Ethel Merman News

The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns with its new edition Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, tonight, Monday, August 20 at 7pm at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street, with Tovah Feldshuh and Cady Huffman joining the cast.

The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns with its new edition Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, tonight, August 20 at 7pm. Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter performs at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street. The cast is scheduled to include Vanessa Bayer (from "Saturday Night Live"), Mario Cantone, Tony Danza, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, and Alan Zweibel.

The award-winning J*Company Youth Theatre, a program of the San Diego Center for Jewish Culture at the Lawrence Family Jewish Community Center, JACOBS FAMILY CAMPUS, has announced the musical theatre line up for its 20th Anniversary Season.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced that Tony Award Nominated actress and singer Anita Gillette will be presenting two evenings of music and memories while taking what's being described as 'an intimate, touching and hilarious look behind the scenes from Broadway to Hollywood' in her new autobiographical one-woman show "After All." The events will take place on Monday, September 24 & Monday, October 1 at 7pm at Birdland (315 West 44 Street, NYC).

Imelda Staunton, the actress who earned rave reviews for her work in the new West End production of SWEENEY TODD, may be headed back to the stage in another Stephen Sondheim show not long after SWEENEY TODD closes its doors on September 22.

According to a family spokesperson, composer Marvin Hamlisch passed away Monday evening at 68 years old following a brief illness. Here's an interview with the legendary man from 2010.

The character of Dolly Levi is many things, including an expert talker. It seemed fitting then that I would speak with Katy Moore who plays Miss Dolly Levi herself at The Playhouse's current production. Ms. Moore gave me plenty of insight into the beloved character and what we can expect from The Playhouse's current offering.

A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, the latest receipient was BRING IT ON cast member Rod Harrelson at The St. James Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there and brings you photos from the ceremony below!

The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns with its new edition Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, Monday, August 20 at 7pm. Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter performs at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street. The cast is scheduled to include Vanessa Bayer (from "Saturday Night Live"), Mario Cantone, Tony Danza, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, and Alan Zweibel.

McGovern creatively opens and closes the musical with an image that evokes all the glitter and glamor of old Hollywood: the presentation of the Academy Awards in 1941, the year that Ginger Rogers beat out such adversaries as Katharine Hepburn, Bette Davis, Joan Fontaine and Martha Scott for the best actress Oscar for her performance of "knocked-up shopgirl" Kitty Foyle.

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented triple-threat who has made appearances on Broadway in entities as diverse as David Merrick's original Gower Champion-directed production of 42nd STREET, her debut, to roles in Susan Stroman's CRAZY FOR YOU, Hal Prince's landmark revival of SHOW BOAT and the Mark Bramble revival of 42nd STREET to THE CIVIL WAR, MAMMA MIA!, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, ELF, and, most recently, as the star of BABY, IT'S YOU! - to say nothing of her Tony Award-winning turn in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - the thoroughly delightful and dynamic dame herself, Beth Leavel. Discussing some of her career highlights thus far - such as the night of her Tony Award win - while generously sharing her caustic wit and giving us a glimpse into the life of a modern-day leading lady, Leavel also offers us some insights into her newest role - one originally essayed by no less than Broadway icon Ethel Merman - that of Irving Berlin's heroine, Mrs. Sally Adams, in the politically-themed musical comedy CALL ME MADAM, playing at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, July 24-28. In addition to all about CALL ME MADAM, Leavel also imparts her affection for past co-stars and collaborators - Sutton Foster, Christine Ebersole, Andrea Martin, Millicent Martin, Dolores Grey, Burt Bacharach and more included - and looks ahead to some parts that she would potentially consider pursuing in the future (MINSKY'S perhaps?). All of that and much, much more!

There's just something about Klea Blackhurst: The very first moment you meet her you know you're gonna like her and that, given the chance to perform for you, she's sure to wow you, to put you in your place, to make you fall in love with her. Consider yourself forewarned.

BroadwayWorld.com and Broadway Records are co-sponsoring a liner notes essay contest for the new Jekyll & Hyde studio concept recording. Fans will have the opportunity to submit a 250 to 500 word essay for consideration. Five finalists will be chosen by the staff of BroadwayWorld.com in consultation with Broadway Records. Frank Wildhorn, Constantine Maroulis and Broadway Records will select the Grand Prize Winner who will have his or her liner notes essay will be included in the upcoming recording.

Jeremy Benton has come a long way since he was dancing around in the backyard of his family's home in Springfield, Tennessee. In fact, way back when-before he even had his first dance class with Cherri Coleman at the Springfield School of Classical Dance-for all he knew he might have even created or invented what he later learned was referred to as "tap."

