Chita Rivera News

Broadway's biggest and budding stars are coming together to raise money for this heralded choreographer, educator, and equity performer who has dedicated her life to inspiring dancers and audiences around the world.

BEHIND THE MUSIC-AL: ROCKS! Mon, Jan 31, 8 pm, $15

Executive Artistic Director Carson Kievman has announced that NY-based actress, Nadia Dajani and South Florida performers Amy McKenna, Elayne Wilks, Ryan George, Glen Lawrence and Brian McCormack have joined Evan Handler, completing the cast for SoBe Arts upcoming staged readings of ACAPULCO by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold and directed by Michael Leeds.

An all-star roster of celebrated CHICAGO alumni will celebrate CHICAGO's 'Facebook Fan Day,' a one-of-a-kind performance marking the first time in Broadway history that a production has given away its entire house to Facebook fans for FREE. Participants include Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (Broadway's original Velma Kelly), Vincent Pastore (Amos Hart), Tony Award winner Lillias White (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Roxie Hart), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton) and many more, plus current CHICAGO stars Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Leigh Zimmerman (Velma Kelly), Colman Domingo (Billy Flynn), Robert Creighton (Amos Hart) and LaVon Fisher-Wilson (Matron 'Mama' Morton), joined by producer Barry Weissler, special guest hosts Julie James and Seth Rudetsky of SiriusXM Radio's 'On Broadway' channel, and over 1,000 of CHICAGO's top fans, all of whom are attending this very special performance for FREE!!

The Barnes & Noble at 86th and Lexington Ave has announced its February events. Among authors, storytime readings, and various musicians are Tony Award-winner Ben Vereen and the talented cast of Broadway's Billy Elliot.

KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN runs from January 28 - February 6, 2011

Show business superstar LIZA MINNELLI has announced that she will be performing at Town Hall on Thursday, February 17th in the All-Star, Best of Jim Caruso's Cast Party, a major benefit for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDs.

From the creators of Chicago and Cabaret comes the winner of multiple 1993 Tony Awards including Best Musical Kiss of the Spider Woman revamps a harrowing tale of persecution into a dazzling spectacle that juxtaposes gritty realities with liberating fantasies.

The tour of the current smash hit Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Fort Lauderdale. WEST SIDE STORY will open at Broward Center for the Performing Arts on Tuesday February 15 for a two-week run through Sunday, February 27. Tony Award-winning librettist Arthur Laurents' Broadway direction has been recreated for the tour by David Saint, the Associate Director on Broadway. The original Jerome Robbins choreography is reproduced by Tony Award nominee Joey McKneely (The Boy from Oz, The Life).

42nd Street Moon today announced that Tony-winning Broadway star KAREN ZIEMBA and her Curtains co-star NOAH RACEY will head the cast for AND ALL THAT JAZZ! - A JOHN KANDER SALON EVENING on Thursday, January 27 at the Alcazar Theatre.

Virginia's Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre has announced the artistic team behind the upcoming world premiere of the musical comedy And the Curtain Rises (formerly known as Wheatley's Folly), which begins performances on Thursday, March 17, 2011. And the Curtain Rises marks the third production presented as part of Signature's groundbreaking American Musical Voices Project, the largest commissioning program for new musicals in the country, following Michael John LaChiusa's Giant in 2009 and Ricky Ian Gordon's Sycamore Trees last year.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Two starts on January 26th with a tribute to arguably the greatest songwriting team in American Songbook history: the brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Conductor, arranger and pianist (as well as Artistic Director of the Gershwin centenary) Rob Fisher will lead Victoria Clark (Tony winner for Light in the Piazza) and Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, The Little Mermaid) in a night of gorgeous Gershwin. On January 27th singer/songwriter Shara Worden (from the group My Brightest Diamond) performs her unique blend of vocal music that has her pegged as a star to watch. Week Two closes out with gritty veteran John Doe singing 'real' country, with all its understated empathy and rough poetry. Pfizer is a proud sponsor of Lincoln Center's American Songbook 2011.

