Randy Blair News

Samantha Barks has returned to the musical stage in a role that has taught her about her voice and helped her to explore her childish side.

Berkeley Rep presents its 2015-16 season opener, the theatrical world premiere presentation of AMELIE, A NEW MUSICAL, starring LES MISERABLES' Samantha Barks, begins previews today, August 29 and opens on Friday, September 11. It runs through Sunday, October 4, 2015.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has announced that award-winning British actress Samantha Barks will star in the world premiere of AMELIE, A NEW MUSICAL directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?). Barks, who is best known for her stand-out performance as Eponine in the film adaptation of LES MISERABLES, will portray the inquisitive and charmingly shy Amelie. Her most recent theatre credits include City of Angels, Cabaret, and Oliver! in London's West End, and Chicago at The Hollywood Bowl. She will be joined by Randy Blair (Hipolito), Adam Chanler-Berat (Nino), Alison Cimmet(Amandine/Philomene), Carla Duren (Gina),John Hickok (Raphael/Bretodeaux), Alyse Alan Louis (Georgette/Fluffy/Sylvie), and Paul Whitty (Joseph).  

Kate Mulgrew and Anne-Cecilie Engell Speyer will host Vineyard Theatre's Annual Emerging Artists Luncheon on Wednesday, September 30 from noon-2pm at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan. Chaired by members of the Vineyard Council, the event will feature the presentation of the 2015 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award to Boo Killebrew (MILLER, MISSISSIPPI). Clare Barron (YOU GOT OLDER), Vineyard's 2014 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award winner, will also be recognized at the luncheon.

Berkeley Rep has announced the full company for its 2015-16 season opener Amelie, A New Musical, starring award-winning actress Samantha Barks.

Artistic Directors Douglas Aibel and Sarah Stern announce that the musical comedy GIGANTIC will open the Vineyard Theatre's 2015-2016 season, which includes the previously announced new plays INDECENT by Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Paula Vogel and DOT by the actor and playwright Colman Domingo. The season will also include a Developmental Lab of Christopher Chen's YOU MEAN TO DO ME HARM in the summer of 2016. Chen is the recipient of the Vineyard's 2013 Paula Vogel Playwriting Award. Vineyard Theatre is located at 108 E. 15 St. in New York City.

On Friday night at the Off-Broadway comedy Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, Anneliese van der Pol became very ill about 30 minutes before showtime. After calling every actress who has played the role in the past, the play's writer and producer Matt Murphy had no choice but to make his Off-Broadway debut in the show. Scroll down for photos!

Jason Gotay, Lauren "Lolo" Pritchard, Brandon Ellis, Natalie Weiss, and More Sing 'Zack Zadek at 54 Below' on Monday, June 29th at 9:30pm.

Berkeley Repertory Theatre has announced that award-winning British actress Samantha Barks will star in the world premiere of AMELIE, A NEW MUSICAL directed by Tony Award winner Pam MacKinnon (Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf?).

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, the hit comedy written by Matt Murphy, based on the best-selling book by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman, has announced that comedian and YouTube star Michael Buckley ("What The Buck?") and television and stage actress Anneliese van der Pol ("That's So Raven", Beauty and the Beast) will join the cast this summer as Dan and Robyn, for two weeks only - July 2-4 and 9-11 - at The 777 Theatre (777 Eighth Avenue, between 47th and 48th Streets). Buckley, making his Off-Broadway debut in Sex Tips, will also perform in the show's upcoming week-long run at The Provincetown Theater from August 3 - 8.

Sara Chase loves Broadway! Join her for a loving and slightly inappropriate tribute to the Great White Way. While her friends were doing normal things, Sara was stalking Lillias White, hocking a couch for Barbra Streisand tickets, and rubbing elbows with future Broadway stars when they still went by their birth names.  Tony Award nominee, Nick Cordero will be joining Sara for some Broadway debauchery on June 19!

Contemporary musical theatre writer Zack Zadek offers an evening of story-driven synthpop performed by vocalists from Broadway and pop-rock recording artists. Zadek will co-lead a full-piece band with Broadway Orchestrator and Musical Director Charlie Rosen (The Visit, Honeymoon in Vegas, Charlie Rosen's Broadway Big Band). Max Friedman directs. Valerie Novakoff produces.

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, the hit comedy written by Matt Murphy, based on the best-selling book by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman, is making a stop in Milwaukee at the Marcus Center's Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall for two nights only tonight, April 30 and Friday, May 1.

'In this song, the character has recently come back from fighting in Vietnam, and while he was expecting a hero's welcome - he's faced with the reality of the country he's come back to. He wanted more than anything to make his father proud by being courageous back in war, but he's haunted by the idea that maybe he wasn't.'

YELLOW SOUND LABEL has released the Off-Broadway cast recording of the new musical The Memory Show today online via Amazon.com, Spotify and other digital outlets.

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, the hit comedy written by Matt Murphy, based on the best-selling book by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman, is making a stop in Milwaukee at the Marcus Center's Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall for two nights only on Thursday, April 30 and Friday, May 1.

Sex Tips for Straight Women from a Gay Man, the hit comedy written by Matt Murphy, based on the best-selling book by Dan Anderson and Maggie Berman, is celebrating one year of performances this week at The 777 Theatre (777 Eighth Avenue, between 47th and 48th Streets) and has announced the launch of a national tour in April 2015, followed by Las Vegas in Summer 2015 and international productions in Brazil, Australia and Toronto in Summer/Fall 2015.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Chasing the Day, Broadsway, Christine Andreas in Love Is Good, Ann Hampton Callaway in Turning Points, A Night Like This Live in Concert, and Seth Sykes Sings Judy Garland.

This November and December 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Tony Award-nominee Annaleigh Ashford and star of Book Of Mormon and War Horse, Matt Doyle will headline "Chasing The Day" a new song cycle by songwriter and Kinky Boots Associate Music Director Will Van Dyke. They will also be joined by If/Then star Tamika Sonja Lawrence and Preston Sadleir (Next to Normal) at 54 Below on Monday, November 17, 2014. The four actors will play two shows on November 17th (7:00 PM & 9:30 PM), with direction by Kerry Whigham and musical direction by Dominick Amendum. Originally released as an album on Sh-K-Boom Records in October 2010, Van Dyke's Chasing the Day has been reimagined as a song cycle about breaking up, breaking down, and breaking through, and will soon be available for theatrical licensing. Tickets for Chasing The Day at 54 Below range from $30-$65, and are on sale now at www.54below.com.