Julie Andrews News

The 2012 Academy Award for Actor in a Supporting Role has been awarded to Christopher Plummer for his performance in 'Beginners.'

Today, in honor of Sunday's Oscar telecast, we are going to take a look at some of the most memorable opening numbers and musical montages from the Academy Awards over the years, with a special focus, of course, on theatrically-related presentations and performers. The 2012 night of Oscar gold marks the return of frequent host Billy Crystal, so we are sure to be in for some truly terrific movie parodies and unscripted asides to have us rolling in aisles over the course of the hotly anticipated award show's three hours - Hollywood's night of nights. From the infamous Allan Carr-produced show in 1989 to some of the best moments from Crystal, Whoopi Goldberg, Ellen Degeneres, Anne Hathaway and Hugh Jackman, this collection of clips surely has something to please all the movie buffs, Broadway babies and all-around entertainment enthusiasts out there reading this who will be tuning in to the big show this weekend - from 1965 to 2011, we have it all. Plus, after all, how could we possibly miss a night this big? Whether the top winner of the night ends up being THE ARTIST, THE HELP, HUGO or THE DESCENDANTS, Billy Crystal is guaranteed to make the night run as smoothly and enjoyably as possible - and, potentially, much much more (as the following clips clearly show). As for the rest of the night's proceedings? Well, we will have to wait and see what happens!

SHANA FARR "Whistling Away the Dark: Through Songs of Julie Andrews" will perform at the METROPOLITAN ROOM February 25th (7:00pm) March 15th (9:30pm). $20.00 Music Charge / Two Drink Minimum, Food also available.

Henry Higgins, Eliza Doolittle and the rest of the iconic characters from MY FAIR LADY will transform the Morris Performing Arts Center into 1912 London in this Broadway classic.

Carol Burnett will among the recipients of the 49th Annual ICG Publicists Awards, to be held Friday, February 24, 2012 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

SHANA FARR "Whistling Away the Dark: Through Songs of Julie Andrews" will perform at the METROPOLITAN ROOM February 25th (7:00pm) March 15th (9:30pm). $20.00 Music Charge / Two Drink Minimum, Food also available.

Needing no introduction, popular TV star of the 60s, 70s and 80s impressionist Rich Little, who is known for his impressions of Ronald Regan, Jimmy Stewart, George Burns, Richard Nixon, among others, will appear at the Welk Resort in Escondido Wednesday February 29 thru Sunday March 4. In our interview he gives us a little preview of his latest solo show Jimmy Stewart and Friends, which he hopes to eventually take into New York.

Broadway musical theater stars Rachel York, a Drama Desk and two-time IRNE Award winner, and Brent Barrett, an LA Drama Critics Award winner and Olivier Award nominee, performed their favorite love songs from stage and screen as part of the Celebrity Concert Series to kick off the 44th season of Reagle Music Theatre in Waltham.

Porchlight Music Theatre will present the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

The Finborough Theatre's 'Celebrating British Music Theatre' series follows Perchance to Dream with Ivor Novello's last musical.

The Metropolitan Room announces March performances.

Porchlight Music Theatre, American Musicals. Chicago Style, presents the Chicago premiere of John Bucchino and Harvey Fierstein's A Catered Affair, directed by Nick Bowling with music direction by Doug Peck, at Stage 773, 1225 W. Belmont Ave.

While watching 3D Theatricals' largely pleasing stage production of the enduring Rodgers/Hammerstein Broadway classic THE SOUND OF MUSIC--now playing at the Plummer Auditorium in Fullerton, CA through February 26--one can't help but be reminded of just how great the more popular, Oscar-winning movie musical version truly is compared to its parental stage roots. Luckily, their winsome, beautifully-staged revival manages to overcome the presence of the stage version's flaws and ultimately comes off as smile-inducing, family-friendly production that all ages will find utterly beguiling.

Henry Higgins, Eliza Doolittle and the rest of the characters from MY FAIR LADY will transform the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall to 1912 London in this Broadway classic. Professional Facilities Management brings this show, upon which the classic 1964 Audrey Hepburn movie was based, to the Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall on Wednesday, March 7 through Sunday, March 11 for a limited 8 performances.

