Frank Loesser News

I mean it with the most sincere amount of respect and admiration for both gentlemen when I write that Peter Gallagher seems to have morphed into Jerry Orbach.  At least in his portrayal of Bernie Dodd, the hard-driving Broadway director convinced that when the star of his new play suddenly leaves for a Hollywood gig he can get a great turn out of the washed-up alcoholic actor whose performances twIce Thrilled him many years ago.  He's the best part of Mike Nichols' new production of Clifford Odets' The Country Girl (which has undergone some text tweaking by Jon Robin Baitz).  His tough, but passionate mannerisms and gruff speaking voice bring out a sense of urgency to the proceedings as he convinces a skeptical producer (Chip Zien), a reluctant actor and his long-suffering wife that his high-stakes risk can pay off big.  By the end of the evening I was half expecting the man to send his star on stage with an exhilarated, 'Think of musical comedy!'

On Wednesday, September 10th, New York's favorite five-part harmony guys, Uptown Express, offered a live performance at New York's Barnes & Nobel Lincoln Sqaure location. The program featured musical numbers featured on Uptown Express' new CD, 'Walk Like a Man.'

The Carlyle Hotel (James McBride, Managing Director) welcomes the return of John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey, the gifted husband-and-wife team, as they open the fall entertainment season in the legendary Café Carlyle. Beginning Tuesday, September 9th and playing through Saturday, November 1st, Mr. & Mrs. Pizzarelli, who made their debut engagement in May 2007, will once again grace the stage to present an entertaining evening of romantic ballads and swinging jazz tunes, including songs from each of their latest recordings: 'With A Song in My Heart' (Telarc, 2008), Mr. Pizzarelli's tribute to composer Richard Rodgers, and 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On' (Arbors Records, 2008), a sophisticated collection of 15 of Ms. Molaskey's favorite tunes. Mr. Pizzarelli (guitar and vocals) will lead a quartet consisting of younger brother Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Larry Fuller (piano) and Tony Tedesco (drums).

Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.

Cavern Club Theater will present entertainer Neile Adams in her new 60-minute cabaret show, 'Something Cool,' directed by Ted Sprague, with Andy Howe serving as Musical Director.

For the first time ever, the legendary recordings of the exuberant, tune-filled musicals of Broadway composer-lyricist Jerry Herman are available in a new digital-only collection from Masterworks Broadway.

Today it was announced that GUYS AND DOLLS will open on Broadway for the first time in 17 years in the spring of 2009 at a Nederlander Theatre to be announced. With music and lyrics by Frank Loesser and book by Jo Swerling and Abe Burrows, this production is the first joint Broadway project by director Des McAnuff and Sergio Trujillo since Jersey Boys.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.

Peter Howard and Alvin Colt, two friends of mine, have now walked through that great stage door in the sky.

Get two shows for the price of one…and they're both worth the cost of admission for movie and musical theatre fans alike!

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS, a division of Sh-K-Boom Records, is proud to announce the release of the new CD from KLEA BLACKHURST and BILLY STRITCH - Dreaming Of A Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael. Blackhurst took New York by storm with her acclaimed tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything the Traffic Will Allow; Stritch is an award-winning composer, arranger, vocalist and jazz pianist. Their first artistic collaboration mines the catalogue of one of America's most treasured songwriters, who wrote such standards as 'Skylark,' 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'Star Dust.' The recording is produced by Grammy Award winner Joel Moss and will be available in stores and online June 17, 2008. Klea and Billy will celebrate the CD with a special concert at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) at 7:00 PM on Monday, June 16. Please call (212) 581-3080 for reservations.

GHOSTLIGHT RECORDS, a division of Sh-K-Boom Records, is proud to announce the release of the new CD from KLEA BLACKHURST and BILLY STRITCH - Dreaming Of A Song: The Music of Hoagy Carmichael. Blackhurst took New York by storm with her acclaimed tribute to Ethel Merman, Everything the Traffic Will Allow; Stritch is an award-winning composer, arranger, vocalist and jazz pianist. Their first artistic collaboration mines the catalogue of one of America's most treasured songwriters, who wrote such standards as 'Skylark,' 'Georgia On My Mind' and 'Star Dust.' The recording is produced by Grammy Award winner Joel Moss and will be available in stores and online June 17, 2008. Klea and Billy will celebrate the CD with a special concert at Birdland Jazz Club (315 West 44th Street) at 7:00 PM on Monday, June 16. Please call (212) 581-3080 for reservations.

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, will conclude the Spring 2008 season with the solo debut of Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee LIZ CALLAWAY from June 17 - 28.

The Tony-winning Broadway diva makes her Feinstein's debut with an emotionally rich collection of songs.

The West Bank Café announces their June, 2008 line-up of live entertainment, to be presented in The Laurie Beechman Theatre.

Based on the turbulent and triumphant life of Danny Kaye, this intimate musical portrayal chronicles Kaye's career and his relationships on and off the stage…

Cabaret and concert star Andrea Marcovicci brings her own captivating high style to the role of the magnificent and mercurial fashion doyenne, Gabrielle (Coco) Chanel in 42nd Street Moon's upcoming production of Coco. Alan J. Lerner and Andre Previn's musical memory play - unseen anywhere since the early 1970s -- will preview April 24 and 25, open on April 26, and run through May 11.

Broadway has watched the delightful Matthew Broderick grow up in front of their eyes. He has won two Tony Awards for his work in Neil Simon's Brighton Beach Memoirs and in the 1996 hit revival of Frank Loesser's How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying. Broadway beat caught up with Broderick during the recording of How to Succeed without Really Trying to talk about the role of Finch.