Cy Coleman News

Fresh on the heels of a successful annual fundraising campaign that exceeded expectations, Ann Arbor's The Penny Seats theatre company announces its 2013 season.

When it comes to the number of award shows staged in a given season, the film, TV and recording industry no longer leave New York Cabaret in the stardust. Kicking off a 10-week period during which the Big Apple cabaret scene will now feature four award ceremonies (including the first-ever BroadwayWorld.com Awards on February 21, the 28th annual Bistro Awards on March 4, and the 27th annual MAC Awards on March 21), the 11th annual Nightlife Awards (voted on by a select group of cabaret and nightlife writers and critics) was staged at The Town Hall on January 14 and, for the most part, was a pleasantly entertaining event. Co-produced by Max Weintraub and nightlife impresario Scott Siegel (Broadway by the Year, 11 O'Clock Numbers at 11 O'Clock, Broadway Ballyhoo, et al), this year's show featured the usual mix of nightclub singing legends, budding cabaret stars, solid veterans of musical theater, outstanding jazz vocalists, stellar instrumentalists, and quirky comedians, almost all delivering the goods under the smooth direction of Scott Coulter.

Happy Birthday Michael Crawford! In 1981, Crawford starred in the Original London production of Cy Coleman's Barnum (1981) as the illustrious American showman P. T. Barnum. He is best known for starring opposite Sarah Brightman in the original cast of Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom of the Opera as the title character. In 1986, Crawford began his performance in London, continuing on to Broadway in 1988, and then Los Angeles a year later, in 1989. He played the role for 2½ years and over 1,300 performances, winning an Olivier Award (Best Actor in a Musical) and a Tony Award (Best Performance By An Actor in a Lead Role, Musical). Beginning in February 2011, Crawford has played the role of the Wizard in Andrew Lloyd Webber and Tim Rice's musical version of The Wizard of Oz at the London Palladium.

For one night only, Chita Rivera - a theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents - will offer a star-studded event in honor of her 80th birthday.Chita: A Legendary Celebration, directed by Graciela Daniele, will take place Monday, October 7 and will be produced by and benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the big announcement where he got the full scoop on the show from Rivera herself. Check out what she had to say below!

For one night only, Chita Rivera - a theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents - will offer a star-studded event in honor of her 80th birthday.Chita: A Legendary Celebration, directed by Graciela Daniele, will take place Monday, October 7 and will be produced by and benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. Check out photos from the big announcement below!

For one night only, Chita Rivera - a theatrical icon and one of Broadway's greatest triple-threat talents - will offer a star-studded event in honor of her 80th birthday.Chita: A Legendary Celebration, directed by Graciela Daniele, will take place Monday, October 7 and will be produced by and benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

According to the Daily Mail, Broadway's Christopher Fitzgerald has been cast as 'P. T. Barnum' in Cameron Mackintosh's Barnum at Chichester Festival Theatre.

Enter the world of Oscar, Tony and Grammy Award winners Kander and Ebb's impeccably woven, high voltage AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND... a stunning revue of two of Broadway and motion picture's most prolific songwriters with direction by Los Angeles multiple theatre award winner Gary Lee Reed and musical direction by the acclaimed Joshua Kranz. This true-to-the-original Broadway production will be presented February 2 through March 10, 2013 by Be Wild About Music in association with Kevin Bailey and the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, Calif. Racquel Lehrman of Theatre Planners serves as Producer. *Erica Hanrahan-Ball, *Emily King Brown, Isaac James, *Kristin Towers-Rowles and Ryan Ruge have been set as the revue's ensemble of principal players. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The pre-Broadway 'Big Fish,' a 'Fela!' tour, some long-running shows extend, Theo Ubique lights up the winter, Glencoe's 'Sweet Charity' jazz club, 'Lady Day,' two 'Grand Night' revues and more!

Enter the world of Oscar, Tony and Grammy Award winners Kander and Ebb's AND THE WORLD GOES ‘ROUND... a revue of two of Broadway and motion picture's most prolific songwriters with direction by Los Angeles multiple theatre award winner Gary Lee Reed and musical direction by the acclaimed Joshua Kranz. This true-to-the-original Broadway production will be presented February 2 through March 10, 2013 by Be Wild About Music in association with Kevin Bailey and the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, CA. Racquel Lehrman of Theatre Planners serves as Producer. *Erica Hanrahan-Ball, *Emily King Brown, Isaac James, *Kristin Towers-Rowles and Ryan Ruge have been set as the revue's ensemble of principal players. *Appearing courtesy of Actors' Equity Association.

Tony Award-winning Idina Menzel is in a class of performers who simply defy description. She has an extraordinary quality that must be experienced up close and personal, for it's not only the tremendously dynamic voice that impresses but a wildly disarming charisma that holds you spellbound. On New Year's Eve her 7:00 pm show at the Walt Disney Concert Hall lasted about 90 minutes, but seemed to fly by in a flash.

By the last August, I had fallen so far behind on writing reviews of cabaret shows from the spring and early summer (I guess it's a positive when there are more performers and shows in New York than days in the week) that I decided to play catch up by combining a bunch of critiques into one big column. I hadn't planned on doing that again, but this fall there were so many shows that once again I couldn't keep up. but at least I've beaten my self-imposed deadline New Year's Eve deadline of posting these reviews of 12 shows, all staged between September-December by lovely, attractive women (okay, so one is a gender-bender) of varying talents and levels on the cabaret depth chart, from established stars to MAC and Bistro Award-winners to comeback 'kids' to interesting beginners and occasional performers who are in the game to follow their bliss. Whether their performances were rave-worthy, earning of qualified praise, or not quite up to snuff, they all deserve kudos for taking the plunge.

As 2012 comes to a close, many Austin theater companies are putting together their 2013-2014 season. Given the incredible talent in this town and the large number of daring, courageous theater groups in the Austin area, here are my picks for 13 musicals that I'd love to see produced in the 2013-2014 season.

Enter the world of Oscar, Tony and Grammy Award winners Kander and Ebb's impeccably woven, high voltage AND THE WORLD GOES 'ROUND... a stunning revue of two of Broadway and motion picture's most prolific songwriters with direction by Los Angeles multiple theatre award winner Gary Lee Reed and musical direction by the acclaimed Joshua Kranz. This true-to-the-original Broadway production will be presented February 2 through March 10, 2013 by Be Wild About Music in association with Kevin Bailey and the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, CA. Racquel Lehrman of Theatre Planners serves as Producer. An all-star cast will be announced January 2, 2013.

Writers' Theatre Executive Director Kathryn M. Lipuma and Artistic Director Michael Halberstam announce the Writers' Theatre production of Sweet Charity, book by Neil Simon with music by Cy Coleman and lyrics by Dorothy Fields, directed by Artistic Director Michael Halberstam with musical direction by Doug Peck and choreography by Jessica Redish. The production runs January 22 - March 31, 2013 at Writers' Theatre, 325 Tudor Court, Glencoe, IL. Press Opening is Thursday, January 31, 2013 at 7:30pm.

Move over Grinch... Santa Claus is back in town! Tonight, December 20 through Sunday, December 23, Rudolph the Red-Nosed Reindeer, Frosty the Snowman and the big jolly man himself reunite with the spectacular Rubicon Family Christmas cast for a joyous celebration at the Ventura College Theatre for seven performances only. The stellar cast includes Joan Almedilla, Teri Bibb, Dina Bennett, Trey Ellett, Anthony Manough and Brian Sutherland, who have starred on Broadway in such shows as Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Jesus Christ Superstar, Miss Saigon, 1776 and Rent, among others. Get a first look at the show with the photos below!

The Recording Academy (www.grammy.com) announced its Special Merit Awards recipients today, and this year's honorees are: Glenn Gould, Charlie Haden, Lightnin' Hopkins, Carole King, Patti Page, Ravi Shankar andthe Temptations as Lifetime Achievement Award recipients

Today in 1989, City of Angels opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre), where it ran for 879 performances. City of Angels is a musical comedy with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by David Zippel, and book by Larry Gelbart. The musical weaves together two plots, the 'real' world of a writer trying to turn his book into a screenplay, and the 'reel' world of the fictional film. The musical is an homage to the film noir genre of motion pictures that rose to prominence in the 1940s. It was directed by Michael Blakemore with sets designed by Robin Wagner and costumes by Florence Klotz.