Fred Astaire News

If Jayne Atkinson were looking for a tour-de-force, then she found one as the late Texas governor holding court at Arena Stage in Ann. Written by Holland Taylor, Ann is a one woman play about the late Texas Governor Ann Richards that is part reflective autobiography, part homage to public service, and always entertaining.

Last year, in 2018, the third annual Dancers For Good Benefit supporting the Actors Fund Dancers Resource in East Hampton was so impressive that I challenged the founders to 'high-kick it up a notch even higher next year'. I'm thrilled to announce that not only did they clearly accept that challenge, they superseded all expectations!

From a huge eyeball doing magic, to bubbles covering less than they need to, there's plenty of sensational publicity shots to go along with these sensational shows.

The Drama League has announced that award-winning actor, singer and dancer Sutton Foster is the Honoree at the 36th Annual Drama League Benefit Gala.

Michael Sterling, BroadwayWorld's LA On Air Host and Co-Producer for BWW TV and Jerry Evans of JLE Media in Los Angeles spent the day at rehearsal for Hollywood Bowl's upcoming, new production of Into the Woods.

Broadway, brace yourself for the return of Aaron Tveit! Tveit has had an extremely successful and diverse career, on stage and screen, but Broadway has been missing him since he wrapped up in Catch Me If You Can in 2011. Now, Tveit is making his return to the Great White Way in Moulin Rouge! Take a look back on Aaron's career, and see what he's been up to since we last saw him on a Broadway stage!

Recovering showgirl Miss Hope Springs was once the toast of Las Vegas. Now she's down on her luck and highly medicated. Join her, live at the piano, as she dusts off an array of all-original toe-tapping show tunes, finger-snapping pop and heartrending ballads from her fabulous vintage repertoire and presents her unique brand of 'sit down' comedy. You'll hear hilarious stories about her Ritz to the pits life in LA, Paris and...Dungeness. Still draped in the sequins and feathers she fled the Pink Pelican Casino wearing in 1972, this ageing ingenue is no has-been, she's the ultimate never-was.

Recovering showgirl Miss Hope Springs was once the toast of Las Vegas. Now she's down on her luck and highly medicated. Join her, live at the piano, as she dusts off an array of all-original toe-tapping show tunes, finger-snapping pop and heartrending ballads from her fabulous vintage repertoire and presents her unique brand of 'sit down' comedy. You'll hear hilarious stories about her Ritz to the pits life in LA, Paris and...Dungeness. Still draped in the sequins and feathers she fled the Pink Pelican Casino wearing in 1972, this ageing ingenue is no has-been, she's the ultimate never-was.

The cold never bothered Broadway anyway! Frozen is now playing at the historic St. James Theatre, where it opened on Thursday, March 22, 2018 and has been in the top 10 best-selling shows every week, establishing itself as the biggest musical hit of its season. Having grossed more than any new Broadway musical since Hamilton and set four St. James Theatre house records in less than a year, Frozen has been seen by nearly 1M people since its Denver pre-Broadway engagement. As the summer days heat up, we're cooling down by getting to know the current 2019 cast!

The Broadway-hopeful production of Cagney, based on the life of 'Yankee Doodle Dandy' star Academy Award winner James Cagney, has completed its casting and returns to the stage, opening Pioneer Theatre Company's (PTC) season this fall.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts has announced Andrea McArdle and Donna McKechnie: Celebrate Sondheim & Hamlisch on Monday, July 8 at 8 pm as part of Bay Street Theater's Music Mondays concert series. Tickets range from $79 - $125 and are on sale now at baystreet.org and through the Box Office at 631-725-9500, open daily from 11am to showtime. 

From George Gershwin through such musical luminaries as Franz Lizst, Frederick Chopin, and Piotr Ilyich Tchaikovsky, the actor, playwright and composer Hershey Felder has brought the life and music of any number of musical luminaries to audiences across the United States, Canada and the world, winning himself in the process his own category on the quiz show "Jeopardy" earlier this year.

Florida Studio Theatre (FST) is proud to present The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade, a brand-new music revue celebrating big band leaders like Glenn Miller and Benny Goodman, as well as the stars-like Fred Astaire and Lena Horne-who performed alongside them on the silver screen. Featuring "At Last," "The Joint is Really Jumpin' Down at Carnegie Hall," and "Hooray for Hollywood," this jazzy show transports audiences back to the '30s and '40s, when swing dancing was all the rage. With musical arrangements by Assaf Gleizner, The Swingaroos: Hollywood Serenade begins July 23 in FST's Court Cabaret. Tickets can be purchased at floridastudiotheatre.org or at (941) 366-9000.

Despite the valiant efforts of the cast, a strikingly handsome set, and beautiful costumes, PRIVATE LIVES will not be (pardon the pun) everyone's cup of tea. The material is dated and generally appeals most to an older audience segment and those who long for the days of Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers (not that there is anything wrong with that). To be clear and fair, many audience members at the charming Dorset Playhouse where this production of PRIVATE LIVES continues through July 6th enjoyed the presentation thoroughly.

'Ginger Rogers did everything that Fred Astaire did. She just did it backwards and in high heels.'  Borrowing a phrase from cartoonist Bob Thaves to argue for more women in positions of power, feisty politician Ann Richards came to national attention when she delivered the keynote address at the 1988 Democratic National Convention.  

The Barn Theatre recently announced its production of Daddy Long Legs! Watch Kirstie Davis (Director) and Gregor Donnelly (Designer) discuss the production!

Beach Haven's Surflight Theatre, under the leadership of Producing Artistic Director Steve Steiner, is back for its 70th show stopping season. The theatre's mainstage season opener is Irving Berlin's Holiday Inn, a song and dance spectacular based on the classic Bing Crosby/Fred Astaire film of the same name that features even more toe tapping tunes by one of America's most prolific songwriters.

It's another op'nin' of another version of Kiss Me, Kate, the iconic Cole Porter musical that adds a sassy, meta-theatrical, mid-century twist to Shakespeare's battle of the sexes The Taming of the Shrew. With an all-star cast, the cast recording of Roundabout's latest revival has little in the way of surprise or novelty, but plenty of talent along the way.

This summer Independent Shakespeare Co. (ISC) presents the romantic comedy Twelfth Night at the Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival, directed by ISC Co-Founder and Managing Director, David Melville. Twelfth Night will begin previews on Saturday, June 29 at 7pm, will open on Saturday, July 6 at 7pm and perform through Sunday, September 1 at the Old Zoo in Griffith Park.  All ISC summer Shakespeare productions are FREE to the public!  Twelfth Night is the first of two productions being presented at this year's Griffith Park Free Shakespeare Festival. Pericles begins Saturday, July 27 and will run in repertory with Twelfth Night.

Brevard Music Center (BMC) officially kicks off its 2019 season with an opening weekend of captivating performances from Friday, June 21 through Tuesday, June 25. The extensive schedule of events features artists including BMC Principal Guest Conductor and 2019 GRAMMY winner JoAnn Falletta, violinist Chee-Yun, soul legends The Temptations and The Four Tops, flutist and BMC alumna Amy Porter, and a special performance with orchestra by American Songbook ambassador Michael Feinstein.