Stephen Sorokoff News

The Town Hall, New York's landmark theatre and concert venue is presenting the 5th Annual Summer Broadway Festival, created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel for The Town Hall. Presented on three consecutive Monday nights in July at 8PM, the festival kicked-off with BROADWAY WINNERS! THE AWARD WINNING MUSIC OF BROADWAY on July 11th. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below!

Sutton Foster, Betty Buckley, David Burnham, Andrea Marcovicci and a host of other Broadway & Cabaret notables have sung her songs. But when the 'Institution' known as Christine Lavin is in concert at another 'Institution', The Guthrie Center in the Berkshires, the standing room only crowd was treated to the unique Lavin experience. Christine wears many hats (probably some she knitted), Singer/Songwriter/ Guitarist/recording artist (20 albums), radio host, and is the author of many books (Cold Pizza For Breakfast her latest). She also writes freelance for the Washington Post , St Petersburg Times and Delta Sky Magazine. Her song 'Amoeba Hop' has been turned into a science/music book by illustrator Bestsy Frano Feeney and received the stamp of approval from The International Society of Prostistologists. But her most meaningful stamp of approval comes from her fans worldwide. The wildy enthusiastic crowd at the Center founded by Arlo Guthrie was no exception. Appearing with Christine was the very funny Don White.

Joseph Macchia and The Metropolitan Room present Broadway On 22nd Street.This monthly series brings some of the most talented Broadway performers downtown to The Metropolitan Room. This months show will feature six amazing performers. The evening will feature solo numbers as well as several duets.

Barrington Stage Company's 2011 Mainstage Season began with the five-week run of Guys & Dolls which plays June 15 through July 16. This award-winning regional theatre in downtown Pittsfield Ma. celebrates its 17th season in the Berkshires under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director. Guys and Dolls stars Michael Thomas Holmes (Oklahoma!/How the Grinch Stole Christmas) as Nathan Detroit, Morgan James (Wonderland/The Addams Family) as Sarah Brown, Leslie Kritzer (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair, Legally Blonde) as Adelaide, Mathew Risch (Pal Joey, Legally Blonde) as Sky Masterson, Daniel Marcus as Nicely-Nicely Johnson, Timothy Shew as Benny Southstreet, Peggy Pharr Wilson as General Cartwright, and Gordon Stanley as Arvide Abernathy. Chelsey Arce, Evan Autio, Tommy Bracco, Sharona D'Ornellas, Sean Patrick Folsster, Steve Konopelski, Chris Lebeau, Brooke Marinovich, Michael Nichols, Kellyn Uhi, Nichy Venditti and Correy West complete the cast. Making their debuts are Taylor Anderson, Michael Hewitt, Hannah Richter and Michael Wessells as BSC Musical Theatre Apprentices.

Ron Abel played himself (as opposed to playing himself on Fran Dreschers new TV Show Happily Divorced) last night in his capacity as pianist/arranger/musical director for LUCIE ARNAZ in an exciting performance of her show 'My Latin Roots' at Barrington Stage Company in Pittsfield, Ma. Based upon the enthusiastic reception and standing ovations Lucie received, one would have thought her Roots were in Pittsfield Ma. The audiences at Barrington Stage are accustomed to seeing preeminent performances. Artistic Director Julianne Boyd once again selected a remarkable performer in a marvelously constructed Cabaret Show to entertain Barrington's Main Stage Berkshire audience.

In honor of Tv Host, Author and Comedy Queen Joy Behar, Randie Levine-Miller Entertainment C'tee Co Chair at the Friars put 2 chairs on the stage of the Frank Sinatra Room. Legendary TV Talk Show Icon and author Dick Cavett in one, and Joy in the other. Then she asked them to simply TALK.

Drama Desk Award Winner Doreen Montalvo hosts Ladies Night 3 at The Laurie Beechman theatre on Junen 13th. What do you get when you put together a Broadway Diva,A Daytime Diva and two Fabulous ladies? You Get Ladies Night. Performing along with Doreen will be Daytime Diva Ilene Kristen, Kim Dunbar,and METROMINOR 2nd Place winner Samara Ehrlich joins the ladies. The evening willbe musical directed by Gillian Berkowitz.

Mike Renzi looked over his eyeglasses at the elite audience at don't tell mamas, nodded to bassist Chip Jackson and drummer Ray Marchica and then opened the starting gate to a highly charged and expertly crafted 75 minutes of Nicolas King displaying his awesome vocal proficiency.

Yesterday, June 6, the Friars Club Foundation honored legendary singer Connie Francis and philanthropist Leonard A. Wilf at their annual Applause Award Gala. BroadwayWorld brings you coverage of the event below.

Drama Desk Award Winner Doreen Montalvo hosts Ladies Night 3 at The Laurie Beechman theatre on Junen 13th. What do you get when you put together a Broadway Diva,A Daytime Diva and two Fabulous ladies? You Get Ladies Night. Performing along with Doreen will be Daytime Diva Ilene Kristen, Kim Dunbar,and METROMINOR 2nd Place winner Samara Ehrlich joins the ladies. The evening willbe musical directed by Gillian Berkowitz.

