Jessica Parker News

Before the musical Annie came to Broadway in 1977, few shows besides Oliver and The Sound of Music featured singing and dancing kids. There was the occasional child role in shows such as The Music Man and Peter Pan, but nowhere near the number of opportunities for skilled and talented kids on Broadway today. So in 1980, when I got a call to be the musical director and host of a New York City revue of professional show business kids, it was something new and different. As a matter of fact, the show would be taking place at the aptly named Something Different, New York's first "Dessert Nightclub" on the Upper East Side. The club was owned by Patricia Young, and besides the uncommon alcohol-free menu, the entire waitstaff was comprised of singers, who performed all night long.

The New 42nd Street Gala took place on Wednesday, December 5, 2012, to celebrate the New Victory Theater Education Programs. The event honored the Australia Council for the Arts and included a performance by the Melbourne-based Australian troupe, Circus Oz, followed by a dinner reception at the Liberty Theater. The event was co-chaired by Adelina Wong Ettelson, Sarah Jessica Parker and Fiona Howe Rudin. Naomi Watts and Liev Schreiber attended as guests.

GLEE is set to add another newcomer to its extensive fresh-faced cast, Deadline has learned. British actor Oliver Kieran-Jones has officially signed on for a recurring role as NYADA's glee club captain - and as a potential love interest to series staple Kurt Hummel (Chris Colfer).

The New 42nd Street Gala, in celebration of the New Victory Education Programs, honored the Australia Council for the Arts with the New Victory Arts Award lst night, December 5, 2012. The annual event featured a special performance by the Melbourne-based Australian troupe Circus Oz at The New Victory Theater, followed by a dinner reception at The Liberty Theater. Check out photos from the celebration below!

IN VOGUE: THE EDITOR'S EYE, coinciding with the 120th anniversary of Vogue, debuts TONIGHT, DEC. 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. The documentary film takes a look at some of the world's most influential fashion images as conceived by the magazine's iconic fashion editors.

On this week's episode of the FOX musical dramedy GLEE, Kate Hudson razzle dazzles her way through 'All That Jazz' from the Broadway musical 'Chicago'. Below, check out her duet with Lea Michele's Rachel on the iconic dance number! Don't miss an all-new episode of GLEE this Thursday, December 6th at 9/8c, on FOX!

Bloomberg News reported that President Barack Obama is considering nominating editor-in-chief of Vogue, Anna Wintour, as his next ambassador to either the U.K. or France. Wintour was one of his biggest fundraisers.

According to TV Line's founder and Editor-in-Chief, Michael Ausiello, GLEE, which is currently in middle of its 4th season will 'definitely be back for Season 5. No question.'

The honeymoon phase is over when three best friends find out their marriages licenses were never signed in 'Nearlyweds,' a Hallmark Channel Original Movie World Premiere Saturday, January 12 (9p.m. ET/PT, 8C). Danielle Panabaker ('Beverly Lewis' The Shunning') stars as a new bride who deals with a rocky path in her almost marriage, fueled largely by her monster-in-law, Renee played by Grammy(R) Award-winning country music superstar Naomi Judd ('The Killing Game'). The romantic comedy is based on award-winning author Beth Kendrick's novel, Nearlyweds and also stars Jessica Parker Kennedy ('The Secret Circle'), Britt Irvin ('The Vow'), Ryan Kennedy ('Hannah's Law'), Travis Milne ('Rookie Blue') and Steve Bacic ('Big Love').

The New 42nd Street Gala, in celebration of the New Victory Education Programs, will honor the Australia Council for the Arts with the New Victory Arts Award tonight, December 5, 2012. The annual event will feature a special performance by the Melbourne-based Australian troupe Circus Oz at The New Victory Theater, followed by a dinner reception at The Liberty Theater.

Rosalind Productions Inc.'s Off-Broadway premiere of Jennifer Maisel's The Last Seder is set to open tonight, Tuesday December 4th (7pm). This Off-Broadway limited engagement at Theater Three (311 West 43rd Street) began December 1st and has been extended to January 13th. The show runs 100 minutes without an intermission.

