Bob Fosse News

According to published reports, stage veterans Chita Rivera, Tommy Tune, Elaine Paige, Janie Dee, Maria Friedman and Marvin Hamlisch will perform in a Kander & Ebb gala tribute on April 24. The event, which will take place at Theatre Royal Drury Lane, will feature songs from some of their best-know shows, including Chicago, Kiss of the Spiderwoman, and Cabaret.

For the next four weekends (until November 13, 2011), this year's unofficial Chicagoland Stephen Schwartz festival continues at the Theater Wit multiplex facility on Belmont Avenue. That's where the Bohemian Theatre Ensemble, aka Boho Theatre, has mounted a thoroughly relevant and highly riveting production of the first show the lyricist and composer wrote (while he was in college) and the first to make it to Broadway, where it opened in 1972 in a legendary production staged by Bob Fosse at the height of his power.

Harry Hepple, Ian Kelsey, Matt Rawle and Frances Ruffelle will be featured in the Menier Chocolate Factory's production of Pippin, a colourful, imaginative and darkly humorous coming-of-age story with music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz (Wicked, The Baker's Wife, Godspell) and book by Roger O. Hirson.

Broadway legend Ben Vereen comes to Toronto for one very special night, this Thursday October 20th at The Richmond Hill Centre for the Performing Arts. Mr. Vereen will be performing songs from his new album, Steppin' Out, as well as paying tribute to many iconic singers from the past century. BWW sat down to speak with him about his return to Canada, the Jesus Christ Superstar revival, social media and more!

Former William Morris agent Sue Mengers, who pioneered behind-the-scenes roles for women in Hollywood, died at her home in Beverly Hills on Saturday, according to Reuters.

Tony-Award Winning Star Donna McKechnie Returns to TheatreZone -- Takes on lead role as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical Broadway star and legendary entertainer Donna McKechnie returns to TheatreZone in Naples, cast as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical, announced artistic director Mark Danni. Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, the musical follows the adventures of the four remarkable March sisters coming of age during the American Civil War era.

Pick Up Performance Co(s), the artistic vehicle for Obie award-winning artists David Gordon and Ain Gordon, performs Dancing Henry Five, featuring Rockford native Karen Graham, ABT and New York City Ballet principal dancer Robert La Fosse and actress Valda Setterfield, presented by The Dance Center of Columbia College Chicago. Performances are Thursday-Saturday, October 13-15 at 8 p.m. at The Dance Center, 1306 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago.

Emmy, Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild Award-winner America Ferrera, known across the world as Ugly Betty from the hit TV series of the same name, swaps her trademark braces for fishnets from 7 November for eight weeks only, when she makes her British stage debut as the alluring publicity-seeker Roxie Hart in the smash hit musical CHICAGO.

David Gordon has the rare gift of slyly slipping profound commentary into what appears a wacky good time. Example: 'DANCING HENRY FIVE,' which will be revived after four years at Peak Performances, October 6-9. Using physical staging, movie, music and select bits of Shakespeare's own language, this severely condensed version (from five hours to one hour) of the Bard's anti-war play takes on contemporary relevance through its veiled, and sometimes not-so-veiled, allusions to present day politics, love and war, proving some things never change.

SWEET CHARITY is a musical originally made famous under the direction and choreography of Bob Fosse. SWEET CHARITY features snappy Neil Simon dialogue and show stopping numbers including such favorites as 'Big Spender', Rhythm of Life' and 'If They Could See Me Now'.

The Hartt School's Music Theatre students present Pippin, the tale of the son of King Charlemagne and his search for personal significance, Thursday, October 27, Friday, October 28, and Saturday, October 29, at 7:30 PM, and Sunday, October 30, at 3:00 PM.

Capezio celebrates 125 years of excellence with this one-night only special show on Monday, April 23, 2012 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th and 7th Ave) NYC

David Gordon has the rare gift of slyly slipping profound commentary into what appears a wacky good time. Example: 'DANCING HENRY FIVE,' which will be revived after four years at Peak Performances, October 6-9. Using physical staging, movie, music and select bits of Shakespeare's own language, this severely condensed version (from five hours to one hour) of the Bard's anti-war play takes on contemporary relevance through its veiled, and sometimes not-so-veiled, allusions to present day politics, love and war, proving some things never change.

Kick off Red Mountain Theatre Company's 2011-2012 Season with the Broadway hit Sweet Charity,today through October-23, 2011, at the newly redesigned RMTC Cabaret Theatre (301 19th Street North).

Tony-Award Winning Star Donna McKechnie Returns to TheatreZone -- Takes on lead role as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical Broadway star and legendary entertainer Donna McKechnie returns to TheatreZone in Naples, cast as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical, announced artistic director Mark Danni. Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, the musical follows the adventures of the four remarkable March sisters coming of age during the American Civil War era.

Last night's GLEE, titled "Asian F" (referring to an A-), was an A+ in almost every respect, managing to pack all the musical power, dramatic pathos, fabulous diva-tude and off-the-wall comedy that made GLEE the international sensation that it is and also push a few buttons over the course of an hour - and make a new star or two of its impossibly talented cast in the process, with that individual walking away - or, should I say, strutting away - with the night undoubtedly being Harry Shum, Jr., thanks in no small part to his premiere solo song sung on the show so far in his two seasons on the show. Indeed, Shum's "Cool" from WEST SIDE STORY was imbued with more choreographic tics and embellishments than even Jerome Robbins could have dreamed up in a week's time to get on film this swiftly and speedily. Besides the ultra-hip-swingin' awesomeness of Shum, last night's GLEE also set in motion a number of plots that will surely be a central focus of this fresh-faced and bold newly focused season - Santana/Brittany's relationship, the new Glee club member arriving next week and Idina Menzel's continuously ingratiating and increasingly impressive arc as Shelby, Rachel (Lea Michele)'s estranged mother, foremost among them. What will next week hold for New Directions? Plus, how did the famous recitative sequence from DREAMGIRLS - "It's All Over" - work outside of the classic r&b musical's context? Did Mercedes (Amber Riley) deliver in true Oscar-winning Effie fashion by taking on Jennifer Hudson's hit single "Spotlight" and making it her own? What about Heather Morris and Beyonce's "Run The World (Girls)"? And, most importantly, which semi-secondary lead stole the whole show? To see the answers to these pressing "Asian F" queries and some explanations of many of the reasons why GLEE continues its sterling winning streak with the third episode of the resoundingly successful Season Three, read on! Merely calling it "cool" doesn't even begin to cover it!

One of the great stage actors of our time once gave a chilling performance on the small screen that lured tourists to Broadway.