Carol Burnett News

Paley Presents will host 'A Celebration of Mary Rodgers' today, July 19, 2014, beginning at 2 pm in New York City.

The Peccadillo Theater Company presents Penguin Rep's production of DROP DEAD PERFECT, a new comedy starring the legendary Everett Quinton at the Theatre at St. Clements (423 W 46th St - between 9th and 10th Avenue) beginning tonight, July 15th, with opening set for Sunday, July 20th at 7PM.

The Peccadillo Theater Company presents Penguin Rep's production of DROP DEAD PERFECT, a new comedy starring the legendary Everett Quinton at the Theatre at St. Clements (423 W 46th St - between 9th and 10th Avenue), which begins previews Tuesday, July 15th. The comedy will open Sunday, July 20th at 7PM. Written by Erasmus Fenn and directed by Joe Brancato, DROP DEAD PERFECT is laced with double-entendres and allusions to 1950s television and Hollywood melodramas. With adult language and situations, this outlandish production is recommended for adults only -- particularly those with a slightly twisted sense of humor.

On a November Saturday afternoon in 2007, I anxiously entered the Hilton Theatre in New York. I love exaggerated, well-conceived and performed farce. I was going to see 'Young Frankenstein' by the king of farce and parody, Mel Brooks. Yes, 'Young Frankenstein,' officially known as 'The New Mel Brooks Young Frankenstein,' was the Broadway follow-up to 'The Producers,' by the comedy madman and his writing sidekick, Thomas Meehan.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein announced today that Tony Award-winning actress, Linda Lavin, will bring her acclaimed show, Possibilities, to Feinstein's at the Nikko for two performances only - Thursday, September 18 (8 p.m.) and Friday, September 19 (8 p.m.). Following her starring role in Too Much Sun - reuniting her with playwright Nicky Silver (The Lyons) - at the Vineyard Theatre, Lavin makes her Feinstein's at the Nikko debut with an eclectic mix of Broadway standards and cabaret songs from her extensive portfolio. Grammy Award-winning composer, famed musical director, and incomparable performer, Billy Stritch, will serve as Musical Director for the evening. Tickets for Linda Lavin range in price from $45 - $60 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Fans of sketch comedy TV shows such as The Red Skeleton Show, the Jackie Gleason Show and the Carol Burnett show will certainly recognize the many farcical vaudeville comedy bits in MAMA WON'T FLY, written by three of the most produced playwrights in America, Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope and Jamie Wooten, and directed by James Rice at Little Fish Theatre in San Pedro.

Due to the overwhelming demand for tickets for the upcoming production of 'Vicki Lawrence & Mama: A Two Woman Show', a matinee performance has been added for Sunday, August 10th at 3pm.

Today we are talking to a remarkably accomplished writer and director who has amassed numerous top entertainment trophies over the course of his long and distinguished career, including multiple Emmy Awards, Tony Awards and even a Grammy - the uniquely talented Martin Charnin. Sharing his thoughts on the forthcoming big screen adaptation of his hit musical property ANNIE as well as previewing what we can expect from the forthcoming 2014-2015 national tour, Charnin also reflects on the original production of the classic Depression-era musical and analyzes why it remains a continual cultural touchstone for generations new and old while also looking ahead to a potential Broadway production of the sequel, written with original composer Charles Strouse, ANNIE WARBUCKS. Also, Charnin touches upon his time as a member of the original cast of iconic musical WEST SIDE STORY and recounts working alongside legends such as Leonard Bernstein, Stephen Sondheim, Arthur Laurents and more. Additionally, Charnin sheds some light on his illustrious string of collaborations with recently deceased composer Mary Rodgers Guettel, ranging from more than 50 songs written as a team to a string of special TV musicals as well as working together on the stage musicals HOT SPOT and THE MADWOMAN OF CENTRAL PARK WEST. Besides of all of that, Charnin also looks back to his heyday as a TV variety special helmer, having created award-winning tributes to a slew of Broadway's best composers and lyricists including George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Cole Porter and many more. Plus, Charnin shares his thoughts on GLEE, how show business has changed, the possible future life for TWO BY TWO and much, much more in this wide-ranging chat with a major Broadway notable.

