Donna Murphy News

Spotted at Cafe Edison:  Hillary Clinton and Cubby Bernstein in serious conversation huddled over bowls of motzah ball soup.  As Leo Frank sang, this is not over yet.

Though Julie Wilson was certainly not the first and by all means not the last great singer to have her heart stomped upon by Kurt Weill and Bertolt Brecht's 'Surabaya Johnny,' there is no one I can name more deserving to claim it as their signature song.  (Okay, maybe Lotte Lenya, but you know that's a special case.)  Though for many years now the 83-year-old beloved cabaret star has been singing songs less and less and speaking them more and more, there are few who can match her for painting vivid word pictures and bringing complex dramatic subtext to a lyric.  With pianist Christopher Denny doing a marvelous job of softly supporting her many pauses and tempo changes, Wilson's crushing performance of Marc Blitzstein's translation, played to a pin-drop silent crowd on opening night of her new show at The Metropolitan Room, is an emotionally striking portrayal of a woman who can explode with anger at the mistreatment she endures from her faithless lover while moments later barely control a sob at the admission that she still loves him.  Through the years I've seen Julie Wilson sing 'Surabaya Johnny' many times but her performance that night was the best I've ever seen or heard from anyone.  (And as is typical of her modesty, she actually introduced the song by complimenting Donna Murphy's performance of it on Broadway in LoveMusik.)  She follows it with a devilishly humored 'Mack the Knife' (also Blitzstein's translation) that builds so slowly and precisely that she goes through the entire song twice in order to hit the climax.  I heard no complaints.

Gavin Creel, Donna Murphy, and Anthony Rapp all lend their talents to teach master classes this summer in the reputable program 'Making it on Broadway' based on the popular book of the same title.

ony Award winner Donna McKechnie and noted theatre columnist Michael Riedel joined two-time Tony Award winner Donna Murphy in the eagerly anticipated benefit performance of PAMELA'S FIRST MUSICAL, a new musical with music by Tony Award winner Cy Coleman, lyrics by Tony Award winner David Zippel, book by Tony & Pulitzer Award winner Wendy Wasserstein and directed by Tony Award nominee Graciela Daniele. In addition, Lila Coogan has been cast in the role of 'Pamela.' Coogan is currently appearing as 'Jane Banks' in the Broadway production of Mary Poppins. The all-star cast also includes Lynn Ahrens, Christian Borle, Carolee Carmello, Sandy Duncan, Gregg Edelman, Christine Ebersole, Stephen Flaherty, Kathie Lee Gifford, Adam Heller, Richard Kind, Robert Klein, Tommy Tune and many others. Special guest David Garrison made appearance as Producer Bernie S. Gerry. The special concert of PAMELA'S FIRST MUSICAL was held on Sunday, May 18 at 3 PM at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street) with a reception at Sardi's immediately following. Proceeds will benefit BC/EFA and Theatre Development Fund's Open Doors Program, which Wasserstein founded. This delightful one-act musical, based on Wasserstein's 1996 children's book, tells the story of a young girl from the suburbs who spends an unforgettable birthday with her eccentric, sophisticated Aunt Louise (Murphy) attending a lavish Broadway production and meeting all the glamorous, creative people who made it possible. BROADWAY CARES/ EQUITY FIGHTS AIDS (BC/EFA) is the nation's leading industry-based, nonprofit AIDS fund raising and grant making organization. BC/EFA is the on-going, committed response from the American theater community to an urgent worldwide health crisis. By drawing upon the talents, resources and generosity of this community, BC/EFA raises funds for AIDS-related causes across the United States. Since it's founding in 1988, BC/EFA has raised over $140 million for critically needed services for people with AIDS, HIV and other related illnesses. For more information please visit www.broadwaycares.org

Tony Award winner Donna McKechnie and noted theatre columnist Michael Riedel joined two-time Tony Award winner Donna Murphy in the eagerly anticipated benefit performance of PAMELA'S FIRST MUSICAL, a new musical with music by Tony Award winner Cy Coleman, lyrics by Tony Award winner David Zippel, book by Tony & Pulitzer Award winner Wendy Wasserstein and directed by Tony Award® nominee Graciela Daniele.

'Thurgood' opened at the Booth Theatre on April 30th. 'Thurgood' stars Lawrence Fishburne as Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall.

'Thurgood,' starring Lawrence Fishburne, opened on April 30th at the Booth Theatre.

BroadwayWorld is pleased to bring you this special recording of Cy Coleman and Lillias White singing 'It Started With A Dream' from 'Pamela's First Musical' which Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS will be presenting a benefit performance at Town Hall on May 18th at 3pm.

Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS is pleased to announce that Tony Awardâ winner Donna McKechnie and noted theatre columnist Michael Riedel will join the previously announced two-time Tony Awardâ winner Donna Murphy in the eagerly anticipated benefit performance of PAMELA'S FIRST MUSICAL, a new musical with music by Tony Award® winner Cy Coleman, lyrics by Tony Award® winner David Zippel, book by Tony® & Pulitzer Award winner Wendy Wasserstein and directed by Tony Award® nominee Graciela Daniele.

Broadway Cares/ Equity Fights AIDS is proud to present a special performance of PAMELA'S FIRST MUSICAL, a new musical with music by Tony Award® winner Cy Coleman, lyrics by Tony Award® winner David Zippel, book by Tony® & Pulitzer Award winner Wendy Wasserstein and directed by Tony Award® nominee Graciela Daniele, on Sunday, May 18 at 3 PM at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street) with a reception at Sardi's immediately following. Proceeds will benefit BC/EFA and Theatre Development Fund's Open Doors Program, which Wasserstein founded.

Last season Donna Murphy tackled the role of Lotte Lenya in Harold Prince's musical Love Musik. Here she talks about capturing the essence of this remarkable woman.

Donna Murphy wowed audiences with her performance of Ruth in Kathleen Marshall's Broadway revival of Wonderful Town. Here she talks about re-visting the role since her original Encores engagement.

'Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words,' the acclaimed, long-running L.A-based comedy sensation has taken New York by storm and has extended its run (Mondays at 7:30PM) through March 24 at The Triad Theater. Up-coming celebrity participants include Carson Kressley and Alan Cumming.

Without auditioning or formally training in dance, Jimmy has performed in four hit musicals on Broadway.

'Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words,' the acclaimed, long-running L.A-based comedy sensation returned to New York City at The Triad Theater. In appearance on Monday, February 18 were Broadway and screen-stars Donna Murphy, Matthew Broderick, Claudia Shear, Rachel Dratch Kristen Johnston, Eugene Pack, Dayle Reyfel and Seth Rudetsky.

'Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words,' the acclaimed, long-running L.A-based comedy sensation has extended its run due to popular demand and will now play Mondays at 7:30PM. through March 24 at The Triad Theater

Theatre luminaries host 'A Musical Celebration of Broadway Honoring Roger Berlind' presented as the the 24th annual spring gala benefit concert for The Drama League at The Rainbow Room on Monday February 11, 2008.

The daytime TV star returns to musical theatre-- and to Encores!-- in Applause.

Theatre luminaries Mary-Louise Parker, Debra Monk, Scott Ellis, Walter Bobbie, Karen Ziemba and Jason Danieley are set to join the cast of Curtains and previously announced Broadway stars Brian Stokes Mitchell, David Hyde Pierce, Donna Murphy, Carolee Carmello, Gregg Edelman and James Naughton in 'A Musical Celebration of Broadway Honoring Roger Berlind,' presented as the 24th annual spring gala benefit concert for The Drama League.