Billy Barnes News

The new series Getting On debuts Sunday, Nov. 24 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. In advance of the upcoming premiere, check out an extended clip from the show below!

The new series Getting On debuts Sunday, Nov. 24 (10:00-10:30 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. In advance of the upcoming premiere. Check out two new clips from the show below!

Funny lady Jo Anne Worley brings her inimitable wacky, zany style of humor, that made her an overnight success in Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In (1967-73), to Welk Resorts in Escondido this week June 26-30. Jo Anne has a warm winning way with her audience; they are the reason she's performing, as she tells us early on in the 90 minute autobiographical set entitled Keep Laughin', replete with clips from Laugh-In and accompanied by wonderful Ron Snyder at the piano. Worley makes a rare appearance at events like Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland, but seldom does what she calls her 'one-man show'. So, this is a great big treat for all Worley fans.

On Sunday June 23 consummate singer Eileen Barnett brought a new version of her night club show to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal entitled You Must Believe in Spring with superb musical direction from John Boswell and crisp direction from Kristen Benton Chandler.

Actress/comedienne Jo Anne Worley needs no introduction. One of the stars of the classic TV variety show Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In, Worley will be at Welk Resorts in Escondido displaying her comic versatility as she presents her one-woman show Keep Laughin' June 26-30. In our recent chat, she did indeed have me laughing as she talked about her show, her take on what makes something funny, her favorite stars, and Actors and Others For Animals, which remains close to her heart. She's a tremendously joyous lady with terribly strong vibes about people and the biz and proves an overall endearing human being.

Fridays at BWW mean one thing: a recap at-a-glance of this week's most-read stories in our regional markets! Take a stroll around the Broadway World to see what made news for the week of March 3!

Many people do not realize, with the exception of us theatre junkies, that Billy Barnes, who regretfully passed from us in September of last year, was without a doubt the keenest composer of the theatre revue. He also created special material for TV's Laugh-In and The Carol Burnett Show, among others. His ingenious theatre revues date back to the 50s with The Billy Barnes Revue of 1959 all the way up to 1983's Movie Star, which had a long run at the Westwood Playhouse, now known as the Geffen. Bruce Kimmel remembers, as he knew the man well and recorded Billy Barnes L.A. Thanks to Kimmel a whole generation of musical theatre fans got a chance to hear up close and personal some of Barnes' greatest, saucy, yet little known achievements at a special Kritzerland show Billy! on Saturday March 2 at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal.

To quote one of Steven Schwartz' most famous songs, it seems like Kritzerland monthy concerts are getting pretty darn 'Popular'. On Monday, February 4, an off night for Kritzerland - Bruce Kimmel wisely did not wish to compete with Super Bowl Sunday on the 3rd - Kritzerland Records presented a jubilant evening of Schwartz music, some tunes lesser known than others, with a stupendous cast including guest stars Karen Morrow and Adrian Zmed at Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal. Other singers included: Kim Huber, Lisa Livesay, Dennis Kyle, Dan Callaway, Chelsea Emma Franko, Jenna Rosen and Sarah and Sami Staitman. Trouper Franko stepped in as a replacement soloist at the eleventh hour. This was perhaps one the most enjoyable Kritzerland evenings, not only because of Schwartz' delightful music, but every single performer gave 150% to the material. It rocked!

Today, we're featuring Bert Convy circa 1981. Convy first appeared on Broadway in Billy Barnes Revue in 1959, followed by Vintage '60, Nowhere to Go But Up, The Beast in Me, Love and Kisses, Fiddler on the Roof, The Impossible Years, Cabaret, The Front Page and Nine. His off-Broadway credits include The Fantasticks, Morning Sun and Shoot Anything With Hair That Moves. He was also the conceiver and director for off-Broadway's Do It Again! in 1971.

If you have a hankering to see a room full of grown-ups acting like those teenagers watching The Beatles on the Ed Sullivan show, then get thee to The Metropolitan Room, where Marilyn Maye is doing her traditional job of knocking 'em dead.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage tonight, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

Shoshana Bean joins the cast of 'A Magical Night On Broadway' at The Agua Caliente Resort Casino Spa in Rancho Mirage on Saturday, September 8 at 8:00 pm. 'A Magical Night On Broadway" is a fully-staged and costumed tribute to the American musical theatre starring stage, film and television personality JoAnne Worley and featuring music from some of Broadway's most celebrated musicals including "Chicago," "Wicked," "Hairspray," "A Chorus Line," "The Lion King" and more. Joining Worley are Bean and Broadway and television star Rex Smith, Tony-nominated actress Jonelle Allen, Terron Brooks and Carol Channing's American Glee Club - a young song and dance group representing America's public schools, along with a few surprise guests. The show is directed by David Green with musical direction by Stephen Smith.

On Sunday evening December 11, actress Thea Gill, well known for Showtime's Queer as Folk, made her cabaret debut at Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's. This stunning beauty can really sing and her show entitled Body and Soul allowed her avenues as singer/actress that she truly loves, but has little opportunity to explore. Directed by David Galligan and with slick choreographic moves by Lee Martino, Gill captivated her audience with a sensuality, style and glamor reminiscent of cabaret's heyday, but now sorely missing. Think the pure sexuality of Lana Turner and the vocal prowess of Ruth Etting, and you come close to the inimitable way Thea Gill presents herself. With fab Grammy Award-winning Gail Deadrick at the piano, Ed Livingstone on bass and Robert Miller on drums, the 65-minute set could not have been smoother.

The Actors Fund is hosting another Musical Monday at The Pantages, celebrating the life and career of beloved composer and lyricist, Billy Barnes with a special evening of 'Billy Barnes and Friends.' Joining Billy will be Eileen Barnett, Carole Cook, Nancy Dussault, Jane A. Johnston, Karen Morrow, Barry Williams and JoAnne Worley with others to follow.

The Actors Fund is hosting another Musical Monday at The Pantages, celebrating the life and career of beloved composer and lyricist, Billy Barnes with a special evening of 'Billy Barnes and Friends.' Joining Billy will be Eileen Barnett, Carole Cook, Nancy Dussault, Jane A. Johnston, Karen Morrow, Barry Williams and JoAnne Worley with others to follow.

After the success of The Billy Barnes Revue and The Billy Barnes People, BILLY BARNES' L.A. opened at the Coronet on October 10, 1962. The LA-centric show was not going to be traveling to Broadway, but Billy was LA and LA loved Billy's shows (and Bob Rodgers was an integral part of them as both sketch writer and director).

ACTORS and OTHERS for ANIMALS (A&O) proudly presented their annual Celebration of Caring fundraising event to a SOLD OUT audience on Saturday.

The never 'BOOOORRRIIINNNGGGG,' JoAnne Worley opened her one-woman show entitled 'KEEP LAUGHIN!' on Sunday Oct 4th at the Cabaret at the Castle to an audience that was clearly there to bask in the brilliant light that is Miss Worley's Star.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its 'Brave New World' Season with FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. The musical begins previews Thursday, March 19, open on Saturday, March 21 at 7pm and run through Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is the Tony Award? winning musical that captured the hearts of people all over the world with its universal appeal. The play tells the story of Tevye, a Jewish milkman coping with day-to-day 'shtetl' life, Jewish traditions and the women in his life in pre-Revolutionary Russia.

Rubicon Theatre Company continues its ?Brave New World? Season with Fiddler on the Roof. The musical begins previews Thursday, March 19, open on Saturday, March 21 at 7pm and run through Sunday, April 26, 2009 at Rubicon Theatre, 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura.