Jerry Herman News

Broadway's original 'Annie', the Tony nominated Andrea McArdle, is on the boards at The Media Theatre this spring in the classic Jerry Herman musical 'Mame' April 17-May 19. The show focuses on Auntie Mame, the eccentric socialite who finds out she must care for her young nephew, forever changing her-and his-outlook on life. Songs include 'Open A New Window', 'Bosom Buddies', and 'We Need A Little Christmas'. Comedienne Lea DeLaria portays Mame's best pal Vera in Director Jesse Cline's revival of the hit.

'On the razzle' is a British expression meaning a night on the town involving alcohol consumption and raucous fun. NTC's production of 'On the Razzle,' by Tom Stoppard, opens on the Newnan Theatre Company Main Stage on May 9. Audiences won't need adult beverages to have a rollicking good time.

Since it's founding in 1992, Georgia Ensemble Theatre has generally produced a small musical each year, but in its 20th season, G.E.T. is presenting one of the grandest shows in Broadway history, 'Hello Dolly!' Their production is directed by Suzi Award winner Heidi Cline McKerley (Horizon Theatre's 'Avenue Q') and choreographed by her husband Jeff (who also stars as Cornelius), who won two Suzis; Best Actor and Best Choreography for the New American Shakespeare Tavern's 'Cabaret.' Music direction is by Bill Newberry. The show opens April 11th and runs through April 28th.

The stars came out last night when Lee Roy Reams made his 54 Below debut in 'Song & Dance Man.' After the show, Reams was joined backstage by friends and colleagues including Leslie Uggams, Len Cariou, Dana Ivey, Penny Fuller, Tony Sheldon, Nick Adams, Marilyn Maye, Anita Gillette, and Etan Aronson. Check out photos below!

Amas Musical Theatre's (Donna Trinkoff, Producing Artistic Director) Rosetta LeNoire Musical Theatre Company will present the Tony Award winning musical Hello Dolly, featuring the Teen Academy, directed by Christopher Scott, choreography by Monica Johnson and musical direction by Sam Wilmott. Performances for Hello Dolly will begin on Friday, May 3 and run through May 12, 2013 at The LABA Theatre at the 14th Street Y (344 East 14th Street). Tickets are $16/ Children & $20/ Adults and can be purchased by calling Ovation Tix at 212 352 3101 or by visiting https://web.ovationtix.com/trs/pe/9769498.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the cast for the Stephen Sondheim celebration, Side By Side By Sondheim, which will run May 23 through August 18 at the CLO Cabaret.

Ford's Theatre and Signature Theatre have come together for a roof-raising revival of what might be the feel good musical of the year: their joint production of HELLO, DOLLY! Washington audiences should not miss this gorgeous looking show fabulously lead by Broadway veteran Nancy Opel as Dolly Levi. This is musical theatre heaven!

As an undergraduate theater major in the early 1970s, I heard music everywhere. It seemed to pour out of every office and workspace around the department. (And in the LP era, if you wanted more than the radio, this meant schlepping a twenty pound record player and a dozen or so albums from your home to the campus, sometimes requiring back-and-forth trips from the car. If you go to that much trouble, you want to keep the music playing.) In the hushed costume shop with its quietly industrious all female staff, Broadway ruled, with Stephen Sondheim's recent Company and Follies in heavy rotation. It was 'men only' in the scene shop where I listened to male balladeers like James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot while unhappily working off assigned crew hours. Jazz classes (my favorites) in the dance department were conducted to the pre-disco sounds of Isaac Hayes and the Temptations. And late night cast parties were never complete without spins of Bette Midler's first two albums.

Gulfshore Playhouse ends their seventh season with the musical play Master Class, in partnership with the Philharmonic Center for the Arts, playing April 5 through 21, with a preview performance April 4.

NEW DRAMATISTS, Tony Honor recipient and the nation's premiere playwright development workshop, has announced that they will honor entertainment lawyer and New Dramatists Chairman of the Board Seth Gelblum with their 2013 Lifetime Achievement Award at its 64th Annual Spring Luncheon tribute, to be held Tuesday, May 21 at the New York Marriott Marquis. Among those performing tributes will be Tony Award nominee Keith Carradine (Hands on a Hardbody, The Will Rogers Follies) and Tony Award winner Tonya Pinkins (Caroline, or Change; Jelly's Last Jam). The event co-chairs are Roger Berlind, Roy Furman, and Barry and Fran Weissler.

The game is afoot once again at The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre in Frederick, Maryland as the theatre prepares to host its latest interactive murder mystery event, The First Widows Club, on Friday April 26th and Saturday, April 27th. The First Widows Club will be the newest in a growing list of crime capers from Way Off Broadway and Justin M. Kiska, the creator of WOB's Marquee Mystery series.

Lakewood Theatre Company will begin its 61st season with six productions on its Mainstage and three productions on its Side Door stage beginning July 12, 2013.

The Nederlander Organization and Pantages Theatre, Hollywood are proud to announce that the 2nd Annual JERRY HERMAN AWARDS, a celebration in the achievement and excellence in high school musical theatre in Los Angeles will be hosted at the Pantages Theatre on Sunday May 19, 2013 at 7pm. Single tickets for this awards celebration are now on sale to the general public.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), North Fulton's only professional theatre company, will close its 2012-2013 20th anniversary season-long celebration with the classic Broadway musical, Hello, Dolly! by Jerry Herman and Michael Stewart, directed by Heidi Cline McKerley running April 11-28, 2013, at the Theatre's home, the Roswell Cultural Arts Center, 950 Forrest Street, Roswell, GA. This production is generously sponsored by the Kimberly-Clark Corporation.

The Los Angeles based Festival of New American Musicals was formed specifically to cultivate new American musicals and nurture America's musical youth. SHOWSEARCH, the Festival's nation-wide search for the best ten minute musical written by 16-to-25-year-olds crowned its winners March 23rd in Los Angeles at the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, in cooperation with the LAUSD. Check out the video below!

The Los Angeles based Festival of New American Musicals was formed specifically to cultivate new American musicals and nurture America's musical youth. SHOWSEARCH, the Festival's nation-wide search for the best ten minute musical written by 16-to-25-year-olds crowned its winners March 23rd in Los Angeles at the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts, in cooperation with the LAUSD. Check out the photos below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, will present stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launches its new series of late night events this March. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher will be the "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more.

A human ball of silver glitter hanging from a cord is lowered above what looks like a bungalow-sized muffin top.  (It's supposed to represent a turtle shell.)  Before the glitter ball makes its landing the cover is removed to reveal what looks like a tribe of humanish amphibians bouncing on trampolines and twirling on the muffin/turtle's frame.  Shortly after, a sleazy-looking clown in a tropical shirt tosses a condom to a woman in the front row and says, 'Call me!'  Yes, dear readers, Cirque du Soleil is back in town.

Bucks County Playhouse (BCP) (Jed Bernstein, Producing Director) has announced that single tickets are now on sale for the 2013 Playhouse Productions summer season. The world premiere of a new play by four time Tony Award -winning playwright Terrence McNally has been added to the list of previously announced shows. It will star Tony and Emmy Award- winner Tyne Daly. The balance of the season is made up of acclaimed musicals and plays and a production specifically for families. The summer season kicks off on Thursday, May 23rd at the Bucks County Playhouse (70 South Main Street, New Hope, PA).

She'll be glowin', crowin', goin' strong - cabaret diva Klea Blackhurst is sure to delight Goodspeed audiences as Dolly Levi at the Goodspeed Opera House this summer. Goodspeed Musicals is thrilled to announce that this spirited vocal powerhouse will be right where she belongs beginning June 28th.