Burl Ives News

The McCallum Theatre presents 'The New Christy Minstrels', with special guest star Barry McGuire for one very special performance, Sunday, November 16, at 3:00pm, Founded by Randy Sparks in 1961, the group's 1962 debut album, 'Presenting the New Christy Minstrels', won a Grammy, remained on the Billboard charts for two years, and scored a hit with 'This Land Is Your Land'. Their 1963 album 'Ramblin' was highlighted by the single 'Green, Green' which climbed the charts and became a hit single. In 2006, the California State Legislature honored The New Christy Minstrels with resolutions from both the Senate and Assembly. Randy Sparks was recognized for his fifty years in the recording industry, and the group was honored for their contributions to the music industry. In 2009, a Golden Palm Star on the Palm Springs Walk of Stars was dedicated to Randy Sparks and The New Christy Minstrels. I had the chance to chat with founder, Randy Sparks, about their upcoming return to The McCallum Theatre and a bit for the history of The New Christy Minstrels. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

The holiday season soars into Kansas City on the nose of Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer: The Musical. The holiday treat opened on Friday November 7 at the Coterie Theatre in Crown Center. Jeff Church directs the musical based on the stop-motion animated television special, which starred the voice of Burl Ives. Timothy Splain provides arrangements and orchestrations with script adaptation by Robert Penola.

CBS's holiday programming this year will be highlighted by the 50th anniversary celebration of the perennial favorite RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER. The festive season, which kicks off with THE THANKSGIVING DAY PARADE ON CBS, will also include festive specials and beloved animated classics.

Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott opened with a roar on Friday September 26 at the Coterie Theatre in Kansas City, Mo. "When you have your hand in the lion's mouth it is best to pat it on the head. . ." The lion is segregation and it is Rosa Parks and the Civil Rights Movement that is patting it on the head. Rosa Parks and the Montgomery Bus Boycott, written by Sue Greenberg, opened the 2014-2015 season for the theater.

The Country Music Association announced today that Hank Cochran, Ronnie Milsap, and Mac Wiseman will become the newest members of the revered Country Music Hall of Fame.

The Reel 13 April schedule opens on April 5 with The Big Country, William Wyler's tale of two feuding ranching families in the American West, for which Burl Ives won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

With the reopening of one of the country's oldest community theaters and some unique staging in unexpected venues, New Orleans' historic French Quarter will pulse with productions of Tennessee Williams' works, as well as some inspired by or dedicated to the legendary playwright and his life in the city he considered his "spiritual home."

There's nothing mundane about Charlie Greene. Born the son of a touring singer/songwriter and recording artist, the grandson of a big band leader from the 40's and 50's, and the great-grandson of a front-porch, Georgia banjo player, music is in his blood.

Born the son of a touring singer/songwriter and recording artist, the grandson of a big band leader from the 40's and 50's, and the great-grandson of a front-porch, Georgia banjo player, music is in Charlie Greene's blood.

Born the son of a touring singer/songwriter and recording artist, the grandson of a big band leader from the 40's and 50's, and the great-grandson of a front-porch, Georgia banjo player, music is in Charlie Greene's blood.

After acclaimed premieres in Hollywood and Chicago, CHRISTMAS SMACKDOWN makes it highly anticipated New York Premiere. Written by Mark Nutter (Re-Animator: The Musical, Bicycle Men) and Cynthia Carle (The Sixth Man), performances begin December 19 at The Laurie Beechman Theater (inside West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd Street -- at Ninth Avenue, accessible from the A,C,E,N,R,V,F,1,2,3 trains at 42nd Street). This limited engagement runs for 2 nights only: Thursday, Dec. 19 & Friday, Dec. 20 at 7:30pm. Tickets are $20 plus a $15 food/drink minimum. To purchase tickets call 212-352-3101 or visit www.SpinCycleNYC.com.

Music Choice kicks off its continued holiday coverage starting on Friday, November 29, 2013 with nonstop holiday music on additional music channels.

The navigational prowess of 'the most famous reindeer of all' will again illuminate Santa Claus' way into the Christmas season, on a rebroadcast of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, tonight, Tuesday, Nov. 26 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network.

CBS's holiday programming, which kicks-off with RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, will also include music specials, perennial holiday favorites and holiday-themed episodes of NCIS, CSI: CRIME SCENE INVESTIGATION, THE BIG BANG THEORY, TWO AND A HALF MEN, THE MILLERS and HAWAII FIVE-0.

Below, we bring you a photo flashback of the marquee at the Music Box Theatre for the 2003 Broadway revival, featuring Ashley Judd, Jason Patric, Ned Beatty and Margo Martindale.

An Atlanta native, Charlie Greene is a guitarist and pianist in addition to a singer/songwriter and his writing and musical influences are as diverse as his songs; from Harry Nilsson, Merle Haggard, Ornette Coleman and Burl Ives to Chopin's Nocturnes and Charles Bukowski, his style is a unique blend that defies categorization yet commands attention with a disarming show of lyrical firepower. To hear it for yourself, listen to Charlie's latest track 'Lost & Found' below!

Originating from a long line of musicians, singer/songwriter Charlie Greene was born the son of a touring singer/songwriter and recording artist, the grandson of a big band leader from the 40's and 50's, and the great-grandson of a front-porch, Georgia banjo player.

World-class jazz pianist Hal Schaefer died this past Saturday morning, December 8, at his home in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He was 88 years old and still active.

The navigational prowess of 'the most famous reindeer of all' will again illuminate Santa Claus' way into the Christmas season, on a rebroadcast of RUDOLPH THE RED-NOSED REINDEER, Friday, Dec. 14 (8:00-9:00 PM, ET/PT) on the CBS Television Network. (Originally broadcast on CBS 12/8/72 after an eight-year run on another network.)