Cy Coleman News

Reprise Theatre Company presents Barry Manilow in Concert for one performance only on Tuesday, March 22 at 8:00 pm, at UCLA's Royce Hall. This special event is presented by Reprise Theatre Company as its Annual Gala Performance. Ticket sales from Barry Manilow in Concert support Reprise's mission to produce musical theatre of the highest artistic quality and to make this art form accessible to new audiences through education and outreach programs.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

This brand new weekly open mic night is highly recommended for show-tune lovers, Broadway enthusiasts, 'Gleeks', fans of Charles Nelson Reilly, and anyone who ever wanted to do their own dream ballet. Come join us and pay homage to the old Village Gate, a nightclub/theater that opened in the late 50's and premiered a number of Off-Broadway shows, including Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, in 1968!

This brand new weekly open mic night is highly recommended for show-tune lovers, Broadway enthusiasts, 'Gleeks', fans of Charles Nelson Reilly, and anyone who ever wanted to do their own dream ballet. Come join us and pay homage to the old Village Gate, a nightclub/theater that opened in the late 50's and premiered a number of Off-Broadway shows, including Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris, in 1968!

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to the best in current songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Three is a Grammy Awards fest, as three of the four acts are current and past nominees. On February 2nd one can experience life in the Piedmont hills of the Carolinas via the vibrant sound of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. This three-piece string band plays old-time roots music with virtuoso playing of the banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, jug and more. Next up is the crown princess of bossa nova, Bebel Gilberto. Gilberto has taken classic bossa nova rhythms and mixed them with modern pop - for a sound that is up for a Grammy this year. On February 4th perennial Grammy nominee Joan Osborne will perform an emotionally-charged work she has written with Jack Petruzzelli: Love and Hate - A Song Cycle. On February 5th, actress/singer Anika Noni Rose, a Tony winner for Caroline, Or Change, will make her eagerly-anticipated solo concert debut.

Alice Kinsella & Deborah Sharn debut their new cabaret show in an evening of great music with a dash of humor, schmaltz and poignant moments with classic standards by Cy Coleman, Kander & Ebb; classic songs by Vicki Carr and Bobbie Gentry, and hot new songwriters Heisler & Goldrich... just to name a few.

Relive the romance and intrigue of film noir, and the glitz and glamour of the Golden Age of Hollywood. Surfside Players, Cocoa Beach, is proud to announce open auditions for its spring musical, CITY OF ANGELS, Winner of the 1990 Tony Award for Best Musical. Music by Cy Coleman (Sweet Charity), lyrics by David Zippel (The Goodbye Girl), and book by Larry Gelbart (M*A*S*H).

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

Junior Mendez, Luba Mason and Robert Cuccioli star in the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh musical Wildcat, which was presented last night, December 19 in Manhattan to benefit the Actors Fund. The event was held at The Julia Miles Theatre at the Women's Project. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.

The wistful ballad "That's What I Want (For Janie)," in which Wildcat describes her dreams forherself and her sister, has been restored for the Theatrical Gems production of the CyColeman-Carolyn Leigh musical Wildcat, presented December 19 in Manhattan to benefitthe Actors Fund.

Junior Mendez, a recent Florida State graduate, has been hand-picked to star in Wildcat alongsideLuba Mason and Robert Cuccioli in the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh musical Wildcat, presented December 19 in Manhattan to benefit the Actors Fund.

In this super special edition installment of FLASH FRIDAY, we are taking a look at this weekend's featured performer on BroadwayWorld, the incandescent star of stage and screen, known for his roles in everything from Shakespeare to Sondheim to Pinter and Mamet, the one and only Raul Esparza. We have some of his personally chosen favorite moments from his career, as well as some highlights from his phoenix-like rise to the very top of Broadway. Sondheim and SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE to "There's A Sucker Born Every Minute", TABOO, CAROUSEL and more, this column is a perfect compliment to the exhaustive, 10,000 word interview with Raul Esparza, his most comprehensive interview to date, available only on BroadwayWorld. Also, we even have a preview of what we can expect in his upcoming emceeing duties and performance at this year's ASTEP CHRSTMAS IN NEW YORK benefit, with his inimitable performance of "O Holy Night", which is available in pristine audio form on the stupendous album on Sh-K-Boom.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Two starts on January 26th with a tribute to arguably the greatest songwriting team in American Songbook history: the brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Conductor, arranger and pianist (as well as Artistic Director of the Gershwin centenary) Rob Fisher will lead Victoria Clark (Tony winner for Light in the Piazza) and Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, The Little Mermaid) in a night of gorgeous Gershwin. On January 27th singer/songwriter Shara Worden (from the group My Brightest Diamond) performs her unique blend of vocal music that has her pegged as a star to watch. Week Two closes out with gritty veteran John Doe singing 'real' country, with all its understated empathy and rough poetry. Pfizer is a proud sponsor of Lincoln Center's American Songbook 2011.

