George M. Cohan News

Steven Feinberg, Executive Director of the Rhode Island Film & Television Office will moderate the talkback and Q & A with star Cary Elwes following a screening of The Princess Bride at The VETS in Providence on November 2, 2018. The event The Princess Bride: An Inconceivable Evening with Cary Elwes, is on sale now.

Birdland Theater, the new venue spawned from the legendary Birdland on 44th street had a 'soft' opening this summer, followed by a bunch of celebrity openings in September. It had another entertainment first last night because Jamie deRoy brought her friends and her renowned Jamie deRoy & friends Variety show to this great new performance space. The evening had all the glamour and excitement of a Broadway opening night, the kind of evening Ms. deRoy can usually be found at.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Evans Haile, Executive Director), dedicated to the development of new musicals and rediscovery of musical gems from the past, presents the Off-Broadway premiere of the acclaimed new musical Midnight at The Never Get, with book, music, and lyrics by Mark Sonnenblick, co-conceived by Sam Bolen, by arrangement with Visceral Entertainment and Mark Cortale Productions.  Directed by Max Friedman, with choreography by Andrew Palermo, and music direction/arrangements by Adam Podd, the cast will feature Sam Bolen, Jeremy Cohen, and Jon J. Peterson.  Performances begin Tuesday, October 2, 2018 for a limited engagement through Sunday afternoon, November 4, 2018 at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue). Opening Night is Thursday evening, October 11, 2018 at 6:45 p.m. 

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts Producing Artistic Director BT McNicholl announces its most ambitious and dazzling year of special events! La Mirada Theatre will kick things off with such sensational shows as LEE ANN WOMACK, THE SIMON AND GARFUNKEL STORY and PAUL ANKA, and that's just this Fall! 

George M. Cohan has been attributed to being the father of the American Musical, whose works are the very roots of Broadway and musical theater that we know today. Without his numerous contributions to the American theater, Broadway as we all know it probably wouldn't even exist. This is the idea that's drummed rather loudly and patriotically by the ending of YANKEE DOODLE DANDY, the 2004 stage musical now in the midst of its Southern California regional premiere via Musical Theatre West. A fairly entertaining, if inescapably old-fashioned jukebox musical that paints rather broad strokes rather than giving a deep dive into Cohan's life story, this new production continues performances at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts in Long Beach through July 22, 2018.

Previous attempts have been made to bring George M. Cohan's life to the stage. None is remembered, however, as much as the 1942 film starring James Cagney. Book writer David Armstrong has constructed a much more realistic account of Yankee Doodle Dandy, tryimg to avoid the traps of Hollywood glamor and tinsel, currently onstage at MTW Long Beach at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts through July 22 In spite of the fantastic cast and sturdy direction and scintillating choreography by James Rocco, it turns in a rather weak account of the father of the American musical comedy (1878-1942). Not that you shouldn't see it; go for the cast and the sheer entertainment value of the music alone that set the scene for Rodgers nd Hammerstein and others to follow.

Patti LuPone has been to Australia a couple of times before, and we can only hope that she will be back soon, and often.

ASCAP Award-winning writer/producer Chip Deffaa's new CD, 'Gay Love'--being released June 29th--will features such  Broadway notables as Stephen Bogardus ('Bright Star'), Lee Roy Reams ('La Cage Aux Folles'), John Tartaglia ('Avenue Q'), Kristy Cates ('Charlie and the Chocolate Factory') and Jon Peterson ('Cabaret'), plus such top nightclub and cabaret stars as Seth Sikes,  Baby Jane Dexter, and Tom Andersen.

Celebrate America and the beginnings of our country's musical theatre history with a new look at the life of George M. Cohan in the Southern California premiere of Musical Theatre West's (MTW) production of Yankee Doodle Dandy! at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center July 6-22, 2018.  For tickets go to www.musical.org, call (562) 856-1999 ext. 4 or visit the MTW Ticket Office.  Tickets start at $20.

Two Pace University graduates have been recognized for their work by the American Theatre Wing's Tony Awards.

