It was an evening of hilarity last night at Feinstein's/54 Below as the original cast of Hello Muddah, Hello Fadduh! celebrated it's 25th Anniversary.
Linda Lavin returned to the historic Birdland stage last night with a show titled 'My Second Farewell Concert'. The musicianship and entertainment of her performance will make it very hard for Ms. Lavin in any way have a real 'Farewell Concert'. More accurately the title should have been one of her prior shows called 'Starting Over.'
Taking Steps the comedy by Alan Aycbourn opened on Barrington Stage Company's Boyd-Quinson Mainstage last night and Broadwayworld was there for the opening night festivities.
Written by two-time Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Lynn Nottage and directed by long-time company member Daniela Varon this winner of the 2004 Steinberg New Play Award, New York Drama Critics' Circle Award, and Outer Critics Circle Award runs in the Elayne P. Bernstein Theatre fromJuly 20 through August 13, 2017.
Recently Barbra Streisand came to the Friars Club for the naming of the Barbra Streisand Room on the 2nd floor of the Monastery. Last night she visited Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Co. as one of Christine Pedi's Great Dames in Ms. Pedi's Award-Winning Cabaret Act.
The Carlyle's legendary Bemelmans Bar has a substantial bench (piano) of talented singer/pianists who have performed for it's prominent clientele. Michael Marci, a Palm Beach Florida import is musically hitting it out of the park on Sundays with his creative piano and vocal stylings and has been attracting a sophisticated and celeb filled audience.
You didn't have to know French to understand that Christine Andreas created the magic of Edith Piaf last night au-dessous de Rue 54.
Senator Elizabeth Warren and the rest of the Opening NIght Audience at Shakespeare & Co's production of Cymbeline didn't have to fill the suggestion box labeled 'Tell Us Why You LIke Shakespeare' in the lobby of the Tina Packer Playhouse with answers to that question. They did it with their many standing ovations for the 9 actors and director Tina Packer at the conclusion of a magnificent and energetic performance of the complex plot driven play by Shakespeare. There are a lot of exciting things going on at Shakespeare & Co. in Lenox MA. and artistic director Allyn Burrows in his toast at the jubilant after party stated 'first to the unknown and to the road ahead'!
Will Hammerstein, grandson of musical theatre legend Oscar Hammerstein II, has every intention of preserving his grandfather's legacy. In 1941, the lyricist purchased Highland Farm, a sweeping property outside of Philadelphia. Now his grandson seeks to purchase the house and accompanying barn and renovate them into a Hammerstein museum.
weSPARK Cancer Support Center is teaming up with Jazz Musicians Against Cancer for "Jazz and the Cinema" on July 30th, where acclaimed musicians will be performing jazz renditions of classic cinema soundtracks at the renowned Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood.
One of the country's most vibrant eras in music, in general and especially for women, was the 1960s, filled to the brim with girl groups like The Chantels and The Supremes, folk pioneers like Joan Baez, and songwriters so influential that, decades later, that musical written about them keeps filling its Broadway house to capacity for close to four years (Carole King, of course). In the midst of political and public unrest, in a male-dominated world and industry, these women made space and carved out their own spots in music history. Who better to spotlight these singers and songwriters than Carole J. Bufford, who has carved out her own spot within the New York cabaret scene as an enthusiastic and rich interpreter of the Jazz Age songbook, and returned to the circuit with something a little different: YOU DON'T OWN ME: THE FEARLESS FEMALES OF THE 1960S, a celebration of the 'bold and daring women [who] planted their flags and ensured their voices were heard.' And as it turns out, it's not only Bufford's most fearless show, but also one of her best.
David Lutken brought his friends to William Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Co. and they are giving the BSC audience a treasure trove of American Folk Music for July 3rd & 4th.
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.
Longtime communications director of the Friars Club was given a heartfelt Bon Voyage in the Milton Berle Room yesterday and many show business notables were present and in video to honor the man who has written most of the published words and history of The Friars for the last 25 years. Barry Dougherty's words...
When you're marketing a spectacular SoHo Penthouse that has a Steinway B piano and you come from the world of cabaret what do you do? Super Real Estate impresarios Tom Postilio and Mickey Conlon filled it with the music of songstress Allyson Briggs with her band Fleur Seule, (a favorite of The Rainbow Room) and have a party for your eclectic group of friends.
A historic 1904 building was transformed into an elegant space by the Gala's producers, and for you theatre folks used to those exciting NYC Actors Fund Events think Barrington Stage Gala 2017 in Pittsfield MA.
Opening night theatre goers celebrated with the Elizabeth Stanley Darnell Abraham, Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, David Harris, J. Anthony Crane, Zurin Villanueva, Cast, Creative, Lynn Ahrens, and the staff of Barrington Stage Co. last night and Broadwayworld was there for the festivities.
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.
Tony Danza is the 'Peoples Choice' not only because he won that award (among many). He is also the choice for hundreds of New York City kids for whom he is a role model in his capacity as Board Member of the NYC Police Athletic League (PAL). Tony recently launched PAL's first acting program under the philosophy 'when you teach a kid how to act, you teach them how to act.' Alongside PAL's other athletic, academic, and artistic programs, the Acting Program has become an instant favorite. Last night students were showcased in their stage debut at the Gerald w. Lynch Theater in Manhattan in a variety show which was developed over the last few months.
Sheldon Harnick wrote the words for the songs in Fiddler, The Rothchilds, and lyrics for many other historic tunes, but he also wrote the words in a new book of photographs by his wife Margery Gray and son Matt Harnick. The book was launched at a party attended by lots of his Broadway friends at TAO in NYC and Broadwayworld was there. Like his songs, the photographs in KOI are a thing of beauty and create wonderful feelings.
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