"Hamilton" Performance From This Year's MISCAST Event

Check out this awesome gender-bending performance from this year's MisCast event in NYC.

MCC Theater's annual MisCast gala is one of the most exciting and unique theater events in town. Broadway’s hottest stars perform songs from roles in which they would NEVER be cast. And the results are thrilling!

Broadway Boys Luca Padovan (School of Rock), Joshua Colley (Les Miserables) and Douglas Baldeo (Kinky Boots) are looking for a mind at work, work in their rendition of 'The Schuyler Sisters' featuring Ana Villafañe (On Your Feet!).

Funds raised from MisCast help MCC Theater produce some of the most talked-about new work Off-Broadway and support their Youth Company and in-school partnerships that serve New York City public high school students, as well as literary development work with emerging playwrights.

The boy in the pink vest, Joshua Colley, is killing me. They all are fantastic.

My Favorite Thing Today - Cristina Ramos On "Got Talent Espana"

Wait for it, wait for it...

Seriously - if you have good vocal technique, you can sing anything.

The judges faces are priceless.

WOW i wasn´t expecting that
WOW i wasn´t expecting that. Really....... Highway to hell hahahahah :D
Posted by Dave Soul on Monday, March 14, 2016

File This Under "Impressive"

Ok, I'll admit I know nothing about playing the trombone.

BUT - I do know talent and technique when I see it. Check out Lionel Fumeaux from the Swiss JUNIOR Solo Championship 2015.

One minute and you'll see why I posted this. I get excited about people who master their passions. Really amazing.

This is the full performance of Lionel Fumeaux from the Swiss JUNIOR Solo Championship 2015 No comment needed.
Posted by Gordon Higginbottom on Friday, December 11, 2015

A Little Sunday "Bionic" Action In The Gym

My super-talented (Wicked, Legally Blonde) and uber-handsome friend Joel Ingram posted this today from the gym.

Love the slow-mo camera work. Good leg work, Joel.

A video posted by Joel Ingram (@joelingram4) on Aug 9, 2015 at 11:19am PDT

And just to underline the "handsome" part, here's another pic from Instagram.

Happy Sunday!

A photo posted by Joel Ingram (@joelingram4) on Aug 7, 2015 at 10:03pm PDT

This Happened Today

With Beth Nielsen Chapman

If you're anything like me, once in a blue moon you hear a song and it becomes an obsession. The first time I ever heard "Sand and Water" I hit repeat at least 60x.

Beth Nielsen Chapman wrote the song in the aftermath of her husband's passing from cancer. I think it's one of the best songs ever recorded. Ever.

I started following Beth, who is a major songwriter in Nashville having written hits for huge folks like Faith Hill, Trisha Yearwood, Martina McBride, Tanya Tucker, Willie Nelson and Bette Midler just to name a few.

And then today, this happened. She's in town working on a new project, and I got to visit with her in the studio.

Whoa.

Keep your silly celebs. Talent like this stops me in my tracks.

And yes, she's an absolute DOLL.

I found this lyric video of "Sand And Water" but you really should check her out on iTunes.

Stop & Watch - Amazing Gymnastic Synchronized Dancers

Heart-stopping in beauty, talent and skill.

Just, stop and watch.

Youngest Ever "Jean Valjean" Stuns Broadway

Ok, waaaaaaaiit a second.

Stop, drop and roll for 13 year-old Joshua Colley, who stunned audiences this past week as the youngest "Jean Valjean" ever with his star-in-the-making performance of "The Confrontation" vocal duel with current Javert understudy John Rapson.

I'm just gonna say this: watch his eyes. On top of the voice, this guy knows exactly what he's doing. Staggering.

Joshua and John's performance was on behalf of the current Broadway production of Les Miserables  as part of the 29th Annual Easter Bonnet Competition, which raised an amazing $4,711,386 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS making this the third year in a row the event set a new fundraising record.

Talent: Duo Flame "It's A New Day"

Of course, hubby Michael and I start every day with a few moves like this.

These kids are amazing. They go by the name "Duo Flame" and the world pretty much discovered them when they wowed audiences as finalists on Ukraine's Got Talent.

Fifteen year old internet sensation covers "Hero" by Mariah Carey

On vocals, Aldrich Lloyd Talonding and on guitar, James Walter Bucong.

Umm... pretty amazing.   Last year, the duo uploaded a YouTube video of Luther Vandross' "Dance With My Father" that went viral reaching over 4 million views so far.

You can follow Aldrich and James on Facebook here.

Lee Roy Reams at 54 Below - April 3rd

Cheyenne Jackson - "Your Song" live and unedited

Ok, so if you somehow were not a fan of Mr. Jackson YET, you should be after this.

I've met Cheyenne, and he's just as down to earth and comfortable with folks as you would imagine.

