Ginger Rogers News

Today, Lincoln Center announced the 2018 season of Midsummer Night Swing, bringing people from all walks of life together to experience an array of sounds and dance styles from Today, June 26 to Saturday, July 14, 2018. This iconic New York social dance party will feature 15 nights under the stars, with outdoor dance lessons and live performances paying tribute to the histories of Lindy hop, swing, mambo, salsa, blues, and more, while welcoming newcomers and dance pros alike to experience the joy of social dance.

On May 20, The Camelot Theatre in Palm Springs previewed an incredible new documentary, 'The Show Goes On', about the life and career of Broadway, Film and Television Icon Kaye Ballard to a 'more than full house'. In fact, two theatres were opened for the screening since demand far exceeded the number of seats in the main house. With her typically self-deprecating humor, Ms. Ballard proclaims herself 'The Greatest Star You Hardly Knew', and the beautifully constructed 90 minute film details her extraordinary accomplishments from Broadway's 'Carnival', 'The Golden Apple', 'Molly' and 'Pirates Of Penzance' to her stellar nightclub, film and television career including 'The Doris Day Show' and the beloved and  iconic 'Mother's In Law' with Eve Arden. It highlights the extraordinary talents of Ms. Ballard and doesn't shy away from the disappointments and challenges along the way, featuring interviews with Woody Allen, Carol Channing, Hal Prince, Carol Burnett, Michael Feinstein, Joy Behar and more. Hal Prince boldly states 'if Kaye Ballard had been cast as the mother in 'Gypsy,' 'she would have made history.' I had the chance to visit with Ms. Ballard at her home on 'Kaye Ballard Lane' in Rancho Mirage (the home formerly owned by her friend and TV director, Desi Arnaz) to talk about the film and more. Here are a few excerpts from the conversation:

Turner Classic Movies (TCM) will pay homage to the glittering world of Hollywood musicals with Mad About Musicals!, a special month of programming celebrating timeless movie musicals such as The Wizard of Oz, Singin' in the Rain and Cabaret. TCM is once again partnering with Ball State University and Canvas to offer a free online multimedia course tied to this programming special about the history of the musical genre and its evolution with cultural and technological shifts. Enrollment is open until June 17 and fans can sign up for the course at musicals.tcm.com.

After two successful engagements in NYC, Sarah Boone will light up the stage at Upstairs at Vitello's Supper Club on May 16 with the West Coast Premiere of her new show paying homage to the fair-haired leading ladies of classic film musicals. Sarah Boone and Her Hollywood Blondes is an evening of musical treasures first introduced by Jane Powell, Judy Holliday, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Jones, Debbie Reynolds, Betty Grable, Alice Faye, Betty Hutton and Doris Day

With the triumphant success of TV's "Dancing With The Stars", it was a no-brainer to mount a tour of DANCE TO THE MOVIES. It discos, sambas, thrust pelvis's, waltzes and jitterbugs into The Playhouse for a short run May 18-20.

Today, Lincoln Center announced the 2018 season of Midsummer Night Swing, bringing people from all walks of life together to experience an array of sounds and dance styles from Tuesday, June 26 to Saturday, July 14, 2018. This iconic New York social dance party will feature 15 nights under the stars, with outdoor dance lessons and live performances paying tribute to the histories of Lindy hop, swing, mambo, salsa, blues, and more, while welcoming newcomers and dance pros alike to experience the joy of social dance.

Two young stars from South Staffs Musical Theatre Company's October production of TOP HAT, have stepped onto stage at the Grand Theatre early to meet the musical's original West End star Tom Chambers.

Some of the top talent in the Broadway community will be gracing the stage of The Cape Playhouse this summer. The impressive list of headliners includes Judy Kuhn, Michelle Pawk, Mary Testa, Nancy Opel, Jennifer Simard, Mike McGowan and Jennifer Cody..Michael Rader, Artistic Director, today announced the casting for the historic theatre's 92nd season in Dennis, MA. The six-play schedule, running from June 12 - September1, 2018, features three plays and three musicals-including three Playhouse premieres-in a season featuring Tony and Drama Desk Award-winning shows and the premiere and Pre-National Tour Engagement of a new production of the classic movie Clue: On Stage.

Leaders of the legendary Rehearsal Club announce plans for its 105th Anniversary Celebration, to be held June 22, 2018 at The Players on Gramercy Park.

