Ethel Merman News

Principal Baltimore Symphony Pops Conductor Jack Everly presents top notch entertainment.

It's one thing to be the leading lady in a musical; it's another to be the lead in a show bearing your character's name in the title. Luckily, The Firehouse Theatre's production of THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE has found the perfect plucky namesake star (Janelle Lutz) for its current production. Lutz's talents are equally matched by a competent, playful and well-rounded cast to tell this quirky tale of flapper frivolity, lost loves and an elevator powered by tap dancing.

Riverside Theatre, led by Producing Artistic Director/CEO Allen D. Cornell and Managing Director/COO Jon R. Moses, present the enduring Broadway classic, HELLO, DOLLY!, which performs on the Stark Stage from March 8 to 27, 2016.

Today in 1946, Annie Get Your Gun opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1147 performances. Annie Get Your Gun is a musical with lyrics and music written by Irving Berlin and a book by Herbert Fields and his sister Dorothy Fields. The story is a fictionalized version of the life of Annie Oakley (1860-1926), who was a sharpshooter from Ohio, and her husband, Frank Butler. Songs that became hits include 'There's No Business Like Show Business', 'Doin' What Comes Natur'lly', 'You Can't Get a Man with a Gun', 'They Say It's Wonderful', and 'Anything You Can Do.'

It's time to put in your late winter pre-orders! Masterworks Broadway has just announced its slate of releases for Winter 2016, including three classic albums from the archives - SWEET CHARITY (February 12), SALAD DAYS (March 18), and KISMET (April 15). On February 26, Masterworks Broadway releases THE ESSENTIAL STEPHEN SONDHEIM, celebrating the 85th birthday year of the legendary theater composer and lyricist.

Everything's coming up roses as Riverdale Repertory Company and Riverdale Rising Stars join forces to present one of the greatest Broadway musicals of all time: GYPSY.  This production will be performed for five performances only:

Year 2016 looks like it will be AMAZING for the venerable Midtown International Theatre Festival. The level of talent and experience this season is considerable. The subject matter stronger, more topical, and brilliantly written.

Nothing but blue skies at Crazy Coqs this March.

There's a new Dolly coming to town and today we've got the scoop on auditions to star alongside the legend via an Equity Casting Notice, available here. 

? Porchlight Music Theatre and Artistic Director Michael Weber are proud to announce the 2016 ICONS Gala celebrating the legendary woman whose name is synonymous with Broadway, Ethel Merman, Sunday, May 1, 2016 11:00 a.m. - 2 p.m., at the Grand Ballroom, InterContinental Chicago Magnificent Mile, 505 N. Michigan Ave. The Gala includes performances from Chicago's leading talents celebrating the rich career of Merman, the presentation of the 2016 Guy Adkins Award for Excellence in the Advancement of Music Theatre in Chicago to E. Faye Butler and silent and live auctions. Proceeds from the event and its accompanying auction benefit Porchlight's educational programs and productions. Tickets are on sale now and require advance purchase, $125 before April 15, $150 after April 15, $50 for children ages 18 years old and younger are available at 773.777.9884 or at PorchlightMusicTheatre.org.

There's a new Dolly coming to town. As BroadwayWorld reported last week, Bette Midler will indeed return to Broadway in one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history when she takes on the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly!, and according to Page Six, she'll make bank doing it.

Producer David Merrick brought in a parade of stars to follow Carol Channing, but there was one that got away.

This week, we go around our Broadway World to feature stories in New Jersey, Wichita, Miami, and more. Check out our top 10 stories around our Broadway World below, which include a 'must-see' THE PIANO LESSON in New Jersey, PUTNAM COUNTY SPELLING BEE in Wichita, and THE NETHER in Miami, just to name a few.

BroadwayWorld has heard from Carol Channing, our amazing readers, and more since Bette Midler was announced for the role of 'Dolly Gallagher Levi' in the Broadway return of one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history, HELLO, DOLLY! And now the diva herself has chimed in on coming back to the Great White Way in an interview with The New York Times.

The Broadway at Birdland concert series was delighted to present the a concert celebration for the release of MERMAN'S APPRENTICE, a new musical fable by Stephen Cole & David Evans. Scroll down for photos from the evening!

There's a new Dolly coming to town, but how does the original star feel about it? BroadwayWorld has just checked in with Carol Channing, who is thrilled about this morning's news. Channing said, 'Bette will be brilliant! Dolly is the kind of character that everyone should be blessed to play. Dolly is an institution- the American musical equivalent to Hamlet.'

The Friends of the State Theatre (FOST), a non-profit volunteer organization committed to preserving and revitalizing Stoughton's historic State Theatre announces the appointment of Michael La Fleur of Las Vegas, NV as Artistic/Development Director, launching FOST's mission to restore the Theatre, and provide enriching cultural experiences in dance, music, theatrical performances, visual art, literary readings and film events to the region.

Long rumored, and first reported last night by BroadwayWorld after the star teased the news on Twitter, it's now Official! Producer Scott Rudin announced this morning that Bette Midler will indeed return to Broadway in one of the most cherished shows in musical theater history when she takes on the role of Dolly Gallagher Levi in Michael Stewart's (book) and Jerry Herman's (music and lyrics) masterpiece, Hello, Dolly!.

UPDATE: Bette Midler has announced on Twitter that she will indeed be making her return to Broadway next year in Jerry Herman & Michael Stewart's Tony-winning musical HELLO DOLLY!

MERMAN'S APPRENTICE, starring Klea Blackhurst, Anita Gillette, Fred Applegate, Elizabeth Teeter and more, will play Birdland tonight, January 18, 2016.