Jule Styne News

'Exciting' is not a word normally associated with productions of Thornton Wilder's Our Town. Heartwarming? Sure. Chilling? When its climax is done well, certainly. But director David Cromer's non-traditional take on the play - which remains completely faithful to the author's text and themes - is one of the most exciting theatre events of the season.

The cast has been announced for the Westchester Broadway Theatre production of FUNNY GIRL, which runs from March 26, 2009 - June 14, 2009 with an official press opening on April 4, 2009.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook ends its 11th season with a special concert by Stew and Heidi Rodewald in the newly revitalized Alice Tully Hall on March 6th at 8:00pm.

BroadwayWorld.com recently reported that Patti LuPone has been cast on 30 Rock to play the mother 'of Judah Friedlander's... well, um, unique Frank'. NBC has announced that also guesting on the March 5 episode will be John Lithgow.

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Patti LuPone has been cast on 30 Rock to play the mother 'of Judah Friedlander's... well, um, unique Frank'. There's no word on how many episodes LuPone will appear on of the hit show.

The dynamic acting icon Patti LuPone was featured on WOR's 'Joan Hamburg Show' this morning, March 3rd, LuPone chatted about her upcoming appearance on 30 ROCK as well her recent and already legendary run on Broadway in GYPSY.

ERIC COMSTOCK & BARBARA FASANO, the popular husband and wife team whose recent individual CDs earned them equal respect in both the pop and jazz worlds, will present their first joint extended New York engagement at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC from March 3rd through March 15th. The evening, called 'WRAP YOUR TROUBLES IN DREAMS' celebrates the inspiration, strength and wit of our unique American songs to move us through these changing times. Accompanied by a rhythm section, Barbara and Eric will perform songs by Laura Nyro, Richard Whiting, Harry Warren, Paul Simon, Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields and Oscar Brown, Jr. among others.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Sunday, March 1, 2009.

BroadwayWorld.com recently reported that Patti LuPone has been cast on 30 Rock to play the mother 'of Judah Friedlander's... well, um, unique Frank'. NBC has announced that also guesting on the March 5 episode will be John Lithgow.

West 43rd Street will become a little pinker, as will the Easter Parade (and all of New York City in general) when the actor Leslie Jordan arrives to bring his acclaimed solo show, My Trip Down The Pink Carpet, to the Westside Theatre (407 West 43rd Street) this Spring. Producer Bruce Robert Harris announced that performances will begin on Wednesday, April 15, with an official opening night set for Monday evening, April 20. David Galligan directs the 6-week limited engagement.

Entertainment Weekly is reporting that Patti LuPone has been cast on 30 Rock to play the mother 'of Judah Friedlander's... well, um, unique Frank'. There's no word on how many episodes LuPone will appear on of the hit show.

ERIC COMSTOCK & BARBARA FASANO, the popular husband and wife team whose recent individual CDs earned them equal respect in both the pop and jazz worlds, will present their first joint extended New York engagement at The Metropolitan Room, 34 West 22nd Street, NYC from March 3rd through March 15th. The evening, called 'WRAP YOUR TROUBLES IN DREAMS' celebrates the inspiration, strength and wit of our unique American songs to move us through these changing times. Accompanied by a rhythm section, Barbara and Eric will perform songs by Laura Nyro, Richard Whiting, Harry Warren, Paul Simon, Arthur Schwartz, Dorothy Fields and Oscar Brown, Jr. among others.

The Whiting is proud to present singing sensation Sophie Milman on Friday, February 20 at 8pm at UM-Flint Theatre. A major new talent has burst onto the jazz scene! Sophie Milman, the 24-year-old multilingual Russian-born singing sensation, has won critical acclaim for her musicianship and sultry, soulful voice, selling out jazz clubs across the U.S. and beyond. Her latest release Make Someone Happy tops the iTunes and Billboard jazz charts as she continues to win the hearts of audience members throughout the world with her amazing voice and unique style. This performance will be ASL interpreted. Ticket prices are $26 with $12 student rush tickets available the day of the show with proper I.D. To order tickets to this amazing performance simply visit TheWhitng.com, call (810) 237-7333 or (800) 8-CENTER, or visit the Ticket Center located at 1241 E. Kearsley St. just off I-475 between the University of Michigan Flint and Mott Community College. For a complete schedule and full details on the entire 2008-09 season line-up, visit TheWhiting.com or phone the Ticket Center and request a free brochure. Russian-born singer Sophie Milman has toured the world, won a Juno, sold more than 100,000 records - and she's only 25! Since her self-titled debut was released in 2004, it has sold almost 100,000 copies worldwide, hit the Billboard Top 5 in Canada and the Top 15 in the United States, and topped the iTunes jazz charts in five different territories. Her most recent release Make Someone Happy won a JUNO for best vocal jazz album 2008 and since then she has maintained a rigorous touring schedule across the globe - headlining sold-out shows in Canada, the U.S., Japan, and throughout Europe - and continued to balance her burgeoning music career with her commerce studies at the University of Toronto.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook ends its 11th season with a special concert by Stew and Heidi Rodewald in the newly revitalized Alice Tully Hall on March 6th at 8:00pm.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner as Cervantes/Quixote. Julia Migenes, the renowned opera and theatre performer, will play Aldonza/Dulcinea; Valerie Perri will play the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea at matinee performances; and Tony nominee Lee Wilkof will play Sancho Panza. 'Man of La Mancha' is written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Court. 'La Mancha' will play at the Freud Playhouse from February 14-March 1 (press opening February 15).

Reprise Theatre Company presents Brian Stokes Mitchell Sings Broadway, a program especially created for Reprise. It will have one performance only on Monday, May 11 at 8 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.

Shelly Burch has returned to New York with a vengeance. Last month she costarred at the 92nd Street Y's Lyrics and Lyricists: Rodgers & and this month she is starring in a weeklong cabaret engagement at the Metropolitan Room, February 25 thru March 2. The evening is produced and directed by her husband, Martin Charnin. This new act takes a musical look at the many aspects of love-from those exciting first moments made in a new relationship, to the choices a woman makes as she confronts a career and children, to the wonderful calm that comes when love is allowed to enter one's life, with no holds barred and no questions asked...when love and love alone becomes the answer. Shelly Burch received critical acclaim as the original Claudia in the musical Nine directed by Tommy Tune. Now some 20 years later, Shelly returns to New York and the cabaret scene, in her brand new entertainment, aptly titled Second Coming.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner as Cervantes/Quixote. Julia Migenes, the renowned opera and theatre performer, will play Aldonza/Dulcinea; Valerie Perri will play the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea at matinee performances; and Tony nominee Lee Wilkof will play Sancho Panza.

Pulitzer Prize-winning composer Marvin Hamlisch will lead the New York Philharmonic in New York Moments, a concert featuring iconic musical moments from Broadway and film, with stars from the stage and screen (in alphabetical order): Ashley Brown, who originated the title role in Mary Poppins on Broadway; Maria Friedman, who played Mrs. Lovett in Sweeney Todd and Marian in The Woman in White in London; Joel Grey, whose numerous starring roles have included the famous M.C. in Cabaret, on Broadway and in the film; Jennifer Holliday, one of the original Dreamgirls; Liza Minnelli, last seen on Broadway in Liza's at The Palace; Kelli O'Hara and Paulo Szot, stars of the current Lincoln Center Theater production of South Pacific; and 15-year-old up-and-coming singer, Nikki Yanofsky. The concert will take place Monday, April 20, 2009, at 7:30 p.m. All except Mr. Hamlisch and Ms. O'Hara are making their New York Philharmonic debuts.