It only takes a moment to realize that composer/lyricist Jerry Herman, aided and abetted by book writer Michael Stewart (with an able assist from Thornton Wilder), knew exactly what he was doing when he created the classic Broadway musical Hello, Dolly!: put together a star vehicle for a quintessential theater diva, surround her with characters both irascible and lovable, then give them all a score that's delightfully hummable and danceable and a script that's appealingly daft, maybe even a little goofy.
Pioneer Theatre Company presents a rollicking evening of nostalgic fun with the classic '50s musical Grease, running Friday, May 10 - May 25, 2019, to close its 2018-2019 season.
Harvey Sabinson, one of Broadway's legendary press agents, and former long-time executive director of The Broadway League, died on April 18, 2019 of natural causes at his residence in Sarasota, Florida. He was 94 years old.
When I saw Hello, Dolly! In New York with Bette Midler last year, I was in awe. I knew that it was special, and it was an experience I'd never forget. I truly considered myself one of the luckiest theatre goers after seeing Midler in this iconic role and now I consider myself even luckier with the night I had at the Orpheum in Minneapolis. Not only have I seen one legend as the infamous Dolly Levi, but now I've seen two. Betty Buckley, best known for her Tony-Award winning performance as Grizabella in Cats, is saying hello audiences across the country in this national tour of Hello, Dolly!.
Like the rest of you, I've spent this week obsessing over 'Fosse Verdon' on FX and especially Gwen Verdon, played brilliantly on the series by Michelle Williams, in a performance that makes you want to reinvestigate what made Gwen so great. Sweet Charity is the perfect place to start. Gwen became a star and won her first Tony in a featured role in Can Can and she gained worldwide acclaim (and number 2 in a total of four Tonys) as Lola in Damn Yankees on stage and screen and of course there were many other shows and movies and TV appearances, but Sweet Charity was the show Bob Fosse (and Cy Coleman and Dorothy Fields and Neil Simon) created just for her. She may have lost the Tony to Angela Lansbury in Mame, but Gwen got that iconic poster and all those songs.
The Actors Fund will honor Emmy, Grammy and Tony Award winner Lily Tomlin with the Julie Harris Award for Artistic Achievement at the 23rd Annual Tony Awards Viewing Gala on Sunday, June 9, 2019 (3:30-9:00pm) at Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles.
Hello Des Moines! It's time to put on your Sunday clothes because Hello, Dolly!' is here for one week only at the Civic Center as part of the Des Moines Performing Arts and Willis Broadway Series. If you don't have tickets yet to this show, get one before 'Hello, Dolly!' leaves Des Moines. This production does a beautiful job of paying homage to the original production yet finding ways to make it their own.
Just last night, April 8, Inside Broadway (Executive Director, Michael Presser) honored Tony Award-winning Broadway icon Chita Rivera, NBC News/The Today Show's Al Roker, and scenic designer Beowulf Boritt at the Broadway Beacon Awards Gala.
The McCallum Theatre announced today its new lineup for the 2019-2020 season, continuing to present the finest world-class artists and entertainers for Coachella Valley audiences. The new season includes McCallum debuts, returning favorites, iconic superstars, family-friendly entertainment and holiday cheer, among so much more. A CHRISTMAS STORY, WAITRESS and THE PLAY THAT GOES WORING are among the many Broadway offerings in what looks to be the most stellar season in McCallum history.
The 26th Annual Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival, held at Theatre 68 in North Hollywood, conferred awards on five women of distinction from the world of theatre. The event was hosted by Starletta DuPois and Kym Whitley.
It's clear the instant she takes the stage, we're in the presence of a legend. With a humble salutation, Betty Buckley inhabits the role of Dolly Levi in a way you might expect from the actress whose multifaceted career spans decades.
On Monday, April 8 at their annual Broadway Beacon Awards Gala at The JW Marriot Essex House (160 Central Park South), leading NYC arts education nonprofit Inside Broadway (Executive Director, Michael Presser) will honor Tony Award-winning Broadway icon Chita Rivera and NBC News/The Today Show's Al Roker. Rivera will be receiving the first-ever Lifetime Achievement Award which will be presented to her by celebrated musician Steven Van Zandt of Bruce Springsteen's E Street Band.
Award-winning non for profit, Broadway Sings for Pride, will host its 9th annual Pride benefit event, "Fearless", on Monday, June 24, 2019. The event will be held at the Goldman-Sonnenfeldt Family Auditorium at the JCC Manhattan at 7:30pm. For the second year in a row, the full show will be live streamed.
The Maggie Allesee Department of Theatre and Dance, a program within the College of Fine, Performing and Communication Arts at Wayne State University, is thrilled to honor Michigan native and Tony Award-winning producer of 'Hamilton,' Jeffrey Seller, with the 2019 Apple Award on Wednesday, March 27 at the Fisher Theatre. A private, pre-show reception with Mr. Seller will be held at the Fisher Theatre before guests attend 'Hamilton' that evening at 8 p.m.
Next week, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com/Feinsteins or call (646) 476-3551.
It's time to strike up the band for the 7th annual concert by the McCallum Theatre Concert Band, with conductor and McCallum Theatre President & CEO Mitch Gershenfeld, on Sunday, March 24, at 3:00pm. Highlights of this year's concert will be a performance of the beloved "Carnival of the Animals" by Saint-Saens featuring pianist Jeffrey Siegel and a new text written and performed by David Gonzalez, and special guest appearances by Gavin MacLeod (narrator) and former TEN Tenor Chad Hilligus (guest vocalist). And, after the concert, there is free ice cream for everyone!
The Los Angeles Women's Theatre Festival (LAWTF) marks 26 years of producing well over 500 extraordinary multicultural and multidisciplinary solo performers from around the globe.
On Monday, April 8 the annual Broadway Beacon Awards Gala will honor Tony Award-winning Broadway icon Chita Rivera and NBC News/The Today Show's Al Roker.
Gerard Alessandrini, the Tony Award winning creator of Forbidden Broadway, will debut FORBIDDEN BROADWAY SALUTES CAROL CHANNING, at Feinstein's/54 Below on Saturday, March 23rd, 2019, at 7:00pm in a concert produced by Mr. Alessandrini and Robert W. Schneider.
Last night's Oscars ceremony took a moment to reflect on the many lives lost this year- a list that included Neil Simon, Stan Lee, Burt Reynolds, Craig Zadan, and many more. One Oscar-nominated actress was left off of the list however- Carol Channing, who passed away in January.
