Versweyveld & van Hove – New York New York – Valentine’s Day w/Matthew Lui – Sutton Foster/Cafe Carlyle – Guest Artists Celebrating Barry ManilowEnsemble Studio Theatre New Artistic Directors


Leslie Odom, Jr.

The 1961 comedy Purlie Victorious: A Non-Confederate Romp Through the Cotton Patch will receive an upcoming Broadway staging starring Leslie Odom Jr. (also a producer). This will mark the first revival of the comedy by Ossie Davis. It will be Odom’s first Broadway role since his Tony Award-winning turn as Aaron Burr in Hamilton. Kenny Leon will direct the production, which will open in the late summer. Dates, theater and additional casting will be announced at a later date.

John Wells Productions is developing DOLL, a psychological thriller series set in the ruthless world of a modern musical conservatory, directed by esteemed, multi award-winning theatre and opera director Ivo van Hove (A View from the Bridge, Network), with his artistic collaborator, Jan Versweyveld, serving as production and lighting designer. The project marks the first time van Hove and Versweyveld will be working in scripted television. 

The full cast and creative team for the brand new Kander & Ebb musical, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, written by Tony Award nominee David Thompson (The Scottsboro Boys, Steel Pier)co-written by Sharon Washington (Audible’s Feeding The Dragon) and featuring additional lyrics by Pulitzer, Tony, Emmy & Grammy Award winner and Academy Award nominee Lin-Manuel Miranda, directed by Susan Stroman.Previously announced stars Colton Ryan (Girl From The North Country, Hulu’s “The Girl From Plainville”) as Jimmy Doyle and Anna Uzele (Six, Apple TV+’s “Dear Edward”) as Francine Evans will be joined by Clyde Alves (On The Town)as Tommy Caggiano, John Clay III (Choir Boy) as Jesse Webb, Janet Dacal (In The Heights)as Sofia Diaz, Ben Davis (Dear Evan Hansen) as Gordon Kendrick, Oliver Prose as Alex Mann (Broadway Debut), Angel Sigala (Broadway Debut) as Mateo Diaz, and Tony Award nominee Emily Skinner (Side Show) as Madame Veltri. The ensemble includes Wendi Bergamini, Allison Blackwell, Giovanni Bonaventura, Jim Borstelmann, Lauren Carr, Mike Cefalo, Bryan J. Cortés, Kristine Covillo, Gabriella Enriquez, Haley Fish, Ashley Blair Fitzgerald, Richard Gatta, Stephen Hanna, Naomi Kakuk, Akina Kitazawa, Ian Liberto, Kevin Ligon, Leo Moctezuma, Aaron Nicholas Patterson, Dayna Marie Quincy, Julian Ramos, Drew Redington, Benjamin Rivera, Vanessa Sears, Davis Wayne, Jeff Williams, Darius Wright. NEW YORK, NEW YORK begins performances Friday, March 24, 2023 and officially opens Wednesday, April 26, 2023 at Broadway’s St. James Theatre (246 West 44th Street).

Estefania Fadul and Graeme Gillis

Ensemble Studio Theatre (EST) announced today that Estefanía Fadul and Graeme Gillis have been appointed the new Co-Artistic Directors of the 55-year-old award-winning off-Broadway theater company. Gillis, who has been serving as Interim Artistic Director since William Carden retired in 2022 and is a long-time member of EST, will begin planning the 2023/2024 season with director/producer Fadul who will officially join the prestigious company in March.


For a 5th year in a row, singer-storyteller and bona-fide sweetheart Matthew Liu puts it all out there in a Valentine’s Day show made up of your favorite pop songs, Broadway numbers, RnB tunes as well as his original music – and oh so many stories. Whether you’ve been devotedly attending every year or you’re looking for something fun to do for Valentine’s Day, all are invited to come and be known as Matthew sings and shares what he’s learned and learning these past five years. If you’re single or a couple or a throuple or more, calling all friends old and new: here’s to celebrating the last five Valentine’s Day “flings” together, wherever the journey’s taken you on Tuesday, February 14th at 7PM at 196 Allen St, New York NY 10002.

Tony Award-winning actress, singer, and dancer, Sutton Foster, returns to Café Carlyle with her all-new show, May 23 – June 3. Sutton was most recently seen on the Broadway stage starring in an acclaimed turn as Marian Paroo in the Broadway revival of The Music Man, opposite Hugh Jackman at The Winter Garden Theatre. Her performance earned her seventh Tony award nomination as well as the coveted 2022 Drama League Distinguished Performance Award. Reservations can be made online via Tock. Café Carlyle is located in The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel (35 East 76th Street, at Madison Avenue). 


The New York Pops, led by Music Director and Conductor Steven Reineke, today announces an initial line-up of guest artists for its 40th Birthday GalaThis One’s For You: The Music of Barry Manilow, honoring the Grammy, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning icon, on Monday, May 1, 2023 at 7:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall. Guest artists from across the recording industry and the Broadway community will come together to pay tribute to their inspiration Barry Manilow, including Erich Bergen, Betty Buckley, Charo, Deborah Cox, and Max von Essen. The evening also features appearances by cast members from the off-Broadway cast of Manilow’s musical Harmony, including Sean Bell, Danny Kornfeld, Zal Owen, Eric Peters, Blake Roman, and Steven Telsey. Additional guest artists to be announced. Proceeds support PopsEd.

Featured Image: NY Pops Guest Artists