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2010-03-09T19:32:00.001-05:00

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BENEFIT FOR HAITI.

2010-03-08T21:47:00.001-05:00

Presents

JUST A PIANO OPEN MIC: A 2ND BENEFIT FOR HAITI

Special Guests
Recording Artist: Alyson Williams

(Hit Single: ”Just Call My Name”)
Caron Wheeler of Soul II Soul

(Hit Single: ”Keep On Movin’”)
And the Legendary
Mercedes Ellington

(Sophisticated Ladies)

With
April Nixon (Smokey Joe’s Cafe), Natasha Yvette Williams (The Color Purple), Aziza Miller (Musical Director for Natalie Cole/Teacher of Alicia Keys ), Carmen Ruby Floyd (Avenue Q), Kent Drake (Former Apollo MC), Cary Gant (Motown Café), Jeremy Cole (Showtime at the Apollo), Anthony Wayne (A Chorus Line), Antoine LaMonte Smith (National Tour of Cats), Darryl Calmese (AIDA), Keith Fluitt (Hott Feet),
& Featuring Brian Whitted (Bette Midler, Occasionally on Piano)
and more...
Hosted by:
Lee Summers (Original cast of Dreamgirls) & Shaun Derik (Speaker for the Dreamer)

MONDAY, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm

NEW YORK, NY – March 8, 2010 - The Triad and Lee Summers present the Just A Piano Open Mic: A 2nd Benefit For Haiti on Monday, March 15th 2010, at 7:30pm

Following the success of the Just A Piano Open Mic Launch: A Benefit For Haiti on January 31st, which raised $1500.00 for Haiti, series’s creator Lee Summers says, “This time we aim to double that.” The “Just A Piano” concept broadens for this series inviting singers to also bring accompanists or pre-recorded tracks, musical instruments or play on The Triad’s recently refurbished baby grand!

March 15th’s special guests include Recording Artist Alyson Williams, the Legendary Mercedes Ellington, granddaughter of the great Duke Ellington, Broadway’s April Nixon, Natasha Yvette Williams and Carmen Ruby Floyd, Jazz Vocalists Aziza Miller and Kent Drake also Cary Gant, Jeremy Cole, Anthony Wayne, Antoine LaMonte Smith, Darryl Calmese and Keith Fluitt & Featuring Brian Whitted (Occasionally on Piano)
and more. The evening is hosted by Lee Summers & Shaun Derik.

Lee Summers' Just A Piano SM Concert Series has presented numerous top artists singing to JUST A PIANO since 2006 at New York’s most beautifully refurbished venue, the historic Triad. The list includes Broadway/TV's, Roz Ryan, Tony Award Winners, Lillias White and Adriane Lenox, recording sensation Alyson Williams (“Just Call My Name”), Marva Hicks (Caroline or Change), Julie Reiber (Wicked), Crystal Mone Hall (Rent) Shoshana Bean (Hairspray/Wicked, Featuring Rojelio Douglass), Kevin-Anthony, co-founder of “Black2 Broadway” Opera’s Shirley Verrett’s vocal protégé Erika Banks – The Little Mermaid’s, Zakiya Young Mizen (Featuring Norm Lewis), Drowsy Chaperone’s Kecia Lewis Evans (Featuring Tony Winner LaChanze), 3 Time Grammy Nominee/Tony Winner Melba Moore, Anwar Robinson (American Idol Season 4 Finalist), Rebecca Covington (Featuring Tituss Burgess, Chester Gregory and Norm Lewis), Aisha DaHaas, Lawrence Clayton, April Nixon, Jerry Dixon, Lee Truesdale on March 19th Juson Williams, and on April 2nd, Grammy Nominee Ryan Shaw returns.

Just A Piano Concert Series featured pianists include, Timothy Graphenreed (The Wiz), Brian Whitted (Bette Midler), Ray Leslee (Avenue X), James Samplina, Matt Perri (The Drowsy Chaperone) Onaje Allan Gumbs, Shelton Becton (The Color Purple), Doug Oberhamer (Thoroughly Modern Millie) and many more.

There is a $20 suggested donation + 2 Drink Minimum. For reservations please go to www.triadnyc.com or call 212-362-2590. Net proceeds will go to The Clinton Bush Haiti Fund and The American Red Cross. The accounting firm of Janover, LLC will tally and turnover the final net proceeds to the respective charities. Press is donated by Ian Weiss, Graphic Design is donated by Greg Aunapu, Production Coordination is donated by Madelyn Bonilla, Lights and Sound is donated by Kane Chiang, Photography is donated by Sidnei Beal, Video is donated by Eric Alexander.

The Triad Theatre is located at 158 West 72nd Street (between Broadway & Columbus).

HATE MAIL.

2010-03-08T18:26:00.000-05:00

The Cardinal Group
Presents its new Off Broadway production of
Hate Mail
A Play by
Bill Corbett
and Kira Obolnesky

Starring
Dana Brooke
and DH Johnson

Directed by
Richard Pepenella

Tuesdays thru Fridays
March 16 – April 2nd at 8pm
45th Street Theatre, NYC

NEW YORK – The Cardinal Group is thrilled to announce its Off Broadway production of HATE MAIL, a play by BILL CORBETT and KIRA OBOLENSKY. The play will be presented at the 45th Street Theatre, located at 354 W. 45 St. in the heart of New York City’s Times Square. Directed by RICHARD PEPENELLA, Hate Mail stars DANA BROOKE and DH JOHNSON. Hate Mail is an epistolary play something like A.R. Gurney’s Love Letters, with two actors reading letters and other correspondence, but it's a little wilder and more hysterically funny. It tells the story of Preston, a spoiled rich kid who meets his match in Dahlia, an angst-filled artist. Their worlds collide when Preston sends a complaint letter that gets Dahlia fired from her job, and then there's no turning back. The play stays with their increasingly crazed correspondence as they move from hate to love, and then right back again. The show will run Tuesdays thru Fridays from March 16th to April 2nd. Tickets are $20 and are available at www.SmartTix.com.

