Steve Bakunas News

The American premiere of Constellations, the acclaimed new play by Nick Payne, directed by Michael Longhurst, starring Oscar nominee Jake Gyllenhaal (Golden Globe nominee for Nightcrawler; Brokeback Mountain) and two-time Olivier Award winner Ruth Wilson (Golden Globe winner for Showtime's 'The Affair;' BBC's and PBS' Emmy nominated 'Luther'), opened on Broadway last night, January 13 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street). BroadwayWorld brings you photos from ithe red carpet arrivals below!

Over the past few years, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch have been taking Cast Party, their 'extreme' open mic, all over the country. This past week, they took the Party to Las Vegas for the sixth time. The venue, once again, was the glorious Smith Center, a half-billion dollar performing arts center that has become a vital force in the Las Vegas musical and theatrical community. Scroll down for photos!

Gabrielle Stravelli - the acclaimed pop/jazz vocalist called 'ingenious' by The Wall Street Journal and known from her tours with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra, appearances at the 92nd Street Y and her long-running Soho jazz brunch - is in the midst an exclusive two week engagement at The Metropolitan Room and broadwayworld was there

Linda Lavin had a triumphant return engagement at Helsinki on Broadway last night. With her music director Billy Stritch, Linda played to a sold out Helsinki Hudson crowd. Joining Linda was husband Steve Bakunas on drums, Tom Hubbard on bass, Ron Afif on guitar and special guest, Jazz violinist Aaron Weinstein. Jim Caruso was Linda's special surprise for the Hudson audience. BroadwayWorld was there for this special one night only concert.

Check out a look back at Lavin's concert at Birdland, featuring appearances by Hunter Ryan Herdlicka, BroadwayWorld's own Richard Ridge, and more, below!

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's 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, including: Every Time's The First Time!, Broadway Sings Justin Timberlake, Lillias White: The Birthday Show, Aspects of Andrew: Lloyd Webber @ 54, and Jane Monheit's Jazz Party.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their amazing line-up of talent for July 14-July 20, including Ben Allison Group, Jane Monheit, Linda Lavin, featuring Billy Stritch, Rolando Morales-Matos, and more!

PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST - an evening with the Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin and her husband Steve Bakunas, a painter, actor and jazz drummer - was just presented by the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) last night, June 16 at 7 pm to benefit the company's productions, artistic development initiatives and arts education programs, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, The Vineyard's artistic director, and Sarah Stern, co-artistic director. PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST featured Ms. Lavin and Mr. Bakunas in a 90-minute intimate evening during which Ms. Lavin answers questions about her life and career, posed by her husband while he paints her portrait on stage. An evening of warmth, romance, humor and nostalgia, the couple has previously performed the program at venues around the country.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its July 2014 schedule, featuring Arturo O'Farrill, Loston Harris, Ben Allison Group, John Pizzarelli, Barbara Carroll, Rolando Morales-Matos, Linda Lavin, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and MORE!

Club Helsinki in association with SHOWSTOPPERS NY is proud to present some of Broadway's top performers on in a their series called HELSINKI ON BROADWAY. Jessica Molaskey and her Italian Quartet were featured Saturday evening and you can check out photos of Jessica and John Pizzarelli below.

Mandy Gonzalez, back by popular demand, returned to 54 Below last night, May 15 (9:30PM), in Love, All Ways- A Musical Retrospective of Triumph and Hilarity. Gonzalez, star of Broadway's Wicked, In the Heights, Lennon and more,performed an unforgettable evening of great music and hilarity, all revolving around love and its crazy themes and variations. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the special concert below!

Highly acclaimed actress, Linda Lavin, known widely for her hit '80s sitcom 'Alice' followed by her 'later life success' in a string of acclaimed Broadway performances, said just three weeks ago that she's determined to have her artist husband Steve Bakunas exhibit his lifelong anthology of portrait and landscape paintings, of which she's his favorite subject. Just last week, she got her wish when Bakunas hosted a private viewing of his body of work for the downtown art scene in the SoHo loft office of Nancy Trent. Scroll down for photos!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Fantasia returns to AFTER MIDNIGHT as its guest star tonight!

PORTRAIT OF AN ARTIST - an evening with the Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin and her husband Steve Bakunas, a painter, actor and jazz drummer - will be presented by the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) one-night-only on Monday, June 16 at 7 pm to benefit the company's productions, artistic development initiatives and arts education programs, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, The Vineyard's artistic director, and Sarah Stern, co-artistic director.

TOO MUCH SUN - the newest play by Nicky Silver - will be given its world-premiere production this spring at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) starring the Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin, joined by the newly-announced cast: Ken Barnett, Richard Bekins, Matt Dellapina, Matt Dickson and Jennifer Westfeldt, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, The Vineyard's Artistic Director, and Sarah Stern, Co-Artistic Director. Mark Brokaw directs the production, scheduled to begin previews May 1 prior to an official opening night on May 18.

Linda Lavin, Broadway Tony Award winner, Emmy-nominated television star and singer, takes the stage of the Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts as part of its American Legends Series for an 'Actors Studio'-type Interview On Stage on Sunday, April 13 (2014) at 3pm. The Edgerton Center for the Performing Arts is located on the campus ofSacred Heart University in Fairfield, Connecticut.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC), dedicated to advancing the art and business of live entertainment, held their 28th Annual MAC Awards celebration last evening at BB King's Blues club in Times Square. Winners in twenty-five categories were announced. The show was hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, multiple MAC Award winner and 2014 Nominee, Terese Genecco. The gala was produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President. Don Rebic served as Musical Director. Presenters included Will Friedwald of the Wall Street Journal and designer Bob Mackie. CLICK HERE for a full list of winners.

Manhattan Association of Cabarets and Clubs (MAC) will celebrate its annual Gala tonight, March 27, 2014 at BB King's Blues Club in Times Square, hosted by the vivacious singer, band leader, and multiple MAC Award winner, Terese Genecco. The gala will be produced by Julie Miller and directed by Lennie Watts, the current MAC President.

Tickets for Nicky Silver's newest work, TOO MUCH SUN starring Linda Lavin, will go on sale Tuesday, March 25 at 1pm.

Celebration Theatre has announced a one night only benefit event - Portrait Of An Artist: An Evening With Linda Lavin, featuring Lavin's husband and artist Steve Bakunas, tonight, February 1 at the Atwater Village Theatre in Los Angeles. The curtain rises at 8pm, and proceeds from the evening will go to support Celebration Theatre.