Elaine Stritch News

Steppenwolf Theatre Company Artistic Director Martha Lavey engages in conversation with John Lahr about his latest book, Tennessee Williams: Mad Pilgrimage of the Flesh in a special one-night-only event on Monday, October 13 at 7pm in the Downstairs Theatre.

There is No Town Like Motown! Saycon Sengbloh (Hollar If Ya Hear Me, Motown, Fela), Marty Thomas (Pageant:The Musical, Xanadu, Wicked) and more are set to perform for Motown's First Baby Shower, honoring N'Kenge 'Mary Wells' (Motown: The Musical, Sondheim on Sondheim).

Director Matthew Gardner works wonders with Sondheim musical.

BroadwayWorld.com is very excited to kick off a brand new partnership with THE SONDHEIM REVIEW. Each month we'll be bringing you special, and exclusive archives from the quarterly magazine dedicated to the work of the musical theatre and Broadway's foremost composer and lyricist, Stephen Sondheim. Each issue contains news, interviews, features, reviews, historical information, upcoming productions in your area, puzzles, and more. Our correspondents in New York, Los Angeles, Chicago, London, and all over the world bring you the latest, most accurate information and insights.

Scott and Patti, Florida's only Mother/Son Cabaret Duo, bring fun and flair to Tampa's Stageworks Theatre.

The Theatre @ Boston Court presents Happy Days by Samuel Beckett, directed by Andrei Belgrader and featuring Brooke Adams and Tony Shalhoub. Opening night is Saturday, September 13, 2014 on the Main Stage at Boston Court Performing Arts Center, 70 North Mentor Avenue.

As BWW reported earlier this evening, comedian and Academy Award-winning actor Robin Williams died this morning, August 11, 2014, of an apparent suicide. He was 63. A slew of stars took to Twitter following the announcement to express their gratitude to the performer and wish him well. Scroll down to see what they had to say, and check back for updates later tonight and tomorrow morning!

Few legends come along as brassy and powerful as Elaine Stritch, and so it's time to 'Rise, Rise, Rise' in tribute to her. On September 12 (9:30pm), director Eric Ulloa and Music Director John McDaniel will present an all star Broadway cast singing the songs that made Stritch famous and telling the stories that made her infamous. So, come join us for an evening of great music, memories, food and of course cocktails.

Volume 2 of writer and musical theater historian Jennifer Tepper's 'THE UNTOLD STORIES OF BROADWAY: Tales from the World's Most Famous Theaters' series is in the works, and the author just took to Twitter to announce the eight theaters featured in the second installment. Learn all the details in her announcement, plus check out the table of contents below!

Whether you've been living under a rock for the past week or you're just in the mood for a recap, BroadwayWorld's 'this week in pictures' is here to satisfy your end-of-the-week fix! Take a look below to catch up on the latest happenings from the Great White Way to The West End (and everywhere in between) with coverage of press events, rehearsals, opening nights and more. Highlights this week include The Public Theatre's KING LEAR, Constantine Maroulis' return to ROCK OF AGES, the opening of the Off-Broadway production of PHOENIX, and more!

Last nght, The Metropolitan Room welcomed some of Broadway's brightest to salute the legendary Elaine Stritch with an evening of stories and songs, hosted by the famed cabaret's owner, Bernard Furshpan. Check out a look back below!

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: PHOENIX, starring Julia Stiles and James Wirt, opens off-Broadway, the Met Room celebrates Elaine Stritch, BROADWAY IN BRYANT PARK returns for one of its final shows this summer and more!

The Metropolitan Room salutes the legendary Elaine Stritch with an evening of stories and songs tonight, August 7th 2014 at 7:00pm. Hosted by the famed cabaret's owner, Bernard Furshpan, performers of all backgrounds will join forces to honor her memory.

The Old Globe today announced the full cast and creative team for the World Premiere of Bright Star, a new American musical featuring music by Edie Brickell and Steve Martin, lyrics by Brickell, and book by Martin, based on an original story by Martin and Brickell. Directed by Walter Bobbie, Bright Star will run September 13 - November 2, 2014 on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage in the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. Preview performances run September 13 - September 27. Opening night is Sunday, September 28 at 7:00 p.m. Single tickets go on sale on Friday, August 8 at noon.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Special nights at the Marriott and Stage 773 this weekend, plus three shows opening ('Coraline,' 'Reefer Madness' and 'Fiddler') and four shows closing ('Motown,' 'Big Fish,' 'Godspell' and 'Hillbillies'). We'll tell you the three shows that have one additional week, plus a Christmas movie has us all a-buzz!!

As Adam Feldman pointed out in his wonderful Time Out New York piece on Elaine Stritch, 'Everyone who ever met Elaine Stritch-hell, anyone who ever saw her perform-has a Stritch story.' I would like to add another category: everyone who ever saw her when someone else performed. I'll explain. In July 2004, Elton John was performing a symphonic concert at New York's Radio City Music Hall and I took my brother Rob. We had great seats, like tenth row center. Halfway through the beautiful set, Elton paused before 'Your Song' and dedicated it to 'One of the greatest theatrical personalities ever to grace the Broadway stage..' Suddenly, we look up about ten feet to our right, and Elaine Stritch is on her feet basking in the glow of a spotlight and Elton's uncharacteristically sincere (and long) introduction. 'Oh Rob, look at her. She's so cute, with those huge black glasses and that big hat. How sweet for her to have this little moment,' I said to my brother. Indeed, in those initial seconds of acknowledgment, Elaine seemed to light up from within and grow a full six inches, like a plant under a grow light on steroids.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, August 3, 2014 - Sunday, August 3, 2014.

After more than two decades of exciting contribution to the New York musical scene, The Mabel Mercer Foundation hits a new high this autumn by producing its 25th annual New York Cabaret Convention for four evenings, October 20th-23rd. All performances begin at 6 o'clock at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Frederick P. Rose Hall at Broadway and 60th Street.

Broadway's 40 theatres aren't the only places to catch performances from your favorite stars! Well after Broadway orchestra's begin their overtures, ensemble members take their dance breaks, and performers belt out their eleven- o'clock numbers, the party continues at various cabaret venues throughout New York City. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you some cabaret highlights for this week as picked by our theatre editors, including: James Snyder, The Trevor Project, Judy Kaye Sings Bernstein & Sondheim, Remembering Elaine Stritch, and 54 Sings The Wiz.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: HAIR gets wild with an all-star cast at The Hollywood Bowl this weekend, and the Edinburgh Fringe Festival launches in Scotland today!