Ethel Merman News

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein have announced the upcoming lineup at the all-newFeinstein's at the Nikko for the months of October, November and December. Artists include Emmy Award winning actress Megan Mullally ('Will and Grace) and actress Stephanie Hunt ('Friday Night Lights,' 'Californication') and their band Nancy & Beth; actress, producer and singer Rita Wilson; Broadway star and recording artist Linda Eder; soul and jazz vocalist Oleta Adams; and more! Additional artists will be announced at a later date.

The summer sun doesn't have anything on Rogers Park theatre troupe Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre. The group's latest, the musical revue 'A Cole Porter Songbook' puts plenty of sizzle into the summer and has now been extended through Sept. 15.

It's one of my favorite weekends of the year. The weekend I get to spend three days listening to exciting new works as presented by some of the best performers Seattle has to offer. And this year Village Theatre did not disappoint as they invited members, performers, staff and press to partake of their Village Originals 13th Annual Festival of New Musicals. Some good, some maybe not so, some needing a little more work than others but all showing a deep love for the art and presented by some of the best voices in town. Now, I can't review them as they're still works in progress but I can tell you about the shows presented over the weekend and let you know about the one show that while still in development is still running one more weekend and can have tickets purchased to by non-members (that would be you, Dear Readers).

Opening Night of the UCLA Film & Television Archive Film Series: 'CHAMPION: THE STANLEY KRAMER CENTENNIAL' is set for tonight, August 9, 2013 at the Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Boulevard (at the corner of Westwood Boulevard), Los Angeles, Calif.

Opening Night of the UCLA Film & Television Archive Film Series: 'CHAMPION: THE STANLEY KRAMER CENTENNIAL' is set for Friday, August 9, 2013 at the Billy Wilder Theater, 10899 Wilshire Boulevard (at the corner of Westwood Boulevard), Los Angeles, Calif.

Direct from Houston, Texas, L. Robert Westeen presents, at the Minnesota Fringe Festival, his new one-man show, Cocaine and Ethel Merman: the New Homo Guide.

Earlier this year, on March 18, Van Dean, Kenny Howard, and Michael J. Moritz, Jr. brought together a melange of Broadway's most impressive young talent for WHEN I GROW UP: BROADWAY'S NEXT GENERATION, a cabaret concert at 54 BELOW. Kenny Howard says that this group inspired him 'not only with their talents but also with a maturity that is far beyond their years.' For this cabaret concert, the children tackle the adult repertoire of their heroes, taking on music from SPRING AWAKENING, THE DROWSY CHAPERONE, THE LAST FIVE YEARS, AVENUE Q, [TITLE OF SHOW], and more.

Cole Porter classic sails on some rough waters.

NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', today, July 28, at 3 p.m. Performers include Gerardo 'Gerry' Mastrolia, Members of Opera Theatre of Montclair under the Direction of Mia Riker Norrie, and Lisa Viggiano. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Amber Smith.

With the International Al Jolson Society's 17th Annual Long Island Festival just three weeks away (On August 17, from 9am to 4:30pm, at Oceanside Knights of Columbus, 2985 Kenneth Place, Oceanside, NY 11572.), BroadwayWorld.com Cabaret Review/Columnist and passionate Al Jolson fan Stephen Hanks fantasizes about what it might be like to have a conversation with 'The World's Greatest Entertainer,' 53 years after he died. You ain't read nothin' yet.

Ross Petty, one of Canada's leading musical theatre actors and producers, just happened to have starred as the principal male lead in a touring production of Anything Goes early in his career. It was 1980 and Petty played Billy Crocker opposite Ginger Rogers as Reno Sweeney. The cast also included another legendary performer: Sid Caesar, who played Moonface Martin (aka Public Enemy Number 13). Remembering the year Petty played in ANYTHING GOES, he attended the July 24th evening performance at the Princess of Wales Theatre with his wife Karen Kain, the Artistic Director of the National Ballet of Canada. To almost recreate the moment, Petty posed for another photo with the current stars of the 2013 production of ANYTHING GOES. Scroll down to see both photos!

Annie Get Your Gun is playing tonight, July 25-27 and August 1-3 at Longwood Gardens Open Air Theater. All shows begin at 8:30 pm.

t's one of those old musicals with a few memorable tunes and a ridiculous plot that would find it difficult to stand on a modern stage otherwise, but solid performances anchored by Blackhurst make Goodspeed's production an enjoyable romp through turn-of-the-century New York. Goodspeed announced a week's extension to the run before it even had begun.

As BroadwayWorld previously reported, Broadway legend Elaine Stritch left New York City for good in May, after 71 years here, to relocate to her home state of Michigan. Now in a recent interview with Fairweather Magazine, the 88-year old opened up about her new life outside of the Big Apple. Stritch told Fairweather: 'I have a natural input fear of myself that goes in front of me. It's almost like someone says every time I walk into the room, 'Ladies and gentlemen…Elaine Stritch. There's something that says get out of my way, it's going to be my turn, because you need the love of the audience. My assistant/friend, Marge, says you can't live without an audience. That's why I'm questionable about this move. I don't know if it is going to work or not.'

In a journey through an iconic time in music and movie history, Bill Fayne and Friends will perform 'The Golden Age of Movies' at the Suncoast Showroom tonight and tomorrow, July 20 and 21.

'Sing out, Louise!!'. This phrase has been part of theatre lexicon for more than 50 years. Almost having become an inside joke, and used by directors, choreographers and actors to coax performers into giving it their all. Throughout GYPSY's storied history, it has been produced numerous times across this country; the 'greatest American musical' is also often referred to as a 'perfect' musical. And Maine State Music Theatre's current production of GYPSY is just that: perfect.

Broadway actress Michele Ragusa (Young Frankenstein, Urinetown, Ragtime) is no stranger to taking on major roles in the world of musical theater as she did when she took over for Megan Mullally in Young Frankenstein or when she was a replacement in Urinetown covering the roles of Penny and Hope. But now, Ragusa has taken on an iconic role that not only seems to suit her, but one that critics are raving about. The role, made famous by the legendary Ethel Merman is of course Mama Rose in Gypsy. Ragusa is currently playing the 'ultimate show business mother' at The Hangar Theater (which took home 9 awards at the 2012 Broadway World Awards) through this weekend. Scroll down for a first look at her in action!

NiCori Studios and Productions in association with Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, 'Music at the Mansion', on Sunday,July 28, at 3 p.m. Performers include Gerardo 'Gerry' Mastrolia, Members of Opera Theatre of Montclair under the Direction of Mia Riker Norrie, and Lisa Viggiano. The featured performer in the 'Young Musician Moment' will be Amber Smith.

Klea Blackhurst talks about her career, Jerry Herman and starring in HELLO, DOLLY! at the Goodspeed Opera House