Patti LuPone News

Bay Area Cabaret closes its 2011-2012 season with Tony Award winning actress/singer Laura Benanti. Benanti makes her San Francisco cabaret debut May 12, 2012 with her solo show Let Me Entertain You, which showcases her wide musical and comedic repertoire. This special one-night-only engagement will take place at the historic Venetian Room of The Fairmont San Francisco (950 Mason Street) 8pm Saturday May 12, 2012. Opening the evening will be charismatic and talented 2011 Bay Area Teen Idol winner Robert Conte Thornton, making his Bay Area Cabaret debut. Tickets ($45 general / $40 subscribers) are available at www.bayareacabaret.org or by phone at City Box Office (415) 392-4400.

The West-End production of SWEENEY TODD, starring Michael Ball as Sweeney Todd and Imelda Staunton as Mrs. Lovett, opened to raves on March 20 at the Adelphi Theatre following its sell-out success at the Chichester Festival Theatre. BroadwayWorld has just gotten ahold of the very first clip of Michael Ball as the demon barber himself singing 'Pretty Women.' Click below to catch a glimpse!

The Drama League will honor three outstanding theatre luminaries at this year's 78th Annual Drama League Awards set for Friday afternoon, May 18th at the Marriott Marquis Times Square.

Mandy Patinkin and Patti Lupone, legendary stage stars that they are, have more than a few tricks up their theatrical sleeves. However, the true grit of an artist shines through when he does not use any of them, but rather says the words, sings the songs and bares his soul.

Now, Baz Bamigboye of the UK Daily Mail has revealed that 'Stephen Sondheim has given director Jonathan Kent's Chichester Festival Theatre production of Sweeney Todd (with Michael Ball and Imelda Staunton delivering the stage performances of their lives) his seal of approval. He'd love the two stars to take the deliciously grisly musical to Broadway when they complete their run at the Adelphi Theatre. There's no official word this will happen yet, because both actors have crazy schedules, but it would be fantastic if they did manage to cross the Atlantic with this Sweeney.'

Ever been at a play, concert, or even a musical when a audience member's cell phone begins to ring, thus ruining a moment on stage? Most of us have- and in the video below, 'Rock Center with Brian Williams' investigates the ever-growing epidemic by chatting with OTHER DESERT CITIES' Stacy Keach, NY Philharmonic conductor Alan Gilbert, and even touching on the now infamous Patti LuPone flip out of 2009.

Contra Costa Musical Theatre will add another local premiere when it presents Andrew Lloyd Webber's lushly romantic Sunset Boulevard at Walnut Creek's Lesher Center for the Arts, March 16 through April 15, 2012. Tickets for Sunset Boulevard range from $44 to $49 (with discounts available for seniors and students, and special group rates) and are on sale now at the Lesher Center for the Arts Ticket Office, 1601 Civic Drive in Walnut Creek, 925.943.SHOW (943-7469). Tickets can also be purchased online at www.lesherArtscenter.org. Group Sales: 925.295.1472. Check out the video preview of the show below!

Signature Theatre once again mounts a World Premiere musical with success. You'll have a rockin' good time.

Nominations for the 57th Annual Drama Desk Awards will be announced at a news conference on Friday, April 27, 2011, at 9:30 AM at Feinstein's at the Loews Regency, 540 Park Avenue at 61st Street, in Manhattan. A continental breakfast will be available at 8:45 AM. Drama Desk winners Donna Murphy and Brian d'Arcy James will announce the nominations in the various categories. In addition, there will be remarks by Drama Desk President Isa Goldberg, Drama Desk Awards Executive Producer Robert R. Blume and new Drama Desk Awards Executive Producer Gretchen Shugart, Nominating Committee Chairperson Barbara Siegel and Randie Levine-Miller, Drama Desk Director of Special Events, who annually produces this event.

