Betty Comden News

We all come from Gilbert," said Johnny Mercer. And if you've seen a musical, watched film or TV, read a book, participated in political discourse or have partaken in any aspect of popular culture during the past 125 years, you've likely been influenced by W. S. Gilbert too. Yet Lyrics & Lyricists has never paid tribute to this seminal figure. Tonight, January 12 and January 13 and 14 the punishment fits this crime of oversight with The Very Model of a Modern Major Lyricist: W. S. Gilbert and the Broadway He Inspired.

Emily Keeler, San Francisco Arts Education's Artistic Director, announced today that the San Francisco Arts Education Project's 2013 musical is Bells Are Ringing, the 1956 Broadway musical featuring music by Jule Styne and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Bells Are Ringing runs for eight performances beginning Saturday, February 16 through Sunday, March 3, 2013 at the Eureka Theatre (215 Jackson Street, San Francisco). Tickets for the Players' Family Benefit Reception and Closing Day Party on Sunday, March 3 at 1:00 p.m. are $40 for general admission and $20 for student and senior admission. Ticket price includes drinks, hors d'oeuvres and dessert and benefits the San Francisco Arts Education Project. Tickets ($15 for students and seniors; $22 general admission) are available by calling City Box Office at 415.392.4400 or online at www.cityboxoffice.com.

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose...you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.' Broadway Musicals: A Jewish Legacy is a new, 90-minute documentary by Michael Kantor, creator of the Emmy-winning series, Broadway: The American Musical. The special just aired on Great Performances yesterday, January 1 on PBS. Click below to watch!

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose…you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.' Eric Idle's cheeky lyric, which unfailingly generated knowing guffaws from Broadway audiences, proves to be more than a little grounded in truth, as BROADWAY MUSICALS: A JEWISH LEGACY convincingly attests.

After taking Christmas Eve and Christmas Day off, Peter Pan plays through January 6th, 2013, at the Briggs Opera House in White River Junction, Vermont.

Robert Powell, who plays studio boss RF Simpson, joined original cast members Adam Cooper (Don Lockwood), Daniel Crossley (Cosmo Brown), Scarlett Strallen (Olivier nominated as Kathy Selden), Katherine Kingsley (Olivier nominated as Lina Lamont) and Sandra Dickinson (Dora Bailey & Miss Dinsmore) in Jonathan Church's Chichester Festival Theatre production. The show, which transferred to London's Palace Theatre in February this year, also features Peter Forbes, David Lucas, Brendan Cull, Kelly Ewins, Nancy Wei George, David Birch, Matthew Croke, Danielle Crockford, Jennifer Davison, Jaye Juliette Elster, Luke Fetherston, Gemma Fuller, Francis Haugen, Daniel Iannou, Peter Le Brun, Charlie Martin, Scott Mobley, Gillian Parkhouse, Sherrie Pennington, Lisa Ritchie and Jack Wilcox. Check out the photos below!

The two-time Emmy Award winning and two-time Tony Award nominated production Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN returns to the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for two weeks only; playing January 15 - 27, 2013. This engagement marks the first return of the production to Pantages Theatre in over 8 years.

Each year, the magic of the holidays fills the hearts of both the young and old. Keeping that magic alive and offering a fun family outing, Theatre Under the Stars (TUTS) is presenting Cathy Rigby in PETER PAN, which is a musical production of the play by Sir James Barrie with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Moose Charlap, and additional music by Jule Styne.

Today in 1991, the second Broadway revival of Peter Pan opened at the MInskoff Theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark 'Moose' Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, earned Tony Awards for both stars.

At a press conference held at Barrington Stage Company's St. Germain Stage, Artistic Director Julianne Boyd announced the 2013 season of musicals and plays that will take place in downtown Pittsfield in the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage and St. Germain Stage (formerly Stage 2) venues in 2013. Single tickets will go on sale March 1, 2013. Passes to the 2013 season at the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage and St. Germain Stage are on sale now by calling 413-236-8888 or online at www.barringtonstageco.org.

Singin' in the Rain is currently taking bookings at the Palace Theatre to 1 September 2013. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

Emmy and Tony Award winner Kristin Chenoweth reveals plans for World Tour, her Broadway return in On the 20th Century and Soapdish, dating 'The Bachelor' & More!

We all come from Gilbert," said Johnny Mercer. And if you've seen a musical, watched film or TV, read a book, participated in political discourse or have partaken in any aspect of popular culture during the past 125 years, you've likely been influenced by W. S. Gilbert too. On January 12, 13 and 14 Lyrics and Lyricists presents The Very Model of a Modern Major Lyricist: W. S. Gilbert and the Broadway He Inspired.

Director/Choreographer Marc Robin and actor Curt Dale Clark take the beloved movie to the Fulton stage, and make a big, big splash in the process.

DRG Records will release the new 2012 Broadway cast recording of Roundabout Theatre Company's (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) critically acclaimed Broadway production of Rupert Holmes' Tony Award® winning musical comedy THE MYSTERY OF EDWIN DROOD.

Lyrics of two beloved songs from Peter Pan, with paintings by Amy June Bates, are transformed into a magical picture book sure to enchant the musical's legions of new and returning fans. Acclaimed songwriters Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Carolyn Leigh know a thing or two about crafting songs that touch hearts and imaginations and endure for generations. They hit one of their many pinnacles with this pair of lovely odes to "a place where dreams are born" and the joys of flying--whether over a sleeping city or inside one's very own bedroom.

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose...you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.'

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose…you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.' Eric Idle's cheeky lyric, which unfailingly generated knowing guffaws from Broadway audiences, proves to be more than a little grounded in truth, as BROADWAY MUSICALS: A JEWISH LEGACY convincingly attests.