News

Susan L. Schulman, a longtime Broadway publicist whose five-decade career included such theater milestones as Applause starring Lauren Bacall, Death of a Salesman with George C. Scott and Bob Fosse’s Dancin’, died Wednesday, October 18, at Mt. Sinai West Hospital in New York City following a brief illness.

Her death was announced by friends Leslie Krakowe, actor Kathleen Chalfant and Roy Bernstein. Her age was not immediately available.

A member of the theatrical union Atpam (Association of Theatrical Press Agents and Managers) since 1973, Schulman, a New York native, opened her own theatrical Times Square press office in 1978, with early clients including Jack Gilford, Manhattan Theatre Club, Joffrey Ballet, and Garrison Keillor.

Over the years she would take on clients from Broadway, Off Broadway, dance, film, TV and books. A small Broadway sampling: Requiem For A Heavyweight (with John Lithgow and George Segal), City Of Angels, Death And The Maiden with Glenn Close,...

Steve Ross I Remember Him Well: The Songs of Alan Jay Lerner Birdland Jazz Club, NYC Monday, January 22, 2018

Lerner who?

Getting serious for a moment, this is the fact around which we will orbit: What really constitutes American culture? Literature and architecture and painting -- yes, certainly. But what particularly animates our hearts is song -- and, in particular, the living energy of the American musical theater. In that buoyant realm, there’s no greater literate master than lyricist and writer Alan Jay Lerner (1918-1986). The open-and-shut-case evidence for this assertion is his CV: On A Clear Day, Brigadoon, Gigi, Paint Your Wagon, An American In Paris (story and screen play), Camelot, and -- most famously, My Fair Lady.

Watching our black and white TV, as a child I noticed my parents (and the studio audience) were delighted by a singer I’d never heard of. I could not understand the big to-do about him.

Tony Award-nominees Karen Akers Nine, Grand Hotel amp John Cariani Something Rotten, Fiddler on the Roof, Jill Paice An American in Paris, Award-winning Nightlife Legend Marilyn Maye amp two-time Drama Desk Award-nominee Josh Grisetti It Shoulda Been You, Enter Laughing The Musical are set to appear in Town Hall's Broadway by the Year Series on Monday, March 28 at 8pm, The Broadway Musicals Of The 1950s. Additional casting will be announced shortly.

Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Chip Zien, Karen Mason, Sebastian Arcelus, Tonya Pinkins, Beth Leavel, Carolee Carmello,Stephanie J. Block, Karen Akers, Emily Skinner, Julia Murney, Lari White, John Easterlin, Noah Racey, Camille Saviola, Mark Nadler, Jillian Louis, Danny Gardner and the Broadway by the Year Chorus all took part in Town Hall's 14th season opener of its Broadway by the Year Series on Monday night, February 24 at 8pm, The Broadway Musicals Of 1915-1939. BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert and you can check out backstage photos below...

Stephanie D'Abruzzo, Chip Zien, Karen Mason, Sebastian Arcelus, Tonya Pinkins, Beth Leavel, Carolee Carmello, Stephanie J. Block, Karen Akers, Emily Skinner, Julia Murney, Lari White, John Easterlin, Noah Racey, Camille Saviola, Mark Nadler, Jillian Louis, Danny Gardner and the Broadway by the Year Chorus all took part in Town Hall's 14th season opener of its Broadway by the Year Series last night, February 24 at 8pm, The Broadway Musicals Of 1915-1939. BroadwayWorld was there for the special concert and you can check out photo coverage below...

Tony Award-nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo Avenue Q, Drama Desk-nominees Chip Zien Into the Woods, Falsettos amp Karen Mason Sunset Boulevard, Mamma Mia, Sebastian Arcelus Elf, A Time to Kill, Nightlife Award-Winner Mark Nadler, Jillian Louis, Danny Gardner and the Broadway by the Year Chorus have been added to Town Hall's 14th season opener of its Broadway by the Year Series on Monday, February 24 at 8pm, The Broadway Musicals Of 1915-1939. They join previously announced Tony Award-winners Tonya Pinkins and Beth Leavel, Tony Award-nominees Carolee Carmello, Stephanie J. Block, Karen Akers and Emily Skinner, Drama Desk Award-nominee Julia Murney, Grammy Award-winners Lari White and John Easterlin, Noah Racey Curtains, Camille Saviola Nine, concert and recording artist Howard Fishman and Nightlife Award-winner Carole J. Bufford. Individual tickets 57 and 47 are on sale at www.TicketMaster.com or by phone at 800-982-2787 series subscriptions 180-220 are available at www.TheTownHall.org.

On Monday, February 24 at 8pm, Town Hall will kick-off the 14th season of its Broadway by the Year Series with The Broadway Musicals Of 1915-1939 which will feature Tony Award-winners Tonya Pinkins and Beth Leavel, as well as Tony Award-nominees Carolee Carmello, Stephanie J. Block, Karen Akers, and Emily Skinner, Drama Desk Award-nominees Aaron Lazar, Julia Murney and Kerry O'Malley, Grammy Award-winner Lari White, and Noah Racey Curtains, Camille Saviola Nine, concert and recording artist Howard Fishman and Nightlife Award-winner Carole J. Bufford. Individual tickets 57 and 47 are on sale at www.TicketMaster.com or by phone at 800-982-2787 series subscriptions 180-220 are available at www.TheTownHall.org. Bank of America is proud to support Broadway by the Year with additional support provided by The Edythe Kenner Foundation.

