Samantha Massell News

Two showstoppers as you've never heard them before!

Tonight, August 6th a cast of Broadway favorites will bring the popular instagram/twitter trend of #tbt to the stage of 54 Below with #tbtLIVE Throwback Thursday: The Concert.

This week at 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: An Evening with Laura Osnes; David Josefsberg at 54 Below; Chuck Wagner: Living the Dream; #tbtLIVE Throwback Thursday: The Concert; and Jekyll & Hyde Resurrection.

This August and September, 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visitwww.54Below.com. 

I purposely avoided the recent film version of INTO THE WOODS because I really didn't find the previews or the stunt casting appropriate. For me, it's a work that requires an audience to use their imagination to a great extent, and movies tend to give form to those things that are much better left conjured up in your own mind. That's why my son and I absolutely loved The MUNY's current presentation of the show. Let's face it, a woodland setting created utilizing green screen technology and a few key set pieces is nowhere near as effective at conveying the atmosphere desired, especially when you already have those actual elements growing freely at the back of this marvelous outdoor stage. Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine (book) crafted a brilliant mash-up of several fairy tales and fables that is smart, funny, and, ultimately, touching. When I asked my boy what he thought of the show at the end of the night he neatly summed it up: 'I thought it was awesome!' I agree wholeheartedly. Superbly cast and conceived, this is a production that's simply tailor made for The MUNY. Go see it, and take your kids with you! It may have a few moments that are a bit gruesome or adult in content, but they'll have a wonderful time, and so will you!

Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine's (book) INTO THE WOODS opened July 21, at the Muny, and is playing through July 27 in Forest Park. The production is directed by Gary Griffin, choreographed by Chris Bailey and music directed by Brad Haak. Check out a first look at the cast in action on opening night below! The cast includes Heather Headley (Witch), Erin Dilly (Baker's Wife), Rob McClure (Baker), Ken Page (Narrator), Andrew Samonsky (Cinderella's Prince/Wolf), Elena Shaddow (Cinderella) and Ryan Silverman (Rapunzel's Prince), will be Jason Gotay (Jack), Ellen Harvey (Cinderella's Stepmother), Sara Kapner (Little Red Ridinghood), Samantha Massell (Rapunzel), Michael McCormick (Mysterious Man/Cinderella's Father) and Zoe Vonder Haar (Jack's Mother). Rounding out this incredible cast are Anna Blair (Granny/Cinderella's Stepmother), Jennifer Diamond (Florinda), Gary Glasgow (Steward), Maggie Lakis (Milky White) and April Strelinger (Lucinda).

Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine's (book) INTO THE WOODS opened July 21, at the Muny, and is playing through July 27 in Forest Park. The production is directed by Gary Griffin, choreographed by Chris Bailey and music directed by Brad Haak. Check out a first look at the cast in action on opening night below!

Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine's (book) INTO THE WOODS begins tonight, July 21, at the Muny, playing through July 27 in Forest Park. The production is directed by Gary Griffin, choreographed by Chris Bailey and music directed by Brad Haak.  Check out an exclusive look at some backstage shots below!

The 9:30pm concert will star Alex Finke (Anything Goes National Tour), Kendal Hartse (Rodgers & Hammerstein's Cinderella), Grey Henson (The Book of Mormon), Adam Kaplan (Newsies), Katie Ladner (Heathers), Matt Meigs (Matilda), Tam Mutu (Doctor Zhivago), Ashley Park (The King & I), Matt Rosell (Les Miserables), Alexandra Silber (MUNY's My Fair Lady), Jason Michael Snow (The Book of Mormon), Wesley Taylor (The Addams Family), and Samantha Marie Ware ('Glee').

BroadwayWorld previously reported that SECONDHAND LIONS, featuring a book by Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes and music and lyrics by FIRST DATE composers Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, got a New York City reading June 18-19. Presented by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, the musical, which played at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2013, was directed again by Scott Schwartz. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the reading, starring James Naughton and Tom Wopat, below!

BroadwayWorld has just learned that Secondhand Lions, featuring a book by Tony Award-winner Rupert Holmes and music and lyrics by First Date composers Michael Weiner and Alan Zachary, will get a New York City reading today and tomorrow, June 18-19. Presented by Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures, the musical, which played at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre in 2013, will be directed again by Scott Schwartz.

BroadwayWorld has just confirmed that Elena Shaddow will star as 'Cinderella' in Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine's (book) Into The Woods the Muny, playing July 21-27. The production will be directed by Gary Griffin, choreographed by Chris Bailey and music directed by Brad Haak.

On Thursday, May 28th a cast of Broadway favorites will bring the popular instagram/twitter trend of #tbt to the stage of 54 Below with #tbtLIVE Throwback Thursday: The Concert at 9:30pm & 11:30pm.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Nick Spangler Sings Rodgers and Hammerstein; The Shapiro Sisters: Life Would Be Better If It Were A Musical; An Evening with Laura Osnes; #tbtLIVE Throwback Thursday: The Concert; and Broadway Does Country.

Next week at 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

The Muny announced today its complete cast for Stephen Sondheim (music and lyrics) and James Lapine's (book) Into The Woods, playing July 21-27. The production will be directed by Gary Griffin, choreographed by Chris Bailey and music directed by Brad Haak.

On Thursday, May 28th a cast of Broadway favorites will bring the popular instagram/twitter trend of #tbt to the stage of 54 Below with #tbtLIVE Throwback Thursday: The Concert.

Musical Theatre Factory to present first looks at NIKOLA TESLA DROPS THE BEAT and SHADES OF WAYNE in ACT ONEs, Monday, January 26th at 8pm.