In Orange County, several local theaters big and small are presenting a plethora of yuletide-themed shows designed to put you in an even more festive mood-certainly a welcome break from all the parties and all that shopping you'll surely be busy with, of course. There are also many non-Holiday related presentations debuting or playing this month that will make great holiday gifts for the theater lovers in your midst. Whether you're looking for traditional fare or something a bit more quirky and off the beaten path, you will likely find something that will suit your tastes.

The wistful ballad "That's What I Want (For Janie)," in which Wildcat describes her dreams forherself and her sister, has been restored for the Theatrical Gems production of the CyColeman-Carolyn Leigh musical Wildcat, presented December 19 in Manhattan to benefitthe Actors Fund.

Further casting has been announced for (re:) Directions Theatre Company's upcoming benefit concert of the rarely-seen Seesaw. RTC previously announced stars Celina Carvajal (Toxic Avenger, Tarzan, Dracula) as Gittel Moscal, Kilty Reidy (Drowsy Chaperone, In My Life) as Jerry Ryan, Ben Cameron (Wicked, Aida, Footloose) as David, Erik Sisco (Stonewall Sensation Winner) as Oscar and LaDonna Burns as Sophie.

Despite being a lesser-known composer to the average joe than, say, Bacharach or Mancini, Cy Coleman irrefutably built a solid, prolific career in popular music, which later led to an even more successful string of hits on the Broadway stage. In what is essentially a biographical history lesson set to his music, BROADWAY UP CLOSE & PERSONAL: A TRIBUTE TO CY COLEMAN--now performing through December 12 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center's Samueli Theater--combines an entertaining cabaret showcase with a truly engrossing symposium teaching Coleman 101. The show is hosted by Michael Kerker and Tony Winner David Zippel and features Broadway stars Jenifer Lewis, Jason Graae, and Tami Tappan Damiano.

Four of musical theater's brightest talents offer behind-the-scenes tales and the magical music of a true legend in Broadway Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Cy Coleman. Beloved songs from Cy Coleman's award-winning shows including Sweet Charity, City of Angels and The Will Rogers Follies and songs such as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best is Yet to Come' will be performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center December 9 - 12 in this heartfelt and personal tribute to the life and incredible work of this great American artist. The show features Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel, who collaborated with Coleman on City of Angels; Center favorite Jason Graae, whose special way around a song has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, the Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and the Rainbow Room; Jenifer Lewis, who has starred in numerous Broadway productions as well as movies and television and the multi-talented Tami Tappan Damiano, who has appeared on stages all over the world.

Four of musical theater's brightest talents offer behind-the-scenes tales and the magical music of a true legend in Broadway Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Cy Coleman. Beloved songs from Cy Coleman's award-winning shows including Sweet Charity, City of Angels and The Will Rogers Follies and songs such as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best is Yet to Come' will be performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center December 9 - 12 in this heartfelt and personal tribute to the life and incredible work of this great American artist. The show features Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel, who collaborated with Coleman on City of Angels; Center favorite Jason Graae, whose special way around a song has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, the Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and the Rainbow Room; Jenifer Lewis, who has starred in numerous Broadway productions as well as movies and television and the multi-talented Tami Tappan Damiano, who has appeared on stages all over the world.

Four of musical theater's brightest talents offer behind-the-scenes tales and the magical music of a true legend in Broadway Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Cy Coleman. Beloved songs from Cy Coleman's award-winning shows including Sweet Charity, City of Angels and The Will Rogers Follies and songs such as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best is Yet to Come' will be performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center December 9 - 12 in this heartfelt and personal tribute to the life and incredible work of this great American artist. The show features Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel, who collaborated with Coleman on City of Angels; Center favorite Jason Graae, whose special way around a song has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, the Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and the Rainbow Room; Jenifer Lewis, who has starred in numerous Broadway productions as well as movies and television and the multi-talented Tami Tappan Damiano, who has appeared on stages all over the world.