Florence Green News

Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brings together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! will premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra tonight, Jan. 11-13, 2013, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jan. 24-27, 2013.

Happy Birthday, Beth Leavel! Beth received Tony, Drama Desk, NY Outer Critics Circle and L.A. Drama Critics Awards for her performance as the title character in The Drowsy Chaperone. Beth also received a Tony, Drama Desk, and Outer Critics Circle nomination for her role as Florence Greenberg in Baby It's You. She recently performed the roles of Sally Adams in Call Me Madam at Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, M'Lynn in Steel Magnolias at the North Carolina Theatre and the much put upon maid, Berthe, in Boeing-Boeing at the Paper Mill Playhouse. Other Broadway roles Emily in Elf, Donna in Mamma Mia!, Frau Blucher in Young Frankenstein, Dorothy Brock in the revival of 42nd Street, Tess in the original company of Crazy For You, Mrs. Bixby in The Civil War,Ellie in Hal Prince's Showboat, and Anytime Annie (her Broadway debut) in 42nd Street.

Check out the recently released commercial for the show below and meet the cast with videos of them from past productions and roles!

Marking the 25th anniversary of the John Waters' original film, Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly brings together an all-star cast of Broadway, film and TV stars for the full symphonic production of the Broadway musical, Hairspray. Hairspray: In Concert! will premiere with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra Jan. 11-13, 2013, and with the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra Jan. 24-27, 2013.

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!

The Muny presents THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE as a part of the 94th season in Forest Park. Set to star in the production are Broadway favorites Beth Leavel, Leslie Uggams, and Tari Kelly as Mrs. Meers, Muzzy, and Millie respectively. The production, running through June 24, is directed by Marc Bruni and choreographed by Chris Bailey. Check out photos from opening night below!

As per TonyAwards.com, the Creative Arts Awards portion of the 2012 Tonys will be hosted by Norbert Leo Butz and Beth Leavel. Several of the Creative Arts Awards will be presented immediately before the Tony telecast begins; the remaining ones will be presented during commercial breaks throughout the evening. All winners will be acknowledged on the CBS broadcast.

The Muny will present THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE as a part of the 94th season in Forest Park. Set to star in the production are Broadway favorites Beth Leavel, Leslie Uggams, and Tari Kelly as Mrs. Meers, Muzzy, and Millie respectively. The production, running June 18-24, will be directed by Marc Bruni and choreographed by Chris Bailey.

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) previously announced that Tony® Award-winning Broadway star Beth Leavel would headline Gala 2012: Broadway Returns, An Evening with the Stars, taking place tonight, May 5 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The evening will also feature Tony Mansker of Broadway's Mary Poppins. Leavel and Mansker will entertain with an exclusive one-night-only show, bringing the magic of 42nd Street to the Boston suburbs.

Tony Award-winning actress and Raleigh native, Beth Leavel, stars as 'M'Lynn' in North Carolina Theatre's production of Steel Magnolias. The play ends its run tonight, April 29, in A.J. Fletcher Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

The Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) has announced that Tony® Award-winning Broadway star Beth Leavel will headline Gala 2012: Broadway Returns, An Evening with the Stars, to take place on Saturday, May 5 at Gillette Stadium in Foxborough. The evening will also feature Tony Mansker of Broadway's Mary Poppins. Leavel and Mansker will entertain with an exclusive one-night-only show, bringing the magic of 42nd Street to the Boston suburbs.

North Carolina Theatre today announced that Tony Award-winning actress and Raleigh native, Beth Leavel, will star as 'M'Lynn' in their upcoming production of Steel Magnolias. The play will run Friday, April 20th through Sunday, April 29th, 2012 in A.J. Fletcher Theater at the Progress Energy Center for the Performing Arts in downtown Raleigh.

Paper Mill Playhouse has just announced the cast and creative team for Boeing-Boeing, directed by James Brennan. The cast features: Anne Horak (Gretchen), Brynn O'Malley (Gabriella), Heather Parcells (Gloria), John Scherer (Robert), Matt Walton (Bernard) and Tony® Award-winner Beth Leavel (Berthe). The show begins performances on Wednesday, January 18, 2012, and runs at the Millburn theater through Sunday, February 12, 2012. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, January 22, 2012. Boeing-Boeing is sponsored by American Airlines, the official airline of Paper Mill Playhouse.

In April, a complaint was filed seeking damages on behalf of world-famous performers Beverly Lee of The Shirelles, Dionne Warwick and Chuck Jackson, as well as the Estates of Doris Coley Jackson and Addie Harris Jackson, for the unauthorized use of their names and likenesses in BABY IT'S YOU. The case, Lee et al. v. Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures Inc. et al., was filed in the Southern District of New York.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 7, 2011 - Sunday, August 7, 2011.

The cast of Broadway's Golden Oldie's musical, BABY IT'S YOU!, will perform at a fundraising event benefitting Passaic High School on Sunday August 7, at 7:30pm. Florence Greenberg's daughter, Mary Jane, first saw the four singers that her mother would make into the Shirelles at a talent show in the auditorium of Passaic High School, and in honor of that historic event the BABY IT'S YOU! cast will be performing numbers from the Broadway musical that chronicles the meteoric rise of the legendary girl group. The benefit will take place in the newly refurbished auditorium of Passaic High School (170 Paulison Avenue, Passaic, NJ) and will also feature a performance by the Passaic High School Band and a special Q&A with the cast of BABY IT'S YOU!. Tickets are $20 at the door and 100% of the proceeds will benefit a performing arts scholarship fund for a deserving Passaic High School Student.

The cast of Broadway's Golden Oldie's musical, BABY IT'S YOU!, will perform at a fundraising event benefitting Passaic High School on Sunday August 7, at 7:30pm. Florence Greenberg's daughter, Mary Jane, first saw the four singers that her mother would make into the Shirelles at a talent show in the auditorium of Passaic High School, and in honor of that historic event the BABY IT'S YOU! cast will be performing numbers from the Broadway musical that chronicles the meteoric rise of the legendary girl group. The benefit will take place in the newly refurbished auditorium of Passaic High School (170 Paulison Avenue, Passaic, NJ) and will also feature a performance by the Passaic High School Band and a special Q&A with the cast of BABY IT'S YOU!. Tickets are $20 at the door and 100% of the proceeds will benefit a performing arts scholarship fund for a deserving Passaic High School Student.

Inspired by the true story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who in the late 1950's took the male-dominated music industry by storm, BABY IT'S YOU! is a new Broadway musical conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's Million Dollar Quartet. BABY IT'S YOU! stars 2011 Tony Award nominee Beth Leavel, Allan Louis and Geno Henderson in a cast of 12 that features Erica Ash, Kelli Barrett, Kyra Da Costa, Erica Dorfler, Jahi A. Kearse, Barry Pearl, Christina Sajous, Crystal Starr and Brandon Uranowitz. In the video below, the ladies who play the Shirelles celebrate the Fourth of July with a cover of Katy Perry's 'Firework.'