Richie Ridge News

'I actually am a little more optimistic than those who say Broadway will reopen in the spring, but I tend to be an optimistic person, I tend to think it will be after the first of the year, in January...'

A new report from the New York Times shows that many theaters across the U.S. are beginning to lose hope of returning to the stage before the year is out. 

ENTER Colin O'Leary. You may not know his name, but you have certainly come across his insanely brilliant videos, while journeying online via the internet. They gained huge notoriety for the madness of watching a young man, totally possessed by Musical Theatre, trapped in the passenger seat of a car, jumping from character to character, song bite to song bite, complete with props, costumes, wig changes, make-up .... even smoke effects. Meanwhile, in the driver's seat, his mother (his real-life Mom) non-plussed and deadpan. I don't' even know how she did it.

Today's top stories: the National Theatre's Jane Eyre is now available to stream, and more!

Mark William, two time BroadwayWorld Cabaret winner and current MAC nominee for best male debut, returned triumphantly to The Green Room 42 for his sixth engagement and literally blew the roof off the place.

BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge interviewed 'The Next Generation of Major Playwrights' at this weekend's BroadwayCon 2020!

Mark William: Come Croon With Me is now available on CD, digital download, and all streaming platforms. Hailed as the “Album Of The Year” by Peter Filichia (Broadway Radio), the CD release was celebrated at the premiere performance of Mark's all new show Mark William: Feeling Good at The Green Room 42 (570 10th Ave, New York) on Friday, November 22 at 7:00 PM.

Carol Ostrow and the Actors Temple recently celebrated their 103rd year with a Fall Benefit for the temple, featuring Mark William, COME CROON WITH ME. Mark William, an incredibly talented young singer and dancer who frequently appears on New York stages, performed the beautiful shul on 47th Street on Monday, November 18, 2019.

Celebrating Broadway's legendary Cole Porter! The York Theatre Company launches their 50th Anniversary Season with its acclaimed Musicals in Mufti series celebrating the legendary Broadway composer Cole Porter. The series honors the illustrious songwriter behind such classics as Anything Goes, Kiss Me, Kate, Gay Divorce, Silk Stockings, Red, Hot and Blue, and Can-Can, to name a few.

The Great Society is currently in previews, ahead of its October 1 opening night. The play, written by Robert Schenkkan, is the sequel to the play All The Way, which played on Broadway in 2014. These plays work together to celebrate Lyndon B. Johnson's legacy. In honor of LBJ's return to Broadway, we're looking back on All The Way's Broadway journey in 2014.

It's time to break out your show shirts and Playbills because the annual Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction is returning to the theatre district this Sunday, September 22nd. To prepare you to experience the ultimate theatrical treasure hunt, we've put together a guide to the ins and outs of the Broadway Flea Market, from the show tables to the autograph table and the auctions. Check it all out!

Audiences are getting ready to head to Skid Row this fall! As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Howard Ashman and Alan Menken's classic sci-fi musical Little Shop of Horrors is returning to New York at The Westside Theatre, with previews beginning September 17th and opening night set for October 17th. The production is set to run for a limited engagement through November 24th.

Broadway actors Julia Haubner and Ian Saraceni have joined the cast of The Perfect Fit, a new family musical featuring book, music and lyrics by twelve-year-old musical sensation Joshua Turchin (The Little Mermaid Live-To-Film, Forbidden Broadway Salutes Carol Channing, A Christmas Story National Tour, TrevorLive, The Pill). The production will be making its world premiere in a staged developmental production that will run August 11 - 23 as part of the Rave Theater Festival.

Donna McKechnie, the Tony Award Winning Actress for A Chorus Line was in a different line last night. The super star was in The Lineup hosted by Susie Mosher at the Birdland Theater. Wether you're upstairs, downstairs, or on the line waiting to get into the club, there are celebs all over the place at Birdland and last night was no different. Tony Award winner Chita Rivera was in the house cheering a performance by her daughter Lisa Mordente who sang in Susie's wild variety show. It also wasn't to shabby that TV ( Madam Secretary) Film (Jersey Boys) and Broadway star Erich Bergen was in last night's Lineup too.

