Judy Garland News

Full of biting wit and hilarious parodies of various popular Broadway shows--and the famous actors that star in them--Musical Theatre West's cabaret-style send-up FORBIDDEN BROADWAY: GREATEST HITS, VOLUME 2 plays its final, laugh-filled set of performances this weekend ending April 29 at the Carpenter Performing Arts Center in Long Beach.

Judy Garland Theatrical Tribute Concert Event comes to Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center April 27-29. Patrons can save up to $7 on tickets now through tomorrow, Sunday, April 22.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY continues its Spring 2012 season with the return engagement of Grammy Award nominated singer and entertainer MARILYN MAYE. Her new show - "The Happiest Sound In Town" - is her annual birthday celebration and features some of her most-requested numbers including "Guess Who I Saw Today," "Bye Bye Country Boy," "Rain" and "Golden Rainbow." Another highlight of the show, "Come In From The Rain," was a personal favorite of Johnny Carson; Maye performed it many times on "The Tonight Show" at his personal invitation. Maye's recent local appearances have been received with rave reviews and full houses. The show runs through Saturday, May 5 at the Loews Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street). Check out photos from the concert below!

Fanny Brice, America's Funny Girl will open May 23, 2012 and run until June 17, 2012. Previews begin May 20. Fanny Brice, America's Funny Girl is a reworking of Maltz Jupiter Theatre's 2009 hit production Fanny Brice: The Real Funny Girl. Writer and Director David H. Bell modified the script and is bringing Asolo Rep the most inspiring version yet. TCPalm raved, "Marya Grandy may not be the real Fanny Brice…but she just might be a new version of Ethel Merman. That's with a little Patti LuPone and the emotional singing delivery al a Judy Garland tossed in for good measure". WJTW FM said "what really brought the audience to its feet for a standing ovation however was the finale…it doesn't get any better than that."

On April 20 and 21 Peter Mac repeated one of his most challenging shows honoring Judy Garland: Judy at Carnegie Hall. To sing all 26 dynamic tunes at the highest peak as well as to replicate in minute detail the deliciously droll Garland anecdotes about her encounters with a chic Parisian hairdresser or a disgustingly insincere London press woman ... this is a huge...no, daunting task to pull off. Only a truly gifted performer can do it, and there is literally no one who comes even close to Peter Mac, who sings the only sincere loving tribute to Judy Garland anywhere. Mac gave 150% this past weekend and will do so again this coming weekend April 27 and 28 at the French Quarter inside the French Market in Hollywood. The show is astounding from start to finish. Mac, like Garland, works at a harrowingly brisk pace throughout accompanied at the piano by wonderful musical director Bryan Miller and by Kevin Widener on percussion. Mac even manages to throw in a few of his own jokes like the one about Tallulah Bankhead wiring 'Kisses on your opening' or talking freely about composer Noel Coward who never held back an opinion. Judy Garland would have been 90 years old in June of this year, and what devilish great fun to hear Mac shout out as Garland herself would undoubtedly say, 'I'm too old for this shit!'

Peter Mac's Carnegie Hall opening night was a 1961 & 1984 flashback. Gedde Watanabe attended last night's, April 20th, opening performance of Peter Mac's Judy Garland at Carnegie Hall show at the French Market's Showroom.

Judy Garland Theatrical Tribute Concert Event comes to Pinellas Park Performing Arts Center April 27-29. Patrons can save up to $7 on tickets now through tomorrow, Sunday, April 22.

