Ira Gershwin News

'Wow' is all that we could say after watching this thrilling show preview for The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS on Broadway! Check out the footage below of Audra McDonald, Norm Lewis, David Alan Grier & company lighting up the stage in this new production which opens on Thursday, January 12!

We'll have a complete BWW TV preview up later, but we couldn't resist bringing you a sneak peek at a production montage for The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS on Broadway! The show opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starring Audra McDonald as Bess, Norm Lewis as Porgy and David Alan Grier as Sporting Life.

Act II Playhouse presents a special two-week engagement of LET'S PRETEND WE'RE MARRIED, created and performed by Philadelphia comedy masters Tony Braithwaite and Jennifer Childs.

Full casting is confirmed and tickets are now on sale to the general public for the new musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, featuring music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin. Academy Award-winner Estelle Parsons joins previously announced stars two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and three-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara with Tony Award winner Judy Kaye. NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT is directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall and features a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro. The production begins performances on Thursday, March 29, 2012 and will officially open on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street).

The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre starring Audra McDonald as Bess, Norm Lewis as Porgy and David Alan Grier as Sporting Life. Production shots have just been released and below we bring you a first look!

Concert and cabaret artist Anna Bergman returns to Feinstein's at Loews Regency (540 Park Avenue @ 61st Street) on Friday, January 13 and Saturday, January 14 (8:30pm).

92Y's Lyrics & Lyricists just presented MAKIN' WHOOPEE: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn and the Jazz Age. Robert Kimball hosted the evening, which featured Vince Giordano and the Nighthawks, Christine Andreas, Jason Graae, Howard McGillin, and William Bolcom & Joan Morris. BroadwayWorld was there for the concert and brings you photos below!

Merkin Concert Hall's Broadway Close Up series introduces children age 4-11 to classic Broadway shows through mini-musicals, medleys, sing-alongs and games in which children participate.

The new musical comedy NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT, with music and lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin and a book by two-time Tony Award-winner Joe DiPietro (Memphis), will open on Tuesday, April 24 at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street).

92Y's Lyrics & Lyricists will present MAKIN' WHOOPEE: Walter Donaldson, Gus Kahn and the Jazz Age.

Gershwin celebration also features pianist Steward Goodyear performing 'Rhapsody in Blue'.

Created by members of the Gershwin family and their Tony/Grammy Award-winning team, the all-new multimedia symphony show, Here to Stay, features a number of newly arranged charts for orchestra plus rarely seen visual and audio elements from the Gershwin archives.

Casting controversies, the role of reviewers and another Broadway great turning 80 were among the stories that fired up theatre chat boards and fueled cocktail conversations at Sardi's during the past twelve months. Here are ten of the big issues theatre lovers talked about in 2011.

2012 is just around the corner, and there are a plethora of shows in store for this new Broadway season. From brand new musicals to vintage plays and West End transfers to American classics, 2012's upcoming shows should surely lead to a stellar awards season this spring. Check out a preview of all 21 announced productions below!

The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929. In the video below, leading lady Audra McDonald chats about what it's like to take on the iconic character.

As we come to the week before Christmas (do you have YOUR shopping done yet?), I trust you will want to include attending a show (or two?) at one of the various theatre and live performance venues here on the beautiful California Central Coast as part of your holiday plans!

The Gershwins' PORGY AND BESS begins previews tonight and opens on Thursday, January 12th, 2012 at the Richard Rodgers Theatre (226 West 46th Street, between 8th Avenue and Broadway). Tickets are now on sale at Ticketmaster.com or by calling 877-250-2929.

Bay Area Cabaret continues its 2011-2012 season January 15, 2012 with two-time Tony Award winning actress/singer Christine Ebersole.

Lincoln Center's American Songbook Week Two runs January 18-21, 2012 at The Allen Room, at Frederick P. Rose Hall, located at Broadway at 60th Street.

NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT stars two-time Tony Award-winner Matthew Broderick and three-time Tony Award nominee Kelli O'Hara and will be directed and choreographed by three-time Tony Award-winner Kathleen Marshall. The production begins performances on Thursday, March 29, 2012 and will officially open on Tuesday, April 24, 2012 at Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street). Check out a photo preview of the stars of the show, Matthew Broderick and Kelli O'Hara below!