Riki Kane Larimer News

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUG opened last night, Thursday, February 13 at SoHo Playhouse! 

Opening this week, producer Michael Urie presents HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUG a?" a new comedy  written and performed by Drew Droege (the Internet's a?oeChloë,a?? a?oeDrunk History,a?? a?oeBob's Burgers,a?? RuPaul's a?oeAJ and the Queena?? on Netflix) a?" performed at SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street, between 6th Avenue and Varick Street in Manhattan).

The York Theatre Company will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, a song and dance celebration featuring the music and lyrics of the legendary Irving Berlin, with book by Barry Kleinbort (13 Things About Ed Carpolotti) and music direction by David Hancock Turner (York's Desperate Measures), directed and choreographed by four-time Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner (42nd Street, Dames at Sea, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and Ain't Broadway Grand). Performances begin Friday, April 17, 2020 for a limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2020 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is set for Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 6:45 p.m. Cast and creative team will be announced shortly.

Check out photos from press day as the team behind the new off-Broadway play, Happy Birthday Doug, greeted the media!

Starting this week, producer Michael Urie will present HAPPY BIRTHDAY DOUG - a new comedy written and performed by Drew Droege (the Internet's 'Chloë,' 'Drunk History,' 'Bob's Burgers,' RuPaul's 'AJ and the Queen' on Netflix) - performed at SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street, between 6th Avenue and Varick Street in Manhattan).

Friends and admirers of Irving Berlin from New York's theater community--continuing a tradition they began back while Berlin was alive--recently gathered at his former home in New York City to remember him in song. They sang such Berlin classics as 'God Bless America,' 'White Christmas,' and 'Always,' complete with rarely heard verses. Berlin (1888-1989) composed the scores for 18 Broadway shows and 19 films. He wrote more standards and made more money than any of his colleagues in the Golden Aged of American Popular Music.

The cast album for 'Irving Berlin: In Person,' starring Jon Peterson--as produced at New York's 13th Street Theater--is being released January 21st.

A holiday in the country turns deadly-and hilarious-in the concert premiere of Ed Dixon's Whodunit...The Musical. Directed by Peter Flynn (Smart Blonde, Curvy Widow), the whip-smart musical comedy with a touch of mayhem played one night only at The Green Room 42 (Yotel NYC, 570 10th Ave. at 42nd St.) on Wednesday, November 20.

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.

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, recently honored Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown) with the 2019 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre and producer Riki Kane Larimer (Cagney) with The York Theatre Company Founders' Award on Monday evening, November 11, 2019 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

The preview of the magnificent things to come happens when Brian Stokes Mitchell sings the first song of his current show at Feinstein's/54 Below. It's the Irving Berlin classic “There's No Business Like Show Business”. I'm sure if Berlin ever heard the Stokes version he would bow down in tribute to the thrilling performance and unique revisit that the Tony Award Winner and consummate artist has brought to his 1954 tune written for Ethel Merman in Annie Get Your Gun. Stokes navigates the innovative Tedd Firth arrangement and makes you feel excited, awestruck, and comfortable as his rich baritone voice effortlessly glides through the constant time signature and key changes. This current show at 54 is titled Brian Stokes Mitchell Plays With Music-Holiday and Stokes brings his acting, musicianship, and charismatic personality to make every tune on his song list a moving experience. The New York Times has dubbed Brian Stokes Mitchell as Broadway's “Last Leading Man” but Stokes is even much more than that. He's Chairman of the Board of The Actors Fund. He has a unique ability to bring people together and that theme is constant throughout his show. His encore at this performance was “What A Wonderful World” and the SRO audience left feeling that way mainly because Brian Stokes Mitchell is in it.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, has announced show only tickets are now available for the 28th Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala honoring 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown) with the 2019 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre and producer Riki Kane Larimer (Cagney) with The York Theatre Company Founders' Award on Monday evening, November 11, 2019 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

The York Theatre Company has announced the roster of performers at the 28th Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala who will honor 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown) with the 2019 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre and producer Riki Kane Larimer (Cagney) with The York Theatre Company Founders' Award on Monday evening, November 11, 2019 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

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.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents the 2019 TRU Love Benefit: Follow Your Art, Fulfill Your Dreams, on Sunday, December 8, 2019 at 12noon at Caroline's on Broadway, 1626 Broadway (between 49th & 50th Streets). Tickets start at $85 (show only, and two drinks). For additional information and ticket tier pricing, please visit https://truonline.org/events/2019-tru-love-benefit/.

Some of Broadway's leading women producers lunched at the Friars Club today followed by a panel discussion moderated by Friar and Broadway producer Jamie deRoy.  Ms. deRoy who happens to be the 8th woman inducted into the Friars (back in the day), guided the discussion of the distinguished Tony Award Winning group which included Susan Gallin (Other People's Money, Angels in America), Robyn Goodman (Avenue Q, Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella), Mara Isaacs (Hadestown, McCarter Theater), Nelle Nugent (Latin History for Morons, For Colored Girls), and Daryl Roth (Kinky Boots, Indecent).

Cagney recently opened at Salt Lake City's Pioneer Theatre Company. Find out what critics had to say!

Last night, Sheldon Harnick received the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Songbook Association! Performers included Kissy Simmons, Klea Blackhurst, Adam Heller, Danny Bacher, Samantha Massell, Melanie Moore, Alexandra Silber, Brad Oscar, Liz Callaway, Jeff Harnar & Alex Rybeck, Alan Schmuckler, Jeffrey Saver and Rhyn Mclemore Saver, Ed Dixon, Sidney Myer, Judy Kuhn, Robert Cuccioli, and Steven Skybell.

The York Theatre Company will honor 2019 Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown) with the 2019 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre

Bay Street Theater has announced that Irving Berlin's ANNIE GET YOUR GUN opened to an enthusiastic audience on August 3. Due to popular demand, the show will be extended and will now run through September 1. The show is one of the most beloved musicals of Broadway's Golden Age with music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Dorothy and Herbert Fields and directed by Sarna Lapine (Sunday in the Park with George, Bay Street Theater's Frost/Nixon). ANNIE GET YOUR GUN is sponsored in part by Baron's Cove and The Shed.