Betty Comden News

Tom Wopat returns to the Barn to star as Will Rogers in the musical comedy THE WILL ROGERS FOLLIES - A Life in Revue, playing August 25 - September 6. Set in the glitz and glamour of Rogers' Ziegfeld Follies days, the musical tells the life story of the cowboy rope trick artist turned political satirist, philosopher, write, movie star, humanitarian, champion of the underdog and friend of kings and presidents.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre, the metro area's only professional musical theatre company, presents Broadway's timeless musical PETER PAN tonight, August 14 - 30, 2015 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre (548 S. Marietta Pkwy., Marietta).

Katie Anne Clark and Jennifer Ellis are dynamite as the dynamic Sherwood sisters in the Reagle Music Theatre production of WONDERFUL TOWN, an old-fashioned musical comedy with music by Leonard Bernstein and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. Clark's comedic flair, Ellis' luminous voice, an ensemble of triple-threat performers, extraordinary choreography, and a 22-piece orchestra are just five of the many good reasons to get yourself to RMT in Waltham before they roll up the sidewalks.

Legendary Broadway producer, manager and agent Samuel 'Biff' Liff passed away yesterday, August 10, at his home in Westchester County, NY. He was 96. Biff was Broadway icon Chita Rivera's longtime agent at William Morris. Read her statement about Biff below...

Legendary Broadway producer, manager and agent Samuel 'Biff' Liff passed away yesterday, August 10, at his home in Westchester County, NY. He was 96. Liff's longtime friend Emanuel Azenberg, confirmed the news to Deadline this afternoon.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, New York City Ballet principal dancer and Theatre World Award Winner Megan Fairchild departed the Broadway revival of On The Town last weekend. Now, New York City Ballet soloist Georgina Pazcoguin steps into the role of 'Ivy Smith' for performances from tonight, August 11, through August 23. Beginning August 25, Misty Copeland will make her Broadway debut in the role for 12 performances only, through September 6.

Due to popular demand, Barrington Stage Company (BSC), the award-winning theatre in Downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Artistic Director Julianne Boyd and Managing Director Tristan Wilson, had to add a second performance  for Elizabeth Stanley's "I Get Carried Away" show at Mr. Finn's Cabaret, located on the lower level of the Sydelle and Lee Blatt Performing Arts Center, 36 Linden Street, Pittsfield.

New York City Ballet principal dancer and Theatre World Award Winner Megan Fairchild will depart the Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN on August 9 to return to the NYC Ballet. Fairchild will be succeeded by New York City Ballet soloist Georgina Pazcoguin, who will step into the role of 'Ivy Smith' for performances from August 11 - 23. Beginning August 25,Misty Copeland will make her Broadway debut as 'Ivy Smith' for 12 performances only, through September 6.

This just in... The Tony Award nominated revival of ON THE TOWN will conclude its run on Broadway on Sunday, September 6 following 28 previews and 368 regular performances, making this the longest-running Broadway production of the show since the 1944 original.

Just yesterday, Tony Yazbeck was honored at the legendary Sardi's Restaurant with his very own portrait.Yazbeck earned 2015 Tony Award, Drama League Award and Outer Critics Circle Award nominations as well as the 2015 Astaire Award, for his portrayal of 'Gabey' in the hit Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN. His other Broadway credits include Chicago (Billy Flynn), Irving Berlin's White Christmas (Phil Davis), Gypsywith Patti LuPone (Tulsa, Outer Critics Circle nom.), A Chorus Line (Al), Oklahoma!, Never Gonna Dance, and Gypsy with Tyne Daly.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre, the metro area's only professional musical theatre company, presents Broadway's timeless musical PETER PAN August 14 - 30, 2015 at the Jennie T. Anderson Theatre (548 S. Marietta Pkwy., Marietta). 

New York City Ballet principal dancer and Theatre World Award Winner Megan Fairchild will depart the Broadway revival of ON THE TOWN on August 9 to return to the NYC Ballet. Fairchild will be succeeded by New York City Ballet soloist Georgina Pazcoguin, who will step into the role of 'Ivy Smith' for performances from August 11 - 23. Beginning August 25,Misty Copeland will make her Broadway debut as 'Ivy Smith' for 12 performances only, through September 6.

Below, watch as Tony nominee Tony Yazbeck and Megan Fairchild dance the 'Great Lover' Ballet from Act 2!

Two classic theatrical telecasts make their Blu-ray debut!

Artpark brings the tale of PETER PAN to life on the Artpark Theater stage for eight exciting performances tomorrow, July 30, through August 7, 2015.

When compared to SUNSET BOULEVARD, which follows the same classic film-to-stage pedigree as SINGIN' IN THE RAIN and tackles the same dilemma of making the transition from silent films to talkies in the 1920s - albeit of psychological melodrama in genre compared to the latter's rollicking parody - SUNSET BOULEVARD had big stars of stage and screen who headlined West End and Broadway. SINGIN' IN THE RAIN did not delve into such stunt casting from the onset - unless you consider Tommy Steele, who originated the role of Don Lockwood in the West End, as big as Elvis Presley or Gene Kelly, the silver screen's original Lockwood.

BBC Culture today released a comprehensive new poll of the 100 Greatest American Films of all time. Among the esteemed list is the 1952 film SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, at No. 7, and THE WIZARD OF OZ, coming in #34 on the list.

Cast members from ON THE TOWN recently stopped by ABC-TV to sing 'The World News Polka,' accompanied by an accordion. Watch the humorous performance- complete with sock puppets- below!

As the cliche goes, if it ain't broke, don't fix it. That is perhaps partly the philosophy behind the rather faithful stage adaptation of the gloriously wonderful movie musical SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, now once again charmingly replicated in a smile-inducing local production at Musical Theatre West that continues through July 26 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. An almost scene-by-scene, note-for-note recreation of the superb cinematic masterpiece, the musical theater iteration of SINGIN' IN THE RAIN smartly and painstakingly reenacts every key moment and memorable musical happenstance from the 1952 movie that many have since heralded as one of the best movie musicals of all time. With MTW's latest revival specifically, director/choreographer Jon Engstrom has helmed a joyful production worth experiencing, whether it's your first or hundredth time. And, yes, it rains on stage... and it's a sight to behold!

Berkshire Theatre Group's revival of BELLS ARE RINGING starring Broadway's charming husband and wife duo Graham Rowat and Kate Baldwin can be described in two words: sensory overload. Director Ethan Heard and his entire creative team have worked the 1956 kitsch so hard that the physical elements overwhelm the performances - and challenge the actors to ratchet things up to a fever pitch just to be noticed.