Judy Garland News

The M.G.M. classic comes to life on the Kavli stage in the Civic Arts Plaza premiere of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the heartwarming finale to Cabrillo Music Theatre's 2011-2012 Season. The show is currently playing in the Kavli Theatre through July 29th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production photos below.

Director Jacqui Robbins cast Rev. Drexel Morton in this summer's production of the musical 'She Loves Me' (opening July 26 - www.pennyseats.org) as parfumerie owner, amateur ballroom dancer, and occasionally cantankerous boss Mr. Maraczek.

Tracie Bennett, who stars as Judy Garland in End of the Rainbow, will be participating in post-show talk-backs, moderated by Village Voice columnist Michael Musto, on Tuesday, July 31 and Tuesday, August 7.

The countdown to Profiles in History's July auction begins. Run by Joe Maddalena, Profiles in History has announced that costumes from Whitney Houston, Britney Spears and Jennifer Lopez will be in attendance. Taking place in Los Angeles, The Dreier Collection will be auctioned off on July 28th, the Animation Auction will be July 29th and the Treasures from the Hollywood Vaults auction has been moved to July 30th and July 31st.

The M.G.M. classic comes to life on the Kavli stage in the Civic Arts Plaza premiere of MEET ME IN ST. LOUIS, the heartwarming finale to Cabrillo Music Theatre's 2011-2012 Season. The show makes its Kavli Theatre premiere tonight, July 20th, 2012, and plays until Sunday, July 29th, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

Today we are talking to Patricia Kelly, the widow of one of the most iconic and influential performers in entertainment history, Gene Kelly, all about her husband's incomparable career on Broadway and in Hollywood, in honor of his centennial. Tracing Gene Kelly's journey from his theatre roots starring in Cole Porter's LEAVE IT TO ME!, Rodgers & Hart's PAL JOEY and William Saroyan's Pulitzer Prize-winning THE TIME OF YOUR LIFE on Broadway to his unforgettable screen appearances in many of the greatest movie musicals ever made - COVER GIRL, SINGIN' IN THE RAIN, THE PIRATE, AN AMERICAN IN PARIS and many more included - Mrs. Kelly gives us a look into the life of one of the most important artists of the twentieth century. In addition to behind-the-scenes stories involving Kelly's frequent collaborators - such as esteemed director Vincente Minnelli, songwriter and producer Arthur Freed, arranger Saul Chaplin and others - Mrs. Kelly also shares candid anecdotes involving her husband's involvement with directing Rodgers & Hammerstein's FLOWER DRUM SONG on Broadway, helming the feature film adaptation of HELLO, DOLLY! starring Barbra Streisand, as well as his appearing in two idiosyncratic movie musicals later in his life, LES DEMOISELLES DE ROCHEFORT (THE YOUNG GIRLS OF ROCHEFORT) for Jacques Demy, as well as his au revoir to movie musicals in form of the Olivia Newton-John roller disco starrer XANADU. Additionally, Mrs. Kelly fills us in on all the details about this weekend's two-night Gene Kelly retrospective celebration, which she leads and narrates, as part of GENE KELLY @ 100 and her future plans for the multimedia presentation - each evening titled AN EVENING OF GENE KELLY and CHANGING THE LOOK OF DANCE ON FILM, respective - as she begins to tour the show across the country. Plus, reflections on SINGIN' IN THE RAIN's 60th anniversary and the recent Fathom HD premiere presentation in theaters, the impact of Kelly's work behind the camera, his choreographic legacy, what a legend is like at home, memories of attending the opening night of THE PHANTOM OF THE OPERA (starring HELLO, DOLLY! lead Michael Crawford), what the master would say about GLEE, SMASH, BUNHEADS and today's movie musical renaissance, as well as much, much more!

Start spreading the news…because Liza Minnelli is making her debut at Peter Mac's Supper club inside the French Market. The show stars critically acclaimed and renowned Tribute Artist, Peter Mac. Mac is best known for his loving and sympathetic portrayal of Minnelli's "Mama", Judy Garland. This time Mac is taking over the role the lady who Fred Astaire once dubbed as "Hollywood's Crown Princess".

