Larry Kert News

A fascinating behind-the-scenes look at the legendary original cast of the iconic Leonard Bernstein/Stephen Sondheim/Arthur Laurents musical WEST SIDE STORY recording the show's classic cast album is now available to view.

Bajo el titulo de 'Stephen Sondheim en seis canciones', Canal+1 emitira el proximo jueves 16 de enero este documental de la HBO que repasa de la carrera del legendario compositor y letrista, autor de Company, Sweeney Todd, Sunday In The Park With George o Follies.

It is comedy, it is baudy and it is brilliantly directed by Alan Paul.

SIX BY SONDHEIM, an intimate and candid look at the life and art of the legendary composer-lyricist, airs on HBO tonight, December 9th, directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine. Click below to get a sneak peek behind the scenes with Darren Criss in the studio, about to record his part for 'Opening Doors' with musical director Andy Einhorn the day before shooting the scene from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG with Stephen Sondheim!

Directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, SIX BY SONDHEIM is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his iconic songs. Told primarily in Sondheim's own words, this feature documentary weaves together dozens of interviews with the composer, rarely seen archival material spanning more than half a century (including newly discoveRed Footage of Ethel Merman performing 'Gypsy') and re-stagings of three songs produced especially for the film. Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts tonight, DEC. 9 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT). Check out an extended sneak peek with the videos below!

Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation premieres today, DEC. 9 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT).

Directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, SIX BY SONDHEIM is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his iconic songs. Told primarily in Sondheim's own words, this feature documentary weaves together dozens of interviews with the composer, rarely seen archival material spanning more than half a century (including newly discoveRed Footage of Ethel Merman performing 'Gypsy') and re-stagings of three songs produced especially for the film. Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts MONDAY, DEC. 9 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT). Click below to check out a preview of the documentary.

BroadwayWorld's chief theatre critic Michael Dale was there for the New York City premiere last night as a guest interviewer, and you can check out interviews with the evening's guests, including Laura Osnes, Jeremy Jordan, Darren Criss and more. Plus check out a special sneak peek from the film!

Directed by Tony Award-winner and frequent Sondheim collaborator James Lapine, SIX BY SONDHEIM is a highly personal profile of a great American artist as revealed through the creation and performance of six of his iconic songs. Told primarily in Sondheim's own words, this feature documentary weaves together dozens of interviews with the composer, rarely seen archival material spanning more than half a century (including newly discoveRed Footage of Ethel Merman performing 'Gypsy') and re-stagings of three songs produced especially for the film. Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts MONDAY, DEC. 9 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT). BroadwayWorld was there for the New York City premiere last night and you can check out photos from the star-studded red carpet below!

Executive produced by James Lapine and Frank Rich, the exclusive HBO presentation debuts MONDAY, DEC. 9 (9:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT).

Today we are talking to one of the most exciting breakout stars from FOX's hit musical dramedy series GLEE all about his Broadway and Hollywood past, present and future while previewing what we can expect in the coming weeks at McKinley High and beyond - the one and only Darren Criss. Detailing the finer points of his upbringing as a musical theatre fan, Criss speaks about some of his early theatre roles and shines some light on his stint starring in the recent revival of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING in addition to musing on some roles he would like to take on in the future, near and far. Besides all about GLEE, Criss also opens up about his recent film projects such as GIRL MOST LIKELY, co-starring Kristen Wiig (available now) as well as first news and fascinating new details on HBO's hotly anticipated documentary centered on musical theatre master Stephen Sondheim, directed by longtime collaborator James Lapine, titled SIX BY SONDHEIM. Criss outlines his role in the new doc as well as shares stories from the set and sharing time with Sondheim himself, as well as Lapine and co-stars Jeremy Jordan, Laura Osnes and America Ferrerra as part of the film's 'Opening Doors' sequence. Additionally, Criss shares his foremost early influences, imparts his perspective on his unique place in the performing arts realm, reflects on his recent sold-out national tour and solo music projects as well as looks ahead to what's next. All of that, a generous helping of GLEE backstage dish and a tantalizing appetizer of what is to come as well as much, much more in this extensive chat with one of the most popular personalities in the performing arts.

Tune in this Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web: www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's Guest is award-winning stage, teleivision and film star Avi Hoffman.

'Sondheim: A Musical Tribute' was the title given to a benefit staged in March 1973. American Musical and Dramatic Academy and the National Hemophilia Foundation first wanted to honor Harold Prince, but he declined, so they chose Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim thought it would be 'merely a dinner,' but it was actually a full-scale production with 33 performers and a 30-piece orchestra, staged on the set of the then-running 'A Little Night Music' at the Shubert Theatre. Below, check out footage from a short documentary that was made about the show.

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that a New York City Workshop of Rags is currently underway at the Roundabout Theatre Company, featuring Jessie Mueller, Matt Doyle as Ben, and Josh Young. Gordon Greenberg will direct the project, which is set to take place this June.

When the original West Side Story opened on Broadway in 1957, it changed in many ways the concept of what constitutes a Broadway musical. Its creative team-writer Arthur Laurents, director Jerome Robbins, composer Leonard Bernstein, and lyricist Stephen Sondheim-took Romeo and Juliet and turned it into a pulsing, kinetic opera about rival gangs of Puerto Ricans and Poles on Manhattan's west side, and the tragic consequences of their violent hatred for each other to Tony and Maria (Larry Kert and Carol Lawrence), who have fallen in love.

Lancaster's PRiMA Theatre presents an electrifying staged jazz theatrical concert of Leonard Bernstein's WEST SIDE STORY with Broadway's Maria, Josefina Scaglione.

'I feel pretty damn good! I'm exhausted because it's six in the morning here in LA, but it still feels pretty damn good! My phone started buzzing and I ran to my computer because I wasn't sure. People were texting me and saying 'I'm crossing my fingers to you' and stuff like that. So, I ran to my computer and because we're in this housing, first you have to enter your log in information and I couldn't get it to work. I'm like 'Why now?!' I finally got it to work and it was only after a friend sent me a text saying 'CONGRATULATIONS' that I thought 'Thank God!' I'm in tech right now so I'll spend the rest of the day in tech until midnight, but for this I'll do it!'

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Columbus, opening at the Ohio Theatre on Tuesday, April 17. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

National Jewish Theater, Producing Artistic Director Arnold Mittelman, will present a limited Off-Broadway run of The Soap Myth, by Jeff Cohen, from March 23 - April 22 at theBlack Box Theatre at the Harold and Miriam Steinberg Center for Theatre (111 West 46th Street, between 6th Avenue and Broadway). Directed by Arnold Mittelman, this production will starGreg Mullavey (television's "Marty Hartman") and features Andi Potamkin, Donald Corren, and Dee Pelletier.

The tour of the smash hit Broadway revival of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Columbus, opening at the Ohio Theatre on Tuesday, April 17. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction will be recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).