Theater News

Starry Sunday Night

Audra McDonald, Barbara Cook, Brian Stokes Mitchell, John Treacy Egan, Beth Leavel, Bob Martin, LaChanze, Lauren Kennedy and more stars light up the town.

New York City

On Sunday night Broadway Voices for Change, a benefit for America Votes, was held at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre. Tony Award winner Barbara Cook was one of the show’s two main performers.

Cook’s great friend and frequent performing partner, four-time Tony winner Audra McDonald, was the show’s other headliner.

Tony winner Brian Stokes Mitchell was a surprise guest, reuniting with McDonald on a song from their Broadway hit Ragtime.

Meanwhile, the Off-Broadway show Judy & Me had its official opening at St. Luke’s Theatre. Before the performance, playwright-star Peter Mac, dressed as Judy Garland, and young co-star Christopher Brick greeted cabaret and theater legend Julie Wilson.

The Little Mermaid‘s John Treacy Egan met after the show with Joseph John Macchia, the show’s original producer (and Mac’s brother), as well as cast member Christopher McCabe.

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) celebrated its 20th annual Festival of New Musicals with a toast to 20!, which was hosted by Tony Award winners Beth Leavel and Bob Martin, who starred in The Drowsy Chaperone, one of the many shows developed at NAMT.

Nikki Renee Daniels gave a toast to NAMT with her rendition of “Spark of Creation” from Children of Eden.

Stephanie D’Abruzzo explained the mathematics of relationships to Courtney Balan in “The Actuary Song” from I Love You Because.

Tony winner LaChanze pulled out all the stops with “Pretty,” from The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin.

Bobby Steggert gave a delightful performance of the title tune from Harold and Maude.

Anika Larsen sang “Someone to Dance With Me” from Summer of ’42 with Ryan Driscoll, one of the show’s original cast members.

Lauren Pritchard and Andrew C. Call added to the celebration with “Can’t Go Home” from Striking 12.

Will Chase and Malcolm Gets sang “Here’s Where it Begins” from The Story of My Life, currently performing at Goodspeed, and rumored to be heading to Broadway.

Original cast member Gavin Creel brought Thoroughly Modern Millie to the stage with “What Do I Need With Love.”

Lauren Kennedy closed the festivities with “Fly Into The Future” from Vanities, A New Musical, which will hit Broadway this spring.