SUGAR BABIES, a tribute to the burlesque era, was conceived by Ralph G. Allen and Harry Rigby and with music by Jimmy McHugh and lyrics by Dorothy Fields and Al Dubin. It opened on Broadway in 1979 with staging and choreography by Ernest Flatt, music direction by Glen Roven, scenic and costume design by Raoul Pene Du Bois, lighting by Gilbert Vaughn Hemsley, Jr., and vocal arrangements and lyrics by Arthur Malvin, with orchestrations by Dick Hyman.
The original Broadway cast starred Mickey Rooney in his Broadway debut, as well as Ann Miller, Scot Stewart, Tom Boyd, Peter Leeds, Jack Fletcher, Jimmy Matthews, Bob Williams, Sid Stone, Michael Davis and Ann Jillian.
The Broadway run was followed by a short 1980 US tour, which starred Carol Channing and Robert Morse. That same year, it was nominated for eight Tony Awards. Following a second US tour, SUGAR BABIES debuted on the West End in 1988.
This month, the reader question was: Which Broadway theaters have been demolished/repurposed and when/why?
This month, the reader question was: 'What are the longest running musicals that haven't been revived?'
This month, the reader question was: 'Which Songs Have Appeared in Multiple Broadway Shows?'
This week (June 14-20) in live streaming: Rita Moreno visits Backstage Live, Show of Titles on demand, a Kerry Butler master class, a Guys and Dolls reunion, and so much more!
The criteria are that these shows have been nominated for Best Musical from the 3rd Tony Awards (the ceremony that started the Best Musical category) in 1949 to the nominations of what will now be the 74th Tony Awards in 2021. I will be determining their signs based upon their Broadway premiere date. With those rules in mind, here we go!
BWW Reviewer Peter Nason chooses the 101 greatest Motown songs from 1960-1994. See if your favorite songs or artists made the list!
Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its 26th season that includes the 2020 - 2021 Mainstage, Porchlight Revisits and New Faces Sing Broadway series. Porchlight's Mainstage and Porchlight Revisits return to the Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn Street with its annual fundraising concert Chicago Sings Andrew Lloyd Webber launching the season taking place at the Museum of Contemporary Arts, 220. E. Chicago Ave.
Join us for another photo flashback! Today, we're taking a look back into our archives with this photo of Patsy Kelly attending the opening night of Sugar Babies on October 8, 1979 at the Mark Helinger Theatre in New York City.
Today, we're taking a look back into our archives with a flashback photo of Rita Hayworth!
The Broadway community mourns the loss of veteran General Manager, Producer and 2017 Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre recipient Alan Wasser, who passed away on April 14, 2019 at age 70. To commemorate his life and work, the Committee of Theatre Owners will dim the lights of the Majestic, Marquis and St. James Theatres in New York for one minute on Monday, May 20 at exactly 6:45pm.
Internationally renowned ballet stars and prominent role models Ashley Murphy and Brooklyn Mack guest star in Los Angeles Youth Ballet's critically-acclaimed production of The Nutcracker by award-winning choreographer Andrea Paris-Gutierrez, which caps the holiday season with four performances on Friday, December 21, 7 pm, Saturday, December 22, 2 pm and 7 pm, and Sunday, December 23, 2018, at 2 pm, at Glendale's Alex Theatre.
Larry Blank is a prolific composer, conductor and orchestrator. He's worked on shows on Broadway and across the States, including Sugar Babies, Phantom of the Opera, A Chorus Line and A Little Night Music, as well as contributing to orchestrations on films like The Producers and Chicago.
We're taking you deep into the archives of BroadwayWorld photographer Walter McBride for exclusive flashbacks to Broadway past. Today, check out these shots of Ann Miller and Mickey Rooney with his wife Jan Chamberlain backstage after a performance of Sugar Babies in 1980.
Before SNL and Broadway stardom, the two young actors show tremendous comic presence on this television interview.
Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent.
Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.
Sugar Babies wasn't supposed to be a hit. The 1979 Broadway insiders 'knew' no one wanted to see two has-been movie stars doing hokey jokes from a long-dead low-brow genre. Yet, it was, a big, fat, lines-around-the-box-office smash. And why? Two words: Mickey Rooney.
Today we continue BroadwayWorld's newest column celebrating the classic clips from yesteryear featuring our favorite classic stage and screen stars with a spotlight on a legendary movie musical leading man and Broadway icon byway of the hit later-in-life revue SUGAR BABIES, Mickey Rooney.
Mickey Rooney, who spent nearly his entire life in the show business, died on Sunday at 93, after being in ill health for quite some time. He appeared on Broadway in Sugar Babies (opposite fellow MGM legend Ann Miller) and The Will Rogers Follies. BroadwayWorld remembers the stage and screen great below.
Today, stars of stage and screen reacted to the passing of the stage and screen legend
According to TMZ, Mickey Rooney, who spent nearly his entire life in the show business, died today at 93, after being in ill health for quite some time. He appeared on Broadway in Sugar Babies (opposite fellow MGM legend Ann Miller) and The Will Rogers Follies.
From One Singular Sensation to The Way We Were, composer Marvin Hamlisch left a legacy of hits that have brightened Broadway and the musical catalogue of America forever. And, now, The Philly POPS is proud to present 'Marvin Hamlisch - A Musical Tribute' conducted by Larry Blank, Hamlisch's conductor, and three of his favorite singers ... Donna McKechnie, Jodi Benson and Doug LaBrecque. Taking place on Friday, March 14 (8 p.m.), Saturday, March 15 and Sunday, March 16 (3 p.m.) in Verizon Hall at The Kimmel Center, Blank and the guest artists will not only present wonderful musical memories with the audience, they'll share personal recollections of Marvin Hamlisch as well.
Chicago Choirs get the chance of a lifetime when they perform along-side Original Supreme Mary Wilson during "Mary Wilson's Holiday Spectacular Featuring Special Guests The Four Tops" December 23, 2013 - January 5, 2014 at the Harris Theater (205 E. Randolph St.). Seven Chicago choirs will perform throughout the limited engagement including Walt Whittman's Soul Children of Chicago, Shelly & Friends (members from Salem Baptist Church and Apostolic Pentecostal Church of Morgan Park), Calvin Bridges & Friends, Central Missionary Baptist Church Inspirational Choir, Dr. Issac Whittmon & the Greater Metropolitan Church, Dr. Alfred Wheeler & Blessed Music Ministry and Ramon Perry & the Ministry and Praise Chorale.
As America prepares to commemorate the 80 th birthday of Willie Nelson on April 29 th, the country music icon will be celebrated as Artist of the Month for April, 2013 by Legacy Recordings, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.
Shooting High Productions is producing an AGVA-sanctioned workshop/showcase of the Broadway-bound production of SUGAR BABIES, starring Tony Award winnersMichael McGrathandBeth Leavel tonighht, September 20th.
Starring alongside Tony winners Michael McGrath and Beth Leavel are Brooks Ashmanskas, Richard Bell, Jack Doyle, Marty Passante, Jennifer Cody, Kelley Bradshaw, Mary Callahan, Melissa Jones, Amanda Kloots-Larsen, Brittan Marcin, Beth Nicely, Abbey O'Brien, Jillian Owens, Kristyn Pope, Kimber Stevenson, Scott Brateng, Barry Busby, Sean Quinn & Clifton Samuels.
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