Bette Midler News

BroadwayWorld has heard from Carol Channing, our amazing readers, and more since Bette Midler was announced for the role of 'Dolly Gallagher Levi' in the Broadway return of one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history, HELLO, DOLLY! And now the diva herself has chimed in on coming back to the Great White Way in an interview with The New York Times.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series will soon present NY1 theater journalist Frank DiLella in the third episode of his new talk show, 'Show Biz After Hours With Frank DiLella.' Frank's very special guest will be Megan Hilty, star of the current Broadway hit, 'Noises Off.' The event will be taped in front of a live audience on Monday, February 22 at 7pm.

Dolly is a great comic role, but it requires a great foil playing opposite her.

There's a new Dolly coming to town, but how does the original star feel about it? BroadwayWorld has just checked in with Carol Channing, who is thrilled about this morning's news. Channing said, 'Bette will be brilliant! Dolly is the kind of character that everyone should be blessed to play. Dolly is an institution- the American musical equivalent to Hamlet.'

One of Broadway's most beloved musicals looked like a disaster in out-of-town previews.

In honor of the big announcement, BroadwayWorld is inviting you to fill your afternoon coffee break with the Divine Miss M. Take five with some Broadway classics and Midler standards below!

BroadwayWorld has teamed up with renowned caricature artist Ken Fallin, a life-long theater enthusiast, who has drawn many Broadway and Off-Broadway productions. Below, check out his latest illustration of Bette Midler in the just-announced Broadway revival of HELLO, DOLLY!

Dolly is a great comic role, but it requires a great foil playing opposite her.

As BroadwayWorld reported this morning, Bette Midler will indeed return to Broadway in one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history when she takes on the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Michael Stewart's (book) and Jerry Herman's (music and lyrics) masterpiece, Hello, Dolly!. Directed by four-time Tony Award® winner Jerry Zaks, Hello, Dolly! will begin performances on Broadway on March 13, 2017, with an official opening night of April 20, 2017. Rehearsals begin one year from today. This new production of Hello, Dolly!, the first new production of this classic musical to appear on Broadway since it opened more than fifty years ago, will have at its helm Jerry Zaks as its director, and will feature choreography by Tony Award-winner Warren Carlyle. The new Dolly! will pay tribute to the original work of legendary director/choreographer Gower Champion, which has been hailed both then and now as one of the greatest stagings in musical theater history. Below, reacquaint yourself with the creative team, old and new!

Long rumored, and first reported last night by BroadwayWorld after the star teased the news on Twitter, it's now Official! Producer Scott Rudin announced this morning that Bette Midler will indeed return to Broadway in one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history when she takes on the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Michael Stewart's (book) and Jerry Herman's (music and lyrics) masterpiece, Hello, Dolly!.

UPDATE: Bette Midler has announced on Twitter that she will indeed be making her return to Broadway next year in Jerry Herman & Michael Stewart's Tony-winning musical HELLO DOLLY!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Linda Lavin returns to Broadway in an affair to remember, LAZARUS takes its final bow and more!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Kelsey Grammer flies back to Neverland, SKELETON CREW opens at the Atlantic and more!

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance will hold a free workshop performance of HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA in the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre today and tomorrow, January 15th-16th at 7:30pm. A new musical with music by Berton Averre (The Knack), lyrics by Rob Meurer ('Sailing') & book by Mark Saltzman (The Tin Pan Alley Rag, The Adventures of Milo and Otis).

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: Eddie George brings his showmanship to Broadway's CHICAGO starting tonight!

The University of Texas at Austin Department of Theatre and Dance will hold a free workshop performance of HELLDRIVERS OF DAYTONA in the Oscar G. Brockett Theatre on January 15th-16th at 7:30pm. A new musical with music by Berton Averre (The Knack), lyrics by Rob Meurer ('Sailing') & book by Mark Saltzman (The Tin Pan Alley Rag, The Adventures of Milo and Otis).

The third show in Laguna Playhouse's 2015-2016 season will be the U.S. Premiere of ACT 3..., written by David Ambrose and Claudia Nellens and directed by Martin Bergman. Rita Rudner and Charles Shaughnessy will star.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestras begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: Show Biz After Hours with Frank DiLella with Very Special Guest Jonathan Groff; Footloose Reunion Concert; Nick Rashad Burroughs & Marisha Wallace: Baptized by Broadway; Late Night Broadway with Jarrod Spector, Kelli Barrett, & Judy Gold; and Back to the Garden: The Music of Joni Mitchell, Carole King, and Laura Nyro.

Geffen Playhouse announces a premiere theatrical event for Los Angeles - ten years in the making. Will Eno's lauded play was a finalist for the 2005 Pulitzer Prize in Drama and has been translated into more than fifteen languages, with more than 100 productions mounted worldwide.