Chita Rivera News

?On Monday, May 4, 2015, The New York Pops celebrates its 32nd birthday with a grand gala evening honoring three-time Tony Award-winning director-choreographer Kathleen Marshall and Academy Award-nominated director-choreographer Rob Marshall. The event will be a true family affair, featuring highlights from the siblings' greatest triumphs in theatre, television, and film.

It's inevitable, like enjoying UCF's hypnotic production, that you'll come face to face with Her kiss. Aurora is her name and playing the dance of death is her game. All I can say is, 'Sorry' to those of you that missed out on UCF's KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN.

Perseverance Theatre (PT) presents the smash hit Chicago with music by John Kander, lyrics by Fred Ebb and book by Fred Ebb and Bob Fosse. Chicago is based off of the Maurin Dallas Watkins play, Chicago. Chicago runs on the Perseverance Theatre Mainstage November 7 - December 7, 2014.

Paper Mill Playhouse has announced casting for its holiday musical, Elf. Based on the 2003 film starring Will Ferrell, Elf has a book by Thomas Meehan and Bob Martin, music by Matthew Sklar and lyrics by Chad Beguelin. Elf will be directed by Eric Ankrim and choreographed by Josh Rhodes.

Matt Yee, that entertainer & artist from Hawaii, & evidence that 'Asian Men Are Huge' brings his Outrageous Adult Sing Along Diva Show 2014! Tonight, October 30 & Saturday Nov 1 to the Laurie Beechman Theater NYC on 42nd St. @ 7pm

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: LIPS TOGETHER, TEETH APART and PUNK ROCK start off-Broadway, and Broadway Green Alliance and BASYIDE! THE MUSICAL! get spooky with Halloween-themed events!

HE JEWISH SPIRIT, a new cd on Sono Luminus (DSL-92182), was released today, October 28, 2014, with Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Clurman with soloists Ron Raines, Bruce Ruben and Michael Slattery.

According to the New York Post, John Kander and Fred Ebb's The Visit, which has been long-rumored for a Broadway run might be on its way to New York in 2015. Michael Riedel writes that book writer Terrence McNally, whose IT'S ONLY A PLAY is currently selling out the Schoenfeld Theatre, might be in the position to acquire funding from the play's producers and a theatre from the Shubert Organization.

Seth Rudetsky's Broadway Concert Series at the Parker Playhouse produced by Mark Cortale will welcome Audra McDonald -- the historic six-time Tony winner and star of Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill, Porgy and Bess, Ragtime, and Master Class as well as TV's Private Practice, on January 8, 2015; followed by Cheyenne Jackson -- star of TV's 30 Rock and Glee and Broadway's Damn Yankees and Xanadu on February 14; and Sutton Foster -- two-time Tony winner for Anything Goes and Thoroughly Modern Millie and star of ABC's Bunheads and the new TV Land series Younger debuting on March 20. Each concert will feature Seth Rudetsky as pianist and host. What differentiates the series from any other is the seamless mix of intimate behind-the-scenes stories from Broadway's biggest stars -- prompted by the encyclopedic-minded Rudetsky's probing, funny, revealing questions -- and their stellar singing of Broadway show tunes.

Today we are talking to a world famous triple-threat star of stage and screen who first shot to fame in the 1980s as the first African American Miss America and found considerable success as a recording artist and actress thereafter, the divine Vanessa Williams. Sharing sage wisdom from her life and career as well as reflecting on many of her most popular properties to date, Williams reveals some of her many secrets to success while also looking ahead to next month's hotly anticipated all-star concert presentation of legendary Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein musical SHOW BOAT, co-starring Julian Ovenden, Norm Lewis, Jane Alexander and many more along with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Ted Sperling. Also, Williams shares her enthusiasm for setting out to create new renditions of some of SHOW BOAT's most noted selections, including 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine'. Additionally, Williams opens up about her multiple musical theatre endeavors highlighting the work of Stephen Sondheim, including the Tony Award-winning 2002 Best Revival production of INTO THE WOODS and the recent original revue SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM. Plus, Williams details her ongoing participation in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, after having starred in the well-received Broadway production last season and now finishing up headlining the Los Angeles production before bringing the drama to Boston. All of that, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN memories, saving Audra McDonald's wedding day and much, much more with one of Broadway's brightest stars!

On this latest (super-exciting!) episode of The Ensemblist, Nikka and Mo interview three Tony-winning composers/lyricists who have created musicals filled with large ensembles. Lynn Ahrens, Stephen Flaherty, and Lin-Manuel Miranda explain how they wrote some of the most memorable ensemble numbers of the past couple of decades. They discuss their inspirations, their support team, how they think of ensembles and ensemblists during the creation process, and what they look for when putting together an ensemble.

Echoes of Etta, the award-winning Etta James Tribute, concludes their 2014 residency on November 6th, 9:30pm at Joe's Pub (425 Lafayette Street). Echoes of Etta was the winner of the 2014 MAC Award for Show of the Year.

?The new musical THE NINE FATHERS OF ARIEL is currently undergoing a New York workshop, concluding with invited rehearsals for industry members on November 6 and 7.

Sonnet Repertory Theatre presents their Twelfth Annual Benefit and Cabaret on Sunday, November 23, at Joe's Pub to honor award-winning actress, CELIA WESTON.

Monday, October 27 at 9:00 pm there will be a special performance at State 72 / The Triad, 158 West 72 Street (just off Broadway). Written and performed by Jon Peterson, "He Wrote Good Songs" is the story of Anthony Newley, the legendary British actor, singer, song-writer, director.

The Broadway @ series originated at its now-famous home in Provincetown, MA in the summer of 2011. Since that time the series, hosted by SiriusXM radio star and pianist Seth Rudetsky and produced by Mark Cortale, has attracted Broadway's biggest stars, such as Patti LuPone, Audra McDonald, Sutton Foster, Megan Hilty, Cheyenne Jackson, Chita Rivera, and many other marquee names. The series has also now leapt to ongoing seasons in New Orleans, Fort Lauderdale, Los Angeles, the Poconos, Woodstock, NY, Hartford, Detroit, as well as Sydney, Australia and London's West End.

When Broadway, TV and film star Cheyenne Jackson made his debut in the Broadway @ The Art House series hosted by Seth Rudetsky this past summer, the Cape Cod Times called him 'a singer with tremendous style' and raved that 'his vocal range goes deep' and 'his dance moves go from sultry to hip-swiveling rock.' On the heels of selling-out all six of his summer shows in Provincetown, Cheyenne Jackson make his debut in the Broadway @ NOCCA series on November 7th at 7:30PM for one show only. SiriusXM radio star Seth Rudetsky will join him as pianist and host. For tickets, visit broadwaynola.com or call 800-838-3006. Broadway @ Nocca is sponsored exclusively by the New Orleans Hotel Collection, Gambit and the Mystic Krewe of Satyricon.

Lisa Renee Jordan, David Margolin Lawson and Betsy Heffron have joined the creative team of BIRDS, Marcina Zaccaria's provocative new play which premieres Today, October 17 at 10PM, kicking off the THIS/THAT Festival at the Brick Theater in Williamsburg, Brooklyn.