Judy Garland News

Karen Mason, acclaimed vocalist and Broadway veteran, is bringing her one-woman show Secrets of the Ancient Divas to the Haft Theater at FIT on Friday, December 12 at 2pm. Produced by Healing Arts Initiative (HAI) and co-sponsored by the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs and Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, Ms. Mason will pay homage to her personal idols, performing the songs of such iconic singers as Judy Garland, Peggy Lee, Barbra Streisand and more.

Will Friedwald's "Clip Joint" - the innovative live video mixtape experience - will return on Thursday, November 13 at 8:00 PM with guest curator Dan Fortune (publicist, DJ, producer). The event will take place at Zebulon Sound and Light (223 West 28th Street, 2nd Floor). There is a $10 house charge. Email levis4402@yahoo.com to make a reservation.

Penobscot Theatre Company will cap off its much anticipated holiday production of The Wizard of Oz by taking audiences over the rainbow and into the world of the star who brought Dorothy to life on film. LEGENDS: The Music of Judy Garland will be at The Bangor Opera House for one evening only, December 31, New Year's Eve, with performances at 5:00 pm and 8:00 pm. Part cabaret, part concert, the show will feature acclaimed vocalist Kelly Caufield singing new arrangements of beloved tunes including 'Somewhere Over the Rainbow,' 'Stormy Weather,' 'Johnny One Note,' and 'Come Rain or Come Shine.'

The Boca Raton Theatre Guild was looking for something unique as a follow-up to the company's recent successful productions of Pippin and Chicago: 'Something modern - with music that would appeal to all generations,' says producer Keith Garsson.

You'll get no argument from me: Cheyenne Jackson is a powerhouse vocalist and his charismatic quotient is off the charts. It is easy to gush about his vocal prowess, his versatility as a singer and his movie star magnetism. He is a consummate crooner with a vocal ease that is equally adept at the Broadway, standard and pop/contemporary songbooks. So, why did his recent performance at The McCallum Theatre seem so uneven and why did it leave me and, upon eavesdropping on 'after-show lobby conversations', a myriad of other patrons feeling lukewarm?

Today, GRAMMY, Tony, and Emmy Award-winning recording artist Barry Manilow celebrates another milestone in his legendary career with his 15 th Top 10 debut on the Billboard Top 200 chart. His new album, MY DREAM DUETS, entered the Billboard Top 200 in the #4 position, and was released on Verve Records.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: The New York Philharmonic welcomes a whole crew of stars for SHOW BOAT, beginning tonight, and the new stage adaptation of MADE IN DAGENHAM opens in the West End!

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre, the acclaimed comedy/variety show, will return to JOE'S PUB at The Public Theater on Sunday, November 16 at 9:30 PM to continue its landmark 6th season. The Meeting* has been called 'delicious and delightfully droll' by The New York Post and 'hilarious and sardonic' by The Village Voice.

Fearless Productions will present "Legends and Bridge" by C. Stephen Foster in association with Black Box Theatre Publishing. This play is a comedy imagining former, silver screen legend Joan Crawford (matronly, washed up, and pickled on spiked Pepsi) who invites Judy Garland (recently fired from her CBS TV show) and Bette Davis (bitter at no longer being the "Queen of Hollywood") up to her Manhattan apartment in 1964 to live with her as they work on a "secret" film project.

Labeled "the Queen of Christmas" by Billboard Magazine, Kimberley Locke kicks off the holiday season with two special performances at Feinstein's at the Nikko on Thursday, December 4 (8 p.m.) and Friday, December 5 (8 p.m.). Locke will perform songs off her acclaimed holiday album, "Christmas," as well as other fan favorites.

Starring San Francisco's four top drag luminaries, Victoria Theatre presents THE GOLDEN GIRLS: THE CHRISTMAS EPISODES. The formula is reasonably straightforward. Take 4 talented drag performers, cast them in two classic Xmas episodes of the ground-breaking and uproarious TV show: THE GOLDEN GIRLS, and joviality will ensue.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College will open its 60th Anniversary Season with a concert by 10-time Grammy winner Bobby McFerrin tonight, November 1, 2014 at 8pm. Best known for the global number one hit 'Don't Worry Be Happy,' Mr. McFerrin is a percussive, improvisational genius who has stirred audiences through the years with the sounds of the voice box, fusing into his work dozens of different languages and cultures from all over the world. Tickets for this one-night-only event are $36-$60 and can be purchased at BrooklynCenter.org or by calling the box office at 718-951-4500 (Tues-Sat, 1pm-6pm).

This November and December 54 BELOW presents an exciting lineup of the brightest talent from Broadway and beyond. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54thStreet. For a detailed schedule of upcoming performances at 54 Below and to purchase tickets, visit www.54Below.com.

WICKED author Gregory Maguire and the musical's composer Stephen Schwartz appeared in a recent on-stage conversation presented by the Mark Twain House & Museum, at the Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts in Hartford, CT. At the event, which was moderated by Frank Rizzo, Schwartz revealed some exciting new updates for his latest projects!

Grammy-winning Chanteuse and Comedienne, Lady Rizo, appears for one 'standing room only' performance at The Copa palm Springs on November 1 at 8:00 pm. The cult entertainer New York magazine hails as a 'Cabaret Superstar' has made her mark creating vintage arrangements & theatrical explorations of pop songs from every decade. Lady Rizo (nee Amelia Zirin-Brown) co-created the cult caburlesque spectacular Lady Rizo & the Assettes in 2005.In January 2010 she won her first Grammy on a duet with acclaimed cellist Yo-Yo Ma that was released on a Holiday album featuring Diana Krall, James Taylor and Alison Krauss among others. She also sings and records with multi-platnum recording artist Moby and was nominated for an MVPA for the choreography the video for the single New York, New York featuring Debbie Harry. I had the cahncr to chat with Lady Rizo about her upcoming performance at The Copa and more. Here are a few highlights form that conversation:

When ASCAP Award-winning writer/director Chip Deffaa's "The Irving Berlin Ragtime Revue" opens November 9th at the 13th Street Repertory Theater (50 W. 13th Street, NYC), it will include some Berlin rarities and rediscoveries unheard in a century, including some never-recorded Berlin numbers.

iHeartMedia announced today that it has launched the Barry Manilow Music Station on iHeartRadio, its all-in-one streaming music and digital service.

Grab your copy of Barry Manilow's new album!