Burt Bacharach News

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, is pleased to announce the second round of 2011 Edgerton Foundation New American Play awards granted to TCG member theaters across the U.S. The awards, totaling $762,000, allow 22 theaters extra time in the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, helping to extend the life of the play after its first run.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, is pleased to announce the second round of 2011 Edgerton Foundation New American Play awards granted to TCG member theaters across the U.S. The awards, totaling $762,000, allow 22 theaters extra time in the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, helping to extend the life of the play after its first run.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, has just announced the second round of 2011 Edgerton Foundation New American Play awards granted to TCG member theaters across the U.S. The awards, totaling $762,000, allow 22 theaters extra time in the development and rehearsal of new plays with the entire creative team, helping to extend the life of the play after its first run.

With four Tony Awards and two Grammy Awards, the Juilliard-trained Audra McDonald returns to performing live full-time this month following four seasons playing Dr. Naomi Bennett on ABC's hit television series Private Practice. Currently starring alongside Norm Lewis in A.R.T.'s PORGY AND BESS, the Broadway-bound singer will make a stop at Carnegie Hall as a part of her 20-city concert tour across North America. McDonald will present her trademark mix of show tunes, classic songs from movies, and pieces written expressly for her by leading contemporary composers.

The sun came out in Thousand Oaks, CA last week as Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly opened its all new production of the hit musical, Annie. ANNIE also marks the return of Sally Struthers as Miss Hannigan to the Cabrillo stage, having won a Los Angeles Stage Alliance Ovation Award for her performance as the Fairy Godmother in Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella last season. Annie opened Friday, October 14th and continues through Sunday, October 23rd, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. Broadway World TV's Los Angeles Correspondent/Producer Michael Sterling and Associate Producer Jerry Evans of JLE Media Group Inc., spent a day with Ms. Struthers and the Annie company to talk about the world's beloved musical.

Multi-award winning lyricist Hal David will be honored with a musical tribute, in celebration of his 90th birthday, Monday, October 17, at the Music Center of Los Angeles County. 'Love, Sweet Love' features a star-studded evening of music and dining, benefitting The Blue Ribbon of the Music Center and The ASCAP Foundation. Paul Williams will emcee.

Jimmy Webb, Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced the slate of 2012 nominees for induction. The organization, which is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, holds annual elections to determine those who will make up the roster of inductees for the following year.

Kenny G will be In Concert at the historic Balboa Theatre on Friday, October 14 at 8PM.

Bright, sunny, clarion-voiced leading lady Liz Callaway is not only known for her roles in the Broadway productions of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, BABY, CATS, MISS SAIGON and THE LOOK OF LOVE, but also for her string of highly-successful studio albums - among them, the sensational 60s ode THE BEAT GOES ON and the musical theatre-centric THE STORY GOES ON, in addition to last year's superlative PASSAGE OF TIME - and, she is also well-loved for stunning live stage double-bills with her sister, Ann Hampton Callaway - represented on record by SIBLING RIVALRY and, now, the new live album and show all about baby boomers and their sensational music, titled BOOM! In this all-encompassing conversation, Callaway and I parse her predilection for certain composers - Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Stephen Sondheim and many more included - as well as her memories of working with some of the most important musical theatre creators of the twentieth century over the course of her thirty-year career, such as legendary director Hal Prince and Sondheim himself on projects diverse as MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, A STEPHEN SONDHEIM EVENING and FOLLIES: IN CONCERT. Plus, we also talk about Callaway's various musical influences, her childhood, her first Broadway show and first Broadway onstage experience, revisiting MERRILY twenty years later with the entire original cast, live versus studio performing, as well as what's coming up next for her in the coming months and new year - including the Christmas stage spectacular, YULETIDE - and more!

Rideau Vineyards and KMP Experiences invite the public to enjoy a blending of the senses as channeled through the musical virtuosity of Maestro Philip Fortenberry paired with the award-winning wines of Rideau Vineyards.

Marshall Crenshaw has confirmed a one-of-a-kind run at NYC's Iridium on October 29, 30, and 31 to honor the unsung heroes of the Gibson Les Paul guitar. The Iridium was Les Paul's home for more than a decade, so it's only fitting that Crenshaw will perform there with the late guitar giant's band, The Les Paul Trio.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Patti LuPone 'Gypsy In My Soul' for one performance only tonight at 8:00 pm, at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA.

Charismatic and contemptible, Richard III pursues his lust for power no matter who stands in his way. Melora Marshall and Chad Jason Scheppner alternate as the thrilling schemer audiences love to hate in William Shakespeare's Richard III, closing October 2 at the outdoor Will Geer Theatricum Botanicum in Topanga.

The Librarian of Congress, James H. Billington, announced today that Grammy- and Academy-Award-winning songwriters Burt Bacharach and Hal David will join the ranks of Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder, and Paul McCartney as recipients of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song. Bacharach and David each will receive the Library's Gershwin Medal next spring at an all-star tribute in Washington D.C. This will be the fourth time the honor has been awarded and the first time to a songwriting team.

Fifty years after its release, the MGM re-mastered film returns to the big screen in high definition with its original vocals and dialog intact. Experience this classic romantic tragedy and the bitter battle between the Jets and the Sharks as Leonard Bernstein's seminal score, featuring the much loved ‘America', ‘Somewhere' and ‘Tonight', is dramatically brought to life on stage by The Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Jayce Ogren.

FARAH ALVIN & DANIEL MATÉ'S BEECHMAN BIRTHDAY BLOWOUT will take place Tuesday September 27th, 9:30 at Laurie Beechman Theatre (407 W. 42nd Street). Admission by donation ($10 suggested donation) + $15 food/drink minimum. All door proceeds will go to September 11th Families for Peaceful Tomorrows (www.peacefultomorrows.org). Reservations recommended: call 212.695.6909.

Rideau Vineyards and KMP Experiences invite the public to enjoy a blending of the senses as channeled through the musical virtuosity of Maestro Philip Fortenberry paired with the award-winning wines of Rideau Vineyards.