Judy Garland News

BBC Culture today released a comprehensive new poll of the 100 Greatest American Films of all time. Among the esteemed list is the 1952 film SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, at No. 7, and THE WIZARD OF OZ, coming in #34 on the list.

The St. James Studio is delighted to announce 16 events taking place over ten days in November as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival 2015. The St. James has been involved with the festival every year since the studio opened in October 2012, each year presenting more events than the last. Collaborating with established producers JBGB Events, Fane Management and Word Theatre, the St. James is proud to present a broad programme of lunchtime, evening and late night performances, catering for all tastes and bringing the finest artists to the St. James Studio stage.

A summer tradition returns to Washington Crossing Open Air Theatre when the family musical, The Wizard of Oz takes the stage.

The Kimmel Center for the Performing Arts, along with Beaver Productions, is proud to welcome acclaimed jazz singer Melody Gardot on Friday, October 9 at the Merriam Theater.  Tickets go on-sale Friday, July 24 at 10 a.m. and can be purchased by calling 215-893-1999, or online at www.kimmelcenter.org, or at the Kimmel Center box office at Broad & Spruce Streets (open daily 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.).  Gardot is considered a jazz chanteuse who hails from the Greater Philadelphia area where she used to perform free concerts at the Kimmel Center before her career skyrocketed.             

Caitlin Jackson gives a Jeff-worthy performance as Bette Midler in BETTE LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS

Milford Arts Council, in association with Pantochino Productions Inc. has announced a new entertainment series, Nite Spot Nights, debuting this Fall at the Center for the Arts on Railroad Avenue in Downtown Milford.

JSP Records has just unveiled the cover art (left), designed by Andrew Aitken of Aitken Design, and track list of the upcoming JUDY GARLAND: THE BEST OF LOST TRACKS 1929-1959.

Presented by International Theatre Producer David King the tour of the spectacular PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ arrives at the Grand Theatre, Blackpool from the 27th July -  29th August. PUTTIN' ON THE RITZ is currently wowing audiences on tour across the UK with it's spectacular song and dance performances as this stunning production re-creates the glamour of Hollywood.

Two decades ago, cabaret was mesmerized by the sudden presence of a phenomenal male vocalist by the name of Tom Andersen, who quickly found himself not merely an overnight sensation in the clubs of New York and other major cities across the nation but throughout the globe. Part of his attraction was that, whereas most light baritones will strain and strive to hit notes in the highest register possible, to Andersen it came as naturally as simply drawing a breath; he was a theatrical tenor in the truest sense. And he may well now have an heir apparent in the form of Seth Sikes, who burst onto the scene on June 10 with a striking Judy Garland tribute show at 54 Below on what would have been the legendary lady's 93rd birthday. 

Almost 100 years after being heard for the first time, part of the repertoire of American composer Irving Berlin arrives at Teatro Maria Clara Machado, in Rio de Janeiro, with the musical Be Careful, It's My Heart.

The Boy From Oz, presented by Pride Films and Plays, will be directed by David Zak, with musical direction by Robert Ollis and choreography by Cameron Turner. The musical previews Wednesday, August 5 and Thursday, August 6, with a press opening slated for Friday, August 7 at 7:30. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

 ARE YOU THERE, MORGAN FREEMAN?, a new song cycle extravaganza written and performed by Brittany Velotta, will be presented in the 2015 New York Musical Theatre Festival.

It's an undeniable, outstanding, and extraordinary musical milestone, to be sure: 2015 marks the thirtieth anniversary of The Mabel Mercer Foundation! Not only has the organization survived the ongoing and vastly fluctuating public tastes in music, lyrics, and performers, it has proliferated and burgeoned in its three decades of commitment to the classic, "Great Popular Songbook" -- both past and present.

This Summer sees a brand new production of the much-loved classic musical Oliver! at West Berkshire's beautiful Watermill Theatre, directed by Luke Sheppard. Musical theatre star Alice Fearn has a decade of performing professionally under her belt, having featured in shows including Les Miserables, Into The Woods, Shrek and most recently Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. This time around, Alice takes on the iconic role of Nancy and talks to BWW having recently started rehearsals for the show...

Al Hirschfeld gets a tome of his own!

WALNUT CREEK, CA (July 7, 2015) – The California Symphony presents the beloved classic 1939 film The Wizard of Oz, and performs the complete, live orchestral accompaniment as the movie is shown on a giant screen at the Concord Pavilion in Concord, Friday, August 21 at 8:30 pm. Conductor Sarah Hicks leads the orchestra in some of the best-loved movie songs and music of all time, including Harold Arlen and E.Y. “Yip” Harburg's “Over the Rainbow,” “We're Off to See the Wizard,” “If I Only Had a Brain,” “Ding-Dong! The Witch is Dead,” “The Merry Old Land of Oz,” and many more, as well as the underscore by composer Herbert Stothart. Judy Garland and the other actors' original vocal performances are preserved and enhanced, so they can be fully heard and enjoyed as the orchestra plays. The film's restored images are accompanied by the orchestra playing entirely new transcriptions of Harold Arlen's brilliant lost scores. The production is by Emmy Award-winning producer John Goberman (Live from Lincoln Center). Tickets for The Wizard of Oz are $25 to $75 for adults and $10 for students 18 years old and younger, and are on sale now at www.californiasymphony.org/oz.

Al Hirschfeld immortalized celebrities, politicians, Broadway productions, films, television shows and beyond with his iconic linear drawings for nine decades, establishing himself as one of the most important contemporary portrait artists. Over a decade since the legendary artist drew his final line drawing, he continues to inspire. This spring and summer, Hirschfeld is being celebrated with the publication of a new book and a major exhibition at the New-York Historical Society.

Rehearsals started today for the new British musical MRS HENDERSON PRESENTS, starring TRACIE BENNETT (taking over from Janie Dee who has had to withdraw for personal reasons), which concludes the Theatre Royal Bath summer season, Saturday 15th August - Saturday 5th September, prior to a West End run.