It's in the Steinbrenner genes, known for excellence, excitement, and showmanship in all things they endeavor. Haley Swindal, Broadway and Concert star continues the legacy of one of America's most well known families and used her formidable talents in an homage to her idol Liza Minnelli last night at Feinstein's/54 Below. Whenever Haley takes time off from her Broadway commitments (presently CHICAGO) her Cabaret concerts are a major happening and last night Broadway's Supper Club was the place to be in New York City. Haley's significant voice and acting abilities, her physical stature and blond hair may be different then Liza's but the audience arousal and passion she evokes is similar to the legend.

Broadway World's own Genevieve Rafter Keddy dropped by East Side Sound to capture the recording session of 'Mark William: Come Croon With Me', which will be available this fall on all music streaming services and on CD through Amazon.com Mark William has enjoyed a season full of sold-out performances of his debut nightclub act, Mark William: Come Croon With Me, at The Green Room 42. Putting his own unique, youthful spin on golden age crooner styling, Mark performs a collection of classic tunes from Broadway and The Great American Songbook. With his glossy approach, he glides from Jerry Herman to Peter Allen to Henry Mancini‬ with charismatic ease and a spring in his step. Both critics and audiences alike are over the moon for Mark William. Theatre Pizzazz said “ Mark William is the epitome of panache, adding his own brand of pizazz. Whatever that 'it' is, he's got IT!” and Times Square Chronicles called him “ The newest star rising in the heavens of cabaret and musical theatre.” Tony-winning lyricist Lynn Ahrens calls him “Baby Sinatra” and John Lloyd Young, the original, Tony-winning Frankie Valli in Jersey Boys, says he is “Golden-Age Hollywood Reborn”. Mark was named one of the top ten cabaret acts of 2018 by both Theater Pizzazz and Times Square Chronicles, and rang in 2019 headlining New Years Eve at the famed ‪McKittrick Hotel‬. He will spend Fall 2019 at the Walnut Street Theatre playing Bertram Batram in Young Frankenstein, and has appeared around the world in such shows as My Fair Lady, Mary Poppins, Mame with Leslie Uggams, and Jerry's Girls with Susan Anton. Backed by a stellar five-piece band led by musical director Clint Edwards, Come Croon With Me is directed by Preston and Richard Ridge. This November, Mark returns to The Green Room 42, continuing his love affair with the Great American Songbook. Mark William: Feeling Good hypnotizes with a set of enduring classics filtered through Mark's youthful perspective and talent set. The show is distinctly new-age romantic, while still evocative of golden-age cinematic glamour. This performance will also celebrate the release of Mark's debut album, Mark William: Come Croon With Me. Closing out 2019, Mark will be playing luxury cruise engagements, featuring both of his shows.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was thrilled to present Christina Crawford's 'Mommie Dearest: The Musical' in concert on Monday, June 10.  The cast featured Tina Scariano as Christina and Dorothy Bishop as Joan, with an all-star cast.  Drew Wutke accompaned on piano, with Daniel Shevlin on cello.

Mark William returned, by popular demand, with yet another encore performance of his critically acclaimed, sold-out solo nightclub debut 'Come Croon With Me' on Friday June 7th at The Green Room 42. Putting his own unique, youthful spin on golden age crooner styling, Mark performed a collection of classic tunes from Broadway and The Great American Songbook.

My Beloved: A Ted Bundy Musical, which has book, music and lyrics by Clint Edwards, tells the story of serial killer Ted Bundy through the eyes of his long-time girlfriend Elizabeth Kloepfer, and the lawman who relentlessly pursued him, Detective Robert Keppel.

Last night, Mark William returned, with another encore performance of his critically acclaimed, sold-out solo nightclub debut 'Come Croon With Me' at The Green Room 42.