Fanny Brice News

THE LOWER EAST SIDE FESTIVAL OF THE ARTS (LES) celebrates its 18th year of bringing together -- in one location, over three days -- more than 100 performing arts organizations, local and international celebrities, independent artists, poets, playwrights, musicians, puppeteers, film makers and many others, all of whom reside, work or have their roots in the culturally diverse Lower East Side. Once again this year, New York City's most diverse FREE 3-day, indoor and outdoor cultural celebration will take place on Memorial Day Weekend, from Friday, May 24 through Sunday, May 26, at Theater for the New City (155 1st Avenue, between E. 9th and 10th Sts.) in Manhattan.

A FUNNY GIRL theme and returning guest star Idina Menzel? What more could any self-respecting Broadway baby - or, better yet, gleek - possibly ask for in an episode of GLEE 4.0? Well, last night, we got some out of control college antics - including hallway oil slides and the “Harlem Shake” in a fountain - sage wisdom via Coach Beiste (Dot Marie Jones) and Mr. Schue (Matt Morrison) and even an original tune by AVENUE Q's Tony Award-winning Jeff Marx, to name but a few fabulous features of the show. Yes, last night's GLEE was a continued effortlessly fun frolic and easy, breezy ride in the ever-entertaining musical series, acting as a sweet salve to last week's heart-stopping school shooting and ensuing Sue Sylvester (Jane Lynch) drama.

Everyone's got a dream, right? Well - at least that song from Tangled leads us to believe that even the strangest people have dreams, but none of our Glee Clubbers are some strange guy in a tavern singing about their dreams. Nope, they have a choir room for that - of course. Tonight, dreams might just come true - and other dreams might be crushed. Let's take that journey, shall we? Finn enrolls in The University of Lima, where it seems like the part never stops, which is only aided when Puck moves in as his new roommate - it's a match made in drunken college heaven, y'all. Rachel prepares for her audition for Funny Girl, and recounts her love of Ms. Streisand from her wee little days to now - this Barbra fan girl is now ready to achieve the biggest dream of all - Fanny Brice. Roz Washington returns to McKinley to take over the Cheerios, while Bieste probes Will to talk to Finn, but Will isn't ready to patch up the teacher-student bromance, but Bieste gives him some food for thought. Marley, after the school shooting, wants to bring her dream of pursuing being a singer songwriter out of the darkness, but this is not aided by the constant strange behavior of the glee clubbers after the shooting - Sam 'has a twin' named Evan, Brittany is stuck on MIT, and Unique is taking birth control. Will informs the glee club that the theme for Regionals is Dreams, and already has a course of action, but Marley speaks up wanting to do an original song of hers, but Will isn't having it, especially after she mentions Finn.

Buffalo native Michele Ragusa, who has been seen on Broadway in Young Frankenstein, Titanic and Ragtime, will play Lilli/Kate in a staged concert version of Cole Porter's Kiss Me, Kate April 27 with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra.The 8 PM performance will be conducted by Matthew Kraemer and directed by James Brennan.

Broadway superstar and beloved Glee alum Idina Menzel makes her long-awaited return to the hit FOX musical dramedy series next week and the first glimpse of Shelby Corcoran 4.0 - aka Rachel Berry (Lea Michele)'s mother - has now been released.

Michigan State University's Department of Theatre will conclude its season by presenting the musical, Funny Girl at the Pasant Theatre April 19-28, 2013.

Mike McGowan, (PRISCILLA, GREASE, RAGTIME) currently on tour in BOOK OF MORMON will reunite with his KISS ME KATE cohort, Broadway veteran Michele Ragusa (YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, URINETOWN, RAGTIME) to star in a staged concert version of the classic musical with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Matthew Kraemer and directed by James Brennan.

Following her dazzling North American tour of 2012, Barbra Streisand LIVE! will visit Europe this summer for seven exclusive engagements, with more to be announced. Just announced today is an additional show in London on June 3! Pre-sale begins tomorrow, March 26, with a public on-sale date of March 27.

Following her dazzling North American tour of 2012, BARBRA STREISAND LIVE! will visit Europe this summer for six exclusive engagements, with additional dates and venues to be announced soon. Appearing for the first time ever in Israel, Cologne, Amsterdam and returning to London and Paris for the first time in over six years, Barbra Streisand Live promises to be a magical evening of timeless hits, combining her elegant voice, with self-deprecating humor and charming banter. An additional date has also just been added in Berlin.

Following her dazzling North American tour of 2012, BARBRA STREISAND LIVE! will visit Europe this summer for four exclusive engagements with additional dates and venues to be announced soon. rr

Broadway veteran Michele Ragusa (YOUNG FRANKENSTIEN, URINETOWN, RAGTIME, TITANIC, CYRANO) will be starring in a staged concert version of KISS ME, KATE, with the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, conducted by Matthew Kraemer and directed by James Brennan.

SOLO IN THE CITY: JEWISH WOMEN, JEWISH STARS is a solo performance series which will be presented throughout March at Baruch Performing Arts Center. The series will feature seven leading and emerging NYC-based soloists including Sandra Bernhard, Tovah Feldshuh, Judy Gold, and Jackie Hoffman performing one-woman shows and a special opening lecture/film event. The Baruch Performing Arts Center is located on the campus of Baruch College in Manhattan on East 25th Street between Lexington & 3rd Aves.

Village Theatre's 2013-2014 season will deliver an extended nine-week Issaquah holiday run of Les Miserables followed by the traditional four week run in Everett.

With the popularity of her Fanny performances in the Off-Broadway solo show One Night with Fanny Brice and in Ghostlight (NYMF), Kimberly Faye Greenberg has now created an intimate new 'Fanny Brice' solo show, Fabulous Fanny: The Songs and Stories of Fanny Brice. Justin Boccitto and Michael Blevins' company, The Group Theatre Too, brings the production to Stage 72 at the Triad tonight, March 5th at 7pm. In Fabulous Fanny Kimberly shares her extensive research not as another tribute, but to personally reveal Fanny's heart and humor, soul and song.

Tonight, March 1st 8:00PM, State Theatre, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Tickets start at $30.00 and can be purchased by visiting the State Theatre NJ Box Office, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ or by calling the Box Office: 732-246-7469 or Online at www.statetheatrenj.org

On last night's 85th Annual Academy Awards, the legendary songstress Barbra Streisand performed 'The Way We Were' in honor of the late Marvin Hamlisch. Check out the tribute below!

The Oscars 'In Memoriam' segment will feature a performance from singer and actress Barbra Streisand, it was revealed today.

Hello, Gorgeous! I was very happy to see the musical Funny Girl was part of BroadHollow's winter/spring season. A pop culture staple, this is a show theatre enthusiasts should see. BroadHollow's production at their BayWay Theatre runs through March 2nd and continues to their Elmont location starting March 16th.

She's back! Brassy Broads of Broadway featuring Kathy Halenda comes to Sarasota for a limited engagement beginning tonight, February 19, 2013 in the Goldstein Cabaret. From wistful ballads to show-stopping Broadway classics, Ms. Halenda combines her powerful vocal style and energetic personality to create a performance that will touch as well as tickle her audience.

Friday, March 1st 8:00PM, State Theatre, New Brunswick, New Jersey. Tickets start at $30.00 and can be purchased by visiting the State Theatre NJ Box Office, 15 Livingston Avenue, New Brunswick, NJ or by calling the Box Office: 732-246-7469 or Online at www.statetheatrenj.org