The New York Pops family gathered at The National Arts Club on May 18th to celebrate the life of Ruth Henderson who passed away at her home in New Milford, Connecticut on February 25th 2015. In 1983, Skitch and Ruth Henderson founded The New York Pops. Chris Poe, President of The National Arts Club welcomed the guests and introduced James A. Read Board Chairman of the New York Pops. Many friends spoke of the dynamic, caring, beautiful and inspiring person that Ruth was. In 1991 Ruth established the PopsEd program, Kids In The Balcony, which provides free tickets to students for New York Pops Concerts. Steven Reineke, music director of The Pops presented board member June Freemanzon, long time friend of the Henderson's with a framed photograph of one of the few pictures that exist of the two music directors of The New York Pops. Steven then sat at the the piano and played "Einsamkeit" a composition composed by Skitch Henderson for Ruth Henderson. The afternoon was truly A Celebration of the Life of Ruth Henderson.
Jamie deRoy came to Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland last night and Broadwayworld was there. In the world of show business everyone is always everyones friend. After 25 years of having enormously talented friends perform on her stages and loyal friends fill the seats at her shows, the consistency of participation points to the fact that most are real friends. Jamie's friends stick together. The hugs are real, the laughter is genuine, and the happy feeling everyone has after an episode of Jamie deRoy & friends always seems to linger in the air for many days after the show is over. Such was the case of her latest entry in the series which always at this time of year features everything "TONY".
David Letterman hosted a party at the Friars Club last night for 350 CBS staffers as his 33 year career as a late night talk show host is ending. He made is way through the throngs of well wishers that filled the legendary Friars Club as he hugged as kissed colleagues and associates. Below, check out photos of the event!
An Evening With Steve Tyrell was presented by the Friars Club last night and the Grammy and Emmy Award winning artist and producer had a chair named in his honor in the legendary Frank Sinatra Dinning Room. Check out photos from the event below!
Last night Julie Budd gave her first performance as the latest Artist In Residence at The Metropolitan Room and broadwayworld was there. While enjoying a multi-faceted musical career, Julie's credits range from television to film, the New York stage, and symphonies all over the country, along with the most lavish casinos and showrooms everywhere. She began her professional career at the tender age of twelve, after meeting record producer/orchestrator Herb Bernstein. He immediately took Julie under his wing and introduced her to Merv Griffin at a recording session in New York City. After hearing Julie sing, she was invited to appear on more than 100 of Merv's Shows.
The Friars is a magical place to spend an evening (or day) but there was some extra special magic in the club last night. Magician Elliot Smith skillfully kept the Friars tricked after dinner, and comedians Stone and Stone kept them laughing. Friar Dave Konig was the MC, and his special trick is always setting the stage for these fun events at the club.
Frank DiLella, who usually is interviewing celebrities on NY1 joined Jamie deRoy and Peter LeDonne on radio station 970 AM this week. For a while I was wondering who was going to be interviewing whom, but the conversation created a great radio show. Having these three theatre authorities in the same studio made for a enlivened and informative hour of talk radio as they discussed the upcoming Tony Awards. You can hear Backstage with Peter LeDonne every Sunday or on podcast.
On Saturday May 9, the Cutting Room was the scene of the SinatraThon - billed as "day long (14 hour) marathon celebration of the Man and his Music." Check out photos from the show below!
Just because the English developed the first operational Radar system doesn't mean that the actor/singer Giselle Wolf who has a home in London should be under it. There was a celebration last night as this wonderfully unique cabaret performer stepped out from under the radar and became visible to a jam-packed Metropolitan Room. Check out photos from the event, below!
Loston's piano and vocals are true 'Carlyle' and his beaming smile keeps the room in good spirits along with the good spirits served up. The Loston Harris Trio, Ian Hendrickson Smith on sax and Gianluc Renzi, bass appear every Friday & Saturday 9:30 p.m. to 1:00 a.m. Check out photos from last night's show below!
