Fred Astaire News

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, the classic animated one-hour holiday special that has delighted generations, will air TONIGHT, DECEMBER 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 12/2/05)

Members of the Naughton Family - two-time Tony Award winner and Weston, Connecticut resident James Naughton, daughter Keira Naughton, son Greg Naughton, and Greg's wife Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara - plus Blythe Danner, Jordan Coughtry, Edward Herrmann, Chad Kinsman, Jake Robards, Mark Shanahan, and Dana Steingold are cast in Westport Country Playhouse's Script in Hand playreading of "The Philadelphia Story," the romantic comedy classic by Philip Barry, set for one-night-only tonight, December 10, 7 p.m. Director is Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor.

ABC Family's '25 Days of Christmas,' cable's biggest programming event of the year, returns with 25 continuous days of holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family. From today, December 1 - 25, viewers can ring in the holidays with original movies, holiday specials and returning favorites.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency will continue its Fall 2012 season with two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy award-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein. Celebrating the release of his new book The Gershwins and Me and a CD of twelve Gershwin songs, Michael will perform "A Gershwin Holiday."

SANTA CLAUS IS COMING TO TOWN, the classic animated one-hour holiday special that has delighted generations, will air on TUESDAY, DECEMBER 11 (8:00-9:00 p.m., ET), on the ABC Television Network. (Rebroadcast. OAD 12/2/05)

On Friday November 16, renowned film, stage and TV actress/singer Janis Paige brought her acclaimed autobiographical one-woman show to Upstairs at Vitello's. Having turned 90 in September, Miss Paige is unbelievably beautiful and puts some women half her age to shame. She came onstage with assistance due to an injured leg. She said the day before in order to avoid colliding with her little Jack Russell terrier, she darted over him and accidentally crashed into a piece of furniture. She humorously referred to the incident as a pas de deux. In spite of a painful bump on her leg, which caused her to remain seated throughout the 80-minute set, she claimed she was happy to be there. So, with stunning musical director Bill Schneider at the piano, she was off and running like her hero, the 30s/40s thoroughbred racehorse Seabiscuit. Paige is such a vibrant presence that even sitting she proceeded to dazzle her audience with a mesmerizing series of brilliant anecdotes and songs.

Gumdrop, star of the latest short film (of the same name) premiering today, November 19, on WIGS (www.youtube.com/wigs), the #1 channel for scripted drama on YouTube, provides viewers with a quirky look inside a casting room.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency will continue its Fall 2012 season with two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy award-nominated entertainer Michael Feinstein. Celebrating the release of his new book The Gershwins and Me and a CD of twelve Gershwin songs, Michael will perform "A Gershwin Holiday."

Members of the Naughton Family - two-time Tony Award winner and Weston, Connecticut resident James Naughton, daughter Keira Naughton, son Greg Naughton, and Greg's wife Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara - plus Blythe Danner, Jordan Coughtry, Edward Herrmann, Chad Kinsman, Jake Robards, Mark Shanahan, and Dana Steingold are cast in Westport Country Playhouse's Script in Hand playreading of "The Philadelphia Story," the romantic comedy classic by Philip Barry, set for one-night-only on Monday, December 10, 7 p.m. Director is Anne Keefe, Playhouse artistic advisor.

The ABC Television Network is celebrating the holiday season with movies, specials and four all-new special episodes of 'Extreme Makeover: Home Edition' beginning on Monday, November 26. Programming and airdates are as follows:

Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce that the personal correspondence from some of the most beloved, popular and genius musicians the world has ever known will be included in their December 18 auction, The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector. Part I of The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector will take place in Los Angeles and include 300 of the most important manuscripts, notes and letters of the collection.

From 5 February 2013 Gavin Lee will join the cast of the hit West End production of Top Hat to play Jerry Travers, the role played in the original RKO motion picture by Fred Astaire. Top Hat is currently booking at the Aldwych Theatre until 28 September 2013 having recently released a further 180,000 new tickets for sale. Seventy seven years after its movie release, Matthew White's production arrived in the West End earlier this year having completed a 20 week sell-out UK tour.

Texas Performing Arts presents "the most controversial organist alive" (Dallas Morning News). Cameron Carpenter's flamboyant style, dazzling performances, and profound musical intelligence have completely changed the game of his instrument.

The LA Times reports that Kristin Chenoweth is set to appear November 5 at the Renée and Henry Segerstrom Concert Hall in Costa Mesa. The Tony-winning actress will follow that performance with concerts in Sacramento on November 7 and Fresno on November 9.

ABC Family's '25 Days of Christmas,' cable's biggest programming event of the year, returns with 25 continuous days of holiday-themed entertainment for the whole family. From December 1 - 25, viewers can ring in the holidays with original movies, holiday specials and returning favorites.

92nd Street Y announces casting for the 2013 season of Lyrics & Lyricists™. Jason Danieley, Rebecca Luker, Barbara Carroll and James Naughton are among the performers from the worlds of Broadway, jazz and cabaret presenting a panoramic journey through the American Songbook via New York, London, Hollywood, and Stratford-on-Avon. L&L's shows this season explore Shakespeare on Broadway, iconic singer/lyricist Peggy Lee, a fresh take on Jerome Kern, and our look at Vernon Duke's and W. S. Gilbert's influence on Broadway. The season is curated by series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer (also returning as artistic director for one of the shows), and a line-up of guest artistic directors - Rob Fisher (with host Sheldon Harnick), Billy Stritch, David Loud and Mark Lamos.

Cabaret and Musical Theater performer Paul Hoffman makes his NYC Cabaret Debut with his show entitled Top Hat, White Tie and Tails, ..Songs of Fred Astaire.

Encore Series, Inc., presenter of Peter Nero and The Philly POPS, have announced the first concert series of the 2012/2013 Season will be held October 12-14, 2012 in Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts in Philadelphia. "Dancing and Romancing" is a tribute to Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers, featuring nationally acclaimed dancers, Joan Hess and Kirby Ward.