Ever want to hear a story about Alfred Hitchcock, Roger Corman, Jack Hill, Hal Ashby, Jack Nicholson, Douglas Trumbull, Francis Ford Coppola, Bob Rafelson, Sydney Pollack, Clint Eastwood, John Wayne, Charlize Theron, Peter Fonda, Tom Hanks straight from the source?

The dictionary gives others words for BEST. EXCELLENT, EFFECTIVE, PERFECT, UNSURPASSED, PREEMINENT, HIGHEST QUALITY etc. None of those are sufficient enough to describe the Songs, the Arrangements, the Performers, the Musicians, David Zippel and of course the great CY COLEMAN in a production at 59E59. From the moment a smiling Billy Stritch (performer, musical director and arranger of the show) entered the stage and went to the piano, it was obvious that a musical tour de force was about to begin and The Best Was Yet To Come!

Her show is titled 'IT'S MAY IN MAYE' but it should be titled 'MAYE, MAY BE ONE OF THE BEST SINGERS YOU MAY EVER HEAR' Steve Allen, Johnny Carson, Jackie Gleason, Dick Cavett and Ed Sullivan all agreed and on that! Attending Marilyn's show at Feinstein's in 2011 was akin to being able to see Arnold Palmer win the Masters or Mohammed Ali winning the Championship Heavyweight Belt in 2011. Marilyn in her early years always possessed a dynamism, legitimacy, excitement, and glorious musicianship that thrilled audiences, and she still does it time and time again. Her show at FEINSTEIN'S last night kept her audience cheering after each one of her astutely selected songs.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week, or you're just in the mood for a recap of everything theatre, BroadwayWorld's new feature, 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end of the week fix. Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to the West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more!

For those yearning for the glamour and entertainment clarity of New York nightclub life in the 30's 40's and 50's Tom Postilio's debut at this cathedral of The American Songbook was totally captivating. He may be ' SELLING NEW YORK' (real estate) as star of that HGTV show but His sold out sophisticated New York audience also bought every song he sang in his show 'This Time Around'. Tom has 'been around' in theaters and nightclubs throughout the country and appeared on NBC-TV's 'Today' show, PBS Great Performances, BBC News and CNN's ShowBiz Today. But there is nothing like seeing and hearing him LIVE. The audience was filled with 'Old Friends' which appropriately was his opening number. Pianist/Arranger Dean Schneider was right on key with his accompaniment as was Steve Laspina on Bass and Dave Meade on Drums. Mark Waldrop directed the great array of Amersican Standards and Mickey Conlon was an added treat joing Tom for 'Me And My Shadow'.

The Town Hall, New York's landmark concert venue presented The Broadway Musicals of 1982 on Monday, May 16th at 8PM. Now in its 11th season, The Broadway By The Year ® Series is created written and hosted by Scott Siegel and produced by The Town Hall. In the series, Scott Siegel takes the audience on a musical travelogue, exploring the history of the Great White Way and providing social anecdotes while showcasing the beloved hits and lesser-known gems from the golden age of Broadway. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the concert and brings you photo coverage below.

Last night, May 12, SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark unveiled the new version of the mega musical. The official opening night of the new SPIDER-MAN Turn Off The Dark is set for Tuesday, June 14th at the Foxwoods Theatre (213 West 42nd Street). Tickets are now on sale through October 2, 2011, with group tickets on sale through January 8, 2012. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverege of the evening below!

Down Beat magazine calls him 'a rising star', Nat Hentoff said he's ushering in 'the rebirth of The Jazz Violin' Tony Benett called him 'The Groucho of Violin' and Jim Caruso introduces him as ' The Effervescent & Annoying AARON WEINSTEIN'! Yes, this 25 year old is annoyingly talented and witty. His awesome musical gifts are earning him legions of followers and he didn't disappoint in his sold out shows at the Metropolitan Room. Tedd Firth was an extraordinary companion in this awesome display of music ability, and Tom Hubbard supplied his definitive bass notes. Aaron, a Pizzerelli discovery from Chicago will soon be known worldwide.

Back in the days of the Catskill Mountain Hotels Julie Budd was this young (12 year old) singing sensation who received standing ovations after every performance. Nothing has changed, except the depth & maturity of her vocal and acting ability. One hundred appearances on the Merv Griffin Show and every other major TV show plus co- starring with Frank Sinatra, Bill Cosby, Carol Burnett and Liberace have earned Julie the deserved career and fans she has, and they all gave her a STANDING OVATION after her 'Tribute to Dorothy Fields' show at the Metropolitan Room. Unlike Poor Johnny, Julie doesn't have one note. There were many, and all great. Herb Bernstein as usual was on piano with his great arrangements. Tom Hubbard on bass, Ken Hassler on drums and Art Weiss on synthesizer rounded out this exciting musical performance.

The Gold Coast International Film Festival and New York Institue of Technology presented An Evening of Screenings & Conversation. A Special Pre-Festival event. The evening featured screenings of Ms. Rossellini's short films: 'My Dad is 100 Years Old' and 'Animals Distract Me'. There was a post-screening Q&A with the actress. David Schwartz, Chief Curator, Museum of Moving Image was moderator.