The Roundtable with Robert Bannon

 Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB), the only professional Off-Broadway theater company dedicated to advancing artists and developing audiences of people with disabilities, is proud to present the Off-Broadway debut of Neil Simon's brilliant 1980 Tony Award-winning play, I Ought To Be In Pictures, directed by Nicholas Viselli. It will begin performances on April 20, celebrate its opening night on May 2, and run through May 25 at Theatre Row (410 W 42nd Street). Tickets are $75 (plus fees) and can be purchased by visiting tbtb.org.

The incredible ensemble cast will star Makenzie Morgan Gomez (National Tour: SkippyJon Jones; Snow What?. Regional:  Rock of Ages) as Libby, Pamela Sabaugh (TBTB’s Brecht on Brecht) as Steffy and Chris Thorn (Broadway:  Death of a Salesman)  as Herb.

Herb Tucker, a struggling, middle-aged screenwriter with writer's block, receives an unexpected surprise when his daughter, Libby, whom he abandoned along with the rest of his Brooklyn family 16 years earlier, arrives at his West Hollywood home with aspirations of breaking into the movie business. Libby, who barely remembers her father, not only forces Herb to reexamine the responsibilities of parenthood but also makes him come to terms with his on-again/off-again relationship with his current girlfriend, Steffy.

Makenzie is here to tell us her journey to the show and why the work at TBTB matters to her personally and why it should matter to us all!

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Hailed for “its commitment to musically and thematically adventurous new work (Opera News),” Manhattan’s leading activist opera company Encompass New Opera Theatre (ENOT) presents Unheard Voices: An Immigrant’s Dream—a matinee concert on Sunday, June 9, 2024, 3:00 p.m., at downtown Manhattan’s The Greene Space. Approaching its landmark 50th anniversary in 2026, ENOT continues to tell compelling stories through rare musical theater-opera productions. In Unheard Voices: An Immigrant’s Dream, ENOT brings a wide variety of perspectives on the immigrant experience while reflecting the ambition of ENOT to integrate opera with social activism.

With ancestral voices from his indigenous roots, Salvadoran tenor Oswaldo Iraheta (pictured above) guides audiences to the heart of Central and South America with several passionate songs sung in both Spanish and English: the American premiere of Poemas Norteños, a folk song by Argentine composer Angel E. Lasala (1914-2000); El nido by contemporary Salvadoran composer Juan Guerra Gonzalez (b.1980); a musical journey crossing the Rio Grande with By the River by Maury Yeston (b.1945); I Stand Alone also by Yeston from the film Goya; and Polo by Spanish-Argentine composer Manuel de Falla (1876-1946), revealing the challenges of life in a new country. 

A champion of new works and singers for over four decades, ENOT will premiere two pieces by composer Richard Pearson Thomas (b.1957) who is known for his robust catalog of American song settings. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings (2004) is set to “Sympathy,” an 1899 poem written by Paul Laurence Dunbar (1872-1906), one of the most prominent African-American writers of his time. Dunbar wrote “Sympathy,” at least in part, because he was feeling “like he was trapped in a cage,” while working at the Library of Congress. Maya Angelou titled her autobiography I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings from a line in the poem. Featuring Thomas on the piano, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will showcase emerging soprano MaKayla McDonald (pictured above), who will also perform the powerful aria “To This We’ve Come” from Menotti’s opera, The Consul.

Celebrating its world premiere is Thomas’s Alma Swansson’s Prayers (2024) for piano and cello. The composer reflects on his great grandmother as a young girl sent to America from Sweden in 1899 with only a note pinned to her jacket never to see her family again. This tribute expresses the courage, longing, and hope that transcends time and bridges all generations.

Completing the program are performances by Sky Caravan—a duo known for performing Roma music from Eastern Europe. Ukrainian violinist Milena Dawidowicz and Russian pianist Elena Panova pay tribute to the Ukrainian community with John Williams’s Theme from Schindler’s List, and Melody by the Ukrainian composer Myroslav Skoryk (b.1938), a piece frequently described as a spiritual hymn of Ukraine, and has been used in commemorations of the Holodomor and the Revolution of Dignity.

About Encompass New Opera Theatre

Encompass New Opera Theatre, one of the nation’s leaders in championing new music theatre and American opera, is celebrating its 48th season dedicated to creating, developing, and producing adventurous productions.

Program + Ticketing Information:

Sunday, June 9, 2024, at 3:00 p.m. (followed by post-concert reception)

The Greene Space, 44 Charlton Street, New York City

To reserve, visit EncompassTheatre.org

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Legend is overly used, but there is no better word to describe Len Cariou! He is a Tony Winner for originating the role of "Sweeney Todd." He also was in the original cast of "A Little Night Music." How did he become a Sondheim Muse? He tells us! His journey to Broadway comes with some twists and turns. Hear this tale! Plus, we have adored him in "Blue Bloods" for all these seasons and we wanted to know his thoughts as it comes to an end.

