Judy Garland News

THE MEETING* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater to continue the Winter/Spring 2016 season on Sunday, April 17 at 9:30 PM. The April show will honor the iconic entertainer Barbra Streisand with special guests Jessica Vosk, Nick Cearley, Inyang Bassey and Amber Martin, with others to be announced. Tracy Stark serves as the show's Music Director.

Following an acclaimed premiere at London Theatre Workshop last December, Ray Rackham's Judy Garland musical drama THROUGH THE MILL will transfer to London's Southwark Playhouse in July. It features musical supervision and arrangement by Simon Holt, musical direction by Jordan Li Smith, choreography by Chris Whittaker, set design by Johnson Williams and sound design by Ed Shaw.

Celebrate the Bay Area Reporter's 45th Anniversary and the 2016 Sixth Annual Besties party at Oasis on Today, April 7, 6 to 9 p.m. (398 11th Street at Folsom), with guest-host Shawn Ryan.

With politics more and more resembling show business, we need a leader who knows how to work a room.

Celebration Theatre at the Lex in association with Nicholas Caprio, Michael C. Kricfalusi, Todd Milliner and Jack Morrissey presents, under the artistic direction of Michael Matthews & Michael A. Shepperd, the West Coast premiere of THE BOY FROM OZ, music and lyrics by Peter Allen, book by Martin Sherman, original book by Nick Enright, choreography by Janet Roston, musical direction by Bryan Blaskie, produced by Andrew Carlberg and directed by Celebration Theatre co-artistic director Michael A. Shepperd. THE BOY FROM OZ will begin previews on Friday, April 22 at 8pm; will open on Friday, April 29 at 8pm and perform through Sunday, June 19 at the Celebration Theatre's new home, Celebration at the Lex Theatre, 6760 Lexington Ave. in Los Angeles.

Seth Sikes, of whom New York Arts Review said 'may well be one of the saviors of the Great American Songbook,' will make his Feinstein's at the Nikko debut on Thursday, June 16 (8 p.m.) for one performance only of his critically acclaimed show Seth Sikes Sings Liza Minnelli, an evening of Minnelli's most popular songs.

The McCallum Theatre announced today its new lineup of world-class entertainment scheduled for the 2016-2017 season that includes Broadway hits Mamma Mia, The Sound Of Music and Chicago, concerts with Bernadette Peters and Kristin Chenoweth, family-friendly musicals and entertainment, holiday surprises, comedy legends and solid gold memories, all part of a very full and exciting roster.  Subscriptions go on sale on Tuesday, April 5th at 8am for the Broadway Blockbuster Series, Broadway and Beyond Series, Fitz's Jazz Cafe at the McCallum Series, Keyboard Conversations® with Jeffrey Siegel Series, as well as a Create-Your-Own Series which allows patrons to mix, match, and program one performance or a full season of entertainment tailored to their own individual tastes. 

Although it's been nearly five decades since the legendary Judy Garland died at age 47, her timeless performances on screen have infinitely preserved her youthful image. In fact, despite the tragic finale of Garland's young life, audiences born post-Vietnam might solely remember the actress skipping down the infamous yellow brick road in her blue gingham dress. Over at the Kalita Humphreys Theatre, not only are Dallas theatre enthusiasts treated to an interesting behind-the-scene's look of Garland's final years, but it should be noted that this career-changing performance by local legend Janelle Lutz (rhymes with boots) is the event of the season that truly should not be missed.

Talented vocalists Christina Bianco, N'Kenge, Kristen Plumley, and Mandy Gonzalez, in conjunction with Jack Everly and the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, headlined the concert of classic songs from the Great White Way to honor some of the most beloved Broadway divas and musicals of our time at the Music Center at Strathmore.

Writer Rachel Landon and Actress Alli Villines discuss SRO's SPEAKEASY, an immersive theatre experience featuring popular 1920's era music, roaring dance numbers and a glimpse into the end of Prohibition. SPEAKEASY is about Texas, the female owner of a Chicago speakeasy club during the Prohibition era - and the various characters that frequent the club.

