Patti LuPone News

Two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Patti LuPone joins with opera diva Patricia Racette for the new Los Angeles Opera production of THE GHOSTS OF VERSAILLES in early 2015 according to a new announcement.

The book launch for Nothing Like a Dame: Conversations with the Great Women of Musical Theater, a new book by Eddie Shapiro featuring interviews with 20 female musical theatre stars, will take place January 27, 2014 from 6-8 pm at the headquarters of Oxford University Press at 198 Madison Avenue.

Broadway composer and lyricist John Bucchino and bookwriter Mads Nielsen's Danish-American romantic musical drama ESAURA, recently conluded a Fall 2013 run at the Fredericia Teater. The plot of the new musical is based on a free adaptation of the 1905 novel by Carl E. Simonsen 'Abraham Fournais' and has parallels to the classic tale of Romeo and Juliet. The musical drama is set during the aftermath of the Battle of Fredericia and tells a fascinating story about human relationships. In short, it is a story with universal appeal played out in a Danish historical setting. Bucchino recently took the time to chat with BroadwayWorld about how the show got its start, what's in store for it's future, and more. Check out the full interview below!

Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's production of Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's Passion will feature three Jeff-Award lauded performers in its lead roles, Artistic Director Fred Anzevino has announced. The role of Fosca, the sickly woman obsessed with a handsome young soldier in 19th Century Italy, will be played by Danni Smith, who just last year was honored with the Jeff Award for Actress in a Supporting Role for her work in Bailiwick Chicago's production of the musical See What I Wanna See. Smith's win came after two previous nominations in the same category, for Theo Ubique's Pump Boys and Dinettes and Bohemian Theatre Ensemble's The Glorious Ones. Playing Giorgio, the military officer who is the object of Fosca's affections, will be Peter Oyloe, a three-time Jeff Award winner. Oyloe's recent win as best leading actor in a musical for 2013's Hank Williams: Lost Highway was preceded by wins for his leading role in Equus and supporting role in The Pillowman, both at Redtwist Theatre. Collette Todd, Jeff-nominated for her role as Giulietta in Theo Ubique's Aspects of Love and recipient of critical and audience raves for her leading roles in Light Opera Works' productions of Man of La Mancha, Oliver! and Annie Get Your Gun, will play Clara - the third member of Passion's love triangle. Ms. Todd will also understudy the role of Fosca.

Below, watch Broadway star Patti LuPone like you've never seen her before as we present: 'Love Cycle: A Soap Operetta', a 'mini'musical' made for PBS in 1984 which was never broadcast.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, presents the Mel Brooks Broadway hit YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, previewing January 16, opening Thursday, January 23, and running through March 16, 2014.

Flashdance - The Musical, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will run at the Community Center Theater from February 4 - 9, 2014, as part of California Musical Theatre's Broadway Sacramento series. With electrifying dance at its core, Flashdance - The Musical tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. When romance with her steel mill boss threatens to complicate her ambitions, Alex learns the meaning of love and its power to fuel the pursuit of her dream.

Performer and monologist Ben Rimalower pays tribute to legendary leading lady Patti LuPone in his hit solo show PATTI ISSUES and a new clip of the autobiographical evening currently on world tour is now available to view.

The Drama League's 2013 Gala Online Auction opens today, January 13 at www.biddingforgood.com/thedramaleague, featuring over fifty once-in-a-lifetime prize packages, including exclusive celebrity experiences with Dame Angela Lansbury, Emma Thompson, Michelle Williams, opera star Bryn Terfel, guitarist Slash of Guns 'N' Roses, Norm Lewis and Cherry Jones; Broadway opening night tickets and after-parties for Casa Valentina, Violet, and All The Way; backstage visits with Marin Mazzie at Bullets Over Broadway, Jefferson Mays at A Gentleman's Guide To Love and Murder, Fran Drescher at Cinderella, and with cast members at Rocky; luxury vacations to Morocco, London, Las Vegas, West Palm Beach, and Los Angeles; and over forty additional elegant items and elegant experiences.

Beautiful actress/singer Laura Benanti, Tony Award winner for Gypsy, performed at 54 Below in New York during 2013, and the live concert was recorded on Broadway Records. To celebrate the release of the CD entitled In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention, Chris Isaacson Presents booked Benanti into the Catalina Bar & Grill on Thursday January 9, and the show immediately sold out. As a result, an additional concert was scheduled for Wednesday January 8, which also sold out. Why such a fuss over Laura Benanti, you may ask? The answer is simple. Apart from the fact that this is her Los Angeles debut, let's add that like Audra McDonald, Kristen Chenoweth and Idina Menzel, this lady is a sensational singer with an incomparable range, and as the title of the album suggests, she is totally worthy of the highest form of attention. In her 75-minute set, which included just about every song on the album, she also proved what a winning charm and sense of humor she possesses! Like Patti LuPone before her, Laura Benanti has a precious wit that can only be experienced to its fullest in this kind of environment, namely a cabaret setting. She let her hair down and she was...GREAT! Outstanding musicians Kevin Axt was on bass, Ray Brinker on drums, Andrew Synowiec on guitar and virtuoso musical arranger and director Todd Almond also dueted with Benanti a couple of times during the set on pieces he had arranged or composed.

