Ethel Merman News

THE LAST SHIP - the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting and book by Tony Award winner John Logan and Pulitzer Prize-winner Brian Yorkey opened October 26. The Last Ship is directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello and choreographed by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Steven Hoggett. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the cast's Gypsy Robe ceremony last night and brings you pictures from the sacred event below!

Bucks County Playhouse opens up its stage to the star power talent with the National Tour of BALLROOM WITH A TWIST this November 4th. Audiences are invited to experience the unique and live thrill of witnessing pros from Dancing with the Stars, American Idol and So You Think You Can Dance move together now all on one stage at the Playhouse.

Recognizable stage and screen star Anita Gillette returns to the Birdland with her new solo show AFTER ALL... AND FURTHERMORE tonight.

When ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa's "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue" opens November 9th at the 13th Street Repertory Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC), it will include some Berlin rarities and rediscoveries unheard in a century, including some never-recorded Berlin numbers.

Cleveland Play House (CPH) will host their 18th Hall of Fame Luncheon on Thursday, November 6th in downtown Cleveland. The 2014 honorees have impacted the success of CPH through their wide-ranging achievements. This year's recipients include Joe Garry, George Gund II, Maeve McGuire, and June Squibb. Receiving the Heritage Award for his contributions to CPH will be Nelson Isekeit. Honorary Co-Chairs for the event are long-time CPH supporters Bob Blattner and Betty Fredman.

Catch Anita Gillette's brand new solo show!

Bitten by the theatre bug at a tender age, Eddie Shapiro ranks top billing among the highest echelons of the Broadway and theatre obsessed.

2Y announces casting for Lyrics & Lyricists 2015, the 45th season of the acclaimed American Songbook series. Cady Huffman, Liz Callaway, Kate Baldwin, Peter Cincotti and Jason Danieley are among the performers interpreting the works of Stephen Sondheim; Irving Berlin; Sheldon Harnick; and such songwriters as Cole Porter, Duke Ellington and Leonard Bernstein, who so eloquently illuminated New York City's essence in song. Mitzi Gaynor makes a special guest appearance for the show on Hollywood's Leading Ladies - only the fourth time the legendary entertainer has performed in New York City.

Long after the curtain rings down on the Algonquin's near-perfect production two names will stick in your mind: Irving Berlin (natur'lly) and Carter Calvert, the Broadway star who brings Annie Oakley vividly to life on the Manasquan stage.

59E59 Theaters will welcome The Directors Company with ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR, written by Robert Callely and directed by Michael Parva. ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR begins performances on Friday, November 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 14. Press Opening is Thursday, November 20 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Please note, there is no performance on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving). Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

The new Broadway revival of On The Town, directed by John Rando and choreographed by Joshua Bergasse opened Thursday, Oct. 16 on Broadway to rave reviews at the Lyric (formerly Foxwoods) Theatre on Broadway. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the cast's Gypsy Robe ceremony and brings you pictures of the sacred event below!

Today we are honoring the 50th anniversary of Cole Porter's death with a tribute to the stage and screen composer extraordinaire.

The timeless musical ANYTHING GOES runs from November 7th through 23rd at the historic Fox Theatre in Redwood City (2215 Broadway Street, Redwood City, CA).

In celebration of this season's ON THE TOWN, we've collected 10 of our favorite dance musicals. From classics like ANYTHING GOES, 42ND STREET, A CHORUS LINE and WEST SIDE STORY to modern marvels such as NEWSIES and STRICTLY BALLROOM, the way choreography is used to tell a story continues to evolve and inspire.

La actriz Maribel Per y el pianista Yerko Cano abrirán las 'Galas Líricas en Otoño' del Teatro Tribueñe de Madrid con un concierto en el que se interpretará una selección de canciones del reconocido compositor y letrista estadounidense.

The purported love child of Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine, Varla Jean Merman makes her long awaited return to San Francisco for her debut at Feinstein's at the Nikko for three performances only - tonight, October 3 (8 p.m.), Saturday, October 4 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, October 5 (7 p.m.). Varla Jean, aka Jeffery Roberson, unveils a show of hilarious songs, videos and fabulous costumes, featuring Tom Shaw at the piano and Roberta Drake on drums.

This October and November 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Wagner College Theatre opens their 2014-15 Season with one of America's great musicals, Hello, Dolly! from October 1-12. Celebrating the 50th Anniversary of the musical's Broadway premiere, the Wagner production is directed and choreographed by Broadway veteran Norb Joerder (WCT's Little Women) with musical direction by James Higgins (WCT's The Drowsy Chaperone).

The Musical Theater Project honors a Broadway legend in "Mary Martin: America's Sweetheart," to be presented at Mixon Hall at Cleveland Institute of Music. There will be two performances on Sunday, October 26, at 2pm and 7pm.