Donald Saddler News

Today we are featuring the luminescent and golden-voiced Melissa Errico and talking to her all about her sumptuous new album LEGRAND AFFAIR - featuring the music of famed Broadway and Hollywood composer Michel Legrand - and how the labor of love five years in the making has finally come to light with this week's highly-anticipated release of the romantic and moving album. In addition to analyzing the process of putting the project together alongside the legendary Legrand, Errico also shares her thoughtful and passionate insights into the many different worlds inherent in the evocative songs themselves - many with lyrics by Barbra Streisand's constant collaborators, Alan and Marilyn Bergman - and how closely Errico worked with album producers Phil Ramone and Richard Jay-Alexander on perfecting the sound, style, mood and final song list of LEGRAND AFFAIR. Additionally, Errico and I also travel back in time and touch upon her many notable stage appearances over the years - including illustrative comments on her Broadway debut in MY FAIR LADY, as well as starring in HIGH SOCIETY, FINIAN'S RAINBOW, DRACULA, Legrand's own AMOUR, and, most recently, WHITE CHRISTMAS - and she also shares her excitement for the upcoming tenth anniversary reunion concert of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at the Kennedy Center in 2012, co-starring Raul Esparza. Plus, news on her forthcoming appearance on Patrick Wilson's A GIFTED MAN on CBS and all the details on her charity organization, Bowery Babes, as well as much, much more!

The legendary choreographer/dancer/theatre director Donald Saddler was awarded the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts' 1st Annual Duke Ellington 'Beyond Category' Award at a special tribute performance last night (Monday, June 13, 2011) in Merkin Concert Hall at the Elaine Kaufman Center in New York City. The award show was a fund-raiser in support of the Duke Ellington Arts Scholarship Fund.

He's baaaaaaaaaack! BOBBY the middle-aged celebrity -- the nvr 2 L8 2 b famous musical, has struck a chord with audiences who find themselves laughing uncontrollably at this hilariously funny, basically one-person musical extravaganza aka workshop.

The legendary choreographer/dancer/theatre director Donald Saddler will receive the Duke Ellington Center for the Arts' 1st Annual Duke Ellington 'Beyond Category' Award at a special tribute performance on Monday, June 13, 2011 at 8 PM in Merkin Concert Hall in the Elaine Kaufman Center, 129 West 67th Street, between Broadway and Amsterdam Avenue. The special award show is a fund-raiser in support of the Duke Ellington Arts Scholarship Fund.

The 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, hosted by Bebe Neuwirth and Lee Roy Reams at the magnificent Skirball Center for The Performing Arts at NYU once again honored excellence in dance and choreography on Broadway and in film. Susan Stroman took top honors for Best Choreographer on Broadway in a field of nine nominees for her stunning work in 'The Scottsboro Boys'. It was a record breaking 5th Astaire Award for the 5 time Tony Award and 5 time Drama Desk winner. Two time Tony Award Winner Bebe Neuwirth presented the award to Ms. Stroman. Sutton Foster star of 'Anything Goes' took home her second Astaire for Best Female Dancer on Broadway for her rousing performance as 'Reno Sweeney'. Her first Astaire was for 'Thoroughly Modern Millie'. Desmond Richardson, Tony nominee for 'Fosse' and co-founder and co-artistic director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet presented the award to Ms. Sutton. First timer Norbert Leo Butz star of 'Catch Me if You Can' took the prize for Best Male Dancer on Broadway presented by Tony and Drama Desk winner Karen Ziemba . Australia's Graeme Murphy and Janet Vernon won the Astaire for Excellence in Choreography in Film for their breathtaking dances in 'Mao's Last Dancer' presented by Tony Award winner Bill Irwin. Legendary dancer, choreographer, teacher and founder of the National Dance Institute Jacques d'Amboise received the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award named for the late drama critic and co-founder of the Award with Fred Astaire. Following a major tribute in dance including a brilliant performance by NYCB's Russell Janzen of a piece from the ballet 'Who Cares' created by George Balanchine and first danced by d'Amboise; an exuberant performance of 'Shall We Dance' by d'Amboise's students at the National Dance Institute and praiseful introductions by Len Cariou, Charlotte & Christopher d'Amboise, Brian Stokes Mitchell presented the award to Mr. d'Amboise.

Patricia Watt, Executive Producer of the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, has announced the first group of Presenters for the 29th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, In addition to Len Cariou and Brian Stokes Mitchell who will co-present the Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award to legendary, dancer, choreographer, teacher and star of stage, film and television Jacques D'Amboise, additional presenters include Bill Irwin, Maurice Hines, Christine Andreas, Charlotte D'amboise, Christopher D'amboise and Karen Ziemba.