Musical Theatre West will present a new and revised production of Yankee Doodle Dandy, directed and choreographed by James A. Rocco.

On Monday, May 14, 2018, Third Street Music School Settlement (Third Street), the nation's longest running community school, will honor Grammy Award-winning Singer and Songwriter Rosanne Cash, Tony and Oscar Award-winner Joel Grey, and long-time Board Member and Award-winning Architect Byron Bell at its Annual Spring Gala. Graham Parker, President of Universal Studios Classical Music Labels, will serve as master of ceremonies and Lydia Fenet, Senior Vice President of Christie's Auction House will host the live auction. Members of the cast of SpongeBob SquarePants: The Broadway Musical also will perform. Held at Capitale (130 Bowery) in New York City, the gala will bring together hundreds of luminaries from the arts, culture, education, media, business, finance and philanthropy worlds to pay tribute to the honorees for their contributions to and leadership in arts and music education. Funds raised through attendance, live and silent auction participation will help support Third Street scholarships and financial aid services. With its roots in the settlement movement, Third Street today serves more than 5,000 New Yorkers of all ages and backgrounds by providing high quality, accessible music and dance instruction in more than 25 instruments and voice. More than 75% of Third Street students receive financial aid or scholarships through the school's Partners program, which sends teaching artists into community centers and public schools throughout New York City. Alumni include well-known artists Bobby Lopez, Jessie Montgomery, Irving Caesar, among others. This year's honorees join a roster of previous honorees that includes The Roots, Sting, Yoko Ono, Harold Prince, Philip Glass, and Audra McDonald. Rosanne Cash will be presented with Third Street's Award for Distinguished Achievement in the Arts and Joel Grey will receive Third Street's Award for Lifetime Achievement in the Arts. 'Third Street is founded on the principles of artistry, diversity, and community. We believe music connects us and that it is crucial to support programs that enable accessibility to the arts for people of all backgrounds,' said Third Street Music School's Anna-Maria Kellen Executive Director, Valerie G. Lewis. 'We are proud to celebrate our 123rd Anniversary with music visionaries, Joel Grey and Rosanne Cash, along with a long-time supporter of Third Street, Byron Bell. They have been incredible advocates for the arts, fostering artistic creativity in their communities and beyond,' she said. Gala Co-chairs are Jeannie Park and Larry Hackett, Kara Saxon and Amit Malhotra, and Kate and James Vanek. Anniversary Co-chairs include Beau Everett and Stephanie Goodman, Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Tatiana Serafin and Mick Kalishman, Felipe Toews and Yuu Fujita. Honorary Co-chairs include Barbara E. Field, Philip Glass and Harold Prince. Event sponsors include Anna-Maria and Stephen Kellen Foundation, Baldor Specialty Foods, Ernst & Young LLP, Putney, Twombly, Hall & Hirson LLP, Industry City, JD Carlisle Development Corporation, Steinway & Sons, and Kramer Levin Naftalis & Frankel LLP. For more information visit thirdstreetmusicschool.org/gala or contact Katharine Nemeth at 212-777-3240 ext. 26 or gala@thirdstreetmusicschool.org. Tickets start at $500 per person and $5,000 per table. About Third Street Founded in 1894, Third Street Music School Settlement is the nation's longest-running community music school. Celebrating 123 years of service, Third Street works to enrich lives and communities by providing access to high quality music and dance instruction to students of all ages and backgrounds, regardless of artistic ability or socio-economic circumstances. As a pioneer of community arts education in the United States, Third Street today serves more than 5,000 students in our primary location on East 11th Street, and through partnerships with nearly 25 public schools and community centers throughout New York City. Third Street alumni include violist Masumi Per Rostad of the acclaimed Pacifica String Quartet; Ray Chew, musician and music director of Dancing with the Stars and American Idol; Irving Caesar, composer of the 1920's hit 'Tea for Two'; Bobby Lopez, co-creator of the hit Broadway musical Avenue Q and Academy Award-winning writer of 'Let It Go' from Disney's Frozen and 'Remember Me' from Disney's Coco; Ingrid Michaelson, pop singer/songwriter with hits on the Top 40 charts; and Jessie Montgomery, recipient of the Sphinx Award. Visit http://www.thirdstreetmusicschool.org/ for more information, and follow Third Street on Instagram @3rdstreetnyc and twitter @Third_Street.