When a big Broadway star like Bernadette Peters makes her way onto a national TV program, Broadway babies await it with abated breath. Yet, when a big Broadway star like Bernadette Peters appears on an actual musical TV series like SMASH, Broadway babies have reason to throw an all-out bacchanal - and, last night, they most certainly had a reason cause celebre. While GLEE has spoiled us with a plethora of guest stars from Broadway and Hollywood over the course of its three seasons - Kristin Chenoweth, Idina Menzel, Carol Burnett and Patti LuPone among them - the presence of two-time Tony Award-winner Peters - to say nothing of the forthcoming appearances by Norbert Leo Butz and Marc Kudisch - is a gift from the theatrical gods that instantly makes SMASH must-see-TV for the theatrically attuned among us (which, let's be honest, is most of us). Playing Ivy Lynn's blithely selfish and calculating former star of a mother, Leigh, Peters wrought every last ounce of bravado out of her bravura performance recreation of "Everything's Coming Up Roses" from GYPSY - a show she famously starred in under the direction of Sam Mendes earlier this century - and made her thorny scenes with Megan Hilty blossom; her overall star turn giving the entire affair a cold, brusque but all-too-believable bloom - ice in veins all too tangibly real to feel. The tension was certainly thick for the first workshop performance of the show-within-the-show on SMASH, as well, but Hilty still managed to set fire to her scenes and songs - and McPhee shows considerable promise with her burgeoning pop music career (and next week's Ryan Tedder-composed "Touch Me" sequence seems certain to deliver on the sultry, sexy siren of song front as McPhee comes closer to getting the role of Marilyn). And, speaking of songs knocked out of the park for the umpteenth time by this all-star musical team responsible for SMASH, besides the slowed down grand slam ballad version of "Let Me Be Your Star" - given a bluesy Broadway belt only the very best, like Hilty, could possibly provide - we were also treated to a striking and wholly stylistically unique new Marilyn Monroe/Joe DiMaggio song in the form of the arresting "On Lexington & 52nd Street", another homerun to tick off on the perfect scorecard for songwriters Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman on SMASH so far; Will Chase's best (and, apparently, last) showcase. Film noir with a pulsating, almost atonal, steely and terse tinge, this is the sort of character number that seamlessly presents plot development and character exposition simultaneously in a purely, thrillingly theatrical manner and the type of dramatic and musical merging of storytelling SMASH excels at most of all, time after time after time after time. While "Everything's Coming Up Roses" was a strong cover of a classic Broadway barn-burner on account of Peters, "On Lexington & 52nd Street" expertly showcased the type of entertainment entity SMASH can ultimately be at its very best, firing on all axels - and how utterly enthralling in its layers of meta-narratives the real-life/showbiz soap saga that make it all come together it can fascinatingly be. Additionally, the workshop musical montage was the best example yet of how excitingly combustible and hot SMASH can really be when the boiler at its core is at full blast as it was sporadically last night in the appropriately titled "The Workshop" episode - almost always fueled by the simply spectacular songs for the show-within-the-show.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Bernadette visits SMASH, The Acting Copany honors Patti, MEMPHIS hits 1000 shows, and so much more!

BroadwayWorld.com is thrilled to add to our roster of exclusive talent and programing, introducing you to Mr. Randy Rainbow. If you'll recall, we first introduced you to Randy Rainbow (yes, real name) back when he became a YouTube sensation. BroadwayWorld.com fans 'ate him up' as did an immediate national and world following. Twice a month, Randy will be bringing you his signature brand of commentary on the latest in theater news (at least HIS theatre news), right here on BWW TV... featuring the likeness of all of your favorite stars and personalities...whether they like it or not!

FOX's I Hate My Teenage Daughter, starring Katie Finneran, has been canceled, Entertainment Weekly reports. The comedy will play its final episode of the season on Tuesday, April 3. A recent episode of the show only garnered 3.6 million viewers and a 1.4 rating among adults aged 18-49. FOX may air the remaining episodes over the summer.

Kravis Center is Offering a Fun Filled April with a Great Roster of Headliners + Solo Showstoppers Patti LuPone & Yanni + Musical Milestones Pink Martini, Sergio Mendez with John Secada, Chanteur with Lee Lessack & a Song Filled Tribute to Paramount Pictures + Hit Shows Fiddler on the Roof, South Pacific & Stomp + New Plays Incognito & Life in a Marital Institution Plus the African-American Film Festival, Gospel Gala and 19th Annual Reach for the Stars Ballroom Dance Competition

54 BELOW, the nightclub and restaurant announced earlier this year, today confirmed additional bookings at the new space located at 254 West 54th Street. Taking the stage will be the following newly confirmed acts.

United Solo, established as the world's largest solo theatre festival, has announced dates for its six-week run this fall. The Festival will be held between October 11 and November 18, 2012 at Theatre ROW on 42nd Street in the heart of New York's theatre district.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Theo Ubique's 'Piazza,' 'Motherhood,' Team StarKid's latest, tribute concerts at Ravinia and Mayne Stage, Ramin Karimloo's arrival, plus Loop musicals and more....

Casting is complete for Rodgers and Hammerstein's Pipe Dream, the second Encores! production of the 2011-12 season, running March 28 - April 1. Pipe Dream will be directed by Marc Bruni with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Kelli Barclay. It will play for seven performances at New York City Center, West 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

Last night, March 13, The Acting Company of New York presented the special event PATTI'S TURN!, a tribute to Patti LuPone, at the Kaye Playhouse. The all-star event saluted the career of one of Broadway's finest actresses and musical theater performers as evidenced by her two Tony Awards and legions of fans. BroadwayWorld was there for the big event and brings you full photo coverage below!