Photo File

On November 17 and 18, some very big stars appeared at the Eugene O’Neill Theatre in Short Talks on the Universe, a program of short plays, etc. benefiting Friends in Deed and the Bay Street Theatre of Sag Harbor. On November 17 and 24, Matt Bogart — one of the major up-and-comers in musical theater — gave two sold-out performances of his cabaret show Simple Song at Joe’s Pub at the Public Theater. Also at Joe’s last week, rising star Raúl Esparza did a reading of All We Can Handle, a new one-man play by Andrew Dainoff. And the Off-Broadway opening of Tuesdays With Morrie provided a swell opportunity for fun photos of the entire cast; i.e., Alvin Epstein and Jon Tenney. TheaterMania was on hand for all of the above and several other recent events. Here’s a look at them.

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Angela Lansbury, a great lady of the theater (and film, and television), was one of the stars of Short Talks on the Universe. Here she is at the after-party at Noche Restaurant.

Bette Midler was given the Medal of Distinction Award at Lenox Hill Hospital’s Autumn Ball at the Waldorf Astoria on November 19.

Matt Bogart pours his heart out in song at Joe’s Pub.

One of Matt’s special guests in his show was girlfriend Jessica Boevers (a.k.a. Ado Annie in Oklahoma!). Here, the two duet on "I Could Write a Book" from Pal Joey.

Surrounded by women, for obvious reasons: Matt Bogart.

Raúl Esparza performing All We Can Handle, Andrew Dainoff’s play about one man’s struggle with despair in the wake of 9/11 and some personal tragedies, at Joe’s Pub on November 21.

Billy Zane, the new Billy Flynn in Chicago, taking his curtain call after the show’s sixth birthday performance…

…and mellowing out at the party after the show, held at the Time Hotel.

Here’s to you, Mrs. Robinson: Lorraine Bracco leaving the Plymouth Theatre after making her Broadway debut in The Graduate.

Alvin Epstein and Jon Tenney taking their curtain call on opening night of Tuesdays With Morrie at the Minetta Lane Theatre…

…and sharing a moment of affection backstage, after the show.

Nathan Lane and Matthew Broderick — or their waxworks portraits at Madame Tussaud’s?