Anita Gillette News

Sometimes once is just not enough, so, today, we have a super-special encore conversation with a recent InDepth InterView participant who shares even more candid tales from her impossibly colorful, genre-spanning career on Broadway and in Hollywood - star of properties as diverse as the Broadway musicals MR. PRESIDENT, KELLY and THEY'RE PLAYING OUR SONG, to movies like MOONSTRUCK and SHALL WE DANCE to her numerous TV appearances on everything from MATCH GAME to QUINCY to 30 ROCK - chameleon-like comedienne and actress Anita Gillette. Discussing some of the more ribald and hilarious stories from her idiosyncratic showbiz career - such as the riotous backstage goings-on out of town at the tryout of one of Broadway biggest bombs, KELLY - as well as spine-tingling "you had to be there"-type memories of the Golden Age - like Irving Berlin stopping by the Winter Garden every Wednesday just to see her Act One showstopper in ALL AMERICAN - Gillette paints a vivid picture of an era gone by, and, also, looks ahead to exciting future endeavors - especially the upcoming Ed Burns-directed feature film, THE FITZGERALD FAMILY CHRISTMAS, opening wide later this year. Of course, Gillette returns to the NYC stage the next two Mondays - September 24 and October 1 - with her new Birdland show, AFTER ALL, so in this all-encompassing conversation we also discuss the themes, style, songs and stories we can anticipate from that intimate solo piece, as well, and she generously shares her recollections of working with some of the men who penned many of the sensational songs she will be performing and figure in to some of the tales she will tell - Charles Strouse, Marvin Hamlisch, Jule Styne, Neil Simon, Woody Allen, Mel Brooks and the aforementioned Irving Berlin included. All of that and much, much more!

The legendary musical group Sha Na Na kicks off Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston's fall concert season with a rollicking afternoon of classic Doo Wop and 1950s rock 'n' roll today, September 22 at 2 p.m. in the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham.

A tribute to honor and celebrate the life and career of Ron Palillo, best known as Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter' has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 3, 2012. The 6pm tribute will take place at The Triad Theatre, which is located at 158 West 72nd Street. Palillo died in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla., on August, 14, 2012, of a heart attack. Broadway's Tyne Daly, a longtime friend, will host the event.

A memorial celebration to honor the life and career of Ron Palillo, best known as Horshack on 'Welcome Back, Kotter' has been scheduled for Wednesday, October 3, 2012. The 6pm tribute will take place at The Triad Theatre, which is located at 158 West 72nd Street. Palillo died in Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.on August, 14, 2012 of a heart attack.

The legendary musical group Sha Na Na kicks off Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston's fall concert season with a rollicking afternoon of classic Doo Wop and 1950s rock 'n' roll on Saturday, September 22 at 2 p.m. in the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham.

Birdland (315 West 44th Street - between 8th & 9th Aves.) has announced entertainment for the month of September, 2012.

WELCOME BACK, KOTTER star and theatre vet Ron Palillo died this morning at his home in Palm Beach, FL from an apparent heart attack. BWW asked Palillo's longtime close friend Lawrence Leritz to share his memories of the beloved star.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced that Tony Award Nominated actress and singer Anita Gillette will be presenting two evenings of music and memories while taking what's being described as 'an intimate, touching and hilarious look behind the scenes from Broadway to Hollywood' in her new autobiographical one-woman show "After All." The events will take place on Monday, September 24 & Monday, October 1 at 7pm at Birdland (315 West 44 Street, NYC).

Today we are talking to a terrifically talented triple-threat who has made appearances on Broadway in entities as diverse as David Merrick's original Gower Champion-directed production of 42nd STREET, her debut, to roles in Susan Stroman's CRAZY FOR YOU, Hal Prince's landmark revival of SHOW BOAT and the Mark Bramble revival of 42nd STREET to THE CIVIL WAR, MAMMA MIA!, YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN, ELF, and, most recently, as the star of BABY, IT'S YOU! - to say nothing of her Tony Award-winning turn in THE DROWSY CHAPERONE - the thoroughly delightful and dynamic dame herself, Beth Leavel. Discussing some of her career highlights thus far - such as the night of her Tony Award win - while generously sharing her caustic wit and giving us a glimpse into the life of a modern-day leading lady, Leavel also offers us some insights into her newest role - one originally essayed by no less than Broadway icon Ethel Merman - that of Irving Berlin's heroine, Mrs. Sally Adams, in the politically-themed musical comedy CALL ME MADAM, playing at the Lyric Theatre of Oklahoma, July 24-28. In addition to all about CALL ME MADAM, Leavel also imparts her affection for past co-stars and collaborators - Sutton Foster, Christine Ebersole, Andrea Martin, Millicent Martin, Dolores Grey, Burt Bacharach and more included - and looks ahead to some parts that she would potentially consider pursuing in the future (MINSKY'S perhaps?). All of that and much, much more!

