Previous attempts have been made to bring George M. Cohan's life to the stage. None is remembered, however, as much as the 1942 film starring James Cagney. Book writer David Armstrong has constructed a much more realistic account of Yankee Doodle Dandy, tryimg to avoid the traps of Hollywood glamor and tinsel, currently onstage at MTW Long Beach at the Carpenter Center for the Performing Arts through July 22 In spite of the fantastic cast and sturdy direction and scintillating choreography by James Rocco, it turns in a rather weak account of the father of the American musical comedy (1878-1942). Not that you shouldn't see it; go for the cast and the sheer entertainment value of the music alone that set the scene for Rodgers nd Hammerstein and others to follow.
The Will Rogers Motion Picture Pioneers Foundation (WRMPPF), the operating organization for the Will Rogers Institute, announced today that actress Denise Richards has joined their longtime summer theatrical PSA campaign. The fundraising campaign, which plays in movie theaters nationwide, is a time-honored tradition that began in 1936 and featured James Cagney, Humphrey Bogart, and Bette Davis in the first public service announcement.
The Salzburg Festival comes to Los Angeles for a screening of festival founder Max Reinhardt's 1935 film A Midsummer Night's Dream. Presented as part of the 2018 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, the program includes a pre-film panel discussion featuring Dr. Helga Rabl-Stadler, President of the Salzburg Festival. The discussion and screening will take place on Thursday, April 26 at the Landmark Regent in Los Angeles's Westwood neighborhood, beginning at 7:00 p.m.
Now onstage at Brentwood's Towne Centre Theatre, Ludwig's Shakespeare in Hollywood (not to be confused with the musical Shakespeare in Love, which is based on an Oscar-winning film) once again takes audiences to 1934 to tell the story of the mirthful hijinks surrounding Austrian stage director Max Reinhardt's efforts to film an adaptation of his Hollywood Bowl production of Shakespeare's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Reinhardt's film treatment of the work is, perhaps, more critically acclaimed now than when it was first released back during the heady days of Hollywood's golden era and the director has been lauded with praise for his one and only film that starred several silver screen legends in roles that went creatively against type, presenting the actors with tremendous challenges.
Warner Bros. Studio Tour Hollywood (WBSTH) announced a new addition to the Studio Tour in celebration of Warner Bros.' 95th Anniversary. Beginning May 4, 2018, the Classics Made Here tour and exhibit will take guests back to Hollywood's Golden Age with a tour focused on award-winning titles that have shot on the iconic Warner Bros. Studios backlot throughout the ages. Each tour is led by a specially trained guide, whose passion for TV and filmmaking includes extensive knowledge of Warner Bros.' classic library titles ranging from Casablanca, My Fair Lady, Rebel Without a Cause and TV shows such as Maverick, The Waltons and Batman plus many more. The two-hour intimate tour concludes at Stage 48: Script to Screen, where guests enjoy exclusive access to never-before-seen costumes and props from some of their favorite movies in the Classics Made Here exhibit.
The SAG-AFTRA National Board of Directors overwhelmingly approved a Code of Conduct on Sexual Harassment as part of a broader program to combat sexual harassment and achieve workplace equity.
Feinstein's/54 Below, presents a return engagement of Broadway quadruple threat and Bistro Award winner, Robert Creighton, recently seen as the title character in the hit off-Broadway musical CAGNEY at the Westside Theatre.
Feinstein's/54 Below, presents a return engagement of Broadway quadruple threat and Bistro Award winner, Robert Creighton, recently seen as the title character in the hit off-Broadway musical CAGNEY at the Westside Theatre.
Friars have socialized and been entertained by every major Broadway and Great American Songbook composer starting with Friar George M. Cohan, who in addition to writing over 50 Broadway shows and 300 songs happened to pen Over There at a table during lunch at the Friars Club. Last night continuing this tradition, and in the same building that Friar Irving Berlin, Sammy Cahn and countless luminaries have performed, musical theatre legends Richard Maltby Jr. and David Shire entertained The Friars with a major dose of Maltby & Shire music.
The historic Drexel Theatre launched America's Greatest Films in 2017 as a thank you to the community for its support during the 2016 renovation of the theatre.
It's quite rare and a sheer delight when an original bio hits the mark bigtime onstage. There have been many shows over the years about iconic stars like Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Charlie Chaplin, John Barrymore among others. but only Barrymore stands apart as memorable. CAGNEY currently playing the El Portal through October 29 goes a giant step beyond; not only is it a genuinely intelligent biography, but also has great drama, romance and musical entertainment for one and all. Opening off-Broadway in 2016, the show was nominated for several Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards, and witnessing the terrifically dynamic ensemble of six actors headed by Robert Creighton as James Cagney, it's easy to see why. Creighton not only looks like Cagney, but possesses a similar Irish personality and tough yet tender charm that made the original talent such an icon. The other five actors surrounding him Danette Holden, Josh Walden, Jeremy Benton, Ellen Z. Wright and Bruce Sabath are triple threat performers who brilliantly play a myriad of characters each.
In honor of Hollywood's 'tough guy in tap shoes' James Cagney, who would have turned 118 today, producer Riki Kane Larimer (On The Town, Gigi, West End's Memphis) announced the West Coast Premiere of the hit musical CAGNEY.
The hit musical CAGNEY, direct from the Off-Broadway boards, will tap their tapping feets at the El Portal Theatre beginning October 5, 2017. This story of Hollywood legend James Cagney receives its complementary accentuations and punctuations from the double pullbacks, the shuffle ball changes and switching wings of award-winning choreographer Joshua Bergasse. Josh took a break from his time-stepping to answer our digging (another tap term) questions.
In honor of Hollywood's 'tough guy in tap shoes' James Cagney, who would have turned 118 today, producer Riki Kane Larimer (On The Town, Gigi, West End's Memphis) announced the West Coast Premiere of the hit musical CAGNEY.
From Prohibition and the Jazz Age to the moon landing and the birth of rock and roll, many of the greatest, most significant events of the 20th century have only been experienced in the black and white footage available at the time.
From Prohibition and the Jazz Age to the moon landing and the birth of rock and roll, many of the greatest, most significant events of the 20th century have only been experienced in the black and white footage available at the time.
CAGNEY The Musical has played to sold out audiences for 473 performances at the West Side Theatre in New York City. The big question posed to enterprising producer Riki Kane Larimer at the closing night celebration was 'where will Broadway's Robert Creighton, (in the role he was born to play) and cast be bringing the story of James Cagney to next?'
An Evening With… are three of the most powerful words in the entertainment world and they are so often posted and signify an event that can only happen at the Friars Club. In the early days of the club it was an evening with James Cagney, George M. Cohan and other show business greats. Then came evenings with Milton Berle, Frank Sinatra, and many other legends.
There was only high comedy and some serious wine from one of the highest mountains in Greece at the Friars Club last night as Laura Slutsky hosted 'Whine Women & Wine'.
