Jerry Leiber News

Modern-day master of musical theatre Stephen Sondheim is about to release the second book of his complete collected lyrics - covering mostly everything written in the last three decades and in this one so far - titled after a line from what may very well be his ultimate masterpiece, the Pulitzer Prize-winning SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE - LOOK, I MADE A HAT; Collected Lyrics (1981-2011) with Attendant Comments, Amplifications, Dogmas, Harangues, Digressions, Anecdotes and Miscellany. So, today, we are going to be taking a look at a litany of the finest moments from Sondheim's post-SWEENEY TODD musicals that are highlighted in LOOK, I MADE A HAT and perhaps discover a few of the many reasons why Sondheim's musicals - whether late-period or early on- are the best of the best Broadway has to offer - now or ever. And, what an absolutely mind-blowing list it is - and what a masterpiece of a book!

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT & FX ARTS today announced the second in its brand new 'Broadway Series' of shows, with one of the greatest, rocking and rolling-est, jukebox musicals ever written, SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE with songs by Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, musical direction by Lloyd Cooper and directed and choreographed by Jeffrey Polk. SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE will open on Friday, November 18, 2011 and perform for three performances only through Saturday, November 19, 2011 at the Fox Riverside Performing Arts Center, 3801 Mission Inn Avenue in Riverside.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Murder For Two,' two premieres at the Royal George, Team StarKid, 'Smoky Joe's Cafe,' Hollis Resnik's Christmas two-hander, looking ahead to 2012 and more!

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

Mike Stoller, the Grammy Award winning composer who is one half of the legendary songwriting team of Leiber and Stoller, will be honored with Chapman University's 30th Annual American Celebration Lifetime Achievement in the Arts Award at a Black-tie Gala to be held on Saturday, November 5, 2011 from 6:00 - 11:30 p.m. at Chapman Auditorium in Memorial Hall; Chapman University; One University Drive; Orange, CA 92866.

Jimmy Webb, Chairman of the Songwriters Hall of Fame has announced the slate of 2012 nominees for induction. The organization, which is dedicated to recognizing the work and lives of those composers and lyricists who create popular music around the world, holds annual elections to determine those who will make up the roster of inductees for the following year.

Suervision Media and Broadway Worldwide have plans to bring a handful of Broadway favorites to the big screen in the near future- Memphis, Jekyll & Hyde, Putting It Together, and Smokey Joe's Cafe will all make there way to theatres around the world. Memphis will reach the UK and Ireland in November, and South Africa and Hong Kong later this year. The other three shows will reach Europe January- March 2012, and then the rest of the world in April.

The Recording Academy has released a statement on Jerry Leibler, who has passed away from cardiopulmonary failure. He was 78 years old.

According to published reports, lyricist Jerry Leiber, of the legendary songwriting team Leiber and Stoller, passed away from cardiopulmonary failure. He was 78 years old.

While Vista patrons will undoubtedly be hearing the latest Britney Spears and Katy Perry tunes blasting from speakers in bars and clubs this summer, Trustus Theatre will be opening their doors on a new production that will be inviting entertainment-seekers into a rocking evening that gives them the most extraordinary "night on the town" they can imagine.

Michael Riedel reports in the New York Post this morning that Carole King is at work on a new musical showcasing tunes from her legendary songbook entitled Natural Woman. The show, which has its sights on Broadway, according to the report, had an industry-only reading on Monday and features hits such as 'Chains,' Crying in the Rain,' 'Tapestry,' and 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow.' Interestingly enough, 'Will You Love Me Tomorrow' was the song that put the Shirelles on the map, yet that song is noticebly absent from Broadway's current Baby It's You, as King refused to license the rights for inclusion in her own show. Music giant EMI is the show's backer.

Lauren Alaina, James Durbin, Scotty McCreery and Haley Reinhart are this season's AMERICAN IDOL Top 4 finalists. Jacob Lusk was eliminated on tonight's show after he received the fewest of America's 60 million votes. On Wednesday's performance show, the Top 5 performed two songs from 'now and then,' and Lusk, 23, from Compton, CA, sang 'No Air' and 'Love Hurts.' Tonight's episode also featured performances by IDOL judge and global superstar Jennifer Lopez featuring Pitbull, as well as country music sensation Lady Antebellum.

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced the Company's 2011-2012 Main Stage season at a special VIP Sneak Preview held at the Addison Theatre Centre. The season opens with the Tony Award-winning musical Spring Awakening (September 30 - October 30, 2011) followed by the return of the popular holiday show Rockin' Christmas Party (November 26 - December 18, 2011, underwritten by Frost Bank). The season continues in early January with The Diary of Anne Frank (January 6 - February 5, 2012), the Tony Award-winning play August: Osage County (March 30 - April 29, 2012), Boeing-Boeing (May 25 - June24, 2012) and Smokey Joe's Café (July 20 - August 19, 2012). The annual Out of the Loop Fringe Festival will be held March 1 - 11, 2012. All productions will be staged at the Addison Theatre Centre at 15650 Addison Road, Addison, Texas 75001.

As you know, doing a new musical on Broadway is not something that we do very often at Roundabout. But when you see The People in the Picture, I think it will very quickly become clear why I just had to put this show up on our stage. It is so rare these days to come upon a new musical that is totally original, created solely from the hearts and minds and talents of its authors, and that feels like a classic piece from the Broadway of old while telling a story that has never been told before. When I first read The People in the Picture, I knew that it had something powerful to say because not only did the songs linger with me days afterward, but the characters stayed with me as well. These characters had grabbed my attention in a very meaningful way, and it was clear to me that they needed to be shared with a larger audience.

Roundabout Theatre Company in association with Tracy Aron, announces the complete cast for the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE, starring two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.

Musical titans John Bettis, Garth Brooks, Leon Russell, Billy Steinberg & Tom Kelly and Allen Toussaint will become the newest members of the Songwriters Hall of Fame at the organization's 42nd Annual Induction and Awards Dinner.

Today we are talking to one of the most influential musical theatre writers of all time, having written the book and lyrics for JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, EVITA, CHESS and many more, as well as contributing lyrics to the stage adaptation of Disney's BEAUTY & THE BEAST and winning Oscars for his work on Disney's ALADDIN with Alan Menken and THE LION KING with Elton John - as well as sharing a Tony for Best Score with Elton John for AIDA in 2002 - who is now preparing for the world premiere of Andrew Lloyd Webber's new production of THE WIZARD OF OZ for which the superstar composing team has rejoined once again to pen five new songs - Sir Tim Rice. Discussing everything from his 70s Andrew Lloyd Webber collaborations to CHESS to the first news on his new musical version of FROM HERE TO ETERNITY, to GLEE and beyond, plus a look at his roots - all with an emphasis on his commitment to craft and bringing new audiences to the theatre. Sir Tim was kind and generous enough to illuminate his illustrious career in Hollywood, the West End and on Broadway exclusively for BroadwayWorld.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director), in association with Tracy Aron, announces additional casting for the new Broadway musical THE PEOPLE IN THE PICUTRE, starring two time Tony® Award-winner Donna Murphy, directed by Leonard Foglia. THE PEOPLE IN THE PICTURE features book & lyrics by Iris Rainer Dart and music by Mike Stoller and Artie Butler.