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has announced the full cast of BYE BYE BIRDIE, the Tony Award-winning 1960s rock 'n' roll-inspired musical parody of what happens to a small Midwestern community when an Elvis-like singing sensation swings through town looking for one last kiss before entering the Army. Bye Bye Birdie runs today, July 13 through July 22 in the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham.

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston will present BYE BYE BIRDIE, the Tony Award-winning 1960s rock 'n' roll-inspired musical parody of what happens to a small Midwestern community when an Elvis-like singing sensation swings through town looking for one last kiss before entering the Army. Bye Bye Birdie runs July 13-22 in the Robinson Theatre, 617 Lexington Street, Waltham.

Today we are talking to a celebrated comedienne and actress known for her decades-spanning career on screens and stages large and small - from making her Broadway debut in the original Jerome Robbins production of GYPSY on Broadway in 1960 to her many musical roles throughout the 60s to her countless game show and variety show appearances following that all the way to creating an unforgettable character in MOONSTRUCK in the 1980s, as well as her subsequent oft-Neil Simon stage work; now, playing Tina Fey's sweet and daffy mom on NBC's 30 ROCK and, most recently, appearing in Nora & Celia Ephron's LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE and the Playwright's Horizons premiere production of THE BIG MEAL in the new millennium - the one of a kind Anita Gillette. Analyzing her nearly sixty-year career and sharing candid stories of her brushes with some of Broadway and Hollywood's brightest talents - Jule Styne to Ethel Merman to Irving Berlin to Burt Lancaster and beyond - Gillette paints a vivid portrait of the tail end of the Golden Age of Broadway and the heady game show days of TV in the 1960s and 70s to her lauded stage work with Neil Simon and many of the great comedy and musical writers in the years since. Additionally, Gillette and I discuss her current essaying of the role of Mae Peterson in the new Regal Music Theatre production of Charles Strouse and Lee Adams's BYE BYE BIRDIE in Massachusetts as she looks towards opening night tomorrow and relates her joy in participating in a production that has some behind-the-scenes help by her loving granddaughter (while another attends their summer camp). Plus, Gillette's observations on sharing a soundstage with Alec Baldwin, Tina Fey, Elaine Stritch and Buck Henry for a recent 30 ROCK shoot, reflections on her fondest and most celebrated comedy roles, hilarious memories of appearing in some short-running flops (JIMMY, SKYSKRAPER) as well as in some big hits (GYPSY), her upcoming series of master classes titled "Life In The Business", her return to Birdland with her concert show, AFTER ALL, her role in an upcoming Ed Burns film and maybe even a role in a new Alexander Payne film - all of that, all about attending the Diamond Jubilee celebration in the United Kingdom and much, much more!

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has announced the full cast of BYE BYE BIRDIE, the Tony Award-winning 1960s rock 'n' roll-inspired musical parody of what happens to a small Midwestern community when an Elvis-like singing sensation swings through town looking for one last kiss before entering the Army.

Reagle Music Theatre of Greater Boston has announced major principal casting and creative team members for its 44th consecutive summer season, including Lorenzo Lamas, Anita Gillette, Rick Hilsabeck and Sarah Pfisterer.

Last night, June 13, Playwrights Horizons opened the World Premiere of RAPTURE, BLISTER, BURN, a new play by Pulitzer Prize finalist and Obie Award winner Gina Gionfriddo (Becky Shaw). Previews began May 18. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the curtain call and post-show celebration and brings you photo coverage below!

Veteran Kitchen Theatre artistic collaborators Rachel Lampert & Larry Pressgrove's Waiting for Spring is an expansion of Act 2 of their well-received Comfort Food. The production boasts a cast of Broadway veterans. Opening Night is tonight, June 2nd. It runs for three weeks, closing June 17th, 2012.

Great theater is less than a tankful away from Boston this summer.

Veteran Kitchen Theatre artistic collaborators Rachel Lampert & Larry Pressgrove's Waiting for Spring is an expansion of Act 2 of their well-received Comfort Food. The production boasts a cast of Broadway veterans. Previews are May 30th, 31st, and June 1st, and Opening Night is Saturday, June 2nd. It runs for three weeks, closing June 17th, 2012.