Ron Abel News

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Interim Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, presents the 2017 summer New2NY Series presentation of the new musical Me & Ella

Below, meet the cast and creative team of the York Theatre Company's 2017 summer New2NY Series presentation of the new musical Me & Ella, written and performed by Andrea Frierson (Once on This Island, The Lion King), direction by the Tony Award-winning team of Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel (Jay Johnson: The Two and Only), with music direction and arrangements by Ron Abel (Hazel, A Musical Maid in America, 'Happily Divorced')!

The security was tight in the Monastery last night as politicians, tennis legends, celebrities and Friars gathered in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room to pay tribute to David Dinkins on his 90th birthday.   The security protection wasn't good enough however to stop one of the greatest comedians on the planet, Dean Emeritus Freddie Roman (MC) to have some fun with the former Mayor.  As a matter of fact Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who made a special trip down from Albany to be at the Friars got some laughs himself during his heartfelt tribute to Mr. Dinkins.  There was much love, laughter, joy, and a few tears in the club during the evening, as there always is in the Friars Club.  I couldn't help thinking as I watched all the Democrats and  Republicans in the room enjoying each others camaraderie, how great it would be if all our representatives in Washington would become Friars, meet in The Monastery, feel the love, and solve the nations problems. 

Union Street in Pittsfield MA had all the excitement of a Broadway Opening as the Tony Award Winning Ragtime opened on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage of Barrington Stage Co. and Broadway and lyricist Lynn Ahrens were there.  

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, has announced the 2017 summer New2NY Series presentation of the new musical Me & Ella, written and performed by Andrea Frierson (Once on This Island, The Lion King), direction by the Tony Award-winning team of Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel (Jay Johnson: The Two and Only), with music direction and arrangements by Ron Abel (Hazel, A Musical Maid in America, 'Happily Divorced').

FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Meghan Murphy in The BIG RED Show on July 19th, 2017 at 9:30pm.

Feinstein's/54 Below is a a chameleon of a performance space because of the eclectic mix of entertainment that perform on it's stage. Broadway is the main theme but sometimes it becomes one of the great nightclubs of the 50's & 60's like Basin Street East, The Embers, The Persian Room etc. 

Everybody Loved Somebody at The Friars Club last night as Dean Martin was celebrated in song and toasted by his fellow Friars. 

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Michele Weathers, is proud to announce initial casting for the 2017 season.

 Broadway Producer and three time Tony Award winner Jamie deRoy held her annual Jamie deRoy & friends Tony Award show last night and the Red Carpet was rolled out at Birdland for the star studded event.  Jamie's fans and friends had their cell phone cameras at the ready as one by one Jamie introduced her award-winning cast which included, Chuck Cooper (The Life) Penny Fuller (Sunday in the Park with George, Cabaret), Mandy Gonzalez (Hamilton, In the Heights), Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood) with special guest, Patti Cohenour (War Paint, The Mystery of Edwin Drood), Doreen Montalvo (On Your Feet, In the Heights) and Paulo Szot (South Pacific) with Billy Stritch.  

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for May 1-May 7, featuring João Bosco, Rolando Morales-Matos and his Jazz' Y Mambo Band, Arianna Neikrug, and more. Scroll down for details!

Yankee Stadium has it's 'Legends Seats' and Monuments prominently displayed in the 'House That Ruth Built'.  Then the current team takes the field and future legends start to play ball.  In the Friars Club show biz past and present are always in the house.  Their photos are on the wall and names are engraved on the chairs in the Frank Sinatra Dining Room.  Then as so often happens an 'insiders' great show is produced for the members and those legends current and future entertain their fellow Friars.  So it happened last night as the Friars Club honored Bobby Short, the legendary cabaret singer/pianist who was best known for his three decade plus music residency at Cafe Carlyle in New York City.  The music of Bobby Short was brought to life by some current Cafe Carlye and Bemelmans Bar stars in a spectacular evening produced and hosted by Friar Jeff Leibowitz and Co-Produced by Friar Will Friedwald.

The word Artist is never more accurately applied to an entertainer then when it is used to describe Clint Holmes.  Clint starts with a familiar song title on a blank music  page, and then goes on to create something you never thought that tune could become.   His vocal, jazz, acting ability, combined with his creativity cross every music red, blue, black and white music line you ever laid down.  Most of the audience at Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland Series were already 'educated consumers' at his performance celebrating the CD Release of 'Rendezvous'  last night.  However, for all, it was a reminder of what a truly great performer can brilliantly accomplish with the same 12 notes and combination of beats that all vocalists have at their disposal.  

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

Show business tour de force Jamie deRoy brings her star-studded Jamie deRoy & friends cabaret show to New York's famed Birdland on Sunday, May 7 at 6 p.m. Proceeds from the evening will benefit The Actors Fund: Jamie deRoy & friends Cabaret Initiative.

She really Succeeded in (show) Business and last night in addition to her other accolades, Michele Lee was presented with the Manhattan Association Of Cabaret & Clubs Lifetime Achievement Award. The Broadway Actress and film star, sing, dancer, producer, TV, and cabaret performer was introduced by her good friend Sarah Bernhard, who also noted that Michele is an activist for many social causes. Nobody still does or does it like Michele Lee (to paraphrase Cy Coleman) and she recently was seen on Broadway in WICKED. This summer Michele will be in the New York area when she brings her show 'Nobody Does It Like Me' to Barrington Stage Company on July 31st with her musical director and composer Ron Abel.

Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Michele Weathers, announced today a special production of Georgie: My Adventures with George Rose, as well as three special events, during their upcoming 2017 season.

Jamie deRoy's Friar Membership and her long running Jamie deRoy & friends Variety Show are about the same age.  Jamie became a member in 1988 along with Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers and Brooke Shields.  Jamie brought this edition of the show to the Friars Club last night and the Frank Sinatra Dining Room was filled with Friars and Jamie's friends as they dined and were entertained by some of the best in the business. 

The sign at The Colony Hotel for Steve Tyrell's engagement says "Back By Popular Demand" and no truer words are spoken about one of the most beloved performers of American Popular Music. 

Lucie and Desi both brought the Boca Raton audience to it's feet last night as Lucie Arnaz brought the music and story of her parents, Lucille Ball and Desi Arnaz to the stage of producer Jan McCart's Live at Lynn series at Lynn University.