Frank Loesser News

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, will present the musicals Guys and Dolls and a new production of The Game as part of its summer 2011 Mainstage Season.

In what is a first for this company generally associated with uncommon musicals of the past, 42nd Street Moon takes pride in presenting the West Coast premiere of a new musical: Murder for Two by Joe Kinosian and Kellen Blair. Described as two parts Agatha Christie, and one part old-fashioned musical comedy with a dash of 21st century flair, the work has an inspector arriving at a dark house to solve a murder, and encounters a host of eccentric and clever suspects. Previews begin at the Eureka Theatre on November 3, with the opening on Saturday, November 6 at 6 pm.

SUZANNE CARRICO, winner of the 2008 MAC Award for Best Female Debut for THE ART OF THE CAHN, Music from the Sammy Cahn Songbook, will celebrate the Christmas season & her new holiday CD, WHAT CHRISTMAS TIME MEANS TO ME, at Metropolitan Room this December. She will be joined by The Don Rebic Quartet, Dan Gross on percussion, Jim DiMatteo on bass & Windham Hill recording artist, Sean Harkness on guitar. Also joining her will be MAC Nominee Booth Daniels.

Today, perhaps the greatest gift a Broadway baby could receive was benevolently bestowed upon me in the form of an indepth and revealing discussion with the foremost composer and lyricist of his generation, one of the greatest writers in American history in any medium - the unmatched musical and lyrical genius himself, Stephen Sondheim. In this portion of our complete discussion we discuss his new book, FINISHING THE HAT, as well as take a look back at his legendary career both in Hollywood and on Broadway. Merman to Madonna, Brecht to Barbra Streisand, COMPANY to GROUNDHOG DAY (or not) - we cover it all. See here just a glimpse of the reason why the name Stephen Sondheim means more to musical theatre than any other name in the last fifty years. Plus, his promise to - in his own immortal words from SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - 'give us more to see' in the very near future. That moment cannot come soon enough, as any fan of theatre - or art in America, for that matter - can assuredly attest.

Jenna gives a rundown of where she's been and what's coming up in the world of cabaret (and sometimes beyond!) This week's column features Nikki MacCallum at The Duples, Marilyn Maye at The Metropolitan Room, and another great Cast Party at Birdland!

The Pembroke Pines Theatre of the Performing Arts (PPTOPA) presents GUYS AND DOLLS

One of Broadway's most hilarious shows, Frank Loesser's Guys and Dolls has been described as the perfect musical comedy. It is based primarily on the Damon Runyone short story 'The Idyll of Miss Sarah Brown,' which describes the unlikely romance between a pure-at-heart urban missionary and a slick Broadway gambler. The show's second romantic storyline involves Nathan Detroit and Miss Adelaide, who have been engaged for fourteen years! Guys and Dolls is chock full of some of the greatest showtunes in Broadway History such as; ' Sit Down Your Rockin'The Boat', 'If I were a Bell', Sue Me' and the hilarious 'Adelaide's Lament'. No one will want to be left out of the fun which overflows in Guys and Dolls.

Reprise Theatre Company has just announced additional casting for A Party With Marty, an evening of comedy and song with Martin Short and featuring Jason Alexander.

HUNTER RYAN HERDLICKA, who is currently appearing in Stephen Sondheim's critically acclaimed Broadway musical revival, A Little Night Music, will return to the Feinstein's stage for a special one night only engagement titled "I (Still) Happen to Like New York" at NYC's premiere night club, FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY on Monday, November 15th at 8:30 PM.

'Let's see if we can do this without a microphone,' peeped Jo Sullivan Loesser, as she prepared to fill the 1,495-seat Town Hall with 'Somebody, Somewhere,' which she introduced in the 1956 original Broadway production of The Most Happy Fella.  While the age of the widow of the great Frank Loesser is a fact you'll not find via Google, let's just say she's a few decades beyond the point where audiences would expect to hear such lovely, expressive and, yes, loud soprano tones from an unamplified voice.  The house, still and silent for those few minutes of bliss, finally erupted with appreciative cheers for the brief reminder of a time when all Broadway musicals were sung that way.