BILL CORBETT's play The Stuff of Dreams recently toured the country, produced by the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis. His play The Big Slam has been produced at numerous theaters across the U.S., including Woolly Mammoth in Washington, D.C.; ACT in Seattle; and actor Jeff Daniels' Purple Rose Theater in Chelsea, Michigan. His other plays include Heckler; Ridiculous Dreaming (an adaptation of Heinrich Boll's The Clown, commissioned and produced by the Guthrie Theater in Minneapolis); Hate Mail (co-written with Kira Obolensky), produced by Primary Stages in New York and numerous other theaters; Down the Pike, winner of the Actors Theater of Louisville National One-Act Contest; short plays Manifesto and Hunters, produced by the HBO Writers Project in Los Angeles; Cash Karma, first produced by the Organic Theater in Chicago; and Motorcade, produced at theaters in the U.S., Canada, and Japan. For four years Mr. Corbett was a writer for “Mystery Science Theater 3000” on the Sci-Fi Channel, and previously on Comedy Central. He was nominated for a Cable Ace Award in 1997 for Best Comedy Writing. A Core Member of The Playwrights' Center in Minneapolis, and a graduate of the Yale School of Drama, Mr. Corbett currently lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota.

KIRA OBOLENSKY’s new plays include Modern House (finalist for the Susan Smith Blackburn Prize) and Lune, pronounced loony, which was commissioned and produced by the B Street Theatre. Her adaptation of Alice in Wonderland, a co-production of the Guthrie Theatre and The Acting Company, opened at the Guthrie in January 2010. Other plays include Lobster Alice (Kesselring Prize, finalist for Susan Smith Blackburn, published in Best Plays by American Women 2000); The Adventures of Herculina, (Honorable Mention Kesselring Prize, Edith Oliver Award, produced in Chicago and in Minneapolis) and Pleasure Cruise, commissioned by the Guthrie Theatre and published in Best 10 Minute Plays of 2002-03. She is a recipient of a Bush Foundation fellowship, a Guggenheim Fellowship, two Jim Henson Foundation grants, a Jerome Fellowship and a McKnight Advancement Grant. A graduate of Williams College and the Juilliard School’s Playwriting Fellowship Program, Kira teaches at Goddard’s MFA Interdisciplinary Arts Program and at the University of Minnesota.

DANA BROOKE has appeared in theatre, film, and television. Dana last appeared with Cardinal Group in Leslie Caveny’s Love of a Pig. Her work in that play was honored by BackStage as one of the "Most Memorable Acting Performances of 2007" along with such notables as the cast members of August: Osage County and the Public Theater’s Romeo & Juliet. Dana also appeared in the play Venecia with Chita Rivera directed by Arthur Laurents. Though a Brooklyn resident, Dana often travels to the B Street Theatre in CA where she is a company member, and last starred in Arlene Hutton's "Nibroc Trilogy". Dana’s TV appearances include NBC's "Ed", Fox's "Canterbury's Law," and FX's "Damages". Dana's most recent project took her to India to star in the new work "Zeenat.”

DH JOHNSON is an actor and founder of The Cardinal Group. He is currently seen in commercials, and in the award winning short film Flat Love directed by Andres Sanz (enlapiscina.com). Manhattan credits include Office Sonata (Irish Arts Center), Brutality of Fact by Keith Reddin (Urban Stages, produced by The Cardinal Group), Melissa Ross' Crazy Little Thing (Center Stage), Evilution by Edward Musto, Lanford Wilson's Book of Days (New World), Daniel Damiano's play Given Our Current Fiscal Crisis, and The Gallery Players productions of Blake Edwards' Victor/Victoria, Joe Lauinger's A Wedding Album, Warren Leight's Sideman, and Alan Ayckbourn's Bedroom Farce. Regionally he appeared in the Dorset Theatre Festival in Dulcy by George Kaufman and Marc Connelly directed by Carl Forsman, NC Shakespeare Festival's Richard III, Robinson Crusoe and Cricket on the Hearth at The B Street Theatre in Sacramento . Short films include Bedford, Emily, There Will Be Peace When You Are Done and the Oscar winning short, Two Soldiers with Ron Perlman directed by Aaron Schneider. For The Cardinal Group he has produced Bill C Davis' Avow, Leslie Caveny's Love of a Pig, Bronwen Coleman’s Mrs. Barry’s Marriage, Michael Ferrell's reading of Jersey Shore House, Keith Reddin's Brutality of Fact, and Katie Bender's This Is a Cowboy Poem My Daddy Taught Me. D.H. is represented by Judy Boals, Inc.

Hate Mail marks RICHARD PEPENELLA’s directorial debut with the Cardinal Group. He was a member of the production staff of the Cardinal Group’s first production Brutality of Fact by Keith Reddin with Joy Franz, and has since coproduced the productions of Love of a Pig by Leslie Caveny with Dana Brooke (honored by Back Stage as a 2007 Performance to Remember for her portrayal of Jenny), the one woman show Mrs. Barry’s Marriage written by and starring Bronwen Coleman, This Is a Cowboy Poem My Daddy Taught Me written by and featuring Katie Bender, the reading of Michael Ferrell’s Jersey Shore House with Adam Heller and Tony winner Beth Leavel, and most recently Avow by Bill C. Davis once again with Joy Franz and Kate Middleton (nominated as best Actress by the New York Innovative Theatre Awards for her portrayal of Irene). Richard is also a singer actor with numerous theatre credits and can be heard on the album “Stephin Merritt Showtunes” available on Nonesuch Records.

