Gypsy Revival 2007 - Articles Page 18

Winners of DRAMA DESK AWARDS for the 2007/2008 New York theater season will receive their engraved trophies at a cocktail reception in their honor on Tuesday, July 22, 2008, from 4:00 to 6: 30 PM, at Tony's DiNapoli Restaurant, 147 W. 43rd St, it was announced by Robert R. Blume, Executive Producer of the Drama Desk Awards show, and Bruce Dimpflmaier, General Manager, of Tony's Di Napoli Restaurant.

Mature theater-goers proudly recall seeing musical comedy greats perform. It's easy to remember seeing Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Alfred Drake or Joel Grey because these stars contributed exemplary work in leading roles. However, a book could be written about actors who create vivid impressions in our minds while playing supporting roles in memorable shows. There is no greater example of such an actor than Mary Louise Wilson.

The Broadway League has released end-of-season statistics for the 2007-2008 Broadway season, which began May 28, 2007 and ended May 25, 2008, showing a slight decline in both paid attendance and grosses.

Village Theatre is pleased to announce its exciting director line-up for the 2008-2009 Mainstage Season. Andrea Dymond, Resident Director of Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago, will direct the new musical and season opener, Saint Heaven. Dymond comments, 'I'd originally directed an earlier version of Saint Heaven in a developmental workshop production, about five years ago, at the Stages Festival at Theatre Building Chicago. That's when I got to know Marty [Martin Casella, book writer] and Keith [Keith Gordon, lyricist and composer] who are every bit as gorgeous to work with as is their musical. I think Saint Heaven is unique in the fullness of its telling, the richness of its characters, and the variety of forms of deeply American music it uses to engage us in the story.' At Victory Gardens Theater, Dymond has staged a wealth of productions such as Gloria Bond Clunie's Shoes (Best Director nomination, Black Theatre Alliance) and Charles Smith's Free Man of Color (winner of the Jeff award for Best New Work). Steve Tomkins, Artistic Director for Village Theatre is set to direct the charming Disney classic Beauty and the Beast. Tomkins gave his directorial debut at Village Theatre with the 1988 production of Gypsy. This upcoming season marks his sixteenth season as Artistic Director for Village Theatre. David Ira Goldstein will direct Oscar Wilde's classic play The Importance of Being Earnest. 'I have been eager to direct Wilde's greatest comedy ever since I directed his earlier play A Woman of No Importance for the University of Washington School of Drama in 1994. If any play can invoke a spirit of pure pleasure for two hours, it is certainly Wilde's Earnest,' Goldstein comments. As artistic director of Arizona Theatre Company (ATC), Goldstein has received the 2003 Governor's Arts Award as Individual Artist for his contributions to the arts in Arizona. He has directed over 30 mainstage productions for ATC and has been a guest director across the country. Before living in Arizona, he was the associate Artistic Director of A Contemporary Theatre in Seattle. Steve Tomkins will also take on the original work Stunt Girl this season. His last three new musical projects, which include Once Upon A Time in New Jersey (2006-2007), Girl of My Dreams (2005-2006), and The Ark (2002-2003), quickly became huge hits amongst Village Theatre audiences. Lastly, Village Theatre is thrilled to announce Jerry Dixon as the director of the musical masterpiece, Show Boat. Dixon began his career as an actor with original Broadway cast performances in Once On This Island and Five Guys Named Moe, with other original roles in Bright Lights, Big City, The Bubbly Black Girl Sheds Her Chameleon Skin, new yorkers, and tick, tick…BOOM!. Dixon's directing credits vary and include tick, tick…BOOM! (Korea and Singapore), Crowns (Kalamazoo Civic), and concerts and special events for Tony winner LaChanze, recording artist Raúl Midón, Carnegie Hall, and the Belgium National Symphony. Dixon's directorial work was last seen at Village Theatre in 2007, when he was brought from New York to direct the Village Originals production of Barnstormer.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Roger T. Danforth and Gabriel Shanks, Executive Directors) proudly announces the roster of presenters scheduled to appear for the The 74th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 16, 2008 (noon) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street).

