Ethel Merman News

Drag icon Varla Jean Merman brings her latest one-woman show Stand By Your Drag to the Catalina Jazz Club for one night only April 23, 2024. Varla Jean found time after her Palm Springs engagement to answer a few of my queries. 

At Chelsea Table + Stage, Klea Blackhurst 'Box Set' shows are continuing to draw crowds and bring smiles. Songs of Vernon Duke were on the bill in April, and May 5 will find her saluting Jerry Herman.

CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE will present the return of Klea Blackhurst in “The Box Set,” a fantastic season-long retrospective of the celebrated theater and concert artist’s acclaimed shows. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Singer Klea Blackhurst has long been doing tribute shows rich in song and Broadway history. Now, starting this Sunday, April 14th at 7 pm, Blackhurst will be revisiting each of these shows in a season-long series of “The Box Set” at Chelsea Table + Stage, starting this Sunday with “Autumn in New York: Vernon Duke’s Broadway.”

THE GREEN ROOM 42 will present international NYC Glam Award-winning drag star Sutton Lee Seymour for two shows in May. Learn how to purchase tickets.

FOLLIES, Stephen Sondheim, and James Goldman’s legendary production will be brought to life in a spectacular performance featuring a 45-person cast, including 12 of Las Vegas’s original showgirls. The limited-run engagement will be a star-studded affair at Access Showroom at Aliante Casino + Hotel + Spa, April 11-14.

The Depression and World War II eras didn't stop Broadway from being filled with big shows and songs worth hearing again and again. Hear about what can be heard in a BroadwayWorld write-up.

CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE will present the return of Klea Blackhurst in “The Box Set,” a fantastic season-long retrospective of the celebrated theater and concert artist’s acclaimed shows. Learn how to purchase tickets.

Lizzy & the Triggermen, a 10-piece jazz band helmed by Lizzy Shapiro, delights in infusing swing era music with a modern sound – “Duke Ellington meets Amy Winehouse,” as Shapiro describes it. They’ll be making a stop at Joe’s Pub for a double-header on April 6th. Shapiro and I spoke about the upcoming show, the origins of the band, and more.

The York Theatre Company will present a developmental reading of Merman. Learn more about the reading!

This time, the reader question was: How often is a musical revived on Broadway directed by its original director?

Available for the first time in the nearly 60 years since they were introduced, the four 1960s vocal albums from Lainie Kazan are now streaming on all digital platforms.

We all have someone that we look up to - for some, it’s a parent. For others, it’s a friend. But for Frank (Andy Moss), it’s divas - Marie Lloyd, Julie Andrews, Ethel Merman, Judy Garland, Agnetha Faltskog and Dusty Springfield, to be precise.

Musical comedy history roared to life when Klea Blackhurst brought the songs and sass and stories of Ethel Merman. The tables were full, the stage was filled with energy at Chelsea Table + Stage. She's coming back there with a survey of songwriter Vernon Duke on April 14 and Jerry Herman later this spring.

This reviewer was completely overwhelmed by Carole Bufford’s resounding voice at her YOU DON’T OWN ME - THE FEARLESS FEMALES OF THE 1960’s show on March 14, 2024.

THE GREEN ROOM 42 will present the return of chanteuse Niki Haris in her show “Grown Ass Woman” for two performances on Friday, April 5 and Saturday, April 6 at 7:00 PM.

The Green Room 42 will present Nicole Parker, currently playing Celine Dion in the Off-Broadway hit Titaníque, as Jillane Jenkins in “Suitcase Full of Lies”. Learn more about the performance and see how to purchase tickets.

For folks of “a certain age” (which I am not telling if I do or do not fall into that category), prolific songwriter and performing artist Carole King provided what could be the official soundtrack to their adolescence.  For those who have not quite crossed that age threshold, you would be surprised how well her music has endured and firmly taken its place in the American songbook, speaking to multiple generations with songs of hope, love and all that comes after.

La MaMa's “Experiments Play Reading Series” will present the first public reading of Paul Iacono's new play HIGH PRIEST for one night only. Learn more about the play and see how to purchase tickets.

CHELSEA TABLE + STAGE will present vocalist Jaye Maynard in a special show “Bird Amongst the Blossom: A Tribute to the Blossom Dearie Songbook. Learn more about the show and see how to purchase tickets.