Marilyn Monroe News

On Thursday, three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Richard Adler passed away at the ripe old age of 90. Responsible for two of the biggest Broadway smash hits of the 1950s, THE PAJAMA GAME and GAMN YANKEES, Adler never quite managed to equal his career-high double-hitter of that era, yet his earlier work with Tony Bennett ('Rags To Riches'), Doris Day ('Everybody Loves A Lover') and Marilyn Monroe (the iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President') surely shall solidify his place in the firmament of entertainment history along with his two classic musicals from the Golden Age. Winning both Best Score and Best Musical for both THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES, Adler's partnership with lyricist Jerry Ross - which began on Broadway in 1953 with JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON'S ALMANAC - was tragically cut short just months after the DAMN YANKEES premiere when Ross was diagnosed with lung disease and passed away soon thereafter. Yet, thanks to the beloved film versions of THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES and continued interest in the entities as expressed in the revivals and reappraisals of both onstage from Broadway to Biloxi to Bombay year after year, the snappy, snazzy tunes of Adler and Ross live on eight times a week all around the world - even now, more than fifty years after they premiered. Unfortunately, Adler's subsequent shows with other collaborators post-1955 failed to capture the early magic of his previous projects with Ross and his earlier musical and theatrical endeavors in the pop arena, with the racially charged KWAMINA flopping on Broadway in 1961 (though he took home a Best Composer Tony Award for his efforts anyway) and the awkwardly titled MUSIC IS failing to recreate the magic of its source material, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, in 1976. A MOTER'S KISSES, starring Bea Arthur and a young Bernadette Peters, died on the road, as well. In the intervening years, Adler attempted musical adaptations taken from a number of intriguing sources - OF HUMAN BONDAGE and others among them - though only his ballet scores seemed to reach an audience; particularly his last, commissioned for a new production of Lorca's THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA in 1998. Of course, THE PAJAMA GAME has had two Broadway revivals - most recently the rapturously received Kathleen Marshall-directed production starring Harry Connick, Jr. and Kelli O'Hara; and DAMN YANKEES famously returned to the Great White Way with much ado in 1994 starring Victor Garber. Now seems particularly ripe for remounting YANKEES, as we approach twenty years in its absence - especially given the musical's seriously smashing showing at Encores! in 2007. Who knows, perhaps some risky producer will even take a chance on a new production of KWAMINA, MUSIC IS, A MOTHER'S KISSES or one of the bottom drawer shows someday soon to see if they possess any of the limitless potential shown by Adler's earlier work. Or maybe a stage treatment of his TV musical GIFT OF THE MAGI (originally composed for then-wife Sally Ann Howes)? Or, better yet, how about a revue? What a stupendous songstack Adler created over the course of his career - 'Whatever Lola Wants' to 'Hey There' to 'Hernando's Hideaway' to 'You Gotta Have Heart' to 'Steam Heat' to the aforementioned Bennett, Day and Monroe standards and so many more chestnuts.

Premiere Props announced that they will be auctioning off over 1000 Hollywood costumes and props including several personal items from Hollywood icons Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace and Michael Jackson, plus hundreds of items from contemporary films including the "Harry Potter" and "Piranha" franchises, "What to Except When You are Expecting," and "Seeking a Friend For the End of the World" during their Hollywood Extravaganza VI today, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, 2012. The auction will take place at Premiere Props' headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. beginning at 11am PT, with a preview from 9-11am PT each day.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, composer-lyricist and Broadway legend, Richard Adler, died Thursday, June 21st at his Southampton, New York home. He was 90. We celebrate the composer with some of his best-known works below!

Celebrated actor and playwright, Andrew Rothkin, joins the cast as John F. Kennedy and independent film actor, Joseph Conway, will appear as Tyrone Power. Returning from the original cast are Gloria Jung, Eric Kuzmuth, Martha Ghio, Michael Curcio, Bob Cencioni, Danny McDermott and Holly Elizabeth O'Brien as Norma Jeane.