Today we are talking to a celebrated comedienne and actress known for her decades-spanning career on screens and stages large and small - from making her Broadway debut in the original Jerome Robbins production of GYPSY on Broadway in 1960 to her many musical roles throughout the 60s to her countless game show and variety show appearances following that all the way to creating an unforgettable character in MOONSTRUCK in the 1980s, as well as her subsequent oft-Neil Simon stage work; now, playing Tina Fey's sweet and daffy mom on NBC's 30 ROCK and, most recently, appearing in Nora & Celia Ephron's LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE and the Playwright's Horizons premiere production of THE BIG MEAL in the new millennium - the one of a kind Anita Gillette. Analyzing her nearly sixty-year career and sharing candid stories of her brushes with some of Broadway and Hollywood's brightest talents - Jule Styne to Ethel Merman to Irving Berlin to Burt Lancaster and beyond - Gillette paints a vivid portrait of the tail end of the Golden Age of Broadway and the heady game show days of TV in the 1960s and 70s to her lauded stage work with Neil Simon and many of the great comedy and musical writers in the years since. Additionally, Gillette and I discuss her current essaying of the role of Mae Peterson in the new Regal Music Theatre production of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams's BYE BYE BIRDIE in Massachusetts as she looks towards opening night tomorrow and relates her joy in participating in a production that has some behind-the-scenes help by her loving granddaughter (while another attends their summer camp). Plus, Gillette's observations on sharing a soundstage with Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Elaine Stritch and Buck Henry for a recent 30 ROCK shoot, reflections on her fondest and most celebrated comedy roles, hilarious memories of appearing in some short-running flops (JIMMY, SKYSKRAPER) as well as in some big hits (GYPSY), her upcoming series of master classes titled "Life In The Business", her return to Birdland with her concert show, AFTER ALL, her role in an upcoming Ed Burns film and maybe even a role in a new Alexander Payne film - all of that, all about attending the Diamond Jubilee celebration in the United Kingdom and much, much more!

The economy is the worse it's been in fifty years and a bunch of Delawareans decide to cheer things up by staging a musical at Longwood Gardens. Sound familiar? This is how The Brandywiners got their start in the Great Depression when Frances Tatnall and W.W. (Chick) Laird staged Gilbert and Sullivan's Pirate of Penzance way back in 1932. Of course, it didn't hurt that Pierre du Pont, owner of Longwood Gardens at the time, was Lairds's uncle and had just built Longwood's beautiful Open Air Theatre. Now, 80 years later, and in the midst of another economic turndown, The Brandywiners are doing it again with Hello, Dolly! , one of the greatest American musicals of all time. Opening in 1964, Hello, Dolly! set a record for Tony Awards (10) and performances (2,844). The title role of Dolly was originated by the legendary Carol Channing, and has been played by a who's who of female stars including Barbra Streisand, Mary Martin, Ginger Rogers, Betty Grable, Pearl Bailey, Ethel Merman and even Phyllis Diller. Hello, Dolly! is a lavish Broadway-style musical that is as humorous as it is heart warming. Based on Thorton Wilder's The Matchmaker, it tells the story of Dolly's matchmaking mis-adventures in New York City just before the dawn of the 20th century. In keeping with the times, Director Cal Bracken has given The Brandywiners' production a feminist twist to an otherwise over-the-top sexist plot line. The women in this show do more than "clean out the stables" as they join the budding suffragettes demanding respect and equal rights. In another timely line, two of the characters sing "JP Morgan scrapes and bows to us" as they try it impress their girl friends. In true Brandywiners' fashion, this production brings eye-catching costumes, a professional orchestra and a cast of nearly sixty talented performers singing and dancing their hearts out. The Brandywiners' shows come as close as you can get to touring Broadway show quality and at less than half the price. Hello, Dolly! is playing July 26-28 and August 2-4 at Longwood Gardens Open Air Theater. Tickets are available by calling 800 338 6965 or through www.brandywiners.org.

The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returned with its new edition Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, last night, June 25. Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter plays the Triad Theater. Headlining last night's event was Tony Danza, along with Autobiography regulars Rachel Dratch, Marsha Mason, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Urie, and Alan Zweibel.

The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns with its new edition Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, tonight, June 25 at 7pm. Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter performs at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street. The cast is scheduled to include Tony Danza, Rachel Dratch, Marsha Mason, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Urie, and Alan Zweibel.

Masterworks Broadway continues to make good on its promise to open its vaults with more classic cast recordings previously unavailable in the CD era. Working (1978 Original Broadway Cast), Call Me Madam (Dinah Shore and the Original Broadway Company, 1950) and Desert Song (1959 Studio Cast) will be available as downloads through all major digital service providers and as disc-on-demand with the original cover art, via Arkivmusic.com and Amazon.com.

The Drama Desk Award-winning Celebrity Autobiography returns with its new edition Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter, Monday, June 25 at 7pm. Celebrity Autobiography: The Next Chapter performs at the Triad Theater, 158 West 72 Street. The cast is scheduled to include Tony Danza, Rachel Dratch, Marsha Mason, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel, Sherri Shepherd, Michael Urie, and Alan Zweibel.