Ira Gershwin News

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT closed up shop on Broadway on June 15, 2013. The show enjoyed 478 regular performances and 27 preview performances over the course of about 15 months. Its notices were mixed to positive, and there are plans to kick off a National Tour for the 2014-2015 season. For those of us who missed the show on Broadway, the lively and decadently glitzy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT (Original Broadway Cast Recording), which was released by Shout! Factory and distributed by Sony Records, perfectly allows us to acquaint ourselves with the production before it plays in our regional venues.

Cinnabar Theater, the beloved professional theater in Sonoma County, invites audiences to an exquisite outdoor concert tonight, September 15. Enter the sumptuous garden of an exclusive Petaluma estate to hear renowned vocalist Denise Perrier sing the immortal tunes of George and Ira Gershwin backed by an elegant orchestra. Then linger with the artists by the pond and savor the flavor of this memorable music over a delicious barbecue.

Tonight, as the curtain rises at the (770 seat) Alliance Theatre, in Atlanta, this will be the center of the Universe for Barry and Bruce. This musical is, and has been, their baby for a long time, while waiting for this moment.

Today in 1943, Porgy and Bess opened at the 44th Street Theatre, where it ran for 24 performances. First performed in 1935, with music by George Gershwin, libretto by DuBose Heyward, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin and DuBose Heyward, it was based on DuBose Heyward's novel Porgy and subsequent play of the same title, which he co-wrote with his wife Dorothy Heyward. All three works deal with African-American life in the fictitious Catfish Row in Charleston, South Carolina, in the early 1920s. Originally conceived by George Gershwin as an 'American folk opera', Porgy and Bess premiered in New York in the fall of 1935 and featured an entire cast of classically trained African-American singers-a daring artistic choice at the time.

One of the biggest downers perpetrated by American culture is the characterization of Labor Day weekend as the 'unofficial end of summer.' But given what has passed for cabaret entertainment-at least the shows I was able to attend--since the 'unofficial start of summer' on Memorial Day weekend, the end of summer can't come soon enough. But my dismay over the hours lost watching average shows this season was tempered a bit by the pride and joy I felt watching the June performances of three strikingly attractive and talented 30ish brunettes with powerhouse voices-- Jackie Kristel, Karen Gross and Jodi Beck, who all staged entertaining shows as spring was turning to summer.

The Velocity of Autumn, a new two-character play from Cleveland-based playwright Eric Coble, opens at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater under the direction of Artistic Director Molly Smith and by special arrangement with HOP Theatricals, LLC.

For their 2013-2014 season American Classics brings three "firsts" to their programming. For the first time American Classics will present a guest performer in their own concert, acclaimed entertainer John O'Neil in his popular salute to Danny Kaye, 'So Kaye, a one man "tongue-twisting tour-de force" showcasing songs, stories and monologues culled from Kaye's illustrious career. 'So Kaye was nominated for the prestigious IRNE award in 2001; since that time O'Neil has performed the show up and down the East Coast from Maine to Florida. "Adding John O'Neil and 'So Kaye to our season is exciting for us. John has appeared with us in the past, but we are delighted to be able to showcase him in one of his most popular shows," says Producing Director Benjamin Sears, who notes, "this is Kaye's centenary year, so it's a perfect time to feature John in an American Classics season."

North Coast Repertory Theatre announces its 32nd Season. From its modest beginning in 1982, North Coast Repertory Theatre, a non-profit organization, has evolved into one of the area's leading performing arts organizations, recognized for the quality of its work and its commitment to excellence. North Coast Repertory's 32nd Season promises to be a season filled with laughter, romance, mystery and passion. With two World Premieres, two San Diego Premieres and two Musicals, this season promises to be one of the most exciting ever.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, in cooperation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, presents The Big Picture: A Night at the Oscars celebrating the legacy of Academy Award-winning films and music at the Hollywood Bowl tonight, September 1, 2013 at 7:30 PM.

