Jule Styne News

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to the best in current songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Three is a Grammy Awards fest, as three of the four acts are current and past nominees. On February 2nd one can experience life in the Piedmont hills of the Carolinas via the vibrant sound of the Carolina Chocolate Drops. This three-piece string band plays old-time roots music with virtuoso playing of the banjo, fiddle, guitar, harmonica, jug and more. Next up is the crown princess of bossa nova, Bebel Gilberto. Gilberto has taken classic bossa nova rhythms and mixed them with modern pop - for a sound that is up for a Grammy this year. On February 4th perennial Grammy nominee Joan Osborne will perform an emotionally-charged work she has written with Jack Petruzzelli: Love and Hate - A Song Cycle. On February 5th, actress/singer Anika Noni Rose, a Tony winner for Caroline, Or Change, will make her eagerly-anticipated solo concert debut.

As BroadwayWorld has previously reported, Broadway producer Bob Boyett is endeavoring to revive FUNNY GIRL on Broadway with famed director Bartlet Sher (South Pacific, Awake and Sing, Light in the Piaza) at the helm. The pair are currently planning a six week out-of-town tryout in late 2011 in preparation for a swift Broadway transfer later that season, according to the report. This would be the first revival of the show on Broadway. Boyett currently secures the rights.

Vineyard Theatre continues new VINEYARD MASTERS series with classes by two Tony-nominated actresses Kathleen Chalfant and Judy Kuhn on January 29 and 31, respectively

I imagine Richard Skipper must approach his embodiment of Carol Channing a bit differently than most successful female celebrity impersonators.  When doing Barbra or Eartha or Ethel there are certain idiosyncrasies one can latch onto and exaggerate as punch lines.  Channing, however, has always presented herself on stage as a sort of self-satire.  To broaden up what is already such an extreme can easily slip into vulgar mockery.

Dear Glenn Beck,

On Sunday, January 9 @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's singer Jeanie Brandes made, by popular demand, a return engagement to sing selections from her newest CD Jeanie Brandes ... Kisses You Awake, a heavenly mix of beautiful songs from the Great American Songbook. Accompanied by dynamic musical director Shelley Markham and his musicians Tim Emmons on bass and M.B. Gordy on drums, Brandes with her blessed vocal instrument and loving personality held her intimate audience captive with radiance and warmth. That audience included acclaimed song stylist and friend Andrea Marcovicci and comic actress Cissy Conner, who recently performed @ Sterling's. Brandes' was a lovely, laid-back evening of song.

The Fargo-Moordhead Community Theatre has posted auditions for three upcoming shows. Auditions for LEND ME A TENOR will be held February 13th and 15th at 7pm. The show is directed by David and Shanara Lassig and runs April 8th - 17th.

Peter Pan features Music by Mark Charlap and Jule Styne Lyrics by Carolyn Leigh, Betty Comden and Adolph Green Based on the play by James M. Barrie at Playhouse on the Square

Eric Schaeffer, Artistic Director of the Tony Award®-winning Signature Theatre, today announced the company's 2010-2011 season of four musicals and three plays, with the innovative company producing three world premieres and one regional premiere.

This winter, the Geffen Playhouse is doing its part to spread contagious holiday cheer by presenting Neil Berg's critically acclaimed musical revue Broadway Holiday.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook, which explores the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting, will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song. Week Two starts on January 26th with a tribute to arguably the greatest songwriting team in American Songbook history: the brothers George and Ira Gershwin. Conductor, arranger and pianist (as well as Artistic Director of the Gershwin centenary) Rob Fisher will lead Victoria Clark (Tony winner for Light in the Piazza) and Norm Lewis (Les Miserables, The Little Mermaid) in a night of gorgeous Gershwin. On January 27th singer/songwriter Shara Worden (from the group My Brightest Diamond) performs her unique blend of vocal music that has her pegged as a star to watch. Week Two closes out with gritty veteran John Doe singing 'real' country, with all its understated empathy and rough poetry. Pfizer is a proud sponsor of Lincoln Center's American Songbook 2011.

The Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award-winning Vineyard Theatre (108 E. 15 St.) will kick off a brand new series, VINEYARD MASTERS - master classes with leading Vineyard Theatre artists - on Sunday, January 9, 2011 from 3:30 to 7:30 p.m. with a 'DIE VAMPIRE, DIE! WORKSHOP' conducted by the actress Susan Blackwell and actor and Tony-nominated writer Hunter Bell, both stars of the musical [title of show], which was given its world-premiere at the Vineyard in 2006 prior to its Broadway transfer in 2008.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns on January 12th for Week One of its 2011 season.

Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) is pleased to announce the full company of the new Broadway production of Anything Goes, starring Tony Award winner Sutton Foster as 'Reno Sweeney' and Tony and Academy Award winner Joel Grey as 'Moonface Martin.'

Seeking singers who act, actors who sing!

Seeking singers who act, actors who sing!

SUZANNE CARRICO, winner of the 2008 MAC Award for Best Female Debut for THE ART OF THE CAHN, Music from the Sammy Cahn Songbook, will celebrate the Christmas season & her new holiday CD, WHAT CHRISTMAS TIME MEANS TO ME, at Metropolitan Room this December. She will be joined by The Don Rebic Quartet, Dan Gross on percussion, Jim DiMatteo on bass & Windham Hill recording artist, Sean Harkness on guitar. Also joining her will be MAC Nominee Booth Daniels.

Seeking singers who act, actors who sing!

Bells Are Ringing, the opening Encores! production of the 2010-11 season, features music by Jule Styne and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show ran November 18-21 at New York City Center. Bells Are Ringing is directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with music direction by Rob Berman and stars Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase. BroadwayWorld was on hand for the show's after party and brings you photo coverage below!

Bells Are Ringing, the opening Encores! production of the 2010-11 season, features music by Jule Styne and book and lyrics by Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show ran November 18-21 at New York City Center. Bells Are Ringing is directed and choreographed by Kathleen Marshall with music direction by Rob Berman and stars Kelli O'Hara and Will Chase.