Arthur Laurents News

West Side Story is one of the greatest musical theatre classics.

One of the most celebrated musicals of all time, WEST SIDE STORY plays a limited season at Adelaide Festival Centre from tonight until December 8.

Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Renée Taylor - known to millions as Fran Fine's food obsessed mother, Sylvia, on 'The Nanny' - opened November 22nd to unanimous rave reviews in her comedy smash MY LIFE ON A DIET at George Street Playhouse. Called 'fascinating, lighthearted and spicy' by The New York Times, MY LIFE ON A DIET, an autobiographical comedy written by Ms. Taylor and her late husband Joseph Bologna, had an enormously successful run last season Off-Broadway under the direction of Mr. Bologna.

Regarded by many theater professionals as the greatest musical ever created, GYPSY is the ultimate tale of an ambitious stage mother fighting for her daughters' success... while secretly yearning for her own. Set all across America in the 1920's, when vaudeville was dying and burlesque was born, Arthur Laurents' landmark show explores the world of two-bit show business with brass, humor, heart, and sophistication. The celebrated score by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim boasts one glorious hit after another, including: 'Let Me Entertain You,' 'Some People,' 'You'll Never Get Away from Me,' 'If Momma Was Married,' 'All I Need Is the Girl,' 'Everything's Coming Up Roses,' 'You Gotta Get A Gimmick,' 'Small World,' and 'Together Wherever We Go.'

Works & Process at the Guggenheim  has announced its spring 2020 season. Since 1984, the performing arts series has championed new works and offered audiences unprecedented access to leading creators. The intimate Frank Lloyd Wright­-designed Peter B. Lewis Theater is the venue for these seventy-minute programs that explorethe creative process through stimulating discussions and riveting performance highlights. One-of-a-kind productions created for the Guggenheim's rotunda offer a unique experience of the landmark museum. Additional information is available at worksandprocess.org.

Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Renée Taylor - known to millions as Fran Fine's food obsessed mother, Sylvia, on 'The Nanny' - brings her acclaimed comedy smash MY LIFE ON A DIET to George Street Playhouse, with the official Opening Night set for tonight (Friday) at 8 pm. Called 'fascinating, lighthearted and spicy' by The New York Times, MY LIFE ON A DIET, an autobiographical comedy written by Ms. Taylor and her late husband Joseph Bologna, had an enormously successful run last season Off-Broadway under the direction of Mr. Bologna.

Inspired by the 1957 memoirs of legendary burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Bay Area Musicals' production of GYPSY runs from November 9 - December 8, 2019 and will perform at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre (650 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102). The press opening will take place on Saturday, November 9, 2019 at 8:00 p.m.

George Street Playhouse continues their 2019/2020 season with 'My Life on a Diet,' a one-woman show co-written Renée Taylor and Joseph Bologna, starring Renée Taylor and directed by Joseph Bologna. Broadwayworld.com thoroughly enjoyed chatting with Renée Taylor about the show at GSP, and more.

a?oeGypsya?? is undeniably one of the all-time great achievements of the American musical theater. It possesses a thrilling combination of showbiz razzmatazz and dramatic intensity, grounded in Arthur Laurents' complex book and wrapped in an incomparably tuneful and stirring score by Jule Styne & Stephen Sondheim. For anyone who has not yet had the pleasure of seeing a?oeGypsy,a?? here's the basic rundown. This a?oemusical fablea?? is pretty much the ultimate backstage musical, set in the 1920's/30's against the backdrop of the dying vaudeville circuit and based on the true tale of the ultimate stage mother and her two daughters. Momma Rose, dissatisfied with the lousy cards life has dealt her, pushes her two young daughters to careers in show business as a way of fulfilling her own dreams. In real life, one eventually became successful actress June Havoc, and the other perhaps the most famous American stripper of all time, Gypsy Rose Lee. The show is replete with kiddie acts, charm songs, comic numbers and roof-raising anthems, all performed with a dual edge of gusto and desperation.

The NYC LGBT Historic Sites Project has announced the digital publication of its new curated theme, 'Broadway Theater District.' This new collection of over 40 sites celebrates the many LGBT individuals who have contributed their talents to New York City's theater history -- whether as a star with name in flashing lights on the marquee, or a member of the chorus line.

Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Renée Taylor a?" known to millions as Fran Fine's food obsessed mother, Sylvia, on a?oeThe Nannya?? a?" is bringing her acclaimed comedy smash MY LIFE ON A DIET to George Street Playhouse beginning tonight (Tuesday) at 8 pm. Opening Night is set for this Friday, November 22nd. Called a?oefascinating, lighthearted and spicya?? by The New York Times, MY LIFE ON A DIET, an autobiographical comedy written by Ms. Taylor and her late husband Joseph Bologna, had an enormously successful run last season Off-Broadway under the direction of Mr. Bologna.

The heyday of Vaudeville may have come to an abrupt end in the 1930s, but it is alive and well in Gypsy, Bay Area Musical's fifth season opening act. And what a doozy of a show. Based on the 1957 memoirs of famed striptease artist Gypsy Rose Lee, the musical came to Broadway in 1959 and was promptly hailed as a runaway hit. With a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim it garnered 8 Tony nominations, though strangely enough, it didn't win any, losing Best Musical to a tie between Fiorello! and The Sound of Music. Ouch!

During the November 16 episode of on Saturday Night Live, hosted by Harry Styles, the show parodied Gypsy with the sketch 'Baby Faye and Her Newsboys.'

Bay Area Musicals presents the timeless 6-Time Tony Award-winning masterpiece GYPSY. Inspired by the 1957 memoirs of legendary burlesque artist Gypsy Rose Lee, GYPSY features music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Arthur Laurents. Bay Area Musicals' production of GYPSY runs from November 9 a?" December 8, 2019 at San Francisco's Alcazar Theatre (650 Geary St, San Francisco, CA 94102).

Something great is coming! Rehearsals are currently underway for this season's Broadway revival of the classic musical West Side Story, directed by Tony winner Ivo van Hove. Get ready to see the Jets and the Sharks hit the stage with a peek inside the rehearsal room with cast members including Ben Cook, Kevin Csolak and more. Check out these photos!

The York Theatre Company, dedicated to the development of new musicals and preserving musical gems from the past, recently honored Tony Award winner André De Shields (Hadestown) with the 2019 Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre and producer Riki Kane Larimer (Cagney) with The York Theatre Company Founders' Award on Monday evening, November 11, 2019 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

Executive Producer, Jeremy Handelman / Off The Leash Productions, LLC with Times Sq Productions, LLC will present an invite-only, industry presentation of Stephen Lloyd Helper's Up and Down, starring Mary Bacon (Broadway: Rock and Roll, Arcadia), Robert Creighton (Broadway: Disney's FROZEN. NYC: Cagney) and Isabella Rossellini (Film: Blue Velvet, Death Becomes Her). The presentation will take place on Thursday, November 21 and Friday, November 22 at Manhattan Theatre Club Studios (311 West 43rd Street). 

Get a first look at Lauderhill Performing Arts Center (LPAC)/Broadway Palm Theatre production of West Side Story. The show will run at LPAC from November 14th through December 1st.

Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Renée Taylor a?" known to millions as Fran Fine's food obsessed mother, Sylvia, on a?oeThe Nannya?? a?" will bring her comedy smash MY LIFE ON A DIET to George Street Playhouse beginning this Tuesday, November 19th. Called a?oefascinating, lighthearted and spicya?? by The New York Times, MY LIFE ON A DIET, an autobiographical comedy written by Ms. Taylor and her late husband Joseph Bologna, had an enormously successful run last season Off-Broadway under the direction of Mr. Bologna. In this brief performance video, Renée shares a priceless anecdote about legendary (pre-Carson) a?oeTonight Showa?? host Jack Paar:

Emmy Award-winning actress and writer Renée Taylor – known to millions as Fran Fine's food obsessed mother, Sylvia, on “The Nanny” – will bring her comedy smash MY LIFE ON A DIET to George Street Playhouse beginning this Tuesday, November 19th. Called “fascinating, lighthearted and spicy” by The New York Times, MY LIFE ON A DIET, an autobiographical comedy written by Ms. Taylor and her late husband Joseph Bologna, had an enormously successful run last season Off-Broadway under the direction of Mr. Bologna.