Gene Kelly News

Known for his contemporary, abstract choreography, Wheeldon's recent projects ventured towards epic storytelling, as with Cinderella, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Winter's Tale. Besides an exuberant audience, what came to mind on Wednesday, April 15th at the Palace Theatre, were current New York City Ballet principal dancer Robert Fairchild's conjuring of Kelly's ghost and Royal Ballet dancer Leanne Cope's delicate emotional tension, yet no-holds barred physicality.

"April showers may come your way, they bring flowers that bloom in May!" So go the words of the old Tin Pan Alley song. When the days begin to get longer, and the daffodils work to pop up through the dirt, we know that spring is just around the corner. April is that gateway to birds singing, grass growing, and romance blooming. This month we look at spring and the season's sweet rains that give life to young love.

'Classic NYC Movies at the Palace' continues with the all-star musical that shows off the Big Apple at its best followed by a mini-concert by members from the cast of 'On the Town' now playing at the Lyric Theatre. New York Post Chief Film Critic Lou Lumenick will introduce the movie with his special guest Michael Riedel, the Post's theater columnist and PBS/radio celebrity.

A conversation with Tony Waag, Executive/Artistic Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation, in anticipation of their upcoming 'Rhythm in Motion' contemporary tap dance showcase in New York City, April 22 through April 26. 'Rhythm in Motion' presents forward thinking, groundbreaking tap dance choreography, 'shaking tap dance to its core.' Last year's 'Rhythm in Motion' included tap dance with video, computers, sound manipulating machines and electronically rigged platforms.

The new Broadway musical AN AMERICAN IN PARIS opens on Broadway this Sunday, April 12, 2015 at the Palace Theatre (Broadway at 47th Street). The production began previews on Friday, March 13, 2015.

Rick McKay, the producer/director of Rick McKay's Broadway: The Golden Age Film Trilogy, just unveiled a backstage video of Valerie Harper and himself wishing legendary dance pioneer and teacher Eugene 'Luigi' Louis Facciuto a happy 85th birthday after a performance of LOOPED. Watch the footage below!

Today in 1957, Brigadoon opened at the Adelphi Theatre, where it ran for 47 performances. Brigadoon is a musical with a book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe. Songs from the musical, such as 'Almost Like Being in Love' have become standards. The story involves two American tourists who stumble upon Brigadoon, a mysterious Scottish village that appears for only one day every hundred years. Tommy, one of the tourists, falls in love with Fiona, a young woman from Brigadoon. The original production opened on Broadway in 1947 and ran for 581 performances. A 1954 film version starred Gene Kelly and Cyd Charisse. A 1966 television version starred Robert Goulet and Peter Falk.

Gigi, Alan Jay Lerner and Frederick Loewe's beloved Oscar and Tony Award-winning musical comedy, celebrates its opening tonight, April 8, at the Neil Simon Theatre (250 West 52nd Street). Scroll down to learn more about the company, and watch highlights from the show below!

One of Broadway's most beloved choreographers and dance teachers, Eugene 'Luigi' Louis Faccuito, has died at 90 years old.

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce Courtney Lopez as the recipient of the 2015 Distinguished Alumni Award.

Harvey Weinstein, producer of Broadway's FINDING NEVERLAND, recently spoke with The New York Times about how his love for musical theatre began and how it led him to FINDING NEVERLAND. Scroll down for some highlights from the interview!

Happy Birthday Debbie Reynolds! Reynolds regularly appeared in movie musicals during the 1950s and had several hit records during the period. Perhaps her most high-profile film role was in Singin' in the Rain (1952) as Kathy Selden. On Broadway, Reynolds has starred in such shows as Irene, Debbie, and Woman of the Year. Reynolds appeared in her West End show Debbie Reynolds: Alive and Fabulous

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: AIRLINE HIGHWAY and LIVING ON LOVE bring NOLA and comedic romance to Broadway, and 39 STEPS returns to NYC tonight!

SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, another critically acclaimed award-winning production direct from London's West End, will be produced and presented in South Africa by Pieter Toerien at the Artscape Opera House and the Teatro at Montecasino between December 2015 and January 2016, immediately after its international tour to New Zealand, Hong Kong, the Philippines and Singapore.

The 2015 Tribeca Film Festival (TFF), presented by AT&T, today announced "Sinatra at 100: Film & Music in collaboration with The Lincoln Motor Company," a centennial celebration to honor Frank Sinatra's legendary film career at the Festival's 14th edition.

We were searching for a way to make the romance and the joy feel more potent coming from this place of darkness,' he said. 'Even the cast moving all of the pieces in and out, building scenes, gives you a sense of the people of Paris rebuilding their city. So then it was about, how do we do that but make it move seamlessly and beautifully and feel like the city itself is waltzing in and out, off the stage?' - Christopher Wheeldon, CBS News, March 15, 2015

San Francisco announced its new season recently, including the continuation of its film series with another John Williams favorite, ET, the reprise of Vertigo, and two Christmas classics - one a musical - Nightmare Before Christmas and It's A Wonderful Life. But Saturday night saw something more familiar to BroadwayWorld's favorite subject: musical theatre

Principal Pops Conductor Jack Everly leads the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra in performances of Singin' in the Rain,tonight, March 26, at 8 p.m. at The Music Center at Strathmore and Friday, March 27, at 8 p.m., Saturday, March 28, at 8 p.m., and Sunday, March 29, at 3 p.m. at the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall. Ranked by the American Film Institute (AFI) as the No. 1 movie musical of all time, Singin' in the Rain stars Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor and Debbie Reynolds, and features a lighthearted portrayal of iconic dance and memorable songs, including 'Make 'em Laugh,' 'Fit as a Fiddle' and more. The film will be projected on a large screen above the Orchestra while Maestro Everly leads the BSO in the moving classic score. Please see below for complete program details.

Richard Blacksell, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN's technical director, recently guested on Radio New Zealand National to talk about how SINGIN' IN THE RAIN creates rain on stage.

Seacoast Repertory Theatre and Let's “B” Reel have announced that their award winning Red Light series will be presenting the cult musical classic, XANADU on April 22nd, 2015. In addition to the screening, Seacoast Roller Derby and Lady Luck Burlesque will be on hand for an extra special pre-show performance, as well as original animation cells from the film will be on display in the Rep's Lobby.