Harold Arlen News

GABRIELLE STRAVELLI - the celebrated pop/jazz vocalist and songwriter called an "outstanding singer" by The Wall Street Journal and "hotter than the equator" by The Village Voice - has released the new single that is currently available on iTunes here, a passionate reworking of the Cole Porter classic "Dream Dancing." The track, a selection from her upcoming album If Only Love, has an arrangement by Pat O'Leary and features Art Hirahara on piano, Pat O'Leary on bass and Eric Halvorson on drums. "Dream Dancing" is produced by David Cook (Taylor Swift, Jennifer Hudson, Marianne Faithfull) with cover photography by Shervin Lainez (St. Vincent, Cat Power, Ellie Goulding).

'Folks, you ain't heard nothin' yet!' That is the iconic quote of the legendary Al Jolson, who was called 'The World's Greatest Entertainer' through the first half of the 20th century and was arguably the first American pop superstar. When Jolson's career was all but over in the mid-1940s, Columbia Pictures decided to film the story of his life, which became the 1947 classic, The Jolson Story (followed in 1949 by a successful sequel, Jolson Sings Again). The film not only became one of the most successful biopics in movie history, it revived Jolie's career and established him once again as an entertainment superstar.

Broadway powerhouse Karen Mason opened Philadelphia's new RRAZZ ROOM AT THE PRINCE THEATRE this past Friday, September 18, 2015. Scroll down for photos and highlights from the concert!

On Friday, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

Nicholas Meyer's The Seven-Per-Cent Solution, in a world premiere adaptation by City Lit Artistic Director Terry McCabe and directed by Warner Crocker, will open City Lit Theater's thirty-sixth season, McCabe announced today.

On August 15, 1939, 'The Wizard of Oz' premiered in Hollywood while 10,000 fans lined the streets. Two days later it opened to the public, and the film industry changed forever. Every generation since has loved this film. A few found it terrifying. But no one has forgotten it.

An aynredenish -- an obsession -- is worse than a disease, say our Yiddish elders. 'Half Moon Bay' by John Jiler is a drama about a prize-winning Manhattan architect whose sudden fixation on a mysterious waitress sabotages his marriage and his career and causes him to abandon his ideals. Its world premiere, directed by Margarett Perry, will be presented by Nylon Fusion Theatre Company from October 3 to 25 at New Ohio Theatre, 154 Christopher Street.

On August 15, 1939, 'The Wizard of Oz' premiered in Hollywood while 10,000 fans lined the streets. Two days later it opened to the public, and the film industry changed forever. Every generation since has loved this film. A few found it terrifying. But no one has forgotten it.

An aynredenish -- an obsession -- is worse than a disease, say our Yiddish elders.  'Half Moon Bay' by John Jiler is a drama about a prize-winning Manhattan architect whose sudden fixation on a mysterious waitress sabotages his marriage and his career and causes him to abandon his ideals. Its world premiere, directed by Margarett Perry, will be presented by Nylon Fusion Theatre Company from October 3 to 25 at New Ohio Theatre, 154 Christopher Street. 

Columbia Records is proud to announce the release ofThe Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, a new album from American musical legend Tony Bennett and acclaimed jazz pianist Bill Charlap, arriving Friday, September 25, 2015.

The California Symphony presents the beloved classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, and performs the complete, live orchestral accompaniment as the movie is shown on a giant screen at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, tonight, August 21 at 8:30 pm. Conductor Sarah Hicks leads the orchestra in some of the best-loved movie songs and music of all time, including Harold Arlen and E.Y. “Yip” Harburg's “Over the Rainbow,” “We're Off to See the Wizard,” “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead,” “The Merry Old Land of Oz,” and many more, as well as the underscore by composer Herbert Stothart. Judy Garland and the other actors' original vocal performances are preserved and enhanced, so they can be fully heard and enjoyed as the orchestra plays. The film's restored images are accompanied by the orchestra playing entirely new transcriptions of Harold Arlen's brilliant lost scores. The production is by Emmy Award-winning producer John Goberman (Live from Lincoln Center). Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are $25 to $75 for adults and $10 for students 18 years old and younger, and are on sale now at www.californiasymphony.org/oz.

Chorus pro Musica (CpM), under the direction of Jamie Kirsch, commences its 2015-16 season at 8 p.m. on November 7 at First Church Cambridge with a program, With Strings Attached, that features choral works highlighting the special connection between stringed instruments and the human voice.

nternational song stylist Iris Williams returns to the cabaret scene in a rare New York appearance, a one night only solo performance - her debut at Birdland, the landmark jazz club located in the heart of New York's theater district. During Ms. Williams' set, themed 'I Wish You Love,' she will interpret classic American standards featuring composers Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Duke Ellington, Burton Lane, and more. Music Director Art Weiss will be on piano, with Tom Hubbard on bass and Jeff Brillinger on drums on October 19 at 7pm.www.birdlandjazz.com.

When four dynamic, award-winning musical stars from Broadway, film, TV and recordings come together in concert for one night on the same stage, what transpires is an evening of song, laughter and memories. You'll be delighted by the biggest hits from their Tony Award-winning shows and performances. Produced by Wayne J. Gmitter and Production Manager Patrick Rinn, 4 GIRLS 4 will play at Ocean Grove tonight, August 15 at 8 PM.

When four dynamic, award-winning musical stars from Broadway, film, TV and recordings come together in concert for one night on the same stage, what transpires is an evening of song, laughter and memories. You'll be delighted by the biggest hits from their Tony Award-winning shows and performances. Produced by Wayne J. Gmitter and Production Manager Patrick Rinn, 4 GIRLS 4 will play at Ocean Grove on Saturday, August 15 at 8 PM. 

It's always exciting when talented young singers make their debuts at a well known New York City cabaret venue, and this coming weekend, on Sunday and Monday, August 16 and 17, at 7 PM each evening, 22 year old Nicole Coffaro, a recent graduate of Chapman University in Orange, CA, will be doing just that! Her show, simply titled 'Nicole Coffaro at Don't Tell Mama,' will feature Drew Wutke on piano and will reflect her eclectic tastes in music.

George Street Playhouse announced today that award-winning vocalist MAUREEN McGOVERN will make a special appearance at the New Brunswick theatre on Wednesday, September 16 at 8pm.  Joined on stage by her music director JEFF HARRIS, Ms. McGovern will offer selections from her newest show and upcoming CD, Sing, My Sisters, Sing!

A rare original TV musical comes to DVD at last!