Charles Strouse News

Leapin' Lizards! America's most beloved musical, ANNIE, is back in 30th anniversary tour, giving a whole new generation the chance to experience this classic musical about never giving up hope. The timeless tale of Little Orphan Annie will be coming to the State Theatre in Easton for one show only on Wednesday, December 2nd at 7:30 PM.

Some of the greatest songwriters of the past 50 years will convene in New York City on Tuesday, December 8, 2009 for The Songs of Our Lives: Performed by the Songwriters Who Wrote Them, a benefit concert for Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts.

Songwriters Charles Strouse, Alan Menken and Hal David will be among those featured in the December 8th benefit concert, SONGS OF OUR LIVES: PERFORMED BY THE SONGWRITERS WHO WROTE THEM. The concert will take place at The Little Flower Theater at LaGuardia H.S. on December 8th at 7:00pm.

Original Bye Bye Birdie cast member Lada St. Edmund, who played 'Penelope Ann' in the 1960 production, came to see Bye Bye Birdie and visit current cast member Deanna Cipolla who plays 'Penelope Ann' in the Roundabout Theatre Company production. BroadwayWorld.com was there for the fun meet and greet!

Imagination Players is bringing a Broadway classic to the stage at the KD Studio Theatre. ?Bye Bye Birdie? tells the story of a rock and roll singer who is about to be inducted into the army. His manager plans a farewell party at which the star is to kiss one lucky fan good bye on ?The Ed Sullivan Show? before he departs to serve his country. Rehearsals will be held Saturdays starting September 19th, running thru November 7 from 10am-2pm. Performances, at the KD Studio Theatre, will be November 13, 14 and 15, 2009.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; W. David McCoy, Chairman of the Board) will honor Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning Broadway songwriters Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick with the 18th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 23rd.

Cheyenne Jackson can't get enough of the small screen this week. Tomorrow, November 12, he makes his much anticipated debut appearance on 30 Rock, and will also appear on the Today Show with fellow songbird Michael Feinstein to promote their new album The Power of Two. He and Michael will be interviewed and perform a song off of the album. The segment, hosted by Kathie Lee and Hoda, airs at 10:30am EST on MSNBC.

Susan Egan was last seen on Broadway in the title role of Thoroughly Modern Millie; she won critical acclaim as Broadway's (longest-running) 'Sally Bowles' inCabaret; originated the starring roles in Triumph of Love and State Fair; and most notably, received both Tony Award and Drama Desk nominations for 'Best Actress' as Broadway's original ‘Belle' in Disney's Beauty and the Beast.

The incomparable Chita Rivera released a new solo studio album entitled And Now I Swing on October 13, 2009 from the newly-launched Yellow Sound Label. From classic theater songs to jazz standards, all tracks featured on this new album have received new arrangements recorded by New York's finest musicians, reimagining some of Chita's favorite tunes. BroadwayWorld.com checked in with the legendary star

Bye Bye Birdie stars John Stamos (Albert Peterson), Gina Gershon (Rose Alvarez) & Bill Irwin (Mr. Harry MacAfee) with Jayne Houdyshell (Mrs. Mae Peterson), Dee Hoty (Mrs. MacAfee) & Nolan Gerard Funk as 'Conrad Birdie.'

Bye Bye Birdie- Book by Michael Stewart, music by Charles Strouse, lyrics by Lee Adams Friday & Saturday 8:00pm Evening Performance November 6,7,13,14,20,21,27,28

Tickets Now on Sale for: Bye Bye Birdie Runs Friday & Saturday November 6, 7, 13, 14, 20, 21, 27, 28 8:00pm Evening Performance Saturday & Sunday November 7, 8, 14, 15, 21, 22, 28, 29 2:00pm Performances

The fall temperatures may be getting colder, but the DC area theatre scene is heating up with many musicals, including a new "intimate" production of a 1927 American classic, a Tony-Award Winning family saga, and so many choices - well - take a look for yourself at what this diverse theatre community has to offer in November. This is a great time to celebrate the upcoming holidays with your family, so bring the kids, grandparents, nieces and nephews, aunts and uncles and cousins to see that Orphan girl and her dog, a Disney heroine, and enjoy an early Christmas, and many more shows to bring in the cheer and joy of the holiday season. We have so much to be thankful for this month, so come to our nation's capital and celebrate the joy of theatre with us!

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) has announced the New York premiere of Theresa Rebeck's new comedy The Understudy, directed by Scott Ellis with Tony Award winner Julie White as 'Roxanne'.

Michael Dale reviews Bye Bye Birdie and focuses on the positives in the production: dance ensemble numbers sparkled with real show-biz energy and livened up the production, Allie Trimm's solid performance, and Dee Hoty's presence.

BroadwayWorld.com presents its newest column, Twitter Watch, which will bring you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!

New York at 400: The Broadway View Cabaret will showcase the voices of Broadway stars Nancy Anderson, Joy Lynn Matthews, Howard McGillin, and Jim Stanek presenting an affectionate, sometimes satirical, celebration of the city's 400th birthday with songs by some of Broadway's best composers and songwriters, including Victor Herbert, Kurt Weill, the Gershwins, Charles Strouse, and Rodgers and Hart.

New York at 400: The Broadway View Cabaret will showcase the voices of Broadway stars Nancy Anderson, Joy Lynn Matthews, Howard McGillin, and Jim Stanek presenting an affectionate, sometimes satirical, celebration of the city's 400th birthday with songs by some of Broadway's best composers and songwriters, including Victor Herbert, Kurt Weill, the Gershwins, Charles Strouse, and Rodgers and Hart.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Thursday, October 29, 2009.