Cy Coleman News

It is with great pleasure that The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

The award winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) will honor Tony Award winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf) with the 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre on Monday, November 22, 2010.

Jenn Gambatese (All Shook Up, Tarzan) steps into the role of Janie after Allison Case had to bow out due to scheduling conflicts.

Robyn Spangler brings her one woman cabaret show 'Let Me Sing!,' to The Arthur Newman Theatre at the Joslyn Center in Palm Desert at 7 PM as part of Les Michaels' Life Is A Cabaret Concert Series. Robyn has always been a singer but is probably best known for her 'day job' of appearing in over 150 commercials including Hilton Hotels, Ford Cars and Trucks, Gatorade and Polygrip.

Lenny Wolpe (WICKED, DROWSY CHAPERONE), Allison Case (HAIR, MAMMA MIA), and two-time Tony® nominee Beth Fowler will join the previously announced Robert Cuccioli and Luba Mason for one night only in the Cy Coleman-Carolyn Leigh musical WILDCAT, presented December 19 in Manhattan to benefit the Actors Fund.

The award-winning York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the star-studded roster of performers for its 19th Oscar Hammerstein Award for Lifetime Achievement in Musical Theatre. The award will be presented to Tony Award-winning librettist Thomas Meehan (Annie, The Producers, Hairspray, Elf) on Monday, November 22, 2010. As previously announced, the evening is directed by Tony-winning director/lyricist/librettist Richard Maltby and the award will be presented by Alice Hammerstein Mathias, daughter of Oscar Hammerstein II.

There was quite an electric, palpable excitement crackling in the huge 3,000-plus-seat Segerstrom Hall on this particular Sunday afternoon. The largest venue within the Orange County Performing Arts Center in Costa Mesa, this stage is used to Broadway-caliber talent wowing its audience, since it usually plays host to a revolving door of touring companies performing popular stage musicals. It only seems fitting, then, that one of contemporary musical theater's biggest stars, IDINA MENZEL, would be welcomed wholeheartedly here. And, boy, was she ever.

Back around 1875, the circus impresario P.T. Barnum planned to make Port Jefferson the permanent home for his 'Greatest Show on Earth.' Apparently, however, Barnum was not well thought of in that Long Island community. People were worried about his strange cast of characters and the smell from his animals! Not in My Back Yard prevailed, and Barnum took his show across the Sound to Bridgeport, Connecticut and the rest is history.

In her new show, Some People's Lives, singer Moira Danis gives audiences a glimpse into the lives of those around us - friends, lovers, relatives, and strangers.

Artistic Director Sean Murray is pleased to announce a concert staged reading of the hilarious and rarely performed musical, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, with book and lyrics by Betty Comdon and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman. The delightfully comedic romp will be performed free to attendees of Cygnet Theatre's Mini-Benefit, with proceeds supporting the Storytelling on the Green Program. The Mini-Benefit and Concert Reading will be presented TWO NIGHTS ONLY on Mondays, November 1st and 8th at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. The Mini-Benefit begins at 6:30pm and the Concert Reading begins at 7:30pm.

Broadway powerhouse Idina Menzel - the Tony Award-winning Elphaba from international blockbuster Wicked - performs together with a full symphony orchestra for one night only November 7 at the Orange County Performing Arts Center November in Segerstrom Hall. With a diverse repertoire of classic pop, musical theater favorites (including hits from Wicked and Rent) as well as songs from her album I Stand, Menzel demonstrates why she is one of the great vocal performers of our time.

The Menier Chocolate Factory's production of the Tony award-winning musical, Sweet Charity, which transferred to the West End in April 2010, will complete its run on 06 November 2010. Matthew White's critically acclaimed production, which originally opened at the Chocolate Factory in November last year, has a cast led by Tamzin Outhwaite, Mark Umbers, Josefina Gabrielle, Tiffany Graves and Paul J Medford.

Two-time Tony Award winner CHITA RIVERA will perform songs from her legendary Broadway career with an intimate evening of music in CHITA RIVERA: MY BROADWAY coming to the Venetian Room 8pm, November 5, 2010 as the first subscriber show of Bay Area Cabaret's ongoing series.

Four of musical theater's brightest talents offer behind-the-scenes tales and the magical music of a true legend in Broadway Up Close and Personal: A Tribute to Cy Coleman. Beloved songs from Cy Coleman's award-winning shows including Sweet Charity, City of Angels and The Will Rogers Follies and songs such as 'Witchcraft' and 'The Best is Yet to Come' will be performed at the Orange County Performing Arts Center December 9 - 12 in this heartfelt and personal tribute to the life and incredible work of this great American artist. The show features Tony-winning lyricist David Zippel, who collaborated with Coleman on City of Angels; Center favorite Jason Graae, whose special way around a song has taken him to the Metropolitan Opera, the Hollywood Bowl, Birdland and the Rainbow Room; Jenifer Lewis, who has starred in numerous Broadway productions as well as movies and television and the multi-talented Tami Tappan Damiano, who has appeared on stages all over the world.

Tony Award-winner DONNA McKECHNIE will return to The Laurie Beechman Theatre with her critically-acclaimed solo show, My Musical Comedy Life, which will play the midtown venue on Wednesday, November 3rd at 8pm. There is a $35 cover charge, as well as a $15 food/beverage minimum (a full dinner menu is available). The Laurie Beechman Theatre is located within The West Bank Cafe at 407 West 42nd St. (@ 9th Ave)., in the heart of New York's theatre district. For tickets, please contact Smarttix at www.smarttix.com or 212 868 4444.

NEW YORK FESTIVAL OF SONG (NYFOS) Steven Blier, Artistic Director • Michael Barrett, Associate Artistic Director presents "MANNING THE CANON: Songs of Gay Life"

It is with great pleasure that The West Bank Café announces upcoming performances to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Artistic Director Sean Murray is pleased to announce a concert staged reading of the hilarious and rarely performed musical, ON THE TWENTIETH CENTURY, with book and lyrics by Betty Comdon and Adolph Green and music by Cy Coleman. The delightfully comedic romp will be performed free to attendees of Cygnet Theatre's Mini-Benefit, with proceeds supporting the Storytelling on the Green Program. The Mini-Benefit and Concert Reading will be presented TWO NIGHTS ONLY on Mondays, November 1st and 8th at Cygnet Theatre in Old Town. The Mini-Benefit begins at 6:30pm and the Concert Reading begins at 7:30pm.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Tracy Aron, announced that two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy will star in the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

Reprise Theatre Company has just announced additional casting for A Party With Marty, an evening of comedy and song with Martin Short and featuring Jason Alexander.