Gwen Verdon News

Today in 2005, the second Broadway revival of Sweet Charity opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 279 performances. Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon alongside John McMartin. 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. THe 2005 revival starred Christina Applegate in he title role.

THE Jack Cole PROJECT, a new musical entertainment by director/choreographer Chet Walker, presented at Queens Theatre in the Park (located in Flushing MeadowCorona Park) opens tonight, May 3, 2012.

We'll be talking to nominees all day for their reactions! Click here for the complete list! Audra McDonald for Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical for THE GERSHWINS' PORGY AND BESS 'I am honored and grateful and I'm super thrilled for the production as a whole to get so many nominations. I am so proud of this production and thankful to the Tony nominating committee for recognizing all aspects of the show. I got the news via text message. As usual, it was up at 6:15 for me to get the kids to school and I was back in bed by 8! Will was here though so it was nice to roll over when I got the news and say 'Hey I got a nomination!' Then we both conked out again. When we finally got up I asked him to be my date for the Tonys - he said yes! - so I guess that was our little celebration. Now it's back to being a mom for the day and get ready for the show tonight. I'm really looking forward to seeing everyone at the theater tonight to congratulate them.'

The McCallum Theatre, the Coachella Valley's premiere theatrical venue, celebrates its 25th Anniversary Season with a star-studded lineup of Classical Music, Jazz, Cabaret, Comedy and a Broadway Blockbuster Series which includes Rock of Ages, Dreamgirls and West Side Story. The McCallum Theatre opened its doors on January 2, 1988 with a gala performance honoring Bob Hope that was nationally televised. Since then The McCallum has been the Coachella Valley's mecca for world-class entertainment including an extensive array of Broadway and Cabaret offerings. The man behind the tremendous success of the McCallum's eclectic performance calendar for the past thirteen years is Mitch Gershenfeld, Director of Presentations and Theatre Operations, who will take the helm as the theatre's President and CEO beginning June 1. I had the opportunity to sit down with Mr. Gershenfeld as he begins preparations for The McCallum's exciting Silver Anniversary Season. Gershenfeld is warm, passionate, highly astute, a performing arts afficionado and a genuinely kind man. Here are a few highlights from that conversation.

On June 4th at 7:30pm at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts at New York University, the 30th Annual Fred & Adele Astaire Awards will honor Liza Minnelli with its Douglas Watt Lifetime Achievement Award.

Tony Award winning triple threat Donna McKechnie will always be remembered as Cassie in A Chorus Line, and of course for her solo within it 'The Music and the Mirror'. This vet of Broadway, TV and film is currently teaching a musical comedy class at HB Studio in New York and in our chat offers some choice anecdotes from her career. She will appear in Original Cast 3, this year's S.T.A.G.E. (Southland Theatrical Artists Goodwill Event) benefit for APLA (Aids Project Los Angeles) Saturday April 28 at the Saban Theatre.

Sunday, June 10th, The Actors Fund will honor TONY® Award winner Jason Alexander at their 16th Annual Tony Awards® Party with the Julie Harris Award for Lifetime Achievement. The gala, which will be held at Skirball Center (2701 North Sepulveda Blvd, LA, 90049), features the only approved live feed of the Tony Awards as they happen in New York. The evening's host and presenter to be announced.

New Dramatists, Tony Honor recipient and playwright development workshop, today announced that two-time Tony Award winner Bernadette Peters will be honored with their 2012 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 63rd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held Thursday, May 24th at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Casting has been announced for the world premiere of HEAT WAVE: THE JACK COLE PROJECT, a new musical entertainment set to debut at Queens Theatre (14 United Nations Avenue South in Flushing Meadows Corona Park) with performances starting on May 3rd 2012.

Paradise Theatre presents SWEET CHARITY through March 18, 2012. Book by Neil Simon; Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano. Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse. Directed by JEFF RICHARDS. Musical Direction by VICKI KNICKERBOCKER. Choreography by VICKI RICHARDS.

The long-running hit musical Chicago will be performed by students at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia at the Merriam Theater on March 23, 24 and 25, 2012. In addition to evening performances on Friday March 23 and Saturday March 24 at 8pm and matinee performances on Saturday and Sunday at 2pm, there will be a preview performance on Thursday night March 22 at 8pm.

Paradise Theatre presents SWEET CHARITY March 2-18, 2012. Book by Neil Simon; Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano. Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse. Directed by JEFF RICHARDS. Musical Direction by VICKI KNICKERBOCKER. Choreography by VICKI RICHARDS.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced three productions as part of the 2012-2013 theatrical season. In the fall of 2012, Roundabout will present The Mystery of Edwin Drood, starring Chita Rivera, featuring book, music and lyrics by Rupert Holmes, musical direction by Paul Gemignani and direction by Scott Ellis. Winter 2013 will bring Picnic by William Inge, directed by Sam Gold. The third production announced is The Unavoidable Disappearance of Tom Durnin by Steven Levenson, directed by Scott Ellis.

The COLUMN AWARDS Board of Directors and the Executive Director/Producer announced today that Tony Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Chita Rivera will be the Co-host for the 13th Annual COLUMN AWARDS Gala.

Broad Brook Opera House production of CHICAGO offers deja vu dames.

Paradise Theatre presents SWEET CHARITY March 2-18, 2012. Book by Neil Simon; Music by Cy Coleman; Lyrics by Dorothy Fields. Based on an original screenplay by Federico Fellini, Tullio Pinelli and Ennio Plaiano. Produced for the Broadway Stage by Fryer, Carr and Harris. Conceived, Staged and Choreographed by Bob Fosse. Directed by JEFF RICHARDS. Musical Direction by VICKI KNICKERBOCKER. Choreography by VICKI RICHARDS.

Broad Brook Opera House production of CHICAGO offers deja vu dames.

The Metropolitan Room announces March performances.

Broadway star and legendary entertainer Donna McKechnie will be heating up two different Florida stages this month, beginning this weekend, where she'll be doing two performances of MY MUSICAL COMEDY LIFE, launching the inaugural season of the new Plaza Theatre in Manalapan, which has been engineered by Florida based Producer, Alan Jacobson.