Bob Fosse News

The cast of Pippin will have magic to do at the Music Box Theatre, with preview performances beginning Saturday, March 23, 2013 and opening night on Thursday, April 25, 2013. It might still be another month before fans can check out the cast in action, but you can meet the company of the incoming revival with videos of them from past productions and roles below!

On Saturday February 23, triple-threat actress/singer/dancer Bebe Neuwirth presented her critically-acclaimed cabaret act Stories with Piano at Valley Performing Arts Center, Northridge. Miss Neuwirth has a legion of fans for her two-time Emmy Award winning portrayal of Frasier's cold, bitchy, calculating ex-wife Lilith on TV's Cheers and Frasier and from Broadway where she won two Tonys for her unforgettable performances in Sweet Charity and Chicago. A stellar actress, Neuwirth commands the stage with her sheer presence: no easy task for a lady so petite. But, it goes far beyond aura. There are gusts of unbridled passion conveyed, as she ferociously attacks the story of each song in character, sometimes alone, sometimes essaying two roles. Kander & Ebb, Bertolt Brecht, Kurt Weill, Sondhiem, Tom Waits and soon Jacques Brel are the musical idols, all vividly brought to life by Neuwirth's brutal honesty and evocatively burning emotional force.

Acclaimed Director/Choreographer Jerry Mitchell will be honored with the 2013 'Mr. Abbott' Award for his outstanding artistry and creativity and breadth of his thirty-year career. The award will be presented at a gala event at B.B. King on Monday, May 13, 2013, from 7 - 10pm, with four-time Tony Award-winning playwright and actor Harvey Fierstein, a frequent collaborator of Jerry Mitchell, to emcee.

Broadway World [BWW] sat down with Broadway veterans, Lloyd Culbreath and Valarie Pettiford, to discuss their efforts to preserve Bob Fosse's legendary choreography for the next generation of dancers. The pair held an exclusive Fosse Workshop in early February and invited fifty professional dancers to learn the signature style and articulation of Fosse choreography.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguilar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.' Meet the cast in the photos below!

Tony Award-winning stage and screen legend Ben Vereen is this year's Special Guest Star at ACADEMY AFFAIR 2013, the Annual Benefit and Community Awards Gala presented by MenAlive, the Orange County Gay Men's Chorus. The event takes place at the posh Center Club, located at the Garden Level of the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Before Mr. Vereen arrived in Orange County to perform at the Benefit, he spoke with West Coast Contributing Editor Michael Lawrence Quintos about his blessed life and expansive career in the theater.

San Diego Musical Theatre presents its production of Kander & Ebb's "Chicago", February 15-March 3 at the Birch North Park Theatre! The show is Directed by Ron Kellum, Choreographed by Randy Slovacek with Musical Direction by Don LeMaster. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

Largely responsible for the movie musical revolution of the 21st century, setting the stage first with their mega-successful work on TV in the 1990s like GYPSY, CINDERELLA and ANNIE, then, with their feature film entries since - beginning with CHICAGO and continuing with HAIRSPRAY and many more - executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron have bridged the gap between Broadway and Hollywood like no other producers - and, all the while, on their own terms. Opening up about a vast array of projects, ranging from the aforementioned modern classic TV musicals all the way through to the films and stage shows - successful revivals of PROMISES, PROMISES and HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING included - and their affiliation with NBC's musical drama series SMASH, Zadan and Meron paint a vivid portrait displaying their fierce dedication to the performing arts and desire for excellence in all of their many, many endeavors. Plus, most importantly, Zadan and Meron clue us in on what we can anticipate from this Sunday's Academy Awards telecast, which they are producing - such as their experiences collaborating with controversial triple-threat host Seth MacFarlane, amassing the starriest assortment of musical performers in Oscar history (Barbra Streisand, Adele, Shirley Bassey, Norah Jones, Catherine Zeta-Jones and Jennifer Hudson among the performers announced so far), creating spectacular tributes to both James Bond in his fiftieth year on film and the modern movie musical revolution (showcasing no less than the reunions of cast members from CHICAGO, DREAMGIRLS and this year's multi-nominated hit LES MISERABLES) as well as what will make this show truly unique. Additionally, Zadan and Meron shed some light on their current and future plans and productions, among them: a BONNIE & CLYDE miniseries for the History Channel starring Emile Hirsch; the currently-running second season of NBC's musical drama series SMASH; two original movie musicals in development and original stage projects, too. All of that, memories of the remarkable LIFE WITH JUDY GARLAND: ME & MY SHADOWS, Lifetime's record-breaking broadcast of a new STEEL MAGNOLIAS, comments on DROP DEAD DIVA's recent cancellation, news on the upcoming e-book edition of Zadan's peerless SONDHEIM & CO. biography, the NBC TV version of THE SOUND OF MUSIC starring Carrie Underwood and much, much more!

