Jule Styne News

Earlier today, BroadwayWorld reported that West End-bound FUNNY GIRL star Sheridan Smith would love to bring the musical to Broadway. Now the Daily Mail reveals rumors that director Michael Mayer and Smith could take the show to the Great White Way in 2017. The site's Baz Bamigboye writes that for now it's 'Purely rumour, at the moment, but a lot of people would like to see it happen.'

Fanny's back. Michael Mayer's Funny Girl just began its pre-West End run at Menier Chocolate Factory and star Sheridan Smith already has her sights on the show's life beyond London. When asked if she's like to bring the show to Broadway, she told the BBC: 'I'd be daft if I said no. I would love to, that's my dream. But would they take a Lincolnshire girl to do a New York-Brooklyn girl?

Relive the Golden Age of Broadway and the magical moments from TV's past with Ethel Merman, Mary Martin, Frank Sinatra, Julie Andrews,Carol Burnett and many more as we look at the history of live TV musicals.

Kokandy Productions invites you to pour yourself some eggnog and make yourself at home for a family-sized portion of holiday cheer at A KOKANDY CHRISTMAS, an evening of festive stories and songs old and new performed by five of Chicago's brightest musical theater talents.

FUNNY GIRL returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 premiere. The sold-out run, led by Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as 'Fanny Brice', will play through March 5, 2016 before transferring to the Savoy Theatre in the West End from 9 April. The multi award-winning Michael Mayer directs both productions; the first opens tonight 2 December 2015.

GYPSY, often lauded by critics as the greatest American musical, is the latest in the award-winning Broadway Re-Imagined series produced collaboratively by Hennepin Theatre Trust and Theater Latte Da.

Gary Naylor sees the work of three Kings of Broadway, their gifts to fans of musical theatre as valuable as any gold, frankincense and myrrh.

Whether it's fruitcake or eggnog, people love their traditions during the Holiday Season -- and you'd better not disappoint. Memphians are accustomed to cranky 'Ebeneezer Scrooge' hoarding his coins at Theatre Memphis, and in midtown, we're resigned to A TUNA CHRISTMAS at Circuit and PETER PAN at Playhouse on the Square. Just last year, I had seen two -- yes, TWO -- productions of the latter: The version done live on NBC (with an off-center, almost 'sleep walking' Christopher Walken as 'Captain Hook') and the marvelous version directed and choreographed by Jordan Nichols and Travis Bradley at Playhouse. The Playhouse featured players were the unique Morgan Howard (as 'Peter') and the versatile David Foster (as a 'Jack Sparrow'-like 'Hook'); they were alternating the roles with Carly Crawford and Bill Andrews. I am happy to report that I finally was able to see Ms. Crawford and Mr. Andrews assay those roles, and they were equally inspired casting choices (but more about that later).

Jonathan Kent's five-star production of Gypsy starring Imelda Staunton as Rose has its final performance today 28 November 2015, as previously announced.

More good news, Baz Bamingboye reports in the UK Daily Mail that Broadway could indeed be next, writing 'We are actively pursuing and trying to work out the right way to go to New York with Imelda in Gypsy,' said Michael Harrison, who produced the show with David Ian. The Jonathan Kent production recouped its costs and made a profit for investors which (as we know) doesn't happen with every musical production.' He also notes '

Today in 1991, the second Broadway revival of Peter Pan opened at the MInskoff Theatre, where it ran for 48 performances. Peter Pan is a musical adaptation of J. M. Barrie's 1904 play Peter Pan and Barrie's own novelization of it, Peter and Wendy. The music is mostly by Mark 'Moose' Charlap, with additional music by Jule Styne, and most of the lyrics were written by Carolyn Leigh, with additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The original 1954 Broadway production, starring Mary Martin as Peter and Cyril Ritchard as Captain Hook, earned Tony Awards for both stars.

Next month, the Exclusive Opening Night DVD of Tony Award-nominated singer & actress Melissa Errico's dynamic & intimate performance from 54 Below will be released on 12/15, making it the very first DVD in Broadway Records' 'Live at 54 BELOW' Series. Now available for pre-order on Amazon and at www.BroadwayRecords.com, it's a perfect holiday gift for any Broadway fan.

In what has become an annual ritual, a total of 36 established and emerging composers, lyricists, and librettists will converge on the Goodspeed campus from mid-January through mid-February 2016 to participate in the Johnny Mercer Foundation Writers Colony at Goodspeed Musicals. The writing teams, representing 19 new musicals, will populate the campus, creating a truly exciting environment for discovery and inspiration. BroadwayWorld is excited to report that Goodspeed has announced its 2016 participants. Scroll down for details!

FUNNY GIRL returns to the London stage for the first time since its 1966 premiere tonight, November 20, 2016. The sold-out run, led by Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as 'Fanny Brice', will play through March 5, 2016 before transferring to the Savoy Theatre in the West End from 9 April.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the award-winning American musical, GYPSY, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street today, November 20 with a Preview on Thursday, November 19. The show runs through January 10, 2015. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, GYPSY is considered a crowning achievement in American musical theatre.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the award-winning American musical, GYPSY, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street on Friday, November 20 with a Preview tonight, November 19. The show runs through January 10, 2015. With music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and book by Arthur Laurents, GYPSY is considered a crowning achievement in American musical theatre.

Eric Yves Garcia has stepped away from the piano. I repeat, stepped away from the piano. The performer strides into the center stage light, his dark eyes twinkling, his jaw defined by just the right amount of stubble. This guy could be a movie star. I was excited. For the Metropolitan Room audience, Garcia's November 5 opening night of his new show Pour Spirits was about to be a down and dirty tell-all of some of New York's bacchanalian carousers as related by the handsome, attentive piano man of Chez Josephine, Bemelmans Bar, and other NYC nightspots. Garcia remained center stage for the better part of the show, allowing his inner storyteller and actor to take the reins, punctuating his alcohol-soaked dispatches from the wrong side of midnight with songs far afield of the traditional American Songbook.

El proximo 18 de diciembre, tendra lugar en el TEATRO GAUDÍ (c / Sant Antoni Maria Claret, 120, Barcelona, 120, Barcelona) el estreno del espectaculo SUGAR, Nadie es perfecto, la version catalana del musical de Broadway basado en la mitica pelicula de 1959 'CON FALDAS Y A LO LOCO' (Some like it hot).

The battle of the sexes is on! Some of the most memorable Broadway characters will square off in GUYS VS. DOLLS: A MUSICAL SURVEY OF SEX AND SEXISM, featuring the songs of Cole Porter, Frank Loesser, Rodgers & Hammerstein and many more, tonight, November 16, as part of the Broadway Close Up series.

Due to unprecedented demand, the Menier Chocolate Factory Production of Funny Girl transfers to the Savoy Theatre in London's West End, following the sold out run at the Menier Chocolate Factory which begins later this month. Michael Mayer's production, starring Olivier and BAFTA award-winning actress Sheridan Smith as Fanny Brice and with the cast from the Menier Chocolate Factory, will begin performances at the Savoy Theatre on 9 April 2016 for a strictly limited 12-week run until 2 July 2016. Check out first photos from the production below!