Gene Kelly News

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) is pleased to announce that 62 finalists selected from tens of thousands of students will compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, scholarships and other honors at an event on Broadway to be hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (the Prince). The fifth annual performance showcase featuring dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon will take place on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre (200 W. 45th St).

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) previously announced that 62 finalists selected from tens of thousands of students will compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, scholarships and other honors at an event on Broadway to be hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (the Prince). The fifth annual performance showcase featuring dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon will take place tonight, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre (200 W. 45th St).

LIVE BY THE LAKE, the hotly anticipated series of outdoor summer concerts at Kenwood House, marks the welcome return of the English Heritage concert season. Produced by the young dynamic agency, Rouge Events, Live By The Lake's outstanding lineup of world class music is scheduled over six days – August 23rd-25th and August 30th-September 1st; each show promises to attract up to 10,000 music and film lovers to enjoy the music and share a picnic with friends and family in more than 100 acres of Kenwood House's beautifully landscaped gardens. Boasting the perfect mix of pop, rock, soul, classical, musical theatre and film, LIVE BY THE LAKE promises something special for every music lover in the land. Tickets are now on sale at www.kenwood.seetickets.com and there are a limited number of discounts for residents in many of London's northwest postal districts. Ticket holders will be able to choose a variety of reasonably priced tickets for each concert and to decide whether or not to bring their own picnic and all-weather paraphernalia! For those who want to rock up unhampered, the best of Carluccio's Italian picnics can be ordered in advance and picked up on the day of each orchestral concert. (NB: Suede and Keane concerts will be standing room only, so picnics and chairs should be left at home and a range of drinks and delicious food will be available from the on-site concession stands. PROGRAMME at a glance: August 23rd: SUEDE and special guests BRITISH SEA POWER August 24th: ROYAL CHORAL SOCIETY and the ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT ORCHESTRA August 25th: KEANE and special guest LAURA MVULA August 30th: 'SINGIN' IN THE RAIN' – film screening, score performed by the ROYAL PHILHARMONIC CONCERT ORCHESTRA August 31st: ANA MARIA MARTINEZ and the ENGLISH NATIONAL OPERA ORCHESTRA September 1st: MICHAEL BALL and friends sing GERSHWIN Nathan Homan of Rouge Events says: “We are absolutely delighted to be producing the first LIVE BY THE LAKE at Kenwood House in association with English Heritage. We've got a wonderful lineup of world class performers and I think Kenwood's beautiful grounds are the perfect setting for what promises to be a seriously great series of summer concerts. Even in this digital age, the appetite for live performance is greater than ever – the calibre of artists who are appearing at Live By The Lake is a testament to their own enjoyment of playing outdoor concerts and I think audiences across the six nights will love every minute of it.” Publicity: judy.lipsey@premiercomms.com and Robbie.wilson@premiercomms.com 020 7292 8330 www.livebythelake.co.uk THE PROGRAMME in detail: Kicking off proceedings on Friday August 23rd are the multi-platinum selling, mighty SUEDE (left), Britpop progenitors, one of the world's most exciting rock bands and whose sixth studio album 'Bloodsports' was released in March, after a ten year gap, to much critical acclaim. Suede's special guests are the splendid Brighton-based indie rockers BRITISH SEA POWER, the title of whose current album, 'Machineries of Joy', was inspired by a collection of short stories by the great sci-fi author, Ray Bradbury. The band recently performed their soundtrack for the documentary film 'From the Land to the Sea', directed by Penny Woolcock, at the Sundance London Film and Music Festival at the 02 and at the Sheffield Documentary Festival. On Saturday August 24th it's a feast for classical music lovers with the Royal Choral Society and the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra conducted by Roderick Dunk, performing a wonderful selection of arias from, among others, Carmina Burana, Madame Butterfly, Verdi's Requiem and many more. The night will end with a spectacular firework display. Roderick Dunk will be well known to BBC Radio 2 listeners as the BBC Concert Orchestra's regular guest conductor for the long running Friday Night is Music Night. To complete the perfect first weekend on August 25th the Brit Award winning, Grammy nominated, 10 million selling KEANE will take to the stage; fronted by the charismatic Tom Chaplin, the band's fourth studio album, Strangeland, was released in May 2012 and immediately topped the UK charts. KEANE are delighted to have as their special guest the uniquely gifted soul singer/songwriter LAURA MVULA, whose debut album, 'Sing To The Moon', was released this year and instantly catapulted her into the musical stratosphere and a headlining slot at this year's Isle of Wight Festival. Friday August 30th offers a truly rare opportunity to film fans: the screening of the 1952 musical romantic comedy 'Singin' In The Rain' to a LIVE score performed by the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra. Starring the legendary Gene Kelly, Donald O'Connor, and Debbie Reynolds, and choreographed and directed by Gene Kelly, the film offers an entertaining depiction of a 1927 Hollywood caught up in the transition from silent films to talkies. The RPO, conducted by Neil Thomson, will bring the film's iconic soundtrack to life while the re-mastered film is shown on the big screen. Saturday August 31st is Opera Alfresco night with the English National Opera Orchestra and a special appearance by the incomparable Grammy Award winning American soprano, Ana Maria Martinez whose lyrical, elegant style has seen her grace all the grand opera houses around the world. The ENO together with principal soloists Wynne Evans, Fiona Murphy, Kai Ruutel and David Webster will perform some of the world's greatest and most popular arias from the works of Bizet, Mozart, Puccini, Verdi and more. On Sunday September 1st MICHAEL BALL, double Olivier Award winner ('Hairspray', 'Sweeney Todd'), multi-platinum recording artist, and radio and TV presenter will close Live By The Lake's programme of events with a special evening of music by George and Ira Gershwin. Britain's top musical theatre star will be inviting friends from the West End stage such as Kerry Ellis, Gina Beck, and David Shannon to join him in performing some of the Gershwin's best loved songs including Summertime, I Got Rhythm, S'Wonderful, Shall We Dance, and many more.