Composer-lyricist and Broadway legend, Richard Adler, died Thursday, June 21st at his Southampton, New York home. He was 90.

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, the Encores! cast of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES went into the recording studio last month to put a cast record together. As per Megan Hilty's official website, the recording is set to be released September 4, and is now available to preorder on Amazon.com.

Mandy Patinkin will narrate PBS's AMERICAN MASTERS JOFFREY BALLET on Friday December 28th at 9pm. The special will cover the story of the first quintessentially American dance company founded by Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino, who pioneered a new dance philosophy.

Der Autor Daniel (Daniel Große Boymann) ist verzweifelt. Nicht nur haben ihn seine Darsteller und Mitautoren alleine gelassen, nein er hat einen Abgabetermin für einen Abend über Theo Lingen mit dem Titel „Komiker aus Leidenschaft.“ Die Idee wollen nicht wirklich den Weg auf das Papier finden und so sucht der Autor Hilfe bei Lingen selber. Der ist selbstverständlich schon einige Jahrzehnte verstorben, also bleibt dieser Wunsch unerhört. Nein, Moment als der Strom scheinbar ausfällt und Daniel eine Kerze anzündet sitzt er plötzlich da: mit perfektem Mittelscheitel, vornehm, fast aristokratisch und kerzengerade auf dem Sofa: Theo Lingen.

Today we are talking to an actor who has appeared in over fifty feature films and starred in plays on Broadway and in the West End all about his career thus far, looking ahead to his new role as John Sculley in the forthcoming jOBS, co-starring Ashton Kutcher as Steve Jobs and Josh Gad as Steve Wozniak, directed by Joshua Michael Stewart - the one and only Matthew Modine. In this all-encompassing chat tracing the past to the present, Modine also manages to give us the scoop on his featured role in the final part of Christopher Nolan's BATMAN trilogy, THE DARK KNIGHT RISES, and shares his candid impressions of working with Anne Hathaway, Joseph Gordon-Levitt and the rest of the starry cast of the sure-to-be blockbuster of the summer. Additionally, Modine illustrates his experiences working with director Robert Altman on screen and stage projects as diverse as SHORT CUTS and STREAMERS on film, Arthur Miller's FINISHING THE PICTURE in Chicago and RESURRECTION BLUES at the Old Vic in the West End and Modine expresses his overall general enthusiasm for acting and reveals deeply probing insight into many of his most memorable and famous roles to date - ranging from roles in Stanley Kubrick's FULL METAL JACKET to Alan Parker's BIRDY to his work with Oliver Stone, Tony Richardson, Jonathan Demme, John Sayles, Mike Figgis, John Schlesinger and others. All of that, a thorough discussion of his recent roles in the theatrical productions of TO KILL A MOCKINGBIRD and THE MIRACLE WORKER, as well as recollections of working on many of his most beloved projects to date, such as AND THE BAND PLAYED ON, THE REAL BLONDE, ORPHANS, CUTTHROAT ISLAND, BYE BYE LOVE, THE HOTEL NEW HAMPSHIRE, WEEDS - and much, much more!

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) is celebrating this week's premiere of TNT's all-new series DALLAS by unveiling a 10-gallon list of the Top 10 Texas Movies.

Opera Company of Middlebury, which has gained a reputation for staging opera's rarely produced masterworks, brings fourteen professional singers to the area this month to present Massenet's sublime THAÏS. The piece, which includes the famous violin solo "Mediation," will be given five performances from tonight, June 8 to 16 at Middlebury's Town Hall Theater.

With her bright and beautiful belt, brilliant, quirky singer-songwriter, Amanda Taraska will present her first solo show at Manhattan's acclaimed Laurie Beechman Theatre. The hour-long concert, featuring musical direction by Wicked's Walter Thompson, will showcase original work by up-and-coming writers Nick Blaemire, Jeff Bowen, Rob Hartmann, Natalie Lovejoy, Robby Sandler and Daniel Green, Dustin Sullivan and Elyssa Samsel, and David Alan Thornton and by beloved musical theatre luminaries Jason Robert Brown, Pasek and Paul, and Stephen Sondheim. Additionally, Miss Taraska will duet with special guests David Alan Thornton, Dustin Sullivan and Nikki MacCallum and debut selections from her own musical catalogue.