THE NEWEST BILLY JACOB CLEMENTE.

2010-03-08T17:51:00.003-05:00

2009 TONY AWARD-WINNING
BEST MUSICAL WELCOMES
THE NEWEST ‘BILLY’

JACOB CLEMENTE

Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions in association with Weinstein Live Entertainment announced today that Jacob Clemente will join the cast of the 10-time Tony Award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical, in the role of ‘Billy.’

Clemente, who previously performed the role of ‘Tall Boy’ in Billy Elliot, will be the 9th boy to perform the role on Broadway. His first performance date will be announced soon.

JACOB CLEMENTE (Billy). Hi, my name is Jacob Clemente. At 12 years old, I am the youngest Billy to take the Broadway stage! I guess you could say I was destined to play Billy because both mining and dancing are in my blood. I am named after my great-grandfather, Jacob Mandel, who went “deep into the ground” of the coal mines of Pennsylvania. My other great-grandfather, Harry Jones, was a Welsh coal miner. My dad is in the mining business, too, but I have always wanted to dance! I started when I was 7 years old and have never stopped since, even while sitting at the dinner table! Over the years, I have been lucky enough to hold such dance titles as 2007 Junior Mr. Starquest and 2008 National NYCDA Mini Outstanding Dancer. Prior to playing Tall Boy/Posh Boy in this show, I had the privilege of being a Newsboy on the Broadway stage in Patti LuPone’s Gypsy. I knew then that I would want to do this for the rest of my life. I am very grateful to God, my dance and voice teachers, and prior directors for giving me the skills to get here. I especially want to thank my grandparents, parents, aunts and uncles, brother Tory and sisters Mandy and Lydia, who have all sacrificed so that I could reach my dream to “Be Billy”.

The 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical Billy Elliot the Musical currently stars Michael Dameski, Alex Ko, Liam Redhead and Dayton Tavares as Billy, Kate Hennig as Mrs. Wilkinson, Philip Whitchurch as Dad, Carole Shelley as Grandma, Will Chase as Tony and Trevor Braun and Jake Evan Schwencke as Michael.

Billy Elliot the Musical, the show that Time Magazine called “The Best Musical of the Decade,” is the joyous celebration of one boy’s journey to make his dreams come true. Set in a small town, the story follows Billy as he stumbles out of the boxing ring and into a ballet class, discovering a passion that takes him by surprise, and takes his whole family on an incredibly uplifting adventure.

Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreographed by Peter Darling and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical opened at Broadway’s Imperial Theatre (240 W 45th St) Thursday, November 13th and was the winner of ten 2009 Tony Awards including Best Musical.

Tickets for Billy Elliot the Musical range from $41.50 to $136.50, and can be purchased at the Imperial Theatre Box Office (240 West 45th Street) or by calling Telecharge.com at 212-239-6200 or visiting www.Telecharge.com. Beginning January 4th, the playing schedule for Billy Elliot will be as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday – Saturday at 8pm, Wednesday, Saturday and Sunday at 2pm and Sundays at 7:30pm.

Billy Elliot the Musical is produced by Tim Bevan, Eric Fellner, Jon Finn and Sally Greene. Angela Morrison and David Furnish are Executive Producers. The production features scenic design by Ian MacNeil, costume design by Nicky Gillibrand, lighting design by Rick Fisher and sound design by Paul Arditti. Musical supervision and orchestrations are by Martin Koch.

ROCK OF AGES NEWS!

2010-03-08T17:38:00.004-05:00

Producers of the five-time Tony Award nominated hit musical, ROCK OF AGES announced today that Emily Padgett will take over the role of “Sherrie,” beginning Monday, March 15, 2010 and Derek St. Pierre (“Franz”) and Katie Webber (“Waitress #1”) will join the cast on Monday, March 22. After having understudied the role since Monday, November 16, 2009 and performing nightly as “Waitress #1” at Broadway’s Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street), Ms. Padgett will star opposite Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis. She takes over the role from Kerry Butler, who will play her final performance Saturday, March 13 at 8pm. Tom Lenk will play his final performance as “Franz” on Sunday, March 21 at 7:30pm.

Emily Padgett recently starred as Sandy in the National Tour of Grease with Taylor Hicks. Her previous Broadway credits include Legally Blonde The Musical and Grease.

Derek St. Pierre makes his Broadway debut. Previous credits include MUNY's Camelot and 42nd Street.

Katie Webber comes directly from the original Broadway company of Memphis. Other credits include Broadway's Wicked, Jerry Mitchell's Peepshow (Goldie), and the film version of Rent.

In 1987 on the Sunset Strip, a small-town girl met a big-city dreamer – and in L.A.’s most legendary rock club, they fell in love to the greatest songs of the ‘80’s. It’s ROCK OF AGES, a hilarious, feel-good love story told through the hit songs of iconic rockers Journey, Styx, REO Speedwagon, Foreigner, Pat Benatar, Whitesnake, and many more. Don’t miss this awesomely good time where big hair meets big dreams and the result totally wails. The show is written by Chris D’Arienzo, directed by Kristin Hanggi and choreographed by Kelly Devine.

Also featured in the cast are James Carpinello, Adam Dannheisser, Mitchell Jarvis, Michele Mais, Lauren Molina, Paul Schoeffler, Jenifer Foote, Ericka Hunter, Michael Minarik, Geoff Packard, Angel Reed, Matthew Stocke, Becca Tobin, Katherine Tokarz, Andre Ward, and Jeremy Woodard.

