Frederick Loewe News

Casting is complete and rehearsals begin May 20 for Goodman Theatre's new production of Brigadoon-Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's big, beautiful and beguiling song and dance fantasy. Chicago director/choreographer Rachel Rockwell, hailed as a "brilliant, insightful, mistress-of-grand-scale musicals" (Chicago Sun-Times) and named "2012 Chicagoan of the Year" by the Chicago Tribune, makes her Goodman debut. Brigadoon runs June 27 - August 3 in the Albert Theatre (opening night is Monday, July 7). Tickets ($25 - $93; subject to change) are on sale now, available atGoodmanTheatre.org/Brigadoon, by phone at 312.443.3800 or at the box office (170 North Dearborn). JPMorgan Chase is the Major Corporate Sponsor. Allstate Insurance Company and PwC are Corporate Sponsor Partners. Towers Watson is the Opening Night Sponsor. Chicago Tribune is the Media Partner. A full performance calendar follows.

Despite an extensive and impressive career, Billy Porter recently became a household name when he won the Tony Award for Best Actor in a Musical. The incandescent star released a solo album of Broadway standards, titled BILLY'S BACK ON BROADWAY. He applies a big band swing, jazz, and contemporary R&B soundscape to these hit songs, giving listeners a unique perspective on these songs.

A packed theatre of patrons at last night's opening performance of Camelot was treated to the announcement of Georgia Ensemble Theatre's (GET's) 2014-2015 Season lineup of plays which is filled with musical favorites, powerhouse drama, comedy and a world premiere. Artistic Director Robert J. Farley proudly stood before the crowd for the presentation of plays that are sure to thrill patrons new and old. North Fulton's only professional theatre company is the artistic home to more than 2500 subscribers, as well as dedicated individual ticket buyers who frequent the Roswell-based company throughout the year with its extensive mainstage, theatre for youth, education, and outreach programming. Farley says about the season unveiling, 'I am so very excited about the public announcement of Georgia Ensemble Theatre's 22nd season of professional theatre. These stories represent such great depth, and the talent of the writing that we'll be bringing to the stage beginning in September is astounding. Clearly, Atlanta theatre patrons are just as excited as I am as evidenced by the great feedback we are getting and the already brisk subscription sales.' Georgia Ensemble Theatre is based out of the Roswell Cultural Arts Center in historic Roswell, located at 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), North Fulton's only professional theatre company, will end its twenty-first season with the musical blockbuster that is Camelot, with book and lyrics by Alan J. Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. Georgia Ensemble Theatre audiences will be treated to this story and fabulous music by an extremely gifted ensemble of outstanding Atlanta artists. This long-loved show is now poised to touch in new ways a generation that was around when it opened on Broadway in the early 60s, and an entirely new generation as well. GET Artistic Director Robert F. Farley directs this production. Camelot runs tonight, April 10-27, 2014, at the Theatre's home, the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Today in 1957, Brigadoon opened at the Adelphi Theatre, where it ran for 47 performances. Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Songs from the musical, such as 'Almost Like Being in Love' have become standards. The story involves two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years. Tommy, one of the tourists, falls in love with Fiona, a young woman from Brigadoon. The original production opened on Broadway in 1947 and ran for 581 performances. A 1954 film version starred Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. A 1966 television version starred Robert Goulet and Peter Falk.

'Call the Midwife,' the acclaimed BBC/PBS series by Emmy-nominated screenwriter and playwright Heidi Thomas, began airing its third season on March 30, 2014 on PBS in the US and continues through May 18, 2014. The period drama, which follows the midwives and nuns of a convent in the poor East End of London in the 1950s, first premiered to record ratings on BBC One in the UK in January, 2012 and began airing in the US in fall of 2012 on PBS, earning ecstatic reviews from television writers. It is currently the BBC's top-rated drama, earning 10.5 million viewers per episode and has been sold to 197 territories worldwide. 'Call the Midwife' is produced by Neal Street Productions, a film, television and stage production company, founded and run by Sam Mendes, Pippa Harris and Caro Newling.

The Laguna Playhouse Executive and Artistic Directors, Karen Wood and Ann E. Wareham are thrilled to present screen legend Leslie Caron, in her first Southern California theatrical performance in over 25 years! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri, with choreography by Donna McKechnie (A Chorus Line) and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will also feature 6-time Ovation Award-winning actor David Engel. "What an honor to have on our stage the incomparable Leslie Caron and the multi-talented David Engel," remarks Wood. "It's a dream cast and a dream come true. With Michael Arabian and Donna McKechnie directing and choreographing, this has to be one of the most anticipated productions in the Playhouse's storied history,' adds Wareham. SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews on Saturday, April 26 and will open on Saturday, May 3 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, June 8, 2014 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), North Fulton's only professional theatre company, will end its twenty-first season with the musical blockbuster that is Camelot, with book and lyrics by Alan J. Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. Georgia Ensemble Theatre audiences will be treated to this story and fabulous music by an extremely gifted ensemble of outstanding Atlanta artists. This long-loved show is now poised to touch in new ways a generation that was around when it opened on Broadway in the early 60s, and an entirely new generation as well. GET Artistic Director Robert F. Farley directs this production. Camelot runs April 10-27, 2014, at the Theatre's home, the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

America-in-Play will present the premiere of A Time-Traveler's Trip to Niagra, Following the Bold Adventures and Strange Detours of an Unlikely Group of Travelers Across Time and America. Running May 3-18 at the Hudson Guild Theatre (441 West 26th Street), this unique comedy interweaves two journeys up the Hudson River: one by bus in 2014 and one by steamboat in 1828. From upper class Brits taking a tour of the Early Republic to a modern brother and sister taking a bus ride upstate to trace their roots, the two trips converge at the iconic and spectacular Niagara Falls and aim to investigate the relationship between the American landscape and identity while exploring ties between past and future. A unique 'Dime Museum' exploring Americana and the play will be open 30 minutes before each performance.

