Joel Fram News

Dear Readers, I hope you've all fared well over the holidays and had a good time with your families. It's been a tumultuous year with lots of great theater for us to take in. And so I'm pleased to share with you some of the best things I saw this past year and the ones that I felt worthy of getting my Critic's Choice Awards for 2015. So settle in and allow me to expound on all the amazing I saw over the year. The envelope please.

On Saturday, October 17, Symphony Space presents Frank Sinatra at 100, a starry celebration of the iconic singer's centennial. Over the course of three three-hour sets - 2 pm, 5 pm, and 8 pm - no fewer than 100 songs from Sinatra's repertoire will be performed by an impressive roster of interpreters, including Peter Cincotti, Tony Danza, Rebecca Luker, Marilyn Maye, Tierney Sutton, and dozens more. Instrumental renditions by pianist Bill Charlap, the guitar duo of Bucky Pizzarelli & Ed Laub, and saxophonists Harry Allen and Ted Nash will complement the vocal selections. The house band throughout the day will be led by Russ Kassoff on piano, with Dick Sarpola on bass and John Redsecker on drums. 

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Rolando Sanz and Strathmore, in association with Bruce Cohen, Robb Nanus and David Bloch will present the world premiere of I Am Anne Hutchinson/I Am Harvey Milk, a musical celebration of two American icons, for a two-night engagement on Saturday, April 23 and Sunday, April 24, 2016 at the Music Center at Strathmore (5301 Tuckerman Lane, North Bethesda, Maryland).

Berkshire Theatre Group's revival of BELLS ARE RINGING starring Broadway's charming husband and wife duo Graham Rowat and Kate Baldwin can be described in two words: sensory overload. Director Ethan Heard and his entire creative team have worked the 1956 kitsch so hard that the physical elements overwhelm the performances - and challenge the actors to ratchet things up to a fever pitch just to be noticed.

Beginning this month, A Contemporary Theatre (ACT) continues to partner with the 5th Avenue Theatre, co-producing a musical that appears on each organization's season and performed at ACT. Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris opens tonight, March 12, and runs for 10 weeks in the Falls Theatre, directed by David Armstrong.

oming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

This December and January 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Scroll down for details!

Below, BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive behind-the-scenes peek at the show with Lippa and Shapiro!

Andrew Lippa and Brian Crawley's beloved musical, A Little Princess, is coming to 54 Below. The cast will include Abigail Shapiro (current star of Liberty: A Monumental New Musical, "Cindy Lou Who" in How The Grinch Stole Christmas) as Sara Crewe, composer Andrew Lippa (Big Fish, The Addams Family, I am Harvey Milk) as Miss Minchin, Emerson Steele (young "Violet" in Violet) as Becky, Alicia Hall Moran (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess) as Aljana along with Paige Brady ("Matilda" in Matilda The Musical), Ava Ulloa ("Matilda" in Matilda The Musical), Mavis Simpson-Ernst (Evita), and Emma Howard (Matilda The Musical, Violet). Additional Broadway stars cast in the concert to be announced soon.

Jason Forbach is no stranger to the role of Enjolras. He has been involved in LES MISERABLES for over four years. Broadway World had a chance to chat with Jason as he shared his new ventures and experiences that have shaped his career today.

Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk had its New York premiere last week at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Lippa starred as Harvey Milk, Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth as the Soprano soloist and child actor Noah Marlowe (Mary Poppins, Act One) as 'YoungHarvey Milk.' I Am Harvey Milk featured the Orchestra of St Luke's and introduce the 120 member All Star Broadway Men's Chorus. BroadwayWorld takes you insIde the after party with Lippa and Chenoweth below!

Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk had its New York premiere last night, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Lippa starred as Harvey Milk, Tony and Emmy Award winnerKristin Chenoweth as the Soprano soloist and child actor Noah Marlowe (Mary Poppins, Act One) as 'Young Harvey Milk.' I Am Harvey Milk featured the Orchestra of St Luke's and introduce the 120 member All Star Broadway Men's Chorus. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the after party below!

Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk had its New York premiere last night, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Lippa starred as Harvey Milk, Tony and Emmy Award winner Kristin Chenoweth as the Soprano soloist and child actor Noah Marlowe (Mary Poppins, Act One) as 'Young Harvey Milk.' I Am Harvey Milk featured the Orchestra of St Luke's and introduce the 120 member All Star Broadway Men's Chorus. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the curtain call below!

Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk will have its New York premiere tonight, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk will have its New York premiere on Monday, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Lippa, Kristin Chenoweth and Noah Marlowe recently started practicing for the show, and BroadwayWorld brings you footage from rehearsals below!

Producers Bruce Cohen, Robb Nanus, Jessica Leventhal, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman announced today that Disney Theatrical, Jujamcyn Theaters, The Nederlander Organization and The Shubert Organization four of Broadway's leading organizations, have come together by contributing matching donations in support of Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio, I Am Harvey Milk, which will have its New York premiere on Monday, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio I Am Harvey Milk will have its New York premiere on Monday, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Lippa, Kristin Chenoweth and company have started rehearsals for the show, and you can get a sneak peek at them below!

Producers Bruce Cohen, Robb Nanus, Jessica Leventhal, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman announced today that a group of political, cultural, and human rights leaders have come together to form an “Honorary Committee” in support of Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio, I Am Harvey Milk, which will have its New York premiere on Monday, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall.

New York - Producers Bruce Cohen, Robb Nanus, Jessica Leventhal, Bruce Robert Harris and Jack W. Batman announced today that child actor Noah Marlowe (Mary Poppins, Act One) will play "Young Harvey Milk" in the New York premiere of Tony and Grammy Award nominee Andrew Lippa's new oratorio, I Am Harvey Milk, set for Monday, October 6 at Lincoln Center's Avery Fisher Hall. Mr. Marlowe originated the role in I Am Harvey Milk's world premiere performance in San Francisco and can be heard on the Original Cast Recording.

On this morning's fourth hour of TODAY, host Kathie Lee announced that she has written TODAY the musical! 'It's going to be live and it's going to be so much fun,' said the Broadway producer.