Today in 1976, the second Broadway revival of Pal Joey opened at the Circle in the SquareTheatre, where it ran for 73 performances. Pal Joey is a musical with a book by John O'Hara (from his novel of the same title) and music and lyrics by Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart based on a character and situations O'Hara created in a series of short stories published in The New Yorker. The original 1940 Broadway production was directed by George Abbott and starred Gene Kelly. There have been several revivals since, including a 2008-09 Broadway run, and a 1957 film adaptation starring Frank Sinatra, Rita Hayworth and Kim Novak. The 1976 cast featured: Christopher Chadman (Joey), Harold Gary (Mike), Terri Treas (Kid), Janie Sell (Gladys), and Gail Benedict (Gail).

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) and The Humphreys School of Musical Theatre (HSMT) are excited to announce the Houston premiere of Xanadu as the 2013 summer conservatory production. The comical, roller skating musical based on the Universal Pictures film which starred Olivia Newton-John and Gene Kelly, is about following your dreams despite the limitation others set for you. Xanadu rolls onto the Zilkha Hall stage at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts, September 13 - 14, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek below!

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the July and August lineup for Family Films with screenings of several of the most beloved Hollywood musical's of 40s and 50s starring classic silver screen icons, led by Gene Kelly, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland!

The National High School Musical Theater Awards (NHSMTA) is pleased to announce that 62 finalists selected from tens of thousands of students will compete for the coveted Jimmy Award for Best Performance by an Actor and Best Performance by an Actress, scholarships and other honors at an event on Broadway to be hosted by the Tony Award-nominated stars of Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA, Laura Osnes (Cinderella) and Santino Fontana (the Prince). The fifth annual performance showcase featuring dynamic ensemble and solo performances exclusively from the musical theater cannon will take place on Monday, July 1, 2013 at 7:30pm at the Minskoff Theatre (200 W. 45th St).

The National Symphony Orchestra today announced its 2013 line-up of performances at Wolf Trap National Park for the Performing Arts. Eleven performances will take place between June 26 and August 3, 2013. Emil de Cou, in his ninth season as NSO@Wolf Trap Festival Conductor, hosts 10 of the performances and conducts four, including the opening and closing performances in the series.

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and TriStan Wilson Managing Director, presents the Bernstein/Comden/Green musical On the Town now through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. The press opening was last night, June 16 at 5pm. The show just held a post show talk-back with Amanda Green and William Finn and you can check out photos from the event below!

