Mel Brooks News

Who sat in the pumpkin patch waiting for the Great Pumpkin? Which actor played the Frankenstein monster in Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein"? Who haunted Ichabod Crane? Do you know your ghosts and ghouls? Then mark your calendars for Cortland Repertory Theatre's Halloween themed Trivia Night and Costume Contest! This fund raiser, in support of CRT's Youth Programs, will be held on Wednesday, October 24th, upstairs at the Dark Horse Tavern, 96 Main Street in Cortland.

Brooks has agreed to throw himself into a new documentary about his storied career, giving American Masters exclusive interviews and complete access to his film archives. Slated to premiere May 2013 on PBS (check local listings), American Masters Mel Brooks (w.t.) features new interviews with Brooks and his actor friends, including Matthew Broderick, Nathan Lane, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner, and Joan Rivers.

The Broadway Channel announces the return of "Broadway Profiles" to its series as half hour shows and announces Tamsen Fadal as the series new host.

Broadway star and lead in ABC Family's new show 'Bunheads' Sutton Foster sang the National Anthem at last night's (October 14th) Yankees game. Click below to listen to her performance!

The holidays are always the busiest time at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre and Children's Theatre. Over the years, some of the most popular shows at the theatre have been its Christmas productions. From Frosty the Snow Man to Santa's elves to the furry characters from the children's book Mr. Willowby's Christmas Tree, they have all helped to celebrate the joy of the season in the Children's Theatre at one time or another.

Variety reports that Alex Karras, the star of the film 'Blazing Saddles' and the TV series 'Webster' passed away today at age 77. The NFL star played for the Detroit Lions in the 1960's before he began his acting career.

Today, with musicals such as The Book of Mormon enjoying phenomenal box office success, revivals like The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess delighting new generations, and musical stage versions of popular films such as Once and Newsies dominating the Tony Awards, Broadway is proving yet again that its vitality and magic endure. Nominated for five 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards and winner of two, including Outstanding Nonfiction Series, THIRTEEN's landmark Broadway: The American Musical returns tonight, October 7 at 10 p.m., and continues on six consecutive Sundays through November 11 (check local listings).

Sir Howard Stringer, Chair of the American Film Institute's Board of Trustees, announced today the Board's decision to honor Mel Brooks with the 41st AFI Life Achievement Award, the highest honor for a career in film. The award will be presented to Brooks at a gala tribute on Thursday, June 6, 2013 in Los Angeles, CA.

ANNIE, the new production of the Tony Award-winning musical, went into rehearsal today in New York City with its full company. The production begins previews October 3, 2012 and opens November 8, 2012 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). Meet the full cast below!

Julia Childs has nothing on these two bosomy sisters from Bay Ridge, New York when it comes to a hilarious presentation of the culinary arts. Yes, The Calamari Sisters have found their way to the city of Brotherly Love.

Walnut Street Theatre continues its landmark 204TH season with an all-new production of Broadway's five-time Tony Award-winning family musical, Meredith Willson's THE MUSIC MAN. Directed and choreographed by Marc Robin, this production will feature Philadelphia's very own Jeffrey Coon and Broadway's Jennifer Hope Wills. The cast also includes a live horse that will pull the Wells Fargo Wagon in the first act. THE MUSIC MAN begins previews on November 6th, opens on November 14th and runs through January 6th on the WST Mainstage.

Broadway Rose returns with their well-casted, talent-fueled farce of the 1950s B-Movie in THE LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS. With debuts and returns, the cast delivers a knockout!

Winnie the Pooh, one of the most popular children's characters of all time, has made his home at the Way Off Broadway Children's Theatre this fall with the theatre's production of Disney's Winnie the Pooh. Today, September 26th, Pooh and his friends will be venturing from Way Off Broadway to the Frederick Library for its 11:00 a.m. story time.

Thirteen's acclaimed BROADWAY: THE AMERICAN MUSICAL will return to PBS for a show-stopping encore on Sunday, October 7 at 10 pm/ET.

Today, with musicals such as The Book of Mormon enjoying phenomenal box office success, revivals like The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess delighting new generations, and musical stage versions of popular films such as Once and Newsies dominating the Tony Awards, Broadway is proving yet again that its vitality and magic endure. Nominated for five 2005 Primetime Emmy Awards and winner of two, including Outstanding Nonfiction Series, THIRTEEN's landmark Broadway: The American Musical returns Sunday, October 7 at 10 p.m., and continues on six consecutive Sundays through November 11 (check local listings).

Sometimes once is just not enough, so, today, we have a super-special encore conversation with a recent InDepth InterView participant who shares even more candid tales from her impossibly colorful, genre-spanning career on Broadway and in Hollywood - star of properties as diverse as the Broadway musicals MR. PRESIDENT, KELLY and THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, to movies like MOONSTRUCK and SHALL WE DANCE to her numerous TV appearances on everything from MATCH GAME to QUINCY to 30 ROCK - chameleon-like comedienne and actress Anita Gillette. Discussing some of the more ribald and hilarious stories from her idiosyncratic showbiz career - such as the riotous backstage goings-on out of town at the tryout of one of Broadway biggest bombs, KELLY - as well as spine-tingling "you had to be there"-type memories of the Golden Age - like Irving Berlin stopping by the Winter Garden every Wednesday just to see her Act One showstopper in ALL AMERICAN - Gillette paints a vivid picture of an era gone by, and, also, looks ahead to exciting future endeavors - especially the upcoming Ed Burns-directed feature film, THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS, opening wide later this year. Of course, Gillette returns to the NYC stage the next two Mondays - September 24 and October 1 - with her new Birdland show, AFTER ALL, so in this all-encompassing conversation we also discuss the themes, style, songs and stories we can anticipate from that intimate solo piece, as well, and she generously shares her recollections of working with some of the men who penned many of the sensational songs she will be performing and figure in to some of the tales she will tell - Charles Strouse, Marvin Hamlisch, Jule Styne, Neil Simon, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and the aforementioned Irving Berlin included. All of that and much, much more!

The 64th Primetime Emmy Awards aired live coast to coast on Sunday, September 23 (8:00 - 11:00 p.m. ET) on ABC and originated from the Nokia Theatre L.A. LIVE in Los Angeles. The telecast was produced by Don Mischer Productions and hosted by Jimmy Kimmel. This was Kimmel's first time hosting the Primetime Emmy telecast. And the winners are...

Mine Entertainment Group has announced a one-night only benefit performance of the one-act play, "Katrina Who?!" taking place tonight, September 19 (8PM) at The Zephyr Theatre in West Hollywood. Written and directed by Melanie Maria Goodreaux, "Katrina Who?!" honors the seventh anniversary of Hurricane Katrina through the personal stories of five NOLA residents who recount the destruction, devastation, survival and triumph in the aftermath of the deadliest and most destructive hurricane of 2005.

Winnie the Pooh, one of the most popular children's characters of all time, has made his home at the Way Off Broadway Children's Theatre this fall with the theatre's production of Disney's Winnie the Pooh. On Wednesday, September 26th, Pooh and his friends will be venturing from Way Off Broadway to the Frederick Library for its 11:00 a.m. story time.