Cy Coleman News

The induction and awards dinner is scheduled for Thursday, June 18 at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. Special award honorees will be announced at a later date.

A film adaptation of Cy Coleman's CITY OF ANGELS is headed to the screen, to be helmed by Director Barry Levinson ('Wag the Dog', 'Good Morning, Vietnam'). The picture is one of many new projects to be produced by new company Unique Features, headed by former New Line Films principals Bob Shaye and Michael Lynne, Variety reported today.

The legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland will receive the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award on Thursday, June 18 at a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. This is a busy and celebratory year for Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, as they have reunited for the first and only time to write the score for the Broadway-bound musical, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB-A New Musical, which will be presented at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego July 17 through August 23, 2009, with an official opening on July 31.

THE FIRST WIVES CLUB is getting a new wife. For personal reasons, Adriane Lenox will not be a part of the musical production. Tony Award nominee Sheryl Lee Ralph has stepped in to the role of 'Elyse'.

I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change, the laugh-inducing, award-winning musical comedy about love in the suburbs, is often described as 'Seinfeld set to music'. It's a hilarious look at love and relationships that is as touching and insightful as it is humorous.

Two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera graces the stage of Walt Disney Concert Hall for the first time in Chita Rivera: The Secret of Life, Saturday, June 6, at 8 p.m. The triple-threat - singer/actress/dancer - accompanied by her longtime musical trio, performs songs from her legendary Broadway career, including numbers from West Side Story ('America'), Sweet Charity ('Where Am I Going?' and 'Big Spender'), Chicago ('All That Jazz' and 'Nowadays'), Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bye, Bye Birdie and The Rink.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Broadway Under The Stars for one night only, on Saturday, June 27 at 8:30 pm at John Anson Ford Amphitheatre, starring six favorite Reprise performers -- Jason Graae, Lucas Grabeel, Dorian Harewood, Jean Louisa Kelly, Vicki Lewis, and Valarie Pettiford. The production is directed by Lee Martino, with music direction by Mary Ekler.

UK's The Daily Mail is reporting that London will get revivals of the musicals Annie Get Your Gun and Sweet Charity for Fall 2009.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, June 2, 2009.

One of the many reasons I've been a fan of the Opening Doors Theatre Company since their debut production of Bring Back Birdie two-and-a-half years ago is the consistent ability of their directors and choreographers to have as many as a dozen actors singing and dancing on the small cabaret stage of The Duplex (already occupied by a piano) without ever looking crowded. But that's not a concern with their newest venture, the hilarious and tuneful Cy Coleman/Michael Stewart 1977 musical, I Love My Wife.

Previews for the world premiere of The First Wives Club - A New Musical are now set to begin July 17, 2009. The schedule was changed to accommodate a revised rehearsal/technical schedule.

Two-time Tony Award winner Chita Rivera graces the stage of Walt Disney Concert Hall for the first time in Chita Rivera: The Secret of Life, Saturday, June 6, at 8 p.m. The triple-threat - singer/actress/dancer - accompanied by her longtime musical trio, performs songs from her legendary Broadway career, including numbers from West Side Story ('America'), Sweet Charity ('Where Am I Going?' and 'Big Spender'), Chicago ('All That Jazz' and 'Nowadays'), Kiss of the Spider Woman, Bye, Bye Birdie and The Rink.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a tribute to Oscar®-winning songwriters Alan and Marilyn Bergman on Friday, May 29, at 8 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Hosted by music producer and composer Quincy Jones, the evening will celebrate the prolific lyricists through film clips, personal remembrances from their colleagues and friends, and live performances of several Oscar-nominated songs.

Old Globe Executive Producer Lou Spisto is pleased to announce the complete cast and design team for its world premiere of The First Wives Club - A New Musical, as part of the Globe's 2009 Summer Season.

'The Leading Men IV,' a benefit concert for Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, was held Monday, May 11, at 7pm at Birdland, 315 W. 44th St. As part of the long-running Broadway at Birdland series, it featured top singers from Broadway and cabaret. John Tartaglia (Avenue Q, Shrek The Musical) once again hosted, and Emmy-nominated writer, host and comic Seth Rudetsky returned as musical director, along with director Alan Muraoka (NAATCO's Falsettoland).

The Willows Theatre Company announces its 34th season with six mainstage productions running August 24, 2009 through May 30, 2010 at the Willows Theatre, 1975 Diamond Boulevard in Concord, CA. The 2009-2010 season includes Hair, Barefoot in the Park, Little Me, and the return of the Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle Award Winner, the musical Brimstone. The rights for two other shows are currently under negotiation and cannot be revealed at this time. But you could take a guess.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine, and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, continues its 10th Anniversary season with the debut engagement of Tony and six time Emmy winning actress TYNE DALY from May 12 to 16.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Brian Stokes Mitchell Sings Broadway, a program especially created for Reprise. It will have one performance only on Monday, May 11 at 8 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

Hal David, Chairman/CEO of the Songwriters Hall of Fame (SHOF), today announced that Maxyne Lang will receive the Abe Olman Publisher Award to be presented at the 2009 Songwriters Hall of Fame Awards 40th Anniversary gala, slated for Thursday, June 18th, at the New York Marriott Marquis Hotel.

Eric McCormack, Emmy Award winner for 'Will & Grace,' will play El Gallo, Lucas Grabeel from 'High School Musical' will play Matt, and Broadway star and Tony nominee Harry Groener will play Bellomy in 'The Fantasticks,' which concludes the 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company at the Freud Playhouse May 5-May 17 (press opening May 6).