Bob Hope News

Jim Caruso & Billy Stritch return to Bemelmans Bar at The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel with their evening of swinging standards on Sunday, March 10, then running every Sunday in March, from 9:00 p.m. to midnight. The two performers, who have performed extensively on their own, gained national exposure together as the host and musical director of the wildly popular open mic, Cast Party, which celebrates talent every Monday at Birdland in NYC, and tours nationally. During their November run at Bemelmans, the duo received critical acclaim, and made news when rock legend Bono joined them in an impromptu performance. In their upcoming run, Caruso and Stritch will be joined by bassist Steve Doyle.

Singer, recording artist and popular radio personality Joey English stars as Norma Desmond in The Palm Canyon Theatre's "Sunset Boulevard" March 8-24, as part of the PCT's 16th season. The production is directed by Judith Chapman, star of television's "The Young And The Restless". I sat down with Ms. English in her beautiful Palm Springs home to chat about her career, the upcoming production and "all things Joey". Here are a few highlights from that conversation:

Who wrote THEODORA, SHE BITCH OF BYZANTIUM, TIMES SQUARE ANGEL, or VAMPIRE LESBIANS OF SODOM? Don't know? You are not alone. These, and more escapist romps with similar bizarre names, are the products of Charles Louis Busch, an American actor, playwright and female impersonator. Many of his works, including PSYCHO BEACH PARTY, which is now in production at Blank Canvas Theatre, were written specifically as vehicles for Busch and his camp style of acting.

Today we are shifting our focus from the stages of Broadway and beyond to the stages of the previous 84 Academy Awards telecasts that have transpired to date, in anticipation of Sunday night's big, big, big show. After all, this year's Academy Awards is of particular interest and excitement to theatre fans around the globe, especially because super-producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron are behind it - the men responsible for the hit stage-to-screen adaptations of CHICAGO and HAIRSPRAY, as well as the small-screen successes GYPSY, LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME & MY SHADOWS, ANNIE, and, most recently, NBC's musical series SMASH, to name a few of their many marvelous musical-friendly credits. They told me themselves earlier this week that this year's telecast would be the most music-packed Academy Awards show to date, and, just judging from the announced tributes, performers and presenters thus far it is clear to see that they were not kidding - reunions of the casts of the film versions of CHICAGO and LES MISERABLES live onstage, singing their film's most famous songs to Jennifer Hudson leading a DREAMGIRLS tribute all the way to a James Bond 50th anniversary celebration featuring Adele and Shirley Bassey on some famous Bond themes, as well as Barbra Streisand herself singing 'The Way We Were' in memory of friend and collaborator, three-time Oscar-winner Marvin Hamlisch.

The Riviera Casino & Hotel has welcomed some of the funniest people onstage at the Riviera Comedy Club since opening in 1955, from Bob Hope and George Carlin to Gallagher and Andrew Dice Clay.

Largely responsible for the movie musical revolution of the 21st century, setting the stage first with their mega-successful work on TV in the 1990s like GYPSY, CINDERELLA and ANNIE, then, with their feature film entries since - beginning with CHICAGO and continuing with HAIRSPRAY and many more - executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have bridged the gap between Broadway and Hollywood like no other producers - and, all the while, on their own terms. Opening up about a vast array of projects, ranging from the aforementioned modern classic TV musicals all the way through to the films and stage shows - successful revivals of PROMISES, PROMISES and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING included - and their affiliation with NBC's musical drama series SMASH, Zadan and Meron paint a vivid portrait displaying their fierce dedication to the performing arts and desire for excellence in all of their many, many endeavors. Plus, most importantly, Zadan and Meron clue us in on what we can anticipate from this Sunday's Academy Awards telecast, which they are producing - such as their experiences collaborating with controversial triple-threat host Seth MacFarlane, amassing the starriest assortment of musical performers in Oscar history (Barbra Streisand, Adele, Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Hudson among the performers announced so far), creating spectacular tributes to both James Bond in his fiftieth year on film and the modern movie musical revolution (showcasing no less than the reunions of cast members from CHICAGO, DREAMGIRLS and this year's multi-nominated hit LES MISERABLES) as well as what will make this show truly unique. Additionally, Zadan and Meron shed some light on their current and future plans and productions, among them: a BONNIE & CLYDE miniseries for the History Channel starring Emile Hirsch; the currently-running second season of NBC's musical drama series SMASH; two original movie musicals in development and original stage projects, too. All of that, memories of the remarkable LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME & MY SHADOWS, Lifetime's record-breaking broadcast of a new STEEL MAGNOLIAS, comments on DROP DEAD DIVA's recent cancellation, news on the upcoming e-book edition of Zadan's peerless SONDHEIM & CO. biography, the NBC TV version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC starring Carrie Underwood and much, much more!

