Jerry Herman News

Reprise Theatre Company presents two one-night only special events: An Evening with Sutton Foster for one performance only on Monday, October 4, 2010 at 8:00 pm, and Betty Buckley in Concert with Seth Rudetsky on Monday, February 21,2011 at 8:00pm. Both events will be presented at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. An Evening with Sutton Foster Betty Buckley in Concert with Seth Rudetsky are the latest in Reprise Theatre Company's tradition of presenting Broadway stars in concert, which have included Patti LuPone, Carol Burnett, Ben Vereen, Kristin Chenoweth, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Musical Theatre West presents Ben franklin in Paris as a part of its Reiner Reading Series on August 15. The production will include direction by Todd Nielsen and musical direction by Daniel Thomas.

The wonderful musical comedy, Hello, Dolly! opens Wednesday, August 18 at Berwick's Hackmatack Playhouse. Hello, Dolly! features music by Jerry Herman, based on Thornton Wilder's 1938 farce The Merchant of Yonkers, which Wilder revised and re-titled The Matchmaker in 1955. Hello, Dolly! was first produced on Broadway by David Merrick in 1964, winning 10 Tony Awards including Best Musical. It is considered one of the most enduring musicals having three Broadway revivals and success all over the world.

Opening in less than two weeks at Starlight Musical Theatre's stage is Hello, Dolly!, the classic Broadway musical tale of Dolly Levi and her mischievous matchmaking ways. For Starlight's 3rd and final summertime show, Starlight has brought aboard a fantastic cast and creative team to ensure the season ends with a resounding 'bang'.

PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record the New Broadway Cast Recording for the 2010 Tony Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on August 5 and 6 for a September 28 release.

Douglas Hodge, who won a 2010 Tony Award for his critically acclaimed performance as Albin in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, will extend his run for an additional six months in the smash hit Tony Award-winning revival at the Longacre Theatre (220 West 48th Street). Hodge and five-time Emmy Award-winner Kelsey Grammer will keep their love alive as Albin and Georges in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES until February 13, 2011, when both actors will depart the production.

Way_Off_Broadway_Theatre_Presents_DIRTY_ROTTON_SCOUNDRELS_Sept_10_Nov_7_20010101 The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre will once again bring an area premiere production to the Frederick-area stage. Having been the first to bring shows such as Jerry Herman's La Cage aux Folles, Neil Simon's The Goodbye Girl - The Musical, Mel Brooks' The Producers, as well as a regional theatre premiere production of The Wedding Singer to western Maryland audiences, Way Off Broadway is adding the musical comedy Dirty Rotten Scoundrels to the list of firsts. The outrageously funny musical opens September 10th and will run through November 7th.

Light Opera Works' 2010 season continues in the fall with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's, I DO! I DO! (October 3-November 14) on the Second Stage, and Jerry Herman's HELLO, DOLLY! (December 26-January 2) on the mainstage.

One of Orange County's newest theater companies, 3D Theatricals, will present HELLO, DOLLY! from July 9 through August 1 at the O.C. Pavilion Theatre in the Arts District of downtown Santa Ana. The hit stage and screen musical marks 3D Theatrical's fourth production for 2010. Starring in the iconic role of Dolly Levi will be Broadway vet (and L.A.-area stage favorite) Ruth Williamson (Guys and Dolls).

North Coast Repertory Theatre is proud to present The San Diego Premiere of a two-time Tony Award winning musical. The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. Music and lyrics by William Finn, book by Rachel Sheinkin, conceived by Rebecca Feldman, directed by Rick Simas

Some of the most anticipated events at the Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre and Children's Theatre are part of its family breakfast series that all began with the wildly popular Breakfast with Santa (and Mrs. Claus).

Two legendary ladies of stage and screen are headed to Laguna Beach this September for exclusive limited engagements at The Laguna Playhouse. First to arrive is ETHEL MERMAN'S BROADWAY September 8 - 19. Then it's time for Cloris Leachman in CLORIS: A ONE WOMAN SHOW September 23 - 27.

PS CLASSICS, the label dedicated to the heritage of Broadway and American popular song, will record the New Broadway Cast Recording for the 2010 Tony Award-winning production of LA CAGE AUX FOLLES on August 5 and 6 for a late September release. LA CAGE AUX FOLLES is playing at the Longacre Theatre, 220 West 48th Street, between Broadway and Eighth Avenue.

David Elzer, Peter Schneider and Crooning Crabcakes, LLC are thrilled to announce that their LADCC (Best Production, Best Ensemble, Best Musical Direction), LA WEEKLY (Best Musical) and BACKSTAGE GARLAND (Best Production, Best Ensemble, Best Musical Direction) award-winning, critically-acclaimed (LA Times CRITICS' CHOICE, Backstage CRITIC'S PICK, LA WEEKLY GO!) smash-hit world premiere production of LIFE COULD BE A DREAM, written and directed by Roger Bean (The Marvelous Wonderettes) with choreography by Lee Martino (Reprise On Your Toes, On The Town) and musical direction by Michael Paternostro (Kiss of the Spider Woman, Thrill Me) is EXTENDING AGAIN through SUNDAY, JULY 25 which will mark its ONE YEAR ANNIVERSARY at the Hudson Mainstage Theatre, 6539 Santa Monica Blvd. in Hollywood.

The Stage Door Theatre in Coral Springs is beginning rehearsals of 'Mack and Mabel,' which opens their new season. Previews begin on August 20, with the opening on August 28. The musical is considered by Jerry Herman, who is also the author of 'La Cage Aux Folles,' 'Hello Dolly!,' and 'Mame,' to be his best score. The show was nominated for 8 Tony Awards when it opened on Broadway in 1974.

'So what are you seeing next?' is a question I'm frequently asked and every year around this time when I answer, 'Broadway's Rising Stars.  It's a concert at Town Hall with recent college and theatre school graduates singing showtunes,' I often get that look of pity that presumes that sitting through stuff like this is the price I pay for getting comps to see Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch in A Little Night Music.

There's something very endearing about watching a couple of old pros like Bernie Kopell and Lou Cutell exercise their finely tuned comedic chops as a pair of elderly widowers looking for a night of excitement; especially when that excitement comes in the form of Teresa Ganzel, who displays ample comic skills herself as the shapely blonde goodtime girl with a heart of gold.  Add another actor and this trio could deliver a very enjoyable production of The Sunshine Boys.  But alas, the vehicle they ride into the Little Shubert, Viagara Falls, is an anaemic sex comedy that wastes their talents and the audience's patience.

The 2011 Season is going to be the biggest years ever for The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre as some of the most popular shows in theatre history take to its stage. Since Way Off Broadway first opened in 1995, the theatre has been a leader in the area's performing arts community and has brought many premiere productions to Frederick, as well as western Maryland.

Jason Alexander, artistic director of Reprise Theatre Company, will star in 'They're Playing Our Song,' September 28 to October 10 (press opening September 29) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse, to open the company's 2010-2011 season. Single tickets are available for 'They're Playing Our Song' at www.reprise.org or through the UCLA Central Ticket Office at 310/825-2101.

Some shows I can see again and again, especially if they're composed by Jerry Herman. Hello Dolly is one of those extra-special feel-good musicals and 3D Theatricals' production now in Santa Ana @ The OC Pavilion is wondrously delectable.