Jule Styne News

Now in its 15th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook celebrates the best in American singing and songwriting with a new chapter in the Songbook story: 'American Songbook in the Penthouse,' a series of weekend-only performances by performers and composers presented in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, an intimate yet elegant venue that brings artists closer to the audience in a cabaret-style setting. The second weekend of Kaplan Penthouse performances, the sixth week of American Songbook 2013, runs April 5-6, 2013. April 5th belongs to Cristin Milioti, who was nominated for a Tony Award in 2012 for her lead role in the musical Once.

Pittsburgh CLO has announced the cast for the Stephen Sondheim celebration, Side By Side By Sondheim, which will run May 23 through August 18 at the CLO Cabaret.

As an undergraduate theater major in the early 1970s, I heard music everywhere. It seemed to pour out of every office and workspace around the department. (And in the LP era, if you wanted more than the radio, this meant schlepping a twenty pound record player and a dozen or so albums from your home to the campus, sometimes requiring back-and-forth trips from the car. If you go to that much trouble, you want to keep the music playing.) In the hushed costume shop with its quietly industrious all female staff, Broadway ruled, with Stephen Sondheim's recent Company and Follies in heavy rotation. It was 'men only' in the scene shop where I listened to male balladeers like James Taylor and Gordon Lightfoot while unhappily working off assigned crew hours. Jazz classes (my favorites) in the dance department were conducted to the pre-disco sounds of Isaac Hayes and the Temptations. And late night cast parties were never complete without spins of Bette Midler's first two albums.

Now in its 15th season, Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook celebrates the best in American singing and songwriting with a new chapter in the Songbook story: 'American Songbook in the Penthouse,' a series of weekend-only performances by performers and composers presented in the Stanley H. Kaplan Penthouse, an intimate yet elegant venue that brings artists closer to the audience in a cabaret-style setting. 'American Songbook in the Penthouse' embraces adventuresome performers and celebrates composers and lyricists, both newer and veteran. With a seating capacity of just 225, the Kaplan Penthouse allows acoustic performers to be heard the way they intend - near to the audience and without elaborate amplification. The size of the space also allows performers to interact with their audience to make them an integral part of their performance, something difficult to do in a larger, more formal venue.

Jedlicka Performing Arts Center concludes its 2012-13 season with the Tony Award-winning Best Musical Monty Python's SPAMALOT with book and lyrics by Eric Idle, music by John Du Prez and Eric Idle, directed by Dante J. Orfei, music direction by John Warren and choreography by Christopher Pazdernik. Monty Python's SPAMALOT plays April 19 - May 4, 2013 at the Jedlicka Performing Arts Center, 3801 S. Central Ave. in Cicero.

Today in 2008, the fourth Broadway revival of Gypsy opened at the St. James Theatre, where it ran for 332 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'.

Today Jeanne Pratt AC, Chairman of The Production Company, announces her company's new season.

Jule Styne and EY Harburg's Darling of the Day premieres in the U.K. at London's Union Theatre, opening tonight, March 22, and starring Katy Secombe and Rebecca Caine.

A human ball of silver glitter hanging from a cord is lowered above what looks like a bungalow-sized muffin top.  (It's supposed to represent a turtle shell.)  Before the glitter ball makes its landing the cover is removed to reveal what looks like a tribe of humanish amphibians bouncing on trampolines and twirling on the muffin/turtle's frame.  Shortly after, a sleazy-looking clown in a tropical shirt tosses a condom to a woman in the front row and says, 'Call me!'  Yes, dear readers, Cirque du Soleil is back in town.

UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC) presents a developmental reading of the 1958 backstage comedy SAY, DARLING by Tony Award winner Richard Bissell (The Pajama Game), Tony Award winner Abe Burrows (Guys and Dolls) and Marian Bissell. The play with music features songs by the Tony Award-winning team of Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Jule Styne (Bells Are Ringing, Do Re Mi).

Berkeley Playhouse continues its fifth season with the Tony Award-winning GUYS AND DOLLS. Jon Tracy (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company, Shotgun Players, San Francisco Playhouse, Magic Theatre) helms this musical from the Golden Age of Broadway, featuring a cast of 22, and choreography by Chris Black (Berkeley Playhouse, Aurora Theatre Company). GUYS AND DOLLS plays tonight, March 21 through April 28 (Press opening: March 23) at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

Pamela Bob (Silence! The Musical), Billie Wildrick (Scandalous) and Stuart Zagnit (Newsies, The Wild Party) have joined the cast of UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC)'s developmental reading of the 1958 backstage comedy SAY, DARLING.

Bay City Players will present GYPSY, a musical, with Music and Lyrics by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim and Book by Arthur Laurents, April 25-28 and May 2-5, 2013 at the Bay City Players, 1214 Columbus Avenue, in Bay City. Performance times are 8:00 p.m. Thursday through Saturday and 3:00 p.m. on Sunday. GYPSY is Directed by Michael Wisniewski with Musical Direction by Sandy Honsinger and Choreography by Holly Haga Bills.

Bay City Players announces the cast for the musical GYPSY, with Music and Lyrics by Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim and Book by Arthur Laurents.

The final run-through in the rehearsal room is always a crucial moment in any rehearsal process. Devoid of set, lighting, costume and full band, it's an opportunity for the story (so far) to be told in its most unadorned and clutter-free form.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Fiddler' and the Paramount triumph and make plans, two Sondheim shows next year from Gary Griffin, the return of 'Hank Williams' and 'Last Five Years,' 'Parade' and 'Pirates' in short runs, and two Victorian musical dramas, spanning the pond...and more!

Bellevue Little Theatre. 203 W. Mission in Bellevue, will present 'Sugar' 'The Some Like It Hot Musical', its third offering of the 2012--13 season on April 12, 13, 14, 18, 19, 20, and 27 and 28. Due to production conflicts we have been forced to cancel the Friday April 26 evening performance and have added an additional 2 pm matinee on Saturday April 27. Evening performances begin at 8 pm on the first two Friday and Saturday evenings, and all matinees begin at 2 pm. on both Saturday and Sunday afternoons.

UnsungMusicalsCo. (UMC) will present a developmental reading of the 1958 backstage comedy SAY, DARLING by Tony Award winner Richard Bissell (The Pajama Game), Tony Award winner Abe Burrows (Guys and Dolls) and Marian Bissell. The play with music features songs by the Tony Award-winning team of Betty Comden, Adolph Green and Jule Styne (Bells Are Ringing, Do Re Mi).

The supremely talented singer and pianist Michael Feinstein collaborates with legendary composer-conductor-pianist André Previn for an album celebrating Previn's repertoire from his lesser-known catalog of pop songs, including many that were written for film. The album, titled Change of Heart: The Songs of André Previn, is set for release by Telarc International on April 16, 2013.

On Monday, April 29, The New York Pops marks its 30th birthday with a grand gala evening honoring the musical talents of songwriters Frank Loesser and Jule Styne, and the centennial of legendary entertainer Danny Kaye. Paula Zahn, host of NYC ARTS on PBS, will host the evening.