Frank Sinatra News

Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater Announces its 2013/14 Schedule.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, including two-time Tony nominee Tom Wopat, Broadway star Elizabeth Stanley, BACKSTAGE award-winning vocalist, director and Broadway actor Eric Michael Gillett, singer/songwriter Tony Desare, singing sensation Hilary Kole, and multiple award-winner Sarah Rice.

Grammy Award-winning superstar Barry Manilow is entering his final week of performances of his hometown concert event, MANILOW ON BROADWAY. The critically acclaimed and profitable engagement began performances on Friday, January 18, and was extended to play through Saturday, March 2.

Promises, promises - those made, broken, surpassed and a few prolonged. Last night's Academy Awards telecast was one of the most entertaining and exceptionally glamorous in many a year and executive producers Craig Zadan and Neil Meron made good - hell, great - on their promise to deliver a true blue tribute to music in the movies as well as a whole lot more. And deliver they did - it was absolutely excellent in almost every conceivable way. Really. What more could you want?! Especially for fans of Hollywood and Broadway, it was an unforgettable awards show to cherish, with a sleek, witty and delightful presentation - snappy, smart and precisely planned (extended running time notwithstanding). As Seth MacFarlane said prior to Meryl Streep's presentation of Best Actor, “Ladies and gentlemen, our next presenter needs no introduction,” and, so, we real movie musical fans should have assumed this would be a jubilant joy - and so it was. A triptych of movie musical showstoppers thanks to Catherine Zeta Jones & CHICAGO, Jennifer Hudson & DREAMGIRLS and Hugh Jackman, Anne Hathaway (and company) & LES MISERABLES, as well as Shirley Bassey and Adele setting the stupefyingly gorgeously designed (sets by Derek McLane), lensed and presented show alight with “Goldfinger” and “Skyfall” as part of a James Bond 50th Anniversary showcase all the way to a refined and resplendent Barbra Streisand/Marvin Hamlisch memory for us to let linger lovingly in our memories - and, with relish - last night's Oscars was a Broadway baby's dream and an awards show junkie's delight as well as much, much more. Was it long? Yes. Was it overlong? Perhaps. Was it worth it and then some? Yes, yes, yes - oh, yes. Oh, and as far as heretofore question-mark host Seth MacFarlane and making the most of his unenviable duties? F*** yeah, man! Ted, too. And, oh, yeah - Jennifer Lawrence tripped on her gown on the way to the stage! But, so what?! Like the rest of the night, it was a refreshing slap in the face and a reminder of how wonderful awards shows can be.

2013 promises to be a banner year for Tom Wopat. From the Feb. 12 release of his eighth recording I've Got Your Number, to his role in Quentin Tarrantino's highly anticipated film Django Unchained, (released 2012 Christmas) and the release of the ABC -TV family musical movie Lovestruck, in which he stars with Jane Seymour. While one can't help recall his starring role in the '80's hit television series The Dukes of Hazzard, it is Tom Wopat, jazz vocalist and the Tony nominated star of Broadway that's been garnering high critical acclaim for the last two decades.

Ben Vereen, one of America's most versatile, talented and beloved entertainers, will take the stage with MenAlive, The Orange County Gay Men's Chorus, at 'Academy Affair 2013,' tonight, February 23, 2013.

May 22 through October 20, the Ogunquit Playhouse 'invites fans to sing, dance, laugh and most of all dream with some of Broadway's most beloved and spectacular shows.'

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music's (CCM) year-long Kurt Weill Festival resumes this month with a dynamic new production of the iconic musical The Threepenny Opera. Composed by Kurt Weill with book and lyrics by dramatist Bertolt Brecht (adapted into English by Marc Blitzstein), The Threepenny Opera weaves the riveting tale of notorious bandit and womanizer Macheath ('Mack the Knife') and his seedy companions in London's underworld. Weill's innovative score invented a new form of musical theatre, leading the way for such shows as Chicago and Cabaret.

