Laura Nyro News

The Statue of Liberty-Ellis Island Foundation, Inc. announced today that in celebration of the Statue of Liberty's upcoming 125th Anniversary on October 28th, Macy's has committed the proceeds from the sale of its newly recorded song 'Gift of Light' to benefit the Foundation's non-profit mission for projects at Liberty and Ellis Islands, working in partnership with the National Park Service.

Three-time Tony Award Nominee Judy Kuhn (Les Miserables, Chess. She Loves Me) will teach the first in a series of her ACTING THE SONG Vocal Performance Workshops on October 17th & 18th in NYC.

The Actors Fund and the Vineyard Theatre have announced details for their upcoming one-night-only benefit concert performance of Kander & Ebb's THE VISIT, starring Broadway stage legends and Tony Award winners Chita Rivera and John Cullum. Directed by Carl Andress with choreography by Tony Award winner Ann Reinking and musical direction by David Loud, the performance will take place on Wednesday, November 30, 2011 at 7:30 p.m. at Broadway's Ambassador Theatre (219 West 49th Street), current home to the celebrated revival of Kander & Ebb's worldwide smash Chicago.

Birdland (315 West 44th Street - between 8th & 9th Avenues) is pleased to welcome Grammy Award-nominated singer Maureen McGovern in an exclusive one-week engagement (November 8-12).

Bright, sunny, clarion-voiced leading lady Liz Callaway is not only known for her roles in the Broadway productions of MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, BABY, CATS, MISS SAIGON and THE LOOK OF LOVE, but also for her string of highly-successful studio albums - among them, the sensational 60s ode THE BEAT GOES ON and the musical theatre-centric THE STORY GOES ON, in addition to last year's superlative PASSAGE OF TIME - and, she is also well-loved for stunning live stage double-bills with her sister, Ann Hampton Callaway - represented on record by SIBLING RIVALRY and, now, the new live album and show all about baby boomers and their sensational music, titled BOOM! In this all-encompassing conversation, Callaway and I parse her predilection for certain composers - Burt Bacharach, Jimmy Webb, Stephen Sondheim and many more included - as well as her memories of working with some of the most important musical theatre creators of the twentieth century over the course of her thirty-year career, such as legendary director Hal Prince and Sondheim himself on projects diverse as MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, A STEPHEN SONDHEIM EVENING and FOLLIES: IN CONCERT. Plus, we also talk about Callaway's various musical influences, her childhood, her first Broadway show and first Broadway onstage experience, revisiting MERRILY twenty years later with the entire original cast, live versus studio performing, as well as what's coming up next for her in the coming months and new year - including the Christmas stage spectacular, YULETIDE - and more!

Today we are talking to one of the world's foremost cabaret artists and jazz vocalists - also known for her famous rapport with sibling and fellow Broadway baby Liz Callaway - who has written and recorded hundreds of songs over her thirty-year career - including 'I've Dreamed Of You' for Barbra Streisand's A LOVE LIKE OURS, among many others - but, perhaps she is most famous for the unforgettable theme from the highly syndicated hit 90s sitcom THE NANNY starring Fran Drescher - the one and only Ann Hampton Callaway! Discussing all aspects of her brand new album and duets show with sister Liz - titled after the music of their youth; so, being baby boomers growing up with the music of the 1960s and 1970, the oh-so-apropos title is BOOM! Covering Cole Porter to Rosemary Clooney to Ella Fitzgerald, Carly Simon, Stephen Sondheim and Laura Nyro, Callaway and I dissect many facets of songwriting, singing, performing and the nature of live versus studio recording, memories of starring in the musical revue SWING! on Broadway, and, she also reveals her own fondest recollections of working with her sister and many of her most fascinating collaborators over the years. Plus, we have first news of her new Streisand-based symphony show coming up in 2012, as well as the new Christmas show she is starring in with Liz later this year, YULETIDE, as well as her thoughts on filming THE GOOD SHEPARD and soundtrack scoring, as well as her opinions on GLEE, AMERICAN IDOL and much, much more!

Vineyard Theatre is extending its world-premiere production of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS, starring Linda Lavin and Dick Latessa, through November 11, it has been announced by The Vineyard's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern.

ROCK THE AUDITION - IN CONCERT, created and performed by Sheri Sanders, is set to make its world premiere at the 2011 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) for three performances only: October 11th, 12th and 13th at TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street (between Eighth & Ninth Ave.)

Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS is getting its world-premiere this fall with an official opening night October 11 at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern. Check out photos of the cast in action below!

The Vineyard Theatre in collaboration with Naked Angels will co-produce the world-premiere of Zayd Dohrn's play OUTSIDE PEOPLE, directed by Evan Cabnet at The Vineyard (108 East 15th Street), with previews expected to begin late December prior to an official opening in early January 2012, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, Artistic Director of Vineyard Theatre and Sarah Stern, The Vineyard's Co-Artistic Director.

Sheri Sanders, creator and star of NYMF's upcoming world premiere of ROCK THE AUDITION - IN CONCERT, will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network's 'Our Time' this Sunday, September 25th.

Sheri Sanders, creator and star of NYMF's upcoming world premiere of ROCK THE AUDITION - IN CONCERT, will be featured on the Oprah Winfrey Network's 'Our Time' this Sunday, September 25th.

ROCK THE AUDITION - IN CONCERT, created and performed by Sheri Sanders, is set to make its world premiere at the 2011 New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) for three performances only: October 11th, 12th and 13th at TBG Theater, 312 West 36th Street (between Eighth & Ninth Ave.)

Three-time Tony Award Nominee Judy Kuhn (Les Miserables, Chess. She Loves Me) will teach the first in a series of her ACTING THE SONG Vocal Performance Workshops on October 17th & 18th in NYC.

NOW. HERE. THIS. -- the newest work from the creators and cast of the hit musical [title of show] -- will be given its world-premiere production at the Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) in 2012, it has been announced by the theatre's artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern. Following its developmental lab production at The Vineyard earlier this year, NOW. HERE. THIS. returns for a full production this spring, running in March and April.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actor David Hyde Pierce has been cast in the Vineyard Theatre's Developmental Lab Production of THE LANDING (previously titled 'Andra') -- a collection of three related one-act musicals written by the celebrated composer John Kander and his new collaborator, Greg Pierce - to be directed by Scott Ellis, with David Loud as musical director, it has been announced by artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern. THE LANDING will be presented in the spring of 2012 at The Vineyard (108 E. 15 St.).

Starring in the most successful movie musical of all time is a surefire way to cement yourself in the pop culture and Hollywood pantheon, but Olivia Newton-John's participation in that generational touchstone, GREASE, was actually only the beginning of her rise to the top of the pop charts as one of the biggest entertainers in the world in the 1970s and 1980s, setting the charts afire with a string of smash hit singles such as "Physical", "I Honestly Love You", "Totally Hot", "Heart Attack" and many more. Discussing various aspects of her show business career and the entertainment legacy left by GREASE, XANADU and many of her film, television and concert appearances, Ms. Newton-John also opens up about her nearly completed construction of the $250 million Olivia Newton-John Cancer And Wellness Centre in Australia and why the cause is particularly close to her heart (literally), as well as all about co-hosting Sunday's cancer research fundraising benefit Pink And Blue For Two with football superstar Terrell Owens - an event created by her nephew Ethan promoting not only breast cancer awareness, but prostate cancer awareness, as well. As if all of that were not enough, we also shed some light on her appearances on Fox's hit musical comedy series GLEE and all about working with Jane Lynch, Ryan Murphy and company on the remake of "Physical", as well as the possibility of a return to the series in the future. Plus, all about the Broadway version of XANADU and her reaction to it on opening night, the new 2011 remix of "Magic" she has just released, her new film (complete with a newly-penned song she sings in it) A FEW BEST MEN, opinions on John Farrar's musical adaptation of HEATHCLIFFE written with Sir Tim Rice, her opinions on fellow divas such as Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli, Julie Andrews, Cher and Lady Gaga - as well as much, much more!

Nicky Silver's play THE LYONSis getting its world-premiere this fall with previews beginning September 21 prior to an official opening night October 11 at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern. Go inside of rehearsal with the cast and creative team in the photos below!

MAUREEN McGOVERN 'dangling conversations...' plays a special Performance at Birdland Celebrating the 2nd half of The Great American Songbook

Tony Award winner Dick Latessa and actresses Kate Jennings Grant and Brenda Pressley have joined the cast of Nicky Silver's play THE LYONS, being given its world-premiere this fall with previews beginning September 21 prior to an official opening night October 11 at Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.), it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre artistic director Douglas Aibel and co-artistic director Sarah Stern.