The brand new Broadway-bound revival of Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN is heading to the recording studio if a new posting on the production's official Facebook page is accurate. The ad proclaims, 'Have 10 friends like this page to be entered to win access to PIPPIN's Broadway Cast Album recording session!'

Award winning choreographers Ann Reinking and Melissa Thodos are teaming again to co-choreograph A Light in the Dark, the story of Helen Keller and Anne Sullivan, their second full-length contemporary story ballet, this time telling an intimate family story about the extraordinary woman who was deaf and blind yet went on to become a world-famous writer, political activist and inspiration to all.

Audiences will not want to miss this one-woman theatre extravaganza from legendary Broadway star, Donna McKechnie. Centenary Stage Company is proud to welcome this true triple threat performer to present her one woman cabaret show, My Musical Comedy Life on Saturday March 16th at 8 p.m.

Audiences will not want to miss this one-woman theatre extravaganza from legendary Broadway star, Donna McKechnie. Centenary Stage Company will welcome this true triple threat performer to present her one woman cabaret show, My Musical Comedy Life on Saturday March 16th at 8 p.m.

San Diego Musical Theatre presents the first production of its 2013 season, Kander and Ebb's CHICAGO, at the Birch North Park Theatre, beginning with a preview February 15, opening February 16, and running through March 3rd, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in rehearsal below!

Broadway Across America - Fort Lauderdale has announced their subscription series presented by Florida Theatrical Association in partnership with the Broward Center for the Performing Arts sponsored by Bank of America. From the creators of South Park and winner of nine Tony Awards, The Book of Mormon will play a limited three-week engagement November 26 - December 22, 2013. Season Subscribers receive priority ticket opportunities to shows so a season subscription is the only way to guarantee seats to The Book of Mormon.

CABARET, Bob Fosse's ground-breaking Oscar-winning musical drama starring Liza Minnelli (Arthur, The Sterile Cuckoo), Michael York (the Austin Powers films), Joel Grey (TV's 'Oz'), Helmut Griem, and Marisa Berenson (I am Love), celebrates its 40th anniversary with a Blu-ray debut today, February 5, 2013.

Porchlight Music Theatre has announced its spring special events for 2013. The ICONS Gala, Celebrating the Art of Bob Fosse, takes place Sunday, April 7, 11 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. in the Moulin Rouge Room at The Fairmont Hotel, 200 N. Columbus Dr. The ICONS Gala includes performances from iconic Fosse works and the presentation of the 2013 Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago to one of Chicago's music masters, Doug Peck. Chicago Sings Kander and Ebb, takes place Monday, May 20 at 7 p.m. at the Mayne Stage, 1328 W. Morse Ave. Tickets for both events are available at porchlightmusictheatre.org or by phone at 773.777.9884.

Liza Minnelli and the cast of CABARET are featured in the new doucmentary CABARET: THE MUSICAL THAT CHANGED MUSICALS. The film is included as part of the 40th anniversary Blu-ray release available from Warner Brothers beginning tomorrow, February 5th. Click here to get a first look!

Producers Barry & Fran Weissler and Howard & Janet Kagan have announced casting for Roger O. Hirson and Stephen Schwartz's PIPPIN, directed by Diane Paulus. PIPPIN will begin preview performances on Broadway Saturday, March 23, 2013 and officially open Thursday, April 25, 2013 at the Music Box Theatre. Tickets are available through www.telecharge.com/pippin, by calling 212-239-6200, and in person beginning Saturday, March 2nd at the Music Box Theatre box office (239 West 45th Street).

CHICAGO is set to premiere at U.K.'s Curve in Leicester, November 29, 2013 - January 11, 2014.