David Merrick News

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that legendary Tony Award winning composer and lyricist Jerry Herman has passed away. He died in Miami on December 26, due to pulmonary complications. He was 88 years old.

In celebration of her upcoming induction into the National Theater Hall of Fame on November 18th, I sat down with Broadway legend, Donna McKechnie for a spirited, informative, career-spanning chat.

Tony and Emmy nominee, Broadway legend Anita Gillette embraces her next act in life and on stage at Birdland.

The red velvet curtain rises on about a dozen pairs of feet tapping up a storm, but there are a few hundred more dancing their way out of the Umbrella Community Arts Center after they pay a visit to 42ND STREET, the blockbuster grand opening production of the Umbrella Stage Company, Greater Boston's newest professional theater in Concord. The 344-seat, state-of-the-art main stage is airy and comfortable, with a generous rake to provide unobstructed viewing from every row. Kicking off the season with the quintessential backstage musical is a stroke of genius that celebrates the performing arts and generates excitement for the Umbrella.

Theater Resources Unlimited presents the Writer-Producer Speed Date, a unique opportunity to pitch a project to a roomful of New York producers and artistic directors on Sunday, October 13, 2019 from 4:30pm to 8:30pm at the newly opened 797 Studios, 797 Eighth Avenue (betw. 48th and 49th), 3rd floor, NYC.

Show Business legend Anita Gillette returns to Birdland with her new show Chapter 3! after a summer away doing some Agatha Christie in Ogunquit.

One of Broadway's most legendary sopranos, Tony nominee Inga Swenson, joins Rob and Kevin via phone to look back on her incredible career which includes films like The Miracle Worker, television like Benson and The Golden Girls, and theater credits including New Faces of 1956, Peer Gynt, Camelot, 110 in the Shade, Baker Street and many others!

NYU Steinhardt's Vocal Performance program will present the classic musical Gypsy, September 19a?"23. The renowned show business tale features a book by Arthur Laurents, music by Jule Styne, and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Acting faculty member Jessica Bashline will direct NYU's production. 

Robert ('Bob') Ullman (left), the legendary theatre press agent, whose career included Ethel Merman and Mary Martin: Together on Broadway, A Chorus Line (from workshop to Public Theater to Broadway), Alfred Lunt and Lynn Fontanne in The Visit, Lauren Bacall in Cactus Flower, The Dining Room, Driving Miss Daisy, Sunday in the Park with George, and over 150 additional Broadway and off-Broadway plays and musicals, died on July 31, 2019 in Bayshore, Long Island, New York. He was 97. The cause of death was cardiac arrest. Bob's death was announced by Rev. Joshua Ellis, a long-time Ullman friend, a former Broadway press agent, and now, an Interspiritual minister.

There's an unmistakeable sound of thunder emanating from the Ogunquit Playhouse these days, commencing with the rhythmic pounding of nearly two dozen pairs of feet, and ending in a crescendo of audience applause. It is not fulsome praise to give DirectorChoreographer Randy Skinner multiple huzzahs and many pats on the back for this fresh and exciting production of 42ND STREET the iconic show-biz musical about a small town girl who pursues her dream and takes Broadway by storm. From the grownups to the kids in the chorus, Tony Award-nominee Skinner seamlessly blends stage veterans and non-Equity performers into one sparkling, magical troupe that really knows how to put on a show.

She was one of Broadway's most respected singers, garnering two Tony nominations for her work in Raisin and the 1976 revival of Guys and Dolls. Now, Ernestine Jackson sits down with Rob and Kevin to look back on her career which includes stints in Hello, Dolly, The Bacchae, Applause, Show Boat, Finian's Rainbow, Brownstone, and many more!

Based on Thornton Wilder's 1954 play titled The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! follows famed New York City matchmaker Dolly Gallagher Levi as receives her toughest challenge yet. She must travel to Yonkers to find a suitable match for the miserly 'well-known unmarried half-a-millionaire' Horace Vandergelder. She successfully matches many others in the city, including Horace's niece and his two young clerks, but everything seems to go wrong when it comes to matching Horace.

Harvey Sabinson, one of Broadway's legendary press agents, and former long-time executive director of The Broadway League, died on April 18, 2019 of natural causes at his residence in Sarasota, Florida. He was 94 years old.

Dancers Over 40 will welcome a bushel full of performers, surprise guests and a gaggle of… wandering dancers from every discipline for a tribute to theatre impresario David Merrick on Monday, April 29, 7pm at St. Luke's Theater, 308 West 46th Street in NYC. 

Razzmatazz, glitz, glamour, intrigue: 42ND STREET is filled with these classic themes, which is why it still thrills audiences decades after its premiere.

Michael Riedel, author of Razzle Dazzle, and AJ Holmes(The Book of Mormon and Team StarKid) will be appearing in Johnny Mercer's lost musical FOXY at Feinstein's/54 Below on Tuesday, April 9that 7:00pm.

Remember Henry Albertson? Sure, you do. He's that ancient, arthritic, fragile/agile but eternally game actor who traveled by stage trunk from scene to scene throughout the longest-running musical of all time, 'The Fantasticks.' You may even remember during one exit, just as the lid was closing, he managed to peer urgently out of the trunk at the audience and implore them, with proper theatrical flourish, 'Remember me -- in light.'

Kelli Barrett, who has appeared on Broadway in Wicked and Gettin' The Band Back Together, and stars as Liza Minnelli in FX's Fosse/Verdon, will be appearing in Johnny Mercer's lost musical FOXY at Feinstein's/54 Below on Tuesday, April 9th at 7:00pm.

Mark Bramble, the American theatre director, author and producer died on February 20, 2019 at the University of Maryland Medical Center in Baltimore following complications related to cardiovascular hypertension.  He was 68 years old.  His passing was reported by his long-time business manager and friend, Richard Koenigsberg.