Richie Ridge News

It's been over a week since the world lost entertainment legend Robin Williams, who passed away last Monday. The beloved actor and comedian was 63 years old. Below, BroadwayWorld remembers Robin.

Piece of My Heart: The Bert Berns Story, a new musical based on the life and songs of legendary songwriter Bert Berns, produced by Merged Work Productions (lead producers) and Jack Thomas (Executive Producer), opened last night, July 21, 2014, at the The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities and you can check out photo coverage below!

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include the opening night of HOLLER IF YA HEAR ME, rehearsal for Jane Lynch's debut solo concert at 54 Below, the CD release of HEATHERS: THE MUSICAL, and more!

Just last night, BroadwayWorld.com continued its 2014 concert series at legendary cabaret venue Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, hosting a uniquely contemporary evening celebrating the music of the two most important and influential composers on Broadway in the modern age, Andrew Lloyd Webber and Stephen Sondheim, all to benefit the New York Public Library for the Performing Arts. Below, we ae excited to bring you photos from backstage!

Last night, BroadwayWorld produced an elegant and elaborate celebration all about the man behind the music for such legendary and unforgettable musicals as GYPSY, FUNNY GIRL, GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES, PETER PAN and many more - the incomparable Jule Styne - all to honor the Breast Cancer Research Foundation of America.

Winners of the 2014 Joey Awards were announced last weekend at a formal evening ceremony at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. Organized and overseen by the Joe Allen Academy of Arts & Bitching (JAAAB), 'The Joeys' are a set of awards given annually for excellence in food service and patronage at New York's City's famous Times Square celebrity hot-spots: Joe Allen, Orso and Bar Centrale.

On February 24th, 2014, BroadwayWorld.com continued its SOLD OUT 2014 concert series at Joe's Pub at The Public Theater, hosting an emotional all-star tribute concert and benefit, celebrating the music of 'bare' composer Damon Intrabartolo, at Joe's Pub in New York City, directed by his longtime collaborator, friend and Tony-nominee Kristin Hanggi with musical direction by Jesse Vargas. Check out backstage photos below from Linda Lenzi, and stay tuned for performance photos, and details on purchasing the recording of this once in a lifetime evening!

BroadwayWorld would be nothing without its ever-growing staff of dedicated writers, reviewers, interviewers, photographers and videographers that help keep you informed about everything that happens on Broadway and beyond. The BroadwayWorld team makes magic happen every day of the week and we want you to get to know the individuals who are responsible for it. Below, we continue our 'Meet the Staff' series by profiling our videographer Paul Sauline!

Christina Bianco is truly the girl with a thousand voices! She proved it on Monday night during her Birthday Bash at Birdland - which was a jam-packed, super-fun extravaganza! Divas like Celine, Idina, Bernadette, Adele, even Drew Barrymore were represented by the Big Voice of Bianco - and happily, her own sound was an important part of the evening! Accompanied by Brad Simmons, there were songs by John Bucchino and Bobby & Kristen Anderson Lopez, special guests (Michael West, Tamara Paulino, Jessica Vosk, J.P. Hartmann, Jim Caruso and hubby Billy Ernst), and hilarious rants about being 'too cute.'

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel just welcomed back Tony Award-Winner John Lloyd Young, running through February 15 (8:45PM) with Special Valentines Show on February 14. BroadwayWorld was there for his opening night and you can check out photos below!

Below, we continue our 'Meet the Staff' series by profiling our videographer Madeleine Spivey!

The York Theatre Company, and its acclaimed Developmental Reading Series, recently presented the premiere of Swing Wings, with ook & Lyrics by William Schermerhorn and Music by Milton Delugg and Mary Ehlinger at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Check out a look back below!

The world premiere of Greg Edwards & Andy Sandberg's new comedy, Craving for Travel will run Off-Broadway through February 9, 2014 at the Peter J. Sharp Theater (416 W. 42nd Street, NYC). Directed by Sandberg (Shida, The Last Smoker in America), a Tony Award-winner as a producer of Hair, the cast features Michele Ragusa (Young Frankenstein, Disaster!) and Thom Sesma (The Lion King, The Times They Are A-Changin') collectively playing thirty characters-chiefly, Joanne and Gary, rival travel agents (and former spouses) vying for their industry's most prestigious honor: the Globel Prize. Craving for Travel is commissioned and produced by Jim Strong, one of America's leading luxury travel agents. The show opened last night and you can check out photos fom the big event below!

Monday night, for two astonishing SOLD OUT performances, Joe's Pub became the backdrop for BroadwayWorld.com's 10th Anniversary celebration. The show conceived by Robert Diamond and Richard Jay-Alexander boasted talent from Broadway and beyond.

Actor and singer Jeff Daniels will perform his final concert tonight, Saturday at 54 below at 8PM and 11PM. Earlier this week, he chatted with BWW TV's Richie Ridge about the show and gave us a preview of the night.

The new Billie Holiday musical Lady Day starring Tony and multiple Grammy Award-winner Dee Dee Bridgewater, opened last night, October 3 at the Little Shubert Theatre (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). Written and directed by Stephen Stahl, the musical makes its New York debut having been produced at the Theatre de Boulogne-Billancourt and Theatre du Gymnase Marie Bell in Paris as well as The Donmar Warehouse and The Piccadilly Theatre in London, where it received critical praise and garnered an Olivier 'Best Actress in a Musical' Award nomination for Ms. Bridgewater. Check out photos from opening night below!

Check out BroadwayWorld.com's special photo coverage below of all the merchandise tables and hard-working volunteers!

Marc Blitzstein's The Cradle Will Rock, the inaugural show of New York City Center's new Encores! Off-Center series, will play for five performances, July 10-13 at City Center- starring Danny Burstein, Eisa Davis, Raúl Esparza, Peter Friedman, Aidan Gemme, Judy Kuhn, David Margulies, Martin Moran, Michael Park, Robert Petkoff, Da'Vine Joy Randolph, Anika Noni Rose, Matthew Saldivar and Henry Stram. The cast and creative team met the press earlier today and BroadwayWorld's Richie Ridge was there to chat with the whole gang. Check out what they had to say and catch a special performance preview below!

BroadwayWorld.com's Richie Ridge sat with all of the 2013 Tony Winners right after they came off stage from their big wins. The winners were filled with joy, memories and excitement and we've got it ALL! Here's Cicely Tyson, who won the 2013 Tony Award for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Play for her portrayal of Carrie Watts in The Trip to Bountiful.

BroadwayWorld.com's Richie Ridge sat with all of the 2013 Tony Winners right after they came off stage from their big wins. The winners were filled with joy, memories and excitement and we've got it ALL! Here's Courtney B. Vance who won the Tony for Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Play for LUCKY GUY.