Today, Lincoln Center announced the 2018 season of Midsummer Night Swing, bringing people from all walks of life together to experience an array of sounds and dance styles from Tuesday, June 26 to Saturday, July 14, 2018. This iconic New York social dance party will feature 15 nights under the stars, with outdoor dance lessons and live performances paying tribute to the histories of Lindy hop, swing, mambo, salsa, blues, and more, while welcoming newcomers and dance pros alike to experience the joy of social dance.

After two successful engagements in NYC, Sarah Boone will light up the stage at Upstairs at Vitello's Supper Club on May 16 with the West Coast Premiere of her new show paying homage to the fair-haired leading ladies of classic film musicals. Sarah Boone and Her Hollywood Blondes is an evening of musical treasures first introduced by Jane Powell, Judy Holliday, Ginger Rogers, Shirley Jones, Debbie Reynolds, Betty Grable, Alice Faye, Betty Hutton and Doris Day

11th Hour Theatre Company finishes its Spotlight Series with a celebration of women in musical theatre featuring some of the company's celebrated female powerhouses.

The Old Globe will present a free, one-night-only event to celebrate the debut of a new book by legendary Globe Associate Artist Marion Ross  titled My Days Happy and Otherwise. This evening of storytelling with Ms. Ross and Associate Artistic Director Eric Keen-Louie will take place on Monday, April 16, at 7:00 p.m., on the Donald and Darlene Shiley Stage of the Old Globe Theatre, part of the Conrad Prebys Theatre Center. My Days Happy and Otherwise, by Ms. Ross with David Laurell, and a foreword by Ron Howard, will be available for purchase after the event, and Ms. Ross will be available to sign copies.

On Sunday, April 8 at 3:00 p.m., Axelrod Performing Arts Center presents Let's Face the Music…The Timeless Songs of Fred Astaire featuring vocalists Danny Bacher and Alexis Cole, performing with an all-star jazz band led by Dr. Art Topilow on piano, with Aaron Weinstein on violin, Mike Lee on saxophone, Doug Clarke on guitar, Rudy Petschauer on percussion and Gary Mazzaroppi on bass. Special guests: two leading Broadway dancers, Cory Lingner ("On the Town," "American in Paris") and Eloise Kropp ("Dames at Sea," "CATS") choreographed by Gabriel Chajnik and Andrew Black.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angeles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, will present HOLLYWOOD REVISITED as a special benefit to support Musical Theatre Guild's extensive youth outreach programs. The event, a perfect tie in with the company's "MTG Goes To The Movies" season theme, will take place at Burbank's Colony Theatre on Monday, March 26, 2018 at 7:30 pm.

Pioneer Theatre Company presents William Shakespeare's Twelfth Night, running Friday, March 30 through Saturday, April 14, 2018.

The Axelrod Performing Arts Center (APAC) is celebrating the Fred Astaire songbook on Sunday, April 8 at 3 p.m. with star vocalists Danny Bacher and Alexis Cole, who recently appeared together at Carnegie Hall, and two leading Broadway dancers, Cory Lingner("On the Town," "American in Paris") and Eloise Kropp ("Dames at Sea," "CATS"), performing with an all-star jazz band led by Dr. Art Topilow on piano, with Aaron Weinstein on violin, Mike Lee on saxophone, Doug Clarke on guitar, Rudy Petschauer on percussion and Gary Mazzaroppi on bass.

Sarah Boone lights up the Triad stage with her new show, Sarah Boone and Her Hollywood Blondes paying homage to the fair-haired leading ladies of classic film musicals.

Producers John Lant and Tamra Pica with Write Act Repertory are pleased to present the West Coast premiere of Elise Arndt's award-winning one-woman show SING BIBI SING! The Untold Tales of Bibi Osterwald. Opening at Write Act Repertory's home, the Brickhouse Theatre, in North Hollywood on March 30th, at 8 p.m. for seven performances, after a sold out run in New York. The musical is written by and stars Elise Arndt, the granddaughter of the late Bibi Osterwald. The show is directed by Christine O'Grady, (HAIR, tick, tick…BOOM!), with musical direction by Doug Peck and The Doug Peck Trio. (Winner: six Joseph Jefferson Awards for his musical direction, two After Dark Awards, The Guy Adkins Award, and the Sarah Siddons Award). Tickets will go on sale next week with Brown Paper Tickets.

Dr Dominic McHugh discusses rediscovering and presenting Meredith Willson's songs from The Music Man in a 60th anniversary concert at the University of Sheffield