Bob Merrill News

Need something new to read or listen to? Check out this week's list of new and upcoming releases! This week's newly-announced releases include music from Forbidden Broadway, the cast recording for A Killer Party, and more.

Rosie O'Donnell further confirmed the longstanding rumor that a revival of Funny Girl is coming to Broadway with Rosie in the role of Mrs. Brice, Fanny Brice's mother.

The York Theatre Company will host special online weekly activities to include past York events, live chats and panel discussions with past production and creative team members, and special 'Happy Hour' Members Nights with a few games of York trivia thrown in.

Funny Girl is the classic musical about Broadway star Fanny Brice's life. She sang and danced on New York's glittery theater scenes in the early 1900s. The lead role as the sharp and funny Fanny is made by Sanna Nielsen.

BroadwayWorld has learned that composer Milton Schafer has passed away.

Today's top stories: the GoFundMe for Nick Cordero and his family has surpassed $300,000, Les Miserables - The Staged Concert will be available to download with funds going to charity, and more!

Amongst numerous appearances and highlights, Jennifer Lopez paid tribute to one of Barbra Streisand and to 'People' from FUNNY GIRL. Watch the video below!

Following a postponement of programming due to the COVID-19 developments, Feinstein's/54 Below is opening its vaults and launching a series of streamed performances to provide theater fans everywhere with artistic content from their favorite artists.

Fifty six years ago a little musical shot a young actress to super stardom. The musical was Funny Girl; the actress was Barbra Streisand, and today, we reflect on the show that launched her legendary career!

How do we make a list of the 101 greatest show tunes from the past 100 years? Well, we did the near-impossible task.  Check out our full list here! 

Fresh off of a three-week residency at Café Carlyle in New York City, fashion designer and a?oeProject Runway: All Starsa?? judge Isaac Mizrahi will appear in Palo Alto at the Oshman Family JCC. The West Coast premiere of his newest cabaret show, Movie Stars and Supermodels, will feature the media icon dishing on model fittings, intimate dinners, and exclusive parties with Hollywood's elite, all while sharing his hilarious musings on everything of the momenta?"from politics to his latest Instagram obsessions. Accompanied by a band of talented jazz musicians led by acclaimed pianist Ben Waltzer, Mizrahi will also perform a wide range of tunes by everyone from Cole Porter to Jule Styne, Stephen Sondheim, and even John Denver. Following his venture into singing, the designer-turned-cabaret artist has been called a?oea founding father of a genre that fuses performance art, music, and stand-up comedya?? by The New York Times. Movie Stars & Supermodels will be presented 7:30pm, Saturday, March 28, 2020 at the Oshman Family JCC, 3921 Fabian Way, Palo Alto. For tickets ($120 Front row seating and wine reception with the performers, $90 General Public, $85 Members and J-Pass Holders) and more information, the public may visit paloaltojcc.org/mizrahi or call (650) 223-8718.

The York Theatre Company will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Cheek to Cheek: Irving Berlin in Hollywood, a song and dance celebration featuring the music and lyrics of the legendary Irving Berlin, with book by Barry Kleinbort (13 Things About Ed Carpolotti) and music direction by David Hancock Turner (York's Desperate Measures), directed and choreographed by four-time Tony Award nominee Randy Skinner (42nd Street, Dames at Sea, Irving Berlin's White Christmas, and Ain't Broadway Grand). Performances begin Friday, April 17, 2020 for a limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, May 17, 2020 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is set for Thursday, April 23, 2020 at 6:45 p.m. Cast and creative team will be announced shortly.

Michael Feinstein has built a dazzling career over the last three decades bringing the music of the Great American Songbook to the world. From recordings that have earned him five Grammy Award nominations to his Emmy nominated PBS-TV specials, his acclaimed NPR series and concerts spanning the globe a?" in addition to his appearances at iconic venues such as The White House, Buckingham Palace, Hollywood Bowl, Carnegie Hall and Sydney Opera House a?" his work as an educator and archivist define Feinstein as one of the most important musical forces of our time. Don't miss An Evening with Michael Feinstein Singing Gershwin a?" live at the Van Wezel on Thursday, February 20 at 8 p.m.!

Additional casting has been announced for the one-night only concert presentation of the holiday classic Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol on Monday, December 16 at 7:30 pm at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College (524 W. 59th St.). The evening will be directed by Carl Andress with choreography by Nathan Peck, based on original choreography by Marcos Santana. Grammy Award and Emmy Award-winner John McDaniel has written new orchestrations for the score and will serve at the evening's music director, conducting a 28 piece on stage orchestra.

Although she started her professional life on stage and with her studio recordings, she skyrocketed to fame in the late 1960s with the start of her film career. Check out our complete guide to Barbra Streisand singing and dancing on screen.

The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood is a hilarious take on the Red Riding Hood story told from the wolf's point of view, with Music by Jule Styne, Lyrics by Bob Merrill and Book by Robert Emmett. TADA! was the first company to perform this musical on stage.

Christina Bianco currently stars in Funny Girl in Paris, which is currently in performances at Théâtre Marigny in Paris. Let's see what the critics had to say!

Christina Bianco took a break from playing Fanny Brice in Funny Girl in Paris to visit The Theatre Café for a sing! Christina sang the iconic 'Don't Rain on My Parade'.

The Dangerous Christmas of Red Riding Hood was written in the 1960s, and the young actors from TADA! Youth Theater will take to the stage post-performances on November 30th and December 6th to focus on why it is important to do this show now, how it relates to modern culture, and what we can learn by hearing the Wolf's side of the story in this classic tale. Director Janine Nina Trevens and Choreographer Joanna Garcia will also participate in the Q&A.

The Actors Fund in association with Universal Theatrical Group and Margaret Styne will present a one-night only concert presentation of the holiday classic Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol on Monday, December 16 at 7:30 p.m. at the Gerald W. Lynch Theater at John Jay College (524 W. 59th St.). The evening will be directed by Carl Andress with choreography by Nathan Peck, based on original choreography by Marcos Santana. Grammy Award® and Emmy Award® winner John McDaniel has written new orchestrations for the score and will serve at the evening's music director.