Porchlight Music Theatre presents Pal Joey, book by John O'Hara, music by Richard Rodgers and lyrics by Lorenz Hart, April 20 - May 26, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. Directed by Porchlight Music Theatre's Artistic Director, Michael Weber with music direction by Porchlight Artistic Associate Doug Peck (reuniting with Weber for the first time since their collaboration on Porchlight's triumphant production of Assassins) and choreography by Porchlight Artistic Associate Brenda Didier, Pal Joey stars Adrian Aguilar, 'Joey Evans,' Susie McMonagle, 'Vera Simpson,' Laura Savage, 'Linda English,' Matt Orlando, 'Ludlow Lowell' and Sharriese Hamilton, 'Gladys Bumps.' Meet the cast in the photos below!

Keep Memory Alive's 17th annual Power of Love Gala continues to grow with an extended list of entertainment icons and celebrities attending and performing at the 80th birthday celebration for Quincy Jones and Sir Michael Caine in Las Vegas.

On Sunday, March 10th 2013 at 3:00pm Stage72/The Triad Theatre, 158 West 72nd Street, hosts Broadway's Gail Nelson-Holgate, back by popular demand after a sold-out 2012 performance of 'It's About Time!'

The time is near for the return of Frankly Sinatra, with 'The Broadway Rabbi' and Dr. Jazz. What did Frank Sinatra do when he overheard a fellow make an anti-semitic comment at a party?

Principal Pops Conductor Michael Krajewski will lead the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra in 'Viva Italia,' a romance-themed program featuring vocal trio Poperazzi tonight, February 15 and the 16th, 2013, at 8:00 p.m. in Atlanta Symphony Hall at the Woodruff Arts Center.

As enticing as a Valentine's Day bouquet, as delectable as a box of chocolates and as heartwarming as a kiss from your betrothed, today we are honoring one of Broadway's most romantic musicals - absolutely perfect to take in on a big date-night like tonight, no doubt - NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, as well as the sumptuous, sonorous songs of George & Ira Gershwin - those featured within it and far beyond. "S'Wonderful" to "Someone To Watch Over Me" to "An American In Paris", "Rhapsody In Blue" and more, this clip collection is the ideal way to fall under the spell of Cupid's arrow and enjoy Broadway songwriting at its very best.

The Library of Congress today unveiled "The Library of Congress National Recording Preservation Plan," a blueprint for saving America's recorded sound heritage for future generations. The congressionally mandated plan spells out 32 short- and long-term recommendations involving both the public and private sectors and covering infrastructure, preservation, access, education and policy strategies.

The time is near for the return of Frankly Sinatra, with 'The Broadway Rabbi' and Dr. Jazz. What did Frank Sinatra do when he overheard a fellow make an anti-semitic comment at a party?

Cabaret Icon Michael Feinstein returns to the McCallum Theatre with 'The Sinatra Project,' for two performances - Friday, March 1 and Saturday, March 2 -- dedicated to the great Frank Sinatra. Michael reflects Sinatra's sensibility by interpreting the songs in conceptually different styles from Sinatra's own renditions. The results are fascinatingly unique and memorably beautiful. Billed 'The Sinatra Project', the concert is presented in two parts on these consecutive evenings. In the second concert, Michael reinterprets songs by such greats as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr., Peggy Lee, and more. 'The second volume is really about Sinatra and his friends,' says Michael. 'It's about the people he influenced and who influenced him.'

Sirius XM Radio (SIRI) previously announced that legendary recording artist Tony Bennett will sit down for an intimate Q&A session with an audience of SiriusXM listeners, moderated by Alec Baldwin, at the SiriusXM studios in New York City as part of its 'Town Hall' series.

Berkeley Playhouse continues its fifth season with the Tony Award-winning GUYS AND DOLLS. Jon Tracy (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company, Shotgun Players, San Francisco Playhouse, Magic Theatre) helms this musical from the Golden Age of Broadway, featuring a cast of 22, and choreography by Chris Black (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company). GUYS AND DOLLS plays March 21 through April 28 (Press opening: March 23) at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley. For tickets ($17-60) and more information, the public may visit berkeleyplayhouse.org or call 510-845-8542x351.