Leslie Uggams News

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has announced the cast of My Fair Lady, the beloved Lerner and Loewe musical masterpiece about an arrogant and crotchety phonetics professor who transforms a spirited Cockney flower girl into an elegant, proper-speaking English lady. Broadway's Rick Hilsabeck (Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, Billy Elliot, the first national tour of Phantom of the Opera) stars as the curmudgeonly professor Henry Higgins. His real-life co-star Sarah Pfisterer (Phantom of the Opera, Show Boat, Children and Art) is his reluctant protégé Eliza Doolittle. Performances are August 10-19 in the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

Rodgers & Hammerstein's PIPE DREAM, recorded live at New York City Center's Encores! series in March, will be released by Ghostlight Records on September 18. Produced by Rodgers & Hammerstein: An Imagem Company, this preservation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's 1955 Broadway musical rarity marks the first time an Encores! musical has been recorded live.

The great Cole Porter's Can- Can, hits the Westchester Broadway Theatre stage this Fall. Written by Caleb Porter and Abe Burrows, the story revolves around 'the lovely Pistache, who owns the only café that features the sexy and provocative Can-Can. She spars with Aristide Forestier, a self-righteous judge, determined to close all Parisian dance halls. The show features the provocativly delightful Can-Can, the high-energy and physically demanding music hall dance which is a hybrid of the Polka and The Quadrille. First danced in circa 1822, it was outlawed for a number of years as immoral and prohibited by the police! How times have changed!'

Award-winning producers Michael & Barbara Ross will present Tony Award-winning actress Tonya Pinkins in Larry Parr's ETHEL WATERS: HIS EYE IS ON THE SPARROW at Luna Stage in West Orange, New Jersey, for a limited run, August 16 - September 2, 2012. The production will be directed by award-winning director Dennis Courtney, with musical direction by Barry Levitt.

Cole Porter's Can-Can hits the Westchester Broadway Theatre stage this Fall. Written by Caleb Porter and Abe Burrows, the story revolves around t'he lovely Pistache, who owns the only café that features the sexy and provocative Can-Can. She spars with Aristide Forestier, a self-righteous judge, determined to close all Parisian dance halls. The show features the provocativly delightful Can-Can, the high-energy and physically demanding music hall dance which is a hybrid of the Polka and The Quadrille. First danced in circa 1822, it was outlawed for a number of years as immoral and prohibited by the police! How times have changed!'

That great incubator for cabaret and musical theater, The Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Cabaret & Performance Conference will present a very special evening in tribute to one of America's greatest and most prolific songwriters. Johnny Mercer, "AC-CENT-TCHU-ATE THE POSITIVE", A Johnny Mercer Celebration on Friday, August 3 at 8:00 PM at the O'Neill Center's Dina Merrill Theater.

When award-winning cabaret singer Suzanne Carrico & Broadway actress Joi Danielle Price both found themselves "in the family way," they did the only thing they could. They decided to spend their summer with GREAT EXPECTATIONS, for three every Sunday, beginning tonight, July 29 and continuing August 5 and 12, at Metropolitan Room. They will be accompanied on this musical journey through nine months of waiting, not by a midwife, but by Musical Director, Don Rebic, with Special Guest, Tracy Stark on the piano on August 5th and 12th.

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented triple-threat who has made appearances on Broadway in entities as diverse as David Merrick's original Gower Champion-directed production of 42nd STREET, her debut, to roles in Susan Stroman's CRAZY FOR YOU, Hal Prince's landmark revival of SHOW BOAT and the Mark Bramble revival of 42nd STREET to THE CIVIL WAR, MAMMA MIA!, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, ELF, and, most recently, as the star of BABY, IT'S YOU! - to say nothing of her Tony Award-winning turn in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - the thoroughly delightful and dynamic dame herself, Beth Leavel. Discussing some of her career highlights thus far - such as the night of her Tony Award win - while generously sharing her caustic wit and giving us a glimpse into the life of a modern-day leading lady, Leavel also offers us some insights into her newest role - one originally essayed by no less than Broadway icon Ethel Merman - that of Irving Berlin's heroine, Mrs. Sally Adams, in the politically-themed musical comedy CALL ME MADAM, playing at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, July 24-28. In addition to all about CALL ME MADAM, Leavel also imparts her affection for past co-stars and collaborators - Sutton Foster, Christine Ebersole, Andrea Martin, Millicent Martin, Dolores Grey, Burt Bacharach and more included - and looks ahead to some parts that she would potentially consider pursuing in the future (MINSKY'S perhaps?). All of that and much, much more!