Last night, 92Y celebrated songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics amp Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson directorwriter of A Night withJanis Joplin. Performers included legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers,Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino,Sally Kellerman, Bettye Lavette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists performed some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Check out photos from the special event below...

Peter Scolari TV- 'Girls,' 'Bosom Buddies,' Broadway- 'Lucky Guy' Annaleigh Ashford Tony nom, 'Kinky Boots', Karen Akers 2 time Tony nom, original casts of 'Nine' and 'Grand Hotel', Aaron Lazar 'Mamma Mia,' 'Les Miserables', John Tartaglia Tony nom, 'Avenue Q',Howard McGillin longest running Phantom in history, 2 time Tony nominee, 'Drood' and 'Anything Goes', Ali Stroker Glee ProjectGlee and others have join the cast of Born For Broadway, the fourth annual celebrity cabaret, featuring Broadway and TV stars donating their time and talent to raise money for paralysis-based organizations has been announced. The evening will take place at 54 Below, 254 West 54th Street, on Monday September 30, 2013. Doors will open to the public at 845 Pm with a 930 Pm curtain. Hosts and full talent will be announced in the weeks ahead. www.bornforbroadway.com...

The cast of the 10th Annual Nightlife Awards reaches critical mass with the addition of Tony Nominee and Nightlife Legend Karen Akers and nightlife and recording sensation Nellie McKay. They join a cast that already includes Terri White Follies, who spent a great many years as one of New York's most exciting piano bar entertainers and will be honored with a Special Award for her Contributions to New York Nightlife. As is always the case with The All-Performance Nightlife Awards, Terri will take the stage and sing. Heralded TV and nightclub comedian, Ray Ellin, is on tap to perform on Monday night, as are two former Nightlife Jazz Award winners Vocalist winners, Allan Harris and Karen Oberlin.

Colleen Zenk will be making her New York cabaret debut in the world-class room, Feinstein's at the Regency, on Sunday, October 30 and Sunday, November 6 at 8:30 p.m. with "Colleen Zenk: Stiil Sassy!"

Zenk posted on the announcement on her Facebook page says, "I am so thrilled to be working with Award-Winning Music Director, Don Rebic and his fabulous band of musicians!!!!"

Zenk has also been asked to perform at Feinstein's in the all-star "Voices - the 9/11 Heroes' Concert", the 10th Anniversary Benefit...among those appearing are Karen Akers, Liz Callaway, Eric Michael Gillett, Ann Hampton Callaway, Lillias White, Billy Stritch, Julie Budd, Steve Ross, Baby Jane Dexter, Michael Feinstein and Liza Minnelli.

You can order tickets here:

Sunday, September 11 "Voices: The 9/11 Heroes' Concert"

Sunday, October 30 "Colleen Zenk: Still Sassy!"

Sunday, November 6 "Colleen Zenk: Still Sassy!"...

Nine

Back in 1982, the Broadway musical Nine opened and won a Tony for Best Musical. An adaptation of Federico Fellini’s semi-autobiographical film classic 8-1/2 with a book by Arthur Kopit, music by Maury Yeston, and direction by the great Tommy Tune, the show was a perfect blending of the cerebral and heart, a slightly tongue-in-cheek exploration of the creative process, and a fond but critical look at a man whose relationships with women were based either on his adoration for his mother or his pleasant encounter with a robust prostitute when he was a mere child.

Helping spur the show on to greatness were Raul Julia as Guido Contini, the solipsistic director; Karen Akers as his wife; plus Anita Morris, Camille Saviola, and the knock-‘em-dead Liliane Montevecchi as several of the women in his life.

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The Washington, D.C. Area Film Critics Association (Wafca) today announced their 2009 winners, awarding Best Film to Up in the Air. Additionally, awards were given to Broadway star Carey Mulligan, most recently of The Seagull, for her work in the film "An Education," as well as the upcoming film of Maury Yeston's "Nine."

Relative newcomer Carey Mulligan took home the Best Actress award for An Education, while what many considered the only locks of the season - the Best Supporting Actor and Actress categories - went to Christoph Waltz (Inglourious Basterds) and Mo'Nique (Precious), respectively. Precious also walked away with the Best Breakthrough Performance for first-time actress Gabourey Sidibe.

"We are thrilled with these results," said Tim Gordon, president of Wafca. "As with every year, there were consensus favorites as well as surprises that both stunned and delighted us. In a year full of as many great films as this one,...

Tony Award winner Laura Benanti is set to replace British stars Daniel Evans and Jenna Russell in an upcoming "Spotlight" concert series at the Kennedy Center. Benanti will take over the concert, which is set to be a part of the "Barbara Cook's Spotlight" concert series, featuring Broadway stars and curated by Barbara Cook.