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY will continue its Summer 2012 season with the return of jazz vocalist REBECCA KILGORE in her new show "The Jazzy Side of Judy Garland."

BroadwayWorld.com and Broadway Records are co-sponsoring a liner notes essay contest for the new Jekyll & Hyde studio concept recording. Fans will have the opportunity to submit a 250 to 500 word essay for consideration. Five finalists will be chosen by the staff of BroadwayWorld.com in consultation with Broadway Records. Frank Wildhorn, Constantine Maroulis and Broadway Records will select the Grand Prize Winner who will have his or her liner notes essay will be included in the upcoming recording.

Joe's Pub has announced its upcoming performances, tonight, July 16 through July 22, 2012, including 'All Aboard the Soul Train: A Tribute to Don Cornelius,' Tori Scott, Jeff LeBlanc, Carolyn Wonderland, Our Hit Parade, David Dondero, Amy LaVere, Josh Rouse, Eleni Mandell, Batz, Howard Fishman, Amber Martin, Quarteto Olinda and Pedro Moraes. See full details below!

Start spreading the news…because Liza Minnelli is making her debut at Peter Mac's Supper club inside the French Market. The show stars critically acclaimed and renowned Tribute Artist, Peter Mac. Mac is best known for his loving and sympathetic portrayal of Minnelli's "Mama", Judy Garland. This time Mac is taking over the role the lady who Fred Astaire once dubbed as "Hollywood's Crown Princess".

Judy Garland Live in Concert: GET HAPPY! A 90TH BIRTHDAY CELEBRATION has been extended. 'Get Happy' show runs this weekend July 13 & 14 at 8pm

Gone are the days when most shows had a few basic items. Today's Broadway merchandise buyers are looking to be wowed and producers are happy to oblige.

THIRTEEN's Great Performances will present 12-year-old classical crossover prodigy Jackie Evancho's second television special Jackie Evancho: Music of the Movies, in August on PBS (check local listings). (In New York, THIRTEEN will premiere the special on Saturday, August 11 at 7:30 p.m., with an encore telecast Tuesday, August 14 at 8 p.m.)

The producers of the new musical CHAPLIN have just announced full casting for the production, which will star Rob McClure in the title role, as previously announced. The production will also feature Jim Borstelmann (Alf Reeves), Jenn Colella (Hedda Hopper), Erin Mackey (Oona O'Neill), Michael McCormick (Sennett, McGranery, Emcee), Christiane Noll (Hannah Chaplin), Zachary Unger (Young Charlie, Jackie) and Wayne Alan Wilcox (Sydney Chaplin).

Magic ruby slippers, singing munchkins, a dancing scarecrow and an Emerald City all come to life again on the big screen when Theater To Go presents a special family sing-along of the classic film "The Wizard of Oz" at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre. This interactive presentation will take place on Friday, Aug. 3 at 7 p.m.; Saturday, Aug. 4 at 7 p.m.; and Sunday, Aug. 5 at 2 p.m. Kelsey Theatre is located on the college's West Windsor campus, 1200 Old Trenton Road.

"She Loves Me." $10. 7 pm, July 26-28, August 2-4, and August 9-11. West Park Band Shell, between Miller and Huron.734-276-2832. www.pennyseats.org

NBC is partnering with the acclaimed 'Smash' producing team of Craig Zadan and Neil Meron (film versions of 'Chicago' and 'Hairspray') to present a live broadcast of 'The Sound of Music,' based on the original Broadway musical, it was announced today by Robert Greenblatt, Chairman, NBC Entertainment.

A devout theater fan knows no holiday, and thankfully, many of Broadway's most beloved shows and performers nationwide don't either. So what's a theater enthusiast to do on this Independence Day? Check out a sampling of this year's most exciting 4th of July offerings and click below to revisit some of your favorites saluting our nation in song!