Carol Channing News

Broadway's cuddliest cast kicks off a new year with the 14th edition of THE BROADWAY BEARS auction on Sunday, March 6, 2011 at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill (237 West 42 Street), produced by and benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Join Emcee Bruce Vilanch, Davis Gaines and former HELLO DOLLY!, DOLLY's Carole Cook, JoAnne Worley and evening's host Phyllis Diller and others as they come together to honor Broadway's original DOLLY with memories, humorous storytelling and, of course, several of her signature tunes. An unplugged evening that follows a simple format, as the Los Angeles theatrical community features three time TONY Award-winner CAROL CHANNING on center stage to celebrate her 90th birthday with one of their highly acclaimed concert series entitled MUSICAL MONDAYS - A series of Cabaret events in the lobby of the historic Pantages Theatre. Produced by John Bowab and Martin Wiviott, the intimate concerts has featured some of theatre's finest performers including Brian Stokes Mitchell, Melissa Manchester, Peter Gallagher, Valarie Pettiford, Alice Ripley, Emily Skinner, Sam Harris and Stephen Schwartz. Proceeds from this evenings benefit will go towards The Dr. Channing/ Kullijian Foundation for the Arts and The Actors Fund's comprehensive programs and services.

Broadway star Davis Gaines, who has performed the title role in Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera over 2,000 times, will present Music of the Night: An Evening with Davis Gaines, an intimate concert to benefit SOSMentor, a not-for-profit organization fighting childhood obesity.

Rita McKenzie, one of Broadway, Hollywood and television's most versatile actresses, returns to Southern California in her internationally acclaimed tour de force show, ETHEL MERMAN'S BROADWAY, which re-creates the life and times of Ethel Merman, the Queen of Broadway's Golden Age.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Working,' the Grammy Awards, 'Les Miserables,' 'Smash,' Karen Mason, 'Ruthless!,' Betty Garrett, more....

Rita McKenzie, one of Broadway, Hollywood and television's most versatile actresses, returns to Southern California in her internationally acclaimed tour de force show, ETHEL MERMAN'S BROADWAY, which re-creates the life and times of Ethel Merman, the Queen of Broadway's Golden Age.

The Bickford Theatre, 6 Normandy Heights Road in Morristown, NJ, opens its 2011 "A La Carte Series" on Sunday, March 6, at 2:00 p.m. with Hooray for Hollywood: Celebrating the Golden Years at the Movies! with Broadway veteran Gay Willis.

The 27th Annual Southland Theatre Artists Goodwill Event-S.T.A.G.E.-will be dedicated to the memory of musical-comedy star and long-time Event Co-Chair Betty Garrett who died Saturday at the age of 91. ORIGINAL CAST 2, a musical celebration showcasing artists from theatre, television and cabaret performing songs they originated in musical productions, will take place for one-night-only on Saturday, April 2. Garrett, who appeared in 22 previous S.T.A.G.E events, was preparing to perform a number in this year's show from 'Something for the Boys,' in which she appeared on Broadway in 1943 with Ethel Merman. A musical retrospective honoring Garrett is now being planned as part of this year's show.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, February 13, 2011 - Sunday, February 13, 2011.

A little know fact is that Carol Channing was Betty's roommate in the early days of their careers, before either of them became successful. About Betty's death, Carol had this to say 'No one could have had a dearer sweeter more unselfish roommate than Betty Garrett. To save me after I was fired from the Borstht Circuit (Camp Cataminm), she kept encouraging me. She was gorgeously talented and funny herself. My deep gratitude goes with her.'

Carol Channing has seen her friend Richard Skipper don the dresses, wigs, and make up that transform him into one of the premiere Channing impersonators in America. But when he comes to visit her this week to celebrate his birthday, Carol requested he do a special show as himself - and how could he say no to Carol? It took some last minute planning with local producer Les Michaels to make it happen, but on Sunday, February 13th at 8 PM, Richard will take the stage at Blame It On Midnight in Palm Springs in 'To Carol Channing With Love', benefitting The Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts, to help raise awareness to the devastating cuts in music and arts programs in our public schools.

