Erika Amato News

Westchester Broadway Theatre is taking audiences back to the glory days of Hollywood's Golden Age with its upcoming production of Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern's Backwards in High Heels: The Ginger Musical, running August 13-September 20. As the cast, under the leadership of director/choreographer Jeremy Benton, got into the serious business of rehearsals, photographer Jake Primmerman was on hand to commemorate the work that goes into bringing the world of the 1930s movie musical to life onstage at WBT.

Westchester Broadway Theatre to present BACKWARDS IN HIGH HEELS, conceived and developed by Lynnette Barkley and Christopher McGovern, with book/musical arrangements/original songs by Christopher McGovern. Directed and choreographed by Jeremy Benton, with musical direction by Jose Simbulan, the show runs August 13 - September 20, 2015, starring Darien Crago as Ginger Rogers.

Ocean State Theatre Company closes out its third full season in Warwick with Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's beloved fable INTO THE WOODS.

On Sunday, March 15 2015, to celebrate Broadway Sings for Pride's (www.BroadwaySingsforPride.com) upcoming 5th Anniversary Gay Pride charity concert in June, they will be amping up the star power and going into the recording studio. The selection of songs will be favorites from their previous shows and cast members who support Broadway Sings for Pride including a special arrangement of Seasons of Love featuring RENT Alumni.

Matthew Martin, who co-wrote the popular, Broadway-aimed musical Ghostlight with Tim Realbuto will duet with his co-writer Tim's upcoming Maury Yeston tribute concert, Realbuto announced this morning. The two best friends will duet on Yeston's Love Can't Happen from 'Grand Hotel.'

Nikki Blonsky, who was originally scheduled to perform in Tim Realbuto's Bookseller in the Rain Maury Yeston tribute concert, had to withdraw from the production due to a severe flu that has left her on bed rest with extremely strict orders from her doctors.

American Idol's Eric Anthony Lopez completes the principal list of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Bookseller in the Rain, a tribute to the music of legendary composer Maury Yeston. Mr. Lopez joins previously announced Golden Globe nominee Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray), Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change),Mara Davi ('Smash'), Jenna Leigh Green ('Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance), Kimberly Faye Greenberg (Danny and Sylvia), Abigail Ludrof (The HVAC Plays), and Emily Esposito (A Christmas Story). Also present will be our guest of honor, Tony Award winning and Oscar nominated composer Maury Yeston.

Aaron Walpole (Les Miserables), Wendi Bergamini (Doctor Zhivago), and Natalie Ballenger (Orange Blossoms) complete the list of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain. Bergamini and Walpole join previously announced Golden Globe nominee Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray), Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change), Mara Davi ('Smash'), Jenna Leigh Green ('Sabrina, the Teenage Witch'), Laurissa Romain ('Top Five'), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables), Christine Dwyer (Wicked), Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance), Kimberly Faye Greenberg (Danny and Sylvia), Abigail Ludrof (The HVAC Plays), and Emily Esposito (A Christmas Story). Also present will be our guest of honor, Tony Award winning and Oscar nominated composer Maury Yeston.

Golden Globe nominee Nikki Blonsky (Hairspray; "Huge"), Mara Davi (A Chorus Line; Death Takes A Holiday), and Christine Dwyer (Wicked; Rent) join previously announced Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change), Jenna Leigh Green ("Sabrina, the Teenage Witch"), Laurissa Romain ("Top Five"), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables), Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance), Kimberly Faye Greenberg (Danny and Sylvia), Abigail Ludrof (The HVAC Plays), and Emily Esposito (A Christmas Story) as the special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain.

Joshua Colley, who starred as Les in Broadway's Newsies, and is currently originating the role of Gavroche in the Broadway revival of Les Miserables, has just joined the lineup of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain.

Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change) and Ovation Award nominee Erika Amato (Flashdance) have just joined the lineup of special guest stars for Tim Realbuto's Maury Yeston tribute concert Bookseller in the Rain.

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 as picked by our theatre editors, including: Allison Case and Andrew Kober: This is 30, Doreen Montalvo, Burtka, David, Sondheim Unplugged, and 54 Loves Billy Joel: He's Got a Way.

Spirit Award Winner and Drama Desk Award Winner Doreen Montalvo (IN THE HEIGHTS, GIANT, FLASHDANCE) will be celebrating her birthday by hosting Cabaret Cares 9, a benefit for 'Help Is On The Way Today,' a not-for-profit organization assisting children and teens living with HIV/AIDS in both New York City and Africa. The Monday, Nov. 24 show will feature performances by her talented friends, whom she calls 'The Ladies Who Rock.'

In a return engagement at the legendary Duplex Cabaret Theatre, popular New York comic Adam Sank stars in his own cabaret show, complete with songs, comedy and humiliating childhood stories.

For the first time ever, popular New York comic Adam Sank stars in his own cabaret show, complete with songs, comedy and humiliating childhood stories, at the legendary Duplex Cabaret Theatre in 'Mama, I Want to Sing Showtunes!' tonight, June 19 and Friday, June 27th at 7 p.m.

For the first time ever, popular New York comic Adam Sank stars in his own cabaret show, complete with songs, comedy and humiliating childhood stories, at the legendary Duplex Cabaret Theatre in 'Mama, I Want to Sing Showtunes!' on Thursday, June 19 and Friday, June 27th at 7 p.m.

When adapting movies into Broadway musicals, it certainly helps to start with a movie that revolves around singing and dancing. Or, at least, a movie that includes some kind of singing or dancing as a major part of the story or plot. That way, adding more singing and dancing should at least have a solid, logical starting point. It would seem, then, that the movie Flashdance is a perfect choice. It's right there in the title. The whole movie revolves around…wait for it…dance! Unfortunately, the Broadway touring production that is visiting PPAC takes a promising start and turns it into a long, bloated and mostly boring slog through two hours at the theater.

FLASHDANCE - THE MUSICAL delivers on its promise of electrifying dance, but its story is forgettable and fails to inspire.

Flashdance - The Musical, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will run at the Community Center Theater from tonight, February 4 - 9, 2014.