Al Blackstone News

Fire Island Dance Festival, the most talked-about cultural and charitable event of the summer on Fire Island, will once again present three eclectic performances July 15-17, 2016 that include Ballet Contemporaneo de Camaguey Cuba's first performance outside of Cuba, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Gallim Dance, KEIGWIN + COMPANY, Madboots Dance and choreography by Al Blackstone and Adbul Latif.

FREDDIE FALLS IN LOVE, a dance narrative by Al Blackstone, will take place on June 6th and June 13th at The Pershing Square Signature Center, 480 West 42nd Street, New York, NY 10036, benefiting Dancers Responding to AIDS, a program of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Tickets now on sale and can be purchased through Ticket Central via www.ticketcentral.com, by calling 212-279-4200, or in person at 416 W. 42nd Street (12-8pm daily).

The Steps Beyond Foundation, Steps on Broadway's non-profit arm committed to connecting artists and the community through dialogue, performance, and artistic collaboration, announces a 3-day weekend performance celebration May 6-8, 2016 at Ailey Citigroup Theater. The weekend will commence May 6 with the Steps Repertory and Guests Benefit, featuring performances by American Dance Machine, Jon Ole Olstad, choreography by Al Blackstone and the staging of a Swan Lake variation by Elena Kunikova to be danced by a student at Steps. Audiences will also enjoy performances by students of the Steps Conservatory Program and pre-professional students at The School at Steps, with staging by the legendary Leslie Browne. May 7-8, Steps Repertory Ensemble will present a full evening of works by Artistic Director Bradley Shelver and leading choreographers Lar Lubovitch, Sidra Bell, Julia Ehrstrand, and Jae Man Joo.

Fire Island Dance Festival, one of the most talked-about summer events on Fire Island, will return to dazzle, excite and captivate audiences on July 15-17, 2016. Tickets for the festival are on sale now at dradance.org or by phone at 212.840.0770, ext. 268.

At the 2016 edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS, Jay Armstrong Johnson let his inner Marilyn Monroe fly in a glittery rendition of 'Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend' from GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES. Click below to watch the full performance!

At the 2016 edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS, Broadway legend Chita Rivera brought her own brand of 'razzle-dazzle' to Kander and Ebb's 'All I Care About is Love' from CHICAGO. The actress delivered an unforgettable take on swarmy lawyer Billy Flynn, surrounded by a bevy of feathery beauties, many from the original 1996 CHICAGO revival cast, including Nili Bassman, Mindy Cooper, Mamie Duncan-Gibbs, Gabriela Garcia, Mary Ann Lamb, Dana Moore and Solange Sandy. Click below to watch the full number!

The sold-out audience at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre was dazzled last night, March 21, 2016, by this year's stirring edition of Broadway Backwards. The annual celebration, where men sing songs originally written for women and vice versa offering this audience the chance to see LGBT stories told through the great songs of musical theatre, set a new fundraising record. The evening raised an incredible $480,287 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City. Scroll down for stunning shots from the evening!

The sold-out audience at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre was dazzled Monday, March 21, 2016, by this year's stirring edition of BROADWAY BACKWARDS. The annual celebration, where men sing songs originally written for women and vice versa offering this audience the chance to see LGBT stories told through the great songs of musical theatre, set a new fundraising record. The evening raised an incredible $480,287 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center in New York City. BroadwayWorld has highlights, featuring performers Tony Yazbeck, Chita Rivera, Danielle Brooks and more, below!

This year's BROADWAY BACKWARDS (#broadwaybackwards) took the stage last night at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC), home to the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Kinky Boots. The evening is produced by Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS and benefits BC/EFA and the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Community Center of New York. BroadwayWorld was there to celebrate with the theatre community on the big night and you can check out photos below!

Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera, Tony nominees Stephanie J. Block and Tony Sheldon, Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple, 'Orange is the New Black'), and Laura Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland) are among those joining the stunning cast of this year's BROADWAY BACKWARDS, a one-night-only musical celebration, custom-made for the LGBT community, our friends and families. Tony winner Julie White, a longtime supporter of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will host this year's 11th edition.

Fire Island Dance Festival, one of the most talked-about summer events on Fire Island, will return to dazzle, excite and captivate audiences on July 15-17, 2016.

Broadway legend and two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera, Tony nominees Stephanie J. Block and Tony Sheldon, Danielle Brooks (The Color Purple, 'Orange is the New Black'), and Laura Michelle Kelly (Finding Neverland) are among those joining the stunning cast of this year's Broadway Backwards, a one-night-only musical celebration, custom-made for the LGBT community, our friends and families. In addition, it was announced that Tony winner Julie White, a longtime supporter of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, will host this year's 11th edition.

BroadwayWorld is happy to report that some of the brightest talents of Broadway are joining the cast of this year's BROADWAY BACKWARDS, BC/EFA's annual celebration where gays and lesbians experience their stories as told through the great songs of musical theatre and performed by their favorite Broadway stars.

?Broadway Backwards, the annual celebration where the LGBT community see its stories told through the great songs of musical theatre by celebrated Broadway performers, will return for its 11th edition on Monday, March 21, 2016.

The Broadway revival of FIDDLER ON THE ROOF officially opens tonight, December 20, at The Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Scroll down to learn more about the cast, plus watch interviews with the company!

BC/EFA just announced this year's GYPSY OF THE YEAR raised an impressive grand total of $4,786,239 after six weeks of fundraising efforts. Since 1989, the 27 editions of GYPSY OF THE YEAR (#GypsyOfTheYear) have raised $67.3 million to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld has stunning shots from the show below!

A huge congrats to BC/EFA, which just announced GYPSY OF THE YEAR's outstanding grand total of $4,786,239 after six weeks of fundraising efforts! Broadway's BOOK OF MORMON brought in the top funds, and KINKY BOOTS took 'Best Presentation' at the event.

The 27th annual edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition will feature special performances from 14 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows today, December 7 (4:30 PM) and tomorrow, December 8 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street, NYC). Gypsy of the Year (#gypsyoftheyear) celebrates six weeks of intensive fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions.

The 27th annual edition of the Gypsy of the Year competition will feature special performances from 14 Broadway and Off-Broadway shows on Monday, December 7 (4:30 PM) and Tuesday, December 8 (2 PM) at the New Amsterdam Theatre (214 West 42nd Street, NYC), BroadwayWorld has confirmed. Gypsy of the Year (#gypsyoftheyear) celebrates six weeks of intensive fundraising by Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring productions.

Choreographers have been announced for the 10th BC BEAT on Monday November 9th and includes a powerful mix of Broadway veterans and emerging creatives.