Gwen Verdon News

The bases are loaded with musical theatre magic as TriArts Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Alice BemandExecutive Director and John Simpkins Artistic Director, presents the Tony Award-winning musical Damn Yankees from August 14-25 on the TriArts Mainstage (49 Amenia Road, Sharon). Check out a first look at the cast in action below!

The bases are loaded with musical theatre magic as TriArts Sharon Playhouse, under the leadership of Alice Bem and Executive Director and John Simpkins Artistic Director, presents the Tony Award-winning musical Damn Yankees from August 14-25 on the TriArts Mainstage (49 Amenia Road, Sharon).

Richard 'Bick' Goss, a noted New York City-based theater director and choreographer, former Bob Fosse dancer, and the Founder and Co-Artistic Director (with Frank Evans) of the non-profit musical theater development organization, Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, died this past Saturday, August 3, from complications related to Parkinson's Disease, which Mr. Goss had battled for more than five years. He was 75 years old.

Tackling a show like Pippin takes some major cojones. The original Bob Fosse production featured an iconic, Tony Award winning performance from Ben Vereen and was the first Broadway musical to feature the work of composer/lyricist Stephen Schwartz. The current Broadway revival of Pippin just won four Tony Awards for Best Featured Actress, Best Actress, Best Direction of a Musical, and Best Revival of a Musical. Pippin is certainly not a safe choice for a troupe of young performers like the High School and college age artists of SummerStock Austin. That said, the award-winning SummerStock Austin never takes the safe road, and their courageousness pays off with their exciting, enjoyable, and thrilling production of Pippin.

Last weekend in Los Angeles on Saturday July 27, Chita Rivera received the DIZZY FEET FOUNDATION INSPIRATION AWARD at a gala to celebrate dance, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion. DIZZY FEET was founded by Nigel Lythgoe, Adam Shankman, Carrie Ann Inaba and Katie Holmes. Arthur Mitchell, founder of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, was also honored. Other guests included Jenna Elfman, Paula Abdul, Jane Lynch, Anna Kendrick, Darren Criss, Jenna Ushkowitz, Cat Deeley and Wayne Brady.

The award winning Foothill Music Theatre swings for the fences this summer with the Tony Award-winning musical DAMN YANKEES. With book by George Abbott and Douglass Wallop, DAMN YANKEES, the musical story of a baseball fanatic who makes a deal with the devil to get his team a chance at the pennant, features a memorable Richard Adler and Jerry Ross score including 'Whatever Lola Want, Lola Gets,' and (You've Gotta Have) 'Heart.' This production will be helmed by Tom Gough with music direction by Catherine Snider, and choreography by Katie O'Bryon and plays today, July 26 - August 18 in the Smithwick Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills

Megan Hilty and Aaron Lazar star in a staged reading of Jonathan Burrows' Broadway-bound revival of the Cole Porter musical Can-Can, beginning today in New York City. The by-invitation-only presentation, featuring Hilty as Pistache and Lazar as Aristide, is also set for tomorrow, July 16, and Wednesday, July 17.

Audra McDonald, the five-time Tony Award winner and recent star of Porgy and Bess on Broadway and TV's Private Practice, makes her Provincetown debut with four shows only on July 21 and 22 at 5pm and 7pm. Sirius/XM radio star Seth Rudetsky, whom theNew York Times just dubbed "The Mayor of Broadway," hosts again at the piano.

Stephanie worked with Fosse back in the '80s, and has come out of semi-retirement to dance Fosse-style again (and understudy the lead role) in the Tony-winning revival.

Happy Birthday, Bob Fosse! Fosse won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction. He was nominated for an Academy Award four times, winning for his direction of Cabaret. Amonst his many Broadway credits are The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Sweet Charity, Pippin, Chicago, Dancin' and many more.

The award winning Foothill Music Theatre swings for the fences this summer with the Tony Award-winning musical DAMN YANKEES. This production will be helmed by Tom Gough with music direction by Catherine Snider, and choreography by Katie O'Bryon and plays July 26 - August 18 in the Smithwick Theatre, Foothill College, 12345 El Monte Rd., Los Altos Hills.

Broadway Icon and nine time TONY Award winner, Tommy Tune, hosted The Actors Fund's 17th Annual Tony Awards Viewing Party at the Taglyan Cultural Complex on Sunday, June 9th, 2013. Produced and written by David Rambo and directed by Luke Yankee, the event featured the only approved live TONY Award feed direct from New York to California, allowing guests of the Actors Fund to view the awards before the rest of West Coast viewed the delayed broadcast.

Manhattan Theatre Club has just announced a third and final extension for THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES, the new play by Tony Award winner Richard Greenberg, directed by MTC's award-winning artistic director Lynne Meadow. Tickets for this critically acclaimed engagement will be on sale through Sunday, July 28 at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) starting today at noon.

THE ASSEMBLED PARTIES star Judith Light, who yesterday won her second consecutive Tony Award for Best Featured Actress in a Play, will be featured on tomorrow's edition of 'Live with Kelly & Michael.' The show airs locally on WABC (channel 7) at 9 AM. Check local listings if outside the tristate area.

Today we are concluding BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on Broadway's favorite leading lady, who continues to provide inspiration for divas new and old nearly fifty years after her Broadway debut, the one and only Liza Minnelli.

Today in 1975, Chicago opened at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rogers Theatre), where it ran for 936 performances. Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago, with music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the 'celebrity criminal'. The original cast starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and Barney Martin as Amos Hart.