Julie Andrews News

Today, with musicals such as The Book of Mormon enjoying phenomenal box office success, revivals like The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess delighting new generations, and musical stage versions of popular films such as Once and Newsies dominating the Tony Awards, Broadway is proving yet again that its vitality and magic endure. Nominated for five 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards and winner of two, including Outstanding Nonfiction Series, THIRTEEN's landmark Broadway: The American Musical returns tonight, October 7 at 10 p.m., and continues on six consecutive Sundays through November 11 (check local listings).

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph.D., Music Director Robert Spano, and Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles have announced the 2012-13 season of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - the Orchestra's 68th season and Mr. Spano's and Mr. Runnicles's 12th season as artistic partners.

Wagner College Theatre kicks off the 2012-13 Main Stage season with "Putting It Together," a Stephen Sondheim revue, which opens tonight, Oct. 3 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 14. The show marks the WCT's return to its home stage in the newly renovated Main Hall after a year away at Snug Harbor.

Grace, the acclaimed dark comedy written by award-winning writer Craig Wright (Mistakes Were Made, Recent Tragic Events, "Six Feet Under") and directed by Dexter Bullard (Tracy Letts' BUG), today announced a series of special events throughout the month of October in support of the the show's Broadway premiere.

On Sunday September 30 beautiful theatre star Juliana Hansen debuted her one-woman cabaret at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Directed by dynamic Bruce Kimmel and with sleek musical direction from A.J. Robb, Hansen literally had her audience eating out of her palm from the very top of the 70-minute gig. Ultra confident and never missing a beat, Hansen segued from song to story to song seemlessly. Her voice is as pure and fragile as porcelain - it is so beautiful, like that of Julie Andrews or Kristen Chenoweth, that she is a recording artist's dream, a true singer's singer. In her young career, she has been requested by Academy Award winning composer Richard B. Sherman to sing internationally for Disney in Concert and to premiere songs cut from Mary Poppins.

Happy Birthday, Julie Andrews! Andrews made her Broadway debut in 1954 with The Boy Friend, and rose to prominence starring in other musicals such as My Fair Lady and Camelot, and in musical films such as Mary Poppins (1964), for which she won the Academy Award for Best Actress, and The Sound of Music (1965). She has starred in films such as The Princess Diaries (2001), its sequel The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement (2004), the Shrek animated films (2004-2010), and Despicable Me (2010).

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College (BCBC) continues its 2012-2013 season with its annual holiday performance of Dance Theatre in Westchester'sThe Colonial Nutcracker on Sunday, December 16, 2012 at 2pm. Tickets are $10 each, and can be purchased by phone at 718-951-4500 (Tues-Sat, 1pm-6pm), or online at www.BrooklynCenterOnline.org.

As rehearsals started today, final casting is confirmed for the major London production of the Broadway musical comedy, Victor/Victoria. Directed by Thom Southerland and produced by Danielle Tarento, it will run for an 8-week season in The Vault at Southwark Playhouse, from Thursday October 25 - Saturday December 15. Press night is Thursday 1 November at 7.30pm.

Two time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals has just announced the cast of the new musical The Great American Mousical, to be directed by Julie Andrews. This developmental production will run November 8 - December 2, 2012 at The Norma Terris Theatre in Chester, Connecticut. The Great American Mousical will be sponsored by Essex Meadows.

Thirteen's acclaimed BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL will return to PBS for a show-stopping encore on Sunday, October 7 at 10 pm/ET.

Today, with musicals such as The Book of Mormon enjoying phenomenal box office success, revivals like The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess delighting new generations, and musical stage versions of popular films such as Once and Newsies dominating the Tony Awards, Broadway is proving yet again that its vitality and magic endure. Nominated for five 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards and winner of two, including Outstanding Nonfiction Series, THIRTEEN's landmark Broadway: The American Musical returns Sunday, October 7 at 10 p.m., and continues on six consecutive Sundays through November 11 (check local listings).

Tony Award nominee, Emily Skinner, is set to star in THE GREAT AMERICAN MOUSICAL, directed by Julie Andrews, at the Goodspeed Musicals' Norma Terris Theatre, November 8 through December 2 as a developmental production. She will play a diva mouse named Adelaide.

Gavin Creel is currently starring as 'Elder Price' in the first National Tour of THE BOOK OF MORMON. The multi-talented actor chatted with BWW about why he is 'blissfully happy' performing in this outrageous, yet heart-warming production.

Wagner College Theatre kicks off the 2012-13 Main Stage season with "Putting It Together," a Stephen Sondheim revue, which opens on Wednesday, Oct. 3 and runs through Sunday, Oct. 14. The show marks the WCT's return to its home stage in the newly renovated Main Hall after a year away at Snug Harbor.

For the past 25 years, veteran entertainment journalist Francine Brokaw has interviewed countless celebrities, such as Johnny Depp, Madonna, Kevin Spacey, and Tom Hanks-and she's now discussing the memorable moments of her career (as well as those she'd like to forget) in her new book, Beyond the Red Carpet: The World of Entertainment Journalists (Sourced Media Books; September 2012; $14.99; ISBN 978-1937458225, Paperback).

Berkeley Playhouse opens its fifth season with Rodgers and Hammerstein's beloved final collaboration, THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this endearing family classic, featuring a cast of 40, with musical direction by Greg Mason and choreography by Staci Arriaga. THE SOUND OF MUSIC plays October 27 through December 2 (Press opening: October 27) at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

Fifteen of the most acclaimed films by legendary director Alfred Hitchcock come together on Blu-ray for the first time ever when Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection is released on October 30, 2012 for a limited time only. Digitally restored from high-quality film elements and presented in perfect high-definition picture and sound, Alfred Hitchcock: The Masterpiece Collection brings the Master of Suspense's best work to home audiences as it's never been seen before. This ultimate collector's set features 13 films previously unavailable on Blu-ray, a collectible 50-page book featuring storyboards, costume sketches, correspondence, photographs, and much more. Plus a treasure trove of over 15 hours of documentaries, filmmaker commentaries, interviews, screen tests, trailers and a new documentary 'The Birds, Hitchcock's Monster Movie,' enough to satisfy even the most ardent Hitchcock fan.

Atlanta Symphony Orchestra President Stanley E. Romanstein, Ph.D., Music Director Robert Spano, and Principal Guest Conductor Donald Runnicles have announced the 2012-13 season of the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra - the Orchestra's 68th season and Mr. Spano's and Mr. Runnicles's 12th season as artistic partners.