Tickets can be purchased via Ticketmaster.com/ 212-307-4100 or in person at The Brooks Atkinson Box Office (256 West 47th Street).

The current performance schedule is Monday at 8pm, Tuesday at 7pm, Thursday at 8pm, Friday at 8pm, Saturday at 2pm & 8pm and Sunday at 3pm & 7:30pm.

www.RockofAgesMusical.com

HAIR NEW CAST STARTS TONIGHT!

2010-03-08T17:08:00.001-05:00

NEW CAST OF “HAIR”
DEBUTS ON BROADWAY
TONIGHT!

LARGEST BROADWAY CAST CHANGE IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS

NEW ‘TRIBE’ REPRESENTS THE DAWNING OF A NEW AGE
AT THE AL HIRSCHFELD THEATRE
AS ORIGINAL BROADWAY CAST HEADS TO LONDON
TO OPEN WEST END PRODUCTION

New York, NY – The brand-new Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical begins performance tonight at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC). The historic debut of the new “tribe,” thirty-two performers strong, marks the largest Broadway cast change in more than forty years. As previously announced, the original Broadway cast will be moving to the West End to open at London’s Gilegud Theatre. Previews for the London Production begin on April 1, 2010 with Opening Night set for April 14.

The complete new ‘Tribe’ of HAIR is as follows (in alphabetical order):

Annaleigh Ashford (Jeanie)
Jeannette Bayardelle (Dionne)
Diana DeGarmo (Sheila)
Vanessa Ray (Crissy)
Kyle Riabko (Claude)
Wallace Smith (Hud)
Jason Wooten (Woof)
Ace Young (Berger)

Justin Badger (Tribe)
Nicholas Belton (Swing)
Larkin Bogan (Tribe)
Natalie Bradshaw (Tribe)
Catherine Brookman (Tribe)
Briana Carlson-Goodman (Swing)
Antwayn Hopper (Tribe)
Erika Jerry (Tribe)
Jay Armstrong Johnson (Swing)
Rachel Bay Jones (Mom)
Mykal Kilgore (Tribe)
Josh Lamon (Margaret Mead/Dad)
Nicole Lewis (Swing)
Anastacia McClesky (Tribe)
Paris Remillard (Tribe)
Arbender Robinson (Swing)
Kate Rockwell (Tribe)
Cailan Rose (Tribe)
Rashidra Scott (Tribe)
Jen Sese (Tribe)
Lawrence Stallings (Tribe)
Terrance Thomas (Tribe)
Emma Zaks (Swing)
Lee Zarrett (Tribe)

The story of a group of young Americans searching for love and peace during the Vietnam era, HAIR is a timeless portrait of a movement that changed the world. Its groundbreaking rock score paved the way for some of the greatest musicals of our time. Now, the "Age of Aquarius" dawns again in this jubilant new production, which is the winner of the 2009 Tony Award for Best Revival of a Musical. The Drama Desk, Drama League, and Outer Critics Circle also recently honored the production with their 2009 award for Outstanding Revival of a Musical.

Directed by Diane Paulus and choreographed by Karole Armitage, HAIR features a book and lyrics by Gerome Ragni and James Rado and music by Galt MacDermot. The creative team also includes Scott Pask (scenic design), Michael McDonald (costume design), Kevin Adams (lighting design) and Acme Sound Partners (sound design).

HAIR is presented on Broadway by The Public Theater (Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director; Andrew D. Hamingson, Executive Director) Jeffrey Richards, Jerry Frankel, Gary Goddard Entertainment, Kathleen K. Johnson, Nederlander Presentations, Inc., Fran Kirmser Productions/Jed Bernstein, Marc Frankel, Broadway Across America, Barbara Manocherian/WenCarLar Productions, JK Productions/Terry Schnuck, Andy Sandberg, JAM Theatricals, The Weinstein Company / Norton Herrick, Jujamcyn Theaters, Joey Parnes, and by special arrangement with Elizabeth Ireland McCann.

Tickets for HAIR (starting at $37.00) are available via Telecharge.com or by calling (212) 239-6200. The schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7:00 p.m., Wednesday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m., Thursday – Friday at 8:00 p.m., Saturday at 2:00 & 8:00 p.m. and Sunday at 3:00.

HAIR also offers a pre-performance ticket lottery for box-seat tickets, aptly renamed “BE-IN BOXES.” Those wishing to purchase these tickets are asked to show up at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre 2 1/2 hours before each performance for a drawing that will take place 2 hours before curtain. For every performance, a limited number of lucky audience members will receive $25 “be-in box” tickets, promising to make their experience of the show both affordable and unique. Limit one entry per person, and two tickets per entry. Winners must be present at the time of the drawing and show valid ID to purchase tickets. Tickets can be purchased from the box office in cash only.

Ghostlight Records’ New Broadway Cast Recording of HAIR (2010 Grammy Award nominee) has just been released as a limited edition re-mastered vinyl LP.

NY IT AWARDS NEWS.

2010-03-08T16:58:00.004-05:00

INNOVATIVE THEATRE HONORARY AWARDS ANNOUNCE NEW COMMITTEE CO-CHAIRS, AWARD APPLICATIONS NOW BEING ACCEPTED.

New York, NY-March 3, 2010: The New York Innovative Theatre Foundation, the organization dedicated to celebrating Off-Off-Broadway, is pleased to announce that Ben Hodges (editor, Theater World) and Abby Marcus (managing director, Vampire Cowboys) are the new co-chairs of the Honorary Award committee, filling the vacancy left by Leonard Jacobs (Clyde Fitch Report). The Innovative Theatre Foundation recognizes and appreciates the five years of service and dedication by Mr. Jacobs.

