Will Rogers News

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler, Nancy Opel, Cady Huffman, Keith Carradine, Julie Halston, Bailey Hanks, Cady Huffman, Lee Roy Reams, the original 'Cagelles' from from the 1983 Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles, the original Broadway cast of The Will Rogers Follies and more will take part in The Drama League's 25th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Tony and Drama League Award winners Christine Ebersole and Donna Murphy will host The Drama League's annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

The Covina Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to welcome Victoria Strong to the role of Margaret Johnson in The Light In The Piazza, beginning on Saturday, January 31, 2009 and continuing until the end of the scheduled run on February 15, 2009. Christopher Callen will play her final performance on Friday, January 30, 2009.Callen is leaving the production to join a major international tour of Menopause the Musical, the dates unfortunately conflict with the Piazza run, she will be leaving Piazza in the more than capable hands of Ms. Strong.

BROADAWAY BY THE BAY (BBBay), the Peninsula's premiere musical theatre company, is proud to present its dynamic 2009 season featuring three full scale productions as well as an intimate presentation of the music of Broadway legend Cy Coleman. Under the leadership of Artistic DirectorBrooke Knight and Executive DirectorJim Gardia, BBBay's 44th season kicks-off with a rousing revival of George and Ira Gershwin's tap dancing musical comedy CRAZY FOR YOU (April 2-19, 2009). Next, BBBay presents the captivating and exotic Rodgersand Hammerstein classic, THE KING AND I (July 16-August 2), followed by THE FULL MONTY (September 17 - October 4), the spunky and heartwarming Broadway hit based on the British film of the same name. The 44th season closes with BROADWAY UP CLOSE AND PERSONAL: A TRIBUTE TO CY COLEMAN (November 5 - November 8), featuring Tony Award winnersDavid Zippel and Lillias White and Ovation Award winner Jason Graae.

The Covina Center for the Performing Arts is pleased to welcome Victoria Strong to the role of Margaret Johnson in The Light In The Piazza, beginning on Saturday, January 31, 2009 and continuing until the end of the scheduled run on February 15, 2009. Christopher Callen will play her final performance on Friday, January 30, 2009.Callen is leaving the production to join a major international tour of Menopause the Musical, the dates unfortunately conflict with the Piazza run, she will be leaving Piazza in the more than capable hands of Ms. Strong.

The Fantasticks, the longest-running musical in the world, will present a free lunchtime concert at Borders Columbus Circle on Wednesday, January 28, 2009. The concert, which begins at Noon, will feature cast members Scott Willis (Broadway's Crazy for You and 42nd Street), Betsy Morgan (Broadway's The Little Mermaid) and recent Amazing Race winner Nick Spangler singing selections from the show. Following the concert, the performers will conduct a book and CD signing. Borders is located within The Shops at Columbus Circle at 10 Columbus Circle. The concert will take place on the 2nd floor. For more information call (212) 823-9775. The Fantasticks is a captivating and simple romantic comedy about a boy and girl who fall in and out of love at the hands of their meddling fathers. The audience uses its imagination to follow the narrator, El Gallo, as he creates a world of moonlight and magic until the boy and girl find their way back to one other. The score, which includes the hit songs 'Try To Remember,' 'They Were You' and 'Soon It's Gonna Rain,' is as timeless as the story itself. Having played a record-breaking 17,162 performances in its original run at the Sullivan Street Playhouse in Greenwich Village, The Fantasticks is now playing in the heart of Times Square at The Snapple Theater Center, located at 210 West 50th Street at Broadway.

The Cleveland Play House is excited to announce that Dee Hoty, a three-time Tony Award? nominated actress, will be the featured entertainer at their Annual Gala on Saturday, June 6, 2009. Born and raised in Lakewood, Ohio, Hoty began her professional career at The Cleveland Play House as a member of the repertory company (1975 and 1976). The evening begins at 6:30pm and will include complimentary valet parking, a cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres, dinner, silent and live auction, entertainment and dancing. Hoty earned Tony Award? nominations for her starring roles in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, and The Will Rogers Follies. She recently starred on Broadway in Mamma Mia! and continued on the national tour in eight major U.S. cities. She can be heard on the original recordings of City of Angels, The Will Rogers Follies, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, and Footloose, and on the 2CD set of Stephen Sondheim's Follies from the Papermill Playhouse production. She is also featured on the video/DVD of My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies. Other Broadway shows include City of Angels, Me and My Girl, Big River, The Five O'Clock Girl and Shakespeare's Cabaret. A favorite of Tommy Tune's, Hoty starred opposite him in the recent U.S. tour of Doctor Dolittle. She also appeared with Stacy Keach in the first national tour of Barnum. Her New York nightclub and cabaret appearances include the Russian Tea Room, Rainbow and Stars and the Metropolitan Room with Larry Gatlin.

Tommy Tune doesn't let his age slow him down as he continues to perform and make waves dancing on The Great White Way and all around America. On January 23 and 24 Tommy Tune performed 'Tommy Tune in Steps in Time: A Broadway Biography in Song and Dance' at the Strathmore. Tommy Tune in Steps in Time: A Broadway Biography in Song and Dance Featuring the Manhattan Rhythm Kings. With an unprecedented nine Tony Awards in four categories, Tommy Tune's credentials are impressive, but it's his effortless charm that brings audiences back again and again. 'The last genuine song-and-dance man' (Variety), Tune is top-hatted, white-tied, and tailed for this delicious evening of show standards, with the Manhattan Rhythm Kings trio providing impeccable accompaniment. On November 12, 2003, The President of The United States presented Tommy Tune with the nations' highest honor for Artistic Achievement, The National Medal of Arts. In a private ceremony in the oval office of the White House, Mr. Tune received this honor to add to his already unprecedented nine Tony Awards in four different categories plus, among other accolades, eight Drama Desk Awards, two Obie Awards, two Astaire Awards, the American Dance Award, the Drama League Award, and the George Abbott Award for Lifetime Achievement.

