Jerry Herman News

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the first show of their 2015-2016 season, FIRST DATE, music & lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg, musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by Lee Martino and directed by Nick DeGruccio. FIRST DATE will preview on Friday, September 18, 2015 (with a press opening tonight, September 19) and run through Sunday, October 11, 2015 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, 14900 La Mirada Blvd in La Mirada.

In 1964, HELLO DOLLY opened on Broadway, starring a relatively unknown, 43-year-old Carol Channing as the lead. Reviving the show in 1978, 1981, and 1995, Channing's personality is almost synonymous with the title character. With the demanding role requiring someone with a true star quality, many celebrities have tackled the bold character (including Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey, Phyllis Diller, Ethel Merman…and, of course, Barbara Streisand). It is no surprise that Arlington Player's has gambled on a local small-town-star as the headliner in their current production.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the first show of their 2015-2016 season, FIRST DATE, music & lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg, musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by Lee Martino and directed by Nick DeGruccio.

Today we take a look back at the incredible career of stage and screen star Christine Baranski; from Broadway shows like THE REAL THING, RUMORS, BOEING-BOEING, to films THE BIRDCAGE, CHICAGO, MAMMA MIA, and the upcoming INTO THE WOODS, to TV shows CYBILL, THE BIG BANG THEORY, and THE GOOD WIFE, for which she was nominated this year.

What qualities define a leading man? Charisma, soul-searching masculinity, and a deep, lustrous voice--once upon a time, we had entertainers who possessed them all. With his Cafe Carlyle debut show that opened last night, Plays With Music--following his Tony-Award winning Broadway performances, 12 years on the road in concert, a couple of recent, all too brief New York theatrical turns, and television work--Brian Stokes Mitchell proves that few such leading men exist. Soon it may be like finding unicorns.

3Girls Theatre Company takes pleasure in announcing the world premiere of an original musical comedy: MOMENTS OF TRUTH, by 3GT resident playwright Patricia Milton (book) and Caroline Altman (music & lyrics). This world premiere production is directed by Louis Parnell, with music direction by Scrumbly Koldewyn, and runs tonight, Sept. 16 - Oct. 18, 2015 at Royce Gallery in San Francisco.

Cabaret 313 will open its third season this September, bringing extraordinary award-winning talents to Detroit -including two-time Tony Award nominee Christine Andreas for two performances- for an intimate evening of songs.

On Friday, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

Celebrity Series of Boston has announced that Broadway star Kelli O'Hara will be added to the 2015-2016 season in An Evening With Kelli O'Hara on Sunday, February 28, 2016 at 7pm at Sanders Theatre, Memorial Hall, Harvard University, 45 Quincy Street, Cambridge.

Some shows I can see again and again, especially those composed by the forever upbeat Jerry Herman. Hello Dolly bowed on Broadway when I was a teenager in the 60s and it had a long run with original star Carol Channing, followed by turns with Ethel Merman, Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey, Martha Raye and Molly Picon, to name a few. Every major star wanted to do it because the role offers a female actress the chance to sing, dance and act the hell out of it. It's a big, splashy gut buster about a woman who has more moxy than the Pied Piper and enough wisdom and panache to win over an army or a whole kingdom, for that matter...and, for the audience, it's one of those extra-special feel-good musicals that just doesn't quit... for a moment. You leave the theatre actually humming the tunes.Welk Resort's current production of Dolly! in Escondido through November 15 is right on target...it's wondrously delectable.

Theatre Arlington's 43rd anniversary season promises to be Bigger, Better & Brighter. It is hard to believe that in its 42+ year history, TA has never produced this delightful masterpiece of musical theatre. Join Dolly in her pursuit of Horace and enjoy some of the best songs in the history of musical theatre, including: It Only Takes a Moment, Ribbons Down My Back, Elegance, Before the Parade Passes By and of course, HELLO, DOLLY! BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!

TELLY LEUNG - star of this season's new Broadway musical Allegiance opposite George Takei and Lea Salonga - will celebrate his new solo CD Songs for You at JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Monday, November 23 at 7:00 PM.  

Tweiss Productions and Nicholas James Opalenik/Event Horizon Productions will present a helluva show in Times Square this October, the original musical Hell's Belles, with book and lyrics by Bryan D. Leys and music by Steve Liebman. Hell's Belles will begin performances at The Elektra Theatre at The Times Square Arts Center (300 West 43rd Street) on October 3, opening October 24 for a limited run through December 27, 2015. The show features direction by John Znidarsic, music direction by Mary Feinsinger, and musical staging by Eugenio Contenti. Tickets are $39, $69, $99 and can be purchased by visiting HellsBellesTheMusical.com or by calling 866.811.4111. Cast to be announced soon.

NJTV, New Jersey's public television network, and the New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) announced a talent-rich line-up for season three of the award-winning American Songbook at NJPAC series.

The Drama League, embarking on a landmark year of celebration commemorating its 100 years of service to the American theater, will honor Golden Globe and three-time Tony Award winner and musical theater icon Bernadette Peters as their Centennial Honoree.  The Drama League Centennial Gala is set for Monday evening, November 2, 2015 at The Plaza (768 Fifth Avenue) in New York City.

Continuing its 21st anniversary year, Jermyn Street Theatre today announces an autumn season of American work.

A venue known for recognizing Broadway's exciting present teams with an artist known for honoring its glorious past.

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts and McCoy Rigby Entertainment announce the first show of their 2015-2016 season, FIRST DATE, music & lyrics by Alan Zachary and Michael Weiner, book by Austin Winsberg, musical direction by Brent Crayon, choreography by Lee Martino and directed by Nick DeGruccio.

Music Mountain, America's Oldest Continuing Summer Chamber Music Festival, continues its 86th Anniversary season with three returning favorites! The weekend begins with No Tune Like A Show Tune: The Best of Broadway, Michael Berkeley's toe-tapping musical revue, tonight, August 29 (6:30pm) plus pre-concert dinner (5pm)! The music continues tomorrow, August 30 (3PM) with the outstanding Dover String Quartet with guest artist Alexander Fiterstein, clarinet, performing a program featuring Dutilleux, Dvorak, and Mozart. The summer still simmers with many more concerts scheduled thru September 27!

Theatre Arlington's 43rd anniversary season promises to be Bigger, Better & Brighter. It is hard to believe that in its 42+ year history, TA has never produced this delightful masterpiece of musical theatre. Join Dolly in her pursuit of Horace and enjoy some of the best songs in the history of musical theatre, including: It Only Takes a Moment, Ribbons Down My Back, Elegance, Before the Parade Passes By and of course, HELLO, DOLLY! BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the cast in costume below!