Johnny Mercer News

Goodspeed Musicals' Board of Trustees announced today that a change in leadership will occur at the theatre after the 2014 season. Michael Price, who has led the organization for 45 years, has decided to retire from the position of Executive Director at the end of 2014 but will remain active with Goodspeed in advisory and fundraising roles through 2016.

Tonight, January 10, 2014, The Wonderful Wizard of Song, The Music of Oz Composer Harold Arlen, which started previews on December 17, 2012, and opened officially on January 10, 2013, will celebrate its one year anniversary at The St. Luke's Theatre (308 W 46th Street).

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are proud to welcome singer/songwriter John Bucchino to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one night only - Saturday, February 8 at 7 p.m. Called "a new American pop master" by the Houston Chronicle, Bucchino's songs have been performed and recorded by renowned pop (Art Garfunkel, Judy Collins), theatre (Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald), cabaret (Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein), and classical (Yo-Yo Ma, Deborah Voight, Nathan Gunn) artists as well as The Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in venues including Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, The Sydney Opera House, London's O2 Arena and The White House. San Francisco audiences will have a rare opportunity to hear Bucchino perform his songs in an intimate setting, and share stories of what inspired them. Buchhino will be joined by two guest singers: Nanci Zoppi and Maggie Hollinbeck. Tickets for John Bucchino range in price from $25-$35 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

A photo shoot in the summer of 1962. As screen icon Marilyn Monroe poses for her photographer she finds herself wondering what it might be like if she had it to do all over again. In Marilyn: Forever Blonde, the legendary actress reveals much of what we know - but even more about what we don't know - of the roller coaster ride she took from the orphanage to the silver screen. It is a fascinating and provocative journey.

Masterworks Broadway rings in 2014 with the release of three long requested albums previously unavailable on CD - Li'l Abner (January 14), Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf (February 18), Brigadoon / Kiss Me, Kate (March 18).

On Friday, January 10, 2014, The Wonderful Wizard of Song, The Music of Oz Composer Harold Arlen, which started previews on December 17, 2012, and opened officially on January 10, 2013, will celebrate its one year anniversary at The St. Luke's Theatre (308 W 46th Street).

With Valentine's Day quickly approaching, set the perfect mood for this special night with the romantic styling of “The Chairman of the Board.”

The highly successful Arts & Ideas program at the Jewish Community Center of San Francisco (JCCSF) continues into 2014 with an array of fascinating thinkers, writers and entertainers.

On Tuesday, January 28, 2014 at 7:30pm at Opera America's National Opera Center, New York Festival of Song opens the 2013-14 edition of its forward-looking NYFOS Next series with MARK ADAMO & FRIENDS.

Join two-time Emmy and five-time Grammy nominated Michael Feinstein as he rings in the New Year with two special performances tonight, December 31 at 7:30 p.m. and 11 p.m. at Feinstein's at the Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco). Considered one of the premier interpreters of American standards, Michael will perform a range of classics from the Great American songbook.

In 1969, at age 16, Bronx-born Karen Wyman became a singing sensation appearing on TV with Dean Martin, The Ed Sullivan Show, and The Tonight Show, and cutting two albums. A few years later she suddenly quit singing professionally to raise a family. Now, she's back and as she proved with her new show at the Metropolitan Room, she's as good as ever.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Birdland's 'extreme' open mic, is proud to announce the upcoming MENTOR MONDAYS segment, which takes place on the last Monday of every month. MENTOR MONDAYS pairs up-and-coming singers and composers with established artists to create a featured performance for the historic Birdland stage. MENTOR MONDAYS gives emerging young performers the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to collaborate with some of New York's most talented musical theater songsmiths, including Adam Guettel, Lisa Lambert, Frank Wildhorn, Amanda Green, John Bucchino and Georgia Stitt, as well as singers Jane Monheit and Billy Porter.

Follow Lyrics & Lyricists over the rainbow to the West Coast and the glory days of MGM. On January 11, 12and 13 Tony Award® winner Kathleen Marshall makes her L&L debut as guest artistic director for Going Hollywood, a singing, dancing, Technicolor celebration of the silver screen's greatest musicals, featuring Cameron Adams, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Joshua Henry, Jeremy Jordan, Rob McClure and Rachel York.

Chicago Children's Theatre has announced casting for its world premiere of Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, an all-new, rhythm and blues family musical playing January 18 - March 2, 2014 at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn, Chicago. Press opening is Friday, January 24 at 7 p.m.

The legendary Birdland was packed to the gills for the latest presentation of Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland Series, Jonathan Brielle's I Saw Broadway. An all star gathering of Broadway's greatest vocalists and musicians wowed the audience with one crowd pleaser after another from the musicals of the prolific Brielle.

A photo shoot in the summer of 1962. As screen icon Marilyn Monroe poses for her photographer she finds herself wondering what it might be like if she had it to do all over again. In Marilyn: Forever Blonde, the legendary actress reveals much of what we know - but even more about what we don't know - of the roller coaster ride she took from the orphanage to the silver screen. It is a fascinating and provocative journey.

SiriusXM today announced that legendary entertainer Regis Philbin, host of FOX Sports' 'Crowd Goes Wild,' will return as the host of SiriusXM's 'Bing Crosby Christmas Radio,' a limited-run 24/7 holiday channel devoted to the American entertainment icon synonymous with classic holiday entertainment.

Today, Cutting Edge Composers is thankful for its talented composers, especially Will Reynolds. His song 'I Knew a Boy' was sung by Spring Awakening's Blake Daniel at their concert at the Canal Room. When asked about his inspiration for writing this song, Will said 'The first lyric is 'We sneak by disaster-free courting catastrophe' which basically sums up my experience as a 20-something. 'I Knew a Boy' was a warning to myself when I realized I had let myself get a little too lost.'