Paley Presents will host 'A Celebration of Mary Rodgers' on Saturday, July 19, 2014, beginning at 2 pm in New York City.

Bay Street Theater is pleased to announce that the Tony award-winning comedy TRAVESTIES, by Tom Stoppard, is now on stage through July 20. The production is directed by Gregory Boyd. Tickets can be purchased online now at www.baystreet.org or by calling the Box Office at 631-725-9500, 11 am to Showtime. For more information about Bay Street Theater log on to www.baystreet.org.

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, Mary Rodgers Guettel died at her home in Manhattan yesterday morning after a long illness, according to her son Alec Guettel. She was 83 years old. We remember the Broadway legend below.

Today we are saluting a versatile and unique figure in theatre history who grew up as the daughter of one of the most important composers in musical theatre and contributed recognizable and fondly remembered works of her own, as well - Mary Rodgers Guettel.

In True Hollywood, stars-studded fashion, BWW TV Los Angeles Correspondent and Co-Producer Michael Sterling, along with Co-Producer/Videographer Jordan Santacana captured LA's first official day of summer at the historic, world renowned Hollywood Bowl where an audience of 18,000 celebrated the landmark's 93rd season and 15th Annual Hall of Fame to which the delicious concoction of Pink Martini, pop icons the Go-Go's, and Broadway mega star and American treasure Kristin Chenoweth were honored and inducted.

Mary Rodgers Guettel died at her home in Manhattan this morning after a long illness, according to her son Alec Guettel. She was 83 years old.

Goodbye, Varla Jean!? Just like a candle in the wind, Varla Jean Merman is blowing herself out! After what seems like endless years of life on the streets, whoops...life on the road, everyone's favorite drag chanteuse is thinking about packing it in with one final, endless blowout. As always, Varla will bring audiences to their knees with old favorites, new classics, flashy costumes and hair-raising wigs. The big question: Will this old attention whore be able to resist the lure of the spotlight? To find out the answer… Varla Jean Merman's "Relieving Herself" will run from June 30 - August 30 at The Art House in Provincetown, MA. For tickets and information, please visit www.ptownarthouse.com, or call 1-800-838-3006.

When that special song was played it meant so much to us, and it still does. That meaningful song took you back to a special time and a place, when hearing those lyrics and caressing those melodies transported you to a place where only music can take you. Julie Budd now sings… “They Wrote The Songs,” an evening of the greatest songs from the most celebrated writers and beloved entertainers, songs that are the heart of our generation and the soundtracks of our lives. Julie sings selections from Burt Bacharach and Hal David, Elton John, Andrew Lloyd Webber, Barry Manilow, and some songs from great shows like Wicked and The Wiz, along with the great American classic composers. These memories will last forever and so will these songs. Julie Budd will share her memories with you as she explores the grand talents behind the music. Join us in celebrating these songs with nationally-loved Julie Budd, hailed by The New York Times as “The Consummate Performer,” in what is surely to be an evening of warm memories and some of the finest music ever written. These are the songs of our lives. Let's share the memories, as Julie Budd sings “They Wrote The Songs.”

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, June 22, 2014 - Sunday, June 22, 2014.

The Hollywood Bowl hosted its 15th Annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame concert last night, June 21. Emmy and Tony-winner Kristin Chenoweth was inducted by Carol Burnett, her life-long idol. As she made her entrance, Chenoweth paid homage to her by singing the theme song from The Carol Burnett Show. Later in the evening, Chenoweth was joined on stage by Lea Michele, with whom she co-starred with on the television series GLEE in 2009. Chenoweth and Michele sang WICKED's 'For Good' together.