On Monday night, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the long-awaited return of MONTGOMERY, MAYES & STRITCH, the vocal trio starring Sharon Montgomery, Sally Mayes and Billy Stritch. For the first time in 32 years, the trio dazzled the New York music scene with a packed house of fans and friends, including Liza Minnelli, Rex Reed, Klea Blackhurst, Jeff Harnar, Natalie Douglas and Bubba McNeeley. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
Today we are talking to uniquely compelling composer and lyricist known for her urbane wit and contemporary sensibility, having contributed music and lyrics to the recent Broadway musicals HIGH FIDELITY, BRING IT ON! and HANDS ON A HARD BODY as well as penning many other original musicals and unique standalone songs over the course of her career, Amanda Green. Discussing her famous musical theatre lineage - her father was legendary theatrical icon Adolph Green and her mother is famous actress Phyllis Newman - and sharing stories from her youth, Green sheds some light on her familial profession of choice and details the finer points of her own songwriting process, particularly insofar as it pertains to her two recent major musicals seen in New York. On that note, Green offers the 411 on the creative process in composing both the rap/pop-infused, high-school-set BRING IT ON! alongside collaborators Tom Kitt and Lin-Manuel Miranda as well as her work with Phish's Trey Anastasio on the down-home country sounds of HANDS ON A HARD BODY. Additionally, Green previews what we can expect from her upcoming Birdland concert, AMANDA GREEN & FRIENDS, and illuminates some of her sparkling previous work which may make its way into the live show. Plus, looks back on her experiences with the screen-to-stage adaptation of HIGH FIDELITY, imparts hilarious anecdotes about writing for Playboy Magazine, reveals her involvement in the currently on-hold DEBBIE DOES DALLAS movie musical, reflects on her first musical revue and album, PUT A LITTLE LOVE IN YOUR MOUTH!, as well as drops hints on her next musical project and much, much more!
John Capo's fabulous Pop Show is in the business of celebrating the world's most iconic entertainers, and after the success of odes to Adele, Billy Joel and Elton John, Monday's Broadway at Birdland concert was a tribute to the songs of Michael Jackson. Scroll down for a look at the show!
You never know who will show up at Jim Caruso's Cast Party at Birdland! The award-winning open mic/variety show has been the place for show folk to strut their stuff for the past ten years, with no let-up in sight. Scroll down for a look at this week's star-studded concert!
Over the past ten years, Jim Caruso's Cast Party has become the ultimate spot for show folk to mix, mingle and entertain themselves and the people who love them. It helps that Birdland, it's home base, has been a world-class music room since 1949, that the sound, lights, food and staff are all top-notch, and that the entertainers that drop in are accompanied by world-class musicians. This past Monday night, the cast of "Real Housewives of New York" joined in on the Cast Party fun. Music was made, fun was had, and there was some vamping, camping and scamping, what with series regulars LuAnn de Lesseps, Mario and Ramona Singer, Heather Thompson, and Sonja Morgan in the house. Ann Hampton Callaway created a fabulous impromptu song for the cast of characters, and Monica Mancini thrilled the crowd with two of her dad Henry's biggest hits, ably accompanied by Shelly Berg on piano and Dave Koz on sax. Beloved regulars like Christine Lavin, Therese Curatolo, Gabrielle Stravelli, T. Oliver Reid, Andrew Nemr, Lodi Carr, Jon Victor Corpus and Nancy Harms performed their hearts out. Jessica Keenan Wynn, Annika, Shane Stevens, Tabitha Fair, Cole Burden and Katherine Alcorn made brilliant debuts. Happily, Billy Stritch, Steve Doyle and Carmen Intorre were the Cast Party Symphony Orchestra, dazzling and accompanying everyone. Check out a look back below!
Having Previously Paid Tribute to Paul Simon, Cole Porter and Bobby Short to Acclaim, Singer Traces Arc of His Own Singular Life with Mix of Interpretations and Originals
On Monday, September 9, the Broadway at Birdland concert series presented the return of Steven Brinberg as Simply Barbra in 'Mostly Marvin,' with very special guest star, Erik Altemus. Musical director for the event was Christopher Denny. Scroll down for photos from the evening!
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced details for its 2013 NYMF's Next Broadway Sensation Competition (NNBS). The singing competition returns for its eighth year and will take place at New World Stages (340 W. 50th Street).
The historic stage at Birdland was the spot that Broadway's Christopher Sieber chose to make his nightclub debut, which happened on Monday, September 2. The musical director for the evening was Joey Chancey, Eric Love was on cello, and the entire evening was directed by Fred Bracken. Check out a look back at Sieber's performance below!
On Monday, August 12, Julie Halston, the woman Rex Reed dubbed, "the funniest woman on the planet," returned to her Birdland roost with another performance of Classical Julie. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
On Sunday, August 11, Steve Kazee, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning star of ONCE, took to the Birdland stage with his band, The Shiny Liars (Lora Faye on guitar and Anthony Taddeo on percussion). Scroll down for photos from the concert!
The Broadway at Birdland concert series welcomed Broadway's Clarke Thorell in Songs I Wish I'd Written for one night only, Monday, August 5 at 7pm. The concert featured songs by Harry Nilsson, Paul McCartney, Adam Guettel, Lambert, Hendricks & Ross, Elvis Costello, Chris Thile, and Sting. Joining Clarke were Musical Director/pianist Dan Lipton, along with singers Brian d'Arcy James, Cortes Alexander, Haven Burton and Jim Caruso. The band also included Simon Kafka on guitar & other strings, Mark Vanderpoel on bass and Shannon Ford on drums. Scroll down for photos!
Producer/publicist John Capo sure knows how to put on a show, which he has been proving in the bi-monthly Broadway at Birdland extravaganza, 'The Pop Show.' After celebrations of Elton John and Adele, this past week's topic was the endless songbook of Billy Joel. Check out photos from the special event below!
The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced the winners of the NYMF 2013 Awards for Excellence and celebrated its closing night yesterday, July 28, 2013. Scroll down for photos of the winners and the closing festivities!
The Broadway at Birdland concert series was presented the 2012 BroadwayWorld Best Male Vocalist winner William Blake in concert on Monday, July 22nd at 7pm. It was Blake's sixth concert at the historic venue. Tony winners and Birdland regulars Chita Rivera and Steve Kazee were both in the house to cheer! Scroll down for photos from the concert!
The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud to present Broadway's Lindsay Mendez (currently Elphaba in Wicked) and pianist Marco Paguia on the historic stage on Sunday, July 21. The event celebrated the release of their new recording, 'This Time.' Check out a look back at their performance below!
The 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) AND Forte Musical Theatre Guild present Crossing Swords, a world premiere musical comedy by Joe Slabe, nominated for five Betty Mitchell Awards and three Calgary Critics' Awards. Check out a first look at the cast and creative team below!
The Broadway at Birdland partnership with multi-Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn continued on July 15th with another "Frank & Friends" concert. Joining Wildhorn onstage were singers Adrienne Warren, Orfeh, Stark Sands, John Treacy Egan and Jim Caruso. Scroll down for photos from the concert!
The 2013 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) and Pirates Musical LLC present The Pirates of Finance a world premiere musical comedy written by Charles Veley with music by Sir Arthur Sullivan. The prodcution, which opened last night, runs through July 20. Check out a first look below!
