In THE SECRET LIFE OF THE AMERICAN MUSICAL, Jack Viertel takes about musicals, puts them back together, sings their praises, marvels at their unflagging inventiveness, and occasionally despairs over their more embarrassing shortcomings. In the process, he invites us to fall in love with the art form all over again by showing us how musicals happen, what makes them work, how they captivate audiences, and how one landmark show leads to the next-by design or by accident, by emulation or by rebellion from OKLAHOMA! to HAMILTON and onward.
As BroadwayWorld reported this morning, Bette Midler will indeed return to Broadway in one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history when she takes on the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Michael Stewart's (book) and Jerry Herman's (music and lyrics) masterpiece, Hello, Dolly!. Directed by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks, Hello, Dolly! will begin performances on Broadway on March 13, 2017, with an official opening night of April 20, 2017. Rehearsals begin one year from today.
This new production of Hello, Dolly!, the first new production of this classic musical to appear on Broadway since it opened more than fifty years ago, will have at its helm Jerry Zaks as its director, and will feature choreography by Tony Award-winner Warren Carlyle. The new Dolly! will pay tribute to the original work of legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion, which has been hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history.
Below, reacquaint yourself with the creative team, old and new!
Sometimes a flop Broadway show is better appreciated after closing, and may even return as a hit!
Fourteen years since his debut at Don't Tell Mama, Marcus Simeone has evolved into a fearless singer who is able to climb inside any song and deliver it home with ease. Aside from eclectic solo work, he has also partnered with others over the years with mixed results. Currently, he has joined forces with two cabaret artists in two totally unrelated songwriter showcases running simultaneously in two different clubs. One salutes a controversial folk pioneer and the other pays homage to three Broadway icons.
Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for 'Outstanding Cabaret Artist' and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award, Suzanne Petri brings her brand new show, TORCH, SASS AND SWING!, to Davenport's Cabaret (1383 N Milwaukee Ave). The show runs tonight, October 28, and November 4 & 7, 2015.
Chicago's acclaimed Jefferson Award nominated actress and winner of the After Dark Award for "Outstanding Cabaret Artist" and the Chicago Cabaret Professionals Gold Coast Award, Suzanne Petri brings her brand new show, TORCH, SASS AND SWING!, to Davenport's Cabaret (1383 N Milwaukee Ave). The show runs October 28, November 4 and November 7, 2015.
Columbia Records is proud to announce the release ofThe Silver Lining: The Songs of Jerome Kern, a new album from American musical legend Tony Bennett and acclaimed jazz pianist Bill Charlap, arriving Friday, September 25, 2015.
Today in 1975, Chicago opened at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rogers Theatre), where it ran for 936 performances. Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago, with music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the 'celebrity criminal'. The original cast starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and Barney Martin as Amos Hart.
Broadway stalwart Jeff McCarthy joins the all-American cast of the Broadway musical CHICAGO, which is set to play Solaire Resort and Casino's The Theatre from next Wednesday, December 3, to Sunday, December 21. McCarthy will play the role of criminal lawyer Billy Flynn, alongside Bianca Marroquin's Roxie Hart, Terra C. MacLeod's Velma Kelly, Jacob Keith Watson's Amos Hart, Roz Ryan's Matron 'Mama' Morton, and C. Newcomer.
Lunchbox Theatrical Productions, David Atkins Enterprises, and Concertus Manila, together with VISA, Smart Infinity, and Solaire Resort and Casino, unveiled via a press launch Tuesday, September 16, that CHICAGO on Broadway's recurring lead actors Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart) and Terra C. MacLeod (Velma Kelly) are bound to reprise their signature roles on Broadway when CHICAGO plays Manila at the newly built The Theatre, Solaire Resort and Casino (1 Asean Avenue, Entertainment City, Paranaque City), from Tuesday, December 2, to Sunday, December 21.
Birdland Jazz Club has announced its October 2014 schedule, featuring Chita Rivera, Dave Leibman Big Band, Miss Coco Peru, Benny Green Trio, Kenny Baron and Dave Holland, Barbara Carroll, Ron Carter Nonet, Jane Monheit's Jazz Party, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.
