Ethel Merman News

The first image of Broadway legend Betty Buckley as Dolly Gallagher Levi in the first national tour of Hello, Dolly! has just been released.

Four short films will make their Austin premiere playing Today, September 22 at 9:00 am in the Austin Revolution Film Festival.

Beatrice Lillie aka Lady Peel, star of stage and screen from the 1910s to the 1960s, returns to the stage to reclaim her title as 'The Funniest Woman in the World.'

Following a critically acclaimed, sell-out three-month run at Chicago's Apollo Theater in 2015, Flying Elephant Productions is pleased to announce the return of the hit musical comedy THE BOOK OF MERMAN, featuring a book by Leo Schwartz and DC Cathro, music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz, direction by DC Cathro, music direction by Tyler Miles and choreography by Jenna Schoppe.  

The incomparable singer, dancer & actor, Elaine Stritch (1925-2014) developed a one-woman show over 15 years ago that fans of Broadway are still talking about today. Thankfully, this joyous and raucous production was captured in high definition and will live on forever. The show, Elaine Stritch at Liberty, will be screened exclusively at The Park Theatre's River Street Theatre in downtown Jaffrey on Saturday, September 15 at 7pm and again on Wednesday, September 19 at 2pm.

Hershey Felder brings his wildly acclaimed one-man show, Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin to 59E59 Theaters. The production, featuring music and lyrics by the great American songwriter Irving Berlin, book by Hershey Felder and directed by longtime Felder collaborator Trevor Hay, will play from August 24 through October 28, 2018.

Two River Theater opens their 20182019 season with the world premiere of 'Pamela's First Musical.' The show will be on the Red Bank stage from 98 to 1017. Broadwayworld.com interviewed Andrea Burns about her career and her role as Mary Ethel Bernadette in the production.

Four short films will make their Austin premiere playing Saturday, September 22 at 9:00 am in the Austin Revolution Film Festival.

Terrific New Theatre opens its 33rd season Sept. 13 with the Alabama premiere of a new musical comedy that isn't scheduled to reach Off-Broadway until October. "The Book of Merman," a send-up of the Tony Award-winning smash hit "The Book of Mormon," will run for three weekends at TNT - including two Sunday matinees - closing on Sept. 29.

Music Theater Works (formerly Light Opera Works) presents Cole Porter's classic 1930s musical comedy, ANYTHING GOES, at Cahn Auditorium in Evanston, August 18 through 26. A Big Band orchestra accompanies such well-known songs as 'I Get a Kick Out of You,' 'It's De-Lovely,' 'Friendship' and 'You're the Top.'

Fifty years ago this summer, dozens of Springer patrons flew to New York to see hometown star Victoria Mallory make her Broadway debut in the leading role of Maria in West Side Story.   She was only 20 years old.

THE BOOK OF MERMAN, a new musical comedy featuring music and lyrics by Leo Schwartz and book by Schwartz and DC Cathro, is set to have its New York premiere in October. Joe Langworth will direct this new Off-Broadway musical, which will begin previews on Friday, October 5 at St. Luke's Theatre (308 West 46th Street), with opening set for Sunday, October 21. 

General on sale begins Wednesday, May 30 at Noon for award-winning actor and piano virtuoso Hershey Felder in his wildly acclaimed one-man show, HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN at 59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director).

Today's subject, John Leslie Wolfe, has been living his theater life to the fullest for many years now. His credits include Broadway, national tours, television, and film. Local theatergoers might remember him from his performances at Signature Theatre in Titanic, The Threepenny Opera, and West Side Story or in 1776 or Ragtime at Ford's Theatre. Currently, John is back at Signature Theatre in rehearsal for the Stephen Sondheim/James Lapine musical Passion directed by Signature Theatre's Associate Artistic Director Matthew Gardiner. Performances begin on August 14th in Signature's MAX Theatre space. The production runs through September 23rd.

Anything Goes,' the crowd pleasing 1930's musical composed by Cole Porter, is back at Westchester Broadway Theatre with gusto! (Westchester Broadway Theatre's 206th performance!)

Head Over Heels had its Legacy Robe ceremony last week before its opening night performance. The robe was given to Justin Prescott. Check out photos from the ceremony below!

Stop the presses.......literally! One of Broadway's most respected press agents, Joshua Ellis, has the spotlight shifted from his glittering clientele and focused firmly on him in this delightful interview. Today, we cover some of the 100 plus shows Joshua has worked on including Into the Woods, 42nd Street, Lena Horne: The Lady and her Music, The King and I, Morning's at Seven, and The Life and Adventures of Nicholas Nickleby.

One person who we have to thank for the influencing the tradition of summer stock theatre is none other than John Kenley, whose legacy lives on today. From the 1940s - 1990s, John Kenley championed summer theatre and brought shows to small towns across America.

Fifty years ago this summer, dozens of Springer patrons flew to New York to see hometown star Victoria Mallory make her Broadway debut in the leading role of Maria in West Side Story.   She was only 20 years old.