Lights! Cameras! Action! Ready, or not, the bus chock full of celebrity impersonators is headed to Las Vegas! International Celebrity Images will present The 20th Annual Production of THE REEL AWARDS, an entertaining two and a half-hour tongue in cheek parody, homage, spoof and tribute to the real Academy Awards, as well as the 11th Celebrity Impersonators Convention at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino

Following six weeks of fierce competition among 20 of California's finest young musical theatre performers, LA's Next Great Stage Star 2011 celebrated Judy Mora's outstanding victory at the 5th annual competition's glittering Finale on Sunday, February 6, presented by Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's, the most critically acclaimed, award-winning supper club of its kind in greater Los Angeles. Runners up included San Francisco's Michael David (2nd place); Matthew McFarland (3rd place); Emily Goglia (4th place); and Reba Buhr (5th place). Broadway World's Dean Butler was there to capture the three and a half hour event ... off and on stage - which also included a Special Guest Star performance by musical theatre, television star and pop composer/singer Blake McIver Ewing.

Boomermania Productions is thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of a brand new musical, BOOMERMANIA - The Musical about the Baby Boomers!, written and directed by Debbie Kasper & Pat Sierchio, with choreography by Edward Carignan, musical direction by Mary Ekler and produced by Michael Anthony Gremo.

Carol Channing has seen her friend Richard Skipper don the dresses, wigs, and make up that transform him into one of the premiere Channing impersonators in America. But when he comes to visit her this week to celebrate his birthday, Carol requested he do a special show as himself - and how could he say no to Carol? It took some last minute planning with local producer Les Michaels to make it happen, but on Sunday, February 13th at 8 PM, Richard will take the stage at Blame It On Midnight in Palm Springs in 'To Carol Channing With Love', benefitting The Dr. Carol Channing and Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts, to help raise awareness to the devastating cuts in music and arts programs in our public schools.

Boomermania Productions is thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of a brand new musical, BOOMERMANIA - The Musical about the Baby Boomers!, written and directed by Debbie Kasper & Pat Sierchio, with choreography by Edward Carignan, musical direction by Mary Ekler and produced by Michael Anthony Gremo.

Tony winning Broadway legend Carol Channing will be honored at the LIGHT OF HOPE AWARDS on February 5, 2011 at The Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Palm Springs, California for her outstanding work with The Dr. Carol Channing And Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts in advocating for arts education in all public schools across the nation. The 'Night At The Movies' Gala will star Tony Nominated stage, film and television actress Jonelle Allen and the nationally renowned young performing group, The Kids Next Door. Proceeds from the event will benefit Christophers Clubhouse, a non profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering children, parents and communities to keep children safe from predatory crimes.

Boomermania Productions is thrilled to present the West Coast Premiere of a brand new musical, BOOMERMANIA - The Musical about the Baby Boomers!, written and directed by Debbie Kasper & Pat Sierchio, with choreography by Edward Carignan, musical direction by Mary Ekler and produced by Michael Anthony Gremo.

Following the success of the 2002 Actors Fund Benefit in which stars such as Idina Menzel, Sutton Foster, Ricki Lake and more played the iconic lead role in FUNNY GIRL, the Actors Fund presents a Los Angeles edition on March 14th.

The year 1921 was a busy one. Albert Einstein was lecturing in New York about his new Theory of Relativity, Charlie Chaplin's movie The Kid was released, Babe Ruth became the all time HR champ with #120, New York's Walter Kerr Theater opened, Turkey made peace with Armenia, President Harding dedicated the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier in Arlington Cemetery, Eugene O'Neill's Anna Christie received its premiere on the Great White Way and on January 31st in California, Broadway legend Carol Channing was born. That's right. This inimical Broadway personality is celebrating her 90th birthday these days!