GLEE and American Horror Story mastermind Ryan Murphy has confirmed that he hopes for a return from two-time Tony Award-winning Broadway legend Patti LuPone on Season Four of the hit FX horror anthology series American Horror Story following her memorable character arc on this season's AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN according to a new interview.

Flashdance - The Musical, the stage adaptation of the 1983 hit film that defined a generation, will run at the Community Center Theater from February 4 - 9, 2014, as part of California Musical Theatre's Broadway Sacramento series. With electrifying dance at its core, Flashdance - The Musical tells the inspiring and unforgettable story of Alex Owens, a Pittsburgh steel mill welder by day and a bar dancer by night with dreams of one day becoming a professional performer. When romance with her steel mill boss threatens to complicate her ambitions, Alex learns the meaning of love and its power to fuel the pursuit of her dream.

Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony Award winner, Whoopi Goldberg has been tapped by The Drama League to host the 30th Annual Musical Celebration of Broadway honoring Golden Globe Nominee and Emmy Award winner Neil Patrick Harris on Monday evening, February 3, 2014 at the famed Pierre Hotel (2 East 61st Street). Tickets are available by calling (212) 244-9494.

The bevvy of witchy women and handful of malicious men making up the third season of FX's hit horror anthology series AMERICAN HORROR STORY: COVEN are profiled in a new behind the scenes featurette, titled Inside The Coven.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are proud to welcome singer/songwriter John Bucchino to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one night only - Saturday, February 8 at 7 p.m. Called "a new American pop master" by the Houston Chronicle, Bucchino's songs have been performed and recorded by renowned pop (Art Garfunkel, Judy Collins), theatre (Liza Minnelli, Patti LuPone, Kristin Chenoweth, Brian Stokes Mitchell, Audra McDonald), cabaret (Barbara Cook, Michael Feinstein), and classical (Yo-Yo Ma, Deborah Voight, Nathan Gunn) artists as well as The Boston Pops, the Los Angeles Philharmonic and the Mormon Tabernacle Choir in venues including Carnegie Hall, The Metropolitan Opera, The Hollywood Bowl, The Kennedy Center, The Sydney Opera House, London's O2 Arena and The White House. San Francisco audiences will have a rare opportunity to hear Bucchino perform his songs in an intimate setting, and share stories of what inspired them. Buchhino will be joined by two guest singers: Nanci Zoppi and Maggie Hollinbeck. Tickets for John Bucchino range in price from $25-$35 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

The Acting Company will present a benefit staged reading of The Real Inspector Hound by Tom Stoppard at 7 pm on Monday, January 13 at the Pearl Theatre, 555 West 42nd Street (9th-10th Avenues). The performance--starring John Glover (Macbeth), Francesca Faridany (Macbeth), Julia Coffey, Lee Aaron Rosen Acting Company Members Sam Tsoutsouvas, Michele Tauber, Andy Weems, Stephen Pilkington (The Winslow Boy) and Andy Nagosky--will be followed by a reception with the cast and director, Ian Belknap, Artistic Director of The Acting Company.

Chris Isaacson Presents and Upright Cabaret have announced that Tony Award-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti will make her Los Angeles solo concert debut in January. The show celebrates the West Coast release of her first album 'In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention,' which USA Today named 'Pick of the Week' and TV Guide called 'A must-have.' With musical direction and arrangements by Todd Almond, there will be one show only tonight, January 9, 2014 at 8:30pm at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood. Cocktail and dinner service begin at 7pm.

After 27 years, Tom Stoppard's seminal work, Rosencrantz and Guildenstern are Dead returns to the New York stage directed by Tony-winner John Rando (Urinetown, A Christmas Story). Presented by The Acting Company in rotating repertory with Hamlet, directed by Ian Belknap, performances begin tonight, January 9 and run through February 1 at the Pearl Theater, 555 West 42nd Street, NYC.

By overwhelming demand, Chris Isaacson Presents and Upright Cabaret have announced the addition of a second show as Tony Award-winning Broadway star Laura Benanti makes her Los Angeles solo concert debut in January. The show celebrates the West Coast release of her first album 'In Constant Search of the Right Kind of Attention,' which USA Today named 'Pick of the Week' and TV Guide called 'A must-have.' With musical direction and arrangements by Todd Almond, there will now be two shows - tonight, January 8 and Thursday, January 9, 2014 at 8:30pm at the Catalina Bar & Grill in Hollywood. Cocktail and dinner service begin at 7pm.