Betty Comden News

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.

The classic story of 'Peter Pan' has aged well, as has its star, the legendary Cathy Rigby, who took her first trip to Never Land in 1990 and was nominated for a Tony for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for her efforts. Playing a limited engagement now through November 25, 'Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan,' shimmers with fairy dust, magic and wonder.

The League of Professional Theatre Women has announced that its 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award, which honors women exhibiting exemplary service to the theatre, will be presented by Marsha Norman (playwright) to Joan D. Firestone, Executive Director of The Moth. In addition to its annual Lifetime Achievement Award, LPTW will have Linda Chapman (playwright) present the 2012 Lee Reynolds Award to Kia Corthron, an outstanding American dramatist and activist, and the 2012 Josephine Abady Award presented by Angelina Fiordellisi (Cherry Lane Theater) to Stephanie Ybarra, an Artistic Associate at The Public Theatre. All the awards will be presented at the LPTW's Turning Thirty Awards Celebration, in honor of the League's 30th Anniversary year, on December 6, 2012, at Scandinavia House at 58 Park Avenue, from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. This year's celebration will also be the culmination of a year of celebratory events for the League.

The York Theatre Company lst night honored legendary Broadway Music Director and Conductor Paul Gemignani with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre at the 21st Annual Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and we bring you complete photo coverage below!

Dedicated to enhancing the theater-going experience, 'Hodges and Hodges' act as your very own dramaturges, theatre critics and local tour guides so that you can fully immerse yourself in the show - even before you enter the actual theater. It's nothing you couldn't look up yourself - but why bother when they've already done the research for you? So, sit back and enjoy the trip and get ready for the full-on Never Never Land experience of 'Peter Pan!'

The York Theatre Company honors legendary Broadway Music Director and Conductor Paul Gemignani with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre at the 21st Annual Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala tonight, November 19, 2012 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

Dedicated to enhancing the theater-going experience, 'Hodges and Hodges' act as your very own dramaturges, theatre critics and local tour guides so that you can fully immerse yourself in the show - even before you enter the actual theater. It's nothing you couldn't look up yourself - but why bother when they've already done the research for you? So, sit back and enjoy the trip and get ready for the full-on Never Never Land experience of 'Peter Pan!'

As a super-special companion column to this week's extensive InDepth InterView with nine-time Tony Award-winning performer/choreographer/director Tommy Tune, please enjoy this selection of the most pertinent and eye-popping moments from Tune's tremendous career, covering many of his best-loved and most fondly remembered musicals to date - among them: THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, NINE, GRAND HOTEL, MY ONE & ONLY, THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES and more!

Primary Stages last night held their annual Gala on Wednesday at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honored Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, featured performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). BroadwayWorld was there for the event and we bring you coverage from inside the event below!

Primary Stages last night held their annual Gala on Wednesday at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honored Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, featured performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). BroadwayWorld was there for the event and we bring you full photo coverage below!

DRG Records announces the release of the cast recording of FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING, The UN-Original Cast Album, produced by Hugh Fordin, andavailable on iTunes and in stores on November 27, 2012. The recording will be available for download for $9.99 on iTunes; individual tracks will be available for $.99 each. FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: ALIVE AND KICKING, The UN-Original Cast Album, is also available for pre-order on amazon.com for $14.99.

Kyle DeSantis, Executive Producer of Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, announced today that Broadway actor Tony Yazbeck will take over the role of "Don Lockwood" in SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, replacing Sean Palmer who suffered an injury. The production, which is currently in previews, will now have its press opening on Friday, Nov. 30 at 8:30pm. Yazbeck will go into the production on Wednesday, November 21.

Tony® Award-winner George Hearn (La Cage Aux Folles, Scandoulous) joins the The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director), to honor legendary Broadway Music Director and Conductor Paul Gemignani with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre at the 21st Annual Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala to be held next Monday, November 19, 2012 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

Primary Stages previously announced program details for their annual Gala tonight, November 14, 2012 at 6:30PM at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event, which honors Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages Board members Jamie deRoy and Ted Snowdon, features performances by Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat (Sondheim on Sondheim, A Catered Affair), actor/director/producer Tamara Tunie ("Law & Order: SVU," "As The World Turns"), Lewis Cleale (The Book of Mormon, Spamalot, Call Me Madam), and Garrett Sorenson (Master Class). Speakers will include Julie Halston (Anything Goes, Olive and the Bitter Herbs), Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and screenwriter Michael Cristofer (The Shadow Box, The Witches of Eastwick), and Executive Director of Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS (BC/EFA) Tom Viola. The Gala Chairs are Barry Feirstein and Tom Kirdahy.

'This feels like opening night,' Liz Callaway admitted early on the second night of her new 54 Below Show, 'Coming Around Again,' in response to the lusty audience cheering that continued throughout an eclectic 15-song set. For Callaway, a self-admitted New York Mets baseball fanatic, this show was definitely a home run.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, makes a splash with the effervescent musical comedy SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, previewing tonight, November 8, opening November 15, and running through January 13, 2013.