Dispelling the recent rumors of a bedridden and or even hospitalized legend, Broadway's original Lorelei Lee, Miss Carol Channing, was on hand in the 110+ Palm Springs heat to pay tribute to the woman who brought Lorelei Lee of "Gentleman Prefer Blondes" to the silver screen - Miss Marilyn Monroe.

Celebrate the life, the legend and the beauty of Marilyn Monroe. The iconic blonde bombshell shines in high definition in FOREVER MARILYN: THE BLU-RAY COLLECTION.

Today we are talking to one of the entertainment industry's most celebrated Broadway/Hollywood crossover stars, who has gone from memorable cameo childhood roles on the big screen in hit properties such as NATIONAL LAMPOON'S VACATION and FATAL ATTRACTION to big Broadway success with her stints in STARLIGHT EXPRESS and GRAND HOTEL later that decade, to small screen success with ALLY MCBEAL in the 90s all the way to Tony-winning and Olivier-winning glory with the sensational revival of NINE in 2003 on Broadway, directed by David Leveaux, and GUYS & DOLLS in the West End, directed by Michael Grandage - as well as three Emmy nominations for her seven-year stint on NBC's richly awarded and highly celebrated Tina Fey comedy 30 ROCK - the precocious, alluring and arousing Jane Krawkowski. Sharing the details about her upcoming concert performance at Town Hall on June 8, Krakowski opens up about the many lauded composers and creators she has collaborated with over the years - Andrew Lloyd Webber, Stephen Sondheim, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Maury Yeston, Tommy Tune, Steven Spielberg and many more - and what we can expect from her brassy and bawdy solo show, in addition to shedding some light on her Broadway days; whether on roller skates in STARLIGHT EXPRESS and the workshop of XANADU or treading the boards in workshops and productions for master director Tommy Tune. Also, Krakowski clues us in on where her classic 30 ROCK character Jenna Maroney will end up in the final, seventh season of the show that begins shooting in August and reveals her affection for her 30 ROCK and DAMN YANKEES co-star Cheyenne Jackson and their experiences filming the recent live episode (and singing the theme song). Plus, potential future stage roles she would like to essay someday - KISS OF THR SPIDER WOMAN, perhaps? Or, maybe, a reprise of her Adelaide in GUYS & DOLLS? Dot in SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE, even? - as well as Milliken Breakfast Show memories from the 1970s and much, much more!

Madame Tussauds New York just unveiled a wax figure of pop culture legend Marilyn Moroe. Marilyn is one of the youngest individuals to be immortalized in wax by Madame Tussauds New York. She joins more than 200 of the world's most well known personalities - from royalty and world leaders to Hollywood icons and pop culture legends - all of whom have figures in the Times Square wax attraction. Check out photos from the event below!

The third annual Hollywood Fringe Festival is gearing up for another celebration of the emerging arts in Hollywood. Here's Part One of our 'Focus on the Fringe Series' highlighting musical productions to consider adding to your Fringe dance card.

Commemorating the 50th anniversary of an icon entering heaven, join The Drama Book Shop for a special reception and presentation of the celebrated play by Joanne de Simone, Norma Jeane Enlightened, on Thursday, August 2, 2012 from 5:00 - 9:00 p.m. The Drama Book Shop is located at 250 West 40th Street New York, NY. Refreshments will served, and a Q&A follows the performance.

Written and directed by Jim Cartwright, the Olivier Award-winning THE RISE AND FALL OF LITTLE VOICE will begin a national tour at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre on Friday 31 August, with opening night on Tuesday 4 September. The show stars Beverley Callard as 'Mari Hoff', Ray Quinn as 'Billy', Joe McGann as 'Ray Say', Duggie Brown as 'Mr Boo' and Jess Robinson as 'Little Voice'.