Frank Loesser News

Producer Howard Panter for Ambassador Theatre Group and co-producers Tulchin/Bartner/Jenkins, Bill Kenwright, Darren Bagert, and Tom Gregory announced today that Craig Bierko (Tony Award nominee for The Music Man; Scary Movie 4) will star as 'Sky Masterson' and Kate Jennings Grant (Proof) will also star as 'Sarah Brown' in the new Broadway production of the greatest musical comedy GUYS AND DOLLS.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.

Theater news from Broadway and the Baltimore/Washington area.

The musical legacy of Frank Loesser, often called the most versatile of all Broadway composers, will be celebrated at Center Theatre Group's Salon XVI at the Taper, 'Happy to Make Your Acquaintance,' hosted by Michael Feinstein, Monday, November 17 at 8 p.m., at the Mark Taper Forum of the Los Angeles Music Center.

The producers of Russian on the Side understand that we are in midst of tough times, and in tough times, even lovers of great theatre could use a break. For a limited time only, the producers are offering 20 tickets for each performance available at the price of $20 per ticket.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces final casting for the special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009.

LAUREN GRAHAM (Golden Globe Award nominee for 'Gilmore Girls') will appear as 'Miss Adelaide' opposite Oliver Platt's 'Nathan Detroit' in the new Broadway production of GUYS AND DOLLS.

Starting today, October 28th, 2008 PS Classics is offering web pre-sale for six upcoming titles including the highly anticipated JACKIE HOFFMAN: LIVE AT JOE'S PUB and THE MARVERLOUS WONDERETTES.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its eleventh season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 17 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, R&B, country, rock, show tunes, bluegrass and multimedia, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic contemporary songwriting. The 2009 season - January 14 through March 6 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including top vocalist Kurt Elling and country's winning Patty Loveless. It will feature the rare opportunity to hear Paulo Szot, star of Broadway's South Pacific, and film and stage star Alan Cumming, in intimate concert settings.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004. The official Opening Night will be Saturday, December 27 at 7:30 p.m.

Jeffrey Finn Productions announces a special return holiday engagement of THE MUSIC OF ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER for two weeks only at the Kennedy Center's newly-renovated Eisenhower Theater, Tuesday, December 23, 2008 through Sunday, January 4, 2009. The engagement marks the first return of the special concert since a sold out holiday run at the Kennedy Center Opera House in December 2004.

A new production of GUYS AND DOLLS, directed by Tony-winner Des McAnuff will begin previews on February 3, 2009 at Broadway's Nederlander Theatre. Opening Night is March 1.

Critically acclaimed Broadway performer Neile Adams ('Kismet,' 'The Pajama Game') returns to The Big Apple with her new cabaret show, 'Something Cool,' an autobiographical musical celebration of her life and early days in New York on Broadway, where she met her late first husband, actor Steve McQueen.

KLEA BLACKHURST and BILLY STRITCH will celebrate the release of their new CD Dreaming Of A Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael with two weeks worth of performances at the Metropolitan Room.

On Wednesday, September 10th, New York's favorite five-part harmony guys, Uptown Express, offered a live performance at New York's Barnes & Nobel Lincoln Sqaure location. The program featured musical numbers featured on Uptown Express' new CD, 'Walk Like a Man.'

The Carlyle Hotel (James McBride, Managing Director) welcomes the return of John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey, the gifted husband-and-wife team, as they open the fall entertainment season in the legendary Café Carlyle. Beginning Tuesday, September 9th and playing through Saturday, November 1st, Mr. & Mrs. Pizzarelli, who made their debut engagement in May 2007, will once again grace the stage to present an entertaining evening of romantic ballads and swinging jazz tunes, including songs from each of their latest recordings: 'With A Song in My Heart' (Telarc, 2008), Mr. Pizzarelli's tribute to composer Richard Rodgers, and 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On' (Arbors Records, 2008), a sophisticated collection of 15 of Ms. Molaskey's favorite tunes. Mr. Pizzarelli (guitar and vocals) will lead a quartet consisting of younger brother Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Larry Fuller (piano) and Tony Tedesco (drums).

Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.