Liza Minnelli News

It's always such a wonderful treat to witness a living legend speak candidly and honestly about their experiences, looking back fondly at a multi-decade career that few could even dare replicate. Orange County residents now have such an opportunity with none other than two-time Tony Award winning diva extraordinaire CHITA RIVERA, in a charming one-woman cabaret show titled 'Chita Rivera: My Broadway,' now playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa through Sunday, November 13. Still spry, spunky, and jazz-kickin' at 78 years old, this pioneering Broadway superstar presents a bawdy, yet no-frills cabaret show that is not only chock-full of her memorable hits but is also peppered with lots of dishy details of her life in the theater.

The creative team behind the hit off-Broadway musical Fabulous Divas of Broadway are at it again bringing the Retro Dome a new show entitled Fabulous Divas of Hollywood.

The New York Pops orchestra, under the baton of Music Director Steven Reineke, celebrates the holidays with swinging seasonal favorites on December 16 and 17, 2011 at 8:00pm. Reineke has been heralded by The New York Times as 'young and vigorous, with a playful attitude that has been a pops orchestral tradition since the heyday of Arthur Fiedler...a polished, welcoming host.' John Pizzarelli and Jessica Molaskey, the couple The New York Times called 'a musical match made in heaven,' will perform with the orchestra in a program featuring festive holiday tunes such as 'We Need a Little Christmas', 'It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year', 'Go Tell It On the Mountain', 'Dance of the Sugar Plum Fairy', 'I've Got My Love to Keep Me Warm' and 'Little Bolero Boy'. Essential Voices USA, conducted by Judith Cluman, will also join The New York Pops in the festive concert at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

Birdland has announced the return of 'A Swinging Birdland Christmas,' starring Birdland regulars Klea Blackhurst, Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch.

The Tony award-winning Hugh Jackman has returned to Broadway in Hugh Jackman, Back on Broadway at the Broadhurst Theatre. Jackman brings the one-man concert show to New York for a 10-week engagement. Previews began on October 25, 2011 and opened last night, November 10. The production will run through January 1, 2012. Did the critics find him Hugh-tastic? Let's find out!

The creative team behind the hit off-Broadway musical Fabulous Divas of Broadway are at it again bringing the Retro Dome a new show entitled Fabulous Divas of Hollywood.

According to ContactMusic.com, Broadway legend Liza Minnelli has just undergone foot surgery after injuring it on November 5. Minnelli was unable to attend the Police Athletic League's Women of the Year event on November 7 as a result.

2011 MAC Award Winner for Major Artist, Julie Reyburn returns to Feinstein's for two nights, Sunday November 27th & 28th. with her new show, 'Winter Songs'.

Porchlight Music Theatre, American Musicals. Chicago Style, presents the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

As previously reported, Stephanie J. Block has joined the Tony Award winning company of Anything Goes performing the role of 'Reno Sweeney' while Sutton Foster is filming the television pilot, Bunheads, for 3 weeks beginning on November 4. Block will fill the famed tap shoes though November 22. Below, we give you a glimpse of the star in costume!

Triple-Platinum Recording Artist Aaron Carter, who burst onto the pop music scene in the late nineties and quickly achieved worldwide superstardom and the adoration of millions of loyal fans, will join the cast of The Fantasticks, the world's longest-running musical, on Monday, November 7, 2011.