En 1964 de la mano de George Cukor llega a las pantallas My Fair Lady. En una noche lluviosa de 1912 el pudiente Henry Higgins escucha el habla descuidada de la vulgar Eliza Doolittle.Un encuentro fortuito que desencadena en una apuesta por transformar a Eliza en una bella dama en el tiempo récord de seis meses.

The entire entertainment world is reeling. We have lost one of our most iconic pop, R&B and soundtrack performers this evening - as well as a formidable movie star in her own right - Whitney Houston was just reported dead at the age of 48. Having had one of the most successful and most multimedia of careers of any multi-hyphenate star in recent memory, Houston scored multiple Grammys and racked up countless nominations over the course of her multi-decade recording career, yet her most notable contributions to the world of music reside in her outstanding soundtrack work - most of all, the songs for the film in which she made the transition into feature film leading lady, 1992's THE BODYGUARD. The biggest hit from THE BODYGUARD's blockbuster soundtrack was undoubtedly Houston's rendition of a Dolly Parton song originally recorded in 1974 and later made famous by Parton in the feature film version of the Broadway hit THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, "I Will Always Love You". In addition to Houston's sensational work on that mega-selling soundtrack - one of the Top 5 best-selling soundtracks of all time - she also provided her dramatic and vocal skills to the multi-platinum soundtracks to THE PREACHER'S WIFE and WAITING TO EXHALE, both films which she also starred in to much box office success. An Oscar-winning duet with Mariah Carey, "When You Believe" by WICKED's Stephen Schwartz from THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is yet another diadem in Houston's triple crown of accomplishments in the realms of music, film and television - having dominated all. Theatre fans may know Houston best for her incomparable portrayal of the Fairy Godmother in the incredibly successful 1997 ABC TV adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA starring Brandy and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. In addition to Houston's contributions to THE BODYGUARD, THE PREACHER'S WIFE, WAITING TO EXHALE, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT and CINDERELLA, Houston also rose to fame early in her career for her rendition of "Home" from THE WIZ on THE Merv Griffin SHOW, as well as made a mark with a Cissy Houston duet on the CHESS international smash, "I Know Him So Well" on her second hit album. The last project Houston was working on prior to her death on Saturday night was the feature film musical SPARKLE, co-starring AMERICAN IDOL winner and Broadway standout Jordin Sparks. SPARKLE reportedly completed production of principal photography and soundtrack sessions, though it is not clear when the musical remake will now be released in light of Houston's unexpected death. No matter the circumstances of her life and death, Whitney Houston most surely left a legacy that will never be forgotten by those that adored her for her vast multitude of talents and many notable accomplishments in all areas of entertainment.

Chimney sweeps dance, artwork comes alive and, ultimately, Mary Poppins' influence restores the fraying family ties between Mr. and Mrs. Banks and their two children. Yet theatergoers expecting a close interpretation of Disney's classic 1964 film will find little familiar territory in the onstage production of Mary Poppins. The show's creators certainly reference the movie in the costumes and sets and, more notably, by incorporating many of the film's most popular songs. However, the children's interactions and adventures with their "practically perfect" nanny primarily reflect stories included in the original Mary Poppins book series by P.L. Travers.

According to Deadline.com, Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep might star in an upcoming film about the making of Disney's 'Mary Poppins.' Titled 'Saving Mr. Banks,' the film features a screenplay by Kelly Marcel. Though neither has officially signed on for the movie, the duo would play Walt Disney and author P.L. Travers respectively.

Two-time Tony Award-winning Goodspeed Musicals announced that the inspiring new musicalAmazing Grace, based on the life of John Newton, the former slave trader who wrote the world's most recognized hymn, will kick-off Goodspeed Musical's Norma Terris Theatre Season May 17 through June 10.

Victoria Clark, Brian D'Arcy James, Sutton Foster, Kellli O'Hara and Rebecca Luker are among the Broadway stars who will be featured on 'Over the Moon: The Broadway Lullay Project', a two-CD set which will be released this spring as a fund raising project for the Breast Cancer Research Foundation and Young Survival Coalition.