Victoria Theatre Association's annual Summer Cool Films Series continues 2016's celebration of Victoria Theatre's 150th Anniversary with a special line up of films celebrating the time when generations of Daytonians came to the "Victory" to see the latest movie release. The Summer Cool Films Series runs July 8-August 28 and includes Reel Late at the Vic late night movies and daytime Family Films!  Beginning July 8, VTA will set out the popular FREE popcorn and FREE soda plus some FREE nostalgia at the historic Victoria Theatre. Passbooks for the series are on sale now at Ticket Center Stage.  Call (937) 228-3630, toll free (888) 228-3630 or purchase online at www.ticketcenterstage.com.

Celebrate the Bay Area Reporter's 45th Anniversary and the 2016 Sixth Annual Besties party at Oasis on Thursday, April 7, 6 to 9 p.m. (398 11th Street at Folsom), with guest-host Shawn Ryan.

END OF THE RAINBOW has been held over through April 17, 2016 at Stages Repertory Theatre.

BWW has just learned that Emmy and Academy Award winner Aaron Sorkin, the creator and mastermind behind the beloved NBC drama “The West Wing,” is returning to the network with a live presentation of A FEW GOOD MEN, set to air in early 2017.

Questionable life advice, musical theatre tunes, a few boxes of wine and approximately seven to ten belly laughs delighted a sold out crowd at The Duplex Cabaret Theatre on January 6th, when actress and blogger Bligh Voth starred in a live taping of her new podcast. Avocados Are For Rich People: Live At the Duplex will air in two parts, Part One on March 30th and Part Two on April 6th.

Abby Books, publisher of more than 40 movie poster books starring Hollywood's legendary and iconic film stars, has opened an exclusive webstore to market its unique product line. Founded in 2014, Abby Books' popular full-color movie poster books feature such stars as Julie Andrews, Humphrey Bogart, Ingrid Bergman, Charlie Chaplin, Sean Connery, Joan Crawford, Bette Davis, Dean Martin and Jerry Lewis, Kirk Douglas, Harrison Ford, Judy Garland, Cary Grant, Audrey Hepburn, William Holden, Rock Hudson, Veronica Lake, Laurel & Hardy, Jerry Lewis, Marx Brothers, Marilyn Monroe, Paul Newman, Sidney Poitier, Elvis Presley, Randolph Scott, James Stewart, Elizabeth Taylor, Shirley Temple and John Wayne. The Indiana-based publisher also offers movie poster books on the films of famous private detectives, Sherlock Holmes and Charlie Chan, and great silent film western stars, as well as on such genres as silent films, sound westerns of 1930-1935, and film noir of the early 1940s. Each book is printed on 8 x 10 white paper. Page lengths and quantity of movie posters included vary by book. Authors of most of the series of books are Greg and Jake Lenburg. Greg Lenburg is best known for the best-selling book, The Three Stooges Scrapbook-Updated Edition. He is also Abby Books' founder. Jake Lenburg is author of the Great Silent Comedians Movie Poster Book, Charlie Chaplin Movie Poster Book, Great Silent Comedians Poster Art Book and Great Silent Comedians Movie Poster Book - Revised Edition. Abby Books new webstore is at www.classicmovieposterbooks.com.

The selection of outstanding plays we have chosen for The Meridian Energy 2016/17 Season give The Court Theatre the opportunity to create some genuinely great theatre and to present our audiences with memories that will be kept alive for a lifetime.

If you've ever wanted to strut you stuff on the Corny Collins Show, today is your lucky day! NBC and Telsey + Company just announced that there will be an open call to cast HAIRSPRAY LIVE!'s young leading lady. Check out the details below!

Signature Theatre has announced casting is confirmed and tickets are now on sale for Signature Plays, which revisits the work of three Legacy playwrights with Edward Albee's The Sandbox, Maria Irene Fornes' Drowning, and Adrienne Kennedy's Funnyhouse of a Negro. Directed by Lila Neugebauer (A.R. Gurney's The Wayside Motor Inn), this trio of plays, all produced during their author's original Playwright-in-Residence season and presented together for the first time, celebrates Signature's rich and diverse history over the past quarter century.

From the first black actor to play Othello on the London stage to an icon of fantasy inspired by a family friend of the author who wouldn't grow up, our 2016/2017 season is peopled by history makers. Some you already know, some you think you know, and a few you've probably never met. A few happened upon notoriety by chance, others fought unbelievable odds to leave their mark on the world, and some committed unspeakable acts to be remembered. Take a seat, and experience everything on offer at Tampa Bay's most award-winning professional theatre.