Get this: he is filming a TV show and it is still not enough for him! He just wrapped up "Tuesdays With Morrie" Off-Broadway! He is an inspiration that creation has no age! Len Cariou makes his Roundtable Debut!

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

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Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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A roster of stars from the stage and screen will came together at NYC’s Haswell Green’s on Monday, May 13, for the second annual fundraising concert The Janice Jam, benefitting the Breast Cancer Research Foundation (BCRF).

Begun by Broadway’s Matt DeAngelis (Waitress), who lost his mother Janice to metastatic breast cancer in 2022, the event is an evening of celebration, remembrance, and awareness, to honor Janice, her love of theater, and the countless people affected by the disease. 100% of the net proceeds will go to funding metastatic breast cancer research grants through BCRF!

We chat with all the stars on the pink carpet! It was a FUN TIME! Listen to our fun chats all benefiting a good cause!

We chat with Tony-Award winner John Gallagher Jr. (Swept Away), Olympic Gold Medalist Laurie Hernandez, Omar Jose Cardona (NBC’s The Voice), Jackie Cox & Plasma (Ru Paul’s Drag Race), Lissa DeGuzman (Wicked), Jay Armstrong Johnson (Parade), Talia Suskauer (Wicked), Nik Walker (Spamalot), Diana Huey (The Little Mermaid) and many more!

For More Info & To Donate: https://give.bcrf.org/event/the-janice-jam/e567137

________________________________________________________________________________

Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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One of the most influential and admired ensembles in progressive jazz and improvised music, the primarily plucked and bowed string instruments of 9 Horses returns with Strum, its most extraordinary collection yet. Bursting at the seams with creativity and virtuosity, this 67-minute instrumental epic serves as the antithesis to today’s augmentation of A.I.-generated music. Alongside the string trio as the ensemble’s core, STRUM also features 25 of the world’s leading instrumentalists performing eight tunes prominently showcasing acoustic, organic human-made sounds. \

The album features guest contributions from today’s top musicians across a spectrum of genres all of whom have collaborated with the members of 9 Horses previously.

Joe is here to talk about the album, playing in some of Broadway's biggest shows, creating a label, and the state of music! If you are a music or music biz fan, this chat is for you!

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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THE GREEN ROOM 42 will present the return of Tony Award-nominated Broadway favorite Sally Mayes in “Now and Then: The Stories,” the latest installment of her new concert series, on Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 PM. Known best for her Tony nominated performance in the Roundabout Theatre Company revival of She Loves Me, People Magazine describes Mayes as “the kind of rich theatrical voice that elevates a show tune.” The original Keely of the cult musical Pete ‘n’ Keely realized she has a lot of great arrangements, a plethora of stories, and a desire to sing ALL of them. She has run the gamut with her theatrical concerts and recordings from Broadway, jazz, and country, to pop and the American Songbook. Now is going to “sing ‘em all and stay here all night.” She will be joined by music director Tedd Firth on piano, Michael O’Brien on bass, Jessica Wright on violin and vocals, and Carolyn Montgomery on vocals. 

Her concert series will conclude with “Now and Then: The Great Big Huge Broadway” on Thursday, June 20 at 7:00 PM.

Sally Mayes made her Broadway debut in Cy Coleman’s Welcome to the Club. Her performance won critical praise along with a Theatre World Award and an Outer Critics Circle nomination as one of Broadway’s Outstanding Newcomers. On Broadway, Sally is perhaps best known for her performance in the Roundabout Theater revival of She Loves Me, for which she won Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nominations. Sally appeared as Aunt Corene in Urban Cowboy (Drama Desk nomination). She drew raves as Mae West in the national tour of Dirty Blonde and also appeared in the Broadway revival of Steel Magnolias. Her film and television credits include “Alpha House,” “City Hall,” “Double Parked,” “Bye Bye Birdie,” “Law & Order: Criminal Intent,” “Sex and the City,” and “The Job.” Sally also appears on countless cast recordings, including Closer Than Ever, She Loves Me, Das Barbecu, Bye Bye Birdie, Lost in Boston, Unsung Musicals, Unsung Sondheim, and The Night of the Hunter. Sally has five solo albums: The Dorothy Fields Songbook, Our Private World: The Comden & Green Songbook, The Story Hour, Boys and Girls Like You and Me, and Valentine. Sally’s much-anticipated nightclub appearances have garnered her rave reviews from coast-to-coast; she has been nominated for 12 MAC Awards, and has won two Bistro Awards for excellence in cabaret and recordings. Sally Mayes will perform “Now and Then: The Stories” on Thursday, May 16 at 7:00 PM at The Green Room 42 (570 Tenth Avenue at 42nd Street, on the 4th Floor of Yotel). The cover charge ranges from $20-$50. A livestream option is available for $20. For tickets, please visit www.TheGreenRoom42.com. 

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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I had a good ole silly time watching "Not Another Church Movie" this week! Guess what? You can too! The movie is now out in theatres wherever movies are seen!

