Theater News

Photo File

Tarzan and Jane, the Altar Boyz, Kitty Carlisle Hart, and other fabulous folks smile for the cameras.

New York City

It’s been colder than you-know-what in NYC recently, but that hasn’t prevented theater stars and other celebs from turning up at various events around town. For example, Josh Strickland and Jenn Gambatese — a.k.a. Tarzan and Jane in Disney Theatrical Productions’ Tarzan, scheduled to open at the Richard Rodgers Theatre on May 10 — were among the celebrity hosts at NYMF: The Best of Fest Bash, a benefit concert at Dodger Stages on February 27.

Also on hand to perform highlights from the 2004 and 2005 New York Musical Theatre Festivals were former Hairspray star Kerry Butler, who recently joined the cast of ABC’s One Life to Live…

…David Burnham, of The Light in the Piazza, who sang the gorgeous “Come What May” from Tom Jones…

…Natascia Diaz, one of the stars of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris at the Zipper, who was hilarious as a “Scottish Jewish Princess”…

…and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba, who wowed the crowd with the song “Brother, I’m Your Man” (which she learned on very short notice when Donna Lynne Champlin, who was to have performed the song, became ill).

On Tuesday, February 28, the ageless Kitty Carlisle Hart made a triumphant return to Feinstein’s at the Regency with her show Here’s to Life. At a reception following the performance, she was congratulated by the club’s namesake, Michael Feinstein.

Also on Tuesday, the current company of the Off-Broadway hit Altar Boyz gathered at Hooters (!) with former cast members, plus understudies, plus some of the guys who starred in the Detroit company of the musical. The occasion was a party to celebrate the first anniversary of the show’s opening at Dodger Stages.

Yet another Tuesday event was the opening of the Manhattan Theatre Club production of John Patrick Shanley’s new play, Defiance. Celebrating their big night were Stephen Lang, who plays Lt. Col. Morgan Littlefield…

…the fabulous Margaret Colin, who plays his wife, Margaret…

…and the dynamic Chris Chalk, who plays the conflicted Captain Lee King.

The opening of the J.C. Penney Big Box store in Times Square on Thursday, March 2 was a benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Among those attending the gala event were BC/EFA executive director Tom Viola and Tony Award winner Bebe Neuwirth…

…Chicago‘s John O’Hurley, who recently extended his stay in the long-running hit through April 16…

…the lovely British musical star Ruthie Henshall, whose husband, Tim Howar, is currently appearing as Roger in Broadway’s Rent…

…country singer LeAnn Rimes…

…and Joan Rivers, who’ll once again be providing her own special brand of commentary during Sunday night’s Academy Awards pre-show, with stylist-to-the-stars Philip Bloch.