George Wendt News

Recently, Upright's Chris Isaacson attended the opening night of 'Minsky's' at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

Associated Press Theatre writer Michael Kuchwara is reporting that 'Minsky's,' the musical tale of Depression era burlesque that just opened last week in Los Angeles, is set for a summer or fall Broadway bow, according to its producers.

'MINKSY'S' book writer Bob Martin is featured on Toronto's TheStar.com chatted about his work on the new musical 'Minsky's', Bob Martin created and starred on Broadway in The Drowsy Chaperone.

Minsky's opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie, Applause) and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead (Jelly's Last Jam and Triumph of Love), Minsky's is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw (The Drowsy Chaperone).

'Minsky's' opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21).

'Minsky's' opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews began January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone')

On January 4th 2009, after over 2,641 performances, the curtain fell at the Neil Simon Theater on the final performance of Broadway's 2003 Tony Award winning musical HAIRSPRAY starring original cast members Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. BroadwayWorld's cameras were there to party with the cast one last time! Look for more BWW Hairspray fun coming soon-stay tuned Hairhoppers!

Minsky's is a big, racy, new musical comedy set in a time when entertainment was about legs and laughs, and you had to push the limits to keep the customers buying tickets. A rollicking backstage story, set in Prohibition Era New York City. Tony Award winning costume designer Gregg Barnes talked about his creations for MINSKY'S on the show's official site in a wonderful audio/video essay that we are excited to bring you here on BWW TV!

Former SNL genius, Celebrity Autobiography mainstay and gifted comic actress Rachel Dratch is a member of the cast of the currently in rehearsal musical Minsky's, she reveals her joy of working with composer Charles Strouse and her hope of it continuing to Broadway in the future to NYMag.com's Diana Scholl.

Casting is complete and rehearsals have begun for the world premiere of 'Minsky's,' which opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews begin January 21). Featuring music by three-time Tony Award-winning composer Charles Strouse ('Bye Bye Birdie,' 'Annie,' 'Applause') and lyrics by Susan Birkenhead ('Jelly's Last Jam' and 'Triumph of Love'), 'Minsky's' is Center Theatre Group's second collaboration with Tony Award-winning writer Bob Martin and director/choreographer Casey Nicholaw ('The Drowsy Chaperone').

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Broadway fans can bid on tickets to the opening night of Hair and the post-show party, a backstage visit with Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein, signed Playbills, a 'For Rent' sign autographed by the cast of Rent, or even a signed can of hairspray by the cast of Hairspray; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet-and-greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Harry Connick Jr, Estelle, Joan Rivers or Michael Feinstein; sports fans can bid on meet-and-greets with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Broadway fans can bid on tickets to the opening night of Hair and the post-show party, a backstage visit with Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein, signed Playbills, a 'For Rent' sign autographed by the cast of Rent, or even a signed can of hairspray by the cast of Hairspray; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet-and-greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Harry Connick Jr, Estelle, Joan Rivers or Michael Feinstein; sports fans can bid on meet-and-greets with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Harvey Fierstein returned to his Tony-winning role as the greatest Broadway mother of them all, Edna Turnblad in Hairspray on Tuesday, November 11th. BroadwayWorld was there to cheer our favorite 'Mama' on as he celebrated becoming a 'Hairhopper' again!

Harvey Fierstein will reprise his Tony-winning performance as Edna Turnblad beginning tonight!

The Broadway Workshop, Manhattan's fastest growing acting program for young artists, teamed up with Golden Globe nominated TV and movie star Nikki Blonsky, for its one day 'Hairspray' musical workshop. THE HAIRSPRAY WORKSHOP, took place on November 1, 2008 in New York City. This Workshop gave students the opportunity to work on every area of musical theater performance.

BroadwayWorld's cameras captured the 'green' carpet arrivals last night for THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD NOT TAKEN, a one-night-only benefit performance celebrating the 5th anniversary of the smash hit musical WICKED.

Grammy Award-winner and actress Ashanti, The View's Joy Behar, Sex and the City's Mario Cantone, Academy Award-nominated actor/writer/director Buck Henry, Ugly Betty's Mark Indelicato, Jersey Boys' Daniel Reichard, Gossip Girl's Matthew Settle, and Cheers' George Wendt will be among the cast of THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD NOT TAKEN, a one-night-only benefit performance celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the Broadway smash WICKED. The Benefit takes place this evening, Monday October 27th.

Fresh on the heels of Columbus Day... and a breath before Thanksgiving... 'Don't Quit Your Night Job' returns to New York City for another year of mayhem! BroadwayWorld had the entertaining opportunity to chat with the fantastic foursome- Steve Rosen, David Rossmer, Sarah Saltzberg and Dan Lipton - at The Zipper Factory in anticipation of their 3rd rompous season, opening Thursday October 30!

Grammy Award-winner and actress Ashanti, The View's Joy Behar, Sex and the City's Mario Cantone, Academy Award-nominated actor/writer/director Buck Henry, Ugly Betty's Mark Indelicato, Jersey Boys' Daniel Reichard, Gossip Girl's Matthew Settle, and Cheers' George Wendt will be among the cast of THE YELLOW BRICK ROAD NOT TAKEN, a one-night-only benefit performance celebrating the 5th Anniversary of the Broadway smash WICKED.

Producers of HAIRSPRAY, the Tony winning Best Musical, have announced that the show will close on Jan. 4, 2009.