Barbara Cook News

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 11/07 for Norfolk

Two-time Tony Award winner CHITA RIVERA will perform songs from her legendary Broadway career with an intimate evening of music in CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY coming to the Venetian Room 8pm, November 5, 2010 as the first subscriber show of Bay Area Cabaret's ongoing series.

In a big-hearted, gloriously tuneful world premiere musical from a team of celebrated Broadway veterans, Truman Capote's enchanting holiday tale A CHRISTMAS MEMORY springs to life at TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley.

Bay Area Cabaret audiences will get a first look at the national tour concert ADAM & ANTHONY LIVE starring Adam Pascal and Anthony Rapp. After 15 years of friendship and co-starring roles in Jonathan Larsen's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical Rent, these two iconic Broadway stars are coming together to bring fans what they've been waiting for: an up-close-and-personal concert featuring their individual work as well as fan-favorite numbers from the production that rocketed them to international stardom. The concert plays one night only 7pm, Sunday, November 21, 2010 in the Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco. For tickets ($20 students under 21/ $35 subscribers / $40 general) call City Box Office (415) 392-4400 or visit www.bayareacabaret.org. A limited number of attendees will be treated to a post-show party with the artists. For reservations ($75) to the post-show party, call Bay Area Cabaret at 415-927-4636.

Four of musical theater's brightest talents offer behind-the-scenes tales and the magical music of a true legend in Broadway Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Cy Coleman. Beloved songs from Cy Coleman's award-winning shows including Sweet Charity, City of Angels and The Will Rogers Follies and songs such as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best is Yet to Come' will be performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center December 9 - 12 in this heartfelt and personal tribute to the life and incredible work of this great American artist. The show features Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel, who collaborated with Coleman on City of Angels; Center favorite Jason Graae, whose special way around a song has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, the Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and the Rainbow Room; Jenifer Lewis, who has starred in numerous Broadway productions as well as movies and television and the multi-talented Tami Tappan Damiano, who has appeared on stages all over the world.

Today, perhaps the greatest gift a Broadway baby could receive was benevolently bestowed upon me in the form of an indepth and revealing discussion with the foremost composer and lyricist of his generation, one of the greatest writers in American history in any medium - the unmatched musical and lyrical genius himself, Stephen Sondheim. In this portion of our complete discussion we discuss his new book, FINISHING THE HAT, as well as take a look back at his legendary career both in Hollywood and on Broadway. Merman to Madonna, Brecht to Barbra Streisand, COMPANY to GROUNDHOG DAY (or not) - we cover it all. See here just a glimpse of the reason why the name Stephen Sondheim means more to musical theatre than any other name in the last fifty years. Plus, his promise to - in his own immortal words from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - 'give us more to see' in the very near future. That moment cannot come soon enough, as any fan of theatre - or art in America, for that matter - can assuredly attest.

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, the exhilarating new Kander & Ebb musical, opened Sunday, October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre and BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the show's post-bow celebration!

THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS, the exhilarating new Kander & Ebb musical, opened Sunday, October 31 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 West 45th Street) and BroadwayWorld.com was there to caption the starry red carpet arrivals!

As BroadwayWorld reported yesterday, legendary theater writer Joseph Stein passed away yesterday, October 24, 2010 at the age of 98 according to those who have recently worked with him. Stein leaves behind the musicals Fiddler on the Roof, Zorba, and Mr. Wonderful, to name a few.

Stephen Sondheim's much anticipated book, 'Finishing the Hat', compiles his lyrics from the past 50 years and give readers a look into his personal life as well as his remarkable productions. The book hit stores today, October 26. In anticipation of it's launch, Sondheim hosted a book party in at Chartwell Booksellers in Manhattan with some of his closest friends. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its thirteenth season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 16 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, country, rock, and show tunes, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting.

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 10/24 for Norfolk

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine, and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, continues its Fall 2010 season with the debut engagement of Broadway star and three-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara last night, October 19. In her new show, which runs through October 30, Ms. O'Hara takes a journey beyond the ingénue by mixing songs by newer songwriters like Tom Kitt and Ricky Ian Gordon with classics by Frank Loesser ('Somebody, Somewhere') Irving Berlin ('Always'). All performances, which feature a quartet led by Music Director Dan Lipton, will be at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). This program will also be performed at the Tilles Center on Long Island (November 5). BroadwayWorld was on hand for O'Hara's debut last night and brings you photo coverage below.

Philadelphia Theatre Company spells F-U-N when it opens its 35th Anniversary mainstage season with the multiple Tony Award winner The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee with music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, and conceived by Rebecca Feldman, running November 12-December 12 at the Suzanne Roberts Theatre (Broad and Lombard Streets).

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, continues its Fall 2010 season with the debut engagement of Broadway star and three-time Tony Award nominee KELLI O'HARA from October 19 - 30.

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, the five-time Grammy Award nominated, platinum-selling singer and pianist, will celebrate the release his new CD Fly Me To The Moon - featuring guitar legend JOE NEGRI - with a special in-store performance and CD signing at the Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble on Monday, October 18.

Upcoming Theatre Communication Group Member Shows - 10/17 for Richmond

Bay Area Cabaret, the local organization devoted to presenting audiences with top performers who expand the definition of cabaret, announced it has been invited to reopen the Fairmont Hotel's historic Venetian Room as a showroom, and given exclusive music booking rights to present its musical series in the city's legendary showroom. Said Marilyn Levinson, Founding Executive Producer of Bay Area Cabaret, now in its seventh season, 'The Venetian Room reigned supreme as America's premier supper club from 1947 to 1989. It was here that Tony Bennett introduced his signature song 'I Left My Heart in San Francisco' and show business legends like Ella Fitzgerald, Marlene Dietrich, Tina Turner, Joel Grey, Bobby Short, James Brown, Vic Damone, Nat 'King' Cole, and many, many other performers held forth for more than four decades. We are thrilled and honored to be reopening this historic room as a music venue, where we will be presenting this generation's top Broadway, pop and jazz performers.'

MICHAEL FEINSTEIN, the five-time Grammy Award nominated, platinum-selling singer and pianist, will celebrate the release his new CD Fly Me To The Moon - featuring guitar legend JOE NEGRI - with a special in-store performance and CD signing at the Lincoln Center Barnes and Noble on Monday, October 18.

Renowned mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne will share her valuable insights and experiences in a rare interview with Nancy Shear, as part of Music For All Seasons' popular and acclaimed 'Conversations' series. The event will launch the 2010/2011 series, and will be held on Thursday, October 14, from 6:00 to 8:30 p.m., at Saint Peter's Lutheran Church, Citigroup Center on 54th Street and Lexington Avenue.