Yet another addition to the 9th Annual Nightlife Awards brings Tony Award-winner Karen Olivo (West Side Story) to the Town Hall stage.

Executive Artistic Director Carson Kievman has announced that NY-based actress, Nadia Dajani and South Florida performers Amy McKenna, Elayne Wilks, Ryan George, Glen Lawrence and Brian McCormack have joined Evan Handler, completing the cast for SoBe Arts upcoming staged readings of ACAPULCO by New York writer Jacquelyn Reingold and directed by Michael Leeds.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to the best in current songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song.

An all-star roster of celebrated CHICAGO alumni will celebrate CHICAGO's 'Facebook Fan Day,' a one-of-a-kind performance marking the first time in Broadway history that a production has given away its entire house to Facebook fans for FREE. Participants include Tony Award winner Chita Rivera (Broadway's original Velma Kelly), Vincent Pastore (Amos Hart), Tony Award winner Lillias White (Matron 'Mama' Morton), Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba (Roxie Hart), Brent Barrett (Billy Flynn), Rob Bartlett (Amos Hart), Amra-Faye Wright (Velma Kelly), Carol Woods (Matron 'Mama' Morton) and many more, plus current CHICAGO stars Bianca Marroquin (Roxie Hart), Leigh Zimmerman (Velma Kelly), Colman Domingo (Billy Flynn), Robert Creighton (Amos Hart) and LaVon Fisher-Wilson (Matron 'Mama' Morton), joined by producer Barry Weissler, special guest hosts Julie James and Seth Rudetsky of SiriusXM Radio's 'On Broadway' channel, and over 1,000 of CHICAGO's top fans, all of whom are attending this very special performance for FREE!!

The tour of the current smash hit Broadway production of WEST SIDE STORY is coming to Atlanta. WEST SIDE STORY will play at the Fox Theatre from January 25 -31, 2011 as part of the Broadway Across America - Atlanta 2010-2011 season.

The American Airlines Theater will host a memorial celebration for the late Jerry Bock for family, friends and fans at 2:30pm on January 24, 2011. Bock's main lyricist, Sheldon Harnick will host the event, which will include appearances by Chita Rivera, Lonny Price, Hal Prince, Todd Haimes and more. The memorial will also include performances of Bock's most celebrated songs and accompanying commentary by original cast members of his shows. Larry Yurman will musical direct. Seating is open to the public and available on a first come, first served basis and doors open at 2pm.

BWW just recently launched a photo store to benefit BC/EFA featuring stunning images of Broadway's brightest stars. The unique feature gives readers a chance to purchase prints of our photos since the web site launched back in 2003. Previously only available at BC/EFA's Flea Markets, where we often sold out of images, we're now making a selection of photos available for purchase online and just like at the Flea Market, a portion of all proceeds will go straight to BC/EFA.

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, the life of legendary Broadway composer Jerry Bock will be celebrated Monday January 24th at Roundabout's American Airlines Theater (227 West 42nd Street) at 2:30pm. The celebration is open to the public, on a first-come, first-served basis. Doors will open at 2pm. The latest list of performers scheduled to appear are Kate Baldwin, Brigid Brady, Susan Cella, Barbara Cook, Harvey Fierstein, Boyd Gaines, Roundabout's Todd Haimes, Bock's longtime collaborator Sheldon Harnick, Hal Linden (and his original Rothschilds' 'sons:' David Garfield, Alan Gruet, Paul Hecht, Tim Jerome and Chris Sarandon), Joe Masteroff, Howard McGillin, Brad Oscar, producer Stuart Ostrow, Austin Pendleton, Lonny Price, Harold Prince, Chita Rivera, Bock's longtime friend and attorney Richard M. Ticktin, Rachel Ulanet, Tony Walton, Sherman Yellen and Bock's daughter Portia, among others. Michael Montel will stage the event.