Ethel Merman News

Audition slots are filling fast for your chance to be involved with our two fantastic productions in 2011: Forever Broadway and 42nd Street.

Ginger Rogers danced her way into our hearts in the arms of Fred Astaire, setting the gold standard for grace and elegance on the silver screen. Backwards In High Heels tells the captivating story of the star's journey from her hometown to Hollywood and from one love affair to another. San Jose Repertory Theatre's production of this sure-to-be holiday favorite has been called 'an enchanted evening...the melody is flowing and the tap shoes are chattering away, all is nirvana' (Florida Sun-Sentinel).

Kingsborough Performing Arts Center's season of world-class Dance, Music, Theatre, and Family Shows continues on November 20th at 8:00 p.m. with Klea Blackhurst's Everything The Traffic Will Allow: The Songs & Sass of Ethel Merman, a critically-acclaimed show that is Klea's loving tribute to the songs made famous by the legendary stage personality Ethel Merman.

Grosse Pointe Theatre presents the classic musical, Annie Get Your Gun, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields.

92nd Street Y has announced that Jordan Roth, President of Jujamcyn Theaters, continues his multi-evening 92nd Street Y conversation series, "Broadway Talks," with Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress Elaine Stritch.

Le Petit Theatre brings the long-running Tony Award-winning revue FORBIDDEN BROADWAY to the Main Stage November 5-19. This hilarious and ever-evolving show, tailored for New Orleans audiences, features parodies of hits and hitmakers old and new that will strike the funny bone of even those with only the most glancing knowledge of the Great White Way. And for even the most hardened aficionado, it's fall-down funny. Cast members Leslie Castay, Dianna Duffy, Vatican Lokey and Cliff Thompson - accompanied by one-man-piano-orchestra Jesse Reeks - sing and dance their way through rapid-fire costume changes and madcap impressions in a loving satire of Broadway's biggest songwriters and stars.

Musical Theatre West has announced that Andrea McArdle, Broadway's original Annie, will star as Miss Hannigan in its upcoming production of ANNIE at the beautiful 1070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. ANNIE previews October 29th and runs October 30th through November 14th. Musical Theatre West Artistic Director/Producer Steven Glaudini directs with musical direction by Daniel Thomas and choreography by Roger Castellano.

Incoming Artistic Director Mark Clements announced Milwaukee Repertory Theater's 2010/11 season at a special Season Announcement Event held in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse. The season includes two American Premieres, a classic of American theater, a play featuring triple threat Australian star Caroline O'Connor and the first ever full-scale musical to be staged on The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse stage.

Audition slots are filling fast for your chance to be involved with our two fantastic productions in 2011: Forever Broadway and 42nd Street.

Kingsborough Performing Arts Center's season of world-class Dance, Music, Theatre, and Family Shows continues on November 20th at 8:00 p.m. with Klea Blackhurst's Everything The Traffic Will Allow: The Songs & Sass of Ethel Merman, a critically-acclaimed show that is Klea's loving tribute to the songs made famous by the legendary stage personality Ethel Merman.

Composer and lyricist Stephen Sondheim's new book 'Finishing the Hat: Collected Lyrics (1954-1981) with Attendant Comments, Principles, Heresies, Grudges, Whines and Anecdotes' was released today, October 26, 2010. The book debuted at #11 on the New York Times Book Review Bestseller list this week.

Grosse Pointe Theatre presents the classic musical, Annie Get Your Gun, music and lyrics by Irving Berlin, book by Herbert and Dorothy Fields.

BroadwayWorld TV's west coast correspondents Dean Butler and Michael Sterling spent an afternoon with Andrea McArdle and the cast of Musical Theatre West's production of ANNIE at the beautiful 1070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach. ANNIE, opened October 30th and continues through November 14th. Musical Theatre West Artistic Director/Producer Steven Glaudini directs with musical direction by Daniel Thomas and choreography by Roger Castellano.

