Marvin Laird News

Tina Denmark, the diabolically talented tyke in the award-winning musical Ruthless! returns to New York for nine performances only to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, continuing September 8; 12-13; 15; 19-20 and 22, 2014 at 7:00pm. Performances will be held at Stage 72 at The Triad (158 W 72nd St, NYC). Check out photos from inside the first performance below!

Like the role she will be playing in a new production of 'Ruthless!,' the cult-hit musical, Sophia Anne Caruso is a young actress who will do anything to get the part. The triple threat tween will follow in the tap shoes of Laura Bell Bundy('Hairspray,' 'Legally Blonde') Britney Spears and Natalie Portman. Before they became stars, all three young actors were cast as the diabolically talented Tina Denmark. Of Caruso, Author/Director, Joel Paley says, 'We didn't find her, she found us!' Sophia tracked down the creators while they were trying out rewrites for a new Connecticut production, writing to tell them that after having been cast as Tina in regional theatre, one of the principle actors suffered a fatal heart attack during the dress rehearsal. The show never opened. Although heartbroken and terribly shaken ('It was the worst thing that ever happened in my life') she assured us she knew the role backwards and forwards and was more determined than ever to play Tina. 'We had to meet her. She was Tina Denmark.' An audition was arranged and the rest is going to be history!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: THE WINTER'S TALE begins at the Delacorte, 'MIGHTY REAL' starts performances off-Broadway, RUTHLESS! benefits BC/EFA, we remember Joan Rivers and more!

Broadway luminaries once again enjoyed lunch and conversation with Peter LeDonne broadcasting live from Lillie's Victorian Establishment in the Theater district . This weeks guests joining Peter and Jamie deRoy were composers Marvin Laird and Joel Paley. Danny Whitman, BCEFA director of Communications & Development and Angelina Fiordellisi, Artistic Director of the Cherry Lane Theater were also joined Peter & Jamie. Laird and Paley are the creators of the hit musical 'Ruthless' which will be remounted as a benefit for Broadway Cares on September 5-22 at the Triad Theatre.

Like the role she will be playing in a new production of 'Ruthless!,' the cult-hit musical, Sophia Anne Caruso is a young actress who will do anything to get the part. The triple threat tween will follow in the tap shoes of Laura Bell Bundy('Hairspray,' 'Legally Blonde') Britney Spears and Natalie Portman. Before they became stars, all three young actors were cast as the diabolically talented Tina Denmark. Of Caruso, Author/Director, Joel Paley says, 'We didn't find her, she found us!' Sophia tracked down the creators while they were trying out rewrites for a new Connecticut production, writing to tell them that after having been cast as Tina in regional theatre, one of the principle actors suffered a fatal heart attack during the dress rehearsal. The show never opened. Although heartbroken and terribly shaken ('It was the worst thing that ever happened in my life') she assured us she knew the role backwards and forwards and was more determined than ever to play Tina. 'We had to meet her. She was Tina Denmark.' An audition was arranged and the rest is going to be history!

Tina Denmark, the diabolically talented tyke in the award-winning musical Ruthless! returns to New York for nine performances only to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS on September 5-6; 8; 12-13; 15; 19-20 and 22, 2014 at 7:00pm. Performances will be held at Stage 72 at The Triad (158 W 72nd St, NYC).

Bernadette Peters is a music theatre icon unsurpassed by many, if any. Even if you've haven't seen her craft on display, she is bound to be on an original cast recording that you have tucked away amongst your collection. Peters graced the stage of Her Majesty's theatre in Melbourne last night on the final leg of her Australian tour with an orchestra of local artists under the guidance of her legendary musical director Marvin Laird. Her familiar tone and vibrato was on display and even if her voice happened to waiver in certain moments the connection she had with her lyric far surpassed any technical hic up. As composer Stephen Sondheim's muse, Peter's has had to clearly develop her interpretation of some of the more complex melodies and lyrics in the music theatre repertoire. It is in this pocket that she sits superior to any of her peers. Her delivery of Send In The Clowns from A Little Night Music and Losing My Mind from her most recent Broadway show Follies prove to be Peter's stand out performances on this evening. The combination of piano, clarinet and voice in Send In The Clowns is as close to perfection as you could get.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will continue their 2013-2014 season with the hilarious RUTHLESS! THE MUSICAL. The one-night-only concert will take place at the Moss Theatre at New Roads School in Santa Monica on Sunday, April 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm.

On the evening of October 11, Peters made an exquisite concert return to the OC accompanied by an incredible mini-orchestra helmed by longtime musical director Marvin Laird, which kicked off Segertrom Center for the Arts' 2013-2014 Cabaret series. As somewhat expected, the concert was a beautifully executed affair, providing the audience with several reasons to be awed.

Miami regional theatre Actors' Playhouse wisely chose pint-sized powerhouse Julia Dale to lead their company to victory with their production of Ruthless! The Musical, which opened this weekend at the Miracle Theatre.

Big Noise Theatre Company, celebrating its 14th season of top-notch, live entertainment at the Prairie Lakes Theatre, is thrilled to announce the full line up of productions for 2013-14. Additionally, Big Noise welcomes back Stacey Flaster to direct the musical RAGTIME, which will be the company's final offering in the Spring.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Jungle Book' and 'Flashdance' depart, 'Pageant' and 'Ruthless!' appear, two musicals celebrating black music begin September 14 at BET and the Goodman, two Gary Griffin shows get their leading ladies, plus 'Hank Williams' and much more!

Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre will kick off its 2013-2014 Season with the ruthlessly outrageous Off-Broadway hit Ruthless! The Musical from October 9 - November 3, 2013.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, has announced an exciting quartet of shows, all with film ties, to celebrate its eighteenth season of Broadway in Concert musicals and in addition, a move to Santa Monica's Ann and Jerry Moss Theatre.

Actors' Playhouse at the Miracle Theatre is proud to announce the six stellar productions selected for its 2013-2014 Mainstage Season, featuring five South Florida regional premieres and a Tony Award-winning hit-musical production. The stellar line up will include Actors' Playhouse's Miami revival of the hilarious Off-Broadway hit Ruthless! The Musical (October 9 - November 3, 2013), followed by the South Florida premiere of the deeply moving and unbelievable funny Making God Laugh (December 4 - 29, 2013), the groundbreaking 2012 drama End Of The Rainbow (January 15 - February 9, 2014), the South Florida regional premiere of the three-time Tony Award-winning 'Best Musical' Monty Python's SPAMALOT (March 5 - 30, 2014), the smart and powerful drama Scott and Hem in the Garden of Allah (May 14 - June 8, 2014) and the hilariously tuneful MID-LIFE 2! (The Crisis Continues) (July 16 - August 17, 2014).

Long considered one of America's premier community theater groups, Bergen County Players (BCP) has announced for 2013-14 another ambitious, passionate and playful year of audience-pleasing musicals and innovative plays for its 81st consecutive season. From toe-tapping musicals to hilarious comedies to intense dramas, BCP has garnered a reputation for outstanding quality productions at affordable prices. The new season kicks off with one of the best-loved musicals of a generation, the five-time Tony Award-winning Man of La Mancha (its principal song, 'The Impossible Dream' has become a standard). BCP's 81st season opener will once again feature a live orchestra and will be suitable for all ages.

Those of us well versed in Broadway musicals and Hollywood films will certainly catch lots of references in RUTHLESS! And with its off-the-wall, farcical humor and schmaltzy songs, this musical comedy will definitely have you laughing in the aisles!

Heather has grown up on Broadway, going from Baby June to Little Who to Ballet Girl to a partly adult role now.