In a rapid fire Q&A with People Magazine, 'Once Upon a Time' actress Jennifer Morrison was asked, if she could reunite with her 'House' co-star Hugh Laurie on any project what would it be.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), North Fulton's only professional theatre company, will end its twenty-first season with the musical blockbuster that is Camelot, with book and lyrics by Alan J. Lerner, and music by Frederick Loewe. Georgia Ensemble Theatre audiences will be treated to this story and fabulous music by an extremely gifted ensemble of outstanding Atlanta artists. This long-loved show is now poised to touch in new ways a generation that was around when it opened on Broadway in the early 60s, and an entirely new generation as well. GET Artistic Director Robert F. Farley directs this production. Camelot runs April 10-27, 2014, at the Theatre's home, the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA. The production is generously sponsored by The Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

Today in 1976, the first Broadway revival of My Fair Lady opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 377 performances. My Fair Lady is a musical based upon George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion and with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. The story concerns Eliza Doolittle, a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons from professor Henry Higgins, a phoneticist, so that she may pass as a well born lady. The musical's 1956 Broadway production was a hit, setting what was then the record for the longest run of any major musical theatre production in history. It was followed by a hit London production, a popular film version, and numerous revivals.

Today in 1947, Brigadoon opened at the Ziegfeld Theatre, where it ran for 581 performances. Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. It tells the story of a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years, though to the villagers, the passing of each century seems no longer than one night. Brigadoon then received a West End production opening in 1949 that ran for 685 performances, and many revivals followed. A 1954 film version starred Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. A 1966 television version starred Robert Goulet and Peter Falk.

Era il 1953 quando la Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer diede il via alla produzione di due dei suoi film musicali piu 'classici,' ossia Seven Brides for Seven Brothers e Brigadoon. Non e un mistero che la Casa del Leone fosse piu interessata all'ultimo, adattamento cinematografico del primo successo teatrale di Alan Jay Lerner e Frederick Loewe (My Fair Lady, Camelot, Paint Your Wagon) e lo dimostra il fatto che il budget per Sette Spose venne drasticamente tagliato a 2,540,000 dollari (rispetto ai 3,019,000 di Brigadoon). L'investimento 'risicato' creo non pochi problemi alla produzione che, non disponendo dei mezzi necessari, dovette girare in studio anche le scene all'aperto facendo ricorso a fondali non proprio realistici. Nonostante gli ambienti visibilmente artificiali, all'uscita del film nel 1954, l'indimenticabile love story tra Milly e Adamo, le coreografie di Micheal Kidd, l'indovinato cast capitanato da Jane Powell e Howard Keel - in cui figurava, nel ruolo di una delle spose, la Catwoman Julie Newmar - e la splendida partitura di Gene de Paul e Johnny Mercer conquistarono gli spettatori di ogni parte del mondo rendendo Seven Brides for Seven Brothers una delle punte di diamante del repertorio MGM. Brigadoon, per contro, nonostante la presenza di Gene Kelly e Cyd Charisse, non ottenne il successo sperato.

Norm Lewis makes his eagerly anticipated solo debut at American Songbook on Saturday night at 8:30pm. The show is SOLD OUT, and has been for weeks, and he has been in what he calls 'training' for the last few months. His musical director is Joseph Joubert (Motown, The Color Purple, Violet, Leap of Faith) and the evening is directed by Richard Jay-Alexander., for whom Norm did 'Javert' along with Hugh Panaro as 'Valjean' in last summer's blockbuster success of LES MISERABLES at The Muny in St. Louis.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts today announced its 2014- 2015 theater season today, including the pre-Broadway engagement of Gigi featuring a re-envisioned book by Heidi Thomas with direction by Eric Schaeffer. The Kennedy Center will also produce the world premiere musical Little Dancer with book and lyrics by Lynn Ahrens, music by Stephen Flaherty, and direction and choreography by Susan Stroman; touring productions of Evita, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, and Once; and back by popular demand following its record-breaking six week engagement in 2013, the multi-Tony Award®-winning musical from the creators of South Park, The Book of Mormon, will return for a limited engagement. The season also brings the eighth season of Barbara Cook's Spotlight series, individually showcasing five Broadway performers in a cabaret setting. From March 2 - 24, Iberian Suite: arts remix across continents will bring a multitude of theatrical offerings to the Kennedy Center. As part of the Center's efforts to support the creation of new works, the Kennedy Center will host the 13th annual Page-to-Stage new play festival and the 47th annual Kennedy Center American College Theater Festival.

Surfside Players, Cocoa Beach, Brevard County, has announced it's 2014-15 season - details below!

Once again the Weston Playhouse Theatre will light up a winter night with a free concert of songs from an exciting new musical performed by top Broadway talent. Tonight, March 1 at 8pm, Heidi Blickenstaff of Broadway's The Addams Family, The Little Mermaid and The Full Monty will sing the lead in the new musical, String, supported by a stellar cast of Broadway actor/singers.