Wesley Whatley News

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will perform its annual "Holiday Pops" concert December 13-15 (Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., Sunday at 2 p.m.) at historic Music Hall under the direction of "Mr. Christmas," Pops Conductor John Morris Russell. Multiplatinum-selling vocalist and Broadway veteran Ann Hampton Callaway returns to the Pops as guest artist, performing traditional holiday favorites and up-and-coming classics such as "My Favorites Things," "I Wonder as I Wander," and "Somewhere in my Memory" (from John Williams' Home Alone). The rich Pops orchestration, along with the May Festival Youth Chorus, Winton Woods High School Varsity Ensemble and the ever-popular cloggers from the Studio for Dance of Cincinnati, give life to these and other familiar tunes in this highly-entertaining family tradition.

On December 19 and 20, 2013 at 8:00 PM, The New York Pops will present an evening full of holiday cheer at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage with Ashley Brown and Essential Voices USA. Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke - described by The New York Times as a "polished, welcoming host" who is "young and vigorous, with a playful attitude" - will lead the orchestra and guest artist Ashley Brown in a festive concert featuring traditional favorites and new holiday hits.

The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra will perform the world concert premiere of Macy's Yes, Virginiain Concert at 2 p.m. on Saturday, December 14, at Music Hall. The family-friendly performance is developed and presented by Macy's and will feature John Morris Russell conducting the Pops along with singers and actors in a semi-staged adaptation. This will be the world premiere performance of the fully orchestrated concert version of the musical with book and lyrics by William Schermerhorn and music by Wesley Whatley. “Yes, Virginia The Musical” was created by Macy's in 2012 as part of its annual holiday Believe campaign.

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) selected 62 finalists from tens of thousands of students to compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, last night at the Minskoff Theatre. Hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes and Santino Fontana, the fifth annual performance showcase featured dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon. Sarah Lynn Marion, from Fullerton, CA and Taylor Varga, from Newtown, CT took home the big awards for the evening and you can check out photos from inside the event below!

Last night, December 9th, at 8 PM, Feinstein's at Loews Regency unwrapped MY GIFT OF THANKS: New Songs for the Holidays to benefit The Actors Fund. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the concert below!

On Today, December 9th, at 8 PM, Feinstein's at Loews Regency unwraps MY GIFT OF THANKS: New Songs for the Holidays to benefit The Actors Fund.

On Sunday, December 9th, at 8 PM, Feinstein's at Loews Regency unwraps MY GIFT OF THANKS: New Songs for the Holidays to benefit The Actors Fund.

A group of 136 Stagedoor Manor students from all over the world will sing and dance the grand finale at this year's Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade®, marking the famed theatrical summertime training ground's fourth consecutive Parade performance. After traveling the entire parade route, the Stagedoor Manor students will arrive at Herald Square and introduce Santa Claus by performing the number "Santa By The Book" from Macy's new program Yes, Virginia The Musical. Yes, Virginia The Musical had its world premiere at Stagedoor Manor earlier this year and its original cast, made up of 28 Stagedoor Manor students ages 10-13, will accompany Santa and Mrs. Claus on their float for the entirety of the Parade route.

On Sunday, December 9th, at 8 PM, Feinstein's at Loews Regency unwraps MY GIFT OF THANKS: New Songs for the Holidays to benefit the Actors Fund.

OBAMARAMA Songs for Justice! fundraiser cabaret, tonight, September 22nd, will present original material from emerging writers, with proceeds going to the Obama 2012 campaign.

OBAMARAMA: SONGS FOR JUSTICE! is a a cabaret fundraiser being held tomorrow, September 22. Check out sneak peek performances by Broadway's Leenya Rideout (Company), Nicole Van Giesen (Cabaret, The Wild Party), Raymond Bokhour (Chicago) and Christine Bokhour (Chicago, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels) as they rehearse for OBAMARAMA: SONGS FOR JUSTICE!

OBAMARAMA Songs for Justice! fundraiser cabaret, on September 22nd, will present original material from emerging writers, with proceeds going to the Obama 2012 campaign.

Macy's original animated special, "Yes, Virginia" will be brought to life this holiday season as the retailer announces "Yes, Virginia The Musical," an original program that will bring the uplifting story to school stages nationwide. Below, watch a video showing footage of Stagedoor Manor Performing Arts Training Center's first performances of the show this July, plus steps on how more schools can stage the musical!

Macy's original animated special, "Yes, Virginia" will be brought to life this holiday season as the retailer announces "Yes, Virginia The Musical," an original program that will bring the uplifting story to school stages nationwide. Additionally, Macy's will award $1,000 grants to 100 eligible schools to support their productions of the musical.

William Schermerhorn has won a Daytime Emmy for Outstanding Original Song that was perfomed in 85th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade on NBC, called (Won't You) Join Our Parade. The Emmy award winning song (Won't You) Join Our Parade was performed by Stage Door Manor and written by composer, Doug Katsaros and lyricist, William Schermerhorn.

Amongst the winners were several with Broadway backgrounds: Bill Sherman (composer) and Chris Jackson (lyricist) for Sesame Street's original song 'What I Am' and Willie Reale as a co-executive producer of The Electric Company on PBS.

It's Christmas at Carnegie Hall, and this year there are three very special performances being conducted by Steven Reineke with the New York Pops. Two holiday concerts featuring Brian Stokes Mitchell and a special family feature of How The Grinch Stole Christmas all take place this weekend to help NYC usher in the holiday spirit! BWW spoke with Steven Reineke about the concerts, the holidays and the spirit of Christmas.

The Young People's Chorus of New York City (YPC), conducted by Artistic Director and Founder Francisco J. Nuñez, will participate in the 84th Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade® joining multi-talented and Tony-nominated Ann Hampton Calloway in the television premiere performance of "Yes Virginia, there's a Santa Claus" atop the Winter Wonderland in Central Park float.

It's beginning to look a lot like Christmas at Macy's Herald Square as America's Largest Department Store just unveiled its legendary Christmas windows on Thursday, November 18 at 5pm. This year, spectators will be taken on a magical journey through the eyes of 8-year-old Virginia O'Hanlon who wrote to the New York Sun in 1897 in a quest to prove the existence of Santa Claus. The response, written by newsman Francis P. Church, began with the now-famous line, 'Yes, Virginia, there is a Santa Claus...' and is viewed by those who believe as a symbol of the generosity and spirit of the season. In celebration of this spirit, this season's Christmas windows are more animated and theatrical than ever, as Macy's brings the magic of the Broadway stage to its world famous Broadway windows in its collaboration with PRG Scenic Technologies. Virginia's inspiring true story, now a CBS animated TV Christmas special, 'Yes, Virginia...,' magically comes to life via animation and automation.