Harold Arlen News

What do you do for an updated stage adaptation of arguably one of cinema's much-beloved motion pictures of all time? Well for theater impresario Andrew Lloyd Webber and director Jeremy Sams, you populate the show with over-the-top, more cartoonish characters and snarky, audience-winking dialogue. Oh, yeah, and add a few new songs from Webber and his frequent collaborator, lyricist Tim Rice, too. The touring company plays the Pantages Theatre in Hollywood through October 6.

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) announced casting today for two theatrical productions in November: White Rabbit, Red Rabbit, the Iranian absurdist play about isolation co-presented with the Museum of Contemporary Art (MCA), running Nov. 3-9, 2013, and Birds Do It, Bees Do It..., the annual cabaret performance Nov. 5, 2013, created by Rob Lindley and Doug Peck.

There's no place like home and there's no place like the Fine Arts Center for the 2013-2014 theatre season, featuring the iconic musical, The Wizard of Oz.

Broadway In Chicago is thrilled to announce the upcoming 2014 spring season line-up. Supporting Broadway In Chicago's commitment to Chicagoans seeing shows first, the season features four premieres. Coming to Chicago first is the World Premiere Pre-Broadway production of THE LAST SHIP, the U.S. Tour Premiere of MOTOWN THE MUSICAL and the North American Premiere ofHEARTBEAT OF HOME, as well as the U.S. Tour Premiere of BUYER AND CELLAR as an off-season special. Also included in the season is GHOST THE MUSICAL, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, PETER & THE STARCATCHERand THE WIZARD OF OZ. The 2014 spring off-season includes: ONCE UPON A DREAM STARRING THE RASCALS, THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA, ALTON BROWN LIVE!, CHICAGO, ROCK OF AGES, ERTH'S DINOSAUR ZOO and MAMMA MIA!.

For the first time in over fifty years, Harbinger Records will release 'Ballads for the Age of Science,' the most successful educational recordings of all time, as a six-CD box set. Featuring more than four dozen original songs written by Hy Zaret, co-author of the iconic popular song 'Unchained Melody,' and Lou Singer between 1959 and 1961, the albums introduced scientific concepts and terms using catchy, easy-to-learn lyrics and music to grade school students across America in the early 1960s.

Brad Alexander, David Are, Carner & Gregor, Bobby Cronin, Drew Fornarola, Michael Holland, Rob Rokicki, Georgia Stitt, Katie Thompson, & Michael Patrick Walker star in INSPIRED: A Benefit Concert for the ASPCA of NYC and The Last Resort Rescue of NJ, tonight, September 22nd, 7pm at Stage 72/Triad.

Marking the 75th anniversary of THE WIZARD OF OZ, Warner Bros. has produced a 3D remastered version of the film which will launch a comprehensive, cross-divisional campaign encompassing theatrical, home entertainment, consumer products and a number of promotional partnerships.

Park Square Theatre announces a 2013-2014 Season composed entirely of area, regional and world premieres - opening with David Lindsay-Abaire's dark comedy Good People and closing with the first ever stage depiction of Nero Wolfe, the famously eccentric detective genius created by best-selling author Rex Stout. The talent bringing these stories to life includes bold-faced names and theatre favorites, including the Minnesota stage debut of James Denton of Desperate Housewives fame, the return of Emmy-nominee Linda Kelsey playing Mary Todd Lincoln and the Park Square directing debuts of Joe Chvala and Amy Rummenie.

The Wizard of Oz/adapted by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Jeremy Sams/music by Harold Arlen/additional music by Andrew Lloyd Webber/lyrics by E.Y. Harburg/additional lyrics by Tim Rice/directed by Jeremy Sams/Pantages Theatre/through October 6

Producers Bill Kenwright, The Really Useful Group, David Mirvish, Troika Entertainment, Warner Bros. & The Nederlander Organization have announced that the first North American tour of the new stage adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ will make its L.A. debut at the Hollywood Pantages Theatre for a limited 3 week engagement; today, September 17 - October 6, 2013. Full casting for the tour is now complete.

Sutton Foster may be a Tony-Award winning Broadway Musical Theatre darling, but if her opening-night show this past Wednesday at Café Carlyle (which launched her current three-week run until September 28) is the best she can do, she's far from also being considered a nightclub/cabaret diva.

Continuing its 10th Anniversary Season, Bay Area Cabaret presents Tony Award-nominated Broadway star Norm Lewis. Mr. Lewis comes to the Bay Area for this special one-night-only engagement 5:00pm, Sunday, October 20, at the historic Venetian Room of the Fairmont San Francisco, 950 Mason Street. Tickets ($43-$48) are available at www.bayareacabaret.org or by phone at City Box Office (415) 392-4400.

In his return to The Metropolitan Room, vocalist Ryan Greer leads a remarkably pared-down and smooth combination of his own Ryan Greer Jazz Group with Neil Flink on guitar and Mark Verdino on bass. The intimate set, titled "Whisper Low," is a fresh take on the cool-jazz sound. Reinventing essential standards and post-bop classics from Harold Arlen to Eddie Harris, Duke Ellington to Chick Corea, the evening also features original Ryan Greer Jazz Group compositions. Sunday, September 22, 2013 at 9:30 p.m. Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street. $20 cover, 2-drink minimum. 212.206.0440.

Producers Bill Kenwright, The Really Useful Group, David Mirvish, Troika Entertainment & Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures present the first North American tour of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new stage adaptation of THE WIZARD OF OZ, beginning tonight, September 10, 2013 at The Smith Center in Las Vegas, NV.

An evening with Tony Award-Winner McKechnie performs SAME PLACE, ANOTHER TIME

Encore Performance' When Harry Met The Duke-Rosemary Loar sings the music of Harold Arlen and Duke Ellington will take the stage in an encore performance tonight, September 6 at 7pm at the Metropolitan Room, 34 W. 22nd Street.

NYC & Company, New York City's official marketing, tourism and partnership organization, and The Off-Broadway League today announced Off-Broadway Week two-for-one tickets are on sale for 42 participating shows. Tickets are available today atnycgo.com/offbroadwayweek for Off-Broadway performances from September 23-October 6. Off-Broadway Week offers an intimate setting for guests to enjoy a wide range of theatrical genres, including comedies, dramas, musicals, family-friendly entertainment and more, at an affordable price.

Brad Alexander, David Are, Carner & Gregor, Bobby Cronin, Drew Fornarola, Michael Holland, Rob Rokicki, Georgia Stitt, Katie Thompson, & Michael Patrick Walker star in INSPIRED: A Benefit Concert for the ASPCA of NYC and The Last Resort Rescue of NJ, on Sunday September 22nd, 7pm at Stage 72/Triad.