The applications for the 2010 Honorary Awards are available online and are due by 6pm on May 1, 2010.

The Honorary Awards Committee is comprised of people deeply grounded in the Off-Off-Broadway community. This year, the committee welcomes two new members; performance artist, Desiree Burch and publicist, Katie Rosin. A complete list of committee members is available on the IT Awards website at: www.nyitawards.com/aboutus/hac.asp.

“I am thrilled to be Co-Chairing the Honorary Awards Committee this season,” said Abby Marcus. “As a past honorary award recipient - my company, Vampire Cowboys, was awarded the Caffe Cino Fellowship in 2006 - I know firsthand how meaningful and special these awards are to the OOB community. I look forward to helping the New York Innovative Theatre Awards continue their good work in providing recognition and honor to companies and artists working in Off-Off-Broadway.”

Over the past six years, the IT Awards have honored over 600 of the brightest and most influential artists from the Off-Off-Broadway community.
The Honorary Awards are:* The Artistic Achievement Award, presented to an individual who has made a significant artistic contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community;

The Stewardship Award, presented to an individual or organization demonstrating a significant contribution to the Off-Off-Broadway community through service, support and leadership; * The Caffe Cino Fellowship Award, presented to an Off-Off-Broadway theatre company that consistently produces outstanding work. This award also includes a grant ($1,000-$5,000) to be used toward an Off-Off-Broadway production.

Previous recipients include:

2005Artistic Achievement - Basil TwistStewardship Award - Ellen Stewart, LaMaMa, ETC.Caffe Cino Fellowship – Inverse Theater Company
2006Artistic Achievement - Tom O’HorganStewardship Award - The FieldCaffe Cino Fellowship - Vampire Cowboys

2007Artistic Achievement - Doric WilsonStewardship Award - Alliance of Resident Theatres/NY Caffe Cino Fellowship - Rising Phoenix Repertory
2008Artistic Achievement - Judith MalinaStewardship Award - Martin & Rochelle Denton, New York Theatre ExperienceCaffe Cino Fellowship - Boomerang Theatre Company
2009Artistic Achievement – Maria Irene FornesStewardship Award – Materials for the ArtsCaffe Cino Fellowship – The Brick Theater, Inc.

“It is a great honor to be thought of in the same breath as Caffe Cino, the birthplace of Off-Off-Broadway. Much in the same way that Joe Cino’s legendary coffeehouse became an accidental theater hub, The Brick quickly became something more than we planned. Now we’ve grown into a busy theater community, with year-round plays, festivals, late-night events and we’ve hosted hundreds of theater artists in the seven years since our founding. We’re very excited that the IT Awards recognized and supports our commitment to keep at it.” -- Michael Gardner, The Brick Theater, Inc.

DEMI MOORE IS WEARING ATELIER VERSACE AT THE ACADEMY AWARDS.

2010-03-07T23:43:00.006-05:00

On the occasion of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards held on March 7, 2010 in Hollywood, California.

Actress Demi Moore is wearing an Atelier Versace strapless silk organza gown paired with satin double-platform Versace sandals.

The gown is a blush tone with a full tiered skirt and a rose detail.

Photo supplied by Versace thanks to Getty Images.

ALEX BALDWIN WILL LOOK DREAMY AT THE OSCARS!

2010-03-06T09:44:00.001-05:00

Alec Baldwin to Wear Ermenegildo Zegna

As Co-Host of the 82nd Annual Academy Awards

(Los Angeles) - March 5th, 2010 - On Sunday, March 7th, Alec Baldwin will wear Ermenegildo Zegna as he co-hosts the 82nd Annual Academy Awards alongside Steve Martin. During the broadcast he plans to wear a black one-button satin peak lapel tuxedo with a crisp white pique tuxedo shirt and satin tie. The tuxedo was designed especially for the actor through Su Misura, Ermenegildo Zegna’s Made to Measure service.

Alec Baldwin, longtime friend and supporter of the brand, frequently wears Ermenegildo Zegna on his hit show 30 Rock. He has won the Emmy for Outstanding Comedy Series for the past three years. For his performance on 30 Rock, Mr. Baldwin has also received three SAG Awards, two Golden Globes, the Television Critics Award, and the 2008 and 2009 Emmy awards as best actor in a comedy series

25 WONDERFUL YEARS!

2010-03-04T00:20:00.001-05:00

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY MICHAEL MUSTO!!!!

2010-03-03T23:29:00.003-05:00

Please view my videos in Internet Explorer or Firefox. My videos don't play in Safari.

Video created by Corine Cohen
Photos supplied by Maryann Lopinto.

BACK BY POPULAR DEMAND AND MANY LETTERS!

2010-03-03T14:19:00.001-05:00

MEMPHIS DOES GOOD THING FOR BROADWAY!

2010-03-02T14:04:00.000-05:00

MEMPHIS features a brand new score with music by Bon Jovi’s founding member/keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You’re Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical’s book. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the late George W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography by Sergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).

MEMPHIS takes place in the smoky halls and underground clubs of the segregated 50’s, a young white DJ named Huey Calhoun (Chad Kimball) fell in love with everything he shouldn’t: rock and roll and an electrifying black singer (Montego Glover). MEMPHIS is an original story about the cultural revolution that erupted when his vision met her voice, and the music changed forever.

MEMPHIS stars Chad Kimball (Huey) and Montego Glover (Felicia) with Derrick Baskin (Gator), J. Bernard Calloway (Delray), James Monroe Iglehart (Bobby), Tony nominee Michael McGrath (Mr. Simmons), and Cass Morgan (Mama).

