Peter Allen News

Today's top stories: read the reviews for Is This A Room, check out opening night photos from Chicken & Biscuits, and more!

Rian Keating is a masterful storyteller. His stories are filled with humanity. And even though his tales are very personal and specific, they remind us all that at the heart of things, we are all struggling with the same emotions and challenges. We are all looking for our place in the world while dealing with challenges and joys and heartbreaks. This is the focus of his new show TIME STAMPS: FRAGMENTS OF A LIFE IN STORY AND SONG which opened last night at Don’t Tell Mama. You may remember Rian Keating from the early days of NY cable access when he interviewed some of the biggest theatre celebrities on his show SPOTLIGHT.  Or you may have seen one of his many shows at Don’t Tell Mama where he shared his stories and songs. Rian has spent many years in education, as a teacher and on the board of education. This show, like all of his theatrical endeavors, was a fundraiser for the GOLDEN DOOR SCHOLARSHIP, an endowment dedicated to undocumented students who do not otherwise have funds available for higher education. Keating is a special person, indeed.

The Foundation for New American Musicals (FNAM) will honor Marc Shaiman with their inaugural Inspire Award at their FNAM ALL-STAR BENEFIT AND FUNDRAISER October 24th at a private Pacific Palisades residence. Scheduled to appear that night: Megan Hilty, Matthew Morrison, Bruce Vilanch, Marisha Wallace and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Marc took a brief moment from his many obligations to answer my queries with his snappy quips.

The pilgrimage tradition is turned on its head when two outwardly unremarkable, middle-aged women throw themselves into a rousing tour of India, each one having her own secret dreams of what the fabled land of intoxicating opposites will do for the suffering she hides within.

The Metropolitan Opera announced today that it has appointed Debra Lew Harder as the new host of its radio broadcasts, the longest-running classical music program in American radio history, which began 90 years ago in 1931.

There are some people who just have a passion for living. Passion is a word that applies to everything Christine Andreas touches. She has been bewitching Broadway audiences since she first appeared as the wicked maid Nancy in Angel Street. Her turns in much-heralded revivals of My Fair Lady, Oklahoma!, and On Your Toes made her Broadway's ingenue of choice and earned her two Tony nominations. She also wowed Broadway audiences in The Scarlet Pimpernel and the 2010 revival of La Cage aux Folles. She conquered the West End in The Fields of Ambrosia, written by her husband and collaborator, Martin Sylvestri.

Dr. Peter Simon, Michael and Sonja Koerner President & CEO of The Royal Conservatory of Music, Mervon Mehta, Executive Director of Performing Arts, and James Anagnoson, Dean of The Glenn Gould School, today revealed details of the diverse concerts that will make up the 13th concert season at The Royal Conservatory of Music.

Billy Stritch has always embodied a suave elegance that evokes another era before tuxedos were replaced by ripped jeans and before cocktail hour was replaced by Netflix binges. His encyclopedic knowledge of The Great American Songbook is prodigious. He not only knows all the songs, he knows the history of them all. He is as stylish as the great pianists of that era: Oscar Peterson, Marion McPartland, Teddy Wilson, Art Tatum, and Dave Grusin. He is the upholder of a tradition that includes Ella Fitzgerald, Tony Bennett, Frank Sinatra, Barbra Streisand, Doris Day, and Mel Tormé.

What is Club Cumming without a little Kim David Smith, Weimar and Dietrich?

Gloria Swansong is an illusionist with a big following and a big task. Her followers are joining her at The Q on Tuesday nights to see her live up to the task: becoming Judy Garland before their very eyes.

Mark William hits the stage like a lighting bolt! Putting his own unique, youthful spin on golden age crooner styling, Mark performs a collection of timeless tunes from Broadway and The Great American Songbook, including such iconic songs as Come Fly With Me, Moon River, and Over the Rainbow.

Hear Jackman sing a bit of 'Pick-a-Little, Talk-a-Little' with THE LATE SHOW host Stephen Colbert.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced that Grammy Award-nominated pianist, vocalist and songwriter Billy Stritch will return to the stage for an exclusive three-night engagement celebrating his new album Billy’s Place from Club44 Records with five shows from Thursday, August 5 through Saturday, August 7.

What do you get when you combine the pianistic finesse of Michael Feinstein, the smooth phrasing of Tony Bennett, and the bawdy wit of Bette Midler? You get Michael McAssey, who for 40 years has reigned as the clown prince of New York cabaret, and has enchanted as one of its most talented troubadours. He calls what he does 'schtick.' But that's undervaluing his unique blend of beautiful ballad singing and standup, or rather 'sit down' comedy.

Organisers of the first Perth International Cabaret Festival saw opportunity in the cancellation of shows and brought together all the big names from the festival to end it “with a bang.” It is fair to say that a huge bill of stars did that, and the curtain was drawn on the inaugural festival with a gala show that had everything.

The role of Ella (Cinderella), a strong and intelligent young woman who dreams of escaping her endless chores so she might see the world, will be played by rising musical theatre star Shubshri Kandiah.

New Conservatory Theatre Center will celebrate 40 years of serving the Bay Area LGBTQ+ community, and its long-awaited return to live performances with a captivating 21-22 Season of two World Premieres, one Rolling World Premiere, one Regional Premiere, two West Coast Premieres, and a special musical celebration waiting in the wings. 

June marks the official start of Pride Month! This year, BroadwayWorld is celebrating pride with a series focused on some of our favorite LGBTQ-themed musicals, plays, characters, and songs!

BroadwayWorld recently had the opportunity to sit down with STAGES St. Louis associate producer Andrew Kuhlman. Andrew is a Best Musical Tony nominee as associate producer for The Prom. He is an educator who has taught both at the high school and collegiate levels. He is a graduate of Bradley University in Peoria Illinois and majored in Theater Performance. Andrew made the decision to return to St. Louis following graduation to pursue his career in the arts and spend time with his aging grandmother, putting family before his career. It is to the benefit of the vibrant St. Louis theater scene that Andrew lends his talents to help stage the Broadway caliber productions at STAGES St. Louis.

In a year when many people are wondering if and when we will ever be able to travel again, comes a story of longing for distant places and different lives.