Jean-Claude Baker News

Sharing views not only on the current Broadway and Off-Broadway scenes, but offering an appreciative spotlight to Off-Off Broadway artists and other lesser-known entertainers who are just as important in making New York the nation's live performing arts capital. To encourage rather than critique.

Getting on the phone with Albert Poland totally swept me away and into the world we love for a glorious 45 minutes...

Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2015.

Eric Yves Garcia has stepped away from the piano. I repeat, stepped away from the piano. The performer strides into the center stage light, his dark eyes twinkling, his jaw defined by just the right amount of stubble. This guy could be a movie star. I was excited. For the Metropolitan Room audience, Garcia's November 5 opening night of his new show Pour Spirits was about to be a down and dirty tell-all of some of New York's bacchanalian carousers as related by the handsome, attentive piano man of Chez Josephine, Bemelmans Bar, and other NYC nightspots. Garcia remained center stage for the better part of the show, allowing his inner storyteller and actor to take the reins, punctuating his alcohol-soaked dispatches from the wrong side of midnight with songs far afield of the traditional American Songbook.

This week's THEATER TALK celebrates composer George Gershwin and his 1928 symphonic poem, An American in Paris, now coming to Broadway as an adaptation of the 1951 Academy Award-winning film. THEATER TALK welcomes musical theater historian Robert Kimball (author of the bestselling coffee-table book The Gershwins), and Rob Fisher, musical director of the show, to discuss the composer and how his work is being adapted anew.

This week's THEATER TALK celebrates composer George Gershwin and his 1928 symphonic poem, An American in Paris, now coming to Broadway as an adaptation of the 1951 Academy Award-winning film. THEATER TALK welcomes musical theater historian Robert Kimball (author of the bestselling coffee-table book The Gershwins), and Rob Fisher, musical director of the show, to discuss the composer and how his work is being adapted anew.

Chez Josephine on Theater Row in NYC has two Valentine's Day seatings, one at 5:00 pm and one at 8:00 pm. Reserve now for your special day out on February 14th.

Some of the best musical experiences have taken place in houses of worship. Sadly, Holy Cross Church in Times Square was the location of such an occurrence on Saturday as a Requiem Mass for Jean-Claude Baker who committed suicide on January 15th 2015 was held at the historic church. The Romanesque Revival style building was constructed in 1870 and is the oldest building on 42nd Street. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the performances below!

As BroadwayWorld reported last week, Jean-Claude Baker, cable-television pioneer, biographer, historian and internationally known restaurateur of Theatre District hotspot Chez Josephine, died on January 15, 2015. He was 71. His death was a suicide. BroadwayWorld remembers Baker below.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: GIGI kicks off in D.C., BEAUTIFUL is on the hunt for its next Carole King, James McAvoy leads THE RULING CLASS revival in the West End and more!

Jean-Claude Baker, owner of Chez Josephine, passed away earlier this morning at the age of 71. Chez Josephine is a French restaurant that is well-known amongst the Broadway community and was referred to as a 'Cocktail of human beings' by Baker.

Film and stage legend and two-time Tony Award winner Lauren Bacall, passed away last week (first reported by TMZ) at the age of 89. The legendary actress suffered a massive stroke and died at home (New York City's famous Dakota Building) according to a family member. BroadwayWorld remembers the legend below.

Signature Theatre just held its Annual Gala celebration last night, April 7, 2014 honoring 108th New York City mayor Michael R. Bloomberg and actor/playwright/director Ruben Santiago-Hudson. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the gala below!

Tonight, April 16, 2012, Symphony Space presents its third annual Access to the Arts Awards to Morley Safer for his arts reportage on CBS' 60 Minutes, international corporate lawyer Alain Coblence for his support of the arts and programs that encourage international cultural exchange, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for their generous ongoing support of our Selected Shorts series.

On April 16, 2012, Symphony Space will present its third annual Access to the Arts Awards to Morley Safer for his arts reportage on CBS' 60 Minutes, international corporate lawyer Alain Coblence for his support of the arts and programs that encourage international cultural exchange, and Houghton Mifflin Harcourt for their generous ongoing support of our Selected Shorts series.

The Fred and Adele Astaire Awards will once again recognize excellence in dance on both stage and film. This year's Awards gala will take place May 15,2011 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University, 566 LaGuardia Place) New York City 10019.

JEAN-CLAUDE BAKER, ADOPTED SON OF FAMED INTERNATIONAL ICON, JOSEPHINE BAKER, TO BE GUEST SPEAKER AT THE WORLD EROTIC ART MUSEUM, FEBRUARY 8, AT A MAJOR EXHIBIT HONORING BLACK HISTORY MONTH AND THE EXTRAORDINARY LIFE OF THE LEGENDARY AMERICAN-BORN ENTERTAINER WHO DANCED AT THE 'FOLIES BERGERE' AND BECAME THE 'TOAST OF PARIS'

Before there was the Disneyfied new 42nd Street, it was a street of sin and the spot where Jean Claude Baker plopped his restaurant Chez Josephine 24 years ago was a massage parlor called The French Palace which featured a sign on the window stating $10 Complete Satisfaction.

Last night, in the exciting finale of the first annual 'MetroStar Talent Challenge' at The Metropolitan Room, Anne Steele was picked as the event's first grand prize winner.

The award-winning intimate concert venue The Metropolitan Room has picked a unique cross-section of performers, journalists and industry figures to serve as judges for the club's first 'Metrostar Talent Challenge,' a seven-week jury and audience-voted elimination-round competition that begins July 7.