Chita Rivera News

Today we celebrate a master of the modern musical in honor of this week's start of previews for his newest theatrical venture, THE LANDING, as well as first news on a major NYC bow for his long-gestating project THE VISIT, to say nothing of the longest-running American musical in history going strong on Broadway (CHICAGO) and a hotly anticipated revival of CABARET on the way in 2014 - the one and only John Kander.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced that 2013 Tony Awarda winner Billy Porter will be honored at its 10th Anniversary Gala to be held on Sunday, November 10th, at the Hudson Theater in Manhattan. The Gala will also celebrate NYMF's 10 years of creating and nurturing new musical theatre.

Valarie Pettiford is a true diva and 'triple threat' exuding the sensual and provocative style of a Fosse-trained performer. She mesmerized audiences in Chicago (as Velma Kelly, alongside Chita Rivera,) The Wild Party, Show Boat and Fosse, which earned her a Tony nomination. With a high kick and a shimmy, Valarie will strut her stuff in an evening of song, dance and stories from her multifaceted showbiz career. She will perform at the Cabaret at the Columbia Club on October 3 and 4, 2013 at 8:00pm.

Now that the legendary Elaine Stritch and Julie Wilson have retired from performing, the only celebrity 80-plusers who have been performing regularly on the cabaret circuit are the equally legendary Barbara Cook and Marilyn Maye. But now there's another octogenarian on the scene and while he may not be a legend, George Marcy is an 86-year-old former Broadway musical theater actor/dancer who recently staged a totally charming and entertaining show at Don't Tell Mama.

On October 7, Broadway legend Chita Rivera will return to the stage in a special 80th Birthday concert benefitting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, and according to a recent interview with the Huffington Post, that's not the only thing on the triple threat's plate coming up. Rivera revealed that the Kander and Ebb musical The Visit might be heading to Broadway in 2014, following a tryout in Williamstown, Massachusetts.

'Submissions Only,' the popular web series which aired its second season on BroadwayWorld.com to much acclaim, and major growth, will soon launch its highly anticipated third season. Season Three is 'coming soon,' and will be comprised of eight episodes. The star-studded season will boast such guest stars as Audra McDonald, Kelli O'Hara, Will Swenson, Malcolm Getz, Joanna Gleason, and many more. Series regulars for Season Three will includeKate Wetherhead, Colin Hanlon, Donna Vivino, Santino Fontana, Stephen Bienskie, Lindsay Nicole Chambers, Max von Essen, and Marilyn Sokol. Last night, the team celebrated the launch of the new season and you can check out photos from insde the party below!

'Submissions Only,' the popular web series which aired its second season on BroadwayWorld.com to much acclaim, and major growth, has released the trailer for its highly anticipated third season.

Broadway Records/Yellow Sound Label's original Broadway cast recording of the Tony Award-winning MATILDA THE MUSICAL is now available for digital download and will be available at the Shubert Theatre beginning tomorrow, September 27, 2013. The CD will be available in stores on Tuesday, October 22, 2013. The album can be pre-ordered at www.BroadwayRecords.com.

George Street Playhouse and Artistic Director David Saint have announced the casting of MARLO THOMAS, award-winning actress of stage and screen, in the world premiere production of Clever Little Lies, by Tony Award-winner JOE DiPIETRO (rescheduled from the 2012-13 season). Mr. Saint will helm the production, slated to take the stage in New Brunswick, November 19 - December 22. The remainder of the cast will be announced at a later date.

The national tour of Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Orange County premiere tonight, September 24 - 29 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts as part of the Curtain Call Series.

'Sondheim: A Musical Tribute' was the title given to a benefit staged in March 1973. American Musical and Dramatic Academy and the National Hemophilia Foundation first wanted to honor Harold Prince, but he declined, so they chose Stephen Sondheim. Sondheim thought it would be 'merely a dinner,' but it was actually a full-scale production with 33 performers and a 30-piece orchestra, staged on the set of the then-running 'A Little Night Music' at the Shubert Theatre. Below, check out footage from a short documentary that was made about the show.

It's one thing for a dancer over 40 to do a cabaret show. It's quite another for a dancer over 80 to attempt one. But that's exactly what still spry 83-year-old song and dance man George Marcy is going to do--tapping his way over to Don't Tell Mama for the second time in three years--when he takes the stage (today September 23 and 29, both at 8pm) for his new show, I Wish I Were Twins. Marcy's latest cabaret effort is being director by famed Broadway Musical star and Marcy's good friend Carol Lawrence. The Musical Director/Pianist is Christine Sutin, with Boots Maleson on bass, and AaRon Russell on drums.

The Development Wing which has dedicated itself to nurturing new musicals via partnerships with regional, not for profit theaters will hold its exclusive, intimate one-night-only benefit concert featuring Broadway stars singing songs from several new musicals at the historic Tewksbury, New Jersey home of Cherie King, President, The Development Wing and her husband composer, lyricist and book writer, Jonathan Brielle, Artistic Director of The Development Wing and Vice Chairman, The Johnny Mercer Foundation.

Bay Area Cabaret, devoted to presenting audiences with top performers who expand the definition of cabaret, enters its 10th season this fall with a gala series at the Fairmont San Francisco's historic Venetian Room. To celebrate this significant milestone, Bay Area Cabaret presents a star-studded lineup of performers making their Bay Area Cabaret debuts, as well as the return of a few favorites from the past decade. Opening the seas tonight, September 21, 2013 with a bang is Broadway's Megan Hilty, known to millions as the powerhouse 'Bombshell' on NBC's television program Smash. The season continues October 20, 2013 with Tony nominee Norm Lewis (The Gershwin's Porgy and Bess) and November 10, 2013 with 'America's romantic piano sensation,' multi-platinum selling recording artist Jim Brickman, joined by special guest Broadway heartthrob David Burnham.

'ALL THAT GLITTERS', an unauthorized biography of a ground-breaking legend, an opulent musical event about the greatest showman on earth is on its way to Broadway for the 2014-15 season, directed and choreographed by Alexander DeJong. The show features Music and Lyrics by Mr. DeJong, Book by Mr. DeJong and James A. Walsh, and Additional Music by Tom Nelson. The show will star Richard Kline as Wladziu Valentino Liberace.

The Harris Center for the Arts at Folsom Lake College is always adding new shows-always. Since the 2013-14 Season of Performing Arts was announced over the summer, a stunning array of new performances have been added to the mix.

Cutting Ball Theater opens its 15th season with the World Premiere of SIDEWINDERS by Basil Kreimendahl. M. Graham Smith makes his main stage directing debut at Cutting Ball with SIDEWINDERS, featuring DavEnd, Sara Moore, Donald Currie, and Norman Muñoz. SIDEWINDERS plays October 18 through November 17 (Press opening: October 24) at the Cutting Ball Theater in residence at EXIT on Taylor (277 Taylor Street) in San Francisco. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the star below!

It's one thing for a dancer over 40 to do a cabaret show. It's quite another for a dancer over 80 to attempt one. But that's exactly what still spry 83-year-old George Marcy is going to do-tapping his way over to Don't Tell Mama for the second time in three years-when he takes the stage later this month (September 23 and 29, both at 8pm) for his new show, I Wish I Were Twins. Marcy's latest cabaret effort is being director by famed Broadway Musical star and Marcy's good friend Carol Lawrence. The Musical Director/Pianist is Christine Sutin, with Boots Maleson on bass, and Aaron Russell on drums.