Cyril Ritchard News

The laughs are plentiful, the songs are bright and jazzy and there's not an actor dressed as an animal or inanimate object in sight .

Jim Brochu's new solo piece will warm the heart of anyone who has ever looked out from an audience with awe and wonder.

As the result of her recent successful debut at the Metropolitan Room, singer Peggy King has added a revised new schedule. She will do a special St. Patrick's Weekend show this Sunday, March 16 at 12 Noon and then return on Wed., April 9 at 7 PM and Tuesday, April 29 at 7 PM, accompanied by Andy Kahn on piano. One of the best-loved stars of TV's Golden Age, as well as stage, screen and nightclubs, Peggy continues her resurgence after nearly a 30-year absence. She was re-discovered last year in the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning HBO film 'Behind the Candelabra,' in which Michael Douglas and Matt Damon watch a lengthy 1955 video clip of the young Peggy King singing 'When Liberace Winks at Me,' with the real Liberace on piano. It also became a popular YouTube video and is included on the Elektra soundtrack album. 'Pretty, perky Peggy King' has worked in films and television with nearly every star imaginable, from Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme (with whom she co-starred on a 50's TV series) to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Andre Previn, and her dozens of recordings through the years show just why she remains a favorite of America's finest composers and lyricists.

Tinker Bell won't be twerking across the stage in NBC's live PETER PAN this December.

Vocalist Peggy King, one of the best-loved stars of TV's Golden Age, as well as stage, screen and nightclubs, continues her resurgence after nearly a 30-year absence, with a series of performances at the Metropolitan Room, starting Sunday, Feb. 23 at 4 PM, just a few days after celebrating her 84th birthday. She will be accompanied by musical director Andy Kahn on piano. She was re-discovered last year in the Emmy and Golden Globe-winning HBO film 'Behind the Candelabra,' in which Michael Douglas and Matt Damon watch a lengthy 1955 video clip of Peggy King singing 'When Liberace Winks at Me,' accompanied by the real Liberace on piano. It also became a popular YouTube video and is included on the Elektra soundtrack album. 'Pretty, perky Peggy King' has worked in films and television with nearly every star imaginable, from Frank Sinatra and Mel Torme (with whom she co-starred on a 50's TV series) to Sammy Davis, Jr. and Andre Previn, and her dozens of recordings through the years show just why she remains a favorite of America's finest composers and lyricists.

Following NBC's announcement of PETER PAN as its next live, mega-TV musical, set to air December 4, 2014, Bill Murray showed us his best singing -- and flying -- chops on LETTERMAN. Check out his 'audition' for the lead role in PETER PAN below!

Today, in honor of this week's eagerly awaited announcement that the next live musical event to be presented on NBC will be the classic 1954 PETER PAN, we take a look at some of the highlights from the high-flying history of the family-friendly musical.

On the heels of an announcement yesterday by NBC that their next live musical would be PETER PAN, speculation has already started on who will play the leads.

Breaking news from the Television Critics Association, NBC has just revealed their next mega-TV musical, executive produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron - PETER PAN! The broadcast has been scheduled for December 4, 2014.

Theatrical licensor Music Theatre International (MTI) has acquired the rights to license one of Broadway's most iconic and beloved musicals,PETER PAN.

Today in 1991, the second Broadway revival of Peter Pan opened at the MInskoff Theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark 'Moose' Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, earned Tony Awards for both stars.

Music soars in Mary Zimmerman stage adaptation of "The Jungle Book" entering its final week at the Huntington Theatre Company in Boston, but this new theatrical version based on the Kipling and Disney classics is ultimately unfulfilling, needing more depth and heart.

Tune in this Wednesday, Sept. 25th, 2013 at 12:35 PM (est) to join the celebration with...'Mr. Showbusiness' on JIMMY FERRARO'S Theatre Chat and This 'n That!, broadcasting live on WWJB - regionally and nationally on the world wide web at www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guest is Broadway, television, and film star Sondra Lee, an award-winning actress, dancer, director and author.

Drama Desk and Helen Hayes Award winner Jim Brochu ('Zero Hour,' 'The Big Voice: God or Merman?') just debuted his new solo show 'Character Man' at the Metropolitan Room. Check out photos from the concert below!

Some shows are iconic, known by everyone - that would be LES MISERABLES. Others are iconic and not known, best identified by individual songs that everyone knows by heart, while many people know the songs and have no clue that they are show tunes. That would be THE ROAR OF THE GREASEPAINT, THE SMELL OF THE CROWD. Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley wanted to recreate their success in STOP THE WORLD - I WANT TO GET OFF, and the result was the show that gave us 'Who Can I Turn To?' Opening in England in 1964, the show was slight enough not to open in the West End, but David Merrick decided to give it a chance on Broadway.

CATHY RIGBY IS PETER PAN National Tour completes its journey in Boston where it all began for the star in 1989, with the final performance Sunday evening, April 28, at the Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre. Rigby gives a magical performance in an imaginative and inspiring production, supported by a cast of the highest order. Brent Barrett is a virile Captain Hook and the entire ensemble has boundless talent and energy. Life is filled with regrets - don't let missing out on this be one of yours.

A human ball of silver glitter hanging from a cord is lowered above what looks like a bungalow-sized muffin top.  (It's supposed to represent a turtle shell.)  Before the glitter ball makes its landing the cover is removed to reveal what looks like a tribe of humanish amphibians bouncing on trampolines and twirling on the muffin/turtle's frame.  Shortly after, a sleazy-looking clown in a tropical shirt tosses a condom to a woman in the front row and says, 'Call me!'  Yes, dear readers, Cirque du Soleil is back in town.

Peter Pan/a musical production of the play by Sir James Barrie/lyrics by Carolyn Leigh & music by Moose Charlap/additional lyrics by Betty Comden & Adolph Green; additional music by Jule Styne/directed by Glenn Casale/Pantages Theatre/through January 27

The two-time Emmy Award winning and two-time Tony Award nominated production Cathy Rigby is PETER PAN returns to the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood for two weeks only; playing January 15 - 27, 2013. This engagement marks the first return of the production to Pantages Theatre in over 8 years.

Today in 1991, the second Broadway revival of Peter Pan opened at the MInskoff Theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark 'Moose' Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, earned Tony Awards for both stars.