Jerry Herman News

Actress/singer Rita McKenzie accomplishes something quite rare: she channels the charisma and voice of Broadway legend Ethel Merman. This is more than just capturing the essence of a character; in McKenzie's case, it is really becoming that person. She looks like Merman, sounds like her, sings like her and has all the body movements down pat. In this latest version of Ethel Merman's Broadway, that she has been doing for some 20 years, there are some delightful additions, including a 7 piece onstage orchestra, a huge video screen and several colorful costume changes. There's also more dialogue about the 4 marriages, Merman's daughter, who died under questionable circumstances, and a more casual and realistic look at the woman, whom many feared and despised, as well as adored. Dynamic McKenzie lets it all hang out and makes us feel like we are in the presence of a star and a lady.

Jeffrey Tambor has withdrawn from the Tony Award-winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, following the Thursday, February 24 performance. Tambor started performances on Tuesday, February 15 in the role of Georges, opposite four-time Tony Award winner Harvey Fierstein as Albin.

Andrea McArdle and daughter Alexis Kalehoff are set to costar as a mother and daughter in TheatreWorks' BLOOD BROTHERS in Naples, Florida. Performances run March 10 through March 20.

On January 16, 1964 theatergoers at the St. James Theatre first experienced what was to become perhaps the most memorable scene in musical comedy, when the curtains part atop the stairs of the Harmonia Gardens Restaurant and Dolly Levi appears in her red Freddy Wittop gown to begin her descent to 'rejoin the human race.' Forty-seven years (not to mention over 5,000 performances) later and 3,000 miles away, patrons of the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles were able to revisit a little bit of theatrical history as Jerry Herman's first Dolly, Ms. Carol Channing, again entered through parting red curtains and took the stage wearing her original 1964 gown in celebration of her 90th birthday.

Bella Vita Entertainment, with Anthony Gruppuso, Calvin Remsberg, and Tricia Stabile announces the Los Angeles premiere of Glory Days. Glory Days has music and lyrics by Nick Blaemire and book by James Gardiner, and will be directed by Calvin Remsberg. Glory Days will preview at 8 pm on Thursday, March 17 and Friday, March 18 with opening night at 8:00 pm on Saturday, March 19 and run through April 24 (Thursday through Sunday) at the Lillian Theatre.

The music of Rodgers and Hammerstein returns to The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre with its spring production of the classic South Pacific.

American Stage Theatre Company's Susan R. Hough Cabaret, "After Hours" series and Hot Off the Press play reading series in the Raymond James Theatre continue with eight productions in March, STILL HOT FOR PEGGY LEE; ME, MYSELF AND I…MUSICAL MEMOIRS; 321; I AM A CUBAN SANDWICH; PRIVATE PROCEEDING; PATRICK MCINNIS COMEDY HYPNOSIS EXPERIENCE; ARETHA FRANKLIN BIRTHDAY BASH and THE VAGINA MONOLOGUES.

The Spellbound Development Company, Kathryn Appleton and Gatewave, Inc. present a one-night-only benefit reading of Jennifer Strome's new play THE IDEALIST to benefit the Anne Frank Foundation in Basel, Switzerland and its mission to support education against intolerance, on Wednesday, February 23 at 8pm at The Times Center (242 West 41st Street) in Manhattan.

Actress/singer Rita McKenzie accomplishes something quite rare: she channels the charisma and voice of Broadway legend Ethel Merman. This is more than just capturing the essence of a character; in McKenzie's case, it is really becoming that person. She looks like Merman, sounds like her, sings like her and has all the body movements down pat. In this latest version of Ethel Merman's Broadway, that she has been doing for some 20 years, there are some delightful additions, including a 7 piece onstage orchestra, a huge video screen and several colorful costume changes. There's also more dialogue about the 4 marriages, Merman's daughter, who died under questionable circumstances, and a more casual and realistic look at the woman, whom many feared and despised, as well as adored. Dynamic McKenzie lets it all hang out and makes us feel like we are in the presence of a star and a lady.

Greg MacKellan and Stephanie Rhoads, producing artistic directors of 42nd Street Moon, today announced details of the upcoming 2011-12 season of uncommon musical theater. For its nineteenth season, the company takes its audience on the journey of a lifetime, with the Eureka Theatre serving as a portal to eras and locations that are exotic, glamorous and exciting.

The age-old 'Battle of the Sexes' comes to Coral Gables this February with two comedies by the University of Miami Jerry Herman Ring Theatre. Running in alternating performances from February 16 - 27, 2011, Lysistrata and Big Love are two boisterous comedies inspired by classic Greek theatre but spiced with enough contemporary flavors to tickle the taste buds of any audience.

William Atherton, Matt Cavenaugh, Lisa O'Hare, Carol Lawrence, Millicent Martin and Jason Graae are the acclaimed film, Broadway and West End stars who will lead the cast of Reprise Theatre Company's second production of the 2010-2011 season, 'Gigi', playing February 15 to February 27, 2011 (press opening February 16, 2011) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The musical - with book and lyrics by Alan Jay Lerner and music by Frederick Loewe -- will be directed by veteran musical theatre director David Lee, with choreography by Peggy Hickey and musical direction by Steve Orich.

Harvey Fierstein, Jeffrey Tambor, Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Micheal McShane join the cast of the Tony Award-winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. The production continues to play the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).

Harvey Fierstein, Jeffrey Tambor, Wilson Jermaine Heredia and Micheal McShane join the cast of the Tony Award-winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on Tuesday, February 15, 2011. The production continues to play the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Click below to check out the new commercial, which features Harvey Fierstein!

Four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein and six-time Emmy Award nominee Jeffrey Tambor are the new stars of the Tony Award-winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES. Tambor and Fierstein begin performances tomorrow night at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street).

Current stars five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer, 2010 Tony Award winner Douglas Hodge and 2010 Tony Award nominee Robin De Jesús played their final performances on Sunday, February 13 and BroadwayWorld.com was there to catch their final farewell.

On Tuesday, February 15, four-time Tony Award-winner Harvey Fierstein and six-time Emmy Award nominee Jeffrey Tambor will join the company of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on Broadway as Albin and Georges, along with Wilson Jermaine Heredia who will join the show as Jacob. In this fun video, Douglas Hodge officially passes on the role to Harvey Fierstein!

From the Cast of ANYTHING GOES and SPIDER-MAN, to the Ladies of THE VIEW, Raul Esparza, Barbra Streisand, Alan Menken, Bernadette Peters, Susan Boyle, Kelsey Grammer, GLEE and everyone in between...it's the BroadwayWorld.com 2011 Valentine's Day Special! Its Biggest Ever!

Tony award winner Douglas Hodge and Kelsey Grammer will end their run as Albin and Georges in the Tony Award-winning revival of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES at the Longacre Theatre on Sunday, February 13.

The Spellbound Development Company, Kathryn Appleton and Gatewave, Inc. present a one-night-only benefit reading of Jennifer Strome's new play THE IDEALIST to benefit the Anne Frank Foundation in Basel, Switzerland and its mission to support education against intolerance, on Wednesday, February 23 at 8pm at The Times Center (242 West 41st Street) in Manhattan.