If you're anything like the BroadwayWorld staff, you have been absolutely LIVING for 5:55pm on Saturdays and Wednesdays and 4:55pm on Sundays for the past five months.
Norm Lewis finished his Feinstein's/54Below 5 night run last night, on Christmas Eve. Norm's show, NORM LEWIS WISHES YOU A SWINGIN' CHRISTMAS, played to packed houses and the venue had an amazing week, with Michael Feinstein also making his debut at the newly namesaked club, doing the 7:00 P.M. shows and Norm conquering the 9:30 slot. By the way, Mr. Feinstein plays through the 30th, while Norm enjoys his Christmas Holiday and then can find him at the Smith Center in Las Vegas, on New Year's Eve with friends Patina Miller, Capathia Jenkins, Eric Bergen and Clint Holmes.
With our thanks to Howard Sherman for providing the video, LES MISERABLES' home, Broadway's Imperial Theatre dimmed their lights last night, September 1, in honor of Kyle Jean-Baptiste.
It was a sad afternoon in Central Park today, as a family and friends of Kyle Jean-Baptiste gathered to mourn his tragic loss. LES MISERABLES cast members, Baldwin Wallace classmates, and fellow Broadway performers shed tears and shared embraces under the watch of the Bethesda Fountain angel and tried to find some solace in these truly heartbreaking circumstances.
During the memorial, the fountain was encircled with love and support and attendees joined in singing a short portion of 'Do You Hear the People Sing?'
It's just been announced that cast members from the LES MISERABLES Broadway company along with other friends of Kyle Jean-Baptiste will gather tomorrow in Central Park to honor him. The event will take place at the Bethesda Fountain at 2pm. The fountain is located mid-park, on the north side of 72nd street.
Baldwin Wallace University students are aiming to create a scholarship in the name of Kyle Jean-Baptiste, the LES MISERABLES star who died on Friday evening at the too young age of 21. Donations have already started to come in as family, friends, format cast mates, and lucky audience members mourn the loss and also campaign for Broadway to dim its lights.
Below, we have video sent to us by an audience member of the curtain call following the Saturday matinee of LES MISERABLES. At the end, the show's current Jean Valjean, Ramin Karimloo spoke to the audience and paid tribute to the young star.
Like all of the theatre community, BroadwayWorld is shocked and saddened to learn of the untimely passing of LES MISERABLES performer Kyle Jean-Baptiste after an accident at his mother's home last night.