Warner Brothers News

54 Below, Broadway's nightclub just below the legendary Studio 54, presents some of New York's brightest talents…

Comic actor/singer Roger Bart won a Tony for playing Snoopy in You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown and a SAG Award for portraying George Williams on TV's Desperate Housewives. His versatility has also led to voice over work singing as Hercules in the Disney film of the same name. Bart will reprise his Tony nominated role of Carmen Ghia in The Producers at the Hollywood Bowl July 27-29. In our chat he talks about The Producers, Mel Brooks roles and other theatrical tidbits.

Today we are talking to Patricia Kelly, the widow of one of the most iconic and influential performers in entertainment history, Gene Kelly, all about her husband's incomparable career on Broadway and in Hollywood, in honor of his centennial. Tracing Gene Kelly's journey from his theatre roots starring in Cole Porter's LEAVE IT TO ME!, Rodgers & Hart's PAL JOEY and William Saroyan's Pulitzer Prize-winning THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE on Broadway to his unforgettable screen appearances in many of the greatest movie musicals ever made - COVER GIRL, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, THE PIRATE, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS and many more included - Mrs. Kelly gives us a look into the life of one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. In addition to behind-the-scenes stories involving Kelly's frequent collaborators - such as esteemed director Vincente Minnelli, songwriter and producer Arthur Freed, arranger Saul Chaplin and others - Mrs. Kelly also shares candid anecdotes involving her husband's involvement with directing Rodgers & Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG on Broadway, helming the feature film adaptation of HELLO, DOLLY! starring Barbra Streisand, as well as his appearing in two idiosyncratic movie musicals later in his life, LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT (THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT) for Jacques Demy, as well as his au revoir to movie musicals in form of the Olivia Newton-John roller disco starrer XANADU. Additionally, Mrs. Kelly fills us in on all the details about this weekend's two-night Gene Kelly retrospective celebration, which she leads and narrates, as part of GENE KELLY @ 100 and her future plans for the multimedia presentation - each evening titled AN EVENING OF GENE KELLY and CHANGING THE LOOK OF DANCE ON FILM, respective - as she begins to tour the show across the country. Plus, reflections on SINGIN' IN THE RAIN's 60th anniversary and the recent Fathom HD premiere presentation in theaters, the impact of Kelly's work behind the camera, his choreographic legacy, what a legend is like at home, memories of attending the opening night of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (starring HELLO, DOLLY! lead Michael Crawford), what the master would say about GLEE, SMASH, BUNHEADS and today's movie musical renaissance, as well as much, much more!

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN will receive it's first ever Blu-Ray release on Tuesday, July 17th. To commemorate this event, we're looking at why this film is still a crowd favorite 60 years later.

XLrator Media proudly announces the VOD and DVD release of WE THE PARTY. Written and directed by Mario Van Peebles, WE THE PARTY takes a close look at today's youth culture. The film is available on VOD on all providers on July 19, 2012, and in stores on July 31, 2012 at an SRP of $20.99 for the DVD and $26.99 for the DVD/Blu-Ray combo.

Lance Horne comes to 54 Below tonight, joined by Bryce Ryness (Hair), Alexandra Silber (Master Class), Kathryn Gallagher, Bridget Everett (Jukebox Jackie), and Meow Meow.

LIBERTY: A MONUMENTAL NEW MUSICAL, a new musical that tells the stirring and spectacular story of United States immigration through the eyes of a young European immigrant, will be presented in an exclusive, fully-staged professional production at the Warner Theatre in advance of its New York premiere. Performances begin June 30, 2012.

The Alaska Center for the Performing Arts presents SPRING AWAKENING at the Out North Contemporary Art House this summer. The production is scheduled to perform on weekends from June 16 through the 30th.

The stars of the upcoming revival of JEKYLL & HYDE, Tony Award nominee Constantine Maroulis (Rock of Ages) and Grammy Award Nominee Deborah Cox (Aida), will host the 4th annual National High School Musical Theater Awards tonight, June 25th at 7:30pm at Broadway's Minskoff Theatre (200 W 45th St). The show will feature 60 of America's most talented young musical theater performers vying for the "Jimmy Award" for Best Performance by an Actress and Best Performance by an Actor. Winners will be awarded college scholarships and other prizes will be announced live.

Today - Saturday, June 23rd, 2012, at 2:30 p.m at The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center), The Philhallmonic Society present 'Swingin' On A Star'--a musical celebration of the 1940s at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance on 65th and Amsterdam Avenue). The concert is free with general seating.

The BlueBarn Theatre presented SPRING AWAKENING for its regional debut for a month-long engagement. The cast was comprised solely of young local actors and singers. We have the production photos of the show below.

The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts (Lincoln Center) and The Philhallmonic Society present 'Swingin' On A Star'--a musical celebration of the 1940s tonight, June 23rd, 2012, 2:30 p.m. at the Bruno Walter Auditorium at Lincoln Center (entrance on 65th and Amsterdam Avenue). The concert is free with general seating.

Warner Brothers Pictures (Philippines) released the much awaited stage-to-screen adaptation of "Rock of Ages" one day ahead of the United States. The film stars Tom Cruise as Stacee Jaxx, Diego Boneta, Julianne Hough, Russell Brand, Alec Baldwin, Mary J. Blige, Brian Cranston, Malin Ackerman, Paul Giamatti, and Catherine Zeta-Jones.

The Greater Los Angeles Zoo Association's (GLAZA) 42nd Annual Beastly Ball is set for tonight, June 16, 2012, 6 pm, under the stars at the Los Angeles Zoo, announces GLAZA President Connie Morgan. The Honorable Richard J. Riordan, former Los Angeles Mayor, and actress Sarah Michelle Gellar, the Tom Mankiewicz Leadership Award recipient, are being honored at the fund-raiser. The Ball traditionally attracts 1,000+ attendees and raises $1 million or more for the Zoo.

MAGIC MIKE is coming to theaters on June 29, 2012 from Warner Brothers Pictures. The drama is directed by Steven Soderbergh and stars Channing Tatum, Alex Pettyfer, Matthew McConaughey, Matt Bomer and Joe Manganiello. Get a first look at the trailer below!