O'Keefe will be the special guest at this week's "The After Party," the Friday-night celebration at the Beechman, billed as "an informal social gathering for the theatrically inclined." Hosted by Brandon Cutrell and Alysha Umphress, "The After Party" features Ray Fellman at the piano and Sarajean Devenport behind the bar. Amateurs and professionals are invited to take turns at the open mic. The "Party" begins at 10:30 PM and continues to 2 AM. Laurence O'Keefe, making his Broadway debut with Legally Blonde, is a composer, lyricist, pianist and writer. He won the 2004 Ed Kleban Award for lyrics, the 2001 ASCAP Richard Rodgers New Horizons Award, and a 2001 Jonathan Larson Award for his music and lyrics. He penned music and lyrics to Off-Broadway's Bat Boy: The Musical (2001 Lucille Lortel and Outer Critics' Circle Awards for Best Off-Broadway Musical). The cult-hit show has been produced in Boston, Tokyo, Seoul, and the West End, among other places. He co-wrote book, music and lyrics with Nell Benjamin, for Cam Jansen and The Curse Of The Emerald Elephant (Drama Desk nomination for Best Book); the music for Sarah, Plain and Tall, which now tours the country for TheatreWorks USA (and was expanded in 2003 into a full-length show at the O'Neill Festival).

The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located within the West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street. There is no cover charge or minimum for "The After Party."