Gwen Verdon News

New Dramatists, Tony Honor® recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, honored 14-time Tony Award® winner Roger Berlind with their 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 62nd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, yesterday, May 17th at the New York Marriott Marquis. Philip J. Smith and Robert E. Wankel of The Shubert Organization served as the Luncheon Chairs. Jim Dale, Emily Mann and Brian Stokes Mitchell were among those paying tribute to Mr Berlind. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the event and brings you phoot coverage below.

Nikki Gil, TV personality, actress and recording artist, seems to be fascinated playing off-beat characters in stage musicals. Gil made her theater debut as blonde sorority star Elle Woods last year. And she's set to grace the stage again starring as dancer-for-hire Charity Hope Valentine in 9 Works Theatrical's production of the Broadway musical comedy Sweet Charity in August.

Grab that poodle skirt, slick back your hair and get ready to rock ‘n' roll -- 50's style -- when the 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of the hit musical GREASETM makes its way to Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre and will close on Sunday, May 1. Leading the 50's fun-fest will be Eddie Mekka (Laverne & Shirley's Carmine) as DJ Vince Fontaine.

Grab that poodle skirt, slick back your hair and get ready to rock 'n' roll -- 50's style -- when the 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of the hit musical GREASE™ makes its way to Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre for one week only, playing Wednesday, April 27 through Sunday, May 1.

This July, two hundred apprentices from all over the country (as well as the UK and Canada) will head to the University of South Florida to participate in Broadway Theatre Project, an intense three-week training session in all things musical theatre. The apprentices, who range in age from 16-24, are taught acting, singing and dancing by industry professionals who have appeared on Broadway, in television and in major motion pictures. Tampa Bay-area alums who are now faculty members and will be returning to teach this summer (schedules permitting) include: Kelly King, currently the dance captain of the Radio City Rockettes, Monica Raymund, currently appearing in the TV show Lie to Me on Fox and Patrick Wilson, whose latest film Insidious is currently in theatres nationwide.

This July, two hundred apprentices from all over the country (as well as the UK and Canada) will head to the University of South Florida to participate in Broadway Theatre Project, an intense three-week training session in all things musical theatr

On April 21, 1961, Broadway audiences and critics fellhead-over-heels in love with the new musical Carnival. Produced by David Merrick and adapted from the MGM film Lili by Michael Stewart (from thescreenplay by Helen Deutsch, itself adapted from a Paul Gallico short storyentitled The Man Who Hated People), theshow was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and had a tuneful andmemorable score by Bob Merrill. The critics raved - in the Daily News, John Chapman wrote that Carnival was 'enchantment from the moment the houselights godown.' And so it was, pureenchantment, despite its darker elements - it ran on Broadway for 719 performances, and had a best-selling original cast recording (which debuted atnumber one on the Billboard chart) and 'Love Makes The World Go Round' became amuch-sung song, covered by many of the popular singers of the time. Carnival was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning two(one for Alberghetti - in a tie with Diahann Carroll - and one for Will StevenArmstrong's scenic design). The show had a successful national tour, as well.

On April 21, 1961, Broadway audiences and critics fell head-over-heels in love with the new musical Carnival. Produced by David Merrick and adapted from the MGM film Lili by Michael Stewart (from the screenplay by Helen Deutsch, itself adapted from a Paul Gallico short story entitled The Man Who Hated People), the show was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and had a tuneful and memorable score by Bob Merrill. The critics raved - in the Daily News, John Chapman wrote that Carnival was 'enchantment from the moment the houselights go down.' And so it was, pure enchantment, despite its darker elements - it ran on Broadway for 719 performances, and had a best-selling original cast recording (which debuted at number one on the Billboard chart) and 'Love Makes The World Go Round' became a much-sung song, covered by many of the popular singers of the time. Carnival was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning two (one for Alberghetti - in a tie with Diahann Carroll - and one for Will Steven Armstrong's scenic design). The show had a successful national tour, as well.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) is pleased to present an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled An Afternoon with Doug Cohen featuring the words and music of the 2010 Fred Ebb Award Winner. Featured in the presentation will be Heidi Blickenstaff, Bradley Dean, Tovah Feldshuh, Jackie Hoffman, Lauren Kennedy, Jeff McCarthy, Lindsay Roberts, Lance Rubin, Howie Michael Smith and Barbara Walsh.

The Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville is happy to announce auditions for Damn Yankees, the theatre's summer musical production, directed by Rich Resler.

NEW DRAMATISTS, Tony Honor® recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, proudly announces that 14-time Tony Award® winner Roger Berlind will be honored with their 2011 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 62nd Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held Tuesday, May 17th at the New York Marriott Marquis.

The Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville is happy to announce auditions for Damn Yankees, the theatre's summer musical production, directed by Rich Resler.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) is pleased to present an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled An Afternoon with Doug Cohen featuring the words and music of the 2010 Fred Ebb Award Winner. Featured in the presentation will be Heidi Blickenstaff, Bradley Dean, Tovah Feldshuh, Jackie Hoffman, Lauren Kennedy, Jeff McCarthy, Lindsay Roberts, Lance Rubin, Howie Michael Smith and Barbara Walsh.

The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of GREASETM closes in Indianapolis at Clowes Memorial Hall, March 227th.

The 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of GREASE™ opens in Indianapolis at Clowes Memorial Hall, March 22nd and runs through the 27th as part of the Broadway Across America 10/11 Season.

On April 21, 1961, Broadway audiences and critics fellhead-over-heels in love with the new musical Carnival. Produced by David Merrick and adapted from the MGM film Lili by Michael Stewart (from thescreenplay by Helen Deutsch, itself adapted from a Paul Gallico short storyentitled The Man Who Hated People), theshow was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and had a tuneful andmemorable score by Bob Merrill. The critics raved - in the Daily News, John Chapman wrote that Carnival was 'enchantment from the moment the houselights godown.' And so it was, pureenchantment, despite its darker elements - it ran on Broadway for 719 performances, and had a best-selling original cast recording (which debuted atnumber one on the Billboard chart) and 'Love Makes The World Go Round' became amuch-sung song, covered by many of the popular singers of the time. Carnival was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning two(one for Alberghetti - in a tie with Diahann Carroll - and one for Will StevenArmstrong's scenic design). The show had a successful national tour, as well.

On April 21, 1961, Broadway audiences and critics fell head-over-heels in love with the new musical Carnival. Produced by David Merrick and adapted from the MGM film Lili by Michael Stewart (from the screenplay by Helen Deutsch, itself adapted from a Paul Gallico short story entitled The Man Who Hated People), the show was directed and choreographed by Gower Champion and had a tuneful and memorable score by Bob Merrill. The critics raved - in the Daily News, John Chapman wrote that Carnival was 'enchantment from the moment the houselights go down.' And so it was, pure enchantment, despite its darker elements - it ran on Broadway for 719 performances, and had a best-selling original cast recording (which debuted at number one on the Billboard chart) and 'Love Makes The World Go Round' became a much-sung song, covered by many of the popular singers of the time. Carnival was nominated for seven Tony Awards, winning two (one for Alberghetti - in a tie with Diahann Carroll - and one for Will Steven Armstrong's scenic design). The show had a successful national tour, as well.

The Whole Backstage Theatre in Guntersville is happy to announce auditions for Damn Yankees, the theatre's summer musical production, directed by Rich Resler.

Grab that poodle skirt, slick back your hair and get ready to rock 'n' roll -- 50's style -- when the 2010-2011 national tour of the new Broadway production of the hit musical GREASE™ makes its way to Boston's Citi Performing Arts Center Wang Theatre for one week only, playing Wednesday, April 27 through Sunday, May 1.

Triple threat Lee Roy Reams will be performing a song from 42nd Street in this year's S.T.A.G.E. benefit entitled Original Cast 2 at the Luckman Theatre on Saturday April 2. He has been in the original cast of Lorelei and in more productions of Hello Dolly! and 42nd Street than he can remember. In our recent phone chat he reminisced about the shows and the people he's worked with, including late greats Ruby Keeler & Juliet Prowse and legendary Carol Channing and Jerry Herman.