Jule Styne News

The penultimate episode of Season Two of GLEE on Fox last night was just about everything you could ask for from a funereally-themed Very Special Episode such as that on this show - and, in addition to the doom and gloom, we even got a scintillating 'Back To Black' from Santana and Lea Michele miraculously making 'My Man' all her own! Sure, the requisite gospel/r&b moment came courtesy of Amber Riley, as you would certainly expect it to given GLEE's lineage - particularly a GLEE with a funereal theme - yet the show managed to stay mostly out of the maudlin, morbid and mundane and remain its frothy, effervescent self - while always keeping it real and grounded in reality. Truly. Yes, indeed, GLEE's 'Funeral' episode put the 'real' in 'funereal' much more so than the 'fun' - but, there was some of that to be had, as well; for sure. Of special note, 'Funeral' also featured the continued extended return of Broadway baby and GLEE fan-favorite Jonathan Groff as Jessie St. James, and although he did not grace us with a song this week he certainly left a lasting impression - particularly coming after last week‘s triumph, which was the GLEE musical pinnacle of Season Two thanks to him and Ms. Michele. Indeed, Lea Michele - by way of Barbra Streisand and Fanny Brice - took the lead last night and stole the show. The ladies ruled the night on the 'Funeral' episode of GLEE - Lea Michele and Jane Lynch, first and foremost.

Revered as one of the greatest book musicals ever written Gypsy, based on the memoirs of Gypsy Rose Lee, and with collaborators Arthur Laurents, Jule Styne and Stephen Sondheim is rarely performed except on Broadway due to the demands of the role of Mama Rose, which has been played first by Ethel Merman, and also to acclaim by Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters and most recently Patti Lupone. Films have starred Rosalind Russell and Bette Midler (TV), and there's another theatrical one still in the works for Barbra Streisand. The stage mother to end all stage mothers is a monster role to play. She's on stage 95% of the show and must act, sing and dance 150%; there's no faking this one. In a daring production for Equity Waiver, West Coast Ensemble (WCE) is now presenting Gypsy, half a century after it first opened in New York in 1959. Jan Sheldrick has the role of Rose and she runs with it, acting up a storm, giving it her best shot. Under Richard Israel's skilled direction, the production is somewhat flawed, but overall impressive with its very strong rendering on a smaller stage.

Their partnership was one of Broadway and Hollywood's longest runs. Together, Betty Comden and Adolph Green wrote words that gave life to On the Town, Wonderful Town, Bells are Ringing and Singin' in the Rain. Phyllis Newman, Tony Award-winner and Green's wife of more than four decades, summons the essence of their genius - irreverence, humanity, sophisticated wit and joy - in the Lyrics & Lyricists™ season closer Carried Away: Being Comden and Green on May 21, 22 and 23. Joining her are vocalists Sarah Uriarte Berry, Josh Grisetti, Marcus Lovett, Mary Testa and Zakiya Young, with special guest vocalist Leslie Uggams.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Barbara Cook in Concert. It will have one performance only on Monday, May 16 at 8:00 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. Barbara Cook in Concert is the latest in Reprise Theatre Company's tradition of presenting Broadway stars and legendary entertainers in concert, which have included Patti LuPone, Carol Burnett, Sutton Foster, Ben Vereen, Kristin Chenoweth, and Brian Stokes Mitchell.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 5/15 for Toronto

Spring Dance Concert 2011 - Directed by Nancy Lyons, Kristen Daley and guest artists Mark Haim and Scott Wells

West Coast Ensemble presents GYPSY, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by John Todd and directed by Richard Israel.

Gamblers and gangsters, shysters and low-lifes alike will take over The 5th Avenue Theatre when Guys and Dolls swaggers on to the stage in a swinging reimagining of Frank Loesser's iconic hit (book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows.)

Gamblers and gangsters, shysters and low-lifes alike will take over The 5th Avenue Theatre when Guys and Dolls swaggers on to the stage in a swinging reimagining of Frank Loesser's iconic hit (book by Joe Swerling and Abe Burrows.)

