Steve Martin News

When the sad news came out this morning that famed Disney songwriter Robert B. Sherman died yesterday, March 5, in London, some of our first thoughts here at BroadwayWorld went out to Tony-winner Marc Shaiman. Shaiman had been a huge proponent of the incredible 'THE BOYS - The Sherman Brothers' Story' documentary and it was his enthusiasm that sent us off to see the fantastic film, and our lives were better off for it. We asked Marc to put together some of his thoughts on Robert Sherman and are proud to present them below.

Goodspeed Musicals just announced that Tony Award-winner Kristin Chenoweth, who appeared as Annie Draper in Goodspeed's production of Strike Up The Band, will be the latest recipient of The Goodspeed Award for Outstanding Contribution to Musical Theatre at its Gala on August 11, 2012. Previous honorees include Julie Andrews, Martin Charnin, Ira Gershwin, Jerry Herman, William Ivey Long, Thomas Meehan, Michael P. Price, Gerald Schoenfeld, Stephen Schwartz, Susan Stroman, Charles Strouse, Tommy Tune and Paul Williams.

Academy-award winning actor and comedian Robin Williams has signed on for a guest-starring role in the season opener of the FX acclaimed hit comedy WILFRED, starring Elijah Wood and Jason Gann. The season debut will air on June 28th at at 10:00 PM E/P.

Today, in honor of Sunday's Oscar telecast, we are going to take a look at some of the most memorable opening numbers and musical montages from the Academy Awards over the years, with a special focus, of course, on theatrically-related presentations and performers. The 2012 night of Oscar gold marks the return of frequent host Billy Crystal, so we are sure to be in for some truly terrific movie parodies and unscripted asides to have us rolling in aisles over the course of the hotly anticipated award show's three hours - Hollywood's night of nights. From the infamous Allan Carr-produced show in 1989 to some of the best moments from Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Ellen Degeneres, Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman, this collection of clips surely has something to please all the movie buffs, Broadway babies and all-around entertainment enthusiasts out there reading this who will be tuning in to the big show this weekend - from 1965 to 2011, we have it all. Plus, after all, how could we possibly miss a night this big? Whether the top winner of the night ends up being THE ARTIST, THE HELP, HUGO or THE DESCENDANTS, Billy Crystal is guaranteed to make the night run as smoothly and enjoyably as possible - and, potentially, much much more (as the following clips clearly show). As for the rest of the night's proceedings? Well, we will have to wait and see what happens!

As first reported on Deadline.com, Emmy and Tony award winning comedian Lily Tomlin is set to return to primetime TV, starring in ABC's upcoming TV pilot MALIBU COUNTRY opposite Reba McEntire.

Today we are talking to a stand-up comedienne celebrated for her caustic wit, erudite political humor and illuminating social observations who has also made a name for herself over the last two decades as an actress by appearing in over 100 feature films and television shows, including recurring roles on the TV series SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE, THE BEN STILLER SHOW, THE LARRY SANDERS SHOW and 24, as well as her film resume, ranging from roles in ROMY & MICHELE'S HIGH SCHOOL REUNION to WET HOT AMERICAN SUMMER to REALITY BITES, COP LAND, THE CABLE GUY, NOW AND THEN and many more - the one and only Janeane Garofalo. In addition to a twenty-year career retrospective, touching upon many of her most notable big screen and small screen appearances - sharing comments on many of her favorite colleagues and co-stars along the way - Garofalo also opens up about the theatrically attuned work she has previously done - such as HBO's THE LARAMIE PROJECT - and, most importantly, fills us in on the new play she is starring in for The New Group, RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, directed by Scott Elliott. Besides all about RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, her character in it and the political and social issues the new original play bravely tackles, Garofalo shares her enthusiasm for her newfound experiences in the theatre world and her intention of pursuing a theatre career further. Also, she clues us in on her upcoming film projects, BAD PARENTS and GENERAL EDUCATION, and offers her classic views on current politics as only she can, in her own delightfully droll and ingratiatingly idiosyncratic fashion - plus, much, much more!

