Jule Styne News

By Disney standards the year and a half run of the original Broadway production of The Little Mermaid was a bit of a disappointment.  In theory, a competently created musical based on the hit animated film would probably run for a year and a half based on the title recognition alone.  My opinion of that show was higher than most of my colleagues.  I enjoyed it, but mostly for the vaudevillian pleasure of seeing a cast of terrific Broadway performers each getting a star turn or two.  But after some script revisions and a whole new visual concept, director Glenn Casale's production of the new Mermaid that just opened at Paper Mill is a well-crafted, delightfully designed and performed charmer.

'Come hear the music play...' this summer at the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University (50 E Congress Pkwy) and the Katten/Landau studio (425 S Wabash, 4th Floor) when both spaces are transformed into an intimate cabaret hosting some of the city's most talented performers. The series kicks off in the Katten/Landau Studio on Saturday, July 20 with 'Life is a Cabaret - The Music and Words of Kander and Ebb' featuring Scott Gryder, Nick Sula and Phil Martin and continues on Saturday, August 10 with 'The Greg Spero Trio,' as Spero treats the audience to both original songs from his new album as well as everyone's favorite jazz tunes. The series culminates on Saturday, August 24 when the audience sits on the Auditorium's world-famous landmark stage to hear 'Chicago Music Legends' featuring Frank D'Rone, Judy Roberts and Denise Tomasello.

Scot Albertson (Vocalist - Performer - Producer - Recording Artist) - www.scotalbertson.com) announces his sixth CD release concert, set for Monday June 17, 2013 at 7:30p.m. at Symphony Space Leonard Nimoy Thalia Theatre, located at 2537 Broadway & West 95th Street, New York City, NY.

Stage and screen legend Barbra Streisand is in the midst of a sold-out concert tour in Europe, and when asked by a fan in the audience about the status of the GYPSY film, she answered 'tell those people who want to know when I will start filming GYPSY to call Stephen Sondheim and ask him.'

Today we are continuing BroadwayWorld's 2013 Tony Awards Clip Countdown with a special spotlight focused on one of the greatest musicals highlighted by one of the most dynamic central roles in all of musical theatre, Rose - GYPSY.

NTC is proud of the selections for its 2013-2014 season and its new digs. NTC is confident that its loyal audience will be, too.

Maine State Music Theatre has announced its 55th Season.

Joe's Pub has announced this week's lineup of artists - check out the full listings below!

No Exit Cafe (6970 N Glenwood Avenue, Chicago) presents A COLE PORTER SONGBOOK on Thursday, June 6 at 7:30 pm.

The 39th season of the Hangar Theatre includes a thrilling line-up of plays and musicals including a favorite farce, a Tony-winning musical, and two regional premieres and features an array of exciting Broadway talent. The season takes off with Neil Simon's Last of the Red Hot Lovers (June 13-29) followed by the premiere of a strikingly innovative concept of the Tony-winning best musical Gypsy (July 4-20). The regional premiere of Amy Herzog's critically acclaimed play 4000 Miles (July 25-August 3) is next, followed by the regional premiere of the Pulitzer Prize-winning play Clybourne Park by Bruce Norris (August 8-17).

Today we are presenting a specially-focused InDepth InterView centering upon Audra McDonald's sensational new solo album, GO BACK HOME, which is available now and will be accompanied by a PBS TV special tonight, featuring the five-time Tony Award-winning performer at her very, very best. McDonald and I parse the finer points of GO BACK HOME, analyzing the song selection process itself as well as the meanings behind the myriad masterful musical moments present on the new release and what inspired her exquisite performances of these songs by Broadway's absolute best. McDonald also shares stories and insights into composers covered on GO BACK HOME, including frequent collaborators Stephen Sondheim, Michael John LaChiusa and Adam Guettel as well as Kander & Ebb, Rodgers & Hammerstein, Jule Styne, Comden & Green and many more. In addition to all about GO BACK HOME, McDonald and I also discuss the two brand new compositions on the album originating in the new specially-penned solo musical written expressly for her by LaChiusa, MARLENE DIETRICH'S ABC, and what the future potentially holds for that fascinating stage endeavor and take a look back at her other LaChiusa musicals, MARIE CHRISTINE, SEND (WHO ARE YOU? I LOVE YOU) and specialty material included. Also, McDonald fills us in on her recent and upcoming film appearances, such as last year's RAMPART with Woody Harrelson and the upcoming I FOUGHT THE LAW. Plus, McDonald expresses her enthusiasm for her continuing role as host of LIVE FROM LINCOLN CENTER, reveals her opinions on the current movie musical renaissance and the popularity of GLEE, as well as clues us in on her iPod favorites, practicing playing the piano to relax and the possibility of even accompanying herself onstage someday, reflections on Laura Nyro and other favorite pop artists, future plans to pursue more Shakespeare onstage (and musings on what parts), the distinct possibility of essaying the title role in GYPSY sometime soon, appearing on the web series IT COULD BE WORSE - and much, much more!

Pittsburgh CLO presents the Stephen Sondheim celebration, Side By Side By Sondheim, which will run tonight, May 23 through August 18 at the CLO Cabaret. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

Celebrating the launch of her new solo album, 'ALL THIS HAPPINESS', on PS Classics, Judy Kuhn is making her debut at 54 Below, (254 W. 54th Street between Broadway & 8th Avenue) in, 'ALL THIS HAPPINESS' on Monday, June 10th and Wednesday, June 12th at 7:00 p.m., featuring Dan Lipton, Musical Director, cellist Peter Sachon and percussionist Damien Bassman. The show will include songs from the new CD as well as some of her other favorites.

Pittsburgh CLO presents the Stephen Sondheim celebration, Side By Side By Sondheim, which will run tonight, May 23 through August 18 at the CLO Cabaret.

Broadway favorite Audra McDonald is set to release 'Go Back Home', her first solo record in seven years on May 21. BroadwayWorld brings you an exclusive listen to one of the album's tracks, 'Go Back Home' from The Scottsboro Boys with music and lyrics by John Kander and Fred Ebb.

Today in 1959, Gypsy opened at the Broadway Theatre, where it ran for 702 performances. Gypsy is a musical with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, and a book by Arthur Laurents. It follows the dreams and efforts of Rose to raise two daughters to perform onstage and casts an affectionate eye on the hardships of show business life. The musical contains many songs that became popular standards, including 'Small World,' 'Everything's Coming up Roses', 'Some People', 'Let Me Entertain You', and 'Rose's Turn'.

No Exit Cafe (6970 N Glenwood Avenue, Chicago) presents A COLE PORTER SONGBOOK on Thursday, June 6 at 7:30 pm.

And this Monday, May 20th, John Bantay will do his farewell SPIN as he leaves to continue pursuing his career and becomes a stage manager at the long-running musical, Avenue Q. Speaking to John Bantay, I, of course, was curious as to what his favorite video clips have been over the years. He was reticent to put them in 'Top 10' format because, to him, he considers them all number 1's. So here's his hit list, in no particular order:

No Exit Cafe (6970 N Glenwood Avenue, Chicago) presents A COLE PORTER SONGBOOK on Thursday, June 6 at 7:30 pm.

The Muny announced principal casting for the fifth show of its fantastic 95th season, Les Miserables. Broadway veterans Hugh Panaro and Norm Lewis make their Muny debuts starring as Jean Valjean and Javert, respectively. Also starring is Michael McCormick as Thenardier. The production is directed by Richard Jay-Alexander, who served as the associate director and executive producer of the original Broadway, touring and Canadian companies of Les Miserables.