West Coast Ensemble and director Richard Israel get ready to for a much-anticipated GYPSY that will run May 13 - July 3 at the Theatre of Arts Arena Stage in Hollywood.

Sh-K-Boom/Ghostlight Records is proud to reveal the secret identities of THE LEAGUE OF BROADWAY SUPER FRIENDS -- a five-part harmony-singing group featuring Broadway's brightest stars and biggest talents. Their inaugural concert will present Kelli O'Hara, Lindsay Mendez, Gavin Creel, Greg Naughton and Sherie Rene Scott, joining forces and voices for good: a June 7th benefit concert at Le Poisson Rouge, to raise funds in the fight against Pancreatic Cancer. Tickets will go on-sale at 10am on Monday, May 16h. More details here: http://sh-k-boom.com/leagueofbroadwaysuperfriends/

Tony Winner Sutton Foster is set for a May 9th ‘Live at Barnes & Noble' in-store performance and CD signing to celebrate Ghostlight Records' release of her 20-song tour de force ‘An Evening With Sutton Foster - Live at the Café Carlyle'.

Upcoming MTI Shows - 5/08 for Toronto

West Coast Ensemble presents GYPSY, with music by Jule Styne, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Arthur Laurents, musical direction by Johanna Kent, choreography by John Todd and directed by Richard Israel.

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, Broadway producer Bob Boyett is planning to revive FUNNY GIRL on Broadway with famed director Bartlett Sher (South Pacific, Awake and Sing, The Light in the Piazza) at the helm. Though no official comment has been made on production plans, it has been reported that the pair are currently planning a six week out-of-town tryout in late 2011 prior to a swift Broadway transfer thereafter. This would be the first revival of the show on Broadway. Boyett currently secures the rights.

Spring Dance Concert 2011 - Directed by Nancy Lyons, Kristen Daley and guest artists Mark Haim and Scott Wells

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, May 1, 2011 - Sunday, May 1, 2011.

Of course, one way around that theatrical conundrum is to take the route that director Scott Logsdon and Keeping Scores Concerts at Franklin's Boiler Room Theatre have embarked upon for three performances this weekend: Cast 12 different actresses as Fanny Brice, each one well-qualified to take on a particular song, allowing her to interpret, both musically and dramatically, the character of Fanny. And for support of the 12 actresses taking up the Fanny challenge, you'll need an amazingly gifted ensemble. The result? A wonderfully entertaining night at the theater, replete with outstanding performances from some of your favorite Nashville actors - and the chance to hear a beautiful, memorable score brought to life as it was meant to be heard by the team of composer Jule Styne, lyricist Bob Merrill and librettist Isobel Lennart.

A perfect dozen of Nashville's favorite - and best-singing - actresses will claim the role of the iconic Fanny Brice in Keeping Scores Concert's upcoming Funny Girl in Concert, the inaugural production of the continuing concert series to be staged at Franklin's Boiler Room Theatre. The twelve women portraying Fanny Brice at different times in her life - and in the musical's various scenes -include (in alphabetical order): Nancy Allen, Erica Haines Cantrell, Joann Coleman, Lindsay Terrizzi Hess, Catherine Mai Holder, Bonnie Keen, Cori Laemmel, Alex Maddox, Corrie Miller, Sondra Morton, Laura Thomas-Sonn and Heather Trabucco. Funny Girl in Concert will be presented for three performances at Boiler Room Theatre on April 29-30 and May 1. Joining Nashville's Funny Girls onstage for the concerts are Bakari King as Nicky Arnstein, Annette de la Torre as Mrs. Brice and Bryan Wlas as Eddie Ryan.

Reprise Theatre Company presents Ray Romano Live for one performance only on Tuesday, June 7 at 8:00 pm, at Royce Hall on the campus of UCLA. Ticket sales from Ray Romano Live support Reprise's mission to produce musical theatre of the highest artistic quality and to make this art form accessible to new audiences through education and outreach programs.