Ethel Merman News

Everything's coming up Merman from today, August 21 through August 24, 2014, as Stoneham Theatre presents Ethel Merman's Broadway, the Award-Winning, critically acclaimed musical celebration of Broadway's greatest singer: Ethel Merman! Stage and TV star Rita McKenzie recreates the amazing life of 'La Merm,' with songs from such hit musicals as Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, and more.

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 - Friday, 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. Tickets for Varla Jean Merman range in price from $35-$50 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

'Backwards in High Heels,' now playing through August 23rd at The Winter Park Playhouse, is as entertaining as it is educational. The story is an account of the transformation of a young girl, Virginia Katherine McMath, into one of the country's best-known dancing idols; you may know her by her pseudonym Ginger Rogers, the bright-eyed teenager with dreams of dancing her way through Broadway, Hollywood, and beyond.

Following the tragic passing of actor and comedy legend Robin Williams on Monday, August 11, New York City gallerist The Margo Feiden Galleries Ltd. has found a unique way to honor the Mork & Mindy and Good Will Hunting actor: Through a rare audio recording featuring a string of the late comedian's trademark impersonations.

Walks of New York, the newest sightseeing and walking tour company, has announced the addition of a new theater district walking tour - Broadway: Behind The Curtain.

Everything's coming up Merman from August 21-24, 2014, as Stoneham Theatre presents Ethel Merman's Broadway, the Award-Winning, critically acclaimed musical celebration of Broadway's greatest singer: Ethel Merman! Stage and TV star Rita McKenzie recreates the amazing life of 'La Merm,' with songs from such hit musicals as Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, and more. You'll hear all of Merman's hits-such iconic songs as: 'I Got Rhythm'; 'I Get a Kick Out of You'; 'Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries'; 'Everything's Coming Up Roses'; and, of course, 'There's No Business Like Show Business.'

The Ordway is opening its fourth season of the BROADWAY SONGBOOK series with a retrospective of the first 100 years of Broadway. If you're like me, your first question is - when did Broadway begin? It's debatable, but Professor James Rocco - who presides over what feels like a college seminar on musical theater history with live show-and-tell by the Twin Cities' best musical theater performers - tells us that the beginning of Broadway can be marked by THE BLACK CROOK in 1866. This is just one of the things you'll learn in this BROADWAY SONGBOOK, but don't worry, it is anything but dry and pedantic. The stories are fascinating and entertaining (at least to a musical theater nerd like myself), James has chosen just the right collection of songs to illustrate his points, and music director Raymond Berg has beautifully arranged the songs, which are performed with much passion, emotion, and humor by the talented cast of actor/singer/dancers.

Continuing Way Off Broadway's 20th Anniversary Season, the dinner theatre is preparing to welcome gun-slingers and cowboys to the stage this fall with Irving Berlin's musical comedy about the sharpest shooter in the west, Annie Oakley, with Annie Get Your Gun.

The Houston Symphony's 2014-15 Classical and POPS concert series will kick-off in September with an exceptional line up of orchestral repertoire, world-class soloists and comedic fun. Following a laugh-filled weekend of POPS performances with Tony Award-winning actor and Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, the inaugural season of conductor Andres Orozco-Estrada will feature three concerts in a "¡Bienvenido, Andres!" weekend including Opening Night and Gala along with two free performances.

Everything's coming up Merman from August 21-24, 2014, as Stoneham Theatre presents Ethel Merman's Broadway, the Award-Winning, critically acclaimed musical celebration of Broadway's greatest singer: Ethel Merman! Stage and TV star Rita McKenzie recreates the amazing life of 'La Merm,' with songs from such hit musicals as Gypsy, Annie Get Your Gun, Anything Goes, Hello, Dolly!, and more. You'll hear all of Merman's hits-such iconic songs as: 'I Got Rhythm'; 'I Get a Kick Out of You'; 'Life is Just a Bowl of Cherries'; 'Everything's Coming Up Roses'; and, of course, 'There's No Business Like Show Business.'

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Our biggest musical theaters check in: Broadway In Chicago, the Marriott, the Drury Lane, the Paramount and Munster's TATC, plus Victory Gardens' special events, BoHo's 2015 season, 'The Book Of Merman' and new works from Jane Austen and the Everleigh Club!

Today we are saluting one of Broadway's brassiest, bawdiest and best-loved leading ladies in honor of her death this week, the one and only Elaine Stritch.

Back by popular demand, the Divas! of the Lehigh Valley will offer an encore performance of their high-energy show which pays tribute to musical divas throughout the decades.

History is being made over at the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre on the UConn campus as Leslie Uggams becomes the first African-American actress to star as Rose in an Equity production with a mixed race cast for the musical Gypsy.

Pride Films and Plays announces the world premiere of The Book of Merman, a new musical comedy by Jeff Award-winning author Leo Schwartz. The show will open on January 17, 2015 at Mary's Attic, 5400 North Clark Street.

Season 15 at Stoneham Theatre has gotten even more exciting with the addition of several concerts and special events. 'There is a little something for everyone in the line-up,' said Producing Artistic Director Weylin Symes. 'We have a little bit of Broadway, some world-class jazz, a family-friendly new play, and the return of two acts that are Stoneham Theatre favorites. We love being able to offer our audiences a chance to experience these fantastic attractions up-close and personal in our intimate, theatrical setting.'

Back by popular demand, the Divas! of the Lehigh Valley will offer an encore performance of their high-energy show which pays tribute to musical divas throughout the decades.

It was a pleasure to return to Kritzerland Sunday July 6 for its 47th show saluting Off-Broadway shows: Kritzerland Goes Off-Broadway. Featured were stalwart hits: Hair, Ruthless!, Little Mary Sunshine, Dames at Sea, Falsettos, The Fantasticks and more recent hits such as Floyd Collins, Jason Robert Brown's The Last Five Years and Dogfight. With Bruce Kimmel as host, in dandy form as usual with his amazing trivia notes in between numbers, and sensational musical director John Boswell at the piano, the show got off to a rousing start with young Brennley Brown belting out 'Born to Entertain' from Ruthless! Also on the bill for the evening were the wonderful: Robert Yacko, Madison Claire Parks, Kim Huber, young folks Jenna Lee Rosen, Sami Staitman and special guest stars Jason Graae and Rita McKenzie.

The Musical Theater Project and Cleveland Public Theatre will present "I Am What I Am: Gays, Lesbians and the American Musical" on Sunday, August 10, 2014 at 2pm and 7pm. Both performances will be held in the Gordon Square Theatre at Cleveland Public Theatre.