Rob Berman News

New York City Center has just reopened following a historic renovation and modernization with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and star-studded gala last night, October 25 at New York City Center. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg conducted The Encores! Orchestra in the opening number (as a nod to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who conducted the New York Philharmonic when City Center opened as a performing arts center in 1943). Broadway Beat was there for the reopening, and brings you interviews with the evening's participants below!

New York City Center has just reopened following a historic renovation and modernization with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and star-studded gala last night, October 25 at New York City Center. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg conducted The Encores! Orchestra in the opening number (as a nod to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who conducted the New York Philharmonic when City Center opened as a performing arts center in 1943). BroadwayWorld was there for the special occasion, and brings you full photo coverage below! BroadwayWorld was there for the special occasion, and brings you full photo coverage below!

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and star-studded gala on Tuesday, October 25 at New York City Center.

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and star-studded gala on Tuesday, October 25 at New York City Center. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will conduct the Encores! Orchestra in the opening number (as a nod to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who conducted the New York Philharmonic when City Center opened as a performing arts center in 1943).

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a star-studded gala on October 25.

Today we are featuring the luminescent and golden-voiced Melissa Errico and talking to her all about her sumptuous new album LEGRAND AFFAIR - featuring the music of famed Broadway and Hollywood composer Michel Legrand - and how the labor of love five years in the making has finally come to light with this week's highly-anticipated release of the romantic and moving album. In addition to analyzing the process of putting the project together alongside the legendary Legrand, Errico also shares her thoughtful and passionate insights into the many different worlds inherent in the evocative songs themselves - many with lyrics by Barbra Streisand's constant collaborators, Alan and Marilyn Bergman - and how closely Errico worked with album producers Phil Ramone and Richard Jay-Alexander on perfecting the sound, style, mood and final song list of LEGRAND AFFAIR. Additionally, Errico and I also travel back in time and touch upon her many notable stage appearances over the years - including illustrative comments on her Broadway debut in MY FAIR LADY, as well as starring in HIGH SOCIETY, FINIAN'S RAINBOW, DRACULA, Legrand's own AMOUR, and, most recently, WHITE CHRISTMAS - and she also shares her excitement for the upcoming tenth anniversary reunion concert of SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE at the Kennedy Center in 2012, co-starring Raul Esparza. Plus, news on her forthcoming appearance on Patrick Wilson's A GIFTED MAN on CBS and all the details on her charity organization, Bowery Babes, as well as much, much more!

Celia Keenan-Bolger, Colin Donnell, Betsy Wolfe and Elizabeth Stanley have been cast in Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, the first New York City Center Encores! production of season. Merrily We Roll Along, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by George Furth, will be directed by James Lapine with music direction by Rob Berman and musical staging by Dan Knechtges. Merrily has been extended for a two-week run, and will play for 15 performances, February 8-19, 2012 at New York City Center, 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and star-studded gala on Tuesday, October 25 at New York City Center. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will conduct The Encores! Orchestra in the opening number (as a nod to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who conducted the New York Philharmonic when City Center opened as a performing arts center in 1943).

This season in Studio 5 at City Center, renowned dancer-turned director Damian Woetzel will offer an intimate look at today's most compelling dance artists and companies, including American Ballet Theatre and Christopher Wheeldon, and Tony Award-winning performer and master teacher Victoria Clark will explore City Center's beloved Encores! series.

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and star-studded gala on Tuesday, October 25 at New York City Center.

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a ribbon-cutting ceremony and star-studded gala on Tuesday, October 25 at New York City Center. Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg will conduct the Encores! Orchestra in the opening number (as a nod to Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia, who conducted the New York Philharmonic when City Center opened as a performing arts center in 1943).

Yank!, which played the York Theatre off Broadway in the 2009-2010 season and which has an eye for Broadway will be given a workshop this fall in NYC, backed by the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego. The workshop will run from October 24 through November 17, 2011.

Jack Viertel, Artistic Director of New York City Center's Encores! series, today announced the final two directors for the 2012 Encores! season.

Jack Viertel, Artistic Director of New York City Center's Encores! series, today announced the final two directors for the 2012 Encores! season. As previously announced, James Lapine will direct the first Encores! show of the season, Stephen Sondheim's Merrily We Roll Along, opening on February 8, 2012. Marc Bruni will direct Rodgers and Hammerstein's rarely seen Pipe Dream, opening on March 28¸ and John Rando will direct Jule Styne and Leo Robin's Gentlemen Prefer Blondes opening on May 9. Music Director Rob Berman will conduct all three musicals. This year, the number of performances has been expanded: Pipe Dream and Gentlemen Prefer Blondes will play for seven performances each, and Merrily We Roll Along, extended for a two-week run, will play for 15 performances.

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a star-studded gala on October 25. The event will kick off a celebratory season of new and expanded programming, festivals, exhibits, a special commission, and performances by world-class dance and theater companies. The renovation, designed by Ennead Architects, LLP (formerly Polshek Partnership), has transformed the landmark building into a contemporary cultural center complete with modern amenities and enhanced historic details, from the mezzanine lobby's painted ceiling and murals to the auditorium's arabesque dome. City Center is located on 55th Street between 6th and 7th Avenues.

The Lotte Lenya Competition, celebrating its 15th anniversary in 2012, seeks exceptionally talented young singer/actors who are dramatically and musically convincing in a wide range of musical theater styles for the 2012 competition. Contestants will compete for top prizes of $15,000, $10,000 and $7,500; additional special prizes will be awarded.