Bette Midler News

Following its strong Christmas Day Debut of $18 million, Tom Hooper's big screen adaptation of LES MISERABLES grossed an additional $28 million this weekend (Dec. 28 - 30), bringing its domestic box office total to $67.4 million. Overall, the sweeping epic musical placed third.

By the last August, I had fallen so far behind on writing reviews of cabaret shows from the spring and early summer (I guess it's a positive when there are more performers and shows in New York than days in the week) that I decided to play catch up by combining a bunch of critiques into one big column. I hadn't planned on doing that again, but this fall there were so many shows that once again I couldn't keep up. but at least I've beaten my self-imposed deadline New Year's Eve deadline of posting these reviews of 12 shows, all staged between September-December by lovely, attractive women (okay, so one is a gender-bender) of varying talents and levels on the cabaret depth chart, from established stars to MAC and Bistro Award-winners to comeback 'kids' to interesting beginners and occasional performers who are in the game to follow their bliss. Whether their performances were rave-worthy, earning of qualified praise, or not quite up to snuff, they all deserve kudos for taking the plunge.

The Hollywood Reporter has debuted the first look at the upcoming eleventh season of PROJECT RUNWAY. Check it out below!

Talk Show Listings For Today, December 24

Feinstein's at Loews Regnecy will close its Fall 2012 season with the return of the club's founder MICHAEL FEINSTEIN and two-time Tony Award winning Broadway and TV star Christine Ebersole from tonight, December 23 through New Year's Eve.

Acclaimed actor Billy Crystal stopped by LATE NIGHT WITH JIMMY FALLON last night to chat about his new movie with Bette Midler, entitled PARENTAL GUIDANCE. Check out his interview below!

Talk Show Listings For Monday, December 24

She's back! Brassy Broads of Broadway featuring Kathy Halenda comes to Sarasota for a limited engagement beginning February 19, 2013 in the Goldstein Cabaret. From wistful ballads to show-stopping Broadway classics, Ms. Halenda combines her powerful vocal style and energetic personality to create a performance that will touch as well as tickle her audience.

For one night only, find New York's best solo performances in one show. Join Justin Vivan Bond, Lea Delaria, Jackie Hoffman and Natalie Joy as they present highlights of their critically-acclaimed solo performances. JUSTIN VIVIAN BOND, LEA DELARIA, JACKIE HOFFMAN & NATALIE JOY JOHNSON! will be performed at Joe's Pub on Sunday, January 13th at 7:00PM.

Talk Show Listings For Today, December 20

Rosalind Productions Inc. presents the Off-Broadway premiere of Jennifer Maisel's The Last Seder. This Off-Broadway limited engagement at Theater Three (311 West 43rd Street) began December 1st and continues through today, December 20th only.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Three theatrical radio plays called 'It's A Wonderful Life,' two Second City touring companies, Gilbert and Sullivan in rep, the Rockettes, Karen Mason in town, holiday films we fancy, Congo Square's 'Nativity' and a special holiday thought....

Project Runway's Season 11 returns with a twist that throws 16 eager designers into a panic when they discover they will be participating in the series' first-ever TEAMS EDITION, premiering Thursday, January 24, at 9pm ET/PT.

Today we are talking to a versatile performer first known to the world at large through her iconic early-career movie theme recordings - singing the Oscar-winning 'The Morning After' from THE POSEIDON ADVENTURE, as well as the classic themes from THE TOWERING INFERNO, SUPERMAN and musical material and a memorable musical moment in AIRPLANE!; in addition to her many full-length studio albums later in life - who then emerged as a compelling theatrical performer with a string of roles on Broadway, Off Broadway and in regional theater - a replacement star of NINE, as well as THE PIRATES OF PENZANCE, as well as original cast member of 1989's THE 3 PENNY OPERA, 1984's premire production of BROWNSTONE, and, most recently, a Broadway featured cast member in LITTLE WOMEN - the radiant and vocally resplendent Maureen McGovern. Looking back on her remarkable career and taking us on the journey from Hollywood to Broadway and beyond, McGovern reflects on some famous co-stars and her side of the riveting productions she participated in both onstage and onscreen, as well as opens up about some of her favorite recordings and composers to date insofar as her recording career is concerned, to say nothing of her proud position as the so-deemed self-confessed 'Disaster Theme Queen'. We also outline her cabaret work over the years, in anticipation of McGovern's week of shows at 54 Below, titled HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, beginning December 18 and running through December 23, where she will be sharing some of her favorite seasonal songs, new and old, as well as reviving some of her show-stopping standards and iconic movie themes and perhaps a surprise or two, too. Additionally, we touch upon her bio-musical, CARRY IT ON, her new women writer retrospective concert show and much, much more!

Following Ryan Murphy's very-public announcement that he'd asked the acclaimed Bette Midler to guest on GLEE - it appears the series showrunner hasn't followed through.

Talk Show Listings For Thursday, December 20

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, will close its Fall 2012 season with the return of the club's founder MICHAEL FEINSTEIN and two-time Tony Award winning Broadway and TV star CHRISTINE EBERSOLE from December 23 through New Year's Eve. Their duet show will feature classic standards and Broadway hits, in addition to rarities from the Great American Songbook. Feinstein will perform selections from The Gershwins and Me, his new CD and book from Simon & Schuster, currently on the Los Angeles Times Best-seller list. Feinstein's longtime Musical Director John Oddo will lead the all-star band. All shows take place at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).