Fanny Brice News

Most playwrights would be happy to have one script of theirs produced in New York in a year. "Theater Boys"--which opens tomorrow, September 21st at the 13th Street Repertory Theater--is the third show by ASCAP award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa to open this year.

Broadway veteran and acclaimed voice teacher Lisa Rochelle returns to the stage in a celebration of the music of Stephen Sondheim at The Schoolhouse Theater in Croton Falls, NY tonight, September 20th at 4:00 p.m. Joining her are Broadway tenor Frank Mastrone and musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes. Saturday in September with Sondheim marks Ms. Rochelle's return to performing after spending the last 20 years devoted exclusively to her students.

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will offer talkbacks--in which audience members can ask any questions they like of the actors, playwright, and choreographers-after select performances of ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa's new musical comedy, "Theater Boys." The show-about actors auditioning for a gay musical--opens Sunday, September 21st. Talkbacks will held after the following performances: Sunday, September 21st at 3 p.m; Thursday, September 25th at 7 pm; Sunday, September 28th at 3 p.m.; Thursday, October 2nd at 7 pm; Sunday, October 5th at 3 p.m.; Thursday, Oct 9th at 7 pm; Sunday, October 12th at 3 p.m; Thursday October 16th at 7 p.m.; Thursday, October 23rd at 7 pm; Sunday, October 26th at 3 pm.

Florida Studio Theatre announces its 2014-2015 Cabaret season. Starting off the season are the full-bodied vocal stylings in Dancing in the Street with the Prima Donnettes. Next up is the heartfelt and unforgettable music of American Pie. Concluding the season is the entertaining and honest Never Marry a Girl With Cold Feet: And Other Life Lessons from Vaudeville.

Tim Realbuto and Jenna Leigh Green have announced the next leg of submissions for their Wunderkind songwriting competition. Writers are encouraged to submit original material to be performed at each stop on Realbuto's Wunderkind tour. The next performance is on Monday, October 13th at the Laurie Beechman Theatre. The winner of the last contest was Andrew J. Hanley (pictured here with Green and Realbuto), whose song 'Love Me' was performed at Realbuto's Triad show on September 1st.

BroadwayWorld spoke with Hillbarn Theatre Executive Director Dan Demers about the company's current show 'Funny Girl' and their upcoming season of 'Awakening.'

It's the biggest, most ambitious undertaking in years for the historic 13th Street Repertory Theater, at 50 West 13th Street, NYC. On September 21st, they'll be launching ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa's new musical comedy "Theater Boys"-and also, during the run, the cast album for the show.

On September 26, 27 and 28, guest conductor Steven Reineke and the wickedly funny singer/comedian Nicole Parker of MADtv and Broadway's Wicked join the Houston Symphony to take you on a fantastical journey through the themes and anthems of your favorite hit TV shows from the last 50 years. Be it the nostalgia of The Muppet Show Overture, the emotional intensity of themes from Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones, the original anthem of "Don't Forget Me/Let Me Be Your Star" from Smash, or the fun of a game show medley, TV's Greatest Hits will hit all the high notes in a salute to music of the small screen. Additionally, Parker truly shines in a tribute to iconic variety show performances like Carol Burnett and Judy Garland. Parker's comedic style, improvisational background and vocal skills make for an unforgettable night of audience participation in sing alongs and an on-stage game show. This concert is made possible in part through the support of Cynthia Woods Mitchell POPS at Jones Hall and BBVA Compass.

Due to overwhelming ticket sales and critical acclaim, Hillbarn Theatre has announced that an extra week of performances will be added to the current schedule of the 2014-2015 season opening performance of Funny Girl. Originally scheduled to close on Sunday, September 21, tickets are now on-sale through Sunday, September 28. Funny Girl will perform at Hillbarn Theatre (1285 East Hillsdale Blvd., Foster City). Performances are Thursdays-Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 2 p.m. Single tickets range in price from $23 - $42 and are available now by calling 650.349.6411 ext. 2 or visiting www.hillbarntheatre.org.

On September 26, 27 and 28, guest conductor Steven Reineke and the wickedly funny singer/comedian Nicole Parker of MADtv and Broadway's Wicked join the Houston Symphony to take you on a fantastical journey through the themes and anthems of your favorite hit TV shows from the last 50 years. Be it the nostalgia of The Muppet Show Overture, the emotional intensity of themes from Downton Abbey and Game of Thrones, the original anthem of "Don't Forget Me/Let Me Be Your Star" from Smash, or the fun of a game show medley, TV's Greatest Hits will hit all the high notes in a salute to music of the small screen. Additionally, Parker truly shines in a tribute to iconic variety show performances like Carol Burnett and Judy Garland. Parker's comedic style, improvisational background and vocal skills make for an unforgettable night of audience participation in sing alongs and an on-stage game show. This concert is made possible in part through the support of Cynthia Woods Mitchell POPS at Jones Hall and BBVA Compass.