Lincoln Center Theater's production of the new musical WOMEN ON THE VERGE OF A NERVOUS BREAKDOWN, based on the film by Pedro Almodóvar, with a book by Jeffrey Lane, music and lyrics by David Yazbek and direction by Bartlett Sher opened last night November 4 at The Belasco Theatre on Broadway. A long-standing opening night tradition on the Great White Way, the fabled Gypsy Robe is bestowed upon a veteran Broadway chorus member for each opening production. In what has now become a theatrical ritual, originating on Broadway 60 years ago, Julio Agustin was the given the robe.

Ginger Rogers danced her way into our hearts in the arms of Fred Astaire, setting the gold standard for grace and elegance on the silver screen. Backwards In High Heels tells the captivating story of the star's journey from her hometown to Hollywood and from one love affair to another. San Jose Repertory Theatre's production of this sure-to-be holiday favorite has been called 'an enchanted evening...the melody is flowing and the tap shoes are chattering away, all is nirvana' (Florida Sun-Sentinel).

On Sunday, October 31, the company of THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS celebrated their opening night with the Gypsy Robe ritual. The company's recipient was JC Montgomery. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you photo coverage below.

Today, we are talking to the international TV icon herself - most recently having conquered Sirius satellite radio - the incomparable comedienne, actress, activist, filmmaker, producer, writer and stage performer Rosie O'Donnell. In this BWW WORLD EXCLUSIVE InDepth InterView we discuss her upcoming comedy show at Town Hall as part of the New York Comedy Festival coming up this Friday, November 4th, as well as the first news about her new daytime hour-long television discussion show on Oprah's OWN Network beginning in September of next year, plus plans for a New York art gallery showing of her art in 2011 and hopes to return to Broadway in James Lapine's thirtieth anniversary revival of the beloved musical ANNIE - making a girlhood dream come true. All this, and a top-to-bottom discussion of all things Broadway - from Rosie's Theater Kids and their self-written musical MY LIFE that just premiered at NYMF, to her own favorite shows, songs, scores, divas and Broadway performance highlights from her own talk show, to TABOO and her theories on what makes Broadway an American institution. Plus, the first news of her role on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM Season Eight! Over the course of our engaging and enlivening conversation Rosie proved she is the Queen of Nice in addition to being that unparalleled queen of Broadway patronage. See why - and much, much more - here.

Today, we are talking to the international TV icon herself - most recently having conquered Sirius satellite radio - the incomparable comedienne, actress, activist, filmmaker, producer, writer and stage performer Rosie O'Donnell. In this BWW WORLD EXCLUSIVE InDepth InterView we discuss her upcoming comedy show at Town Hall as part of the New York Comedy Festival coming up this Friday, November 4th, as well as the first news about her new daytime hour-long television discussion show on Oprah's OWN Network beginning in September of next year, plus plans for a New York art gallery showing of her art in 2011 and hopes to return to Broadway in James Lapine's thirtieth anniversary revival of the beloved musical ANNIE - making a girlhood dream come true. All this, and a top-to-bottom discussion of all things Broadway - from Rosie's Theater Kids and their self-written musical MY LIFE that just premiered at NYMF, to her own favorite shows, songs, scores, divas and Broadway performance highlights from her own talk show, to TABOO and her theories on what makes Broadway an American institution. Plus, the first news of her role on CURB YOUR ENTHUSIASM Season Eight! Over the course of our engaging and enlivening conversation Rosie proved she is the Queen of Nice in addition to being that unparalleled queen of Broadway patronage. See why - and much, much more - here.

Actors Equity held a celebration for the 60th Anniversary of the Gypsy Robe on Monday night, October 25th at Sequoia on Pier 17 at the South Street Seaport where past gypsy robe winners came back to reminisce and to celebrate.

Musical Theatre West is proud to announce the complete cast for its upcoming production of ANNIE at the beautiful 1070-seat Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.