Gwen Verdon News

Shake, Rattle & Roll, the new 1950's style musical revue swizzles into Florida Studio Theatre's (FST) Goldstein Cabaret Theatre (1241 N. Palm Avenue) on Wednesday, January 4 at 7:30pm.

The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre opened its doors for the very first time in 1995, seventeen years later, the theatre is preparing to open its 18th Season on January 13th, with the musical comedy Damn Yankees.

Shake, Rattle & Roll, the new 1950's style musical revue swizzles into Florida Studio Theatre's (FST) Goldstein Cabaret Theatre (1241 N. Palm Avenue) on Wednesday, January 4 at 7:30pm.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) has just announced that its 2011 donation to Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS will total $1.2 million dollars, marking the largest single contribution in BC/EFA history. The foundation, which is funded by royalties from the late award-winning lyricist Fred Ebb's vast catalogue of work, makes an annual donation to BC/EFA. This contribution tops last year's donation of $1 million dollars which was, at the time, the largest single contribution in BC/EFA history.

Tony-Award Winning Star Donna McKechnie Returns to TheatreZone -- Takes on lead role as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical Broadway star and legendary entertainer Donna McKechnie returns to TheatreZone in Naples, cast as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical, announced artistic director Mark Danni. Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, the musical follows the adventures of the four remarkable March sisters coming of age during the American Civil War era.

In the New York Post today, Michael Riedel reports that the show, if well-received, could be headed to Broadway in the 2012-2013 season.

THE JACK COLE PROJECT, a new musical entertainment by director/choreographer Chet Walker, is being developed and will be presented at Queens Theatre in the Park (located in Flushing Meadow Corona Park) opening May 3, 2012.

It's always such a wonderful treat to witness a living legend speak candidly and honestly about their experiences, looking back fondly at a multi-decade career that few could even dare replicate. Orange County residents now have such an opportunity with none other than two-time Tony Award winning diva extraordinaire CHITA RIVERA, in a charming one-woman cabaret show titled 'Chita Rivera: My Broadway,' now playing at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts' Samueli Theater in Costa Mesa through Sunday, November 13. Still spry, spunky, and jazz-kickin' at 78 years old, this pioneering Broadway superstar presents a bawdy, yet no-frills cabaret show that is not only chock-full of her memorable hits but is also peppered with lots of dishy details of her life in the theater.

Tribute artist Peter Mac happens to be one terrific actor/singer who does his very best work in a dress. In our interview, he talks about how it all started, the characters he honors and his gig at the Gardenia over the next year. Like Charles Pierce and Jim Bailey before him Peter Mac is keeping the art of creating impressions alive and vibrant.

Tony-Award Winning Star Donna McKechnie Returns to TheatreZone -- Takes on lead role as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical Broadway star and legendary entertainer Donna McKechnie returns to TheatreZone in Naples, cast as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical, announced artistic director Mark Danni. Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, the musical follows the adventures of the four remarkable March sisters coming of age during the American Civil War era.

Glamour, sophistication, and elegance: these words defined the era of supper clubs and the crooners who ruled them. Florida Studio Theatre opens its Cabaret Season on October 12 with That's Life, Again, a journey to the time when livin' was easy, with stylish songs like 'New York, New York,' 'Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime,' and 'My Way.'

How did Judy Garland overcome her stage fright? What was Gwen Verdon's ritual before each performance? Where did David Merrick hide his various toupees? Learn the answers to these questions and many other insider anecdotes about legendary theatre performers from one of Broadway's great stage managers at TheatreZone's annual Sneak Peek, held in the G&L Theatre, Sunday, November 13 at 2 pm.

Tony-Award Winning Star Donna McKechnie Returns to TheatreZone -- Takes on lead role as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical Broadway star and legendary entertainer Donna McKechnie returns to TheatreZone in Naples, cast as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical, announced artistic director Mark Danni. Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, the musical follows the adventures of the four remarkable March sisters coming of age during the American Civil War era.

Glamour, sophistication, and elegance: these words defined the era of supper clubs and the crooners who ruled them. Florida Studio Theatre opens its Cabaret Season on October 12 with That's Life, Again, a journey to the time when livin' was easy, with stylish songs like 'New York, New York,' 'Everybody Loves Somebody Sometime,' and 'My Way.'

How did Judy Garland overcome her stage fright? What was Gwen Verdon's ritual before each performance? Where did David Merrick hide his various toupees? Learn the answers to these questions and many other insider anecdotes about legendary theatre performers from one of Broadway's great stage managers at TheatreZone's annual Sneak Peek, held in the G&L Theatre, Sunday, November 13 at 2 pm.

Tony-Award Winning Star Donna McKechnie Returns to TheatreZone -- Takes on lead role as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical Broadway star and legendary entertainer Donna McKechnie returns to TheatreZone in Naples, cast as Marmee in Little Women: The Broadway Musical, announced artistic director Mark Danni. Based on Louisa May Alcott's classic novel, the musical follows the adventures of the four remarkable March sisters coming of age during the American Civil War era.

How did Judy Garland overcome her stage fright? What was Gwen Verdon's ritual before each performance? Where did David Merrick hide his various toupees? Learn the answers to these questions and many other insider anecdotes about legendary theatre performers from one of Broadway's great stage managers at TheatreZone's annual Sneak Peek, held in the G&L Theatre, Sunday, November 13 at 2 pm.

Last night in an East Side Penthouse overlooking the congestion at the United Nations Bick Goss was honored by the organization he founded in 1999. Mr. Goss began his career as a Bob Fosse dancer (original companies of Little Me, Sweet Charity, Dancin' and Chicago). In his role as director-choreographer-producer he has worked with Billy Crystal, Harold Prince, Gwen Verdon and with many performers who were present and performed at the festive celebration in the home of Mary Ellen Ashley & Cyrus Rubin.

Musical Mondays Theatre Lab, which for 12 years has been instrumental in developing new musicals including 'Next to Normal,' salutes its founder, Bick Goss, with a gala celebration on Monday evening, September 19 at a private penthouse apartment on Manhattan's east side.

Today we are talking to the new Roxie in CHICAGO on Broadway best known for her status as one of the most successful songwriters of the twenty-first century, having had hundreds of songs featured on albums by the likes of Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Celine Dion, Pink and many, many more - with a significant number of them topping the charts in a variety of genres from pop to rock to country and beyond. In this all-encompassing conversation, DioGuardi and I dissect her career thus far - in front of millions and behind the scenes - and she generously sheds some light on how some of her most famous songs came to be - including the modern-day Gwen Stefani classic "If I Were A Rich Girl", famously sampling a song from FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Additionally, we talk about her two-year stint on AMERICAN IDOL and what working with Simon Cowell and Paula Abdul was like, as well as her opinions on Simon's new talent competition premiering later this year, THE X-FACTOR, and how she looks back on her experience doing the hit show and her own reality series, PLATINUM HIT. Additionally, we discuss DioGuardi's Broadway baby roots and her formative theatrical experiences, as well as what taking the stage at this point in her career means to her - and, all about wearing Ashlee Simpson's costume. Plus, DioGuardi's thoughts on entertainment legends ranging from CHICAGO composer John Kander to rock icon Jim Steinman to Broadway legends like Liza Minnelli, Gwen Verdon, Stephen Sondheim and many, many more. We also have news on her upcoming songs and collaborations to look out for, featuring a vast array of artists such as Jason Mraz, Bruno Mars, Jason Derulo and more - many featured through her music publishing company, Arthouse Entertainment. As if all of that weren't enough, DioGuardi also shares her affection for GLEE, Broadway song craftsmanship and gypsies!