Gene Kelly News

Xanadu, Produced by WaterTower Theatre at the Addison Theatre and Conference Center will play the Main Stage from July 26 - August 18, 2013.

Leslie B. Cutler, who directed of hundreds of productions over a 50 year period at the storied Kenley Players in Ohio and other stock venues and is widely believed to have directed more stars onstage than anyone else in show business, died of congestive heart failure at the St.Luke's - Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan on Saturday, May 18th, 2013. He was 93.

Cortland Repertory Theatre kicks off their 42nd season at the Little York Pavilion in Preble with the theatre's premiere production of Agatha Christie's mystery, The Unexpected Guest. Performances will run from tonight, June 5th - 15th with evening performances at 7:30 PM. Matinees are available on June 7th, 9th and 12th at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or at the CRT Box Office's new location at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.

Today we are talking to an inordinately talented triple-threat performer who made his name on Broadway in some landmark productions, such as the original multi-Tony Award-winning HAIRSPRAY and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, in addition to his peerless work in Lincoln Center's lauded SOUTH PACIFIC revival, who now is best known to audiences around the world for his headlining role on FOX's mega-hit musical dramedy series GLEE - the charismatic Matthew Morrison. Sharing stories from his Broadway days as well as looking ahead to the new season of GLEE airing in September, Morrison paints a vivid picture of his musical theatre career thus far and touches upon his experiences in the aforementioned musicals on the Great White Way as well as THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, A NAKED GIRL ON THE APPIAN WAY and more, detailing his ascent from chorus boy to superstar. More importantly, Morrison offers us the complete 411 on his new solo album, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, discussing its conception, recording, production, and, now, its release - as well as elaborating on working with legendary producer Phil Ramone on it and the song selection process itself. Furthermore, Morrison reveals the most influential artists and performers to him and how that inspiration formed the basis for WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, both the album itself as well as his current concert tour in promotion of it - arriving in NYC at 54 Below this weekend, as a matter of fact - and his PBS special, airing this month. Additionally, Morrison candidly comments on some characters he would enjoy essaying in the future (hint: a demon barber of Fleet Street), reflects on his favorite GLEE moments to date, recounts wild ROCKY HORROR antics involving rock star Sebastian Bach - and much, much more!

Historian and executor of the Gene Kelly Estate, Patricia Ward Kelly, will present her fascinating solo show GENE KELLY: THE LEGACY tonight, June 1 at Chapman University's Memorial Hall in Orange County, CA - an encore presentation of the two sold-out shows Kelly introduced at the Academy Of Motion Pictures at Lincoln Center in NYC last July.

MeLu Communications Group announces the release of 'American Mambo'... the exciting new CD by Lucio Fernandez a.k.a. 'The Cuban Kid'. A feel good production... from dance tracks, to boleros, to hard driving ballads... this is 'American Mambo'.

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast.

Historian and executor of the Gene Kelly Estate, Patricia Ward Kelly, will present her fascinating solo show GENE KELLY: THE LEGACY on June 1 at Chapman University's Memorial Hall in Orange County, CA - an encore presentation of the two sold-out shows Kelly introduced at the Academy Of Motion Pictures at Lincoln Center in NYC last July.

Cortland Repertory Theatre kicks off their 42nd season at the Little York Pavilion in Preble with the theatre's premiere production of Agatha Christie's mystery, The Unexpected Guest. Performances will run from June 5th - 15th with evening performances at 7:30 PM. Matinees are available on June 7th, 9th and 12th at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or at the CRT Box Office's new location at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.

The Laguna Playhouse is thrilled to present film great Leslie Caron (An American In Paris, Gigi, Fanny) in a comic and heartfelt valentine to the human condition, SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS, written by Richard Alfieri and directed by Michael Arabian (Waiting for Godot). Additional exciting casting news to be announced shortly! SIX DANCE LESSONS IN SIX WEEKS will begin previews on Tuesday, November 26 and will open on Saturday, December 7 at 7:30pm and run through Sunday, December 29, 2013 at the Laguna Playhouse, 606 Laguna Canyon Road in Laguna Beach.

A sold-out crowd gathered at the Benedum Center as Pittsburgh CLO and the University of Pittsburgh honored Allegheny County's finest high school performers at the 23rd Annual Pittsburgh CLO Gene Kelly Awards for Excellence in High School Musical Theater on Saturday, May 25, 2013.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguliar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.'

Broadway Workshop, New York's top youth theatre program brought the Broadway musical XANADU, back to New York this past weekend. Broadway Workshop's production marked the first NYC staging of Xanadu since the 2007 Broadway production. Performances took place The Baruch Performing Arts Center and ran May 17th through May 19th. Scroll down for photos of the cast in action!

Extending this season's hot streak of productions that make bold artistic statements, Asolo Repertory Theatre will present Noah Racey's Pulse. A song and dance celebration that harkens back to the golden age of hoofing, Pulse is written, conceived, and choreographed by Broadway song and dance man Noah Racey in collaboration with Broadway director and two-time Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun. Pulse opens tonight, May 23 with an 8 p.m. curtain. The show runs through June 16, 2013 in Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre located in The FSU Center for the Performing Arts.

Pittsburgh CLO presents the Stephen Sondheim celebration, Side By Side By Sondheim, which will run tonight, May 23 through August 18 at the CLO Cabaret.

We've got a MUST WATCH reminder for Monday night - American Masters Mel Brooks: Make a Noise, the newest film in the American Masters series, will premiere nationally Monday, May 20 at 9pm ET/PT on PBS(check local listings), and will be released on DVD by Shout! Factory on May 21.