Gwen Verdon News

Today in 2005, the second Broadway revival of Sweet Charity opened at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre, where it ran for 279 performances. Sweet Charity is a musical with music by Cy Coleman, lyrics by Dorothy Fields and book by Neil Simon. It was directed and choreographed for Broadway by Bob Fosse starring his wife and muse Gwen Verdon alongside John McMartin. The musical premiered on Broadway in 1966, where it was nominated for 12 Tony Awards, and also ran in the West End as well as having revivals and international productions. THe 2005 revival starred Christina Applegate in he title role.

When Tuesday night the formidable Chita Rivera opens her debut Cafe Carlyle show, An Evening of My Favorite Songs, with "I Won't Dance" (Jerome Kern/Dorothy Fields/Jimmy McHugh), it's like watching a thoroughbred nose the racing gate. There's too little space on the small stage to do much more than shimmy, twirl, and display Bob Fosse-like arm moves; the performer exudes an urge to cut loose. At the ripe age of we-all-aspire-to-that-kind-of-unquenchable-joie-de-vivre, she shoots off sparks.

Jane Krakowski was an emerging Broadway star when she first gained national attention for 'Ally McBeal.'

Legendary Broadway star, Lee Roy Reams, will make his Feinstein's at the Nikko debut with his one-man show, Song and Dance Man, on Thursday, June 9 at 8 p.m.

Raise the roof! Broadway's tallest tapper comes to Landmark on Main Street in TAPS, TUNES & TALL TALES tonight, Friday, April 15 at 8 PM.

The Fred Ebb Foundation, in association with the Roundabout Theatre Company, will present the twelfth annual Fred Ebb Award for aspiring musical theatre songwriters.  Applications for the award, named in honor of the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb, will be accepted from June 1- 30, 2016.  The winner will be selected in November of 2016.  Eligibility criteria and Application forms can be found at the foundations website: www.fredebbfoundation.org.

? Broadway's Loni Ackerman is set to take her one-woman show to the Bickford stage on Saturday, April 30 at 7:00PM. This annual fundraising event will include great food and beverages, a 50/50 cash raffle, the always popular wine "Cork Pull," and a theatre ticket raffle.

BroadwayWorld is saddened to report that actress and singer Shannon Bolin Kaye passed away Friday, March 25, in New York City. She was 99.

Amas Musical Theatre, New York City's award-winning pioneer in diversity and multi-ethnic casting in the performing arts since 1968, celebrates its 47th Anniversary at a gala benefit tonight, Monday, March 28th, 2016 at the Baruch Performing Arts Center(East 25th Street between Lexington and 3rd Avenues). Honorary Chair for the event is Tony Award winning actress, singer and dancer Donna McKechnie.  The master of ceremonies for the evening is noted theatre journalist Peter Filichia.

Audra McDonald received her very own video category on Friday night's JEOPARDY, titled 'Audra McDonald on Broadway.' The show also asked McDonald, 'Given all your successes, is there a role you still long to play?

Raise the roof! Broadway's tallest tapper is coming to the Landmark on Main Street in TAPS, TUNES & TALL TALES on Friday, April 15 at 8 PM.

He's back! Ten-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune (that's a well-deserved mouthful!) is collaborating with a Tony-winning playwright on the musical adaptation of a book and major film set in 'the world's fastest-growing film market,' according to Deadline.

Rehearsal begins today for BARBARA COOK: THEN AND NOW, a candid and intimate evening conceived by three-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and directed by ten-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune.

Wednesday, March 23rd, DO40 brings together gypsies from many generations (and many who are DO40 members) to celebrate all things Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon at St. Luke's Theater, 308 West 46th Street, 7pm.  Featured throughout the evening:  Nicole Fosse, Valarie Pettiford, Harvey Evans, Dana Moore, Lloyd Culbreath, Gene Foote, George Marcy, Diana Laurenson, Dick Korthaze, Pam Sousa and Mimi Quillin.  DO40 members Kevin Winkler and John Gilvey are both more than half way through writing their books on this dynamic duo and they will discuss how they came to write about them in a special panel with Nicole Fosse, and a Q & A during the segment.   Winker's book is titled Big Deal: Bob Fosse and Dance in the American Musical, and Gilvey's, Brains and Talent: The Life and Allure of Legendary Entertainer Gwen Verdon.  We are working with the Fosse/Verdon Legacy, LLC to bring you more information on their workshops, and present a moving history, through the eyes (and feet!) of those who knew them best: Broadway dancers.  

On Friday's LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT, 6-time Tony award winner Audra McDonald explained how she prepared for playing Billie Holiday in LADY DAY.

Theatre fans love to fantasy cast revivals, but what if the show you're casting played on Broadway earlier than it actually did.

NEW DRAMATISTS,Tony® Honor recipient and the nation's premier playwright development laboratory, will honor six-time Tony Award winning actress, Audra McDonald with their 2016 Distinguished Achievement Award at its 67th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute. The event will be held Thursday, May 12 at the New York Marriott Marquis.

Producer Roy Furman, in association with Sandy Robertson and Luigi Caiola, just announced the return to the stage of one of the greatest voices and storytellers of our time. The legendary Tony and Grammy Award winner Barbara Cook will share the stories and songs that shaped her life and career in Barbara Cook: Then and Now, a candid and intimate evening conceived by 3-time Tony Award winner James Lapine and directed by 10-time Tony Award winner Tommy Tune. 

Jack F. Lee (born John Francis Lee), beloved musical director of both stage and screen, passed away peacefully on March 2, 2016 in his home at the age of 86. Mr. Lee was one of Broadway's leading conductors and musical directors who worked with composers/lyricists John Kander & Fred Ebb, Cy Coleman & Dorothy Fields, Jule Styne, Richard Rogers, Stephen Sondheim, Charles Strouse, Alan Jay Lerner, Maury Yeston, Robert Wright & George Forrest, Sandy Wilson, Bob Merrill, Betty Comden & Adolph Green and Harvey Schmidt & Tom Jones.

Six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald sat down with Shanice Williams (THE WIZ LIVE ON NBC!) in an Artist to Artist talk at the David Rubenstein Atrium, offering 11 pieces of advice for performers. McDonald's advice ranges from the inspirational ('Be uniquely you') to the practical ('Read the script!).