Chuck Steffan News

Actor Valarie Pettiford, star of the hit sitcom Half & Half and last year’s box office success Jumping the Broom, will star in the new film Battlefield America, which opens theatrically on June 1, 2012, She will also take on a recurring guest starring role on HBO’s Treme this fall. With the release of her second full-length album, a collection of original lullabies called “Velvet Sky” in September, Pettiford is turning the page and entering new chapter of her career. (more...)

Last night, January 12th, Nightlife Award Winner Marilyn Maye, Maya Days (Aida), Joan Almedilla (Kim in MISS SAIGON), and vocalist Natalie Douglas took to the stage at Feinstein's at Loews Regency in the latest installment of Broadway Ballyhoo. As in weeks past, this cast performed Broadway show tunes in the new series that changes every Thursday night with a new cast singing entirely different songs every week. (more...)

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) Today's column features Lucie Arnaz and her show "Latin Roots" at Feinstein's at Loews Regency. (more...)

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY opened its Winter 2012 season with the return of Lucie Arnaz in a show based on her new CD "Latin Roots." In an eclectic celebration of her musical heritage, Arnaz playfully wended her way through pop south of the border sounds, enduring American standards, enhanced with a Brazilian accent or basted by a Bossa Nova beat and she took on some of the fiery Latin classics of her father, Desi Arnaz. Check out photos from the concert below! (more...)

"Jazz & Cocktails" - the only weekly column in the SF Bay Area devoted to cabaret & nightlife - announced its Top 2010 Artists in a variety of categories. Found in the GLBT weekly paper San Francisco Bay Times, "Jazz & Cocktails - the Lush Cabaret Life" is written by Mike Ward, a Bay Area director/choreographer and arts feature writer. A Facebook presence exists for the column, as does Twitter: LushCabaretLife. (more...)

"Jazz & Cocktails" - the only weekly column in the SF Bay Area devoted to cabaret & nightlife - announced its Top 2010 Artists in a variety of categories. Found in the GLBT weekly paper San Francisco Bay Times, "Jazz & Cocktails - the Lush Cabaret Life" is written by Mike Ward, a Bay Area director/choreographer and arts feature writer. A Facebook presence exists for the column, as does Twitter: LushCabaretLife. (more...)

Broadway and West End Star Amra-Faye Wright made her New York Cabaret Debut December 29th at the Metropolitan Room. Her show "Sittin' on Top of the World" was an elegant evening of wry tales, engaging wit and sophisticated glamour. It traced Amra-Faye Wright's unlikely journey from African farm girl to Broadway leading lady-illustrated with stylish interpretations of The Great American Songbook, popular show-tunes and renditions from her native South Africa and other lands. (more...)

“Who The F*#! Are These Guys,” The Songs of Ron Abel & Chuck Steffan With Special Guests Lucie Arnaz & Valarie Pettiford plays BIRDLAND Monday, November 22 at 7pm (more...)

One of the most beloved and enduring characters in the history of American popular culture is aiming to finally make her way to the Broadway stage. Hazel - the saucy maid whose wry attitude, infallible wisdom and heart of gold has captured the hearts of millions for more than 60 years - will be in the spotlight again in an exciting new Broadway musical with music by composer Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan. The veteran duo has acquired the rights to Hazel from the estate of creator Ted Key and are hoping to bring the show to the Great White Way in 2011. (more...)

“Who The F*#! Are These Guys,” The Songs of Ron Abel & Chuck Steffan With Special Guests Lucie Arnaz & Valarie Pettiford plays BIRDLAND Monday, November 22 at 7pm (more...)

Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration was presented yesterday, October 4th at Symphony Space. Produced by Murphy Cross, Paul Kreppel and Bonnie Kole, the starry evening will benefit The Actors Fund and honored longtime Broadway Musical Director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with MS. Guests who appeared with Mr. Hamlisch included Lucie Arnaz, Kelly Bishop, Liz Callaway, Victor Garber, Lesley Gore, Robert Klein, Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Jack Noseworthy, Donald Pippin, Billy Stritch, Sammy Williams and more. Ron Abel served as the evening's Musical Director. The evening was directed by Ms. Cross & Mr. Kreppel. (more...)

This Week @ The Rrazz Room January 17-24, 2010 The Rrazz Room at Hotel Nikko (more...)

On Sat & Sun, Sept 19 & 20, 2009 at 9pm (8pm Sunday) - Upright Cabaret proudly presents the West Coast premiere of Tony Nominee Valarie Pettiford's "Valarie Pettiford - The Concert" at the new Upright Cabaret on Vermont, 1714 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, Ca 90027. (more...)

On Sat & Sun, Sept 19 & 20, 2009 at 9pm (8pm Sunday) - Upright Cabaret proudly presents the West Coast premiere of Tony Nominee Valarie Pettiford's "Valarie Pettiford - The Concert" at the new Upright Cabaret on Vermont, 1714 N. Vermont Ave, Los Angeles, Ca 90027. (more...)

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to present RON ABEL, one of New York's hottest theatrical composer/arrangers, in a return engagement to the Broadway at Birdland series. This very special concert will take place on Monday, July 29 at 7pm. Joining Ron will be some of his fabulously talented friends (Lucie Arnaz and Valarie Pettiford) for a fun "raising the roof" evening of entertainment. Abel is hosting this gala for longtime close friend, Richard Aborn, who is running for the office of District Attorney for Manhattan. (Richard is a leading advocate for the gun control movement, police brutality, and many other important issues.) (more...)

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to present RON ABEL, one of New York's hottest theatrical composer/arrangers, in a return engagement to the Broadway at Birdland series. This very special concert will take place on Monday, July 29 at 7pm. Joining Ron will be some of his fabulously talented friends (Lucie Arnaz and Valarie Pettiford) for a fun "raising the roof" evening of entertainment. Abel is hosting this gala for longtime close friend, Richard Aborn, who is running for the office of District Attorney for Manhattan. (Richard is a leading advocate for the gun control movement, police brutality, and many other important issues.) (more...)

Tony Nominee Valarie Pettiford will present a series of shows entitled "Valarie Pettiford - The Concert" with songwriting duo Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan beginning May 4 at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan. (more...)

Tony Nominee Valarie Pettiford will present a series of shows entitled "Valarie Pettiford - The Concert" with songwriting duo Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan beginning May 4 at the Metropolitan Room in Manhattan. (more...)

This past weekend, Broadway and recording star Billy Porter brought his new hit one man show 'The Standard' to Upright Cabaret at Mark's Restaurant for two sold-out SRO engagements. Upright Cabaret producers Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel in association with Lenny Beer and Suzi Dietz proudly presented Porter to Los Angeles audiences, with those in attendance including Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and "Dreamgirls" film director Bill Condon. (more...)

An invitation-only, closed-door jazz session officially launches the Broadway musical "Bricktop, Queen of the Night," (original music and lyrics by Ron Abel and Chuck Steffan) based on the life of Ada "Bricktop" Smith. The musical is being produced by Paul Lambert, Jonas Neilson and Whoopi Goldberg. (more...)