The new musical Foreverman, with book, music, and lyrics by Brett M. Boles, will be presented as an official selection of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's (NYMF's) 2012 Next Link Project, beginning performances tonight, July 20 and running through Sunday, July 28, at the PTC Performance Space, 555 West 42 Street (between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues).

Today we are talking to Patricia Kelly, the widow of one of the most iconic and influential performers in entertainment history, Gene Kelly, all about her husband's incomparable career on Broadway and in Hollywood, in honor of his centennial. Tracing Gene Kelly's journey from his theatre roots starring in Cole Porter's LEAVE IT TO ME!, Rodgers & Hart's PAL JOEY and William Saroyan's Pulitzer Prize-winning THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE on Broadway to his unforgettable screen appearances in many of the greatest movie musicals ever made - COVER GIRL, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, THE PIRATE, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS and many more included - Mrs. Kelly gives us a look into the life of one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. In addition to behind-the-scenes stories involving Kelly's frequent collaborators - such as esteemed director Vincente Minnelli, songwriter and producer Arthur Freed, arranger Saul Chaplin and others - Mrs. Kelly also shares candid anecdotes involving her husband's involvement with directing Rodgers & Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG on Broadway, helming the feature film adaptation of HELLO, DOLLY! starring Barbra Streisand, as well as his appearing in two idiosyncratic movie musicals later in his life, LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT (THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT) for Jacques Demy, as well as his au revoir to movie musicals in form of the Olivia Newton-John roller disco starrer XANADU. Additionally, Mrs. Kelly fills us in on all the details about this weekend's two-night Gene Kelly retrospective celebration, which she leads and narrates, as part of GENE KELLY @ 100 and her future plans for the multimedia presentation - each evening titled AN EVENING OF GENE KELLY and CHANGING THE LOOK OF DANCE ON FILM, respective - as she begins to tour the show across the country. Plus, reflections on SINGIN' IN THE RAIN's 60th anniversary and the recent Fathom HD premiere presentation in theaters, the impact of Kelly's work behind the camera, his choreographic legacy, what a legend is like at home, memories of attending the opening night of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (starring HELLO, DOLLY! lead Michael Crawford), what the master would say about GLEE, SMASH, BUNHEADS and today's movie musical renaissance, as well as much, much more!

Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premiere Equity theatre, is thrilled to welcome another Broadway legend into their ranks: Lee Roy Reams in Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance, tonight, July 16th.

Cabaret and Jazz vocal stylist, New York and Los Angeles actor/singer - Pinkie Washington will perform her original cabaret show, ELLA AND HER FELLAS - the story behind icon - saluting Ella Fitzgerald, at the M BAR HOLLYWOOD, tonight, July 15, at 7 p.m., at the M Bar in Hollywood, Calif.