Tickets for MEMPHIS range from $41.50 to $126.50 (including a $1.50 facility fee). The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday – Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm, and Sundays at 3pm. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com, call 212.239.6200 or visit the Shubert Theatre Box Office (225 West 44th Street).

MEMPHIS is produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Latitude Link, Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, Land Line Productions, Apples and Oranges Productions, Dave Copley, Dancap Productions, Inc., Alex and Katya Lukianov, Tony Ponturo, 2 Guys Productions, and Richard Winkler in association with Lauren Doll, Eric and Marci Gardiner, Linda and Bill Potter, Broadway Across America, Jocko Productions, Patty Baker, Dan Frishwasser, Bob Bartner/Scott and Kaylin Union, Loraine Boyle/Chase Mishkin, Remmel T. Dickinson/Memphis Orpheum Group and ShadowCatcher Entertainment/Vijay and Sita Vashee.

www.memphisthemusical.com

ROCKERS ON BROADWAY.

2010-03-02T11:10:00.001-05:00

Video created by Corine Cohen.
Photos by Maryann Lopinto.

http://www.corinescorner.com

DAME EDNA AUDITIONS PART 1.

2010-03-01T21:39:00.002-05:00

GAY MARSHALL AT THE MET!

2010-02-28T13:05:00.000-05:00

SPECIAL EVENT!

2010-02-28T01:13:00.001-05:00

A special party and company fund-raiser "Un Peu de Limonade" taking place Monday, March 1st, at 7:00PM, featuring Kate Baldwin (Finian’s Rainbow), Graham Rowat (Boys in the Band), Russell Fisher (Jersey Boys), along with Anton Briones, Laura Gourdine, Eleanor Handley and Austin Pendleton. More details at www.Limonadetouslesjours.com.

- To benefit The New Voice Project
- Party features Silent Auction, Raffle, Food & Drinks
- At The Cell Theatre - 338 W. 23rd Street - btwn 8th/9th Ave
- Tickets $50
- More at www.Limonadetouslesjours.com

LIMONADE TOUS LES JOURS!

2010-02-28T01:08:00.000-05:00

Joie de Théâtrale with The New Voice Project
Proudly Present the NYC Premiere of

LIMONADE TOUS LES JOURS
A Romantic Comedy
Written By Charles L. Mee

FEATURING
AUSTIN PENDLETON, ELEANOR HANDLEY
AND ANTON BRIONES
Directed by Diana Basmajian

NYC Premiere Plays Limited-Run April 3rd - April 18th
At Chelsea’s The Cell Theatre – Tickets Now On-Sale

*Additional Performance Added – Sunday, April 18th at 3:00PM*
(New York, NY) Joie de Théâtrale with The New Voice Project proudly present the NYC Premiere of “Limonade Tous les Jours,” a romantic comedy (in english), written by Charles L. Mee, and directed by Diana Basmajian. The show will have a limited-run at The Cell Theatre in Chelsea (338 W. 23rd Street, between 8th & 9th Avenues) playing April 3rd – April 18th. Performances are Saturday, April 3rd at 8pm, Sunday, April 4th at 3pm & 7pm, Monday, April 5th at 8pm (note new time), Wednesday, April 7th at 8pm, Thursday, April 8th at 8pm, Friday, April 9th at 8pm, Saturday, April 10th at 8pm, Sunday, April 11th at 3pm & 7pm, Wednesday, April 14th at 8pm, Thursday, April 15th at 8pm, Friday, April 16th at 8pm, Saturday, April 17th at 2pm & 8pm, and Sunday, April 18th at 3:00pm. Tickets, $18, available Feb 1st at Ticket Central, (212) 279-4200, and www.TicketCentral.com. More show info. at www.Limonadetouslesjours.com

A special party and company fund-raiser Un Peu de Limonade will take place Monday, March 1st, at 7:00PM, featuring Kate Baldwin (Finian’s Rainbow), Graham Rowat (Boys in the Band), Russell Fisher (Jersey Boys), along with Anton Briones, Laura Gourdine, Eleanor Handley and Austin Pendleton. More details at www.Limonadetouslesjours.com. Only a few tickets remain for this special event!

Set in Paris, Limonade Tous les Jours is a delightful & sparkling romantic comedy that tells the story of an American man who meets a French woman in a cafe. Both of them are recovering from recent ruined love relationships. They spend the day wandering through the city together, and speak of all the reasons why they shouldn't fall in love. And so of course, they do.

Limonade Tous les Jours’ cast includes Austin Pendleton (film, TV, stage,
director, playwright, actor), Eleanor Handley (Hudson Valley Shakespeare, Arts
Center of Coastal Carolina, New School for Drama) and Anton Briones
(Seussical with TheatreWorks).

The play is directed by Diana Basmajian (Kate Baldwin at Feinstein’s, Asst. Dir.
For MCC’s Fifty Words and Uncle Vanya – both for Mr. Pendleton, Broadway’s
24-Hour Plays). Limonade’s creative team includes: Musical Director - Cris
Frisco; Scenic Designer -Hilary Noxon; Costume Designer - Charles
Schoonmaker; Lighting Designer - Kathleen Dobbins; Choreographer – Erin
Porvaznika; Associate Producer - Moira Boag; Production/Company Manager –
Jennifer McKnight; and Photography – Maia Rosenfeld Photography. Wardrobe
is provided by Darling (1 Horatio Street, West Village).

“I do love this play of Charles Mee’s. I think it’s one of his very best, out of a vast and to me glorious body of work,” said Austin Pendleton “It’s completely knowing and sophisticated about its wonderfully tricky subject – the romance between an older American man and a fabulously complicated young French woman, in Paris – and yet, under Diana’s direction, it’s as free and innocent as an unmuddied French fountain. And playing it with Eleanor Handley, is a joyous experience.”

