Van Heusen News

Last Friday, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton presented the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in AMERICAN SHOWSTOPPERS: AN EVENING OF JOHNNY MERCER. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast was headlined by Damon Kirsche, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also featured Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

Performers Jim Caruso and Billy Stritch will be premiering their brand new show, "The Sinatra Century," on the Main Stage at Rose Theatre in Brampton, Ontario on Thursday, October 15 at 8pm.

Tonight, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, begins its 2015-2016 season with Swinging on a Star, the musical revue of the songs by Academy Award-winning lyricist, Johnny Burke.  Created by Michael Leeds, Swinging on a Star is set at several venues throughout various decades and showcases the talent of Mr. Burke. Swinging on a Star performs on the Stark Stage from October 27 - November 15, 2015 and is sponsored by John and Marilyn McConnell and Riverside Theatre's Patron Producers.

On Friday, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

With new Sunday evening Jazz Party host Carole J. Bufford performing elsewhere last night, the Birdland Jazz Club recruited drummer Ray Marchica and his vocalist wife Nina Hennessy (right), who rounded up some of their talented friends for an evening of vocal and instrumental jazz, new compositions, and golden standards. Marchica's band featured Sean Harkness on guitar, Tom Hubbard on bass, and Bob Quaranta on piano. Special guests included vocalist Marissa Mulder and composer/pianist Ian Herman.

Last December, Texas treasure Holland Vavra made her 54 Below debut in Cuz We're F#cking Talented, a concert where a handful of artists showed off their skills. Last night, she made a special trip from Houston to premiere her tribute to Frank Sinatra, Holland at the Sands: My Blue Eyed Sinatra. With her own brand of lovable, quirky humor and her golden instrument, Vavra made her solo cabaret debut a delightful spectacle.

?Ghostlight Records will expand their special single from stage and screen star Melissa Errico with the third song, "Walking Happy." The digital exclusive is available today, June 23, 2015, on iTunes here.

Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano are in a really good mood. The infectious buoyancy of their new show at the Metropolitan Room, Shoulder Season (Don't ask me what the title means. Despite explanation, I haven't a clue.), will erase world news, ease arthritis, and make love seem possible again. Well, maybe not all that. Its warm, cheerful, sometimes exuberant musicality is nonetheless recommended for whatever ails you.

Tommy Hilfiger, which is owned by PVH Corp., announced that Tommy Hilfiger will present its Spring 2016 men's collections, including tailored, sportswear and underwear, at London Collections: Men on June 14, 2015 and at the inaugural New York Fashion Week: Men's on July 15, 2015.

In the famous 1960s hit 'Is That All There Is?' by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, Peggy Lee croons the melancholy lyric, 'If that's all there is, my friend, then, let's keep dancing. Let's break out the booze and have a ball, if that's all there is.' While this song ironically doesn't make it into the eclectic catalog of tunes that fuel THE LAST TWO PEOPLE ON EARTH: AN APOCALYPTIC VAUDEVILLE, currently in its world premiere at the A.R.T. in Cambridge, it could easily have become the show's theme song. When a flood of epic proportions wipes out all but two scraggly survivors, played as a pair of Estragon and Vladimir-style hobos by Mandy Patinkin and Taylor Mac, there is very little left for them to do but sing and dance.

To mark the 100th birthday year of America's favorite crooner, Pinnella and the Topilow brothers will present an evening of Frank Sinatra's biggest hits, many newly arranged by bassist Gary Mazzaroppi, including such favorites as 'In the Wee Small Hours,' 'Come Fly with Me,' and 'I've Got the World on a String.'

Tommy Hilfiger, which is owned by PVH Corp., announced that Mr. Tommy Hilfiger will visit Beijing, China, to commemorate the 30th anniversary of his namesake brand. Between May 24 and 26, Mr. Hilfiger will host events throughout Beijing including an exclusive recreation of his Fall 2015 Hilfiger Collection runway show, which marks the first time the brand is bringing the event to an international setting. Debuted at New York Fashion Week in February, the Fall 2015 collection is inspired by American football, fusing stadium spirit and varsity motifs with Hilfiger's classic American sportswear designs. The complete show experience will be transported to Beijing for the runway event, which will include looks from the men's and women's collections and take place against the celebrated backdrop of Hilfiger's football stadium set.

New Jersey Performance Arts Center (NJPAC) announces the all the magical, timeless hits by Sinatra songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen -- 'My Kind of Town,' 'All the Way,' 'Call Me Irresponsible' -- performed by Broadway royalty: Tony nominees Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess) and Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins, The Music Man) tonight, April 25th at 8PM.

Eric Comstock and Barbara Fasano exude warmth. Both superb musicians, they're polished without ostentation, symbiotic without deferring individual fortes, and infectiously (enviably) appreciative of one another without becoming saccharine. Original arrangements never trade lyrical meaning for novelty. Their recent one-night show at Birdland, Only In New York: A Big Apple Valentine, is a collection of songs in which the charming marrieds express the vicissitudes of love, bracketed by affection for the city. Many are sophisticated, some are unexpected, and all are empathetic.

Tommy Hilfiger, which is owned by PVH Corp. (NYSE:PVH), is pleased to announce that Tommy Hilfiger will publish a memoir with Ballantine Books, an imprint of Random House. In the book, Hilfiger will chronicle personal stories from his early childhood and formative years, his origins in the fashion industry, and the setbacks, triumphs, and sheer determination that drove him to build a multi-billion dollar global lifestyle brand. World rights were negotiated by Jennifer Tung, VP, Editorial Director for Nonfiction at Ballantine, along with Alina Cho, a Ballantine editor-at-large, with Jon Ehrlich of GISPC. Publication is scheduled for Fall 2015, coinciding with the 30th anniversary of the Tommy Hilfiger brand.

The Whipping Man by Matthew Lopez opens tonight, January 23, 2015 at George Street Playhouse. The production runs through February 15, 2015 Directed by Seret Scott, the cast features Ron Canada, Luke Forbes and Adam Gerber.

New Jersey Performance Arts Center (NJPAC) announces the all the magical, timeless hits by Sinatra songwriter Jimmy Van Heusen -- "My Kind of Town," "All the Way," "Call Me Irresponsible" -- performed by Broadway royalty: Tony nominees Norm Lewis (The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess) and Rebecca Luker (Mary Poppins, The Music Man) on Sunday, April 25th at 8PM.