Barrington Stage Company, the award-winning theatre in downtown Pittsfield, MA, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd Artistic Director and Tristan Wilson Managing Director, presents the Bernstein/Comden/Green musical On the Town now through July 13 on the Boyd-Quinson Mainstage, 30 Union Street, Pittsfield. The press opening is Sunday, June 16 at 5pm. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast onstage below!

Seven Brides for Seven Brothers is a love-struck comedy taking the Benedum stage tonight, June 11-16, 2013. Audiences are sure to be delighted by the antics of seven brothers and 'wannabe' brides living under one roof in 19th century Oregon. Noted Broadway performers including Pittsburgh CLO alumni George Dvorsky and Mamie Parris will take the lead as Adam and Milly, along with an incredibly talented Pittsburgh CLO cast.

In a journey through an iconic time in music and movie history, Bill Fayne and Friends will perform 'The Golden Age of Movies' at the Suncoast Showroom July 20 and 21.

Michigan Philharmonic Presents 2013 2014 Season

Porchlight's 19th Season begins with the Chicago premiere of Double Trouble, book, music and lyrics by brothers Bob Walton and Jim Walton, direction and choreography by Matthew Crowle, music direction by Linda Madonia and starring brothers Adrian Aguilar and Alexander Aguilar, August 31 - October 6, at Stage 773, 1225 West Belmont Ave. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production shots below!

Diablo Ballet and The Lafayette Library & Learning Center bring back the popular, summer Dance on Film series beginning tonight, June 6th 6:30 PM, with the 1954 musical movie classic Brigadoon.

Xanadu, Produced by WaterTower Theatre at the Addison Theatre and Conference Center will play the Main Stage from July 26 - August 18, 2013.

Cortland Repertory Theatre kicks off their 42nd season at the Little York Pavilion in Preble with the theatre's premiere production of Agatha Christie's mystery, The Unexpected Guest. Performances will run from tonight, June 5th - 15th with evening performances at 7:30 PM. Matinees are available on June 7th, 9th and 12th at 2:00 PM. Tickets may be purchased by calling 800-427-6160 or at the CRT Box Office's new location at 24 Port Watson Street in Cortland. Tickets are also available for sale 24 hours a day through the CRT website at www.cortlandrep.org.

Leslie B. Cutler, who directed of hundreds of productions over a 50 year period at the storied Kenley Players in Ohio and other stock venues and is widely believed to have directed more stars onstage than anyone else in show business, died of congestive heart failure at the St.Luke's - Roosevelt Hospital in Manhattan on Saturday, May 18th, 2013. He was 93.

Today we are talking to an inordinately talented triple-threat performer who made his name on Broadway in some landmark productions, such as the original multi-Tony Award-winning HAIRSPRAY and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, in addition to his peerless work in Lincoln Center's lauded SOUTH PACIFIC revival, who now is best known to audiences around the world for his headlining role on FOX's mega-hit musical dramedy series GLEE - the charismatic Matthew Morrison. Sharing stories from his Broadway days as well as looking ahead to the new season of GLEE airing in September, Morrison paints a vivid picture of his musical theatre career thus far and touches upon his experiences in the aforementioned musicals on the Great White Way as well as THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, A NAKED GIRL ON THE APPIAN WAY and more, detailing his ascent from chorus boy to superstar. More importantly, Morrison offers us the complete 411 on his new solo album, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, discussing its conception, recording, production, and, now, its release - as well as elaborating on working with legendary producer Phil Ramone on it and the song selection process itself. Furthermore, Morrison reveals the most influential artists and performers to him and how that inspiration formed the basis for WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, both the album itself as well as his current concert tour in promotion of it - arriving in NYC at 54 Below this weekend, as a matter of fact - and his PBS special, airing this month. Additionally, Morrison candidly comments on some characters he would enjoy essaying in the future (hint: a demon barber of Fleet Street), reflects on his favorite GLEE moments to date, recounts wild ROCKY HORROR antics involving rock star Sebastian Bach - and much, much more!

Historian and executor of the Gene Kelly Estate, Patricia Ward Kelly, will present her fascinating solo show GENE KELLY: THE LEGACY tonight, June 1 at Chapman University's Memorial Hall in Orange County, CA - an encore presentation of the two sold-out shows Kelly introduced at the Academy Of Motion Pictures at Lincoln Center in NYC last July.