Delaware Theatre Company will present Crowns, April 11 - 29, 2012. In the show, A young woman who moves down South to live with her aunt is given a lesson in 'hat-titude' in this toe-tapping musical. From feathered hats to flowered hats, pillboxes to turbans, to hats for work and hats for church, there is a hat for every occassion, and a cultural and historical significance to them as well as 'Mother Shaw' and her 'hat queens' share in their stories. This soul-stirring musical demonstrates the handing down of culture from one generation to the next and celebrates the refuge, equality and healing that occurs in this place of spirituality.

The Theatre School at DePaul University presents VENUS, by Suzan-Lori Parks, and directed by Reshmi Hazra, as the final production of the 2011-2012 New Directors Series. VENUS runs through Sunday, February 19, 2012, at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on February 8 and February 9 at 7:30 PM.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Don Gregory, has announced the full company for the new Broadway production of Mary Chase's Harvey starring Jim Parsons (Elwood P. Dowd), Jessica Hecht (Veta Louise Simmons), Charles Kimbrough (William R. Chumley, M.D.), Larry Bryggman (Judge Omar Gaffney), Carol Kane (Betty Chumley), Peter Benson (E.J. Lofgren), Tracee Chimo (Myrtle Mae Simmons), Holley Fain (Ruth Kelly, R.N.), Angela Paton (Mrs. Ethel Chauvenet), Rich Sommer (Duane Wilson), Morgan Spector (Lyman Sanderson, M.D.) and directed by Scott Ellis.

The 2012 Grammy for 'Best Song Written for Visual Media' has been awarded to composer Alan Menken and lyricist Glenn Slater.

Geva Theatre Center's 2011-2012 Season continues with a comedy - Perfect Wedding by Robin Hawdon, which began performances on January 10 and runs in the Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage through February 12.

A multi-talented cast and onstage band bring to life the famous songs of 'The Man In Black' when Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH makes its Thousand Oaks premiere at the Civic Arts Plaza.

Geva Theatre Center's 2011-2012 Season continues with a comedy - Perfect Wedding by Robin Hawdon, which runs in the Elaine P. Wilson Mainstage through February 12.

The Theatre School at DePaul University presents VENUS, by Suzan-Lori Parks, and directed by Reshmi Hazra, as the final production of the 2011-2012 New Directors Series. VENUS opens Friday, February 10, and runs through Sunday, February 19, 2012, at the Greenhouse Theater Center. Performances are Wednesdays through Saturdays at 7:30 PM and Sundays at 2 PM. Previews are on February 8 and February 9 at 7:30 PM.

According to Deadline, Broadway veterans Alfred Molina and Bill Irwin, will star on TNT's 'Chelsea General,' based on Sanjay Gupta's 'Monday Mornings.' Molina will play 'Dr. Harding Hooten, the steely-eyed Chief of Surgery at Chelsea General, known for his punishing and outwardly-uncaring ways.' Irwin will play 'Dr. Buck Tierney, a smug doctor who takes himself very seriously and rubs his colleagues the wrong way.'

PPT's next adult production, Cyrano de Bergerac opens next Thursday, February 9th. Tickets will go on sale to the public on February 6th.

Tony, Emmy and Grammy award-winning actress and comedienne LILY TOMLIN will perform at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County on April 15, 2012 at 7:30 p.m. in the John S. and James L. Knight Concert Hall. As an exciting new addition to the Center's 2011-2012 Comedy Planet Series, LILY TOMLIN's performance is poised to be an unforgettable night of fun and sidesplitting laughter.

On Tuesday, February 7, the The Paley Center for Media celebrated the career of the legendary Jerry Lewis, and the release of the 1959 television production of 'The Jazz Singer,' starring Lewis and being released on DVD on February 7 by Inception Media Group. Check out photos from the celebration below!

According to The Hollywood Reporter, actress Amy Adams will be starring in an upcoming film adaptation of Steve Martin's best-selling novel OBJECT OF BEAUTY.