George Burns News

When talented studio and recording musicians who also love jazz combine their talents a kind of synergy happens based on a deep understanding of music that results in a spontaneous musical conversation. This is the case when JazzTime swings the jazz standards at Vicky's. Don Shelton vocalized with the Hi-Lo's and Singers Unlimited and is amazing on clarinet, sax and flute. He recently played with Barbara Cook and the LA Phil. He worked with Clare Fischer in sessions for Prince, Michael Jackson and Robert Palmer, plus the Clare Fischer Latin Jazz Quintet and Bob Florence band. Tom Keenlyside's sax and flute playing have been featured at major jazz festivals and with many of the biggest names in the music business: Diana Krall, Harry Connick Jr., Natalie Cole, Dizzy Gillespie, Mel Torme and Tom Jones. He has been inducted into the B.C. Entertainment Hall of Fame. Drummer Allen Goodman brings years of experience from NY's supper clubs to Carnegie Hall to NBC TV as a performer and studio drummer, as well as accompanying singers such as Dinah Shore, Johnny Mathis, Peggy Lee, Liza Minnelli, Vikki Carr, Bobby Troup, Billie Holiday & others. Larry Holloway, the Desert's go-to bassist, brings depth of experience and a unique approach to bass as exemplified by virtuoso bassist Red Mitchell and, in fact, was the first recipient of the 'Red Mitchell Scholarship Award.' Regular pianists such as Josh Nelson, Barney McClure, Chip Smith, Andy Langham, Joe Bagg, Jeff Colella and others bring their distinctive musical gifts to the group.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening Say Goodnight Gracie on Friday, September 20 at Hanover Tavern, 13181 Hanover Courthouse Road. The show runs through Sunday, November 3. This one-man bio play by Rupert Holmes celebrates the live, love and laughter of George Burns and Gracie Allen. In order to join his beloved wife in heaven, George must give the performance of his life. He looks back on his impoverished youth in New York, the day he met Grace Ethel Cecile Rosalie Allen, their chemistry and comic timing, their marriage and rise to the pinnacles of vaudeville, movies, radio and television, and his solo career after her death. Say Goodnight Gracie was nominated for a 2003 Tony Award for best play, and won the 2003-04 National Broadway Theatre Award for best play.

Sally-Jane Heit will return for her 4th Annual Benefit Performance at the Guthrie Center on August 17 at 7:00pm. This year she'll bring something entirely new to the stage, or entirely old depending how you look at it; Vaudeville - A Valentine to an Old Theatre Art Form. Sally-Jane fell in love with vaudeville when, as a young child her mother would bring her to vaudeville performances performed between the movies at theatres in New York. By the time she embarked on her long career in theatre, television, and movies, vaudeville was dead. She says, 'Before it was eaten alive by television, Vaudeville was the place anyone with a dream could test their wings.'

South Whidbey welcomes its newest festival, the inaugural PianoFest Northwest. The festival opens at WICA this week, July 19-21, 2013 Modeled after our world famous DjangoFest Northwest, and catering to music lovers who appreciate piano music that ranges from classical to contemporary, this event headlines three music talents, each unique to their genre.

Two stars of the landmark television series 'Taxi,' Judd Hirsch and Danny DeVito, will reunite on the stage of the Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles in Neil Simon's 'The Sunshine Boys,' directed by Thea Sharrock.

New Hampshire and summerstock are pretty much interchangeable. Across the Granite State, theatergoers will find incredible options for live entertainment. One night they could be in an old barn, where the floors creek and an occasional bat will make its presence known. Then the next night, you're in a brand new, modern facility with air conditioning, comfy seats and a bar.

The Morris Museum's Bickford Theatre is proud to announce the 2013-2014 Main Stage Season, which includes a world premiere and a New Jersey premiere.

Pia Zadora was arrested this weekend on charges of domestic violence after a tiff with her teenage son over his bedtime, according to an update by the Associated Press. BroadwayWorld reported yesterday that the Broadway and cabaret star had been arrested on suspicion of domestic battery and coercion on June 1, 2013, at her home in a suburb of Las Vegas, Nevada. She was released on bail after posting $4,000.

According to TMZ, Broadway and cabaret star Pia Zadora was arrested yesterday, June 1, 2013, at her home in a suburb of Las Vegas, Nevada, on charges of domestic battery and coercion. She was released on bail. The victim's name has not been released.

Today, May 3rd at 12 noon, Brave New World Enterprises, LLC will present a Special Pre-Broadway Workshop Table Reading of the new musical based on Aldous Huxley's novel, BRAVE NEW WORLD. The presentation, directed by SHERYL KALLER, with musical direction by JOHN McDANIEL, will take place at the Snapple Theatre Center (1627 Broadway) for invited industry audiences only.

Comedy in the Afternoon: A Revue in Two Acts with Music and Dance will receive its Equity World Premiere in May. The show is written and directed by Del Fidanque.

A stellar cast of veteran actors, with Dakin Matthews in the lead role, supported by Emmy and Tony winner Shirley Knight, perform a new play by Samuel D. Hunter at the 32nd annual William Inge Theatre Festival, at Independence, Kansas.

Dana Carvey is best known for his Saturday Night Live characters the Church Lady; Hans, of the Hans and Franz body building duo; Garth, Wayne Campbell's (Mike Myers) "Excellent Co-Host" on the immensely popular sketch "Wayne's World," and Weekend Updates Grumpy Old Man. In addition to these characters, Dana has received widespread praise for his uncanny comedic impersonations of such political figures as Ex- President George Bush, H. Ross Perot, Jerry Brown, David Duke and Bob Dole.

On Friday, May 3rd at 12 noon, Brave New World Enterprises, LLC will present a Special Pre-Broadway Workshop Table Reading of the new musical based on Aldous Huxley's novel, BRAVE NEW WORLD. The presentation, directed by SHERYL KALLER, with musical direction by JOHN McDANIEL, will take place at the Snapple Theatre Center (1627 Broadway) for invited industry audiences only.

BELZ! THE JEWISH VAUDEVILLE MUSICAL is the story of a movement that ultimately had a profound effect on American popular culture as Jewish performers from Eastern Europe and their immediate descendants took their acts from the shtetls to the rest of the world.

Today, the Academy of Country Music is announcing the winners of awards that will not be televised during the 48 th ANNUAL ACADEMY OF COUNTRY MUSIC AWARDS, due to time constraints.

An AEA staged reading of Comedy in the Afternoon: A Review in Two Acts with Music and Dance, written and directed by Del Fidanque, is set for today, March 16, 2013 at 1:15 PM at Gibney Dance Center, 890 Broadway 5th Floor, Studio 1. Admission is free. Check out a promo for the production below!

The 2013-2014 Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre season was announced today by CTG Artistic Director Michael Ritchie.

An AEA staged reading of Comedy in the Afternoon: A Review in Two Acts with Music and Dance, written and directed by Del Fidanque, is set for Saturday March 16, 2013 at 1:15 PM at Gibney Dance Center, 890 Broadway 5th Floor, Studio 1. Admission is free. Check out a promo for the production below!

When Broadway and television star Eddie Mekka (Carmine "the big Ragu" Ragusa from Laverne & Shirley TV series) entertains at TheatreZone's gala fundraiser later this month, he'll be backed by a live six-piece band, led by legendary musical director and saxophone player Tim Fowlar. They will be joined by TheatreZone artistic director Mark Danni playing drums, Joe Choomack on bass, Tom Weaver on guitar, Mike Santiago on trumpet and Peter Van Wyk on trombone.