“We’re thrilled to present this play and our amazing cast at The Cell Theatre in Chelsea,” said director Diana Basmajian. “With universal themes of love and companionship, presented with humor and heart, we’re sure audiences will delight in seeing this show. Plus how exciting to have the first pairing of two NY theatre legends – Pendleton and Mee.”

Charles L. Mee is a popular and contemporary American playwright, historian and author known for his collage-like style of playwriting that utilizes radical reconstructions of found texts. Among other awards, Charles Mee is the recipient of a lifetime achievement award in drama from the American Academy of Arts and Letters, two OBIE Awards (Vienna: Lusthaus (1986) and Big Love (2002)), PEN/Laura Pels Foundation Award for Drama, and the Fisher Award given by the Brooklyn Academy of Music. Mee’s many works include Fire Island, Summertime, Belle Époque, Café le Monde, The Four Seasons, Memory Palace, and Night and Day. Limonade Tous les Jours has been hailed by critics as one of Mee’s most accessible works. More info. available at www.CharlesMee.org

THIS CRACKS ME UP!!!

2010-02-25T11:47:00.000-05:00

A NIGHT IN VEGAS.

2010-02-24T15:51:00.001-05:00

A Night in Vegas
Written and directed by Joe Marshall.
Performances begin: Friday, March 26; opening Sunday, April 11 through June 20
Playing Schedule: Friday at 8PM; Saturday at 3PM & 8PM: Sunday at 5PM
(And every other Monday at 8PM beginning April 5)
The Actors’ Playhouse is located at 100 7th Ave South
Tickets are $45 ($35 during previews) and can be purchased
by visiting Theatermania.com or by calling 212-352-3101.
Running time is 2 hours.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS BREAK RECORDS!

2010-02-24T15:05:00.000-05:00

BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5
RAISES RECORD-BREAKING $186,780
TO BENEFIT BC/EFA & THE CENTER

BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5, the one night only event held Monday at the Vivian Beaumont Theater at Lincoln Center, raised a record-breaking $186,780 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center (The Center).

This year’s total bested the amount raised in 2009 when $158,306 was raised by the event.

Never underestimate the power of a pronoun! BROADWAY BACKWARDS featured some of Broadway’s biggest names singing songs originally written for the opposite gender: women singing songs written for men and men singing song written for women. By keeping all of the lyrics intact, including the original pronouns, each song takes on an entirely new dimension, sometimes with hysterical results and sometimes with immensely touching results. BROADWAY BACKWARDS gave its audience a chance to see and hear some of the most treasured songs of the Great White Way in a whole new light.

BROADWAY BACKWARDS creator Robert Bartley served as director and choreographer of this special evening with musical direction by Wayne Barker. Florence Henderson served as host for this year’s event. Collectively, the performers participating in BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5 have earned four Tony Awards and 20 Tony Award nominations.

Some highlights from this year’s BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5 includes:

The opening number featured Robert Cuccioli, Ann Harada and an ensemble of 50 singing “Paris Original” from How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying.
Florence Henderson led an ensemble of all female singers and dancers in a rousing rendition of “Luck Be A Lady” from Guys and Dolls.
A humorous, yet sensitive musical moment featured Len Cariou and Lee Roy Reams singing “I Remember It Well” from Gigi.
Dan Butler and Hunter Ryan Herdlicka performed the showstopper, “Come Up To My Place” from On the Town.
Douglas Sills was chased by a team of butlers as he sang a charming and humorous rendition of “I Could Have Danced All Night.”
Lea Salonga stopped the show with a powerful rendition of “Out There” from the animated Disney feature The Hunchback of Notre Dame.
Raul Esparza stunned the audience with passionate “The Man That Got Away.”
Nick Adams, Adam Perry, and Timothy W. Bish ended the first act with a remarkably danced and sang “There’s Got To Be Something Better Than This” from Sweet Charity.
Mario Cantone and nine handsome dancers took the audience away to a fantasy world with “Where You Are” from Kiss of the Spider Woman
BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5 also included non-singing cameo appearances by Richard Kind, Valerie Harper, Eve Plumb and Marion Ross.

The full list of featured performers for BROADWAY BACKWARDS 5 includes Nick Adams (A Chorus Line), Martine Allard (The Tap Dance Kid), Gary Beach (The Producers), Tituss Burgess (Guys and Dolls, The Little Mermaid), Robert Cuccioli (Jekyll & Hyde), Dan Butler (TV’s Frasier, The Lisbon Traviata), Mario Cantone (Sex and the City, Laugh Whore), Len Cariou (Sweeney Todd), Harvey Evans (Follies, West Side Story), Raul Esparza (Speed-the-Plow, Company), Tony Goldwyn (Promises, Promises and the film Ghost), Ann Harada (Avenue Q, 9 to 5), Valerie Harper (Looped, “Rhoda”), Hunter Ryan Herdlicka (A Little Night Music), Richard Kind (The Producers, ABC’s Spin City), Aaron Lazar (A Little Night Music), Michele Lee (Two-time Tony Award nominee), Julia Murney (The Wild Party, Wicked), Becki Newton (ABC’s “Ugly Betty”, Girl Crazy at Encores!), Will Nunziata, Anthony Nunziata, Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change; Jelly’s Last Jam), Lee Roy Reams (La Cage aux Folles, 42nd Street), Marion Ross (Evening Star, Happy Days), Lea Salonga (Miss Saigon), Douglas Sills (The Scarlet Pimpernel), Bruce Vilanch (Hairspray) and over 50 Broadway dancers and singers.

ABOUT BC/EFA
Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS is one of the nation’s leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fundraising and grant-making organizations. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of the American theatre community, since 1988 BC/EFA has raised over $175 million for essential services for people with AIDS and other critical illnesses across the United States.

