by Mike Haber | Oct 14, 2021 | Antoinette (Tony) Awards, Be A Smash Walking Tour, Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
BREAKING NEWS: The
Foundation for New American Musicals is set to present its first ever benefit gala honoring 2 of the most acclaimed Award winning faces of our Broadway Theater scene next week. It has just been revealed that this year’s recipients will consist of it’s co-founders….
The Gala will be held on October 24th, 2021 at Broadway’s New Amsterdam Theatre (current home of
Aladdin).
The Gala will also include live performances from some familiar faces who have worked with both Shaiman and Klein including….
Emmy Award winner Bruce Vilanch (Original National Tour and Broadway replacement “Edna Turnblad” in Hairspray and TV’s Hollywood Squares plus writer for the Oscars, Emmys, and Tonys),
Broadway and West End favorite
Marisha Wallace (recently seen as “Motormouth Mabel” in the recent limited engagement West End revival of Hairspray),
Congrats Marc and Robert!!!
by Mike Haber | Sep 19, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, News, Shows
EACH DAY’S A BRIGHT NEW LIFE!! Celebrated powerhouse vocalist
Linda Eder has been getting back into the swing of things relaunching her ongoing concert tour. Last night,
Jekyll & Hyde‘s original leading lady brought her unbelievable voice to Morristown, NJ playing the
Mayo Performing Arts Center.
Along with sharing her spectacular voice, Eder continues to present a series of Vlogs on her YouTube channel giving fans a VIP pass into the experience being on the road with her.
For this episode, you will not only see Eder traveling to Jersey, doing soundcheck, and being back on stage, fans will also get to meet her new touring Musical Director…… celebrated composer, arranger, and musician
Billy Stritch (best known for serving as longtime MD for
Liza Minnelli). He takes over from Eder’s longtime touring musical director Grammy Award Billy Jay Stein (however will continue to serve as producers on her solo albums).
Eder is set to make her way to the following cities…..
Stokie, IL,
Vienna, VA,
Ridgefield, CT,
Englewood, NJ,
Aventura, FL,
Del Ray, FL,
Palm Beach, FL,
Irvine, CA,
Palm Spring, CA,
Venice, FL,
and
her ongoing residency at New York’s very own Feinstein’s/54 Below.
Eder’s concert are rotating shows accompanied by either a small band or some of the world’s greatest Symphony Orchestras.
As you can see in this vlog, Eder changed her setlist full out. Her upcoming set of concerts is all new. It will feature mainly a setlist of songs of her paying tribute to the legendary and iconic
Judy Garland along with still including hits from her previous works. Yes, she still will sing SOMEONE LIKE YOU, VIENNA, MAN OF LA MANCHA, and all of them.
Welcome Billy Stritch!!!
Welcome back to the road Linda Eder!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 14, 2021 | Blog, Broadway
Over the years, there have been so many unforgettable people that have kept the spirit of the Great Bright Way close their hearts. One of our personal favorites has played a huge mark in our community for over 40+ years….. acclaimed director and producer
Richard Jay-Alexander.
Best known in our books as THE BROADWAY MAN, Richard Jay-Alexander is the ultimate impresario. Born in upstate New York and now living in Miami, he began his career as a performer. He made his Broadway debut in 1977 in ZOOT SUIT and later appearing in the Tony winning play AMADEUS…. appearing in both the original casts and later helped stage productions around the world.
As time went on, Alexander started going more towards the creative side of the business. He began going into the worlds of directing and producing. In the 1980’s, he went on to be the Associate Director and Executive Producer for the American productions of many of Sir Cameron Mackintosh’s greatest hits for 12 YEARS. Many of his notable works included helping out with the original productions of….
He has continued to direct many Live Theater and Opera productions all around the world today.
Along with Theater, Alexander is also known for directing and producing concert work (along with albums) for some of your favorite Broadway stars including….
Tony and Emmy winner
Kristin Chenoweth (including her recent Broadway concert residencies MY LOVE LETTER TO BROADWAY and FOR THE GIRLS),
Richard-Jay Alexander today continues to direct concerts for Broadway’s best along with inspiring the next generation of talents.
