Dean Martin News

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, recognized by U.S. Congress as a vital American "Cultural Ambassador to the World," visits Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare tonight, May 4 through May 6, led by dynamic Artistic Director Robert Battle. Following critically-acclaimed sold out performances in New York City, Ailey's extraordinary dancers will move audiences in a series of premieres and new productions that launch an exciting new era in Ailey history. Presented by the U.S. Bank Star Performance Series at PlayhouseSquare.

The Birmingham Hippodrome today announced full season information for its forthcoming 2012/13 season, which includes Cape Town Opera's PORGY AND BESS and Cameron Mackintosh's new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE KING AND I, WONDERFUL TOWN, DIRTY DANCING, SISTER ACT and BLOOD BROTHERS.

Part 12 ANGRY MEN homage, part surrealistic NBC retrospective fever dream and 100% 30 ROCK absurd brilliance at its best, night's live episode of the gold standard NBC comedy series 30 ROCK was precisely that - pure gold. Not only did Tina Fey and the impossibly creative team of writers give the motley assortment of players that comprise the cast a chance to seriously show off their live sketch show skills and theatrical training, but provided Broadway and Hollywood crossover star Alec Baldwin with some of his strongest material to date - with the charismatic erstwhile comedian absolutely killing in his moments portraying a host of wacky and weird characters besides the usual stone-faced Jack Donaghy, a role which has brought him a copious amount of well-deserved statuettes over the six seasons so far. Speaking of hosts, the Dean Martin parody, THE JOEY MONTERO SHOW, stands out as being perhaps the most memorable and guffaw-inducing of all the night's trove of treasures, which is certainly saying something significant - Baldwin owned. Besides the ingenuous conceit of paying tribute to the landmark original live television drama 12 ANGRY MEN acting as a fresh and amusing framing device for the episode, the opportunity afforded by Kenneth (Jack MacBrayer)'s hallucinatory flashbacks of fictional former lesser glories of NBC's long and storied history gave rise to the fabulous fodder allowing for some of the funniest sequences on the series in recent memory - moments that will linger in the mind and funny bone long after this episode or season. Yes, once again, 30 ROCK proved why it is the finest comedy on TV and why Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin have a special sort of chemistry that can only be compared to the finest pairs in the rich history of the form - Mary & Mr. Grant included.

Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of award-winning Broadway Producers Timothy Laczynski (The Pee-wee Herman Show, A Christmas Story), Executive Producer and Roy Miller (West Side Story, The Drowsy Chaperone, Ragtime, and the upcoming new musical Animal House) Artistic Director, kicks off its 63rdAnniversary Season of 'Broadway at the Beach' with the Surflight Premiere of The Rat Pack Revue from tonight, April 18 through May 6, 2012.

Sal Viviano (City of Angels, The Full Monty), Nat Chandler (The Scarlet Pimpernel, The Phantom of the Opera) and Eric Jordan Young (Ragtime, Chicago) will appear in concert with Maestro Joseph Young and the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra on Friday, April 27th at 8pm, Saturday, April 28th at 8pm, and Sunday, April 29th at 2pm.

Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of award-winning Broadway Producers Timothy Laczynski (The Pee-wee Herman Show, A Christmas Story), Executive Producer and Roy Miller (West Side Story, The Drowsy Chaperone, Ragtime, and the upcoming new musical Animal House) Artistic Director, kicks off its 63rdAnniversary Season of 'Broadway at the Beach' with the Surflight Premiere of The Rat Pack Revue from April 18 through May 6, 2012.

On Sunday, April 8th, the largest housing unit of the historic Surflight Theatre suffered extensive damage when a blaze broke out at The Gables, a neighboring establishment. No one was injured in the fire. Although the severity of the damage is still being assessed, the housing unit that provides a home to production personnel sustained enough damage to render the unit uninhabitable for at least a portion of the 2012 season.

Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in its inaugural season under the leadership of artistic director Robert Battle, makes its annual stop at NJPAC's Prudential Hall during from May 11-13.

Ray Jessel is set to make an appearance at The Arthur Newman Theatre in Palm Desert on Sunday, May 13th at 2 PM as part of the Life Is A Cabaret Sundays In Summer Series presented by Les Michaels.

On June 12, 2012, Universal Music Enterprises (UMe) releases DEAN MARTIN - COLLECTED COOL.

The Birmingham Hippodrome today announced full season information for its forthcoming 2012/13 season, which includes Cape Town Opera's PORGY AND BESS and Cameron Mackintosh's new production of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, THE KING AND I, WONDERFUL TOWN, DIRTY DANCING, SISTER ACT and BLOOD BROTHERS.

Continuing its six year reign as the most popular and award-winning supper club of its kind in the greater Los Angeles area, dedicated to presenting the best of Broadway performers and nightclub artists dedicated to the Great American Songbook, Sterling's Upstairs had its Grand Opening Sunday, April 1st at The Federal Bar and Restaurant in North Hollywood's trendy NoHo Arts District. Sterling's presented Bruce Kimmel's Kritzerland production of Take Me Along: The Songs of Bob Merrill as its premiere offering. The six member cast starred musical theatre stars Julie Garnye and Juliana Hansen, Broadway's Melody Hollis and Kristofer McNeely, and musical theatre star Jeffrey Christopher Todd, with Special Guest... Broadway, film, TV, concert and recording star Lainie Kazan. Christy Crowel served as the evening's Musical Director, with Shelly Markham serving as Musical Director for Lainie Kazan. Bruce Kimmel conceived, produced and directed Take Me Along, with Adryan Russ on board as Associate Producer.

On Tuesday night at the Iridium Jazz Club, precocious, yet polished 20-year-old crooner Nicolas King conquered a packed room filled with freshly-minted MAC Award winners, veteran cabaret performers, a burgeoning legion of fans, beaming family members, and his mentor and friend Liza Minnelli (who attended the show with actor Tony Danza).

Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) will play host this summer to the world premiere of The Nutty Professor, a new musical comedy directed by the King of Comedy himself, Jerry Lewis. The Broadway at TPAC Special Event will run from July 24 to August 19 in TPAC's James K. Polk Theater. Featuring music by Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line) and a book and lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), The Nutty Professor is based on the classic 1963 film in which Lewis starred and co-wrote.

Nashville's Tennessee Performing Arts Center (TPAC) will play host this summer to the world premiere of The Nutty Professor, a new musical comedy directed by the King of Comedy himself, Jerry Lewis. The Broadway at TPAC Special Event will run from July 24 to August 19 in TPAC's James K. Polk Theater. Featuring music by Oscar, Emmy, Tony and Pulitzer Prize winner Marvin Hamlisch (A Chorus Line) and a book and lyrics by three-time Tony Award winner Rupert Holmes (The Mystery of Edwin Drood), The Nutty Professor is based on the classic 1963 film in which Lewis starred and co-wrote.

Experience The Rat Pack at The State Theatre on Saturday, March 31 at 8 PM.

On Tuesday, March 20, acclaimed cabaret vocalist Terese Genecco celebrated the third anniversary of her monthly shows at Iridium Jazz Club with a launch party for her new CD release, 'Terese Genecco & Her Little Big Band: Live from the Iridium NYC.'