Portraying compelling characters in Broadway theater, television, and film has made Tony Award-winning actress Laura Benanti one to watch. She hit Broadway by storm starring opposite Patti LuPone in Gypsy. Playing Louise, Benanti received critical acclaim for her performance--the New York Times called her "delicious in the title role"--and became the first actress in that role on Broadway to win the Tony for "Best Featured Actress in a Musical." She also earned Tony nominations for her roles in Swing! and the revival of Into the Woods opposite Vanessa Williams.

Her Broadway credits include Gypsy (for...

Karen Akers, one of America's most arresting and successful concert and cabaret stars will brings her Cole Porter show to The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, Sf, from Oct 27-Nov 1. Performances are at 8 Pm with the Sunday show at 7 Pm. Tickets are $45-50 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or 866 468 3399.

Karen Akers' show transforms the Rrazz Room into a sophisticated party scene reminiscent of Cole Porter's legendary soirées in Paris and New York. Her new show, Akers Sings Porter: "Anything Goes"! includes such classics as " I Get A Kick Out Of You", "I Love Paris", "Can Can", "Anything Goes", "It's All Right With Me" and "Let's Do It," among others. The show is directed by Eric Michael Gillett, with Don Rebic as musical director.

Her concert performances are just a part of Ms. Akers multi-faceted career, which encompasses theater, television,...

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County is proud to announce its Cabaret & Cocktails Series premiering in the 2009-2010 season with magnificent performances in the intimate Carnival Studio Theater by three of Broadway's most beloved leading ladies - Sherie Rene Scott on October 15-18, Karen Akers on January 21-24, and Christine Andreas on April 22-25. For these engagements, the Carnival Studio Theater will be transformed into the Carnival Studio Cabaret, a cozy jazz club setting with cabaret cocktail tables and food and drinks available for purchase during each performance.

Michelle Obama threw out the first ball for American Ballet Theatre's spring season, and with her powerful pitching arm it was little surprise that the seamed orb bounced off the Met's first ring and caromed off of Matthew Modine's head, disarranging his coif something fierce. But he laughed, we all laughed, because who says ballet has to be stuffy? Not me, who's been collecting ballerina trading cards since early manhood, apart from those two missing years when I was on my "vision quest." The lyric spring evening began on the Met balcony overlooking Lincoln Center, where an array of gowns and tuxedos occupied by socialites and celebrities greeted the gantlet of cameras and interviewers--gleaming notables whom I did my best to ID with the aid of my compact Leica binoculars. Kelly Ripa I recognized at a glance, of course; and could that be Lynda Carter?--it was, looking resplendent.

Off-Broadway's The Play Company brought together some of NYC's top chefs and theater artists for its sixth annual gala Cabaret Gourmet 2009 -- a unique evening hosted by Broadway's Richard Kind ("The Tales of the Allergist's Wife" and "The Producers") and featuring musical entertainment by cabaret legend Karen Akers ("Nine" and "Grand Hotel"), along with savory and sweet dishes prepared by chefs from several of the city's most celebrated restaurants -- on Monday, April 27 at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse (227 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Off-Broadway's The Play Company brings together some of NYC's top chefs and theater artists for its sixth annual gala Cabaret Gourmet 2009 -- a unique evening hosted by Broadway's Richard Kind (The Tale Of The Allergist's Wife and The Producers) and featuring musical entertainment by cabaret legend Karen Akers (Nine and Grand Hotel), along with savory and sweet dishes prepared by chefs from several of the city's most celebrated restaurants -- on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse (227 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

Off-Broadway's The Play Company brings together some of NYC's top chefs and theater artists for its sixth annual gala Cabaret Gourmet 2009 -- a unique evening hosted by Broadway's Richard Kind (The Tale Of The Allergist's Wife and The Producers) and featuring musical entertainment by cabaret legend Karen Akers (Nine and Grand Hotel), along with savory and sweet dishes prepared by chefs from several of the city's most celebrated restaurants -- on Monday, April 27 at 7 p.m. at the American Airlines Theatre Penthouse (227 West 42nd Street) in Manhattan.

It was announced today that the award-winning comedienne Judy Gold would, for the first time, host the Nightlife Awards, which takes place on Monday, January 26th at 7 Pm at The Town Hall. Also announced was Nightlife Legend Honoree Karen Akers who will, as trumpeted by the Nightlife Awards, make no acceptance speech but, instead, perform! And yet another winner has been found and agreed to come to Town Hall to perform: Steven Bernstein's Millennial Territory Orchestra (Outstanding Jazz Combo). Also announced today were guest stars Keith Carradine and Jim Caruso. So far, eleven of the thirteen award categories will be represented with a performance by their winners! Among those previously announced winners slated to perform are Christine Ebersole & Billy Stritch, Marilyn Maye, Mike Birbiglia, Freddy Cole, Helen Baldassare, Allan Harris, Baby Jane Dexter, Brandon Cutrell, The Improvised Shakespeare Company, Daryl Glenn and Jo Lynn Burks. Among the previously announced...