Check out this featurette of this Richard-Jay Alexander’s career and his unbelievable memorabilia of Broadway treasures over the years.
Any fans of Richard-Jay out there?!!
by Mike Haber | Aug 8, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Broadway Audience, News, Shows
WE ALL NEED SOMETHING TO BELIEVE IN! After 17 months, celebrated powerhouse performer
Linda Eder has made her long awaited return back to the concert stage. The
Jekyll & Hyde relaunched her ongoing tour last month in Maine for a 2 night engagement at the
Vinegar Hill Music Theatre. Of course with her ongoing vlogging on YouTube, Eder gave us a VIP pass into the experience being back on the concert stage.
However this episode of her YouTube vlog is a little bittersweet and emotional. It was announced that Eder’s longtime collaborator Grammy Award Billy Jay Stein has officially stepped down as both her Musical Director and Producer after 24 YEARS. Stein has been keeping himself very busy with various works on upcoming Broadway projects, playing in the pit on various shows, having his own band, and so much more. The video features Eder paying tribute to her longtime friend giving him so much love, support, and happy success in his future.
Eder will continuing touring again beginning September 17th, 2021 in Morristown, NJ before making her way to the following cities…..
Stokie, IL,
Vienna, VA,
Ridgefield, CT,
Englewood, NJ,
Aventura, FL,
Del Ray, FL,
Palm Beach, FL,
Irvine, CA,
Palm Spring, CA,
Venice, FL,
and
Eder’s concert are rotating shows accompanied by either a small band or some of the world’s greatest Symphony Orchestras.
No word has been said on who will be taking over as Musical Director for Eder’s upcoming concerts.
Happy Trails Billy!!
Welcome Back to the road Linda!!!
Thoughts on Billy’s departure?
How amazing is Linda Eder?!!
End of an Era! – YouTube
by Mike Haber | Aug 5, 2021 | Blog, Broadway, Casting, Gleeks Fan Tour (Times Square), News, Shows
THRILLIFYING NEWS: Full casting has been announced for
PBS‘ upcoming televised concert special celebrating the music of the Award winning blockbuster
WICKED this month!! WE COULDN’T BE HAPPIER to share this WONDERFUL lineup with all of you.
Under the direction of Broadway legend
Baayork Lee (Broadway’s original
A Chorus Line), the cast of WICKED IN CONCERT will feature an all star cast consisting of …..
Grammy nominee and Stage and screen favorite
Alex Newell,
Olivier Award winner and Grammy Award nominee
Amber Riley,
Grammy Award nominee and Broadway favorite Issac Powell,
Stage and screen favorite Stephanie Hsu,
and
This cast will take center stage to perform promising breathtaking new arrangements of some of your favorite songs from Stephen Schwartz’s legendary Tony nominated and Grammy winning score. You can expect to hear all the favorites from THE WIZARD AND I, POPULAR, I’M NOT THAT GIRL, FOR GOOD, AS LONG AS YOU’RE MINE, NO GOOD DEED, and of course the show’s anthem DEFYING GRAVITY. Performances will be coming to you from New York City, Los Angeles, and Washington D.C.
That’s not all….. this new TV concert will reunite and be hosted by …..WICKED’s original WITCHES OF OZ who started it all themselves…..
the show’s Tony Award winning star
Idina Menzel (OG “Elphaba’).
Ironically, Chenoweth and Menzel had previously hosted WICKED’s TV concert special A VERY WICKED HALLOWEEN on
NBC back in 2018 celebrating the show’s 15th Anniversary. Now they’re back for a 2nd WICKED concert special….. FOR GOOD.
OH WHAT A CELEBRATION it will be from now especially with WICKED making its way back to being performed around the world. Earlier this week, the show’s ongoing National Tour relaunched its run in Dallas, TX.
The Broadway production is set to reopen at the Gershwin Theatre beginning September 14th, 2021…. just in time before its 18th Anniversary. The day afterwards on the 15th, the show’s London company will reopen on the West End at the Apollo Victoria Theatre,.
WICKED IN CONCERT: A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF THE ICONIC BROADWAY SCORE will officially air on August 29th, 2021 at 9pm EST. Check your local PBS station!!!