The Fred and Adele Astaire Awards will once again recognize excellence in dance on both stage and film. This year's Awards gala will take place May 15,2011 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University, 566 LaGuardia Place) New York City 10019.

Ava Astaire and Patricia Watt have announced the nominating committee for the 2011 Fred & Adele Astaire Awards, the only awards that recognize excellence in dance on Broadway and in film.

Bobby the Middle-Aged Celebrity-- the nvr 2 L8 2 b famous musical opens March 18 at WorkShop Theater Company's JewelBox Theater. Directed by Natalie Mosco, this show is a hilariously funny, basically one-person musical extravaganza, written & composed by & superstarring Bobby, aka Robert I. Rubinsky. With musical direction and sarcasm by Larry Spivack, BOBBY will begin a series of special Friday late-night shows on March 18 through May 27 at the WorkShop Theater Company's (co-producer) Jewel Box Theater, 312 West 36 Street, 4th floor. Showtime is 10:45-ish PM.

Look out Spidey! Mormons, lock up your children! BOBBY, THE MIDDLED-AGED CELEBRIRY--THE NVR 2 L8 2 B FAMOUS MUSICAL, A Work-In-Progress, comes to The Jewel Box Theatre for special Friday late-night shows 10:45-ish PM through May 27.

Bobby the Middle-Aged Celebrity-- the nvr 2 L8 2 b famous musical opens March 18 at WorkShop Theater Company's JewelBox Theater. Directed by Natalie Mosco, this show is a hilariously funny, basically one-person musical extravaganza, written & composed by & superstarring Bobby, aka Robert I. Rubinsky. With musical direction and sarcasm by Larry Spivack, BOBBY will begin a series of special Friday late-night shows on March 18 through May 27 at the WorkShop Theater Company's (co-producer) Jewel Box Theater, 312 West 36 Street, 4th floor. Showtime is 10:45-ish PM.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present a Developmental Lab of Judith Shubow Steir's new musical ONLY A KINGDOM, directed by David Glenn Armstrong, on November 9-12, 2010 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street).

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present a Developmental Lab of Judith Shubow Steir's new musical ONLY A KINGDOM, directed by David Glenn Armstrong, on November 9-12, 2010 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street).

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will present a Developmental Lab of Judith Shubow Steir's new musical ONLY A KINGDOM, directed by David Glenn Armstrong, on November 9-12, 2010 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's, 619 Lexington Avenue (at 54th Street).

A moving history of one of the most harrowing and inspirational chapters of the Civil Rights movement, a behind the scenes look at the 1,400-year-old conflict between Islam and Christianity, an investigation of the unexplainable phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder, and a mash-up of 'Glee' and 'High School Musical' are all part of the wide-ranging lineup of films announced today for inclusion in the International Documentary Association's 14th Annual DocuWeeksTM Theatrical Documentary Showcase.

A moving history of one of the most harrowing and inspirational chapters of the Civil Rights movement, a behind the scenes look at the 1,400-year-old conflict between Islam and Christianity, an investigation of the unexplainable phenomenon of Colony Collapse Disorder, and a mash-up of 'Glee' and 'High School Musical' are all part of the wide-ranging lineup of films announced today for inclusion in the International Documentary Association's 14th Annual DocuWeeksTM Theatrical Documentary Showcase.

On Monday, March 15th at 6pm Tom Jones, creator of the The Fantasticks, will interview dancer and choreographer Marge Champion. Marge and her husband Gower Champion were legendary in the 1950s for their dancing in nightclubs, MGM musicals and on television. More recently, she appeared with her current dance partner, Donald Saddler, in a six-month run in the Broadway revival of Stephen Sondheim's Follies in 2001. In 2007 Ms. Champion, who began her dance career with Walt Disney as the live action model for Snow White, was honored with the Disney Legends Award. Following the interview, there will be a question and answer period.

There will be a Special Screening / Program of 'Keep Dancing' An Afternoon with Marge Champion and Donald Saddler.

There will be two Special Screenings of 'Keep Dancing' Marge Champion and Donald Saddler at the Dance On Camera Festival co-presented by the Dance Film Association and The Film Society of Lincoln Center at the Walter Reade Theatre (Lincoln Center) 165 West 65th Street (upper level bet. Broadway & Amsterdam Ave.).

Ticket are on sale for the two Special Screenings of 'Keep Dancing' Marge Champion and Donald Saddler at the Dance On Camera Festival co-presented by the Dance Film Association and The Film Society of Lincoln Center at the Walter Reade Theatre (Lincoln Center) 165 West 65th Street.