Billy Stritch News

Dubbed 'The greatest white female singer in the world' by none other than Aretha Franklin, star vocalist Marilyn Maye will make her Provincetown debut at The Art House on August 11th and 12th at 7:00PM featuring Billy Stritch on the piano.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Kristin Chenoweth at Sidetrack, Jennifer Hudson at Ravinia, 'Carousel,' 'West Side Story,' 'Jim Caruso's Cast Party,' 'For The Boys,' more....

92nd Street Y announces the 2012 line-up for Lyrics & LyricistsTM, 92Y's celebrated American Songbook series, with DEBORAH GRACE WINER at the helm for her fourth season as series artistic director. Guest artistic directors returning to lead the individual concerts are ROB FISHER, ROBERT KIMBALL, TED SPERLING, and REX REED. Noted stage director and lyricist (and L&L veteran) MARK WALDROP makes his debut this season as a guest artistic director.

50 solo singers have been chosen to compete in the fourth annual 'MetroStar Talent Challenge,' an eight-week, jury and audience-voted elimination-round competition that begins on Monday, July 11, at 7pm at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street.

New Producing Artistic Director Mark Cortale launches his first season at the helm of The Art House with a new concert series hosted by Broadway and Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky.

This week, Broadway stars Howard McGillin, Rachel York and renowned pianist Billy Stritch pay homage to one of the giants of Broadway, jazz and popular music, Cy Coleman.

The Tony Award-winning actress Linda Lavin will head the cast of Nicky Silver's new play THE LYONS, to be given its world-premiere production Off-Broadway by the Vineyard Theatre. this fall with previews starting Wednesday, September 21, 2011 prior to its official opening night October 11, it has been announced by Douglas Aibel, artistic director of Vineyard Theatre. Mark Brokaw (HOW I LEARNED TO DRIVE) will direct.

Howard McGillin, who holds the record for longest run as the Phantom in PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, dropped by the Sirius/XM's Live On Broadway radio show yesterday and shared exciting news about his upcoming projects.

The legendary Liza Minnelli, whose latest CD Confessions was released to universal acclaim, will appear on OWN's The Gayle King Show on Friday, June 17. The program also airs on Sirius XM Satellite Radio (XM 156/Sirius 195. The appearance will spotlight Liza's latest CD and her upcoming European tour.

New Producing Artistic Director Mark Cortale launches his first season at the helm of The Art House with a new concert series hosted by Broadway and Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Manhattan's 'extreme open mic night,' returns to Mayne Stage in Chicago on Wednesday, August 3 at 9:30pm.

With an uneventful 6pm coming and going on the evening of May 21st, I rested comfortably that night secure in the knowledge that any predictions of the arrival of Judgment Day were, at the very least, miscalculations.  But the next evening, as I sat watching David Burnham, Sally Mayes, Howard McGillin, Billy Stritch, Lillias White and Rachel York perform eight-five minutes of songs composed by Broadway's heppist hepcat, Cy Coleman, you'd have a tough time convincing me I'd not been raptured into Heaven.

Unless the names 'Noel' and 'Coward' are involved, I tend to be a bit wary about musicals with the book, music, lyrics and direction all by the same person, but Willard Beckham makes a very entertaining go of it with his campy, country/western musical comedy, Lucky Guy.

Last night, May 25, 59E59 Theaters welcomed the Rubicon Theatre in California to Americas Off Broadway with their critically acclaimed production of THE BEST IS YET TO COME: THE MUSIC OF Cy Coleman, devised and directed by David Zippel. THE BEST IS YET TO COME: THE MUSIC OF Cy Coleman began previews on Tuesday, May 18 for a limited engagement through Sunday, July 3. Broadway Beat was exclusively invited to film show highlights! Below, they bring you a look at the special presentation and also take you down the opening night red carpet!

The dictionary gives others words for BEST. EXCELLENT, EFFECTIVE, PERFECT, UNSURPASSED, PREEMINENT, HIGHEST QUALITY etc. None of those are sufficient enough to describe the Songs, the Arrangements, the Performers, the Musicians, David Zippel and of course the great CY COLEMAN in a production at 59E59. From the moment a smiling Billy Stritch (performer, musical director and arranger of the show) entered the stage and went to the piano, it was obvious that a musical tour de force was about to begin and The Best Was Yet To Come!

Their partnership was one of Broadway and Hollywood's longest runs. Together, Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote words that gave life to On the Town, Wonderful Town, Bells are Ringing and Singin' in the Rain. Phyllis Newman, Tony Award-winner and Green's wife of more than four decades, summons the essence of their genius - irreverence, humanity, sophisticated wit and joy - in the Lyrics & Lyricists™ season closer Carried Away: Being Comden and Green on May 21, 22 and 23. Joining her are vocalists Sarah Uriarte Berry, Josh Grisetti, Marcus Lovett, Mary Testa and Zakiya Young, with special guest vocalist Leslie Uggams.

92nd Street Y has announced the 2011 line-up for Lyrics & LyricistsTM, its celebrated American Songbook series. Deborah Grace Winer will return for her third season as artistic director of the series. Guest artistic directors of the season's individual concerts will be John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, David Loud, Ted Chapin, and Amanda Green; Winer will create one of the season's shows as well.

92nd Street Y has announced the 2011 line-up for Lyrics & LyricistsTM, its celebrated American Songbook series. Deborah Grace Winer will return for her third season as artistic director of the series. Guest artistic directors of the season's individual concerts will be John Pizzarelli, Jessica Molaskey, David Loud, Ted Chapin, and Amanda Green; Winer will create one of the season's shows as well.

Winners of the 2010-11 Drama League Awards, presented at the 77th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon on Friday, May 20, 2011 (1 p.m.) at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in Times Square. Here is BroadwayWorld.com's special coverage of all the lovely ladies in attendance.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer) welcomes the Rubicon Theatre in California to Americas Off Broadway with their critically acclaimed production of THE BEST IS YET TO COME: THE MUSIC OF Cy Coleman, devised and directed by David Zippel.