The Princeton Symphony Orchestra is thrilled to announce the signing of Michael Feinstein, renowned entertainer and conservator of the Great American Songbook, to headline its 10th Anniversary Broadway POPS! concert. The full Princeton Symphony Orchestra will serve as his accompanist at this celebratory event scheduled for Saturday, February 8, 2014 at 8 pm, at Richardson Auditorium on Princeton University campus.

The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra today announced the cast for On Broadway with Kander & Ebb: Celebrating Chicago, Cabaret and All That Jazz, a world premiere pops production of music from legendary and award-winning composers, John Kander (b. 1927) and Fred Ebb (1928-2004). Created by ISO Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly, On Broadway with Kander & Ebb opens the Indianapolis Symphony's Printing Partners Pops Series for the 2013-2014 season on Friday andSaturday, Oct. 4 and 5, at the Hilbert Circle Theatre in downtown Indianapolis.

Musicals Tonight! the Obie-winning company dedicated to the revival of neglected musicals kicks off its 16th NY season with Cole Porter'sMexican Hayride (October 8 - 20) directed by Thomas Sabella-Mills, with music direction by James Stenborg.

LIVE BY THE LAKE, the hotly anticipated series of outdoor summer concerts at Kenwood House, marks the welcome return of the English Heritage concert season. Produced by the young dynamic agency, Rouge Events, Live By The Lake's outstanding lineup of world class music is scheduled over six days - August 23rd-25th and August 30th-September 1st; each show promises to attract up to 10,000 music and film lovers to enjoy the music and share a picnic with friends and family in more than 100 acres of Kenwood House's beautifully landscaped gardens. Boasting the perfect mix of pop, rock, soul, classical, musical theatre and film, LIVE BY THE LAKE promises something special for every music lover in the land. Tickets are now on sale at www.kenwood.seetickets.com and there are a limited number of discounts for residents in many of London's northwest postal districts. Ticket holders will be able to choose a variety of reasonably priced tickets for each concert and to decide whether or not to bring their own picnic and all-weather paraphernalia! For those who want to rock up unhampered, the best of Carluccio's Italian picnics can be ordered in advance and picked up on the day of each orchestral concert. (NB: Suede and Keane concerts will be standing room only, so picnics and chairs should be left at home and a range of drinks and delicious food will be available from the on-site concession stands. PROGRAMME at a glance: August 23rd: SUEDE and special guests BRITISH SEA POWER August 24th: ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY and the ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT ORCHESTRA August 25th: KEANE and special guest LAURA MVULA August 30th: 'SINGIN' IN THE RAIN' - film screening, score performed by the ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT ORCHESTRA August 31st: ANA MARIA MARTINEZ and the ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA ORCHESTRA September 1st: MICHAEL BALL and friends sing GERSHWIN Nathan Homan of Rouge Events says: "We are absolutely delighted to be producing the first LIVE BY THE LAKE at Kenwood House in association with English Heritage. We've got a wonderful lineup of world class performers and I think Kenwood's beautiful grounds are the perfect setting for what promises to be a seriously great series of summer concerts. Even in this digital age, the appetite for live performance is greater than ever - the calibre of artists who are appearing at Live By The Lake is a testament to their own enjoyment of playing outdoor concerts and I think audiences across the six nights will love every minute of it." Publicity: judy.lipsey@premiercomms.com and Robbie.wilson@premiercomms.com 020 7292 8330 www.livebythelake.co.uk THE PROGRAMME in detail: Kicking off proceedings today August 23rd are the multi-platinum selling, mighty SUEDE (left), Britpop progenitors, one of the world's most exciting rock bands and whose sixth studio album 'Bloodsports' was released in March, after a ten year gap, to much critical acclaim. Suede's special guests are the splendid Brighton-based indie rockers BRITISH SEA POWER, the title of whose current album, 'Machineries of Joy', was inspired by a collection of short stories by the great sci-fi author, Ray Bradbury. The band recently performed their soundtrack for the documentary film 'From the Land to the Sea', directed by Penny Woolcock, at the Sundance London Film and Music Festival at the 02 and at the Sheffield Documentary Festival. On Saturday August 24th it's a feast for classical music lovers with the Royal Choral Society and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Roderick Dunk, performing a wonderful selection of arias from, among others, Carmina Burana, Madame Butterfly, Verdi's Requiem and many more. The night will end with a spectacular firework display. Roderick Dunk will be well known to BBC Radio 2 listeners as the BBC Concert Orchestra's regular guest conductor for the long running Today Night is Music Night. To complete the perfect first weekend on August 25th the Brit Award winning, Grammy nominated, 10 million selling KEANE will take to the stage; fronted by the charismatic Tom Chaplin, the band's fourth studio album, Strangeland, was released in May 2012 and immediately topped the UK charts. KEANE are delighted to have as their special guest the uniquely gifted soul singer/songwriter LAURA MVULA, whose debut album, 'Sing To The Moon', was released this year and instantly catapulted her into the musical stratosphere and a headlining slot at this year's Isle of Wight Festival. Today August 30th offers a truly rare opportunity to film fans: the screening of the 1952 musical romantic comedy 'Singin' In The Rain' to a LIVE score performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Starring the legendary Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, and choreographed and directed by Gene Kelly, the film offers an entertaining depiction of a 1927 Hollywood caught up in the transition from silent films to talkies. The RPO, conducted by Neil Thomson, will bring the film's iconic soundtrack to life while the re-mastered film is shown on the big screen. Saturday August 31st is Opera Alfresco night with the English National Opera Orchestra and a special appearance by the incomparable Grammy Award winning American soprano, Ana Maria Martinez whose lyrical, elegant style has seen her grace all the grand opera houses around the world. The ENO together with principal soloists Wynne Evans, Fiona Murphy, Kai Ruutel and David Webster will perform some of the world's greatest and most popular arias from the works of Bizet, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi and more. On Sunday September 1st MICHAEL BALL, double Olivier Award winner ('Hairspray', 'Sweeney Todd'), multi-platinum recording artist, and radio and TV presenter will close Live By The Lake's programme of events with a special evening of music by George and Ira Gershwin. Britain's top musical theatre star will be inviting friends from the West End stage such as Kerry Ellis, Gina Beck, and David Shannon to join him in performing some of the Gershwin's best loved songs including Summertime, I Got Rhythm, S'Wonderful, Shall We Dance, and many more.

Artistic Director Antoni Cimolino has announced the 2014 season, in which, through the prism of a dozen plays, the Stratford Festival will explore the theme of Madness: Minds Pushed to the Edge.

The iconic American opera PORGY & BESS was refashioned into a contemporary Broadway musical byway of THE GERSHWINS' PORGY & BESS on Broadway, winning a slew of Tony Awards in the process including Best Revival, and the landmark Diane Paulus production now heads out on the road.

Cinnabar Theater, the beloved professional theater in Sonoma County, invites audiences to an exquisite outdoor concert on Saturday, September 15. Enter the sumptuous garden of an exclusive Petaluma estate to hear renowned vocalist Denise Perrier sing the immortal tunes of George and Ira Gershwin backed by an elegant orchestra. Then linger with the artists by the pond and savor the flavor of this memorable music over a delicious barbecue.

The Los Angeles Philharmonic Association, in cooperation with the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, presents The Big Picture: A Night at the Oscars celebrating the legacy of Academy Award-winning films and music at the Hollywood Bowl on Sunday, September 1, 2013 at 7:30 PM. From Casablanca to King Kong and Jaws to Up, with music composed by Max Steiner, John Williams, Michael Giacchino, George and Ira Gershwin, among many others, The Big Picture features clips and music from some of the most beloved and acclaimed movies of all time. Iconic scenes are projected in HD on the Hollywood Bowl's giant screens -including the four brand-new LED HD screens located throughout the venue - while the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra, led by David Newman, performs live from the films' magnificent scores.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of celebrated theatrical publicist Shirley Herz, who passed away on Sunday at age 87. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory tonight, August 14th, at exactly 8:00 p.m. for one minute.

The Broadway community mourns the loss of celebrated theatrical publicist Shirley Herz, who passed away on Sunday at age 87. The marquees of Broadway theatres in New York will be dimmed in her memory on Wednesday, August 14th, at exactly 8:00 p.m. for one minute.