Today we are talking to the songwriter responsible for the new collection of songs culled from his many musical theatre ventures, both new and old - oh-so-appropriately titled OUT OF CONTEXT - who perhaps is best known to Broadway babies as the composer/lyricist of the mid-00s Off-Broadway smash boy-band spoof musical ALTAR BOYZ - the versatile and fiercely committed Michael Patrick Walker. Talking all aspects of OUT OF CONTEXT - including working with the tremendous talent featured on the multi-faceted and highly entertaining album (many of whom are also InDepth InterView participants themselves), such as Cheyenne Jackson, Kelli O'Hara, Lisa Howard and many more - as well as describing the shows from whence these songs derived (such as THE DISTANT BELLS, which recently was work-shopped starring Chita Rivera and Ana Gasteyer, among others) Walker and I attempt to paint a picture of the career of a rising star composer such as himself and what we can look forward to from him in the future, near and far - and, of course, what is in the ether for the release party performance concert at Birdland on Monday night featuring Ann Harada, Lauren Kennedy, Peter Friedman, Kenita Miller, John Tartaglia, Julie Foldesi, Noah Galvin, Andy Karl, Tyler Maynard, Andy Mientus, Jim Stanek and Betsy Wolfe. Additionally, he shares his experiences working on screen-to-stage adaptations of KINKY BOOTS and SOAPDISH, as well as shares news of his upcoming musical with Rick Ellis of JERSEY BOYS fame and the Rockettes musical number that will be premiering this season at the annual Radio City Music Hall Christmas spectacular. Plus, we also discuss his compositional and lyrical inspirations, favorite scores and composers, thoughts on GLEE and much, much more!

As previously reported, Stephanie J. Block will join the Tony Award winning company of Anything Goes performing the role of 'Reno Sweeney' while Sutton Foster is filming the television pilot, Bunheads, for 3 weeks beginning tonight, November 4. Block will fill the famed tap shoes though November 22. BroadwayWorld caught up with Block this week and was treated to a sneak peek of the star in costume as 'Reno'. Below, we give you glimpse!

Music Theatre of Connecticut MainStage, Fairfield County's Professional Theatre Company, will open the 25th Anniversary MainStage Season with one of the most popular and beloved American musicals of all time, 'Cabaret.'

As previously reported, Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that Stephanie J. Block will join the Tony Award winning company of Anything Goes performing the role of 'Reno Sweeney' while Sutton Foster is filming the television pilot, Bunheads, for 3 weeks in November. Specific dates have been announced today and Block will officially be stepping into the role November 4 through November 22.

Pioneer, innovator and the voice of an entire new musical theatre generation coming in the dawning of the age of GLEE, Tony Award recipient and Grammy-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda has merged the worlds of the two most significant of original American art forms - musicals and rap - in such a striking and surprisingly inventive way with his hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS - currently touring the country - and is setting out to do the same with his fresh collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL composer Tom Kitt on their new musical BRING IT ON!, currently in previews out of town in Los Angeles as it eyes New York. In addition to discussing the development of IN THE HEIGHTS and BRING IT ON! in detail, Miranda and I also outline his experience working alongside the two modern-day masters of the musical theatre - Stephen Sondheim and the recently deceased Arthur Laurents - on the Spanish translation and new lyrics for the recent bilingual revival of WEST SIDE STORY - in addition to his forthcoming ALEXANDER HAMILTON project, which Miranda recently performed a medley from for President Obama himself at the White House Poetry Jam. As if all of that were not enough, we also delve into his thought process as he sets out to take on one of Sondheim's most challenging roles in all of musical theatre - that of Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at Encores!, under the direction of James Lapine. Plus, news on his new feature film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, as well as recollections of his fondest Broadway shows, scores, cast albums, movie musicals and general musical and theatrical inspirations - and his favorite Shakespeare plays, too - as well as much, much more!

Tribute artist Peter Mac happens to be one terrific actor/singer who does his very best work in a dress. In our interview, he talks about how it all started, the characters he honors and his gig at the Gardenia over the next year. Like Charles Pierce and Jim Bailey before him Peter Mac is keeping the art of creating impressions alive and vibrant.

$1,087,050.50 was raised on Monday, October 31st, when Rolex presented A HALLOWEEN THRILLER A Dance Celebration of Ghosts, Ghouls, Vampires & Wilis, - Career Transition For Dancers' 26th Anniversary Jubilee to a capacity audience at the newly renovated New York City Center.

Jim Caruso's Broadway at Birdland concert series will present Liza Minnelli and Sam Harris in 'Schmoolie & Minnooli,' Sunday November 20 at 6pm and Monday, November 21 at 7pm. Billy Stritch musical directs.