Ira Gershwin News

The Library of Congress is celebrating Billy Joel's 50-year career and his selection as the 2014 recipient of the Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song in the nation's capital with a series of events, culminating in a star-studded concert tonight.

Tommy Tune, Colin Donnell, Danny Gardner, Jeff Hiller, Erin Mackey, Patti Murin, Richard Poe, Jennifer Laura Thompson and Kirsten Wyatt will star in George and Ira Gershwin's Lady, Be Good, the opening production of New York City Center's 2015 Encores! season, running for seven performances, February 4 - 8, 2015. Lady, BeGood will be directed by Mark Brokaw and choreographed by Randy Skinner. Founding Encores! Music Director Rob Fisher will return as Guest Music Director, and has supervised the restoration of the Gershwins' original score.

The Broadway run of An American in Paris will begin previews Friday, March 13, 2015 for a Sunday, April 12, 2015 opening night at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Inspired by the Academy-Award winning film, An American in Paris brings this classic tale to Broadway for the first time with music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Tony and Pulitzer Prize nominee Craig Lucas. Prior to Broadway, An American in Paris will premiere at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris where previews begin November 22, 2014 for a December 10, 2014 opening night. The production, presented in English, will run through January 4, 2015. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive video from cast member Jennie Ford that follows the cast's journey overseas!

CHICAGO – Lyric Opera of Chicago presents The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,conducted by Ward Stare in a revival of the acclaimed production from renowned director Francesca Zambello. It opens on Monday, November 17 with 13 performances through Saturday, December 20. Performance dates are Nov. 17, 19, Dec. 2, 5, 8, 13, 16, and 20 at 7:30pm; and Nov. 23, 26, 28, Dec. 11 and 18 at 2pm.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess,conducted by Ward Stare in a revival of the acclaimed production from renowned director Francesca Zambello. The production opened last night, Monday, November 17 with 13 performances through Saturday, December 20. Performance dates are Nov. 17, 19, Dec. 2, 5, 8, 13, 16, and 20 at 7:30pm; and Nov. 23, 26, 28, Dec. 11 and 18 at 2pm.

The Old Globe teams with the University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program to present William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre, directed by Ray Chambers and running tonight, November 15 - November 23 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The 2014 BroadwayWorld Chicago Award nominations are announced, Lyric presents 'Porgy' and 'Carousel,' 'Camelot' opens, 'Ring Of Fire' and 'Annie' return, 'Annie' and 'Ani' hit screens, parodies of 'Guffman,' the Merman/Mormon thing, Rudolph and Tupperware, and a suburban 'Garden!'

The Broadway run of An American in Paris will begin previews Friday, March 13, 2015 for a Sunday, April 12, 2015 opening night at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). AN AMERICAN IN PARIS is directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon. Inspired by the Academy-Award winning film, An American in Paris brings this classic tale to Broadway for the first time with music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Tony and Pulitzer Prize nominee Craig Lucas. Prior to Broadway, An American in Paris will premiere at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris where previews begin November 22, 2014 for a December 10, 2014 opening night. The production, presented in English, will run through January 4, 2015. Vanity Fair just featured images of the cast in rehearsal and you can check them out by clicking below!

American Dance Machine for the 21st Century (ADM21) will present 15 show-stopping musical theater dance numbers performed by stars from the musical theater and dance worlds during its Joyce Theater debut today, November 11-16, announced Nikki Feirt Atkins, Founder and Executive Artistic Director and Margo Sappington, Artistic Director. All performances will feature live music and will be directed by Margo Sappington with musical direction by Eugene Gwozdz.

Tickets for the new Broadway musical An American in Paris are on sale today, Monday, November 10, for MasterCard cardholders who get early access to tickets now through November 23, 2014 via www.Ticketmaster.com/AAIP or by phone at 877-250-2929. Tickets go on sale to the general public beginning December 7, 2014. Group tickets for Broadway on sale now through Group Sales Box Office at http://www.broadway.com/group-sales-box-office/ or by phone at 800-223-7565 or 212-398-8383.

Bay Area Cabaret presents Broadway star and Olivier Award nominee Sierra Boggess in her brand new, critically acclaimed show, Finding the Balance (The Journey Of The Middle Child.) Broadway knows her as Ariel in The Little Mermaid, Christine Daae in The Phantom of the Opera, and as aspiring opera star Sharon Graham in Master Class. London knows her for her Olivier Award-nominated performance in Love Never Dies and Fantine in Les Miserables. Sierra Boggess will return to Broadway in the spring of 2015 in the new musical It Shoulda Been You alongside Tyne Daly, directed by David Hyde Pierce. Bay Area Cabaret presents Sierra Boggess, with musical director Brian Hertz and cellist Summer Boggess, at 5pm, Sunday December 7, 2014 in the Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco, 950 Mason Street, atop Nob Hill, San Francisco. For tickets ($50 general/$30 under 30 w/ID) visit www.bayareacabaret.org or call (415) 392-4400.

Dreamcatcher Repertory Theatre, professional Theatre in Residence at the Oakes Center in Summit presents the musical group Marquee Five in their new cabaret performance, Back Porch Swing. Marquee Five has been called 'The Manhattan Transfer for the new Millennium' and will appear at Dreamcatcher on Friday, November 21 at 8 pm and Sunday, November 23 at 2 pm.