Great song, terrific voice (love the edge to his tone), authentic and completely devoid of pretense, Cheyenne shares a great Elton John/Bernie Taupin classic.

Serious bonus points for the canine cameo at 2:18.

(h/t Towleroad)

NYC: T Oliver Reid opens tonight at Feinsteins

My fab friend, T. Oliver Reid, who has appeared in more Broadway shows than I can count,  a 2012 MAC award recipient for Best Debut-male and the 2011 Julie Wilson award, will open tonight at Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue in NYC.  Additional performances will be on Sunday December 2, Monday December 3 and Sunday December 9, 2012. All performances will be at 10:30 PM.

Reid’s new show, “Drop Me Off In Harlem”is an evening of club-hopping to the music of Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington and Andy Raza through the elegant nightclubs and working class speakeasies that made uptown gay and delightful, however dull and depressing downtown Manhattan could be.

Stephen Holden of The New York Times (THE NEW YORK TIMES people!) said of Reid, "the wistfulness of his tone and the smoothness of his delivery are all his own… a soulful crooner with resemblances to the young Bobby Short”

T. Oliver's Broadway shows include some of the Great White Way's biggest, splashiest hit musicals: “Kiss Me Kate", "Chicago", "Follies," "Thoroughly Modern Millie", "Never Gonna Dance", "La Cage Aux Folles", "The Wedding Singer", "Damn Yankees”, "Mary Poppins”, “Sister Act” and the upcoming “Cotton Club Parade”.

The music charge for the show is $20 with a one drink minimum.

For reservations, please call 212-339-4095.

For more information or the order online, visit www.feinsteinsattheregency.com. Feinstein’s at the Loews Regency is located at 540 Park Avenue @ 61st Street, New York, NY 10021

Sammy Davis Jr did it all

From a TV special shot at the Palace Theater.

Geez, Sammy literally did EVERYTHING. The first section reminds what a phenomenal tap dancer he was, and then the second clip in the video showcases his amazing vocals.

The timbre, the pitch, the phrasing, the commitment. All of it perfect.

Love this.

Leslie Ellis on The Candi & Randy Show

Listen to internet radio with CandiXRandy on Blog Talk Radio

Grammy Award winning vocalist Leslie Ellis joined us on The Candi & Randy Show to talk about life as a working singer/songwriter in "music city" - Nashville.

Through her career Leslie has sung with many artists including Celine Dion on “My Heart will Go On” – from the movie “Titanic” (for which Leslie won the Grammy) and Thomas Dolby on his latest album “Forty” (featured on “Hyperactive”). She sang the original soundtrack song, “Six Times Around the Sun” for the CBS mini-series, "Perfect Murder, Perfect Town." Four of Leslie's original songs appeared in the musical "Cowboy Cafe" and were performed live at the show's premiere in North Carolina.

Her self penned “Flyer Song” was adopted by the US Navy and made into a video as a tribute to the troops and their families. She’s also written songs that were recorded by The Bellamy Brothers and NYC based recording artist David Ippolito.

As an actress, Leslie has appeared on television and the Broadway stage - CATS, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES and CITY OF ANGELS.

In 2007, she starred in an independent film called, “My Name Is Wallace” which was invited to the Cannes Film Festival; and in 2009 appeared in "The New, True Charlie Wu" as Eudiamonia.

Throw into the mix that she's developing a new cooking show and you have a real achiever with a great amount of charm.

More info about the fantastic Leslie Ellis at www.LeslieEllis.com

Donna Summer - "I Will Go With You"

As the sun sets on the day we lost our diva, Donna Summer, I thought of this song, one of her more recent recordings.

I love the melody, and the voice! Fantastic throughout, and then there's that last note - full voice.

And she looks so clear, strong, healthy and beautiful.

Sad to think of her leaving so soon, but we are lucky, due to technology, that we'll always have recordings of her great gift.

Britain's Got Talent has a new "Susan Boyle" moment

Opera meets pop when 17-year-old Jonathan and 16-year-old Charlotte sing together. But can the duo convince Britain's Got Talent Judges they've got what it takes to wow the nation?

The answer is a resounding 'yes.'

Wow. Jonathan bowls the audience over with his amazing 17 year old voice, and the two together are clearly beautiful music together.

Bonus points for Jonathan: "We've come on here as a duo, we'll stay as a duo."

Celebrate.

Amazing 15 year old guitarist

Who says young kids aren't "into" anything today?

Listen to this guy. He's amazing.

Meryl Streep - 2011 Kennedy Center Honors

Excellent tribute to the very one and only Meryl.

Barbara Cook - Kennedy Center Honors

Just... no words. Great artists honoring a great artist.

Stay for the end...

Miss Arkansas 1994 - "And I'm Telling You"

I'll just post this without comment. It speaks for itself.