Rick Fox News

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: 'Merman's Apprentice' In Concert, Starring: Klea Blackhurst & Anita Gillette; BLAME CANADA! Featuring Broadway's Canadian Talent; Ann Hampton Callaway: On My Way to You; Sara Chase at 54 Below; and The Melody Lingers On: A 'Benefit' for Victims of Earworm.

Final casting has been announced for BLAME CANADA!, an evening featuring the best in Canadian musical theatre happening at 54 BELOW on Monday, June 15 at 9:30pm. Clyde Alves, who currently stars as Ozzie in the Broadway revival of On The Town, hosts the evening that celebrates work by members of the Canadian Musical Theatre Writers Collective (CMTWC).

The Canadians are back! 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents BLAME CANADA! Join us for an evening of the best in Canadian musical theatre as we present a concert of songs by members of the Canadian Musical Theatre Writers Collective (CMTWC). This year BLAME CANADA! is going global, with concerts in New York City, Toronto, Vancouver, and London. Founded by Landon Braverman and Joseph Trefler, CMTWC is a new national organization devoted to supporting and promoting the work of Canadian musical theatre writers both at home and abroad.

BEAUTIFUL's newest star Chilina Kennedy just released a solo folk-pop album titled WHAT YOU FIND IN A BOTTLE on April 14, 2015 via Ollies Records. She will appear at The Cutting Room this coming Monday, May 4th, to celebrate the record's release. 

Read and Rant Productions in conjunction with The Aurora Fox will present BEETS (by Colorado playwright Rick Padden) opening January 16 and running through February 8, 2015. Performance dates are Fridays: January 16, 23, 30 and February 6 at 7:30pm/Saturdays: January 17, 24, 31 and February 7 at 7:30pm/Sunday: January 25, February 1 and February 8 at 2:00pm. Performances will be at The Aurora Fox Studio Theatre (9900 East Colfax Avenue).

This week's spotlight is on composer/lyricist Drew Fornarola and bookwriter Scott Elmgreen. TIANANMEN is an original rock musical that follows the events of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing, focusing on the stories of three student demonstrators and the Communist leaders they dare to challenge. The students communicate through music while government leaders communicate through spoken dialogue, and in this way the show uses musical theatre to starkly and viscerally portray the generational and cultural divides that come between both sides. Selections from Tiananmen premiered in a March 2014 concert at 54 Below starring Telly Leung, Ruthie Ann Miles, and Karl Josef Co, and the show continues to be developed under the artistic guidance of director Stafford Arima and with academic support from the Harvard University Department of East Asian Languages and Civilizations. For more, email: TiananmenMusical@gmail.com.

The 46th Annual Jeff Awards ceremony honoring excellence in professional theatre produced within the immediate Chicago area is tonight, October 13 at Drury Lane Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, Oakbrook Terrace.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Equity Jeff Award nominations are out, and 'On The Town' is open. Peck and Lindley, Jessie Mueller and more are set for concerts here, and 'I Love Lucy' and the Grinch will return. Plus Theo Ubique's Andrews Sisters and Kurt Weill in rep, 'Titanic' and 'In The Heights' prepare, Munster announces 2015, and NBC flies its 'Peter Pan' cast. Ahh!!

Chicago actress, TV and film star Jane Lynch did the honor today of announcing the nominees for the 2013-2014 Equity Jeff Awards.

FOX News Channel's (FNC) FOX & Friends All-American Summer Concert Series presents Australian musician Rick Springfield today, July 4th at 8AM/ET.

It offers a fun time and one can't ask for much more than that.

Opening night for SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE-THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER was last night (Thursday, May 8) at Arena Stage. Check out the photos below! The show runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Rick Fox will be taking over the role of musical director in Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater's production of Smokey Joe's Cafe--The Songs of Leiber and Stoller from Victor Simonson, who will be departing the show for personal reasons.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. The show runs tonight, April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Telly Leung, Ruthie Ann Miles, & more in Tiananmen: A New Musical In Concert on March 27. Tiananmen is an original rock musical that follows the story of the 1989 Tiananmen Square protests in Beijing.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Final casting has been announced for BLAME CANADA!, an evening featuring the best in Canadian musical theatre happening at 54 BELOW on Monday, March 17 at 9:30pm. Cliff Saunders, who currently stars as Thenardier in the revival of Les Miserables on Broadway, hosts the evening that celebrates the launch of the newly formed Canadian Musical Theatre Writers Collective (CMTWC).

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Ring Of Fire' opens, 'Road Show' readies, 'Gypsy' and 'Chicago' thrive, 'Carnival' prepares, 'Queenie Pie' reschedules, Boho brings the Mozart, plus the new musicals 'Period Piece' and 'Shining Lives,' and more!

Chicago Shakespeare Theater CST) presents Gypsy at CST's Courtyard Theater, running now through March 23), directed by CST Associate Artistic Director Gary Griffin and starring Tony Award nominee Louise Pitre as Rose. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!