Ethel Merman News

Heather Carvel stars as Ethel Merman in Warehouse Theatre Company's BIG VOICE: The Ethel Merman Experience. Check out a sneek peek below of her rehearsing 'Some People' from the musical Gypsy!

Those were the words 12-year-old Jane Lawrence remembered when she was asked to head up the up-and-coming blonde starlet's fan club at 20th Century Fox under the supervision of studio head Darryl Zanuck. Jane was no stranger to movie sets or movie stars, being that her father, Sidney Lipsitch, headed RKO's legal department. She spent time with the likes of Robert Mitchum, Lucille Ball, Ethel Merman, Polly Bergen and Irving Berlin, but helping launch the career of one of the world's most legendary sex symbols was a task beyond Jane's wildest dreams. In author Tony Jerris' new audio book, “Marilyn Monroe: My Little Secret,” he explores Jane's working relationship with the actress and how it developed into a special friendship that lasted right up until Marilyn's untimely death on August 5, 1962. Told in Jane's voice, this is a story of an elderly woman reflecting upon on her fondest memories of the blue-eyed screen goddess and how she became a confidante of sorts, who Marilyn used to call “My little secret.”

Today in 1959, Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 702 performances. Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including 'Small World,' 'Everything's Coming up Roses', 'Some People', 'Let Me Entertain You', and 'Rose's Turn'.

Today we continue the 2014 edition of our annual BroadwayWorld feature series spotlighting the very best Tony Awards-related moments of all time with a special focus on one of the most adored and highly-awarded musicals ever written, HELLO, DOLLY!

So what's a girl to do when Seth Rudetsky spirits you away to the Poconos to sing and dish, well, I don't have to tell you do I? You GO!

Frank Sinatra's legendary concert, SINATRA: The Main Event, was billed as the biggest comeback in showbusiness history. Now the 40th anniversary is to be marked in London on Friday October 10 at the Cadogan Hall with a stunning recreation of The Main Event, at New York's Madison Square Garden on October 13, 1974.

OK let me start off by saying, Babs she ain't and thank God for that. OK, now before you all form the lynch mob, I love Babs. But if anyone is going to even attempt to put on "Funny Girl" the worst thing they could do it try to pass off an imitation of an icon. And Sarah Rose Davis in Village's current production manages to pull off carrying the show with aplomb while still putting her own stamp on the role.

Brochu won multiple awards for 'Zero Hour' and returned this year with an autobiographical tribute to character actors, 'Character Man'.

Join Anita Gillette and Richard Skipper as they sit down to discuss Anita's career and life at The Spiral Theatre on June 11.

Today in 1946, Annie Get Your Gun opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1147 performances. Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley (1860-1926), who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler. Songs that became hits include 'There's No Business Like Show Business', 'Doin' What Comes Natur'lly', 'You Can't Get a Man with a Gun', 'They Say It's Wonderful', and 'Anything You Can Do.'

MEET & GREET, a new comedy play by tv veterans Stan Zimmerman (The Golden Girls, Roseanne, Gilmore Girls) & Christian McLaughlin (Married with Children, Desperate Housewives) and directed by Stan Zimmerman (Entertaining Mr. Sloane, Blink & You Might Miss Me, A Tuna Christmas), will be presented by Combined Artform at Hollywood Fringe 2014.

Producing Artistic Director Mark Cortale, now entering his fourth season at the helm of Provincetown's Art House Theater, has made the picturesque Cape Cod town a must-do stop on the itinerary of Broadway's brightest stars. The Art House continues to somehow top itself with each successive summer's celebrity lineup.

Warehouse Theatre Company will open it's 2014 season with the world premiere musical BIG VOICE: THE ETHEL MERMAN EXPERIENCE, a unique concert experience that features the music of Irving Berlin, Cole Porter, Ray Henderson, Jule Styne, and George Gershwin.

The collaboration of Jules Stein and Stephen Sondheim on GYPSY provided the late Ethel Merman with a career boost into immortality. What isn't familiar about this material? Everyone knows the general outline of the play itself - 'Mama' Rose is 'Mommie Dearest' without the wire hangers; at the beginning of the play, she practically declares war on a quiet home life and, taking with her daughters June (the precocious and 'pretty' one) and Louise (the shy and recessive one), she practically declares war on domesticity and seeks to channel her dreams through their success.

Today we continue the 2014 edition of our annual BroadwayWorld feature series spotlighting the very best Tony Awards-related moments of all time with a special spotlight on one of the most revered and revived musicals of all time, GYPSY!

In honor of this weekend's sure-to-be spectacular BroadwayWorld special event EVERYTHING'S COMING UP BROADWAYWORLD.COM: A JULE STYNE TRIBUTE, today we honor the man behind the music for many of the greatest musicals of all time.

Nancy Rhodes, artistic director of Encompass New Opera Theatre, announced today that Klea Blackburst, actress, singer and comedienne best known for her award-winning tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything The Traffic Will Allow, will be the featured performer at the Encompass Jazz Cabaret Gala in Manhattan on June 25th, 2014. The benefit will take place at 7:00 PM in a spacious penthouse with panoramic views at 66 Leonard Street.

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'This Week in Pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include a look at this year's Tony nominees, the casts of VIOLET on Broadway and the UK's ROCK OF AGES tour, and a peek into CABARET's gypsy robe ceremony!

The company of Cabaret just celebrated their opening with the Gypsy Robe ritual. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you full photo coverage below!

BroadwayWorld is thrilled to announce that recognizable TV and theatre actress and world renowned Ethel Merman tribute artist Rita McKenzie has joined the line-up of EVERYTHING'S COMING UP BROADWAYWORLD.COM: A JULE STYNE TRIBUTE.