Carol Burnett News

This September and October 54 BELOW presents a lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.

Varla Jean Merman is the purported love child of Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine. Returning to 54 Below on September 3 & 4 by popular demand, Varla Jean, aka Jeffery Roberson, unveils a show of hilarious songs, videos and fabulous costumes, featuring Tom Judson at the piano. For Tickets please visit 54 Below online at http://54below.com/artist/varla-jean-merman/ or call 646 476-3551.

The strictly limited engagement of Carol Burnett & Brian Dennehy in the Broadway production of LOVE LETTERS at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) will be extended for two additional performances: Saturday, November 8 at 2pm and 8pm. LOVE LETTERS begins performance Saturday, September 13, at 8pm, and tickets are now on sale at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre box office for the first Broadway revival of A.R. Gurney's enduring romance about first loves and second chances.

I got the chance to talk to Costume Designer Katherine Snider, the woman who helped put the glitz in Stages Repertory Theatre's glitzy and fun production of PETE N' KEELY.

Four Seasons frontman Frankie Valli is set to guest star in the upcoming fifth season of CBS's HAWAII FIVE-O.

The Brooks Atkinson Theatre box office (256 West 47th Street) will open on Monday, August 25 at 10am, for tickets to the first Broadway revival of A.R. Gurney's enduring romance about first loves and second chances, LOVE LETTERS. A limited number of tickets for the Thursday, September 18, opening Night performance at 7pm, will be available for purchase.

This morning we are taking a look at the illustrious career of Dame Maggie Smith. I mean, she's a Dame after all; Queen Elizabeth doesn't just hand those out to anyone. Her career includes highlights from on stage, including 'The Importance of Being Earnest,' 'Private Lives,' and 'Lettice and Lovage;' to in films as 'The Prime of Miss Jean Brodie,' 'Sister Act,' and 'The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel;' to her iconic role as Violet Crawley, the Dowager Countess of Grantham on 'Downton Abbey,' for which she is nominated for an Emmy for the fourth-consecutive year.

The purported love child of Ethel Merman and Ernest Borgnine, Varla Jean Merman makes her long awaited return to San Francisco for her debut at Feinstein's at the Nikko for three performances only - Friday, October 3 (8 p.m.), Saturday, October 4 (7 p.m.) and Sunday, October 5 (7 p.m.). Varla Jean, aka Jeffery Roberson, unveils a show of hilarious songs, videos and fabulous costumes, featuring Tom Shaw at the piano and Roberta Drake on drums. Tickets for Varla Jean Merman range in price from $35-$50 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

WAM (Women's Action Movement) Theatre's artistic director Kristen van Ginhoven has announced that legendary playwright Marsha Norman and WAMC Northeast Public Radio producer Sarah LaDuke will co-host Change Makers, WAM Theatre's fifth season celebration and benefit at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington on August 24 at 7 pm. This dynamic duo takes the place of actor Jayne Atkinson, who needed to bow out to attend the Emmy Awards In Los Angeles.

Leftend Productions presents a high-energy, music-filled, wondrous production of William Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, from October 3 through October 26, Fridays & Saturdays at 7:30 pm, Sunday matinees at 3 PM, at The Den Theatre, 1333 N. Milwaukee Ave.

Kritzerland at Sterling's Upstairs at The Federal presents its fourth anniversary show -- THE SONGS THAT GOT AWAY III -- on Sunday, September 7, 2014 at 2 p.m. AND 7 p.m. Doors open at 1 p.m. before the JUST ADDED matinee for brunch/lunch.

WAM (Women's Action Movement) Theatre's annual benefit just got even more exciting. Artistic director Kristen van Ginhoven is pleased to announce that legendary playwright Marsha Norman and WAMC Northeast Public Radio producer Sarah LaDuke will co-host Change Makers, WAM Theatre's fifth season celebration and benefit at The Mahaiwe Performing Arts Center in Great Barrington on August 24 at 7 pm. This dynamic duo takes the place of actor Jayne Atkinson, who needed to bow out to attend the Emmy Awards In Los Angeles.

The Nederlander Organization has announced that two eagerly anticipated Broadway productions coming to their theatres this fall, HONEYMOON IN VEGAS and LOVE LETTERS, will switch previously announced venues.

Iconic television star Carol Burnett is once again lending her unique gifts to the Music Academy of the West's Cabaret gala tonight, serving as creative director of the annual fundraiser benefiting the Music Academy's full-scholarship program. The beloved performer is teaming up with legendary mezzo-soprano Marilyn Horne for coaching sessions on the art of musical comedy with the young vocalists headlining this year's Cabaret, which takes place tonight, Thursday, August 7, in the Plaza del Sol rotunda of Fess Parker's DoubleTree Resort in Santa Barbara.

The Houston Symphony's 2014-15 Classical and POPS concert series will kick-off in September with an exceptional line up of orchestral repertoire, world-class soloists and comedic fun. Following a laugh-filled weekend of POPS performances with Tony Award-winning actor and Seinfeld star Jason Alexander, the inaugural season of conductor Andres Orozco-Estrada will feature three concerts in a "¡Bienvenido, Andres!" weekend including Opening Night and Gala along with two free performances.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: HAIR gets wild with an all-star cast at The Hollywood Bowl this weekend, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival launches in Scotland today!

The Peccadillo Theater Company is presenting Penguin Rep's production of the acclaimed DROP DEAD PERFECT, a new comedy starring the legendary Everett Quinton at the Theatre at St. Clements (423 W 46th St -- between 9th and 10th Avenue), which opened on Sunday, July 20th. Tim DeKay, star of White Collar, the USA Network series came to see Drop Dead Perfect, the new hit show starring Everett Quinton at the Theatre at St. Clements. He went backstage after to meet and congratulate the actors. Scroll down for photos!

A.R. Gurney's enduring romance about first loves and second chances, LOVE LETTERS, will have its first Broadway revival, beginning performances Saturday, September 13, 2014, at 8pm, at the Nederlander Theatre (208 West 41 Street).

A great, big Broadway season is on its way, with fourteen productions already slated to open in the next few months. With several weeks until the craziness begins, there is still plenty of time to catch up on what's been going on at Broadway's already occupied theaters . BroadwayWorld will be profiling the hits of the Great White Way that continue to draw crowds after months, years, and (in some cases) decades. Meet the current cast of Broadway's ONCE below!