Today BroadwayWorld is proud to present the third and fourth world premiere exclusive songs in a month's time, following "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" performed by Kitty (Becca Tobin) and the New Directions girls as well as "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" performed by Marley (Melissa Benoist): in addition to Cory Monteith, Naya Rivera, Amber Riley, Darren Criss and the New Directions with a theatrically-attuned group reworking of the 80s Crowded House pop classic "Don't Dream It's Over", here is theatrical standard "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO courtesy of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Cassandra (Kate Hudson) from this Thursday's brand new episode, "Swan Song".

Today BroadwayWorld is proud to present the third and fourth world premiere exclusive songs in a month's time, following "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee" performed by Kitty (Becca Tobin) and the New Directions girls as well as "Look At Me, I'm Sandra Dee (Reprise)" performed by Marley (Melissa Benoist): following "All That Jazz" from CHICAGO courtesy of Rachel (Lea Michele)and Cassandra (Kate Hudson), here is Cory Monteith, Darren Criss and the New Directions with a theatrically-attuned group reworking of the 80s Crowded House pop classic "Don't Dream It's Over" from this Thursday's brand new episode, "Swan Song".

Rosalind Productions Inc. will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Jennifer Maisel's The Last Seder. This Off-Broadway limited engagement at Theater Three (311 West 43rd Street) begins tonight, December 1st and continues through December 20th only. Opening Night is set for Tuesday December 4th (7pm). The show runs 90 minutes without an intermission.

WWD is reporting that Project Runway winner and fashion designer, Christian Siriano, has signed a fragrance deal with the Fragrance Group. This will be the designer's debut scent and is set to launch in fall 2013.

Over the last two weeks, GLEE has bravely taken on a catalog comprising everything from David Bowie and Simon & Garfunkel to FOOTLOOSE, PROMISES, PROMISES, the Scissor Sisters, Kelly Clarkson and fun., to say nothing of Psy's current worldwide smash hit "Gangnam Style", and, in so doing, it is clearly showing no signs of slowing down - actually, its amped up. Mashing up the New Directions of the original glee club with the new crew comprised of GLEE PROJECT winners and new faces, to say nothing of the Season Four additional storyline following the New York City-set travails of Rachel (Lea Michele) and Kurt (Chris Colfer) with guest stars Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker, both "Dynamic Duets", written and directed by co-creator Ian Brennan, and "Thanksgiving", written by Russel Friend & Garrett Lerner, directed by Bradley Buecker, also introduced anomalous themes into the GLEE universe while juggling everything else - namely: super heroes and a holiday tribute, Thanksgiving. While this week's episode was perhaps more generally amiable and appealing and certainly more successful in its overall execution and worthy place in the upper half of the episode stack four seasons in, last week packed a plosive "Pow!" of a punch insofar as its appreciable visuals and creative utilization of the tried and true tropes of comic book lore, new and old.

The untold story of 'The Princess and the Pea', ONCE UPON A MATTRESS, will play today, 29th November 2012 - 5th January 2013 at the Union Theatre, featuring music by MARY RODGERS, lyrics by MARSHALL BARER and book by JAY THOMPSON, DEAN FULLER and MARSHALL BARER.

On Tuesday, November 27, Columbia Records and Twentieth Century Fox Television will release Glee: The Music Season 4, Volume 1, the next official release in the Glee music collection. Available in both standard and deluxe versions, Glee: The Music Season 4, Volume 1 will feature songs performed by the Glee cast favorites and the show's newcomers, including heartfelt renditions of Imagine Dragons' "It's Time," Coldplay's "The Scientist" and Taylor Swift's "Mine." The album will also premiere brand new tracks from upcoming episodes, such as One Direction's wildly popular "Live While We're Young" and Psy's dance anthem "Gangnam Style." The deluxe version, available digitally only, will include tracks that showcase special guest stars Kate Hudson and Sarah Jessica Parker (see below for track-listing).

IN VOGUE: THE EDITOR'S EYE, coinciding with the 120th anniversary of Vogue, debuts THURSDAY, DEC. 6 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET/PT), exclusively on HBO. The documentary film takes a look at some of the world's most influential fashion images as conceived by the magazine's iconic fashion editors.

On next week's new episode of FOX's GLEE titled "Thanksgiving", it's time for Sectionals, and New Directions receives guidance from some of the recent McKinley graduates who volunteer to mentor the glee club during their Thanksgiving breaks. Meanwhile, Rachel and Kurt have a non-traditional holiday dinner in the Big Apple. Check out photos from the episode below!