Today we are talking to a celebrated comedienne and actress known for her decades-spanning career on screens and stages large and small - from making her Broadway debut in the original Jerome Robbins production of GYPSY on Broadway in 1960 to her many musical roles throughout the 60s to her countless game show and variety show appearances following that all the way to creating an unforgettable character in MOONSTRUCK in the 1980s, as well as her subsequent oft-Neil Simon stage work; now, playing Tina Fey's sweet and daffy mom on NBC's 30 ROCK and, most recently, appearing in Nora & Celia Ephron's LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE and the Playwright's Horizons premiere production of THE BIG MEAL in the new millennium - the one of a kind Anita Gillette. Analyzing her nearly sixty-year career and sharing candid stories of her brushes with some of Broadway and Hollywood's brightest talents - Jule Styne to Ethel Merman to Irving Berlin to Burt Lancaster and beyond - Gillette paints a vivid portrait of the tail end of the Golden Age of Broadway and the heady game show days of TV in the 1960s and 70s to her lauded stage work with Neil Simon and many of the great comedy and musical writers in the years since. Additionally, Gillette and I discuss her current essaying of the role of Mae Peterson in the new Regal Music Theatre production of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams's BYE BYE BIRDIE in Massachusetts as she looks towards opening night tomorrow and relates her joy in participating in a production that has some behind-the-scenes help by her loving granddaughter (while another attends their summer camp). Plus, Gillette's observations on sharing a soundstage with Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Elaine Stritch and Buck Henry for a recent 30 ROCK shoot, reflections on her fondest and most celebrated comedy roles, hilarious memories of appearing in some short-running flops (JIMMY, SKYSKRAPER) as well as in some big hits (GYPSY), her upcoming series of master classes titled "Life In The Business", her return to Birdland with her concert show, AFTER ALL, her role in an upcoming Ed Burns film and maybe even a role in a new Alexander Payne film - all of that, all about attending the Diamond Jubilee celebration in the United Kingdom and much, much more!

Cabaret and Jazz vocal stylist, New York and Los Angeles actor/singer - Pinkie Washington will perform her original cabaret show, ELLA AND HER FELLAS - the story behind icon - saluting Ella Fitzgerald, at the M BAR HOLLYWOOD, this Sunday, July 15, at 7 p.m., at the M Bar in Hollywood, Calif.

When award-winning cabaret singer SUZANNE CARRICO & Broadway actress JOI DANIELLE PRICE both found themselves "in the family way," they did the only thing they could. They decided to spend their summer with GREAT EXPECTATIONS, for three every Sundays, July 29 & August 5 & 12, at Metropolitan Room. They will be accompanied on this musical journey through 9 months of waiting, not by a midwife, but by Musical Director, DON REBIC, with Special Guest, TRACY STARK on the piano on August 5th & 12th.

The new musical Foreverman, with book, music, and lyrics by Brett M. Boles, will be presented as an official selection of the New York Musical Theatre Festival's (NYMF's) 2012 Next Link Project, beginning performances Friday, July 20 and running through Sunday, July 28, at the PTC Performance Space, 555 West 42 Street (between Tenth and Eleventh Avenues).

Cape May Stage, South Jersey's premiere Equity theatre, is thrilled to welcome another Broadway legend into their ranks: Lee Roy Reams in Gotta Sing, Gotta Dance. On Monday, July 16th

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning legend famous for his performances starring in the original Broadway productions of PIPPIN and JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, as well as his celebrated turns in stage and screen projects as diverse as ALL THAT JAZZ, SWEET CHARITY, CHICAGO, FOSSE, WICKED, GRIND, ROOTS, I'M NOT RAPPAPORT, GOLDEN BOY, IDLEWILD, FUNNY LADY, HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER and many more - the simply incredible Ben Vereen. Discussing many of his most fondly remembered roles and recounting his experiences working with many legendary directors and collaborators - Bob Fosse, Hal Prince, Tom O'Horgan, Herbert Ross, Ann Reinking, Dan Sullivan, Sammy Davis, Jr., Barbra Streisand, Liza Minnelli and many more among them - Vereen paints a vivid picture of a bygone Broadway and reminisces about many of the most significant theatrical creators of the past fifty years and his roles in their stage and film projects. Additionally, Vereen fills us in on what we can expect from his upcoming solo spotlight show - a career retrospective - that will be kicking off at 54 Below on July 10 for a two-week engagement before an even larger, Broadway-bound mounting later this year at Princeton. Also, Vereen elaborates on the causes closest to his heart, shares thoughts on GLEE and SMASH, future plans and much, much more!

Today, June 27th, The Santa Monica Library will host a signing with author, Patty Farmer, and special guest Barbrara Van Orden for 'THE PERSIAN ROOM PRESENTS.' Portions of the book sales benefit Childhelp.