HUNTER RYAN HERDLICKA, who is currently appearing in Stephen Sondheim's critically acclaimed Broadway musical revival, A Little Night Music, will return to the Feinstein's stage for a special one night only engagement titled "I (Still) Happen to Like New York" at NYC's premiere night club, FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY on Monday, November 15th at 8:30 PM.

On Monday July 24th, the Obamas hosted a starry event at the White House that was streamed live on the White House Official Website and right here on Broadway World that featured the top talents of the Great White Way singing the very best songs by (mostly) American composers. Among the participants were Elaine Stritch, Nathan Lane, Tonya Pinkins,Brian D'Arcy James, Audra McDonald, Chad Kimball, Karen Olivo and Idina Menzel. Additionally, the concert featured Marvin Hamlisch, who accompanied Idina Menzel on his iconic performing arts anthem from A CHORUS LINE, 'What I Did For Love', who I also had the distinct pleasure of interviewing for InDepth InterView in the intervening months in which we discuss this concert. Here is a review of the spectacular event as it was presented on PBS stations nationwide last night!

Five-time Emmy Award winner John Larroquette will make his Broadway debut as J.B. Biggley joining multi award-winning international film and stage actor Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch in a new production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS (WITHOUT REALLY TRYING). Opening at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street) Sunday, March 27, 2011 at 5pm, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS (WITHOUT REALLY TRYING) is directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford, has music and lyrics by Academy Award and Tony Award winner Frank Loesser, and a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, based on the book by Shepherd Mead. The 50th Anniversary production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS (WITHOUT REALLY TRYING) begins previews Saturday, February 26, 2011, at 8pm, and is produced by Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Joseph Smith, Michael McCabe, and Candy Spelling.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine, and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, continues its Fall 2010 season with the debut engagement of Broadway star and three-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara last night, October 19. In her new show, which runs through October 30, Ms. O'Hara takes a journey beyond the ingénue by mixing songs by newer songwriters like Tom Kitt and Ricky Ian Gordon with classics by Frank Loesser ('Somebody, Somewhere') Irving Berlin ('Always'). All performances, which feature a quartet led by Music Director Dan Lipton, will be at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). This program will also be performed at the Tilles Center on Long Island (November 5). BroadwayWorld was on hand for O'Hara's debut last night and brings you photo coverage below.

PBS Broadcasts 'A Broadway Celebration' Wednesdasy October 20...Set Your DVRs.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, continues its Fall 2010 season with the debut engagement of Broadway star and three-time Tony Award nominee KELLI O'HARA from October 19 - 30.

This past Friday afternoon I read that this person has been meeting with producers to consider the possibility of appearing on Broadway, in order to, 'expand her brand by taking to the stage.'  That evening I heard the 82-year-old Marilyn Maye, after nearly ninety minutes of superlative interpretations of musical theatre classics from the likes of Jerry Herman, Frank Loesser and Kander and Ebb, tell her completely enthralled audience that it's still her ambition to one day be on Broadway, before emoting a beautifully vulnerable 'Losing My Mind' that segued into a classy and celebratory 'I'm Still Here' that brought just about the entire packed Metropolitan Room house to its feet in one of the most adoring ovations I've ever seen.

Up Close and Personal - A Tribute to Frank Loesser plays Monday, October 11 - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 12 - 7:00 p.m.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine, and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post, continues its Fall 2010 season with the debut engagement of Broadway star and three-time Tony Award nominee KELLI O'HARA from October 19 - 30.

Up Close and Personal - A Tribute to Frank Loesser plays Monday, October 11 - 7:00 p.m., Tuesday, October 12 - 7:00 p.m.