Harold Arlen News

Following five sold-out performances in New York City as part of the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists series, and a tour throughout Texas, Rex Reed's THE MAN THAT GOT AWAY: Ira Without George, makes its West Coast debut at Kanbar Hall at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF). This musical tribute to the great American lyricist Ira Gershwin stars Rex Reed, Linda Purl and Gregory Harrison. It will be presented on Friday and Saturday, April 13 and 14 at 8 pm & Sunday, April 15 at 2 pm.

Original cast members Michael Crawford and Danielle Hope both recently departed the West End production of THE WIZARD OF OZ, and have been replaced by Over the Rainbow finalist Sopie Evans and Russell Grant and Dorothyand the Wizard respectively. Check out production images of the newcomers in action below!

Kritzerland at Sterling's presents The Ira Gershwin Album with Lyrics by Ira, Music by George Gershwin, Harold Arlen, Burton Lane, Kurt Weill and other greats on Sunday, March 4, 2012 at 7:00 pm.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

The Metropolitan Room announces March performances.

The 5 Browns are delivering on their dream to wake up classical music by introducing it to the widest, largest and most excited audience they can find. Whether performing individually or together in various combinations from duo to complex five-piano arrangements, The 5 Browns reveal a deep connection to the intent of their material while bringing a fresh energy and dynamic character to the color and tonal spectrum of their sound. Don't miss this classical music phenomenon Thur. March 15 @ 8 PM at the Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall.

Today in 1905, Harold Arlen was born. Having written over 500 songs, a number of which have become known the world over, Arlen is best known for writing the songs for The Wizard of Oz, including the classic 1938 song, 'Over the Rainbow.' Arlen is a highly regarded contributor to the Great American Songbook. Harlen's music has been featured in a number of other early Broadway shows including Hooray for What!, Bloomer Girl, St. Louis Woman, House of Flowers, Mr. Imperium, Jamaica, Saratoga, and many more.

NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG-the group that "charms audiences with programs that combine meticulous research with an infectious strain of vocal hedonism" (The New York Times)-continues its 2011-12 season with a sequel to a favorite NYFOS program, A MODERN PERSON'S GUIDE TO HOOKING UP AND BREAKING UP on Tuesday, February 14 and Thursday, February 16 at 8:00PM at Merkin Concert Hall.

LML Music is announcing the February 14, 2012 release of "Ain't We Got Fun!", the debut CD of actor/singer/dancer/writer/composer, Robert Creighton.

+ Unique Comedy with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, The Improvised Shakespeare Company and Capitol Steps + Hit Shows Like DAMN YANKEES, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES & FOREVER TANGO + Classic Music from the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Haochen Zhang & Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio + Legendary Artists Bernadette Peters, Patti LaBelle and Arlene Dahl + Tributes to Sinatra, the Blues Brothers and John Lennon + ArtSmart Lecture Series, Family Fare and more.

Walnut Street Theatre's Independence Studio on 3 is set to bring back the spirit of Philadelphia's own Ethel Waters with her life stories and memorable songs in Ethel!

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier today, Andrew Lloyd Webber's THE WIZARD OF OZ is slated to have its North American premiere in Toronto in 2013.

Michael Feinstein's AMERICAN SONGBOOK returns for a second season with three new episodes that take viewers on a musical journey across America and through time. This season the acclaimed musician and five-time Grammy®-nominated vocalist goes broader and deeper in his ongoing quest to celebrate and preserve classic 20th century popular song.

Michael Feinstein's AMERICAN SONGBOOK returns for a second season with three new episodes that take viewers on a musical journey across America and through time. This season the acclaimed musician and five-time Grammy®-nominated vocalist goes broader and deeper in his ongoing quest to celebrate and preserve classic 20th century popular song.

Created by members of the Gershwin family and their Tony/Grammy Award-winning team, the all-new multimedia symphony show, Here to Stay, features a number of newly arranged charts for orchestra plus rarely seen visual and audio elements from the Gershwin archives.

+ Unique Comedy with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, The Improvised Shakespeare Company and Capitol Steps + Hit Shows Like DAMN YANKEES, LA CAGE AUX FOLLES & FOREVER TANGO + Classic Music from the Wroclaw Philharmonic Orchestra, Haochen Zhang & Kalichstein-Laredo-Robinson Trio + Legendary Artists Bernadette Peters, Patti LaBelle and Arlene Dahl + Tributes to Sinatra, the Blues Brothers and John Lennon + ArtSmart Lecture Series, Family Fare and more.

Award-winning Broadway star Faith Prince is to replace Klea Blackhurst in The Best of Times, 42nd Street Moon's 80th Birthday salute to Tony-winning Broadway composer/lyricist, Jerry Herman. The Best of Times will be presented at the Alcazar Theatre on Thursday, January 26 at 7 pm.