Chita Rivera News

After announcing that SILENCE! The Musical will end its run December 30th at the Elektra Theatre, ticket sales have unexpectedly soared, shattering all previous box office records for the show so far. As a result, the producers have determined that performances of the smash hit show will resume on January 18th. Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through August 13, 2011, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, which was constructed especially for the show. SILENCE! opened at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews and spawned a highly successful L.A. production starring Davis Gaines and Christine Lakin.

One of America's most revered Broadway and cabaret stars-she was a favorite chanteuse of the Algonquin Hotel's late, lamented Oak Room and an original cast member of the Great White Way's production of Nine-performs songs from her sparkling career in the spotlight.

This holiday season, join Katie Finneran, Steve Kazee, Audra McDonald, Laura Osnes, David Hyde Pierce and Chita Rivera in supporting more than 450 AIDS and family service organizations across the country through Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Watch the video below to learn about how a tax-deductible donation to BC/EFA helps provide life-saving medications, healthy meals, counseling services and more!

Another event, another packed house! DO40 presented its fourth annual Legacy Awards at their Holiday Dinner, this year again at the over-the-top LIPS restaurant in NYC. Honorees Norma Doggett-Bezwick, Larry Fuller, Carol Lawrence, George Marcy and Lee Roy Reams felt the warmth waft up to the dais. Check out photos from the awards inside!

With the revival of "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" garnering positive reviews in a Roundabout Theatre production at Studio 54, THEATER TALK welcomes two of its talents - Rupert Holmes, who wrote the book, music and lyrics for the 1985 musical, and Will Chase, who plays the dual roles of John Jasper and Mr. Clive Paget.

SILENCE! The Musical will play a special added matinee performance next Wednesday, December 26th at 2 PM at the Elektra Theatre.

Join celebrated cabaret performer Jamie deRoy when she hosts an evening of her Multi MAC Award-winning variety show, Jamie deRoy & friends, on Friday, December 28th (7PM) at Manhattan's cabaret hot-spot Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street ~ btw. 5th & 6th Avenues).

Voting is now underway for Boston and continues until December 31, 2012. Winners will be announced in early January. Check out the live standings below.

The holiday season totally snuck up on me this year. I'm writing this on December 11, just TWO WEEKS before Christmas (and already three nights into Hannukah), and I'm more than a little bit panicked!! Two weeks to do all of my shopping? EEK to say the least. Luckily I have the BC/EFA Catalogue of Giving, which offers hundreds of Broadway-themed gifts, my favorite of which I'll share with you below. Proceeds to the wonderful causes supported by Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS, which this year includes help for victims of Hurricane Sandy and similar disasters.

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: Broadway blows back, BARE takes first official bow, DROOD hits the recording studio, and so much more!

At the famed Alwyn Court Jamie deRoy & it's residents performed in the court yard of this New York City designated Landmark's annual Holiday Party. The neo-French Renaissance apartment building was built in 1907 and it's list of celebrity tenants is long. Among them were Frederick Steinway, Oscar Levant, Fred Allen and Natasha Richardson. David Lewis was the music director of the 'Lobby Show' and Emery Davis was on Clarinet. Check out photos from the concert below!

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning Broadway and Hollywood notable all about his terrifically theatrical background - having appeared in musicals ranging from his debut in the ill-fated MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG to his Tony Award-winning work in JEROME ROBBINS' BROADWAY to most recent role as the artistic director of LA's lauded Reprise! Theatre Company - the one and only Jason Alexander. Expounding upon his big Broadway break in Stephen Sondheim & Harold Prince's MERRILY and what it was like to witness the two titans as they developed the piece, Alexander shares his insights into the art of Broadway and also casts a glance back at his roles in Kander & Ebb's THE RINK, Mel Brooks's THE PRODUCERS and directing Sondheim‘s musicals himself (such as SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE with frequent InDepth InterView participant Kelli O‘Hara). Alexander also opens up about some of his most celebrated dramatic and comedic work to date - to say nothing of the iconic TV dynasty of SEINFELD, we also touch upon the TV movie musicals adaptation of A CHRISTMAS CAROL (with a score by Alan Menken & Lynn Ahrens), co-starring Kelsey Grammer, and Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, (with fellow InDepth InterView participant Bernadette Peters), as well as his recent appearance on HARRY'S LAW and more. Plus, Alexander outlines his featured role in the forthcoming Christopher Ashley feature film adaptation of the Ahrens & Flaherty musical comedy LUCKY STIFF, the future for a revival of the Richard Rodgers/Martin Charnin Bible-based Moses musical TWO BY TWO (co-starring SMASH's Megan Hilty once again, perhaps?) - and much, much more!

SILENCE! The Musical will end its-month run Sunday evening, December 30th at the Elektra Theatre. The production will have played a total of 447 performances and eight previews. Originally announced as a strictly limited engagement through August 13, 2011, SILENCE! was extended numerous times by popular demand and transferred theatres twice, ultimately landing at the new Elektra Theatre in the heart of Times Square, which was constructed especially for the show. SILENCE! opened at Theatre 80 on July 9, 2011 to unanimous rave reviews and spawned a highly successful L.A. production starring Davis Gaines and Christine Lakin.

The 24th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR Competition, the culminating celebration of six weeks of fundraising by 51 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway and national touring companies, raised $3,902,608 for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Check out highlights of the national tour dancers below!

By popular demand, Florida Studio Theatre has extended the run of the hit show Let's Twist Again: with the Wanderers, the ‘50s & ‘60s style musical revue, and Smokey Joe's Café, featuring music by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. The cast of Broadway's CHAPLIN was already hard a work this week recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below!

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. The cast of Broadway's THE LION KING was already hard a work this week recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below!

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. The cast of Broadway's MARY POPPINS was already hard a work this week recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below!

CAROLS FOR A CURE is the annual two-disc holiday CD compilation of original songs and holiday classics which benefits BC/EFA. These CDs boast the best voices from the worlds of Broadway, Off-Broadway and national tours. A full track list for this year's 14th edition has not yet been announced, but the cast of Broadway's MAMMA MIA! was already hard a work yesterday recording their track for the album. Check out our exclusive photos from their recording session below!