Gwen Verdon News

Today in 1966, Sweet Charity opened at the Palace Theatre, where it ran for 608 performances. Featuring music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon, the musical was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon. It is based on Federico Fellini's screenplay for Nights of Cabiria. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1966, where it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, and also ran in the West End as well as having revivals and international productions.

Dynamic talents, such as triple-threat Chita Rivera, rarely give up. They are having too much fun to retire. Passionate, warm, funny and forever loyal to her art, Miss Rivera has always captivated her audiences and is still very much doing so, based on her performance on Saturday January 25 at the Valley Performing Arts Center in Northridge. It was a stroll down memory lane, and a delicious one, as Rivera took the stage in Chita Rivera: A legendary Celebration with 'I've Got a Lot of Living To Do' from Bye Bye Birdie and sang, moved vibrantly with rhythm and grace and told terrific stories about Leonard Benstein, Cy Coleman, and Kander & Ebb, among others.

Triple threat Broadway legend Chita Rivera will bring her iconic class and showmanship to the Valley Performing Arts Center January 25 for one performance only at 8 pm. In our chat she tells us a little bit about the new show and talks in great detail about the joys of her career.

Today in 1925, the late Broadway legend Gwen Verdon was born. Verdon was an actress and dancer who won four Tony awards for her musical comedy performances. With flaming red hair and an endearing quaver in her voice, Verdon was a critically acclaimed dancer on Broadway in the 1950s and 1960s. She is also strongly identified with her second husband, director-choreographer Bob Fosse, remembered as the dancer-collaborator-muse for whom he choreographed much of his work and as the guardian of his legacy after his death. Verdon is most remembered for starring in Sweet Charity, Chicago, and Damn Yankees.

The Hayes Theatre came to life this morning as the cast and crew of Sweet Charity arrived for their first official day of rehearsals in the venue. The cast knocked everyone's socks off with their first read-through and sing-through of the iconic score.

The Majestic Theatre's production of the FORBIDDEN BROADWAY revue brought warm approval on a cold, wet night from an audience happy to pole fun at Disney, Mackintosh, and Mormons

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud present the premiere of Donna McKechnie's new Talk/Variety show just last week. Tony-winning choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) was Donna's Very Special Guest for the evening, with singers Nick Adams and Nikki MacCallum singing songs from Mitchell's hit shows. Donna and Jerry discussed life, love, careers and even ended the evening with a good, old-fashioned soft-shoe, after Mitchell demonstrated his most successful audition tune, 'I Love A Piano!' BroadwayWorld brings you highlights below!

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was proud present the premiere of Donna McKechnie's new Talk/Variety show on Monday, December 9 at 7pm. Tony-winning choreographer/director Jerry Mitchell (Kinky Boots) was Donna's Very Special Guest for the evening, with singers Nick Adams and Nikki MacCallum singing songs from Mitchell's hit shows. Donna and Jerry discussed life, love, careers and even ended the evening with a good, old-fashioned soft-shoe, after Mitchell demonstrated his most successful audition tune, 'I Love A Piano!' Scroll down for photos!

They say it's the most wonderful time of the year. I can't say I disagree! The holidays in New York City are magical... ice skating at Bryant Park, the huge trees lit up in Rockefeller Center and Lincoln Center, and snow falling softly on Times Square (let's just ignore the black post-snow slush). New shows opening on Broadway just in time for the holiday crowds, and of course... the chance to scour the BC/EFA Holiday Gift Guide to find the perfect items for everyone on your list.

The Fred Ebb Foundation in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company presents the ninth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, is presented by Joel Grey tonight, December 2nd from 6-8pm at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lounge of The American Airlines Theater.

This is NOT your ordinary child star.

The first show at the Hayes Theatre Co is an up-close and personal production of the classic musical Sweet Charity, produced by Luckiest Productions and Neil Gooding Productions. Sweet Charity will play at the Hayes Theatre Co from 7 February - 9 March 2014.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) will present the ninth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters to Michael Kooman and Christopher Dimond. The award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, will be presented by Joel Grey on Monday, December 2nd from 6-8pm at a by-invitation-only ceremony in the Penthouse Lounge of The American Airlines Theater.

Stories on Stage presents 'Because I Said So...' Saturday, October 19 at 7:30 p.m. at The Dairy Center for the Arts, 2590 Walnut St. in Boulder, Co 80302. Tickets are available at http://thedairy.org/ or by calling 303-444-7328. On Sunday, October 20 at 1:30 p.m. and 6:30 p.m. the performance moves to Su Teatro Cultural and Performing Arts Center, 721 Santa Fe Drive, Denver, CO 80204. Tickets are available online at www.storiesonstage.org or by calling 303-494-0523. Single tickets are $28 Adult/ $15 Student; tickets for groups of 10 or more are $23 per person and LoDough (scholarship) tickets are also available.

A sizzling evening of song and dance honoring and starring theatrical icon Chita Rivera raised a remarkable $413,660 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

The biggest day of the year for Broadway fans is only four days away as Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS sets the stage for the 27th AnnualBroadway Flea Market & Grand Auction (#bwayflea). The all-day, outdoor market features one-of-a-kind theatre treasures, once-in-a-lifetime onstage and backstage experiences and your favorite stars from Broadway's biggest shows.

The legendary Liza Minnelli will perform at Walt Disney Concert Hall on Tuesday, March 25, 2014, making her debut performance at the iconic venue. This special, one-night-only performance features Minnelli and her band performing songs from throughout her groundbreaking career. This performance is part of a short West Coast tour.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced that Donna McKechnie's new bi-monthly talk & variety show will premiere on January 6 at 7pm. Broadway legends Tommy Tune, Andrea McArdle, Faith Prince and Jerry Mitchell have all signed on to be part of the series, with dates to be announced.