Betty Comden News

The York Theatre Company will honor legendary Broadway Music Director and Conductor Paul Gemignani with the Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre at the 21st Annual Oscar Hammerstein Award Gala to be held on Monday, November 19, 2012 at The Edison Ballroom (240 West 47th Street).

Currently playing at the Metropolitan Room on Friday nights through September (at 9:30 pm), Two for the Road starring singer Shaynee Rainbolt and musical director/pianist Donn Trenner is a transcendent cabaret show infused with romantic nostalgia. While the pairing of Rainbolt, a critically-acclaimed jazz singer (and multiple MAC and Bistro-Award winner), with Trenner, an Emmy-nominated musical director, conductor, and arranger (who has played piano for a Hollywood Walk of Fame full of stars including Ann-Margret, Shirley MacLaine and Bob Hope) seems as close to a cabaret show slam dunk as you get, there is an intense connection between these two performers that is palpable from the moment Rainbolt wraps her luscious voice around Trenner's jazzy piano riffing for the show's opening number.

In the opening song on Barbra Streisand's stunning new album, RELEASE ME (produced by Streisand and Jay Landers)- a career-spanning collection of rarities and recordings that have been heretofore hidden away in vast vaults and rarely even referenced, let alone ever heard - she powerfully imparts a lyric from the Betty Comden/Adolph Green/Jule Styne score of the Arthur Laurents-directed Tony Award-winning Best Musical of 1968, HALLELUJAH, BABY!, also acting as an oh-so-apt autobiographical summation: 'I'll be the best or nothing at all.' Indeed, so goes the legacy of Barbra Streisand - the voice of a generation; the greatest living recording artist, bar (or, if you prefer, Bar) none; who, now, today, is in the final stages of preparation before embarking on her new tour in conjunction with the release of this new album, directed by longtime creative collaborator and co-director, Richard Jay-Alexander with musical director and conductor William Ross.

Film and television star Robert Powell will join the cast of Singin' in the Rain from 1 October 2012, as the five star West End production announces the release of over 300,000 new tickets, taking bookings at the Palace Theatre to 1 September 2013. The news coincides with the 60th anniversary of the release of the iconic 1952 MGM film version starring Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds. The Original London Cast Recording of this production of Singin' in the Rain was also recently released by First Night Records, reaching number one on the soundtrack chart during its first month on sale.

Musicals Tonight has announced its 2012-2013 Season-it's 15th-which begins October 2 with Red, Hot and Blue at The Lion Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street. The season continues with Fade Out - Fade In, Strike Up the Band, Same Time, Next Year and Leave It to Jane. More details below!

The Hartt School Theatre Division, under the direction of Alan Rust, has announced its 2012-2013 Theatre Division performance season.

Drury Lane Theatre, 100 Drury Lane, makes a splash with the effervescent musical comedy SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, previewing November 8, opening November 15, and running through January 13, 2013.

The Outdoor Museum (not your usual images of New York) is a book of photographs and verse created as a tribute to the iconic city of New York. Presenting it as its own exhibit, the book includes more than 100 stunning images, 11 sage and witty poems (read by Sheldon Harnick on an accompanying CD), and a reverential foreword by renowned director, Mike Nichols. BroadwayWorld brings you a preview of one of the pieces from the book below, entitled 'Questions.'

Primary Stages (Casey Childs, Founder & Executive Producer; Andrew Leynse, Artistic Director; Elliot Fox, Managing Director) have announced that their annual Gala will take place Wednesday, November 14, 2012 at The Edison Ballroom (240 W. 47th Street). The event will honor Tony Award winner Tyne Daly (Master Class, Rabbit Hole, Gypsy), and producers and Primary Stages board members Jamie deRoy, and Ted Snowdon. The Gala Chair is Tom Kirdahy.

Music Theatre of Wichita presented Singin' in the Rain at the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, 225 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67202. BroadwayWorld has complete coverage of the show below.

The 7th Annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience presents PETER PAN, tonight, July 27-August 5, 2012 at Wilson Center for the Arts, 11901 Beach Blvd in Jacksonville, Fla.

Music Theatre of Wichita Presents Singin' in the Rain, July 25-29 at the Century II Performing Arts & Convention Center, 225 W. Douglas Ave., Wichita, KS 67202. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the performance below, including rehearsal footage, interviews and more!

The 7th Annual High School Summer Musical Theatre Experience presents PETER PAN, July 27-August 5, 2012 at Wilson Center for the Arts, 11901 Beach Blvd in Jacksonville, Fla.

Kansas City's premiere outdoors theater presents Cathy Rigby in PETER PAN as part of their summer 2012 Broadway Season. The show will perform from tonight, July 24th through the 29th, at 8 PM. Other shows included in summer line-up are IN THE HEIGHTS, THE ADDAMS FAMILY MEMPHIS, AIDA, and LA CAGE AUX FOLLIES. Tickets for PETER PAN are available by calling the box office, or online at www.kcstarlight.com. More information on the production starring Cathy Rigby can be found at www.cathyrigbyispeterpan.com.

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN will receive it's first ever Blu-Ray release on Tuesday, July 17th. To commemorate this event, we're looking at why this film is still a crowd favorite 60 years later.