End of the Rainbow is hosting theaterland's first ever Instagram Meet-Up at the famed Belasco Theatre (111 W. 44th Street). Taking place at 12:45 p.m. tomorrow, Saturday, April 21, the event, which is open to all interested Instagram enthusiasts, will offer participants an exclusive tour of the recently renovated theatre, which boasts one of New York's most beautiful neo-Georgian interiors. Those participating in this rare opportunity will be encouraged to snap and post photos of the theater via Instagram. Photos will be tagged "endoftherainbowbwy" so non-participants can easily find and view the images. For more information, and to sign up for the event, visit: http://www.meetup.com/Instagram/New-York-NY/676332/

Bob Lappin and The Palm Beach Pops, Florida's premier Pops orchestra, is offering another sensational season of sophisticated musical entertainment with the announcement of six signature concert series. Audiences are invited to hear "The Music You Love, Live" as the orchestra celebrates 21 years of outstanding music from The Great American Songbook with special guest artists including American Idol Finalist Tamyra Gray, pianist and vocalist, Tony DeSare, Broadway leading lady, Christine Andreas, and Vegas superstar Clint Holmes and more.

Elizabeth Wilson, one of America's most successful career actors and a Theatre Hall of Famer, will be saluted with the Jerome Lawrence Award, in a small Kansas town that celebrates a hometown playwright.

Musical Theatre Guild, the winner of the Los Angles Drama Critic's Circle Margaret Harford Award for sustained excellence in the theatre, has announced an exciting quintet of shows to celebrate its seventeenth season of Broadway in Concert musicals.

Multiple Academy Award winner Stephen Schwartz will be honored with The Desert Ensemble Theatre Company's inaugural Melpomai Award at "When You Believe: A Conversation With and Tribute To Stephen Schwartz" May 19 at 8:00 pm at The Annenberg Theatre. The event will feature a conversation with Schwartz as well as performances of his stage and movie musical hits performed by Tony nominated Andrea McCardle, Kate Flannery (NBC's "The Office") and more.

La gira del espectáculo sobre los últimos días de Judy Garland se instala en el teatro Olympia de Valencia desde hoy hasta el 1 de mayo. Una nueva parada en su gira que ayer presentó su protagonista, Natalia Dicenta, que aseguró que Al final del arco iris es una comedia dramática en la que hay una montaña rusa de emociones.

The Meeting* hosted by Justin Sayre will present their newest edition on Thursday, April 19 at 9:30 PM.

Alex and Nilusha, Stephen House, Angela Lumicisi, and Rebecca Morton headline cabaret performances during the month of May at the Butterfly Club. The Butterfly Club is located in an oversized dollhouse at 204 Bank Street, South Melbourne, Vic 3205 - Open Tuesday to Sunday, 5pm till late. For more information, visit: www.thebutterflyclub.com.

Toby's Dinner Theatre has a long history of presenting high quality productions. However, could they pull off the technicolor vision of The Wizard Of Oz that most people see in their mind's eye? Happily for the audience, answer is yes.

Tribute Artist, Peter Mac will recreates Judy Garland's 1961 Carnegie Hall show from start to finish on April 20, 21, 27, & 28 at the new Peter Mac Showroom inside The French Market at 7985 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 104, West Hollywood, CA 90046. The room will open for dinner seating at 7 PM. Show starts at 8PM. Check out Peter Mac as Judy in another show at the French Market.

Kate Flannery from NBC's THE OFFICE and Off Broadway's LOVE, LOSS AND WHAT I WORE has joined the cast for "When You Believe: A Conversation With and Tribute To Stephen Schwartz" at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum in Palm Springs on May 19.

IT'S DECEMBER 1968 AND JUDY GARLAND is poised to make a triumphant comeback… again. In a London hotel room with her young new fianceé ('a perfectly cast Tom Pelphrey' New York Times) and trusted pianist ('a wonderful Michael Cumpsty' New York Times) at her side, Garland prepares to undertake a series of concerts at London's famed Talk of the Town with her signature cocktail of talent, tenacity and razor-sharp wit, revealing the most brilliant star in her most demanding role: her life. END OF THE RAINBOW is now playing - buy tickets today and save!

Noted performer and music historian, Benjamin Sears has an unprecedented familiarity with both Irving Berlin's work and the writings about him, much of which he has brought together in the new, The Irving Berlin Reader, part of the Readers on American Music Series from Oxford University Press, available in stores on April 6, 2012.