Jerome Kern News

The Omaha Community Playhouse recently cast the 1930s and 40s musical All Night Strut! A Jumpin' Jivin' Jam opening March 1, 2013 in the Hawks Mainstage, directed by Susan Baer Collins.

Happy Birthday, Ira Gershwin! A lyricist, Gershwin collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. With George he wrote more than a dozen Broadway shows, featuring songs such as 'I Got Rhythm', 'Embraceable You', 'The Man I Love' and 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. He was also responsible, along with DuBose Heyward, for the libretto to George's opera Porgy and Bess. The success the brothers had with their collaborative works has often overshadowed the creative role that Ira played. However, his mastery of songwriting continued after the early death of George. He wrote additional hit songs with composers Jerome Kern ('Long Ago (and Far Away)'), Kurt Weill and Harold Arlen.

Feinstein's (540 Park Avenue, 61 Street) has announced the swift return to New York of London's fast- rising West End and cabaret singer Joanna Strand, in "Fly Transatlantic". This is her beautifully crafted musical journey through songs with roots both sides of the Atlantic. The performance is tonight, 5 December at 10.30p.m.

One of the most dazzling and beloved singers on the worldwide cabaret and concert scene today, Sarah brings her acclaimed, award winning show SCREEN GEMS, The Songs of Old Hollywood, to the NY Sheet Music Society in a special performance on December 8th, 2012.

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose...you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.'

As Sir Robin carols merrily to King Arthur in Monty Python's Spamalot, 'In any great adventure, if you don't want to lose…you won't succeed on Broadway if you don't have any Jews.' Eric Idle's cheeky lyric, which unfailingly generated knowing guffaws from Broadway audiences, proves to be more than a little grounded in truth, as BROADWAY MUSICALS: A JEWISH LEGACY convincingly attests.

If the world were a little more just and the general public's taste for musical theatre a lot more cerebral, news of a new Michael John LaChiusa musical would cause the same kind of box office frenzy that in the 1940s and 50s greeted announcements of Rodgers and Hammerstein's latest.  Or at least match the high expectations these days whenever another Stephen Sondheim revival is mounted.

Neile Adams show Wasn't It Good! Wasn't It Fine! at Tom Rolla's Gardenia in West Hollywood was nothing short of 'AMAZING'. The choice of her material was absolutely delicious, as you will soon find out.

Swift Creek Mill Theatre presents I LOVE A PIANO, The Music and Lyrics of Rivin Berlin. The show opened on November 15 and continues through December 29, 2012. Get a first look at the production in the photos below!

Opera Ebony, America's longest running African American Opera Company, kicks off its 40th Anniversary Season with a musical montage of Sass' N Class tonight, November 16, 2012 at 7PM, at Aaron Davis Hall, City College of New York (Convent Avenue and West 135th Street on City College campus) New York, NY 10031. Tickets are $25 (general admission); $15 (student tickets).

New York City Center celebrated the 20th Anniversary of its Tony Award-winning Encores! series on November 12 with a Gala Benefit starring Raul Esparza and Kelli O'Hara, and featuring performers who have starred in Encores!productions over the past two decades. The evening raised $1.6 million to help fund City Center's artistic and education programs. Check out photos from the event below!

With rave reviews for Puccini's La boheme and Rossini's Italian Girl in Algiers to its credit, Houston Grand Opera's season is up and running. Starting in January, the company offers productions of Mozart's Don Giovanni and Kern and Hammerstein's classic American musical Show Boat, which bring with them the company debuts of conductor Trevor Pinnock, bass Morris Robinson, baritone Adrian Erod, Broadway legend Tommy Tune, and more. They will be followed in March by HGO's original and highly acclaimed production of Cruzar la Cara de la Luna / To Cross the Face of the Moon, a mariachi opera by Jose "Pepe" Martinez and Leonard Foglia. Tickets are on sale now and moving quickly for this winter repertory period, which accounts for 14 of the season's 44 performances, a 38 percent increase from an average of 32 performances in recent seasons. This increase, as well as HGO's 34 percent growth in subscription sales and more than $112 million fundraising effort over the last five years, clearly identifies HGO as today's most successful American opera company.

New York City Center will celebrate the 20th Anniversary of its Tony Award-winning Encores! series tonight, November 12 with a Gala Benefit starring Raul Esparza and Kelli O'Hara, and featuring performers who have starred in Encores! productions over the past two decades.

The Gardenia will present Broadway, television and film actress and singer, Neile Adams in "Wasn't It Good! Wasn't It Fine!," a musical celebration of her memories and the stages of her life. The 60-minute show will be presented at The Gardenia, 7066 Santa Monica Boulevard (East of La Brea Avenue), West Hollywood, Calif., on Fridays and Saturdays, tonight, November 9 and November 10, 16 and 17, 2012 at 9:00 p.m.

Feinstein's (540 Park Avenue, 61 Street) has announced the swift return to New York of London's fast- rising West End and cabaret singer Joanna Strand, in "Fly Transatlantic". This is her beautifully crafted musical journey through songs with roots both sides of the Atlantic. The performance is Wednesday 5 December at 10.30p.m.

Profiles in History, run by Joe Maddalena, is proud to announce that the personal correspondence from some of the most beloved, popular and genius musicians the world has ever known will be included in their December 18 auction, The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector. Part I of The Property of a Distinguished American Private Collector will take place in Los Angeles and include 300 of the most important manuscripts, notes and letters of the collection.

Kennedy Center Honoree Barbara Cook takes to the Joseph Meyerhoff Symphony Hall stage with a performance showcasing her silvery soprano voice tonight, November 3 at 8pm. In her first performance ever at the Meyerhoff, Ms. Cook will celebrate her 85th birthday through inspiring performances from jazz, swing and pop songs. Note: The BSO does not perform on this program. Please see below for complete program details.

Joanna Strand will make her New York cabaret debut at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street - between 5th & 6th Avenues) in "Fly Transatlantic," described as 'an epic, yet beautifully contemplative, journey of musical discovery.' Performances tonight, October 28 and Monday, October 29 at 9:30 p.m.

Opera Ebony, America's longest running African American Opera Company, kicks off its 40th Anniversary Season with a musical montage of Sass' N Class on Friday, November 16, 2012 at 7PM, at Aaron Davis Hall, City College of New York (Convent Avenue and West 135th Street on City College campus) New York, NY 10031. Tickets are $25 (general admission); $15 (student tickets).

Singer-songwriter, instrumentalist, and composer Gabriel Kahane performs the world premiere of his composition The Fiction Issue, commissioned by Carnegie Hall, tonight, October 25 at 7:30 p.m. in Zankel Hall on a program entitled Don't Even Listen.