George Burns News

The New York Times reports that theatre critic and writer Martin Gottfried passed away on Thursday, March 6, 2014, due to complications of pneumonia. He was 80.

A State Theatre Fan Favorite, Bobby Collins is the #1 most played and requested comedian on XM/Sirius Satellite Radio. The 'most natural comedian working today,' according to the New York Times, returns to the State Theatre on Friday, March 21st.

The Oakland East Bay Symphony and Music Director/Conductor Michael Morgan will continue their 25th anniversary season with a concert featuring the world premiere of Bay Area composer-pianist-vocalist Mary Fineman's song cycle, It's About Love, featuring guest vocalist Wesla Whitfield, and the Symphony's Young Artist Competition winner Matthew Linaman performing Bloch's Schelomo tonight, February 21, 2014.

Comedy 103.1 and Z2 Entertainment present Jeff Ross at the Boulder Theater tonight, February 5th, 2014 at 8 PM.

Recognizable stage and screen star Anita Gillette returns to the West Coast with her solo show AFTER ALL this Friday with a gig scheduled for Feinstein's At The Nikko.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of Olympus on My Mind on Friday, January 31 at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road. The show runs through Sunday, March 16. This contemporary musical comedy retells the Greek Amphitryon legend where Jupiter comes to Earth in human form to woo beautiful Alcmene, wife of Amphitryon. Jupiter appears to her in the body of her absent husband and quickly wins her love. Things go swimmingly until the real Amphitryon returns from war. This production is one part of the Acts of Faith Festival. First produced Off- Broadway in 1986, the book and lyrics are by Barry Harman with music by Grant Sturiale. Olympus on My Mind won an Outer Critics Award for Best Lyrics and received three Drama Desk nominations.

Morgan Freeman will present the SAG 50th Life Achievement Award to Rita Moreno at the 20th Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

Legendary Comedian Buddy Hackett is brought to life in this live musical, theatrical production, told by the person closest to him… his son, Sandy Hackett. 'MY BUDDY" premieres at the Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performing Arts January 16-19.

This winter, the Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre is proud to present Say Goodnight, Gracie by Rupert Holmes. Starring Joel Rooks as George Burns, performances will be held from Thursday, January 30 through Sunday, February 16, 2014.

As always, Connecticut's professional theaters offerered a bountiful selection of excellent theater in 2013. It's hard to pick just a few, but here are some of the year's standouts from the theaters I cover for BroadwayWorld.com:

Grammy and Emmy award winner John McDaniel celebrates his St. Louis roots, debuting his new show, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, featuring special guests Mary Beth Black and Cindy Degnan. The show will take place tonight, December 20th, at 7 PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center, N. Grand Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63103.

Oakland, CA, December 19, 2013 - The Oakland East Bay Symphony and Music Director/Conductor Michael Morgan will continue their 25th anniversary season with a concert featuring the world premiere of Bay Area composer-pianist-vocalist Mary Fineman's song cycle, It's About Love, featuring guest vocalist Wesla Whitfield, and the Symphony's Young Artist Competition winner Matthew Linaman performing Bloch's Schelomo Friday, February 21, 2014

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein will present Tony Award Nominated star of stage and screen, Anita Gillette, as she presents her new one-woman show, After All, a wonderful evening of music and memories that takes an intimate, touching, and hilarious look behind the scenes from Broadway to Hollywood on Thursday, January 30, 2014 (8 p.m.). An autobiographical work, After All takes audiences backstage with Gillette as a young showgirl starting out in the original cast of Gypsy with Ethel Merman onwards into the worlds of David Merrick and Gower Champion in Carnival through a building career that leads to a Tony nominated performance in the Neil Simon comedy Chapter Two. From major feature films playing roles such as Ms. Mona in 'Moonstruck,' co-starring in hit television shows like 'Quincy' and Game Show classics, to playing Tina Fey's mother in '30 Rock' and Annie Fitzsimmons in the multiple award winning hit 'Modern Family,' Gillette will surprise and delight in this production that is certain to entertain! Tickets for Anita Gillette range in price from $30-$40 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Comedy 103.1 and Z2 Entertainment are proud to present Jeff Ross at the Boulder Theater on Wednesday, February 05th, 2014 at 8 PM.

Grammy and Emmy award winner John McDaniel celebrates his St. Louis roots, debuting his new show, HOME FOR THE HOLIDAYS, featuring special guests Mary Beth Black and Cindy Degnan. The show will take place on Friday, December 20th, at 7 PM at the Kranzberg Arts Center, N. Grand Boulevard, St Louis, MO 63103.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Cabaret and Broadway favorites Jeff Harnar, Linda Hart, Nicolas King and Jennifer Sheehan in 'COME FLY WITH ME' tonight, November 21, 2013.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are proud to announce the upcoming lineup at Feinstein's at the Nikko for January 2014. Artists include actor and singer Tom Wopat, star of stage and screen Cheyenne Jackson, Broadway and West End star Sierra Boggess, Emmy Award winning actor and comedian Leslie Jordan, and more! Tickets for all performances are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Museum of the Moving Image pays tribute to the legacy of filmmaking in Astoria with an exhibition that traces the history of the Astoria studio, a local landmark with deep roots in the culture of New York City. Lights, Camera, Astoria!, on view from today, October 26, 2013, through February 9, 2014, explores each phase of the site from its start as Paramount Pictures's East Coast production facility in the 1920s, a center for independent filmmaking in the 1930s, the U.S. Army Pictorial Center from World War II into the Cold War, the site's rebirth in the late 1970s, to the present day Kaufman Astoria Studios, a thriving motion picture and television studio, and a vibrant cultural hub that includes Museum of the Moving Image, Frank Sinatra School of the Arts, and restaurants and cafes.

54 Below, Broadway's Supper Club, presents Cabaret and Broadway favorites Jeff Harnar, Linda Hart, Nicolas King and Jennifer Sheehan in 'COME FLY WITH ME' on November 21, 2013. The evening is a centenary celebration of the lyrics of Sammy Cahn and the music of Jimmy Van Heusen and was conceived and directed by Grammy and Emmy Award winner, John McDaniel, during his first season as artistic director of the O'Neill Theater Center's Cabaret and Performance conference. Mr. McDaniel makes his New York directorial debut with this show.