Oakland, CA, November 3, 2014 – The Oakland East Bay Symphony continues its 2014-2015 season with Music Director Michael Morgan—celebrating his 25th year with the Symphony—on the podium and guest pianist Richard Glazier performing Gershwin's Piano Concerto in F on a program with Shostakovich's 8th Symphony Friday, January 23, at 8 pm at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland. Glazier will give a pre-concert talk at 7 pm, free to ticket holders, and the concert is dedicated to the memory of Robert E. Berges. For information and tickets, visitwww.oebs.org .

On Twitter Watch, Theatre du Chatelet wrote '#AnAmericanInParis s'installe @theatrechatelet! Rdv le 22 novembre. Rehearsals begin today, Monday, September 22, for the upcoming world premiere of An American in Paris prior to its engagement at the Theatre du Chatelet in Paris where previews will begin Saturday, November 22, 2014 for a Wednesday, December 10, 2014 opening night. The Broadway run of An American in Paris will begin previews Friday, March 13, 2015 for a Sunday, April 12, 2015 opening night at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). AN AMERICAN IN PARIS will be directed and choreographed by Christopher Wheeldon, making his Broadway directing debut. Inspired by the Academy-Award winning film, An American in Paris brings this classic tale to Broadway for the first time with music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by Tony and Pulitzer Prize nominee Craig Lucas. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS transforms the timeless story of love in a city rebuilding from the heartbreak of World War II - into a new musical of hope, redemption and romance. Principal casting has been announced for the upcoming world premiere production of An American in Paris. The cast will include Robert Fairchild as Jerry Mulligan, Leanne Cope as Lise Dassin, Veanne Cox as Madame Baurel, Jill Paice as Milo Davenport, Brandon Uranowitz as Adam Hochberg, and Max von Essen as Henri Baurel. Leanne Cope is appearing with the permission of Actors' Equity Association. The cast will also include Caitlin Abraham, Will Burton, Michael Cusumano, Attila Joey Csiki, Taeler Elyse Cyrus, Ashlee Dupre, Rebecca Eichenberger, Sara Esty, Laura Feig, Jennie Ford, Kurt Froman, Heather Lang, Dustin Layton, Nathan Madden, Gia Mongell, Candy Olsen, Rebecca Riker, Adam Rogers, Sam Rogers, Shannon Marie Rugani, Garen Scribner, Sam Strasfeld, Sarrah Strimel, Charlie Sutton, Allison Walsh, Scott Willis and Victor J. Wisehart. The creative team includes Tony Award winners Bob Crowley (sets and costumes), Natasha Katz and (lighting), Jon Weston (sound),59 Productions (animation and projection design) with the musical score adapted, arranged and supervised by Rob Fisher,orchestrations by Christopher Austin, dance arrangements by Sam Davis and musical direction by Brad Haak. The Associate Director is Jacquelin Barrett and the Associate Choreographer is Dontee Kiehn. Casting is by Telsey + Company/Rachel Hoffman. AN AMERICAN IN PARIS will be presented at Theatre du Chatelet in English featuring the 25-member Broadway cast with a score including the songs 'I Got Rhythm,' 'S' Wonderful,' 'But Not For Me,' 'Stairway to Paradise,' 'Our Love Is Here To Stay', 'They Can't Take That Away' and orchestral music including 'Concerto in F,' '2nd Prelude,' '2nd Rhapsody' and 'An American In Paris.' '

Without a doubt, Soulpepper Theatre Company's Global Cabaret Festival is my favorite Toronto arts festival. It's like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get. Forrest Gump would dig it. Each year I'm tempted to bring my sleeping bag and just camp out for the weekend.

Encores! Celebrates Rodgers and Hammerstein and Hart, New York City Center's annual Gala tonight, October 27, 2014, will feature the music and lyrics of Richard Rodgers, Oscar Hammerstein II, and Lorenz Hart, sung by some of Broadway's finest talent, includingKate Baldwin, Kelli O'Hara, Laura Osnes, Steven Pasquale, and Paulo Szot, and with dance performances by Irina Dvorovenko, Chase Finlay, Jared Grimes, and Lauren Lovette.

The Old Globe today announced the cast and creative team for the Old Globe/University of San Diego Graduate Theatre Program presentation of William Shakespeare's Pericles, Prince of Tyre, directed by Ray Chambers and running November 15 - November 23 in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Opening night is Saturday, November 15 at 8:00 p.m.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess in a revival of the acclaimed production from renowned director Francesca Zambello, conducted by Ward Stare. It opens on Monday, November 17 with 13 performances through Saturday, December 20. Performance dates are Nov. 17, 19, Dec. 2, 5, 8, 13, 16, and 20 at 7:30pm; and Nov. 23, 26, 28, Dec.11 and 18 at 2pm.

Lyric Opera of Chicago presents the Gershwins' Porgy and Bess in a revival of the acclaimed production from renowned director Francesca Zambello, conducted by Ward Stare. It opens on Monday, November 17 with 13 performances through Saturday, December 20. Performance dates are Nov. 17, 19, Dec. 2, 5, 8, 13, 16, and 20 at 7:30pm; and Nov. 23, 26, 28, Dec. 11 and 18 at 2pm.

New York cabaret audiences have for years been blessed with extremely entertaining performing marrieds like John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molasky, Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano, and Michael Garin and Mardie Millett. But after experiencing the thoroughly enchanting October 8 performance from Amanda McBroom and her husband George Ball at 54 Below (there was a second performance on October 14), it's difficult to imagine a cabaret couple more compelling. In short, the Balls were having a ball and, ultimately, so did their audience.