Sutton Foster's debut CD ?Wish' will be released February 17th on Ghostlight Records. The album features 15 songs culled from the worlds of jazz, pop, Broadway and cabaret, and highlights Foster's eclectic choices, ranging from Patty Griffin's ?Nobody's Cryin' to Duke Ellington's ?I Like the Sunrise'...from Frank Loesser's ?Warm All Over' to John Denver's ?Sunshine on My Shoulders'. Tony-winner Foster also looks forward to a sold-out, February 19th, NYC appearance, as part of the popular Lincoln Center Songbook Series. On February 27th, Foster will perform and sign CDs at an In-Store appearance at Barnes and Noble Lincoln Center, at 5 pm. Currently starring as Princess Fiona in Broadway's ?Shrek the Musical', Sutton Foster was given high praise by Ben Brantley of The New York Times, who compared her to musical royalty: 'She has emerged as an inspired, take-charge musical comedian in the tradition of Danny Kaye and Carol Burnett...' Foster's unique ability to be irreverent and respectful from moment-to-moment shines through on ?Wish', as her voice wallops through ?Oklahoma' (a bonus track,) only minutes after a delicate, warm delivery of Noel Coward's ?Come The Wild, Wild Weather.' She is a musical chameleon with a voice as appealing as her down-to-earth personality. ?Wish' was Produced by Joel Moss, and Co-Produced by Michael Rafter. Executive Producers are Kurt Deutsch and Sutton Foster. The CD package features original artwork by Sutton Foster.

This year Walnut Street Theater celebrates its 200th birthday, and on February 3rd they will hold a big birthday bash. Boasting over 56,000 subscribers, The Walnut is not only the most popular theater company in Philadelphia, but also the most subscribed theatre company in the world. This season includes three magnificent and beloved musicals: get ready for DIRTY ROTTEN SCOUNDRELS, OLIVER! and FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The Walnut also offers two spellbinding plays: A world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY and Noel Coward's classic comedy, FALLEN ANGELS. The New Year brings new theatre to the Walnut stage with the world premiere production of Eric Conger's THE ECLECTIC SOCIETY (January 19 - March 7). It's the 1960's, and in order to become the big man on campus, you've got to play the game. In this fraternal society, new recruits need testing and traditions need to be upheld. This new American play celebrates the spirit of youth and the mischief that follows.

On Monday, February 2, 2009, Chita Rivera, Donna Murphy, Christine Ebersole, Cheyenne Jackson, Kerry Butler, Nancy Opel, Cady Huffman, Keith Carradine, Julie Halston, Bailey Hanks, Cady Huffman, Lee Roy Reams, the original 'Cagelles' from from the 1983 Broadway production of La Cage aux Folles, the original Broadway cast of The Will Rogers Follies and more will take part in The Drama League's 25th annual all-star gala, 'A MUSICAL CELEBRATION OF BROADWAY.'

McCarter Theater Center has added new events for 2009. Ben Folds has been scheduled for February 11, 2009 at 8pm. Over the last 15 years, Ben Folds' first-class melodic gifts, irony-laced lyrics, and punk-rock tendency to play piano as if it were a contact sport have earned the North Carolina native a legion of devoted fans of all ages. Kris Kristofferson has been booked for February 27, 2009 at 8pm.

Tommy Tune brings his show STEPS IN TIME for the benefit of the Summer Theatre of New Canaan to Stamford's Rich Forum on Febuary 7th 2009. Tommy Tune and the Manhattan Rhythm Kings present great Broadway show tunes performed and staged as only Broadway's most awarded Director, Choreographer, Dancer and Musical Actor can create descibes press notes.

Betsy Morgan, who recently performed the role of Ariel in Broadway's The Little Mermaid, will joins the cast of the Off Broadway revival of The Fantasticks as Luisa tonight Monday, December 22, 2008. She replaces Margaret Anne Florence, who played her final performance on Wednesday, December 17.

Betsy Morgan, who recently performed the role of Ariel in Broadway's The Little Mermaid, will join the cast of the Off Broadway revival of The Fantasticks as Luisa on Monday, December 22, 2008. She replaces Margaret Anne Florence, who will play her final performance on Wednesday, December 17.

Nick Spangler, who appears as Matt in the Off Broadway revival of The Fantasticks, has won the 13th season of The Amazing Race.

Tony Award nominated actor Keith Carradine (The Will Rogers Follies, Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, 'Nashville,' 'Dexter') returns to the New York stage in the New York premiere of Anthony Horowitz's acclaimed thriller, MINDGAME.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre. Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander. 'I Love My Wife' will be directed by Larry Moss with choreography by Lee Martino and music direction by Michael Skloff.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with 'I Love My Wife' with book and lyrics by Michael Stewart and music by Cy Coleman, December 2 to 14 at the Brentwood Theatre.

We wanted to bring your attention to this year's Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS Holiday Catalog and web site.