The National Association of Broadcasters (NAB) announced today that Bob Schieffer, renowned broadcast television journalist for CBS, will receive the NAB Distinguished Service Award (DSA) during the 2013 NAB Show.

The Road to Qatar!, a true new musical comedy, will have three staged 'concert readings' as part of the new Page to Stage Festival at London's Landor Theatre tonight, 16th February 7.30pm and Sunday 17th February 3pm and 7.30pm.

The Road to Qatar!, a true new musical comedy, will have three staged 'concert readings' as part of the new Page to Stage Festival at London's Landor Theatre Saturday 16th February 7.30pm and Sunday 17th February 3pm and 7.30pm.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts presents three unforgettable musical experiences during the month of March (not to mention our previously announced ONSTAGE performances of the Tony Award-winning Spring Awakening) - it's MARCH MADNESS once again and during the month of March, La Mirada Theatre is going to celebrate with the legendary music of the Beatles, Led Zeppelin and some of country music's biggest names.

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater celebrates its 53rd season with an open-ended run of the perennial puppet favorite 'Something To Crow About' beginning performances today, February 2, 2013.

If you watch Samuel Beckett's "Waiting For Godot," you're going to want to think about it. Don't. In the words of the classic play's title, wait. The key to appreciating this much-debated work comes in the audience's willingness to take it as is. Vladimir and Estragon sit by a bare tree, looking for ways to pass the time while they wait for a man named Godot. Time has given us the advantage in that we already know Godot will never appear. You're going to be tempted to dwell on why he doesn't appears and what he represents, and when you actually experience the play for the first time, you're going to want to know who these ridiculously unrealistic characters really are.

S2BN Entertainment and Out of the Blue Enterprises are pleased to announce the Spring 2013 U.S. tour of Super WHY Live: You've Got the Power! Based on the top-rated, Emmy-nominated preschool TV series that airs on PBS KIDS everyday across the U.S., Super WHY Live brings entertainment and education together in an interactive live experience.

Breaking Glass Pictures have announced the March 5 DVD release of Satan's Angel: Queen of the Fire Tassels (SRP $24.99). Angel Walker rose through the ranks of the burlesque scene, bringing to the stage a delectable mix of sex, passion, and the fires of Hell. In Queen of the Fire Tassels, Director Josh Dragotta documents her love for the craft and commitment to the preservation of burlesque.

The USO will bring sci fi and the galactic battles of Star Wars to Marine Corps Air Station Miramar with two, private screenings of the critically acclaimed Cartoon Network series Star Wars: The Clone Wars on Friday, January 18.

One Night With Joan will also tour the UK to 9 theatres: Saturday 6 April, Royal & Derngate, Northampton; Sunday 7 April, The Swan, High?Wycombe; Tuesday 16 April, G Live, Guildford; Wednesday 17 April, Orchard Theatre, Dartford; Friday 19 April, The Anvil, Basingstoke; Saturday 20 April, Town Hall, Birmingham; Sunday 21 April, The Lowry, Salford; Tuesday 23 April, The Arena, St Albans; Wednesday 24 April, The Pavilion, Bournemouth.

The Bob Baker Marionette Theater celebrates its 53rd season with an open-ended run of the perennial puppet favorite 'Something To Crow About' beginning performances February 2, 2013.

Ever been introduced to someone for the first time yet had an overwhelming sense of of having met previously? Ever visited a new city or country yet felt completely at home? How does a child who has never taken a lesson suddenly begin playing the piano with the skill of a virtuoso?

Bay Street Theatre, in association with Historic Films Archive, presents The Legends Series CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR film tonight, December 21 at 8 pm.

The Broadway stars have created a unique entertainment for 'Hanu-Mas,' playing in NY thru the end of the year.