"I’ll Take Romance” is filled with love the old fashioned way
                    By: Sandi Durell
The sexy, raspy jazz crooner, Steve Tyrell, continues to make love and romance very stylish – the old fashioned way. His recipe for romantic diversity is all contained in the Great American Songbook, a basketful of gems that warm our hearts and all those other little fibers of our being.

Multi Grammy Winner Tyrell never disappoints with his little boy smile and twinkle in his eye that says “I know just want you want and I’m here to give it to you.” His technique is so personalized; it’s as if he’s singing only to you.

By Isa Goldberg/Chief Theater Critic
Like it or not, the musical season on Broadway was all about revival, and I mean that in the religious sense. In “Ghosts” a young Wall Streeter is murdered but remains among the living. He is revived, in effect, so that he can solve his own murder and protect the loved one he will eventually have to leave behind. And, of course, the most significant revival, the resurrection of Jesus Christ, was celebrated and celebrated again, in the return engagements of “Godspell” and “Jesus Christ Superstar.” Even the modern day televangelist Jonas Nightingale (Raul Esparza) in “Leap of Faith,” was evoked, and brought to his knees as the flimflam man we may recall as Jim Bakker, or any number of revivalists, in a production that fell from grace on Broadway, just as abruptly as the anti-heroes on which it is based.

Tracie BennetBarbara Siegel, Bernadette PetersThe 2012 Drama Desk Award nominees met with the press to chat, celebrate and strike a pose at New York City's Oceana Restaurant on Tuesday May 8. The 2012 Drama Desk Awards will take place Sunday, June 3 at 8 p.m. at The Town Hall. Photography: Barry Gordin
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And The Nominees Are:

Yvonne Elliman, Donna Schwartz
The Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center's Advisory Council celebrated its 10th Anniversary and the first "Woman of Distinction Award"  which was given to Yvonne Elliman at an exclusive luncheon at Doubles, the private club at the Sherry Netherland Hotel on Fifth Avenue in New York City on Wednesday, May 9, 2012.

Photography: Barry Gordin
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Judith Light "Other Desert Cities"Christian Boyle "Peter and the Starcatcher"The 2012 Meet the Tony Nominees press reception was held at The Millennium Broadway Hotel. The Tony Awards will be broadcast live from The Beacon Theatre, on the CBS television network Sunday, June 10, 2012. The imcomparable Bernadette Peters will be presented The Isabelle Stevenson Award. The  Tony Awards will also bestow Hugh Jackman and Actors Equity Association with Special Tony Awards. The Tony Awards are presented by the American Theatre Wing and The Broadway League. For more information on the Tony Awards, please visit www.TonyAwards.com.
Photography: Barry Gordin
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Liza MinnelliBay Street Theatre held its First Annual Honors Benefit last night with some of the biggest names of the stage and screen converging at the Manhattan Penthouse in New York City to honor Joy Behar, Adrianne Cohen and John Downing, all members of Bay Street’s Board of Trustees. The evening was capped off by an amazing performance by the one and only LIZA MINNELLI to a standing-room only crowd.

Photography: Barry Gordin

Alan Cumming, Sandra Bernhard, Bruce T. SloaneA celebration of the continuing revolutionary role of Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender (LGBT) leaders in business, arts, politics, religion and culture came together at The Times Center in New York City to honor Tony Award winner Alan Cumming who received the Star Award, Bruce T. Sloane the Founders award and Deutsh / A Lowe & Partners Company the Corporate Leadership Award. The star studded gala was hosted by BD Wong. Five LGBT students were presented college scholarships who have demonstrated incredible leadership and courage at The Young Trailblazers annual event. Bravo!

