Ricki Lake News

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's events include Shannon Brown's 'Moonshine Martinis', a terrific Metrojam, and yet another great Cast Party!

Jim Caruso's Cast Party presented the return of Tony Award-winning actress/singer Christine Ebersole in concert on Monday, May 4 at 7pm. The evening was a continuation of the award-winning series, Broadway at Birdland.

THE CHRIS BETZ SHOW is celebrating St. Patrick?s Day with ERIN GO BETZ, an all-new holiday themed ?episode,? for three nights only: Thursday, March 12 through Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the Sage Theatre (711 7th Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets). Reveling in all things Irish, Chris O?Betz and co-host Lauren O?Hunter will lead a cast of 6 in their signature combination of hilarious interviews and flashy song & dance numbers.

THE CHRIS BETZ SHOW is celebrating St. Patrick?s Day with ERIN GO BETZ, an all-new holiday themed ?episode,? for three nights only: Thursday, March 12 through Saturday, March 14, 2009 at the Sage Theatre (711 7th Avenue between 47th and 48th Streets). Reveling in all things Irish, Chris O?Betz and co-host Lauren O?Hunter will lead a cast of 6 in their signature combination of hilarious interviews and flashy song & dance numbers.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for professional, not-for-profit theatre announces its 2009 conference: Roots. Renaissance. Revolution. From June 4-6, 2009, the theatre community will come together in Baltimore to investigate how generational perspectives affect the entire field, including the choice of plays produced, the atmosphere created in workplaces, the appeal of various leadership styles, and the processes used to identify, attract and retain audiences.

Hottest new indie R&B artist and Broadway veteran Shoshana Bean is set to release her lead single 'Superhero' on November 25. Her hit track recently got picked up by NBC to be played during the Monday Night Lineup (Heroes, Chuck, and My Own Worst Enemy) as another one of her songs was prominently featured on MTV's 'The Hills.' Climbing charts and breaking records on iTunes, Bean is locked in to kick-off the Los Angeles Laker's home game on November 25 with the honor of singing the National Anthem.

The Coming Up Taller Awards recognize and support outstanding community arts and humanities programs that celebrate the creativity of America's young people, and provide them with new learning opportunities and a chance to contribute to their communities. The awards also highlight the contributions that historians, scholars, librarians and visual and performing arts make to families and communities by mentoring children. More than 320 nominations were received by the program in 2008.

BroadwayWorld.com, the premiere theatre site on the internet, is proud to continue its newest offering in the streaming video space. 'Upright's West Side Stories' chronicles the adventures Upright Cabaret producer/hosts Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel as they travel the left coast in search of great theatre... and a few cocktails.

O.K. Gang! Get out the pink ribbons, grab a box of tissues and pull up a chair. I haven't done this much crying since the old days, when ABC used to air what we called 'disease of the week' movies! Zadan and Meron really know how to throw a cast together ... and this film is NO exception.

The Canadian Stage Company opens its 2008/09 Bluma Appel Theatre season with Frost/Nixon, the 2007 Tony Award®-nominated play by Peter Morgan, award-winning author of The Last King of Scotland and The Queen. Tony Award®-winning stage and screen veteran Len Cariou (star of the original Broadway production of Sweeney Todd) plays the role of President Richard Nixon and is joined by David Storch (Canadian Stage's Lonesome West) as TV talk-show host David Frost. Three-time Dora Award-winner Ted Dykstra (Canadian Stage's Fire) directs. A co-production with Vancouver Playhouse Theatre Company, Frost/Nixon had its Canadian premiere September 18, 2008 in Vancouver. The production transfers to the Bluma Appel Theatre in Toronto October 13 to November 8, 2008.

Lifetime's 'Living Proof' held its New York premiere on September 24th, 2008. The film features theater favorites Bernadette Peters, Swoosie Kurtz, Harry Connick, Jr., and more.

On September 11th 2008, during Mercedes-Benz Fashion Week Spring 2009 Malan Breton, a long time supporter of BC/EFA joined celebrities La La Brooks of the Crystals, Alexis Houston sister of Whitney Houston, actress Sherri Saum, musicians DIscrete Encounter, fashion designer Loris Diran and stylist Christo to unveil some of his Spring 2009 collection.

WET (Women's Expressive Theater, Inc.) has announced the extension of its World Premiere production of Brooke Berman's A PERFECT COUPLE.

'The School for Scandal', running June 28 through September 27 at The Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum, a beautiful outdoor amphitheater carved into the Topanga Canyon hillside.

WET (Women's Expressive Theater, Inc.) launches its 8th season with the World Premiere of Brooke Berman's A PERFECT COUPLE. Produced on an Off-Broadway contract, this limited engagement production is directed by Maria Mileaf (THE ARGUMENT at The Vineyard). Previews begin June 7th at the DR2 (103 East 15th Street) where WET became the first theater company in residence last year.

Emmy and Grammy Award winner Harry Connick, Jr. ('Will & Grace,' 'Hope Floats') and Academy Award(R)-winning actress Renee Zellweger ('Cold Mountain,' 'Chicago') join forces on the new Lifetime Original Movie 'Living Proof,' the moving true story of Dr. Denny Slamon, the UCLA doctor who developed the life saving breast cancer drug, Herceptin 2, and his relentless battle to keep the drug trials afloat and save the lives of thousands of women.

Tony Award-winning star of Hairspray, Marissa Jaret Winokur, will be one of the contestants this season on 'Dancing with the Stars.' When news broke of her involvement, she couldn't wait to share that experience with BroadwayWorld.com and its readers. Marissa will be checking in from now until she wins (YAY!) or is eliminated (BOO!) with exclusive photos and a glimpse into what's going on as she takes on the other celebrities in the ultimate 'dance off!'