Brennan Caldwell News

This October, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street. For

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? Or How I Started The Iraq War, gets its off-Broadway premiere, beginning this week. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? Or How I Started The Iraq War is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and is currently in performances for an opening on October 4. The production runs through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR, will get its Off-Broadway premiere this Fall. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and will begin performances tonight, September 26; opening October 4 and initially running through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR, will get its Off-Broadway premiere this Fall. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, WHO'S YOUR BAGHDADDY? OR HOW I STARTED THE IRAQ WAR is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and will begin performances on September 26; opening October 4 and initially running through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in rehearsal below!

On Monday, August 10th, STAGES St. Louis hosted its annual one-night-only cabaret event, Cheers!, benefiting the organization's Education and Artistic Programs. This year, STAGES proudly presented the world premiere of The Story Goes On: The Songs of Maltby & Shire, the inaugural workshop production from Emerson American Musical Creative (AMC). AMC is the newest division at STAGES for the creation of new American musicals. Monday night's attending audience was the first to enjoy this brand new show. 

I had the distinct privilege of being invited to attend Cheers! STAGES St. Louis' Annual Summer Cabaret last week, and it was a unique and fun experience that I was able to share with my young son. It's a yearly event that's designed to raise funds for STAGES' educational and artistic programs, and it featured a number of very interesting and entertaining performances, as well as some tasty appetizers and desserts prepared by Michael Brightman's With Love Catering. To say the event was a success is an understatement. What made this particular presentation especially memorable was the world premiere of a work-in-progress production of THE STORY GOES ON, which is a brand new revue of the songs of Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire.

The new musical by Marshall Pailet (Claudio Quest, Triassic Parq) and A.D. Penedo (The Three Times She Knocked), Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started The Iraq War, will get its Off-Broadway premiere this Fall. Directed by Marshall Pailet with musical direction by Rona Siddiqui and choreography by Misha Shields, Who's Your Baghdaddy? Or How I Started The Iraq War is based on a screenplay by J.T. Allen and will begin performances on September 26; opening October 17 and initially running through November 22, 2015 at the Actors Temple Theater (339 W 47th St.). Tickets are on sale at whoisyourbagdaddy.com and $47.50 ($15 during previews).

When you've been reviewing shows for a while you're bound to see a few more than once or twice. And, while I've had the opportunity to see ANYTHING GOES a couple of times before, I can honestly say this is the finest production I've been privileged to attend. Packed with a slew of memorable tunes (music and lyrics by the late, great Cole Porter), a clever and very amusing script (new book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman), high energy dancing, and a top notch cast, this ranks as one of my favorites shows of the year. Stages St. Louis consistently delivers quality entertainment, but this presentation far exceeded my already high expectations, and I honestly consider it to be a must-see! It's a genuine crowd pleasing experience that will make you want to come back for more. But, get your tickets now, because it will surely sell-out quickly!

STAGES St. Louis continues the voyage through its 29th season with the tap-happy Broadway classic, Anything Goes. The de-lovely Cole Porter musical comedy from Broadway's Golden Age kicks off performances today, July 17th, where it will run through August 16th at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

STAGES St. Louis continues the voyage through its 29th season with the tap-happy Broadway classic, Anything Goes. The de-lovely Cole Porter musical comedy from Broadway's Golden Age will run July 17th - August 16th at the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

STAGES St. Louis has announced casting for its exhilarating 29th season: Smokey Joe's Cafe, Anything Goes, and The Full Monty. This season's exceptional talent voyages through songs and stories of diverse relationships, the bonds of friendship, and strength found in community. STAGES also announces the cast for its Theatre for Young Audiences production, the purrrrr-fect family classic, Disney's The Aristocats. All season and single tickets are on sale now.

Theater Resources Unlimited (TRU) presents TRU Voices Musicals Series on Monday, January 19 and Monday, January 26, 2015 at 7pm at the Engelmann Recital Hall in the Baruch Performing Arts Center, 55 Lexington Ave, NYC. Admission is free. Please RSVP at least a day in advance (or much sooner) by calling 212/714-7628, or e-mailing TRUStaff1@gmail.com.

Theatre Now New York presented the 2nd Annual Sound Bites 10 Minute Musical Theatre Festival on December 8th 2014 at the 47th Street Theatre. An after-party, sponsored by Music Theatre International, was held after at Hurley's Saloon where awards were given and merriment was had.

Over 80 writers, directors, actors and musicians will present 10 unique musical shorts at SOUND BITES, a one-night-only off-Broadway event. Behind the Bites introduces the creators of the musicals featured at SOUND BITES with sneak peeks from the rehearsal process.

Sex Today, Love Tomorrow with book and lyrics by Israela Margalit, music by Oran Eldor and directed by Obie Award winner John Clancy, with musical direction by Dan Green, will get an invite-only industry reading on Monday, November 10 at Ripley Grier Studios.

'Wasted Tunes: The Songs of Mark Sonnenblick', a World Premiere Concert, will be performed live at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street (between 8th and 9th Avenues), tonight, September 20th at 8pm. $10 cover plus a two beverage minimum. Cash only.

'Wasted Tunes' is an original blast of theatrical rock'n'roll by composer/lyricist Mark Sonnenblick. Audiences can expect an evening of intoxicated anthems, hammered hymns, stoned showtunes, and blitzed ballads, none of which are from any comprehensible piece of theater and most of which will be performed in public for the first time. Brennan Caldwell (NBC's "The Sing-Off"), Kasie Gasparini (Mama Mia Las Vegas), Will Roland (The Black Suits), Emily Wexler, and Sonnenblick himself will star in the revue, which will be directed by Don't Tell Mama's Associate Director of Programming, Max Friedman.

STAGES St. Louis is thrilled to announce the opening of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize winning musical, How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. The witty comedy about climbing the corporate ladder (in record time!) will run July 18th through August 17that the Robert G. Reim Theatre in Kirkwood.

Along with their regular productions each season, Stages St. Louis always presents a show that's part of their Theatre for Young Audiences series. Since I've been reviewing theatre in St. Louis I've made an effort to attend one of these performances (with my son along for the experience) because they're always very well done, and it's important to me that children are exposed to the arts. This year's effort is Disney's SLEEPING BEAUTY, and it continues an excellent tradition of providing families with a lively and fun show that's a genuine treat.

STAGES St. Louis brings to life another beloved Princess in Disney's Sleeping Beauty (today, June 18 - June 29), performed at the Skip Viragh Center for the Arts at Chaminade College Preparatory School.Disney's classic fairy tale is retold on stage in a magical production full of breathtaking dance and the glorious music of Tchaikovsky, including the beautiful 'Once Upon a Dream.' With charming characters including regal royalty, slimy goons, as well as magical fairies and animal friends, Disney's Sleeping Beauty is a treasured treat guaranteed to enchant audiences!