The Fulton Theatre is proud to present Red, the final production of the 2017/2018 Ellen Arnold Groff Series in the Tell Studio.

Celebrate America and the beginnings of our country's musical theatre history with a new look at the life of George M. Cohan in the Southern California premiere Musical Theatre West's (MTW) production of Yankee Doodle Dandy! coming to the Carpenter Performing Arts Center July 6-22, 2018. For tickets go to www.musical.org, call (562) 856-1999 ext. 4 or visit the MTW Ticket Office. Tickets start at $20.

The Tony Awards Administration Committee has announced that they will present the 2018 Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre to three outstanding contributors to the Broadway industry - New York Times' culture photographer Sara Krulwich, costume beader, Bessie Nelson, and the Ernest Winzer Cleaners.

The Fulton Theatre unveiled an amazing lineup of shows for the 2018/2019 season! During the Fulton Theatre's annual Dinner on Stage event, Executive Artistic Producer Marc Robin-who is celebrating his 10th anniversary at the Fulton-gave a preview of the thrilling lineup that awaits Lancaster theater-goers in the coming season. To celebrate his 10 years, and the Fulton's incredible growth during that time, Robin has curated an entire season of awe-inspired performances produced with the renowned Fulton flair.

Stellar Scholars David Reinstein has polished his musical masterwork, Anthem for Israel Live Read StoryTube on YouTube for a concert performance. New York City's Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall as well as Detroit's audiences at Orchestra Hall are in for a night to remember. Lauds Stellar Scholars President Ashley Sword said: "We could not be prouder of David. Anyone who has listened to his StoryTube lively KLICK KLOCK on YouTube live read with my presentation is in for an absolute treat! David has pulled out all the stops in its world class debut. His Anthem for Israel is a superlative tribute for Israel which we and our celebrity and regular loyal Scholar listeners hope sincerely will become the country's 51st star on our Grand Old Flag as George M. Cohan would call it! David will step on stage and flourish his baton for strings (with first violinist Harry Hovaksimian), french horns, guitar, piano and drums for audiences at New York City's Lincoln Center and Carnegie Hall and Detroit's own Orchestra Hall; they are in for an absolute treat." Music is just one of the several gifts Stellar Scholars relishes in showcasing, which includes the very popular Country Music stylings of Dee-troit's Paul Lubanski and Johnny Johnson as well as multi-talented Catherine Grimshaw. "Plus our now-famous, exclusive StoryTube live reads on YouTube which are driving our sister sites Stellar Romance and Saints and Scholars to doubling our eagerly anticipated page visits on YouTube in an astounding ten months!" said Ashley. Moreover, the Stellar Scholars has their Wild Golf (Wilderness Golf) Bettie Page Charity Open for Breast Cancer Survivors coming next month. "And I'd better mention our two new Stellar Novellas! I guess we've earned that nickname Women and Men of Wonder and we have our much appreciated following and YouTube to thank for that," said Ashley.

TCT Off Broadway will present a youth production of Broadway Beat on April 12 and 13 at 7:30 p.m. and Aril 14 at 2 p.m. at 213 East Franklin Street.   The show includes musical highlights from over a century of song and dance including Hairspray, The Music Man, The King and I, Wicked, Rent and Grease, and a medley of favorites from George M. Cohan! Tickets are $10 for adults and $5 for students and younger and may be reserved by calling the TCT office at 844-1935.

National Yiddish Theatre Folksbiene (NYTF), the longest consecutively producing theatre in the United States and the world's oldest continuously operating Yiddish theatre company, today announced that legendary stage and screen actor Joel Grey will direct the United States' premiere of Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish this summer.