Bernadette Peters News

On February 6 five of Young Broadway's favorite blondes presented BLONDE AMBITION a one-night-only concert to benefit Broadway Barks, Bernadette Peters' and Mary Tyler Moore's shelter animal charity. See some of the musical numbers below!

On February 6 five of Young Broadway's favorite blondes presented BLONDE AMBITION a one-night-only concert to benefit Broadway Barks, Bernadette Peters' and Maty Tyler Moore's shelter animal charity. Check out our photo coverage of the event below, which features Bernadette Peters and Phillys Newman as well as the stars of the show.

As we move toward the end of February, I hope your entertainment plans include attending a couple of shows at any one of our several theatre and live performance establishments that ply their trade here on the California Central Coast!

StudentsLive, the Premier Broadway Education Company, has annouced its first-ever multilingual international and domestic "Passport to Broadway" Program for students from July 23, 2012 to August 3, 2012 at Pearl Studios and Manhattan Movement and Arts Center (MMAC). The musical theatre intensive final performance takes place over 10 days from approximately 8:30am to 6:00pm, Monday through Friday, at Pearl Studios led by Broadway Musical Directors, Choreographers and Interactive Intensives with Broadway Performers and Guest Artists.

The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra will host its second annual Symphony Gala on Saturday, February 18, 2012, at the Woodruff Arts Center in Atlanta.

Welcome to THE FRIDAY SIX: Q&As With Your Favorite Broadway Stars. Want to know what hooked them to a career in the theater? Their dream roles? Their Broadway crushes? Read on! In this next edition, we caught up with ROCK OF AGES' Dan Domenech, who plays rockstar 'Stacee Jaxx'!

After seeing Andrea Martin's brand new, laugh-filled, autobiographical one-woman-and-a-pianist show ANDREA MARTIN: FINAL DAYS! EVERYTHING MUST GO!, it's quite clear to see why the ever-so-funny Tony- and Emmy-winning actress has had such a rich and storied career in entertainment. A born chameleon with an endless arsenal of quirky characters and on-point impersonations, Martin provides her audience with a live, gut-busting 90-minute sampling of her impressive genius. Accompanied by Broadway musician and YouTube star Seth Rudetsky behind the keys, her show continues nightly performances at the Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa through Sunday, February 19.

Sierra Repertory Theatre will open its 33rd season with a production of Gypsy, playing March 3 through April 22 at Sierra Rep's East Sonora stage. A burst of trumpet opens the musical classic Gypsy, pulling audiences into the world of vaudeville and Broadway's fable of a fierce and focused stage mom with a desperate dream. The musical's score includes a string of show biz staples, including "Let Me Entertain You," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Together Wherever We Go," "Rose's Turn" and "All I Need is the Girl." See SRT's pre-production photos!

Sierra Repertory Theatre will open its 33rd season with its production of Gypsy, playing March 3 through April 22 at Sierra Rep's East Sonora stage. A burst of trumpet opens the musical classic Gypsy, pulling audiences into the world of vaudeville and Broadway's fable of a fierce and focused stage mom with a desperate dream.

Dory Previn Shannon died on Tuesday morning, February 14, at her home in Massachusetts, according to her husband, artist Joby Baker. She was 86 years old.

The Harbor Lights Theater Company, Staten Island's own professional theater company, announces the first session of its 2012 master class series.

Tickets are now on sale for Kelrik Productions' presentation of ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, playing February 25 - March 11 at Unity (1490 Southwood Drive in San Luis Obispo.)

Last night, SMASH cast Marilyn Monroe in the big Broadway musical based on her life at the show's center. Or, did they? While Ivy Lynn (Megan Hilty) may have done whatever it took to make an impression on the show's lothario director, Derek (Jack Davenport), it was Ivy's long-standing friendship with the songwriting team of Julia & Tom (Debra Messing & Christian Borle) and the belief in her readily apparent talent by the lead producer, Eileen (Anjelica Huston), that really sealed the deal. So, where does that leave Karen (Katharine McPhee)? In the chorus, it seems - at least for now. The drama escalated and reached an early peak along with the crescendos of Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman's smashing "Twentieth Century Fox Mambo" showstopper - the musical highlight of the impossibly strong second episode - as the heated fully-staged and fully-choreographed audition gave way to a dream reality which finally showed us all out there in the audience what a Karen/Marilyn could potentially be: a true blonde bombshell to beat the band. Of course, nothing is quite so cut and dry as it may appear and Karen may get her chance in the spotlight on the actual Marilyn musical's stage after all. Yet, for the next few episodes at least, Ivy is the star of the show - and she is going to wring every last wiggle, coo and peck out of the role. Plus, who can put over a number in true Broadway fashion - as Marilyn Monroe, perfectly played, no less - than Megan Hilty? Did you hear her line in the newly envisioned 'Let Me Be Your Star'? In much the same way as Hilty with the Broadway pizazz, McPhee effortlessly puts over treacherously tricky pop songs with smoothness, sweetness and near-tangible sincerety and conviction. Which way will the score ultimately go - and, furthermore, what shall be of the show that contains it? Will the musical be more Norma Jean or more Marilyn, thus more befitting of Karen or Ivy, respectively? Who knows, perhaps there ultimately will be two Marilyns required - as was proposed in this very column last week at this time and seems the logical ultimate conclusion of the casting dilemma at the show's core. We will certainly have to wait and find out what happens next on SMASH and what the show ends up requiring of its incredibly talented cast of hoofers and stars-to-be. Plus, Nick Jonas, Uma Thurman and Bernadette Peters make guest star debuts in the next several weeks!

From Nick Jonas and Michael Urie to the Ladies of THE VIEW to Adam Pascal, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand to Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters to Susan Boyle, Colin Quinn to GLEE and Everything in Between - It's the BroadwayWorld.com 2012 Valentine's Day Special - It's the Biggest Ever!

A rep for singer Whitney Houston announced to the Associated Press that Houston died yesterday at age 48. The singer died in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel, where she was for Clive Davis' Grammy Awards party. No cause of death has yet been revealed.

We reached out to producer Craig Zadan and he tells BroadwayWorld.com that 'Neil (Meron) and I worked closely with Whitney on the TV production of Rodgers and Hammerstein's Cinderella and the movie was a magical experience. We had a reunion with Whitney last year in Atlanta and she seemed to be in a great place emotionally and we subsequently began developing a new film for her which we had hoped to do later this year. It's such a tragedy and we're so heartbroken at this terrible loss, both personally and professionally. We will miss her a lot.'

We reached out to Frank Wildhorn upon the news of the singer's death today at age 48, and he tells BroadwayWorld.com that it's 'So sad and tragic...she was such a big part of my life in the late 80's, and she was such a wonderful soul to work with and such a soulful woman. I only hope she's singing 'up there'. I'm sending my prayers and sympathies for her family.'

Whitney Houston's first television performance was on the Merv Griffen show (April 29, 1985) singing 'Home' from THE WIZ.

A rep for singer Whitney Houston has announced tonight to the Associated Press that Houston died this afternoon at age 48. The singer died in her room at the Beverly Hilton hotel, where she was for Clive Davis' Grammy Awards party. No cause of death has yet been revealed.

Steps off Broadway Productions, Inc., has announced the upcoming staged performances of Stephen Sondheim's Broadway hit musical spectacular, Into the Woods.