Riki Kane Larimer News

'Ladies & Gentlemen, Julie Budd'…….That intro has been said by Frank Sinatra, Ed Sullivan, Johnny Carson, Carol Burnet, Danny Thomas, Marvin Hamlisch, Joan Rivers and Liberace among others. Last night it was Jim Caruso who introduced Julie to a room full of her fans in the Birdland Theater. As Jim pointed out to an excited audience, Julie was one of the first artists he thought of for Birdland's new space.

Nowadays it's quite common for a show to have '& Friends' in it's title. I don't know if Broadway Producer and entertainer Jamie deRoy invented the concept, but over the last 30 years she sure has perfected the inclusion of having her uber talented friends perform in Jamie deRoy & friends variety shows. In fact, some folks must think '& friends' is Jamie's last name, she has an impressive contact list (remember rollodex).

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, will present a return engagement of the hit Off-Broadway musical, Enter Laughing: The Musical with book by Joseph Stein, music and lyrics by Stan Daniels, based on the play Enter Laughing by Joseph Stein from the novel by Carl Reiner, produced in association with Riki Kane Larimer and Alene Daniels. Enter Laughing: The Musical returns to kick off The York's year-long 50th Anniversary Celebration at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Birdland Theater, the new venue spawned from the legendary Birdland on 44th street had a 'soft' opening this summer, followed by a bunch of celebrity openings in September. It had another entertainment first last night because Jamie deRoy brought her friends and her renowned Jamie deRoy & friends Variety show to this great new performance space. The evening had all the glamour and excitement of a Broadway opening night, the kind of evening Ms. deRoy can usually be found at.

The York Theatre Company celebrates the release of three new original cast recordings of York productions from the 2017-2018 season: Desperate Measures, Unexpected Joy, and Lonesome Blues.

Even the celebrities had a tough time getting a ticket for their shows at Feinstein's/54 Below. Jana Robbins and Haley Swindal's closing night's performance actually seemed more like an opening night with all the notability in the room. Audiences have been wildly enthusiastic about their cabaret act titled The Songs of Kander & Ebb…We Just Move On!

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts held Some Enchanted Evening, the 27th Annual Summer Gala in Sag Harbor on the Long Wharf on July 7, 2018, with Jane Lynch as emcee.  The event benefits Bay Street's educational and theatrical programs. The evening included special performances as well as a silent auction, cocktail party, live auction with celebrity auctioneer Richard Kind, dinner and dancing. And due to future restoration of the Long Wharf, this was the final gala to be held there.

Bay Street Theater and Sag Harbor Center for the Arts is pleased to announce a successful opening night for FROST/NIXON, a play by Peter Morgan, directed by Sarna Lapine. The show was met with a standing ovation. Notable in attendance were Mercedes Ruehl, Judy Carmichael and Jules Feiffer.  FROST/NIXON runs through July 22. Single tickets are on sale now by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500 or can be purchased online at www.baystreet.org.

BroadwayHD announced today that it will debut Bright Colors And Bold Patterns at Outfest Los Angeles LGBTQ Film Festival on July 18th. The show's final live performance filmed by BroadwayHD will also be available on the platform July 19th.

"Glee" star Jane Lynch visited the cast of The York Theatre Company production of the new musical Unexpected Joy, with book and lyrics by Bill Russell and music by Janet Hood. Unexpected Joy concludes its extended limited engagement this Sunday afternoon, May 27, 2018 at 2:30 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's where performances began April 24, 2018.

The 2018 Chita Rivera Awards were handed out last night, May 21 at the NYU Skirball Center for the Performing Arts. The ceremony was hosted by Orfeh and Andy Karl. BroadwayWorld was in attendance at the big event and you can check out photos from the red carpet below!

Pop singer/songwriter Brielle Von Hugel stopped by to visit the cast of The York Theatre Company production of the new musical Unexpected Joy

The Actors Fund bestowed its Medal of Honor upon four artists last night at its annual gala. BroadwayWorld was on hand at the big event, and you can check out photos below!

Jump For Joy! The Off-Broadway cast recording of the New York premiere production of the new musical Unexpected Joy, with book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Janet Hood (Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens with Bill Russell), will be recorded and released by JAY Records. Produced by John Yap, the recording will feature the original cast of The York Theatre Company production who will gather at Sear Sound Studios (353 West 48th Street) on Monday, May 14, 2018 to lay down the tracks for the recording.

Opening Night is Tonight! The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and the preservation of musical gems from the past, in association with Jim Kierstead, Aria Entertainment, Gabby Hanna & Marcy Feller, Riki Kane Larimer, Linda & Craig Wielkotz, Drew Desky & Dane Levens/Michael Mills, William Fernandez/Behzad Dabu, presents the New York premiere of the new musical Unexpected Joy, with book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Janet Hood (Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens with Bill Russell).

The New York Pops' 35th Birthday Gala, Part of His World: The Songs of Alan Menken was held on Monday, April 30, 2018 at 7:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage at Carnegie Hall, presented by The New York Pops. Check out photos from the after party below!

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and the preservation of musical gems from the past, in association with Jim Kierstead, Aria Entertainment, Gabby Hanna & Marcy Feller, Riki Kane Larimer, Linda & Craig Wielkotz, Drew Desky & Dane Levens/Michael Mills, William Fernandez/Behzad Dabu, presents the New York premiere of the new musical Unexpected Joy, with book and lyrics by Bill Russell (Side Show) and music by Janet Hood (Elegies for Angels, Punks, and Raging Queens with Bill Russell).

The composer who had three shows running simultaneously on Broadway was on stage at The Broadway at Birdland concert series last night and of course Broadwayworld was also there for the special evening.

The Friars archives and Wikipedia have finally been corrected. Nineteen Eighty Eight was a watershed year for women. They gained membership to numerous private men's clubs that heretofore were off limits to women. The Friars, being one of the more famous of the bunch had an article heralding the event written by a less than factual reporter for The New York Times. The paper of record, in an early forerunner of fake news only listed the first 7 women and overlooked number 8...Jamie deRoy who was in that initial group, along with Liza Minnelli, Joan Rivers, Brooke Shields, and other prominent female entertainment figures was not mentioned.

The West Bank Cafe/Laurie Beechman Theatre became all PLAID last night in a Benefit For Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids and the special production proved that PLAID will happily be on our planet FOREVER! The performance continues for two more nights.