Julie Andrews News

Eleanor Parker, who played 'Baroness Elsa Schrader' in the 1966 film The Sound of Music starring Julie Andrews, passed away today, December 9, 2013. She was 91.

Unless you've been hiding under a rock, you know that Carrie Underwood recently starred in NBC's production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's beloved musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC. Whether you loved it or hated it, NBC's live broadcast has been widely discussed for its casting, presenting a production that was more faithful to the original 1959 vehicle created for Mary Martin than the 1965 film starring Julie Andrews, and for the sheer fact that it has been a rather long time since a Broadway musical was turned into a television special and beamed into living rooms across the United States. Additionally, two days prior to the initial airing, Sony Masterworks released a charming studio album that features music from the production.

The producers of Cinderella announced today that television and film star Fran Drescher will make her Broadway debut as Cinderella's stepmother Madame, beginning performances on February 4th for a 10-week run through April 13 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway). Ms. Drescher takes over the role created by Harriet Harris, who concludes her acclaimed year-long run in the musical to return to her home in California.

After NBC's foray into musical theatre with last week's live broadcast of The Sound of Music starring Carrie Underwood, and with Laura Osnes' Cinderella sashaying on the Great White Way, the continued sway of Broadway composer-lyricist duo Rodgers & Hammerstein is unmistakable. In honor of their legacy, BroadwayWorld has rounded up some of the highlights of the Rodgers & Hammerstein cannon.

Carrie Underwood took to Twitter on December 6, the day after NBC's live SOUND OF MUSIC broadcast in which she starred as Maria, to respond to her critics.

Happy Birthday, Ira Gershwin! A lyricist, Gershwin collaborated with his younger brother, composer George Gershwin, to create some of the most memorable songs of the 20th century. With George he wrote more than a dozen Broadway shows, featuring songs such as 'I Got Rhythm', 'Embraceable You', 'The Man I Love' and 'Someone to Watch Over Me'. He was also responsible, along with DuBose Heyward, for the libretto to George's opera Porgy and Bess. The success the brothers had with their collaborative works has often overshadowed the creative role that Ira played. However, his mastery of songwriting continued after the early death of George. He wrote additional hit songs with composers Jerome Kern ('Long Ago (and Far Away)'), Kurt Weill and Harold Arlen.

Today we are highlighting a few of the many memorable moments on last night's unprecedented live TV broadcast of THE SOUND OF MUSIC, starring Carrie Underwood - Carrie's simply tremendous star turn through to Audra McDonald's awe-inspiring 'Climb Ev'ry Mountain', Laura Benanti's inspired Baroness and a tear-jerking Stephen Moyer and collective clan, plus more.

No Santa Claus, no Frosty the Snowman, not even Buddy the Elf. No problem. Very few stories evoke holiday sentimentalities as much as the Tony Award winning, The Sound of Music. Running December 6th through the 22nd, the Wagon Wheel Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers' and Hammerstien musical featuring all your favorite songs including, 'Do-Re-Mi', 'So Long, Farewell', and 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen', just to name a few.

No Santa Claus, no Frosty the Snowman, not even Buddy the Elf. No problem. Very few stories evoke holiday sentimentalities as much as the Tony Award winning, The Sound of Music. Running December 6th through the 22nd, the Wagon Wheel Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers' and Hammerstien musical featuring all your favorite songs including, "Do-Re-Mi", "So Long, Farewell", and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen", just to name a few.

Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns for the fifth time to host the festive annual New Year's celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic, under the direction of Daniel Barenboim from Vienna's Musikverein.

No Santa Claus, no Frosty the Snowman, not even Buddy the Elf. No problem. Very few stories evoke holiday sentimentalities as much as the Tony Award winning, The Sound of Music. Running December 6th through the 22nd, the Wagon Wheel Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers' and Hammerstien musical featuring all your favorite songs including, "Do-Re-Mi", "So Long, Farewell", and "Sixteen Going on Seventeen", just to name a few.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. It's a non-holiday edition! With 'The Mikado,' 'Triumph Of Love,' 'Sweet Smell Of Success,' 'Cabaret' at the Marriott, 'Ain't Misbehavin',' CST's 'Gypsy' and more, plus Streisand and Sondheim on TV, and 'The Sound Of Music' at Sidetrack!

No Santa Claus, no Frosty the Snowman, not even Buddy the Elf. No problem. Very few stories evoke holiday sentimentalities as much as the Tony Award winning, The Sound of Music. Running December 6th through the 22nd, the Wagon Wheel Theatre presents the beloved Rodgers' and Hammerstien musical featuring all your favorite songs including, 'Do-Re-Mi', 'So Long, Farewell', and 'Sixteen Going on Seventeen', just to name a few.

Denver, Colo. (Dec. 3, 2013) – Experience the live magic of The Sound of Music in Denver this summer while sitting in the best seats in the house. General/Artistic Director Pelham 'Pat' Pearce announces that for 24 hours only, Central City Opera (CCO) will offer a pre-sale of single tickets to its 2014 production of Rodgers and Hammerstein II's glorious musical, The Sound of Music. Central City Opera's new production of this family classic will be performed in Denver at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House in the Denver Performing Arts Complex from August 2 through August 10. Ticket prices range from $30 to $106.

Longtime songwriting team MARCY HEISLER (Author/Lyricist) and ZINA GOLDRICH (Composer) are set to make their 2014 Broadway debut with EVER AFTER, directed by Kathleen Marshall and produced by Kevin McCollum, Scott Landis and Philip Morgaman. They were the first women ever honored with the Fred Ebb Award for Musical Theatre Songwriting, and Heisler was awarded the 2012 Kleban Prize for Outstanding Lyrics.

Today we are catching up with a previous participant in this column who has an incredibly exciting new endeavor on the horizon coming to TV screens live around the country later this week - one of the stars of NBC's live presentation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic family-friendly musical THE SOUND OF MUSIC, Tony Award winner Laura Benanti.

The kindness continues on December 5th when XL Nightclub, Cabaret and Lounge will host a screening of NBC's THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! starring Carrie Underwood, Audra McDonald, Stephen Moyer, Christian Borle and Laura Benanti. Doors will open at 6pm at XL (512 42nd ST between 10th and 11th Avenues). The screening will be shown on HD TVs throughout the space at 8pm. Door prizes will include autographed posters and cast albums of THE SOUND OF MUSIC LIVE! and CINDERELLA. For advance reservations please visit www.soundofmusicforOMB.eventbrite.com

Continuing the tradition of preserving and celebrating great recordings, The Recording Academy® has announced the newest additions to its legendary GRAMMY Hall Of Fame®.

Continuing the tradition of preserving and celebrating great recordings, The Recording Academy® has announced the newest additions to its legendary GRAMMY Hall Of Fame®.

Birdland Jazz Club has announce its upcoming schedule for December 9-15, featuring Donna McKechnie, Shoshana Bush, Frank Wildhorn, Jazz Stories: Eddie Gomez, Kenny Barron, Al Foster, Wallace Roney, and more!