Harry Ruby News

Known for reimagining the Great American Songbook of country music, Los Angeles-based vocalist Staci Griesbach is launching a new music collection called SONGBOOK SINGLES, debuting with the 1951 Academy Award-nominated Best Original Song “A Kiss to Build a Dream On” and 1961 Academy Award-winning Best Original Song “Moon River.” 

For her 4th CD release, vocalist/violinist Calabria Foti wanted to do an album like her vocal heroes did back in the day; that is, with a big orchestra and legendary arrangers on the podium in an iconic Hollywood recording studio. Ms. Foti says, “This is the most expansive project I have ever done, and at the same time, it's the most intimate and personal. I recorded at Capitol Records with a full orchestra, singing some of the most endearing, sentimental songs ever written, all for my loved ones. This album is a full-production tear-jerker!”

This year, a living legend of musical theatre turns 90: Lyricist-bookwriter Tom Jones (who also, under a stage name) appeared in the original company of his most famous and wildly successful record-breaking musical, The Fantasticks. His collaborator, composer Harvey Schmidt, just recently passed away. The production's record-breaking run closed, on January 13, 2002, after 17,162 performances. Their shows also include 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Philemon, Celebration and many more. And celebration is what it's about when Broadway veterans Carole Demas, who originated the role of Sandy in Grease, and Sarah Rice, who originated the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd, return to celebrate Jones & Schmidt. Demas and Rice have based the show on their 50 years of work and personal relationships with Tom and Harvey. With very special guest Broadway's Hal Robinson who is also a Fantasticks alumni.

This year, a living legend of musical theatre turns 90: Lyricist-bookwriter Tom Jones (who also, under a stage name) appeared in the original company of his most famous and wildly successful record-breaking musical, The Fantasticks. His collaborator, composer Harvey Schmidt, just recently passed away. The production's record-breaking run closed, on January 13, 2002, after 17,162 performances. Their shows also include 110 in the Shade, I Do! I Do!, Philemon, Celebration and many more. And celebration is what it's about when Broadway veterans Carole Demas, who originated the role of Sandy in Grease, and Sarah Rice, who originated the role of Johanna in Sweeney Todd, return to celebrate Jones & Schmidt. Demas and Rice have based the show on their 50 years of work and personal relationships with Tom and Harvey. With very special guest Broadway's Hal Robinson who is also a Fantasticks alumni.

Returning to Cafe Carlyle, fashion designer-plus-TV personality-plus-performer Isaac Mizrahi was far too controlled to fall prey to anything remotely resembling a sophomore slump.

Ojai Art Center's production of 'Animal Crackers' features impeccable performances by Sean Mason (Groucho), Daniel Mitchell (Chico) and Anna Kotula (Harpo) as the Marx Brothers. Directed by John Medeiros.

Do you remember when you were 15 years old? Everything was exciting, emotional and life or death. That's exactly like Cygnet Theatre's 15th season, without all those annoying 'changes.'

The lost 1924 Marx Brothers vehicle has been reconstructed and mounted in a crisp and buoyant new production.

In salute of its 20th year celebrating theatre, the word, and the actor in Orlando, Mad Cow Theatre has announced its 2016-2017 season of plays, musicals, and special events. The Mad Cow Theatre complex houses two theatres: the 165-seat Harriett Theatre and the 70-seat Zehngebot-Stonerock Theatre.

Described as “An Afternoon of Famous Duets,” Saturday's Urban Stages Winter Rhythms presentation (Day Four of the 11-day, 20-show festival) was unexpectedly sweeping in its approach, covering duos that sang pop, folk, jazz, Great American Songbook, and musical theater tunes. With veteran cabaret singer Sue Matsuki serving as producer and host, and Musical Director Gregory Toroian on piano, the show encompassed both the predictable and the surprising and was a genuine pleasure.

A breathtaking dome and ornate stained glass are once again on display at the former Hammerstein's Theater.

Danny Bacher has the performance ease of an artist who's spent twice his years on the circuit. His preternatural feel for swing delivers scrupulous control, hip, unfussy phrasing, nuanced inflection, and the kind of fluent, savory scat “wordless vocables” I haven't heard from a man in some time, certainly not one so young. His soprano saxophone and singing are so like one another in attitude and energy, Bacher epitomizes the musician whose instrument acts as solid manifestation of voice. His new CD release celebration show at the Metropolitan Room, Swing That Music (last performance of a four-show run today at 4 pm) is a jazz tribute to the three Louis: Louis Armstrong--Satchmo (1901-1971), Louis Prima--The King of Swing before Benny Goodman came along (1910-1978), and Louis Jordan--King of the Jukebox (1908-1975.) Musical numbers get along like the old friends they are, brushing shoulders, poking one another in the ribs, slapping backs. The show is well paced with next to no patter. Danny Bacher is the real deal; a musician to watch.

In the famous 1960s hit 'Is That All There Is?' by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Peggy Lee croons the melancholy lyric, 'If that's all there is, my friend, then, let's keep dancing. Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.' While this song ironically doesn't make it into the eclectic catalog of tunes that fuel THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH: AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE, currently in its world premiere at the A.R.T. in Cambridge, it could easily have become the show's theme song. When a flood of epic proportions wipes out all but two scraggly survivors, played as a pair of Estragon and Vladimir-style hobos by Mandy Patinkin and Taylor Mac, there is very little left for them to do but sing and dance.

When Kathryn Allyn, an opera singer now turned Great American Songbook chanteuse, took the stage at The Cutting Room last Tuesday night, she was all va-va-voom in a curve-hugging Valentine red dress. She joined her crackerjack band-musical director Frank Ponzio, bassist Tom Hubbard, and drummer Vito Leszack-to perform homage to her favorite jazz and big band singer Anita O'Day, whose heyday came between the World War II era through the early 1960s.

Three musicals and two plays - along with the return of the 2nd OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN FESTIVAL for lyricists - will comprise the historic BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE's 76th anniversary season in New Hope, Pa. starting in April, it has been announced by the Playhouse's producing team of Tony Award-winning producers, Alexander Fraser, Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Josh Fiedler.

Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble, one of New York's longest-running experimental theatres, is excited to announce the return of the 'lost' classic Broadway musical, Helen of Troy, New York. Medicine Show has reconstructed the lost 1923 show to bring it back to New York audiences. The production will run for just five weeks, opening tonight, January 16, 2015 and closing Sunday, February, 15, 2015.

Medicine Show Theatre Ensemble, one of New York's longest-running experimental theatres, is excited to announce the return of the 'lost' classic Broadway musical, Helen of Troy, New York. Medicine Show has reconstructed the lost 1923 show to bring it back to New York audiences. The production will run for just five weeks, opening Friday, January 16, 2015 and closing Sunday, February, 15, 2015.

ANIMAL CRACKERS, with Book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, Music & Lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, and Adapted by Henry Wishcamper with Original Orchestrations by Doug Peck, will run today, April 4 - May 11 in The Stage Theatre. Press night is Thursday, April 10 at 6:30pm.

ANIMAL CRACKERS, with Book by George S. Kaufman and Morrie Ryskind, Music & Lyrics by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby, and Adapted by Henry Wishcamper with Original Orchestrations by Doug Peck, will run April 4 - May 11 in The Stage Theatre. Press night is Thursday, April 10 at 6:30pm.

Center Stage officially kicks off the 2013-14 Season with Animal Crackers, the classic toe-tapping, knee-slapping Marx Brothers musical. Under the direction of BJ Jones, Animal Crackers will run through October 13. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production shots below!