Liz Smith News

NETworks Presentations, LLC, Universal Pictures Stage Productions, Working Title Films and Old Vic Productions bring the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Fox Cities Performing Arts Center from June 19-24. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards®.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to Atlanta's Fox Theatre through March 18, 2012, as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2011-12 season.

The Gay & Lesbian Alliance Against Defamation (GLAAD), the nation's lesbian, gay bisexual and transgender (LGBT) media advocacy and anti-defamation organization, today announced it will honor film and television producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (Chicago, Hairspray, Smash), writer and producer Shonda Rhimes (Grey's Anatomy, Private Practice, Scandal), financial services company Wells Fargo and Facebook at the 23rd Annual GLAAD Media Awards presented by Ketel One and Wells Fargo.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to Atlanta's Fox Theatre from March 13-18, 2012, as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2011-12 season.

In addition to the Tony Award for Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical received the award for Best Direction of a Musical (Stephen Daldry); Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch); Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher); Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti); Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish); Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara).

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Boston Opera House for a four week engagement July 24 - August 19. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Boston Opera House for a four week engagement July 24 - August 19. Based on the international smash-hit film and featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreography by Peter Darling and direction by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot the Musical has earned critical acclaim on Broadway including 10 Tony Awards.

In addition to the Tony Award for Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical received the award for Best Direction of a Musical (Stephen Daldry); Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch); Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher); Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti); Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish); Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara).

In addition to the Tony Award for Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical received the award for Best Direction of a Musical (Stephen Daldry); Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch); Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher); Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti); Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish); Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara).

In addition to the Tony Award for Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical received the award for Best Direction of a Musical (Stephen Daldry); Best Book of a Musical (Lee Hall); Best Choreography (Peter Darling); Best Orchestrations (Martin Koch); Best Scenic Design of a Musical (Ian MacNeil); Best Lighting Design of a Musical (Rick Fisher); Best Sound Design of a Musical (Paul Arditti); Best Performance by a Leading Actor in a Musical (David Alvarez, Trent Kowalik, Kiril Kulish); Best Performance by a Featured Actor in a Musical (Gregory Jbara).

Monday, January 23 was the Aquarius New Moon AND Chinese New Year (year of the Dragon) - it was also the 80th birthday of one of our national treasures - James Rado - co-author of the legendary musical HAIR. Rado celebrated this milestone at The Copacabana, with a crowd of over 125 - family and friends - including original Broadway HAIR cast members - Natalie Mosco, Marjorie LiPari, Robert I. Rubinsky (aka Bobby The Middle-Aged Celebrity); HAIR alumni including Heather MacRae, André De Shields, Ula Hedwig, Zora Rasmussen, Dale Soules. Other guests included Luther Creek (SPIDER-MAN, 25th Anniversary tour of HAIR, RENT) who performed excerpts from Rado's latest musical AMERICAN SOLDIER (written with brother Ted Rado) at the party along with Rosalind Brown, A.D. Coughlan, Ula Hedwig, Sean Jenness, Marjorie LiPari, Michael Lynch, Natalie Mosco, Cheryl Pepsii Riley, Gordon Ramsey, Robert I. Rubinsky, Sam Underwood and Alex York.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Aronoff Center from January 17 - 29 as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati 11/12 Season.

The Carlyle Hotel (Erich Steinbock, Managing Director) has announced the 2012 Winter season of performers at the legendary Cafe Carlyle - the "favorite of all New York nightspots," says Liz Smith - another New York legend.

The 2009 Tony Award-winning Best Musical, Billy Elliot the Musical, will play its final performance on Broadway today at the Imperial Theatre (246 West 45th Street). The show that Time Magazine called 'the best musical of the decade,' Billy Elliot will have played 40 preview and 1,304 regular performances. The production recouped its $18 million investment in only 14 months over 492 performances and on Broadway, the show has been seen by 1,659,867 theatergoers to date. Featuring music by Elton John, book and lyrics by Lee Hall, choreographed by Peter Darling and directed by Stephen Daldry, Billy Elliot began previews Wednesday, October 1 and opened to critical acclaim on November 13, 2008.

The Carlyle Hotel (Erich Steinbock, Managing Director) has announced the 2012 Winter season of performers at the legendary Cafe Carlyle - the "favorite of all New York nightspots," says Liz Smith - another New York legend.

Daryl Roth, producer of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, is thrilled to announce that Erica Watson and Michelle Shupe will join Dawn Wells (Gilligan's Island) and cast veterans Roni Geva and Katie O'Brien in Chicago's premier engagement of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE on Tuesday, Dec. 6. LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE has been extended by popular demand through Jan. 1, 2012 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.). Individual tickets are on sale now.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to the Aronoff Center from January 17 - 29 as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Cincinnati 11/12 Season.

NETworks Presentations, LLC brings the multi-award-winning Billy Elliot the Musical to Atlanta's Fox Theatre from March 13-18, 2012, as part of the Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta 2011-12 season.

Daryl Roth, producer of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, today announced that Chicago's premier engagement of LOVE, LOSS, AND WHAT I WORE, which kicked off the show's first national tour on Sep. 18, 2011, is extended by popular demand through Jan. 1, 2012 at the Broadway Playhouse at Water Tower Place (175 E. Chestnut St.) and Dawn Wells (Gilligan's Island) joins the star-studded cast on Dec. 6, 2011. Individual tickets are on sale now.

On Friday, November 4th, The American Songbook Project held its annual signature event, their 'Name That Tune' benefit at the historic Hudson Theater in New York. Their mission is to preserve the American Songbook by bringing professional singers in the NYC schools. This year they honored Broadway composer Jerry Herman and Guild Hall (East Hampton), both of whom celebrated their 80th birthdays this year. Liz Smith emceed the Jerry Herman tribute and her passionate, loving remarks about her friend included 'It is said by show biz insiders that Jerry is so universal the you just hear a song of his once and you can hum it or sing it. And you probably can't stop. That is pretty damned great. He is universal in the musical theater, the songsmith of modern American life.' Mr. Herman's tribute included performances by James Darrah recreating his role of Ambrose Kemper from the last Carol Channing revival of Hello Dolly singing 'It Only Takes a Moment;' Meredith Patterson and Jeffry Denman performing 'Tap Your Troubles Away' from Mack and Mabel; and Andrea McArdle singing 'If He Walked into My Life Today' from Mame accompanied movingly by nine-year old Kyrian Friedenberg on trumpet.