Birdland is 63, The Legendary Count Basie Orchestra is 80, and Frank Sinatra is 100. Gianni Valenti, Birdland owner announced the orchestra and the swinging engine of the Basie Band blasted off with "Come Fly With Me" at the "Jazz Corner of the World" last night. Regardless of how good the fidelity is on your Beats Headphones and McIntosh Amplifier, it doesn't come close to the sound being heard on 44th Street. The original charts might have some wear and tear from page turning by Basie musicians over the years, but the music was clear, precise, and exciting as when the band made their home at Birdland in the 1950's. Scotty Barnhart is now the Director of The Count Basie Orchestra which has won 18 Grammy Awards and 20 Downbeat and Jazz Times polls. He follows in a long line of Jazz greats that have led the orchestra since Basie's passing in 1984. Thad Jones, Frank Foster, Brover Mitchell, Bill Hughes, and Dennis Mackrel have been prior directors. Scotty pointed out that the band might have been formed in 1935, but they are very current and are on Facebook, and have a great website. Carmen Bradford, a Basie choice supplied the vocals.
Last night, May 4, 2015, The New York Pops marked its 32nd birthday with a grand gala evening celebrating the work of Music Honorees Kathleen Marshall and Rob Marshall and Corporate Honoree Carrie and Ted Pryor, Greenwich Harbor Partners. Serving as Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are stars Matthew Broderick, Renee Fleming, Kelli O'Hara, Sarah Jessica Parker, and Catherine Zeta-Jones. BroadwayWorld brings you exclusive photo coverage from the Gala Dinner below!
Evoking Rita Hayworth, a spot lit Jennifer Sheehan weaves through 54 Below towards the stage, long dark hair cascading above a body-skimming white gown replete with twinkling sequins. “I'll build a stairway to the stars . . .,” (Mitchell Parish/Matt Malneck/Frank Signorelli) she sings with stunning vocal clarity and investment that might conjure a Ziegfeld Girl.
In her new show, Stardust: A Night in the Cosmos, Sheehan welcomes the “dreamers, romantics, stargazers, astrophysicists, and Trekkies” with “songs that flicker like the street lamps of eternity” with lyrics featuring stars, moons, and rose-colored hope. It's an appealing theme and one that suits the artist's fetching performance and transition from ingénue into a more mature cabaret entertainer.
Multiple award-winning performer Jennifer Sheehan and her stellar quartet celebrated the beauty, wonder and romance of the night sky in a song-studded 54 Below evening featuring songs as dazzling and diverse as the stars above - It included music from Pink Martini, Duke Ellington, Sergio Mendes, Melody Gardot, David Bowie, Joni Mitchell and Kurt Weill, just to name a few! It's a celebration of the many ways we come to love the night sky - as wide-eyed children who look up in wonderment, as young lovers who fall under its enchantment, and as star-gazers of all ages who contemplate love and life on this small blue dot in the universe. And, of course, the stars spark our imagination about what lies beyond… so the show also features some fascinating stories about new discoveries about our star-studded cosmos! One might say it's a show that goes where no show has gone before!
This Sunday's guest on Backstage with Peter LeDonne was Broadway star Ben Vereen. Talking is something Ben Vereen does a lot since the lecture circuit has become an integral part of Ben's career. He has become one of the Nation's most requested speakers among audiences of all ages. His strong sense of social consciousness has enabled him to reach out to his audiences and convey to them a deep feeling of understanding. His topics range from overcoming adversity, arts in education, Black history, motivational topics, recovery through physical and occupational therapy and the importance of continuing education - to name a few.
Julie Wilson, who died at age ninety on April 5th, was celebrated and remembered by her peers in a special, one-time-only performance on Tuesday evening, April 28th at The Town Hall. The concert was underwritten by The Mabel Mercer Foundation.
It was the 7th performance of Marilyn's 8 show sold out run of "Her Way" A Salute to Frank Sinatra. The dynamics of the evening made it feel more like a Hockey Play Off Game, with Marilyn scoring goal after goal. The crowd rose to it's feet and cheered after her every song hit the mark of musical perfection. Then, as it became apparent that Marilyn Maye had conquered all, she was presented with the Stanley Cup. Friars Club Dean Emeritus Freddie Roman was led to the stage by Friar Laura Slutsky and "Marvelous Marilyn" was given the Friars Club Frank Sinatra Lifetime Achievement Award. The award states:
