Cheyenne Jackson (Xanadu, All Shook Up), Tony Award nominee Sally Mayes (She Loves Me), Kate Reinders (Good Vibrations, Gypsy; one-half of TASTiSKANK) and Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy, A Chorus Line) have just been added to the roster of performers to be featured in Broadway Backwards 4, joining previously announced performers Mario Cantone (Assassins, TV's 'Sex and the City'), Alan Cumming (Cabaret), Gina Gershon (Cabaret, Showgirls), Whoopi Goldberg (Producer: Thoroughly Modern Millie, TV's 'The View'), Aaron Lazar (Les Mis?rables), Megan Mullally (Young Frankenstein, How to Succeed in Business..., TV's 'Will & Grace'), Jai Rodriguez (TV's 'Queer Eye for the Straight Guy,' Rent), Christopher Sieber (Spamalot), John Tartaglia (Avenue Q), Marty Thomas (Xanadu); and TV's 'Ugly Betty' stars Becki Newton and Michael Urie.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, January 20, 2009.

The YORK THEATRE COMPANY (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is proud to announce the return engagement of its acclaimed production of ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL. Performances will begin Wednesday, January 21st, and continue until March 8th only; all performances will be at the company's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street). Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directs a cast that features Josh Grisetti ('The Knights of Prosperity') as David Kolowitz, 'LA Law's' married couple Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker as his parents, Bob Dishy (Tony Award? nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Sly Fox; Flora The Red Menace, The Price) as Marlowe, and Marla Schaffel (Tony Award? nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Jane Eyre) as Angela, along with Paul Binotto, Ray DeMattis, Erick Devine, Betsy DiLellio, Gerry McIntyre, Robb Sapp, Emily Shoolin, and Allison Spratt. Matt Castle is the Music Director and performs the role of Roger. ENTER LAUGHING has a book by Fiddler on The Roof's Joseph Stein, based on his 1964 hit play of the same name, with music and lyrics by 'Taxi' creator Stan Daniels. Based on the autobiographical novel by comedian Carl Reiner, ENTER LAUGHING tells the hilarious story of a stage-struck, woman-struck teenager who blunders his way into manhood via showbiz.

The YORK THEATRE COMPANY (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is proud to announce the cast for the return engagement of its acclaimed production of ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL. Performances will begin January 21st, and continue until March 8th only; all performances will be at the company's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street). Tickets are on sale now at www.yorktheatre.org or call 212/935-5820.

Cameron Mackintosh has been honoured for his contribution to musical theatre at this year's South Bank Show awards. The Awards other big winners included: Film This Is England Comedy Gavin and Stacey (BBC Three) TV Drama The Mark of Cain (Channel 4) Theatre Saint Joan at the National Theatre Pop Arctic Monkeys: Favourite Worst Nightmare Literature Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist Classical Music Traced Overhead: The Musical World of Thomas Ades at the Barbican Visual Arts Andy Goldsworthy at the Yorkshire Sculpture Park Opera The Turn of The Screw at the ENO Dance Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company: Programmes 1 and 2 at Sadler's Wells Literature Mohsin Hamid: The Reluctant Fundamentalist Arts Council England - decibel Award Daljit Nagra: Look We Have Coming To Dover Outstanding Achievement Award JK Rowling

The YORK THEATRE COMPANY (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is proud to announce the return engagement of its acclaimed production of ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL. Performances will begin Wednesday, January 21st, and continue until March 8th only; all performances will be at the company's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street). Stuart Ross (Forever Plaid) directs a cast that features Josh Grisetti ('The Knights of Prosperity') as David Kolowitz, 'LA Law's' married couple Jill Eikenberry and Michael Tucker as his parents, Bob Dishy (Tony Award? nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Sly Fox; Flora The Red Menace, The Price) as Marlowe, and Marla Schaffel (Tony Award? nominee and Drama Desk Award winner for Jane Eyre) as Angela, along with Paul Binotto, Ray DeMattis, Erick Devine, Betsy DiLellio, Gerry McIntyre, Robb Sapp, Emily Shoolin, and Allison Spratt. Matt Castle is the Music Director and performs the role of Roger. ENTER LAUGHING has a book by Fiddler on The Roof's Joseph Stein, based on his 1964 hit play of the same name, with music and lyrics by 'Taxi' creator Stan Daniels. Based on the autobiographical novel by comedian Carl Reiner, ENTER LAUGHING tells the hilarious story of a stage-struck, woman-struck teenager who blunders his way into manhood via showbiz.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, January 19, 2009.

Pace University's Pace New Musicals Program, now in it's third year, is a workshop initiative that offers students the invaluable opportunity take part in the developmental process of new material with up-and coming writers. In the past few months, the program received 42 submissions for consideration, out of which one new work was selected to be developed by Pace. This year, Pace New Musicals proudly presents the world premiere reading of Darling, a new musical with music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver and a book by B.T. Ryback.

The contest to replace the 'George Bush' line in the finale 'For Now' in the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q (on Broadway at the Golden Theatre and on national tour) resulted in over 2,000 entries from contest participants coast-to-coast in the United States, as well as from overseas in Brazil, Australia, Ukraine and Israel, to name a few. On Friday, January 15th, the winners were revealed in a special press event, the entire Avenue Q gang was there and so was BroadwayWorld! AVENUE Q -- which opened on Broadway in 2003 and six years later continues to entertain audiences on Broadway (at the Golden Theatre, 252 W. 45 St.), on national tour and in London's West End -- concludes with the musical number 'For Now,' which reminds us that 'everything in life is only for now,' including 'sex, your hair and George Bush.' The contest (conducted Dec. 22, 2008 to Jan. 12, 2009) invited the general public to submit suggestions for a new lyric to replace 'George Bush' as he will leave the office of President of the United States on Inauguration Day, January 20, 2009 and forfeit his spot as a lyric in a hit Broadway show, as well.

This once in a lifetime celebration of the most exciting presidential torch pass in a generation is being rung in by some of New York's most exciting and hilarious performers. The show pays tribute to the administration's most memorable moments through song, comedy, cabaret, and banter. Lea DeLaria hosts an unforgettable party featuring the talents of Justin Bond, Jessie Kirson, Holcombe Waller, Avenue Q's Stephanie D'Abruzzo, and cast members of Hair. Special appearances by John Cameron Mitchell and Ugly Betty's Michael Urie.

BYE GEORGE! AN END OF AN ERROR is hosted by Lea Delaria, with very special guests: Michael Urie (Ugly Betty), Comedienne Jessica Kirson (The Tonight Show), Justin Bond (Kiki & Herb) Stephanie D'Abruzzo (Avenue Q), cast members of the upcoming Broadway hit Hair, and much much more! ONE NIGHT ONLY, Monday January 19 at 7:00 At JOE'S PUB (425 Lafayette Street)

The concert performance of LOVE, NY, the new musical by Robert Rokicki and Michael Ruby, will now play at New World Stages on January 26, 2009 at 8PM. The concert had been set to play at The Zipper Factory until its unexpected closing earlier this week. In addition, Tony Award Nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo (AVENUE Q) will perform and host the event. Also joining the cast is WICKED's current Boq, Alex Brightman. D'Abruzzo and Brightman join Randy Aaron (DAME EDNA: BACK WITH A VENGEANCE, JUNIE B. JONES), Kevin Massey (TARZAN, BIG RIVER), Brynn O'Malley (WICKED, SUNDAY IN THE PARK), Vanessa Ray (THE 25TH ANNUAL PUTNAM COUNTRY SPELLING BEE), and Krysta Rodriguez (IN THE HEIGHTS, SPRING AWAKENING).

With President George W. Bush set to leave office on January 20, 2009, the creators and producers of the Tony Award-winning musical AVENUE Q have announced four possible winners of their 'Only for Now' contest to replace the lyric in the show's final number, 'For Now,' which astutely observes that everything in life -- including 'George Bush!' -- is only for now. They picked four new potential lyrics, each will be given a test drive, they are; 'Recession' 'Prop 8' 'This Show' 'Your Mother-in-Law' The 'Only for Now' contest invited participants to enter their suggestion for a new person (not necessarily a political figure), place, thing, event, fad, etc. to be considered as a substitute for the soon-to-be-outdated reference to 'George Bush' in the musical's finale. The winning entry will be performed in AVENUE Q on Tuesday, January 20, 2009, the day Barack Obama is inaugurated as the 44th President of the United States.

The Fourth Annual Goodspeed Festival of New Artists, the highlight of Goodspeed Musicals' Max Showalter Center for Education in the Musical Theater New Artist Program, kicks off its much anticipated three day festival of brand new works on Friday, January 16, at the Goodspeed Opera House with a staged reading of Life on the Mississippi. On Saturday, January 17, Goodspeed Musical's first ever commissioned musical, the hilarious Band Geeks!, will debut. On the final day of the festival, Factory Girls will be presented. Several special events will round out this exciting weekend.

Tony Award-winners Nathan Lane and Anika Noni Rose are set to participant in The Vineyard Theatre's star-studded tribute to Tony Award-winning actress Marian Seldes and The Union Square Partnership at the theatre's annual gala on Monday, February 9th at 6 PM at The Rainbow Room (30 Rockefeller Plaza, 65th floor) in Manhattan. The Gala, which will benefit the Vineyard Theatre, one of the nation's leading theatres devoted to producing new works, will include salutations to Ms. Seldes -- who originated her role in Edward Albee's Pulitzer Prize-winning play THREE TALL WOMEN in 1993 at The Vineyard -- and celebrate its theme of community spirit and neighborhood involvement by also honoring The Union Square Partnership. Nathan Lane, who will host the evening, starred opposite Ms. Seldes Off-Broadway in Terrence McNally's DEDICATION, OR THE STUFF OF DREAMS. Mr. Lane is best-known for his Tony Award-winning performances in THE PRODUCERS, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, and LOVE! VALOUR! COMPASSION!. Anika Noni Rose, who received an Obie Award for her work in the musical ELI'S COMIN' at The Vineyard, won a Tony Award for her performance in CAROLINE, OR CHANGE, and co-starred with Beyonce Knowles and Jennifer Hudson in the film version of 'Dreamgirls,' is set to perform.