BC/EFA is the major supporter of seven programs at The Actors’ Fund - including The AIDS Initiative, The Phyllis Newman Women’s Health Initiative, The Al Hirschfeld Free Health Clinic, The Dancers’ Resource and three supportive housing residences. BC/EFA also awards annual grants to over 400 AIDS and family service organizations nationwide.

ABOUT THE CENTER
The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center provides innovative social service, youth programs and activities, educational and cultural/recreational programs for lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people of all ages. Since its inception, the Center has been the only LGBT-identified resource delivering a continuum of substance abuse prevention and treatment services to LGBT communities in and around NYC. More than 3,000 clients use Center Counseling, Advocacy, Recovery and Education (Center CARE) annually, which offers low-cost/no cost professional counseling and social services for substance abuse prevention and related HIV/AIDS, mental health and gender identity issues. More than 1,000 adolescents participate in our LGBT youth prevention program, the Youth Enrichment Services (YES) Program. In September 2007 the Center opened Center CARE Recovery, the first and only licensed outpatient substance abuse treatment program for LGBT communities in New York State.

Follow BC/EFA on Twitter: @BCEFA
Find BC/EFA on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/BCEFA

www.BroadwayCares.org

www.GayCenter.org

DOGS ARE THE BEST!

2010-02-23T18:46:00.001-05:00

TOWN HALL BROADWAY BY THE YEAR PART 2 OF THREE.

2010-02-23T13:28:00.001-05:00

BROADWAY BY THE YEAR 1927.

2010-02-23T11:39:00.002-05:00

Last night was the opening of BROADWAY BY THE YEAR 1927. I first want to congratulate Scott Siegel and TOWN HALL for the wonderful series. Last nights show was one of the greatest in the series and I was very grateful to be able to cover this show. This is part 1 of three videos on this show so come back.

The entire cast in this show were wonderful but Quentin Earl Darrington gave the performance of a lifetime. Producers out there need to find a nice role for him. He was most recently in RAGTIME on Broadway and deserves a Tony nomination as well as a good lead role on Broadway soon. I was blown away by his gorgeous vocal chops! Corine Cohen.

PROMISES, PROMISES!

2010-02-22T14:21:00.002-05:00

FIRST BROADWAY REVIVAL
PREVIEWS BEGIN SATURDAY, MARCH 27TH, 2010
OPENING NIGHT SUNDAY, APRIL 25TH, 2010

The box office for the first Broadway revival of PROMISES, PROMISES opens Monday, February 22, 2010 at the Broadway Theater (1681 Broadway). PROMISES, PROMISES marks Tony and Emmy Award winner Rob Ashford’s Broadway debut as director/choreographer. With Neil Simon’s funny and touching book and Burt Bacharach and Hal David’s hit-packed score (“I’ll Never Fall In Love Again,” “Promises, Promises,” and “Knowing When to Leave”) PROMISES, PROMISES is a unique and popular part of the musical theatre canon that will now return to the stage for the first time in over forty years, for a new generation of theatergoers. PROMISES, PROMISES begins previews at the Broadway Theater Saturday, March 27, 2010 at 8pm, and opens on Sunday, April 25, 2010.

PROMISES, PROMISES stars Sean Hayes as Chuck Baxter, Kristin Chenoweth as Fran Kubelik, Tony Goldwyn as J.D. Sheldrake, Tony Award winner Katie Finneran as Marge MacDougall and Tony Award winner Dick Latessa as Dr. Dreyfuss. They lead a cast of 27 that includes Brooks Ashmanskas as Mr. Dobitch, Peter Benson as Mr. Kirkeby, Seán Martin Hingston as Mr. Eichelberger, Ken Land as Jesse Vanderhof, and features Cameron Adams, Ashley Amber, Helen Anker, Nathan Balser, Wendi Bergamini, Nikki Renee Daniels, Sarah Jane Everman, Chelsea Krombach, Keith Kuhl, Matt Loehr, Mayumi Miguel, Brian O'Brien, Sarah O'Gleby, Adam Perry, Megan Sikora, Matt Wall, Ryan Watkinson and Kristen Beth Williams.

PROMISES, PROMISES is produced by Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, The Weinstein Company/Terry Allen Kramer, Candy Spelling, Pat Addiss, Bernie Abrams/Michael Speyer and Takonkiet Viravan/Scenario Thailand in association with Michael McCabe/Joseph Smith and Stage Ventures 2009 No. 2 Limited Partnership. Beth Williams is the executive producer of PROMISES, PROMISES.

Based on the 1960 Academy Award-winning Billy Wilder film The Apartment that starred Jack Lemmon and Shirley MacLaine, PROMISES, PROMISES tells the story of the Consolidated Life Insurance Company and Chuck Baxter, one of its charming young employees. In an effort to advance at the company, Chuck lends executives his apartment for their extramarital romantic trysts. But things become slightly complicated when Fran Kubelik, the object of Chuck’s affection, becomes the mistress of one of his executives.

PROMISES, PROMISES features scenic design by Scott Pask, costume design by Bruce Pask, lighting design by Donald Holder, and sound design by Brian Ronan. Orchestrations are by Jonathan Tunick, with music direction by Phil Reno, and dance music arrangements by David Chase.

The playing schedule for PROMISES, PROMISES is as follows: Monday through Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Saturday at 2pm, with an added 2pm Wednesday matinee on April 14. Beginning Monday April 19, the playing schedule is as follows: Tuesday at 7pm, Wednesday through Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm (note the Tuesday, April 20 performance is at 8pm). Tickets range from $136.50 - $56.50 and are available at telecharge.com (212-239-6200).