Charles Strouse News

North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) presents ANNIE, now playing through July 29. Press night was held last night, July 18, and BroadwayWorld has a first look at the photos below.

The Warner Stage Company's ends its 2011-2012 Season with the much loved family musical ANNIE, July 28-August 5 on the Warner Main Stage. Winner of seven Tony Awards, ANNIE is based upon the popular Harold Gray comic strip Little Orphan Annie, with music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Martin Charnin.

Renowned animal trainer William Berloni will announce the dog that will play the role of Sandy in Broadway's new production of ANNIE on NBC'S "Today Show" on Thursday, July 19 in the 9:00 AM hour (ET).

Musical memoir CONFESSIONS OF OLD LADY #2, spiced with songs, is presented by well-seasoned Broadway and Hollywood actress Joan Shepard at the Fringe. At the age of 7 she was on Broadway, cast by Laurence Olivier. This prominent child actress has never looked back.

"Leapin' Lizards!" ANNIE, one of the best-loved family musicals of all time, takes center stage at North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) from tonight, July 17, through Sunday, July 29. Press night is scheduled for Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30pm.

Just yesterday BroadwayWorld reported that Broadway star and Academy Award winner Celeste Holm has died. She was 95. We pay tribute to Holm with photos from her career below.

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has announced the full cast of BYE BYE BIRDIE, the Tony Award-winning 1960s rock 'n' roll-inspired musical parody of what happens to a small Midwestern community when an Elvis-like singing sensation swings through town looking for one last kiss before entering the Army. Bye Bye Birdie runs today, July 13 through July 22 in the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham.

Today we are talking to a celebrated comedienne and actress known for her decades-spanning career on screens and stages large and small - from making her Broadway debut in the original Jerome Robbins production of GYPSY on Broadway in 1960 to her many musical roles throughout the 60s to her countless game show and variety show appearances following that all the way to creating an unforgettable character in MOONSTRUCK in the 1980s, as well as her subsequent oft-Neil Simon stage work; now, playing Tina Fey's sweet and daffy mom on NBC's 30 ROCK and, most recently, appearing in Nora & Celia Ephron's LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE and the Playwright's Horizons premiere production of THE BIG MEAL in the new millennium - the one of a kind Anita Gillette. Analyzing her nearly sixty-year career and sharing candid stories of her brushes with some of Broadway and Hollywood's brightest talents - Jule Styne to Ethel Merman to Irving Berlin to Burt Lancaster and beyond - Gillette paints a vivid portrait of the tail end of the Golden Age of Broadway and the heady game show days of TV in the 1960s and 70s to her lauded stage work with Neil Simon and many of the great comedy and musical writers in the years since. Additionally, Gillette and I discuss her current essaying of the role of Mae Peterson in the new Regal Music Theatre production of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams's BYE BYE BIRDIE in Massachusetts as she looks towards opening night tomorrow and relates her joy in participating in a production that has some behind-the-scenes help by her loving granddaughter (while another attends their summer camp). Plus, Gillette's observations on sharing a soundstage with Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Elaine Stritch and Buck Henry for a recent 30 ROCK shoot, reflections on her fondest and most celebrated comedy roles, hilarious memories of appearing in some short-running flops (JIMMY, SKYSKRAPER) as well as in some big hits (GYPSY), her upcoming series of master classes titled "Life In The Business", her return to Birdland with her concert show, AFTER ALL, her role in an upcoming Ed Burns film and maybe even a role in a new Alexander Payne film - all of that, all about attending the Diamond Jubilee celebration in the United Kingdom and much, much more!

New Musical Based on George Eliot's Silas Marner to be Featured at Prestigious NYMF Festival

On Sunday July 1 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal Kritzerland presented its monthly salute to a composer, July's being renowned lyricist/librettist Alan Jay Lerner. If you remember, My Fair Lady with lyrics by Lerner and music by Frederic Loewe, was one of the most popular musicals in the world and its original cast album sold more copies internationally than any other musical show for over a year. Then there were the flops such as Lolita My Love, 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, Carmelina and Dance a Little Closer. Kritzerland likes to present some of the more beautiful songs that would otherwise be forgotten because their fate was to be part of a turkey. With wonderful Shelley Markham as musical director, Bruce Kimmel assumed his monthly position at the pulpit with great singing guests Kim Huber, Jane Noseworthy, Chelsea Emma Franko - winner of this year's LA's Next Great Stage Star 2012, Gordon Goodman, Dennis Kyle and special guest Andrea Marcovicci.

"Leapin' Lizards!" ANNIE, one of the best-loved family musicals of all time, takes center stage at North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) from Tuesday, July 17, through Sunday, July 29. Press night is scheduled for Wednesday, July 18 at 7:30pm.

The Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival's 21st season opens Friday with Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street, and features William Michals and Dee Roscioli, two Broadway actors, as Sweeney Todd and Mrs. Lovett respectively.

The tale of Little Orphan Annie will come to life at the Glendale Centre Theatre in Glendale, CA for 30 performances May 17 through June 30, 2012. Concurrent with Annie celebrating its 35th anniversary this year as America's most beloved musical, the Glendale Centre Theatre (GCT) also celebrates its 65 th year as the oldest, continuously operating theatre in the United States.

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has announced the full cast of BYE BYE BIRDIE, the Tony Award-winning 1960s rock 'n' roll-inspired musical parody of what happens to a small Midwestern community when an Elvis-like singing sensation swings through town looking for one last kiss before entering the Army.

The Public Theater (Artistic Director Oskar Eustis; Executive Director Patrick Willingham) will take its MOBILE SHAKESPEARE UNIT on tour again this July with a production of RICHARD III, directed by Amanda Dehnert. The three-week tour, July 16 to August 3, will bring free Shakespeare to audiences who have limited or no access to the arts before a sit-down run at The Public Theater, August 6-25. Tickets for Richard III at The Public are $15 and go on sale July 12.

Kritzerland Upstairs at Sterling's presents The Alan Jay Lerner Album Sunday, July 1, 2012 - 7:00 pm. Get a first look at the show's stars below!

For those living under a rock or if you happen to have missed my story last fall on Annie casting, the little orphan with big dreams and red hair is coming back to Broadway this fall. Annie begins previews October 3rd at the Palace Theatre and tickets are now on sale.

ANNIE, the new production of the classic Tony Award-winning musical, is now on sale. ANNIE, which features a Tony Award-winning score by Charles Strouse and Martin Charnin and a Tony Award-winning book by Thomas Meehan, will be directed by three-time Tony Award-winner James Lapine and choreographed by Tony Award-winner Andy Blankenbuehler. The production begins previews on October 3 at the Palace Theatre (1567 Broadway at 47th Street). Opening night is Thursday, November 8.