Emily Bergl Isn’t Kidding When she says: NY I Love You
                         By: Sandi Durell
Quirky, new age Emily Bergl is taking chances galore bringing her whimsical new show “NY I Love You” to the sophisticates at the Café Carlyle. Best known for her appearance on “Desperate Housewives,” the long-legged lovely emerged onto the stage in a black satin cut-a-way tuxedo jacket, her sinewy curves filling sparkling fishnet stockings, looking every inch the showgirl. She’s cute, adorable, a very engaging actress but with vocal prowess that leaves an audience wanting. So how does she do it?

Christine PediValerie SmaldoneCabaret Cares/Help Is On The Way Today has added the incredible and hilarious Christine Pedi (Newsical the Musical, to the talent lineup for their Sixth Annual Gala Fundraiser to be held on May 20, 2012 at the Laurie Beechman Theater. Robert Creighton, the award winning actor/writer now appearing in the Tony Award Winning revival of ANYTHING GOES, will be the auctioneer for a group of items which includes: An Evening of Wining, Dining and Dancing for Four at the elegant Edison Ballroom, a $500.00 gift certificate from Tori Burch and many other generously donated items.

Kristen Chenoweth
Nominations in 26 competitive categories for the American Theatre Wing’s 66th Annual Antoinette Perry “Tony” Awards were announced today by Tony and Emmy winning-actress Kristin Chenoweth and Emmy and Golden Globe winning-actor, Jim Parsons, at the Tony Award Nominations Announcement sponsored by IBM.  The nominees were selected by an independent committee of 22 theatre professionals appointed by the Tony Awards Administration Committee.  The 2012 Tony Awards are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.  (The list of nominations follows.)

           By Sam Affoumado
The New Group’s production of Tony Award-winning playwright David Rabe’s new play, An Early History of Fire is a drama that fails to ignite. Directed by Jo Bonney and set in a mid-western town in the fall of 1962, Mr. Rabe tells the story of Danny (Theo Stockman), a college dropout who is enchanted by a wealthy, upper class, East Coast college coed, Karen (Claire van der Boom) who is back in town visiting her parents.

Hugh JackmanBernadette PetersThe Tony Award Administration Committee has announced that Bernadette Peters will receive the Isabelle Stevenson Award and Special Tony Awards to Actors’ Equity Association and Hugh Jackman.  
These awards will be presented at the 2012 Tony Awards on Sunday, June 10th and  are presented by The Broadway League and the American Theatre Wing.

Nicolas King, Myles Savage, Randie Levine-Miller, Kevin SpirtasRandie Levine-Miller’s “SHOWSTOPPER DIVOS – A SWELL PARTY”  was held  at Feinstein's at Lowes Regency on April 29, 2012. Performing at this star studded evening was Tony Award nominated actor Stephen Bogardus, Drama Desk Award winner Jim Brochu, Bistro Award winner Nicolas King, star lead singer from The Platters Myles Savage, and acclaimed vocalist/actor Kevin Spirtas with musical direction by Richard Danley and Mike Renzi.

Brian d'Arcy James, Donna MurphyDrama Desk winners, BRIAN D'ARCY JAMES and DONNA MURPHY announced this season’s 2011/2012 Drama Desk Nominees at Feinstein's at Loews Regency on Park Avenue in NYC. Other speakers included Isa Goldberg    Drama Desk President; Barbara Siegel, Chairperson of the Nomination Committee, Drama Desk Awards Executive Producer and TheaterMania.com CEO Gretchen Shugart; and Randie Levine Miller, Director of Special Events for the Drama Desk.

                 Photography: Barry Gordin
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                 AND THE NOMINEES ARE...

Andrew Pandaleon, Kristen MartinAna Hoffman, Peter BradburyThe City Club, a tour de force original Blues & Jazz musical about the indisputable intoxication of music opened Off-Broadway at The Minetta Lane Theatre on April 23, 2012.
Directed by the incomparable Mitchell Maxwell, The City Club is a twisting noir morality tale of intrigue, murder, corruption and sex supported by one of the most seductive blues and jazz scores for the stage in decades by the sensational team of James Compton, Tony Demeur  & Tim Brown.