Ethel Merman News

Borrowing a line from A Chorus Line, I saw the red shoes' at seven years old and I fell in love with dance.

Nelson Kole, Russ Lorenson and Toni Morrell are the August headliners at LA's Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in August

Mamma Mia What a Mama Rose

WHO: Maryland Arts Festival WHAT: Gypsy WHEN: Thur. July 13 & 20 at 8PM, Fri. July 7 & 21 at 8PM, Sat. July 15 & 22 at 8PM, Sun. July 9 at 7PM, and Sun. July 16 at 2PM WHERE: Towson University Center for the Arts, Mainstage Theatre HOW MUCH: $25 general, $23 seniors, $18 students

Feature a report on 'without you' by Anthony Rapp, 'til the fat girl sings' by Sharon Wheatley, 'Female Brando: The Legend of Kim Stanley' by Jon Krampner, 'The Importance of Being Barbra' by Tom Santopietro and 'TIME STEPS ? My Musical Comedy Life' by Donna McKechnie with Greg Lawrence.

According to The New York Post's Liz Smith, the Weinsteins do not hold the rights to Gypsy for a planned film version

A number of June events will celebrate books released by Back Stage Books; among the stars set to participate are Kitty Carlisle Hart, Shirley Knight and Julie Wilson

Is a second film version of Gypsy on the way...with Oscar-winner Catherine Zeta Jones as ultimate stage mother Rose?

Tovah Feldshuh gives no less than a star performance in a subtler interpretation that eschews larger than life fireworks and presents the character as an earthier, more realistic representation of late 1800's immigrant survival in America

star performance needs strong support. Even the greatest of leading ladies can't save a production boggled by misguided choices. It is too bad that Village Theatre's wonky new production of Hello, Dolly! is never able to live up to its delightful star (in her return to Seattle) Peggy O'Connell. With a solidly tuneful Jerry Herman score, a tight book by Michael Stewart, and opportunities for multiple star turns, you would expect this local revival to be a triumph. Sadly, director Steve Tomkins' tendency to gravitate towards the superficial requires O'Connell to make a difficult uphill climb. Stars of her caliber should never be subjected to this chore.

Thursday night May 11th, BroadwayWorld.com raised the roof at Tony's DiNapoli in the heart of Times Square. As shows let out and the rain started to fall nothing could dampen spirits on the 3rd Year Anniversary Celebration of our favorite Broadway site.

On May 8th, Elaine Stritch will host the New York Pops 23rd Birthday Gala concert at Carnegie Hall, while Liza Minnelli will make a guest appearance

Jessica Boevers, last seen on Broadway in In My Life, is set to entertain audiences as Louise in the upcoming Ravinia Festival's staged concert production of Gypsy, while Jack Willis has been cast as Herbie

Acorn Media has announced the May 2nd DVD release of the 'Broadway's Lost Treasures Collection,' a 4-volume boxed set of performances from the annual Tony Award broadcasts

Musicologist John Kenrick will present post-performance lectures following two performances of the new musical, A Fine and Private Place, at the York Theatre on April 23 and 30

Miami's Coconut Grove Playhouse, after a sudden closing due to financial trouble, will reopen tonight; Lucie Arnaz has raised funds to help keep the theatre afloat

The Miami Herald has reported the sudden closing of the historic Coconut Grove Playhouse in Miami, Florida; a board of directors meeting will discuss the theatre's fate tomorrow

In May, Back Stage Books will publish Just Outside the Spotlight: Growing Up With Eileen Heckart by her son Luke Yankee, with a foreword by Mary Tyler Moore

Christine Pedi will bring her show Great Dames to Birdland on April 3rd