Birdland Jazz Club has announced their great line-up of amazing talent for the month of August 2014, featuring: The Jazz Masters Quartet, Dave Douglas Quintet, Django Reinhardt NY Festival, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Rotem Sivan Trio, Sean Harkness Duo, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Details below!
Birdland Jazz Club has announced their great line-up of amazing talent for the month of August 2014, featuring: The Jazz Masters Quartet, Dave Douglas Quintet, Django Reinhardt NY Festival, Eric Comstock & Barbara Fasano, Rotem Sivan Trio, Sean Harkness Duo, Jane Monheit, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more. Details below!
Today in 1975, Chicago opened at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rogers Theatre), where it ran for 936 performances. Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago, with music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the 'celebrity criminal'. The original cast starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and Barney Martin as Amos Hart.
Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for April 21 - April 27, featuring James Carter Organ Trio, Donna Vivino in 'Beautiful Dreamer,' David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Karen Oberlin in Secret Love: A Tribute to Doris Day, and more.
King Arthur and the Knights of the Round Table are storming The 5th Avenue Theatre in Monty Python's Spamalot, the perfect musical to fight the winter blues. Based on the blockbuster 1975 film Monty Python and the Holy Grail, this hilarious musical comedy lays siege to Seattle featuring a stellar lineup of local talent including Joshua Carter, Allen Fitzpatrick, Richard Gray, Laura Griffith, Louis Hobson, Greg McCormick Allen, Matt Owen, and Dane Stokinger. Called "Fantastic! Gorgeously silly!" by The New York Post, Spamalot blends cerebral audacity with slapstick absurdity in this wacky version of King Arthur's mythical search for the Holy Grail. Bringing to the stage such classic Monty Python shticks as the Knights Who Say Ni, the killer rabbit, flying cows, and "Always Look on the Bright Side of Your Life," Spamalot is side-splitting fun.
Surflight Theatre, the landmark summer theatre on the Jersey Shore, celebrates its 65th Anniversary of "Broadway at the Beach" in 2014 with a season of musicals from June through September.
Musicals Tonight! the Obie-winning company dedicated to the revival of neglected musicals continues its 2013-14 season with a 16-performance run of Marvin Hamlisch and Howard Ashman's 1986 musical SMILE (October 22 - November 3) directed by Thomas Sabella-Mills, with music direction by David Bishop.
Warner Archive Collection announces new releases including James Garner, Space Ghost, Jumbo & more.
Musicals Tonight! announces its 2013-2014 season, featuring Cole Porter, Marvin Hamlisch, Will Holt, George & Ira Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart.
An evening with Tony Award-Winner McKechnie performs SAME PLACE, ANOTHER TIME
Musicals Tonight! the Obie-winning company dedicated to the revival of neglected musicals kicks off its 16th NY season with Cole Porter'sMexican Hayride (October 8 - 20) directed by Thomas Sabella-Mills, with music direction by James Stenborg.
Today in 1975, Chicago opened at the 46th Street Theatre (now the Richard Rogers Theatre), where it ran for 936 performances. Chicago is a musical set in Prohibition-era Chicago, with music is by John Kander with lyrics by Fred Ebb and a book by Ebb and Bob Fosse. The story is a satire on corruption in the administration of criminal justice and the concept of the 'celebrity criminal'. The original cast starred Chita Rivera as Velma Kelly, Gwen Verdon as Roxie Hart, Jerry Orbach as Billy Flynn and Barney Martin as Amos Hart.
Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike, written by Christopher Durang, today won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award (NYDCC) for Best Play of the 2012-2013 season. Matilda received the award for Best Musical. The selections were made at the 78th annual voting meeting of the organization today at the offices of Time Out New York in Manhattan.
Musicals Tonight! announces its 2013-2014 season, featuring Cole Porter, Marvin Hamlisch, Will Holt, George & Ira Gershwin and Rodgers & Hart.
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