oestreicher recently found himself mired in a troubling paradox. While mentoring kids in his music program, he realized he was encouraging children to aspire high, but he wasn't pursuing his own dreams. Despite becoming an accomplished sideman musician, he had yet to fulfill his desire to record and release any of his work.

This Halloween, the Brick Theater presents The Testament of a Josh: A Flesh and Blood Musical, an original rock musical by humor writer Brian Boone (books and lyrics) and composer Julian Mesri, and featuring Maybe Burke (fresh off the acclaimed Red Emma and the Mad Monk), John Amir (Theater for a New Audience's Skin of Our Teeth) and Matt Butterfield (600 Highwaymen).

ABC's “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” returns to Brooklyn, New York, for five original shows starting MONDAY, OCT. 15. The show will tape in front of a live studio audience from the Brooklyn Academy of Music's Howard Gilman Opera House. This will be the fourth time that Kimmel and his show have broadcast from BAM.

A stellar cast of musicians are assembling to celebrate the life and music of Henry Butler who passed away this summer here in New York.   

Amas Musical Theatre (Donna Trinkoff, Artistic Producer) in celebration of its 50thseason, will present The Algonquin Kid, a musical revue about growing up in the Algonquin Hotel, written by Michael Colby.

The nationally syndicated game show “Who Wants To Be A Millionaire” will present an entire week of special celebrity contestants during “Celebrity Week: Las Vegas,” airing Monday, Oc. 15 – Friday, Oct. 19. This season the show will have given away more than $100 million in total winnings since its syndicated debut and during “Celebrity Week: Las Vegas,” each contestant will take on the classic 14-question game for the chance to win $1 million for their favorite charity.

The cast of GETTIN' THE BAND BACK TOGETHER have had many guests from the Broadway community throughout its run. Among those were Lori Tan Chinn, Baayork Lee, Paul Shaffer, Andre De Shields, Denise Burse, Tracie Thoms, Jose Llana, Celia Keenan-Bolger, Marsha Mason, Alex Newell, Daniel K. Isaac, the kids from SCHOOL OF ROCK, Eric William Morris and his cast members from KING KONG.

In her own words, comedienne Gilda Radner reflects on her life and career. Weaving together her recently discovered audiotapes, interviews with friends (Chevy Chase, Lorne Michaels, Laraine Newman, Paul Shaffer and Martin Short), rare home movies and diaries read by modern-day comedians inspired by Gilda (Bill Hader, Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph and Cecily Strong), LOVE, GILDA opens up a unique window into the honest and whimsical world of a beloved performer whose greatest role was sharing her story.