Judy Garland News

Mickey & Judy was a sold out hit at last year's Toronto Fringe Festival and is now off to NYC and Edinburgh! Before it makes its' international debut the show will return to The Toronto Centre for the Arts for one night only on April 21st, 2012. The enigmatic and extremely funny star, Michael Hughes, took a few minutes to talk to BWW about the show, his love of showtunes, Smash versus Glee and more.

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.

Steppenwolf Theatre Company presents its 3rd annual Garage Rep, featuring three productions in rotating repertory by some of Chicago's most innovative, storefront companies: LiveWire Chicago, Theatre Zarko and The Inconvenience. Garage Rep plays a ten-week run through April 8.

Looking for a quick roundup of this week's events in the theatre world? Look no further - here are some of the best articles the week had to offer!

HIGHLIGHTS OF THE WEEK: EVITA is back on Broadway, Mayor Bloomberg gets musical, Bleu channels Jesus, and so much more!

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) is hosting its largest fundraising event of the year, The Center Stage Celebration Gala Benefit on Friday, May 4th.

Judy Garland's The Lost Easter Special, starring tribute artist Peter Mac, currently showing April 6-14 at 8 p.m. at the new Peter Mac Showroom inside The French Market at 7985 Santa Monica Boulevard, Suite 104, West Hollywood, Calif., has added two shows on Easter Sunday, April 8, at 1 and 7 p.m.

With a career spanning over two decades and accolades as "one of the greatest contemporary solo voices of our time," Linda Eder brings her one-woman show to The Cabaret.

On Tuesday night at the Iridium Jazz Club, precocious, yet polished 20-year-old crooner Nicolas King conquered a packed room filled with freshly-minted MAC Award winners, veteran cabaret performers, a burgeoning legion of fans, beaming family members, and his mentor and friend Liza Minnelli (who attended the show with actor Tony Danza).

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. Bennett is joined onstage by Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell.

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. Bennett is joined onstage by Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell. BroadwayWorld was on hand at the Plaza hotel to speak with Bennett and company at the celebratory after party and brings you full coverage below!

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

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. Bennett is joined onstage by Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell. BroadwayWorld.com was there as the premiere curtain came down and brings you photo coverage of the curtain call and encore performance below!

End of the Rainbow opened tonight, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. How'd it fair with the critics? Let's find out...

END OF THE RAINBOW made its Broadway premiere last night, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Afterwards, BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the show's opening night party!

If energy and physical commitment equaled craft and technique, Tracie Bennett's performance as Judy Garland in End Of The Rainbow might be considered one of the great triumphs of the season. But Peter Quilter's flimsy play offers her little in the way of support and director Terry Johnson has her playing more highly strung caricature than character, reducing the enterprise to little more than an endurance test for those at both sides of the footlights.

Stephen Schwartz, the three-time Academy Award-winning Broadway legend and composer, and Broadway icon Andrea McArdle will appear in Palm Springs on May 19 in "When You Believe: A Conversation With and Tribute To Stephen Schwartz" at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

The Broadway premiere of End of the Rainbow is tonight, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett shines in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson. The first production highlights have been released and BroadwayWorld brings you a look below!

Stephen Schwartz, the three-time Academy Award-winning Broadway legend and composer, and Broadway icon Andrea McArdle will appear in Palm Springs on May 19 in "When You Believe: A Conversation With and Tribute To Stephen Schwartz" at the Annenberg Theater at the Palm Springs Art Museum.

The Broadway premiere of End of the Rainbow is tonight, April 2, at the Belasco Theatre. Check out these production photographs of Michael Cumpsty, Tom Pelphrey and Jay Russell as they join two-time Oliver Award-winner Tracie Bennett in Peter Quilter's acclaimed play about the legendary Judy Garland, directed by the Tony® Award winning Terry Johnson.