Performers include Nellie McKay (The Threepenny Opera), Kerry Butler (Xanadu), John Lloyd Young (Jersey Boys), Sarah Steele (Speech & Debate), Susan Blackwell (Speech & Debate, [title of show]), Lauren Pritchard (Spring Awakening), Tony Yazbeck (Gypsy), Ben Walker (Les Liaisons Dangerouses), Jenny Powers (Grease), Jessica Grové (Sunday in the Park with George), Telly Leung (Rent), Skylar Astin (Spring Awakening), Matt Schreiber with 'Nicky' (Avenue Q), and Matt Doyle (Spring Awakening) with more to come! All celebrity appearances are subject to change.

One of the Farmboys really was a farmboy and has a background in ballet, cruise ships and 2 previous B'way shows.

Nominations for the 53rd Annual Drama Desk Awards were announced this morning at the New York Friars Club. 'A Catered Affair' led the way with 12 nominations.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Roger T. Danforth and Gabriel Shanks, Co-Managing Directors) proudly announces nominations for the 2007-08 Drama League Awards, to be awarded at The 74th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 16, 2008 (noon) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square (1535 Broadway at 46th Street).

Les Miserables at the The Hollywood Bowl has completed casting, and BroadwayWorld.com has the scoop!

The producers of Hairspray have announced that Karen Mason will join the Broadway company on Tuesday, April 8 in the role of Velma Von Tussle at Broadway's Neil Simon Theatre, 250 West 52 Street. (Mary Birdsong plays Velma through Sunday, April 6.)

Beginning Tuesday evening, March 25, Kim Stengel, the actress who has played the role of the outrageous opera diva 'Carlotta' in The Phantom of the Opera more than any other actress worldwide, will join the Broadway production of the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical, directed by Harold Prince, at The Majestic Theatre (247 West 44th Street). This will mark Ms. Stengel's Broadway debut.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) has announced additional casting for the sixth and final production of its 2007/2008 Season, the World Premiere of the new musical SAVED.

The Paper Mill Playhouse Board of Trustees is proud to announce that Mark S. Hoebee, Paper Mill's Acting Artistic Director since March of 2007 has been promoted to Artistic Director effective immediately.

This week's Broadway Beat dedicates its entire program to BC/EFA's Gypsy of the Year Competition which featured an incredible 50th Anniversary reunion of many original cast members from West Side Story. Check out the most comprehensive coverage of this historic event, right here on BroadwayWorld!

Gypsy, the great American musical, will return to Broadway starring Patti LuPone, the leading lady of the American musical theatre. Gypsy will reunite LuPone with co-stars Boyd Gaines and Laura Benanti. Opens March 27, 2008 at St. James Theatre

Below is a statement from Tom Viola, executive director of Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS. The 19th Annual Gypsy of the Year Competition will be held Monday, December 17 and Tuesday, December 18 at the New Amsterdam Theatre.

'Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Volume 9,' holiday music from the Broadway stars of the 2007 season, is on sale now!

Transport Group, the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and a 2007 Obie Award, will present 'Gimme A Break,' a benefit honoring Transport Group board member and Broadway producer Barbara Freitag and writer/director/producer Michael Patrick King on Monday, December 3 at 6:30PM.

Producer Michael Sterling is pleased to announce that Fox Television star Eric Millegan will make his west coast cabaret singing debut at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's Sunday, December 2, 2007. December 9, 2007 - Asunta Fleming: Life in the entertainment field began for Asunta Fleming with a tour portraying Maria in West Side Story throughout New England.

Feinstein's at Lowe's Regency will continue their Fall 2007 season with Hollywood legend Tony Martin for two shows only, Sunday, October 21 and Monday, October 22. Both shows are at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

'The New York Post' reports Patti LuPone may return to Broadway's St. James Theatre in a recreation of her critically acclaimed turn as Mama Rose in last season's City Center Encores production of 'Gypsy'

'Broadway's Greatest Gifts: Carols for a Cure, Volume 9,' holiday music from the Broadway stars of the 2007 season, will be on sale October 24.

The 2007 Broadway Flea Market and Grand Auction raised a total of $559,810, beating the 2006 total of $505,832. Over the past 21 years, the Flea Markets and Grand Auctions have raised a total of $7,262,372.