Jule Styne News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The new musicals 'Eastland' and 'Hero,' new and newish shows based on hats, songbooks, TV shows and recordings, 'Floyd Collins' and Ashley Brown, and more!

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, the Encores! cast of GENTLEMEN PREFER BLONDES went into the recording studio last month to put a cast record together. As per Megan Hilty's official website, the recording is set to be released September 4, and is now available to preorder on Amazon.com.

Today we are talking to an iconic Tony Award-winning star who made her name as a teenager singing on TV variety shows - THE LAWRENCE WELK SHOW and SING ALONG WITH MITCH included - and then went on to a multimedia career in film and theatre, conquering Broadway with her Tony-winning turn in the Jule Styne/Arthur Laurents musical HALLELUJAH, BABY! in 1967 and returning to the stage in the subsequent decades in a host of Broadway productions, such as BLUES IN THE NIGHT, JERRY'S GIRLS, ANYTHING GOES, August Wilson's KING HEDLEY II and her celebrated Muzzy in THOROUGHLY MODERN MILLIE - a role she reprises in the new Muny production of the Tony Award-winning Best Musical beginning this week - the one and only Leslie Uggams. Taking a thorough look back at her career thus far, Uggams opens up about her many successes and how she has endured for fifty years in show business and shares recollections of many of her most noted co-stars and collaborators, all the way up to the recent 2012 Encores! PIPE DREAM. Additionally, Uggams comments on her film and TV appearances over the years, speaking about her work in INHERIT THE WIND, TWO WEEKS IN ANOTHER TOWN, ROOTS and beyond. Plus, she shares her candid opinions on GLEE, SMASH, Broadway then versus now, future plans for her Lena Horne solo show and thoughts on other roles she would enjoy pursuing - and much, much more!

Geoffrey Rush will lead John Frost's production of Sondheim's A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM when it opens in Melbourne Saturday, October 27 at Her Majesty's Theatre. The show will be directed by Simon Phillips and will feature a cast of Australian comedy actors, according to funnything.com.au.

Atlanta Lyric Theatre presents Gypsy tonight, June 15 through July 1, 2012 at The Earl Smith Strand Theatre (117 N. Park Square, Marietta.) Tickets are available now at 404-377-9948 or www.AtlantaLyricTheatre.com.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

In case you missed it in the "Showtune Mosh Pit" column last week, here is my full listing of musical theater shows (plus three special concert events) happening in Chicago this summer. Click on the name of each show for a link to more information. And enjoy!

Mc Coy Rigby Entertainment & Fox Operator Bill Malone of FX Arts, in association with Nederlander Presentations, Albert Nocciolino, Larry Payton, Michael Filerman and Heni Koenigsberg, bring audiences in Riverside the final production of the 2011-2012 season with the ultimate musical theatre experience for the entire family, Cathy Rigby and Brent Barrett starring in PETER PAN, a musical production of the play by Sir James Barrie, with lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, music by Moose Charlap, additional lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green and additional music by Jule Styne, beginning June 29.

Cathy Rigby is Peter Pan. Yes, indeed! I have seen Mary Martin, Sandy Duncan as well, but Rigby adds so much more to the character simply because of her physicality. A gymnast can do physical feats and tricks that an ordinary actor cannot. So if Peter Pan can turn sommersaults in mid-air or literally climb the walls of the Darling children's bedroom, if she is played by Cathy Rigby, there is no wonder. Oh, but that is so wrong, for Peter Pan is filled with wonderment, and Rigby, apart from all the physical stuff she adds, is a total joy to behold whether she is flying or not. She and the show are pure magic. Now onstage through June 24 at La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts, Peter Pan will never grow up, thank heavens!

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts presents the final production of its 2011-2012 season with Cathy Rigby and Brent Barrett starring in PETER PAN. See photos from the opening night party, featuring Cathy Rigby, Brent Barrett, Cade Canon Ball, Julia Massey, Krista Buccellato Michael A. Shepperd, Sam Zellar, Jenna Wright, James Leo Ryan, and the rest of the cast and creative team, below!

La Mirada Theatre for the Performing Arts presents the final production of its 2011-2012 season with Cathy Rigby and Brent Barrett starring in PETER PAN. See photos of Rigby, Barrett, Cade Canon Ball, Julia Massey, Krista Buccellato and the rest of the cast on stage in California below!

LA MIRADA THEATRE FOR THE PERFORMING ARTS & MC COY RIGBY ENTERTAINMENT in association with Nederlander Presentations, Albert Nocciolino, Larry Payton, Michael Filerman and Heni Koenigsberg will present the final production of their 2011-2012 season with the ultimate musical theatre experience for the entire family, Cathy Rigby and Brent Barrett starring in PETER PAN.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. The non-Equity Jeff Awards are Monday night, and we've compiled our first ever Summer Musical Theatre Guide! Here are 35 listings for your viewing pleasure....

42nd Street Moon's 20th anniversary season kicks off on Monday, June 18, 2012 with Ticket to the Moon, a gala evening celebrating Moon's past, present and future. Activities at the Alcazar Theatre on Geary Street begins at 5:30 pm with cocktails and a silent auction, followed by a performance at 7 pm, directed and narrated by Moon's Artistic Director, Greg MacKellan.

Local actor and singer Jerome Elliott will debut his latest cabaret one man show - Sweet Nerd Of Youth, his sixth show in the last four years, tonight, May 27, 2012 at the Arthur Newman Theatre in Palm Desert as part of the Sundays In Summer Series presented by Les Michaels' Life Is A Cabaret.

Musicals Tonight has announced that its upcoming season will include the following shows.

Barrington Stage Company has announced its 2012 season performance schedule, including more than 230 performances of musicals, plays, concerts, readings and free events. See details below.

Masterworks Broadway will release the Encores! cast recording of Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The album will be recorded in New York City this week, and will feature "A Little Girl From Little Rock," "Bye Bye Baby," and of course, the classic made famous by Marilyn Monroe, "Diamonds Are A Girl's Best Friend."

To close out the 2012 season of 92nd Street Y's Lyrics & Lyricists, Rex Reed pays tribute to the studio that gave us such iconic movie musicals as 42nd Street, Yankee Doodle Dandy, A Star is Born and My Fair Lady.

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'.