Burt Lancaster News

Phantom Fan Week: I'll resist the temptation to write 'Phantom Phans' but, in truth, even though I am very used to fans, I've never seen anything quite like this. The deal was that fans of Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular (the very aptly named version of the show at The Venetian) could come to Las Vegas and get total immersion in their favorite entertainment. There were behind-the-scenes tours, meet-and-greets with key people in the production, a masquerade ball, dinner with the producers and a farewell brunch. It was three days that fans of anything or anyone - show, actor, singer, sports team - would love. I was fortunate to attend five of the events and, herewith, my report.

Theatre World Awards for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut performances during the 2008-2009 theatrical season will be presented by former Theatre World Award winners, including: Craig Bierko (The Music Man, 2000), Daniel Breaker(Passing Strange, 2008), Kristin Chenoweth (Steel Pier, 1997), Tovah Feldshuh (Yentl, 1976),Susan Kellermann (Last Licks, 1980), Loretta Ables Sayre (South Pacific, 2008), and John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, 2004).

Theatre World Awards for Outstanding Broadway or Off-Broadway Debut performances during the 2008-2009 theatrical season will be presented by former Theatre World Award winners, including: Craig Bierko (The Music Man, 2000), Daniel Breaker(Passing Strange, 2008), Kristin Chenoweth (Steel Pier, 1997), Tovah Feldshuh (Yentl, 1976),Susan Kellermann (Last Licks, 1980), Loretta Ables Sayre (South Pacific, 2008), and John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, 2004).

The 2008/2009 POW! Professional Performance season concludes in May 16, 2009 with a rare live appearance by the peerless screen legend Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront, Raintree County, North by Northwest, etc.).

HERE'S A STORY ... Shirley Jones and Florence Henderson have cornered the market as AMERICAN FAMILY ICONS. Arriving on Broadway back in the 50's, they were both discovered in the hit works of Rodgers & Hammerstein as well as a host of other musical vehicles that were to carve out two industry perennials.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes legendary composer/performer and 2008 Theater Hall of Fame inductee Marvin Hamlisch for an elegant evening of unforgettable music on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 8pm. Mr. Hamlisch holds the distinction of being one of only twelve people to win all four major US performing awards (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) and one of only two to have won all four of those plus a Pulitzer Prize (the other being Richard Rogers).

The 2008/2009 POW! Professional Performance season concludes in May 16, 2009 with a rare live appearance by the peerless screen legend Eva Marie Saint (On the Waterfront, Raintree County, North by Northwest, etc.).

Making music to the ears of budget-conscious audiences, the River To River® Festival today unveiled a stellar line-up of completely free music, dance, and cultural events that firmly establishes Lower Manhattan as the city's summer arts capital.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes legendary composer/performer and 2008 Theater Hall of Fame inductee Marvin Hamlisch for an elegant evening of unforgettable music on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 8pm, including selections from The Way We Were and A Chorus Line, along with tributes to Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Scott Joplin. He will be joined on stage by tenor J. Mark McVey.

West Coast Ensemble presents YENTA: Straight from the Mouth, written and performed by Annie Korzen and Directed by Judy Chaikin. YENTA: Straight from the Mouth opened on Saturday, February 21 at 3:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 22 at the new home of West Coast Ensemble - the El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes legendary composer/performer and 2008 Theater Hall of Fame inductee Marvin Hamlisch for an elegant evening of unforgettable music on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 8pm, including selections from The Way We Were and A Chorus Line, along with tributes to Cole Porter, Richard Rodgers, and Scott Joplin. He will be joined on stage by tenor J. Mark McVey.

West Coast Ensemble presents YENTA: Straight from the Mouth, written and performed by Annie Korzen and Directed by Judy Chaikin. YENTA: Straight from the Mouth opened on Saturday, February 21 at 3:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 22 at the new home of West Coast Ensemble - the El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood.

West Coast Ensemble presents YENTA: Straight from the Mouth, written and performed by Annie Korzen and Directed by Judy Chaikin. YENTA: Straight from the Mouth will open on Saturday, February 21 at 3:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 22 at the new home of West Coast Ensemble - the El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood. Annie Korzen (SEINFELD's Doris Klompus) thinks the world would be a better place if everyone would just do what she says. Much to her amazement, the world doesn't seem to agree. An engaging evening of comedy. music and constructive criticism from the creator of the world-wide hit, YENTA UNPLUGGED. Mostly funny, sometimes serious, sometimes naughty: all of it scientifically calibrated to make you a better person!

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College welcomes legendary composer/performer and 2008 Theater Hall of Fame inductee Marvin Hamlisch for an elegant evening of unforgettable music on Saturday, April 25, 2009 at 8pm. Mr. Hamlisch holds the distinction of being one of only twelve people to win all four major US performing awards (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar and Tony) and one of only two to have won all four of those plus a Pulitzer Prize (the other being Richard Rogers).

West Coast Ensemble presents YENTA: Straight from the Mouth, written and performed by Annie Korzen and Directed by Judy Chaikin. YENTA: Straight from the Mouth will open on Saturday, February 21 at 3:00pm and continue through Sunday, March 22 at the new home of West Coast Ensemble - the El Centro Theatre, 800 N. El Centro Ave. in Hollywood. Annie Korzen (SEINFELD's Doris Klompus) thinks the world would be a better place if everyone would just do what she says. Much to her amazement, the world doesn't seem to agree. An engaging evening of comedy. music and constructive criticism from the creator of the world-wide hit, YENTA UNPLUGGED. Mostly funny, sometimes serious, sometimes naughty: all of it scientifically calibrated to make you a better person!

Turner Classic Movies will be airing the 1948 film version of Arthur Miller's play All My Sons today, August 20th 2008 at 11:45 am. Check your local listing for showtimes and channel information. The airing is to celebrate the life and work of Edward G. Robinson who starred in the film as Joe Keller.

Producer Eric Falkenstein has confirmed that John Lithgow, Dianne Wiest, Patrick Wilson, and Katie Holmes will star in a new Broadway production of Arthur Miller's All My Sons directed by Simon McBurney scheduled to open on Broadway this fall. Theatre and dates to be announced.

Mother and son Shirley Jones and Patrick Cassidy reunite to celebrate the 50th anniversary of Meredith Willson's musical classic in a staged concert version of 'The Music Man' April 22-27 at The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, Connecticut

Michael Abbott, a long-time television, film, and theatre producer who produced the first New York production of Stalag 17 in 1951, died of cancer on Thursday January 24, 2008 at Beth Israel Medical Center in Manhattan. He was 81.

Frank Langella, who recreates his Tony Award-winning performance in Ron Howard's up-coming film adaptation of Peter Morgan's Frost/Nixon, is rumored to have presented an award-winning performance in the newly released indie-drama Starting Out in the Evening by Andrew Wagner, which opened in New York and LA on November 23.