The Vineyard Theatre (108 East 15th Street) will present the New York premiere of The Civilians' newest work THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY, in a co-production with Los Angeles' Center Theatre Group, with previews set to begin February 3 prior to its official press opening February 22. Steven Cosson directs. Written by Steven Cosson and Jim Lewis, with music and lyrics by Michael Friedman, THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY is a provocative new play with music about the growth of the evangelical movement in Colorado Springs, created by the documentary theatre troupe The Civilians. While conducting interviews with people involved with or affected by the mega-church movement, scandal broke about New Life Church pastor Ted Haggard and shook the entire city of Colorado Springs, providing the play's creators with an unprecedented opportunity to capture an important event as it was taking place, and providing the people of Colorado Springs the opportunity to express their opinions and concerns as those events unfolded. THIS BEAUTIFUL CITY is a fascinating and timely look at faith and how it affects the American landscape.

Jurors for The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) for the 2009 Next Link Project will include lyricist Susan Birkenhead, composer and lyricist Jason Robert Brown, producer Robyn Goodman, and director Francesca Zambello. The New York Musical Theater Festival is currently accepting open submissions for its Next Link Project for the sixth annual festival taking place September 28 ? October 18, 2009. Twelve of the Festival?s full production slots are reserved for participants in The Next Link Project, NYMF?s primary writer service program. The Next Link Project empowers emerging musical theatre writing teams as both artists and entrepreneurs by providing the training and relationships needed to help them move their musicals from mere readings to fully-realized productions and to advance their careers by maximizing the exposure they receive in the Festival. A meet and greet to answer any questions from those interested in applying will be held Wednesday, January 28, 6-8pm at the Irish Rogue (356 West 44th Street, between 8th and 9th Ave). NYMF staff members will be on hand to answer questions about the Next Link Project submissions process and chat about other ways to get involved with the Festival.

BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Workshop Thrives in Adverse Environment as promising playwrights sharpen their skills with expert tutoring and peer feedback. The Great White Way has encountered some challenges recently with celebrated shows closing and theatres running half-empty. Despite these trends, a well-respected workshop fully sponsored by Broadcast Music, Inc (BMI) continues to nurture musical theatre scribes and showcase their works to the public.

This once in a lifetime celebration of the most exciting presidential torch pass in a generation is being rung in by some of New York's most exciting and hilarious performers. The show pays tribute to the administration's most memorable moments through song, comedy, cabaret, and banter. Lea DeLaria hosts an unforgettable party featuring the talents of Justin Bond, Jessie Kirson, Holcombe Waller, Avenue Q's Stephanie D'Abruzzo, and cast members of Hair. Special appearances by John Cameron Mitchell and Ugly Betty's Michael Urie.

Pace University's Pace New Musicals Program, now in its third year, is a workshop initiative that offers students the invaluable opportunity take part in the developmental process of new material with up-and-coming writers. In the past few months, the program received 42 submissions for consideration, out of which one new work was selected to be developed by the Pace Performing Arts Department. This year, Pace New Musicals proudly presents the world premiere reading of Darling, a new musical with music and lyrics by Ryan Scott Oliver and a book by B.T. Ryback.

For two weeks only, Off-Broadway will offer tickets for only $20 twenty minutes before show time. '20at20' is now a bi-annual celebration of NY's best shows, in the tradition of Restaurant Week! Beginning Monday, January 26th and continuing through Sunday, February 8th, Off-Broadway shows* will offer seats still available twenty minutes before the curtain, for only $20 when purchased at the box office for over twenty shows (cash only at some venues; some restrictions may apply). (A complete list follows).

On Monday, January 12th, the entire cast of Shrek The Musical congregated at Legacy Studios in New York City to record the cast album of the stage production. Shrek The Musical features music written by Olivier Award-winner Jeanine Tesori (Thoroughly Modern Millie & Caroline, or Change), a book and lyrics by Pulitzer Prize winner David Lindsay-Abaire (Rabbit Hole), and the production is directed by Tony nominee Jason Moore (Avenue Q). Jeanine Tesori also will be at the helm of the cast album as producer along with Shrek The Musical's sound designer Peter Hylenski as the album's co-producer. BroadwayWorld sent in our cameras as the 'green team' laid down the tracks!

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Monday, January 12, 2009.

The YORK THEATRE COMPANY (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is proud to announce the cast for the return engagement of its acclaimed production of ENTER LAUGHING: THE MUSICAL. Performances will begin January 21st, and continue until March 8th only; all performances will be at the company's home at The Theatre at Saint Peter's (Lexington Avenue just south of 54th Street). Tickets are on sale now at www.yorktheatre.org or call 212/935-5820.

Congregation Beth Simchat Torah (CBST) is pleased to announce the New York Premiere of Songs of Innocence and Experience by William Finn. Composed at Williams College, this piece contains lyrics and music by Finn in collaboration with his students. Songs of Innocence and Experience tells the stories of teachers and students, exploring the process of how learning is passed on.