Ethel Merman News

We're now well into summer and the last Broadway season brought many new recordings for us to listen to and own. Also, some specialty recordings and solo entries.

This summer, celebrate your love of classic film as the 12th annual Cinema at the Square series returns to PlayhouseSquare August 6-23, 2009. This years series showcases fifteen classic films from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the special-effects laced blockbusters of the 1980's; all for a very 'retro' price of just $5 per film.

This fall, The Town Hall, New York City's landmark concert venue (123 West 43rd Street), launches the new season with their celebration of Broadway's best. The Town Hall presents its acclaimed Broadway Cabaret Festival which runs October 16 - 18, 2009. The three-concert series that takes place over one weekend is written and hosted for The Town Hall by Scott Siegel. The festival showcases the talents of award-winning Broadway veterans and new stars in a celebration of the Great White Way.

Rachel York's one-woman show, 'For The Love Of It,' performs at Cabaret at the Castle, located in the Inner Circle of the world famous Magic Castle.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and who she's seen in the world of cabaret in the past week. The past week's events included Cast Party, The Oak Room Salon, and Sharon McNight at The Metropolitan Room!

KLEA BLACKHURST - hailed as 'an improbably terrific young performer' by the New York Times - will return to New York with her critically-acclaimed concert, Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman for seven performances at the Snapple Theater Center (210 West 50th Street).

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre continues its 49th season with Jerry Herman?s sensational musical Hello, Dolly!, running July 8th through July 18th. Based on Thornton Wilders? play, The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! won an impressive 10 Tony Awards in 1964 .

It's hard to believe that in 79 years, and countless hours tinkering on this nation's greatest stages, Stephen Sondheim has never worked in this wonderful theater town. On October 26, 2009 musical theater's living legend, Stephen Sondheim, will make this first momentous journey to Seattle; and will hold what promises to be an enormously entertaining and informative onstage conversation with his friend and respected New York Times columnist Frank Rich.

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre continues its 49th season with Jerry Herman?s sensational musical Hello, Dolly!, running July 8th through July 18th. Based on Thornton Wilders? play, The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! won an impressive 10 Tony Awards in 1964 .

Color symbolism is a literary device that is hammered home by high school English teachers around the country. Students are encouraged to ponder why Jay Gatsby reaches out to the green light at the end of Daisy Buchanan's dock and what Robert Frost meant when he wrote about two roads diverging in a yellow wood. Why did these authors choose the colors green and yellow? What did they mean?

Carol Channing, star of stage and screen for most of the 20th century, will finally make her Music Circus debut in a benefit performance Monday, August 31, at the Wells Fargo Pavilion. 'Carol Channing and Friends,' a benefit in support of her Foundation for the Arts and for the nonprofit California Musical Theatre.

In a two-for-one theater event, Fort Lauderdale?s ArtServe is hosting the one-act plays ?Mr. Charles, currently of Palm Beach? by Paul Rudnick and ?Mexico City? by David Leddick. Both plays will star Mr. Leddick, Merry Jo Cortada and Stefan Pinto. Funny and sad, sexy and sinister, the two plays promise an exhilarating emotional experience for the audience. With plays ricocheting between Palm Beach and Mexico City, this is a completely new adventure for theatergoers. The show is directed by David Kingery and the incidental music is by Andrew Sargent. V.J. Colonna is producing with stage management by Jamie Cooper.

This summer, celebrate your love of classic film as the 12th annual Cinema at the Square series returns to PlayhouseSquare August 6-23, 2009. This years series showcases fifteen classic films from the Golden Age of Hollywood to the special-effects laced blockbusters of the 1980's; all for a very 'retro' price of just $5 per film.

KLEA BLACKHURST - hailed as 'an improbably terrific young performer' by the New York Times - will return to New York with her critically-acclaimed concert, Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman for seven performances at the Snapple Theater Center (210 West 50th Street).

Among the many topics discussed on Sunday June 21st at the Magic Castle's Inner Circle gathering featuring the comedic icon Phyllis Diller, was how she was one of the long and impressive list of Dolly's such as Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey and Ethel Merman to perform at the St James Theatre in Jerry Herman's HELLO DOLLY! 'David Merrick wanted either George Burns or Jack Benny to do Dolly in drag, but couldn't get them so he settled for me,' says Ms. Diller, whom everyone referred to as Madam. 'Can you imagine? It would still be running on Broadway today!'

In a two-for-one theater event, Fort Lauderdale?s ArtServe is hosting the one-act plays ?Mr. Charles, currently of Palm Beach? by Paul Rudnick and ?Mexico City? by David Leddick. Both plays will star Mr. Leddick, Merry Jo Cortada and Stefan Pinto. Funny and sad, sexy and sinister, the two plays promise an exhilarating emotional experience for the audience. With plays ricocheting between Palm Beach and Mexico City, this is a completely new adventure for theatergoers. The show is directed by David Kingery and the incidental music is by Andrew Sargent. V.J. Colonna is producing with stage management by Jamie Cooper.

'HAIR Week' On Broadway's exclusive look into the revival of HAIR, in celebration of the release of Ghostlight Records' New Broadway Cast Recording (in stores June 23), will also include special guest DJ sessions with members of the 'tribe.' Beginning Monday, June 22 through Friday, June 26 at 9:00 am and 9:00 pm ET, the 'tribe' members will play music from the new cast album and share stories about what goes on behind the scenes at the Hirschfeld Theatre.

For its 41st consecutive summer season, Waltham's Reagle Players presents a Salute to Jerry Herman ! Three of Herman's master musicals constitute the entire season.

Tony Award nominee Gavin Creel (Thoroughly Modern Millie, La Cage aux Folles) with cast members Sasha Allen, Ato Blankson-Wood, Allison Case, Kaitlin Kiyan, Caissie Levy, Nicole Lewis, and Megan Reinking.

FMPAT will be holding auditions for the adult roles in Ruthless! The Musical on Monday June 15 at FMPATheatre. Auditions are by appointment only beginning at 7pm. Call backs will be scheduled as needed, tentatively set for Wednesday, June 17th.