The star of the film Kevin Daniels is here! You may know him from Magic/Bird, where he played Magic Johnson or from Frasier! (He was actually leaving our chat to go film for the reboot!) He talks Broadway to TV to this project with an all-star cast like Jamie Foxx, Mickey Rourke, Vivica A. Fox, Jasmine Guy, and more!

Hear all about it and more on this edition of The Roundtable with Robert Bannon!

________________________________________________________________________________

Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Tony Orlando is one of America’s most endearing and beloved iconic entertainers.

Grammy Nominee Tony Orlando has sold millions of records, including Five #1 hit records: “Tie A Yellow Ribbon ‘Round The Ole Oak Tree,” “Knock Three Times,” “Candida,” “My Sweet Gypsy Rose” and “He Don’t Love You (Like I Love You).” He has 2 Platinum and 3 Gold albums and 15 Top 40 Hits. “Tie A Yellow Ribbon” was the #1 Billboard Song of Year 1973 and became Orlando’s theme song and grew into an American anthem of hope, homecoming, and renewal.

Tony was honored to be inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame at the New Jersey Performing Arts center on October 29th, 2023. Orlando kicked off his sixty years in music and entertainment with a series of new projects, including the hosting of “Saturday Nights with Tony Orlando” on 77WABC Music Radio, which airs from 10pm to Midnight and streams worldwide on WABCMUSICRADIO.COM, and the release of “Timeless: The Big Hits” CD (via Time Life), features re-recorded versions of his million-selling songs as well as a bonus track, “America Is My Hometown.”

Tony debuted the new track on 77WABC Music Radio during his weekly radio program, which was also the first station to play Orlando’s debut single, “Halfway to Paradise” when in his teens Tony was the first vocal pop artist to sign with Epic Records and hit the national music charts in 1961.

Few entertainers have excelled in so many realms as Tony has, a top selling recording artist, songwriter, concert headliner, network television star, Motion Picture actor, Broadway performer and author. Tony was also General Manager and VP of CBS-Music Division April-Blackwood Music from 1966-1970. He represented such songwriters as James Taylor, Laura Nyro, Blood Sweat and Tears and signed and produced Barry Manilow’s first recording and represented James Taylor’s music publishing while working for the legendary Clive Davis.

The enormously popular Tony Orlando and Dawn television variety show ran for four seasons, from 1973 to 1977, on CBS. The show catapulted Tony Orlando and Dawn from popular recording artists into major stars. Tony Orlando and Dawn was the first television show to feature a multi-racial singing group and Tony is the first and only Latin American to host a network variety television series.

Tony Orlando and Dawn rank among the Top 100 Billboard Magazine artists of All-Time. For outstanding achievements to the entertainment industry Tony was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, the American Eagle Lifetime Achievement Award for Latin performers, the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, and the Lee Greenwood Patriot Award. In 2022, Tony was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award from the East Coast Music Hall of Fame. Tony is a recipient of two American Music Awards and the People’s Choice Award for Best Male Entertainer. He has been awarded the Casino Entertainer of the Year Award, and “Best All Around Entertainer” multiple times in both in Las Vegas and Atlantic City

In 1993 he began his Free Veterans Day Homecoming Celebration at his Yellow Ribbon Music Theatre in Branson, Missouri for 20 years. He is credited for helping bring some 175,000 veterans every year during Veterans Day week each November. Most recently, on November 8th, 2022, Branson, Missouri Mayor, Larry Milton declared ‘Tony Orlando Yellow Ribbon Day’ & presented a proclamation to Orlando during Branson’s Veterans Homecoming Week. For thirty-three years Tony served as cohost of the Muscular Dystrophy telethon helping raise millions of dollars to help Jerry Lewis and the MDA find a cure for Muscular dystrophy!

That is just the tip of the iceberg and he is here!

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Jeremiah Alsop is here! He is talking all things "Tommy" now at the Nederlander on Broadway!

He comes from North Carolina, to Chicago, all the way to Broadway! How did he do it and what advice does he have for the next generation?

Plus he talks what it is like to be the fight captain in this massive, fun, rocking good time of a show. All this and so much more on "The Roundtable!"

Grab Your Tickets To Tommy at www.TommyTheMusical.com

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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Join us from the Museum of Broadway, as we talk The Tony Awards! What is our favorite shows and performers from the season? We break it all down!

Joining Robert is Tony Author Eila Mell, Cabaret Star & Record Executive Robbie Rozelle, and hosts of "The Survival Job Podcast" Samantha Tuozzolo and Jason A. Coombs.

This was a whacky, fun, and opinionated time! This was taped right before the nominees, so we might have been off a bit, but you can hear the hot takes, passion, and arguments abound!

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Check out “The Roundtable with Robert Bannon” everyday right here on The Broadway Podcast Network!

www.RobertBannon.com

Follow on IG @RobertMBannon or @theroundtablewithrobertbannon

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