Betty Comden News

In the latest edition of Opera News, Michael Portantiere asks Stephen Schwartz, Adam Guettel, Jason Robert Brown, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Flaherty and Stew for their opinions on the difference between opera and musical theatre.

New York City Center's 2008-09 Encores! season, running November 19 - 23, will present ON THE TOWN, the first Broadway musical written by Betty Comden andAdolph Green with a score by Leonard Bernstein. The show will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Todd Ellison and choreography by Warren Carlyle. Broadway Beat takes you behind the scenes with a visit into the rehearsal hall as the cast readies for Opening Night!

Jesse Tyler Ferguson and Lea DeLaria sing Comden and Green - Tuesday and Wednesday, December 16th and 17 at 9:30 PM, Jesse Tyler Ferguson (The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, TV's The Class and Ugly Betty) and Lea DeLaria (Warner Brothers Jazz Recording Artist, Broadway's The Rocky Horror Show) join forces again for the first time in years in a show that pays homage to songwriting team that introduced them to the New York Stage (in the 1997 revival of ON THE TOWN).

New York City Center's 2008-09 Encores! season, running November 19 - 23, will present ON THE TOWN, the first Broadway musical written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with a score by Leonard Bernstein. The show will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Todd Ellison and choreography by Warren Carlyle.

Joe's Pub has announced new additions to their upcoming lineup.

Andrea Martin, Michael Cumpsty and Tony Yazbeck have been cast in On the Town, the opening production of New York City Center's 2008-09 Encores! season, running November 19 - 23. On the Town, the first Broadway musical written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with a score by Leonard Bernstein, will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Todd Ellison and choreography by Warren Carlyle.

The 92nd Street Y announces casting for the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists™, the Y's legendary American Songbook series. Polly Bergen, Lucie Arnaz, Tom Wopat and Marilyn Maye are among the storied cast members who will sing the songs of Richard Rodgers, Ira Gershwin, Mel Tormé, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson, David Zippel and others. This is the first season curated by new series artistic director DEBORAH GRACE WINER, and her inaugural line-up of guest artistic directors - MARTIN CHARNIN, DAVID ZIPPEL, ROBERT KIMBALL, REX REED, and BILLY STRITCH.

The producers of WEST SIDE STORY have confirmed full casting for the new Broadway production.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer;Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), Off-Broadway's preeminent theater company, honored Tony Award-winning actress Patti LuPone and The Baruch-Routh-Frankel-Viertel Group at this year's Primary Stages 24th Anniversary Gala Benefit which was held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel on Monday, October 27, 2008. The BroadwayWorld cameras were at the ready to bring you all the excitement of the very special event.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), Off-Broadway's preeminent theater company, will honor Tony Award-winning actress Patti LuPone and The Baruch-Routh-Frankel-Viertel Group at this year's Primary Stages 24th Anniversary Gala Benefit to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (109 East 42nd Street) on Monday, October 27, 2008.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

Andrea Martin, Michael Cumpsty and Tony Yazbeck have been cast in On the Town, the opening production of New York City Center's 2008-09 Encores! season, running November 19 - 23. On the Town, the first Broadway musical written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green with a score by Leonard Bernstein, will be directed by John Rando with music direction by Todd Ellison and choreography by Warren Carlyle

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will honor Tony® Award-winner George S. Irving with the 17th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre Monday, December 8th.

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director), Off-Broadway's preeminent theater company, will honor Tony Award-winning actress Patti LuPone and The Baruch-Routh-Frankel-Viertel Group at this year's Primary Stages 24th Anniversary Gala Benefit to be held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel (109 East 42nd Street) on Monday, October 27, 2008.

On the Town, the first Broadway musical with music by Leonard Bernstein and written by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, will open the 2008-2009 Encores! season at New York City Center, running November 19 - 23.

The fifth annual Fall for Dance Festival will run from September 17 - 27, 2008, showcasing 28 national and international companies and choreographers in six unique programs (four programs will be repeated).

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL (NYMF) and EMERGING ARTISTS THEATRE are pleased to announce the New York premiere production of HEAVEN IN YOUR POCKET, directed by Alan Souza.

Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.

THE NEW YORK MUSICAL THEATRE FESTIVAL (NYMF) and EMERGING ARTISTS THEATRE are pleased to announce the New York premiere production of HEAVEN IN YOUR POCKET, directed by Alan Souza.