Jule Styne News

Broadway veteran Obba Babatundé is set to star as Sammy Davis, Jr. in the world premiere of Sammy, Old Globe Executive Producer Lou Spisto announced today. The new musical is based on the life of Davis with book, music and lyrics by Leslie Bricusse, and additional songs by Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

The final song selections for Love Is The Answer, the eagerly awaited new studio collection of intimate jazz standards performed by Barbra Streisand, are being revealed in anticipation of the album's release on Tuesday, September 29.

The 2009-2010 Season at the Farmington Players Barn. Presenting quality theater at affordable prices is a Farmington Players' tradition - one that began in 1953 and continues with the staging of four memorable shows for the 2009-2010 season, beginning this October and running through May.

KLEA BLACKHURST - hailed as 'an improbably terrific young performer' by the New York Times - will return to New York with her critically-acclaimed concert, Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman for seven performances at the Snapple Theater Center (210 West 50th Street).

Berkeley Playhouse closes its highly successful inaugural season with Peter Pan the Musical this summer at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley. The show runs July 17 thru August 23, with regular Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances throughout the run.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

ReVision Theatre presents a star studded cast featuring Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand with special guest Lainie Kazan in a benefit performance of Funny Girl. The one night only event will be at the Paramount Theatre on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park on Saturday, July 11th, at 8 pm.

ReVision Theatre presents a star studded cast featuring Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand with special guest Lainie Kazan in a benefit performance of Funny Girl. The one night only event will be at the Paramount Theatre on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park on Saturday, July 11th, at 8 pm.

KLEA BLACKHURST - hailed as 'an improbably terrific young performer' by the New York Times - will return to New York with her critically-acclaimed concert, Everything the Traffic Will Allow: The Songs and Sass of Ethel Merman for seven performances at the Snapple Theater Center (210 West 50th Street).

Actress/singer/jewelry designer Shana Farr will make her long awaited cabaret debut at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at The West Bank Café in a thrilling new musical show, Pure Imagination? in which the beautiful and talented soprano will interpret imaginative songs by composers ranging from Harold Arlen to Carly Simon, Jule Styne to Francesca Blumenthal, Paul Williams to Rachmaninoff, and others.

ReVision Theatre announces star studded cast for benefit performance of Funny Girl starring Steven Brinberg as Barbra Streisand with very special guest Lainie Kazan. The one night only event will be at the Paramount Theatre on the Boardwalk in Asbury Park on Saturday, July 11th, at 8 pm.

Theatre legend Patti LuPone has issued a response regarding the recent run-in with a Las Vegas audience member who was texting during the show. The action forced LuPone to stop the show, and calmly repremand the texter.

Mark Nadler, prominent singer/pianist, cabaret performer, and actor brings a new show to The Rrazz Room, Hotel Nikko, 222 Mason, SF July 30-August 2. All shows are at 7 PM. Tickets are $35- $40 and can be purchased at www.therrazzroom.com or directly through www.ticketweb.com or 866 468 3399.

Theatre legend Patti LuPone has once again stopped a show cold. The incident took place June 21, while the actress was performing her brand-new show, Gypsy In My Soul, at the Orleans Showroom in Las Vegas. While introducing the iconic 'Don't Cry For Me, Argentina' LuPone noticed an audience member texting on his cell phone. Steve Friess of VegasHappensHere.com was at the show, and Tweeted (@thestrippodcast) immediately after the event.

Now that her already legendary run in Gypsy is over, Patti LuPone is set for a number of concert dates throughout the year, in addition to the previously announced dates with Mandy Patinkin for 'An Evening with Patti LuPone and Mandy Patinkin' she will make a concert stop in Las Vegas at the Orleans Casino & Hotel on June 20th and 21st. She can also be seen (and heard) at the Cincinnati May Festival in Kurt Weil's 'The Seven Deadly Sins', Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. James Conlon will be the Musical Director for the series of concerts. For her complete schedule visit her official website at, www.pattilupone.net. Patti LuPone swept the 2008 theatre awards winning the Tony, Drama Desk and Outer Critics Circle Awards for Best Actress in a Musical and the Drama League Award for Distinguished Performance for her performance as Rose in the critically-acclaimed new Broadway production of the classic Jule Styne-Stephen Sondheim-Arthur Laurents musical Gypsy, directed by the show's author, Mr. Laurents, currently at the St. James Theatre.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its highly successful inaugural season with Peter Pan the Musical this summer at the Ashby Stage in Berkeley. The show runs July 17 thru August 23, with regular Wednesday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday performances throughout the run.

The legendary songwriting team of Holland-Dozier-Holland will receive the prestigious Johnny Mercer Award on Thursday, June 18 at a ceremony at the Marriott Marquis Hotel in New York City. This is a busy and celebratory year for Brian Holland, Lamont Dozier and Eddie Holland, as they have reunited for the first and only time to write the score for the Broadway-bound musical, THE FIRST WIVES CLUB-A New Musical, which will be presented at the Old Globe Theatre in San Diego July 17 through August 23, 2009, with an official opening on July 31.

Actress/singer/jewelry designer Shana Farr will make her long awaited cabaret debut at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at The West Bank Café in a thrilling new musical show, Pure Imagination? in which the beautiful and talented soprano will interpret imaginative songs by composers ranging from Harold Arlen to Carly Simon, Jule Styne to Francesca Blumenthal, Paul Williams to Rachmaninoff, and others.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Chance and Chemistry: A Centennial Celebration of Frank Loesser, a concert to benefit The Actors Fund will take place at a Broadway theatre to be announced on Monday, October 26, 2009. The event will be co-chaired by Jo Sullivan Loesser and Sir Paul McCartney.