Award winning actor/writer Tim Realbuto (Ghostlight; The Emperor's Club), who recently had a critically acclaimed and sold-out (not-so-solo) solo show at 54 Below entitled Tim Realbuto: Alone (With Plenty of Help), is currently touring his new show this fall entitled Tim Realbuto: Wunderkind. The new show features Realbuto talking about his life growing up in the theatre, with the help of some very special guest stars.

Love Quirks, a unique new musical by Seth Bisen-Hersh and Mark Childers about four young adults exploring various types of relationships in NYC, will be playing a limited three week run midtown at Theatre 54 (244 W 54th Street, 12 Floor) with previews beginning tonight, September 11, 2014 at 8PM. The show will have its official opening on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 8PM and will run through Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 3PM.

Love Quirks, a unique new musical by Seth Bisen-Hersh and Mark Childers about four young adults exploring various types of relationships in NYC, will be playing a limited three week run midtown at Theatre 54 (244 W 54th Street, 12 Floor) with previews beginning on Thursday, September 11, 2014 at 8PM. The show will have its official opening on Friday, September 19, 2014 at 8PM and will run through Sunday, September 28, 2014 at 3PM.

Theater-goers may be seeing double in the coming week as two different actresses-one in her 60s, the other in her teens-offer radically different interpretations of the same role, portraying legendary singing comedienne Fanny Brice. Both seasoned pro Patricia Dell, 63, and rising newcomer Chloe Brooks, 17, will appear in productions of ASCAP award-winning writer Chip Deffaa's musical play "One Night with Fanny Brice."

Casting has just been announced for the 13th Street Rep's forthcoming production of ASCAP Award-winning playwright/director Chip Deffaa's new show "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue." The show, which opens November 9th, will be the third production of Deffaa's to play this year at the 13th Street Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC, www.13thstreetrep.org); the others are Deffaa's "One Night with Fanny Brice" and "Theater Boys," playing in repertory at the theater this fall.

Casting has just been announced for the 13th Street Rep's forthcoming production of ASCAP Award-winning playwright/director Chip Deffaa's new show "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue." The show, which opens November 9th, will be the third production of Deffaa's to play this year at the 13th Street Theater.

'Hello gorgeous.' The Hillbarn Theatre in San Mateo kicked off its 2014-2015 season with the sensational Funny Girl. Based on the life of Fanny Brice, Funny Girl originally starred Barbra Streisand in the icon role of the famous vaudeville and Ziegfeld Follies legend. It was a part that catapulted her into stardom and made Streisand a household name. Hillbarn Theatre showed a lot of chutzpah in putting on a show so closely associated with a major star, but this is their 'Season of Awakening,' therefore daring, dreams and self-discovery are most definitely in the air. Debuting Executive Artistic Director Dan Demers wraps it all up with this quote from Mark Twain (by way of Demers' mother): The two most important days in your life are the day you are born and the day you find out why,' which certainly could be a quote about Ms. Brice.

Broadway veteran and acclaimed voice teacher Lisa Rochelle returns to the stage in a celebration of the music of Stephen Sondheim at The Schoolhouse Theater in Croton Falls, NY on September 20th at 4:00 p.m. Joining her are Broadway tenor Frank Mastrone and musical director Joshua Stephen Kartes. Saturday in September with Sondheim marks Ms. Rochelle's return to performing after spending the last 20 years devoted exclusively to her students.

Playwright Chip Deffaa says he never dreamed, when his musical play "One Night with Fanny Brice," first opened Off-Broadway at St. Luke's Theater in the 2011-2012 season, that the starring role would someday be played by a teenager. Over the past three years, stars in their 30s, 40s, and 60s have played the show, which transferred in 2013 to the 13th Street Repertory Theater. Chloe Brooks, who now stars in the show, after previously serving as an understudy, is just 17.

As previously announced, Tim Realbuto (The Emperor's Club) and Jenna Leigh Green (Wicked) have been picking a new song to sing each night during his Wunderkind tour. As an established writer with a musical of his own headed to Broadway, Realbuto has a passion for up and coming new voices to be heard.