Ira Gershwin News

This July and August 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street.

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.

Theo Ubique's hit summer cabaret, A Musical Tribute to the Andrews Sisters, has added a month of performances in August following the complete sellout of all its July dates. The schedule continues with performances Thursday through Sunday evenings (though there will be no shows Friday, August 15 through Sunday, August 17), plus Wednesday evening performances beginning August 13. A complete schedule of performances is listed below.

Orange County, Calif.—June 26, 2014—Pacific Symphony tackles the music of one of America's most celebrated composers—George Gershwin—for a memorable night of timeless music, as Mercedes-Benz presents Summer Festival 2014 continues with “Gershwin Greats.” Gershwin was a composer who conducted it all—taking Broadway by storm, selling out concert halls and opera houses and, as a result, defining an era. This program of classic Americana, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair (conducting the first concert of his 25th anniversary season), features guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel, the extraordinary voices of Angela Brown (soprano), Kevin Deas (bass), and the Carver Cossey Singers. Along with the orchestra, they perform some of the most popular and best-known Gershwin works—from the jazz-filled melodies of “Rhapsody in Blue” to the enduring sounds of “An American in Paris” and the groundbreaking “Porgy and Bess,” to the rousing overture to “Strike up the Band.” “Gershwin Greats” takes place on Sunday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m., under the stars at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine.

Pacific Symphony tackles the music of one of America's most celebrated composers -- George Gershwin -- for a memorable night of timeless music, as Mercedes-Benz presents Summer Festival 2014 continues with “Gershwin Greats.” Gershwin was a composer who conducted it all -- taking Broadway by storm, selling out concert halls and opera houses and, as a result, defining an era. This program of classic Americana, led by Music Director Carl St.Clair (conducting the first concert of his 25th anniversary season), features guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel, the extraordinary voices of Angela Brown (soprano), Kevin Deas (bass), and the Carver Cossey Singers. Along with the orchestra, they perform some of the most popular and best-known Gershwin works -- from the jazz-filled melodies of “Rhapsody in Blue” to the enduring sounds of “An American in Paris” and the groundbreaking “Porgy and Bess,” to the rousing overture to “Strike up the Band.” “Gershwin Greats” takes place on Sunday, July 20, at 7:30 p.m., under the stars at Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine.

On Monday, July 14 at 8 p.m., Cape May Stage presents Anna Bergman in 'You & the Night & the Music: An Evening of Musical Imports and Exports' at the Robert Shackleton Playhouse as part of the Equity theatre's highly-acclaimed Second Stage Broadway Series.

'S Wonderful/Sandy Sings Ira Gershwin/Sandy Bainum at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal/musical director: Lanny Meyers/director: Bruce Kimmel/Sunday June 22

Johanna Allen makes another very welcome trip home to Adelaide to present the marvellous music of Harold Arlen, and her many fans were out in force to see her latest cabaret show,

Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Broadway World have partnered for an filmed Conversations Q&A series to recognize and celebrate the vibrant theatre community in New York City and the union actors who aspire to have a career on the stage and screen. The most recent conversation featured 2014 Tony nominee Estelle Parsons, who most recently starred on Broadway in The Velocity of Autumn, moderated by BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge. Check out the full interview below!

The magic of the Stratford Festival's hit musical Crazy for You has been immortalized in the first full-length cast recording in the Festival's history. The album is filled with beloved Gershwin tunes and a sensational cast bursting with talent: who could ask for anything more?

Michael Feinstein, the incomparable two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy-nominated entertainer joins the Pasadena POPS for one night only to sing a full concert celebrating the musical legacy of George and Ira Gershwin on Saturday, July 19 at the Los Angeles Arboretum with 'Michael Feinstein SINGS Gershwin.' Feinstein shares both the music of the Gershwins and personal stories from his recent book The Gershwins and Me, which reflects upon his six-year collaboration with Ira Gershwin.

Goodspeed Musicals awarded Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheldon Harnick The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre on June 14, which featured Broadway luminaries and arts sustainers. Check out a look back at the evening below!

Peggy Eason is one of those characters who seem to have been made for the New York cabaret scene. She's a bodacious woman who is ubiquitous at the local clubs, possesses a passion for singing, and bills herself as the 'Chocolate Diva,' although on stage she's more like a Red Hot Mama. Eason opened her third solo cabaret show, I'll Show Them All, at Don't Tell Mama on Monday night (she's appearing again at the club on Sunday at 7pm) with the decidedly politically incorrect titled song written especially for her by David Conforte, 'Black, Blind and Beautiful' (Hey, 'African American, Visually Challenged and Beautiful' doesn't have the same ring to it.). But there was little that was incorrect about her fast-paced and entertaining show that was often poignant and funny at the same time.

Goodspeed Musicals is delighted to announce that Tony, Grammy and Pulitzer Prize winner Sheldon Harnick will be the latest recipient of The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre. Over the years Mr. Harnick's work has been represented on the Goodspeed stage with Fiorello! (1985), She Loves Me (1978), The Apple Tree (1999), and this summer's 50th Anniversary production of Fiddler on the Roof at the Goodspeed Opera House. The award will be presented by longtime friend and star of stage and screen, two time Tony Award-winner Tony Roberts (Broadway's Promises, Promises; They're Playing Our Song; Victor/Victoria; Cabaret).

According to The New York Times, City Center has set the 2015 Encores! 2015, which will open with George and Ira Gershwin's first complete musical, LADY, BE GOOD,. Performances are slated to begin on Feb. 4, and run through Feb. 8.

Rhapsody in Gershwin currently plays at the Quality Hill Playhouse in Kansas City, Mo. The musical tribute to George and Ira Gershwin runs through July 6. The Gershwin brothers wrote songs for Broadway, jazz clubs, films, and concert halls in the 1920s and 1930s. The production is part of the Quality Hill Do It Again, The Best of Quality Hill Playhouse series.

Michael Sterling celebrated the 8th anniversary of his popular Supper Club, Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal, on Monday, June 9th, continuing a tradition he began in 2006 to honor his dear friend and mentor, Rosemary Clooney. Sterling promised her that he would make sure future generations would be able to hear the music of Broadway and the Great American Songbook in LA. A man of his word, he has presented over 600 shows since closing his doors at his original venue at Vitello's and opening at The Federal in 2012.

The 5th Avenue Theatre welcomes the National Tour of the Broadway sensation, The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival. This stunning musical plays today, June 11-29, 2014 (press opening June 12) at The 5th Avenue Theatre (1308 5th Ave, Seattle, WA 98101).

Pianist Brad Mehldau will replace pianist Andre Previn at Blue Note Jazz Club, today, June 6 through Sunday, June 8, as part of the 2014 Blue Note Jazz Festival. Previn was initially scheduled to perform with bassist Christian McBride during that time frame and has had to postpone the engagement due to unforeseen circumstances.

Quality Hill Playhouse in Kansas City, Mo. presents Rhapsody in Gershwin, a tribute to the works of brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Commissioned in the 1920s and 1930s the brothers wrote songs for Broadway, jazz clubs, concert halls, and films. Rhapsody in Gershwin opens on June 6 on the stage at Quality Hill Playhouse.