Welcome to Day 9 of BroadwayWorld's 12 Days of Christmas 'video' features. Today, we have something really, really special. SO special, that I will NEVER throw away my VHS copy. I watch it every single year!
As part of their annual Summer at the Playhouse series in July, which this year also included Joey Luft and Mary Bridget Davies, Pasadena Playhouse hosted Henson Alternative's Puppet Up! Uncensored for 3 nights only. Music, Mayhem, Madness was promised and certainly delivered with six puppeteers, comic host Patrick Bristow - and at least 50 puppets centerstage. The show is audience friendly; in fact, in a couple of scenarios, audience members are invited on stage to participate in what appears to be a spontaneously imagined set.
Acclaimed blues singer MARY BRIDGET DAVIES--nominated for a Tony this year in the 'Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical' category for her Broadway lead in 'A Night With Janis Joplin'--will return to The Pasadena Playhouse for four nights today, July 17-20. She first wowed Pasadena, CA crowds in 2013 with the Janis Joplin role, marking The Playhouse's highest-grossing production in its history.
The Pasadena Playhouse presents A John Kimble and Phil Sandhaus Presentation 'A JUDY GARLAND CONCERT with Joey Luft', running today, July 11 - 13, 2014.
Acclaimed blues singer MARY BRIDGET DAVIES--nominated for a Tony this year in the “Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role in a Musical” category for her Broadway lead in “A Night With Janis Joplin”--will return to The Pasadena Playhouse for four nights July 17-20. She first wowed Pasadena, CA crowds in 2013 with the Janis Joplin role, marking The Playhouse's highest-grossing production in its history.
The Pasadena Playhouse presents SUMMER AT THE PLAYHOUSE - Music, Mayhem and Madness, three exciting productions playing this July. A Judy Garland Concert with Joey Luft features Judy Garland's son Joey Luft making a rare public appearance (July 10-13) followed by PLAYHOUSE ROCKS! with Tony Nominee Powerhouse MARY BRIDGET DAVIES, a Tony Award nominee for A Night With Janis Joplin which was presented last season at The Pasadena Playhouse and was the venue's highest grossing show in its history (July 17-20). The month will end with Henson Alternative's PUPPET UP! - UNCENSORED created by award-winning director, producer, and writer Brian Henson and actor and improvisational guru Patrick Bristow with The Jim Henson Company's renowned puppeteers (July 24-26). The Playhouse continues its tradition of distinctive and entertaining summer programming.
The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The Mosh Pit's exclusive Oscar wrap-up, Billy Zane announced for Lyric Opera, DLO's 'Les Miz' aims high, Porchlight tries 'How To Succeed,' Bailiwick's 'Dessa Rose' begins, as does 'Heartbeat Of Home' from BIC, 'Option Up! ' returns, voice students compete at NATS, and more!
In honor of the 75th Anniversary of the groundbreaking musical movie THE WIZARD OF OZ, the Academy Awards paid tribute to the film, and its star Judy Garland. On hand were Garland's three children Tony and Oscar winner Liza Minnelli, and Broadway veterans Lorna and Joey Luft. Grammy Award-winning singer Pink performed the movie's classic song 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow.'
According to The Hollywood Reporter, Liza Minnelli, Lorna Luft and Joey Luft -- Judy Garland's three children -- will reunite at the 2014 Academy Awards this weekend for a tribute to THE WIZARD OF OZ, which is celebrating its 75th anniversary.
To celebrate what would have been Judy Garland's 90th birthday, Peter Mac has composed a brand new phenomenally original show - in the form of a play - like hisEvening with Kate Hepburn, in which he relates stories and anecdotes from Galand's multi-faceted career in vaudeville, on the concert stage, at MGM and on television. It's a meticulously researched, complete life bio, there are 9 costume changes & 4 wigs and it's simply grande entertainment for one and all. The show will run all this month and most likely into the first two weeks of July. Cake was served after Saturday and Sunday's performances, June 9 & 10 with a sing-a-long 'Happy Birthday, Judy' tribute.
This is my 7th Peter Mac show since August. Needless to say, I am a huge fan of the man and his talent, which must be experienced up close to be fully appreciated. He is the current master tribute artist, making Garland totally his own. As Margaret O'Brien herself said, it's like an evening up close and 'personal with Judy Garland', and Mac gives so very much of himself to the singing and banter, that it's uncannily infectious. He could read/sing the phone book, and that would be OK too, as audiences will listen. Once a Peter Mac fan, you are hooked, baby! This show Judy Garland's Lost Easter Special with special guests DJ Schaefer as Bea Arthur, Alissa Cote as Lorna Luft, Glory Gale as Liza Minnelli and David Marker as Joey Luft, very similar to the Christmas Special in December at the Gardenia, is a lot of uproarious fun, obviously because it takes liberties in its originality and in not copying an actual special. But it's every bit as spontaneous, warm and loving as Garland's own family-oriented program.
Tribute artist Peter Mac as Judy Garland is motivation enough to go on down to the Gardenia for a fun-filled evening of entertainment, and with Christmas fast approaching, what could be more pleasurable than a stroll down memory lane and TV's delightfully homespun The Judy Garland Christmas Special. In that very show audience get to see a really youngish Liza Minnelli (Glory Gale), a young Lorna Luft (Alissa Cote) and little brother Joey Luft (not so little David Marker). And very special guest star - this was pre Golden Girls - Bea Arthur (D. J. Schaefer), who camps it up buddy-style with la Garland.
According to a casting notice, the Judy Garland tribute show, End Of The Rainbow by Peter Quilter, a play about her last months before overdosing on drugs in 1969 is aiming for a Broadway run in the Spring of 2012. THe production will first run at Minneapolis' Guthrie Theater before tranferring to Broadway.
The New York Times reports today that the Judy Garland tribute show, End Of The Rainbow by Peter Quilter, a play about her last months before overdosing on drugs in 1969 is aiming for a Broadway run in the Spring of 2012. A spokesperson for the production told the Times that 'the Broadway production would star the British actress Tracie Bennett, reprising her London performance as Garland. Ms. Bennett, a two-time winner of the Olivier Award (London's version of the Tony Awards) for best supporting performance in a musical, was nominated for a best actress Olivier this year for her work as Garland. 'End of the Rainbow' would be her Broadway debut.'
Since today is only a week away from Christmas Day, we are taking a special look at the absolute must-own Christmas- themed releases for the Broadway baby on your list. From Barbra Streisand to Sondheim, Raul Esparza to Liza Minnelli, Barbara Cook to Straight No Chaser - there's certainly a little bit of holiday cheer to cast some winter starlight upon even the saddest of Charlie Brown Christmas trees. Here are seven ways to make your holiday a little more sparkling and bright - and some cool Yule selections for how to change-up your Christmas tune listening for the last seven days until Santa Claus & Co. arrive late next Friday night!
The Rhode Island press is reporting that letters sent out to Stadium Theatre Performing Arts Center subscribers note that Minnelli will premiere her new show at the Stadium before taking it to Broadway's Palace Theatre in December.