Phyllis Newman News

The 26th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition raised $3,677,855, the result of six weeks of intensive fundraising for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS by 51 Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies.

THE LYONS, which debuted last fall at the Tony and Pulitzer Prize-winning Vineyard Theatre, officially opened last night, April 23, at the Cort Theatre. Previews began on April 5. THE LYONS comes to Broadway with its entire original cast: Linda Lavin and Dick Latessa along with Michael Esper, Kate Jennings Grant, Brenda Pressley and Gregory Wooddell. Mark Brokaw directs. BroadwayWorld was on hand for opening night, and we bring you photos from the starry opening night arrivals below!

The line-up of presenters, judges, and participants for the 26th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition will include a four-time Tony Award winner, eight Tony Award nominees and more than 200 of Broadway and Off-Broadway's most talented performers. This year's Easter Bonnet Competition presented by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will be held Monday, April 23 and Tuesday, April 24 at the Minskoff Theatre, 200 West 45th Street.

Olympics Gold Medallist Robin Cousins will star on the West End stage as Billy Flynn in the musical CHICAGO at the Garrick Theatre from 17 July, 10 days ahead of the Olympic Games Opening Ceremony. He will be in the show until 8 September, the day before the final day of the Paralympics.

Ten of the hottest men from Broadway Bares will get a head start on a season of sexiness with a special, one-night-only edition of BROADWAY BARES: SOLO STRIPS, a benefit event to be held at 9 pm on Sunday, May 6 at XL Nightclub (512 West 42nd Street, NYC). The show is produced by and benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS; Tony Award-winner Jerry Mitchell is executive producer and creator of BROADWAY BARES.

The world-premiere of the new play PRATFALLS, by playwright Holly Webber, directed by Jenn Thompson and starring Victor Verhaeghe (HBO's 'Boardwalk Empire'), Kate Middleton, Amelia White and Matthew Baldiga opens April 27 at the Abingdon Theatre Complex (312 West 36th Street).

Tickets are now on sale for the hotly anticipated Broadway Bares, returning for its 22nd edition on Sunday, June 17, 2012, at New York City's Roseland Ballroom to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BC/EFA has posted a short tease about the upcoming show, with full details promised on Thursday, March 29th. Check it out below!

Nothing Like a Dame: Their Favorite Things Through took the audience on a tour of favorite shows, songs and performances. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you exclusive coverage of the performance and after party below!

The Actors Fund, the nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, presented the 17th edition of Nothing Like a Dame, a benefit for the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative (PNWHI) last night, March 26, at The Gerald Lynch Theatre.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) has just announced that 100 tickets to Newsies will be available via lottery for the opening night performance on Thursday, March 29th. The ticket allotment has been donated by Disney Theatrical Productions, allowing 100% of the proceeds to benefit BC/EFA. Beginning at Noon, patrons are invited to enter the lottery for 100 tickets; winners will be drawn at 12:30PM. Winners may then purchase up to two $30.00 cash only tickets to that evening's performance. Winners must be present with valid identification at the time of the drawing.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 26th Annual EASTER BONNET COMPETITION on Monday, April 23 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, April 24 (2 PM) at the Minskoff Theatre (200 West 45th Street, NYC), home to the long-running musical hit Disney's The Lion King. Proceeds from the event will benefit BC/EFA.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS presents the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS tonight, March 18, 2012 at 8 PM at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on West 42nd Street. THE BROADWAY BEARS is an annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers..

The Actors Fund, the nationwide human services organization that helps all professionals in performing arts and entertainment, just announced the Elaine Stritch will perform at the 17th edition of Nothing Like a Dame, a benefit for the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative (PNWHI). This highly anticipated event will take place Monday, March 26th at 7:30 at The Gerald Lynch Theatre, 524 West 59th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, New York, NY 10019.

The Actors Fund just announced the first round of talent participating in the 17th edition of Nothing Like a Dame, a benefit for the Phyllis Newman Women's Health Initiative (PNWHI). This highly anticipated event will take place Monday, March 26th at 7:30 at The Gerald Lynch Theatre, 524 West 59th Street between 10th and 11th Avenues, New York, NY 10019.

Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will present the 15th and grand finale edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS, the annual Broadway auction of teddy bears dressed in museum-quality outfits based on original costumes and created by acclaimed designers on March 18, 2012.

Ground UP Productions presents the World Premiere of Holly Webber's PRATFALLS, a new comedy about falling down - set on a rooftop in Brooklyn - directed by Jenn Thompson (THE LATE CHRISTOHER BEAN). Preview performances begin April 27 prior to an official press opening of April 29 at the Abingdon Theatre Complex /Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street).

The one-night-only event continues to grow in popularity and success in supporting the work of Broadway Cares and the Center. Last year's record-breaking $281,200 topped the previous year's total of more than $186,700.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7 played Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre last night at 8pm. The show featured some of Broadway's biggest names singing songs originally written for the opposite gender: women singing songs written for men and men singing songs written for women. Check out the evening's cast after last night's performance!

A limited number of $40 rush tickets to the star-studded BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7 will be released for sale at 6:30 PM Monday, March 5, 2012. The rush tickets will be sold outside the Al Hirschfeld Theater (302 West 45th Street) and will not be available at the box office. Tickets will be sold on a first-come, first-served basis, cash only and are limited to two tickets per person. The show begins at 8 PM.

With less than a week until the only Broadway event custom-made for the gay and lesbian community, our friends and families, a limited number of tickets remain for BROADWAY BACKWARDS 7, which benefits Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center.