Betty Comden News

SONGBOOK is an album featuring ten live performances by Joseph Lorenzo Wise. It also features a bonus track 'Papaparazzi,' the new hit single featuring the Beethoven Fifth. The inspirational songs range from spirituals, to pop hits, to Sibelius. The CD also features one original song -- 'Dreams' -- written in New York City in the '80s by Joseph Lorenzo Wise.

From Sweet Charity to City of Angels, "Witchcraft" to "The Best is Yet to Come," Cy Coleman lived on both Broadway and the pop charts, with firm roots in the jazz world. He wrote standards made famous by such singers as Frank Sinatra, Ella Fitzgerald and Nat King Cole, and partnered with lyricists like Carolyn Leigh, Dorothy Fields and Peggy Lee. Grammy-winning singer-pianist Billy Stritch, a friend and protege of Coleman, celebrates the jazz side of this versatile, quintessentially New York composer in Witchcraft: The Jazz Magic of Cy Coleman.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents the second production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISTS...APPLAUSE, featuring book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Charles Strouseand lyrics by Lee Adams, with direction and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik, music direction by Nick Sula. BroadwayWorld has photos from the opening night festivities below!

Jack F. Lee (born John Francis Lee), beloved musical director of both stage and screen, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2016 in his home at the age of 86. Mr. Lee was one of Broadway's leading conductors and musical directors who worked with composers/lyricists John Kander & Fred Ebb, Cy Coleman & Dorothy Fields, Jule Styne, Richard Rogers, Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse, Alan Jay Lerner, Maury Yeston, Robert Wright & George Forrest, Sandy Wilson, Bob Merrill, Betty Comden & Adolph Green and Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones.

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber have announced the second production in the third smash season of Chicago's 'lost' musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISTS...APPLAUSE, featuring book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, with direction and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik, music direction by Nick Sula.

Cabrillo Music Theatre proudly announces the 2016-2017 season of shows.   Cabrillo's High-Flying Season features three Cabrillo debuts and one classic favorite not seen in nearly 15 years.  All of Cabrillo's productions are locally produced, auditioned and rehearsed in Southern California, and performed exclusively at the Bank of America Performing Arts Center at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza.

 Every season must reflect the mission of the company and for the past 13 years, Sean Murray has crafted uniquely Cygnet seasons that reflect the commitment to 'startle the soul, embrace diversity and ignite debate.' This year is no exception. The seven productions in Season 14 range from the traditional to the avant-garde and include two musical theatre classics, a two-show repertory by a Pulitzer prize-winning playwright, the return of a holiday favorite and two contemporary works sure to shock and amaze.

Get ready to celebrate the life of beloved American entertainer Will Rogers at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES: A LIFE IN REVUE! BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber have announced the second production in the third smash season of Chicago's "lost" musicals in staged concert series, PORCHLIGHT REVISTS...APPLAUSE, featuring book by Betty Comden and Adolph Green, music by Charles Strouse and lyrics by Lee Adams, with direction and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Christopher Pazdernik, music direction by Nick Sula.

The curtain rises on a hotel room out of town, and songwriters in the midst of a desperate, all-night creative frenzy to save a faltering show. Lyrics & Lyricists 2016 season opens with real-life theatrical drama as three-time Tony-winner Kathleen Marshall returns to 92Y with the nail-biting stories behind the 11th-hour songs that saved the day and became Broadway classics. The show runs tonight, January 9, through January 11 at 92Y.

Happy New Year, BroadwayWorld! As we eagerly anticipate the amazing musicals and plays coming up in 2016, we're taking a moment to look back at the significant Broadway closings of 2015.

Hale Center Theater Orem is pleased to announce its 2016 Season.

Lin-Manuel Miranda's smash may have been the year's top theatre story, but 2015 was full of controversy and celebration.

Get ready to celebrate the life of beloved American entertainer Will Rogers at the Maltz Jupiter Theatre with The Will Rogers Follies: A Life in Revue!

'CHRISTMAS AGAIN' an original Christmas Classic, lyrics by Joseph L. Wise and music by Joseph L. Wise and Cody T. Gillete is Wise's latest release. Wise and Gillette scored a CD BABY number one hit with 'AMEN' on the California Pop chart and No. 5 on Traditional Gospel.

'CHRISTMAS AGAIN' an original Christmas Classic, lyrics by Joseph L. Wise and music by Joseph L. Wise and Cody T. Gillete is Wise's latest release. Wise and Gillette scored a CD BABY number one hit with 'AMEN' on the California Pop chart and No. 5 on Traditional Gospel.

The curtain rises on a hotel room out of town, and songwriters in the midst of a desperate, all-night creative frenzy to save a faltering show. Lyrics & Lyricists 2016 season opens with real-life theatrical drama as three-time Tony-winner Kathleen Marshall returns to 92Y with the nail-biting stories behind the 11th-hour songs that saved the day and became Broadway classics. The show runs January 9-11 at 92Y.

Today, December 8, Palm Beach Dramaworks launches the third season of its highly successful Dramalogue - Talking Theatre! series with Paul Gemignani: Musical Theatre's Master Maestro. The program features the esteemed Broadway musical director in conversation with Sheryl Flatow. Gemignani, recipient of the 2001 Lifetime Achievement Tony Award, will discuss a remarkable career still going strong after more than 40 years, and talk about how he helps shape a show and bring a score to life. The program will be presented twice, at 2pm (limited seating available) and 7pm at the Don & Ann Brown Theatre.

Musical Theatre West's (MTW) Reiner Staged Reading Series returns in 2016 with four one-night only performances of classic and forgotten Broadway gems, including Pal Joey (January 24, 2016); On the Twentieth Century (May 16, 2016); Donnybrook! (June 12, 2016); and Li'l Abner (August 28, 2016).  All performances take place at the University Theatre at California State University, Long Beach (off 7th Street between East and West Campus Drive, Parking Lot 7). 

Relive the Golden Age of Broadway and the magical moments from TV's past with Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews,Carol Burnett and many more as we look at the history of live TV musicals.