Julie Andrews News

People.com reports that puppeteer Jerry Nelson, the voice behind the beloved Sesame Street character 'The Count', has died at age 78. The news of his death from 'unspecified causes' was released by CBC Radio-Canada.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College (BCBC) opens its 2012-2013 Target Storybook Series with Enchantment Theatre Company's production of The Velveteen Rabbit on Sunday, November 11, 2012 at 2pm. All tickets are $7 and can be purchased by phone at 718-951-4500 (Tues-Sat, 1pm-6pm), or online at www.BrooklynCenterOnline.org.

Dick Van Dyke, beloved actor, singer, dancer, writer and comedian, will receive SAG-AFTRA's highest honor - the SAG Life Achievement Award for career achievement and humanitarian accomplishment.

Brooklyn Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College announces its 58th season of music, dance, theater, and family programming reflecting the multicultural diversity of Brooklyn. The outstanding line-up features performances from Jamaica, Russia, China, and Canada, as well as the United States, and includes both Brooklyn premieres and returning favorites.

Broadway's new musical CHAPLIN begins previews tomorrow at 8pm and opens September 10 at the Barrymore Theatre (243 West 47th Street). Meet the cast below!

GPR Records will release a recording of Catherine Zeta-Jones narrating The Runaway Bunny, based on the best selling children's classic by Margaret Wise Brown. Also on the CD will be English Baritone Mark Stone singing Goodnight Moon and a special guest superstar narrating Poulenc's Babar, The Elephant. The CD will be released on November 15th, will be available at www.GPRRecords.com, Amazon, and iTunes.

On Monday, September 17, Broadway at Birdland is proud to present multi-Grammy and Tony nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be Janet Dacal (Wonderland, In The Heights), Karen Mason (upcoming Rebecca) and James Barbour (upcoming Rebecca).

Mary Poppins, which opened at the Ahmanson on August 10 and runs through September 2, proves to be the perfect film to turn into a show. Flashy, whimsical, and packed with songs like "Supercalifragilisticexpialidocious," "Feed the Birds, "A Spoonful of Sugar" and "Let's Go Fly A Kite" that had America humming in 1965, the film provided Julie Andrews with her movie debut and an Oscar to boot. In its present incarnation, it is a splashy riot of color, comedy and song that had the audience I saw it with fairly rapturous after every big number.

Yesterday, August 13, Broadway at Birdland presented multi-Grammy and Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage were Constantine Maroulis (upcoming star of Jekyll & Hyde), Laura Osnes (Tony nominee/Bonnie & Clyde and upcoming Cinderella), Melissa van Der Schyff (Bonnie & Clyde) and Stark Sands (upcoming Kinky Boots).

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee- Producing Artistic Director, Todd Schmidt-Managing Director) has announced that single tickets for all five mainstage productions go on sale Wednesday, August 15, 2012. Beginning on Wednesday, August 15th, tickets can be purchased online at www.PaperMill.org or by calling our box office at 973.376.4343.

Tonight, August 13, Broadway at Birdland presents multi-Grammy and Tony-nominated composer Frank Wildhorn in his monthly concert series called "Frank & Friends." Joining Frank onstage will be Constantine Maroulis (upcoming star of Jekyll & Hyde), Laura Osnes (Tony nominee/Bonnie & Clyde and upcoming Cinderella), Melissa van der Schyff (Bonnie & Clyde) and Stark Sands (upcoming Kinky Boots).

At this time, Goodspeed Musicals regrets to inform you that, due to her recent injuries on the set of "The Good Wife," Kristin Chenoweth will not be able to attend their gala, as she is at home recuperating. However, the show will go on as planned, with Broadway, film, and television star Alan Cumming accepting the award in her absence and a Special Tribute Performance by Tony- and Grammy-nominated composer Andrew Lippa. They will be joined by Goodspeed alums Kirsten Wyatt (Gooch in Goodspeed's Mame) and Khris Lewin (Goodspeed's My One and Only.)

For 12 years, Merkin Concert Hall's Broadway Close Up series has been taking audiences behind the scenes of classic musicals old and new with eye-opening interviews and inspiring performances. The annual Bound for Broadway show hosted by Liz Callaway gives theater lovers sneak peeks at some of the best new shows in production. This season's line-up includes:

The Litchfield hills are alive as TriArts Sharon Playhouse continues its 2012 season with the heartwarming family classic, The Sound of Music. Directed and choreographed by Gary John La Rosa, with music direction by Artistic Director Michael Berkeley, The Sound of Music opens tonight, August 9 and runs through August 26, 2012. Tickets ($16-$47) are available by calling 860.364.SHOW (7469) or at www.triarts.net.

Just announced is official word that the new production of RODGERS & HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA will arrive on Broadway this season with previews set for January 21, 2013 prior to Opening Night on February 21 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway), it has been announced by the musical's producers Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Jill Furman in association with Center Theatre Group.

Happy Birthday Rachel York! York has appeared on Broadway as Fantine in Les Miserables; Norma in Victor/Victoria (Drama Desk Award) with Julie Andrews; Marguerite in The Scarlet Pimpernel; Miss Fancy in Sly Fox with Richard Dreyfuss; and Christine Colgate in Dirty Rotten Scoundrelswith Jonathan Pryce. She appeared off-Broadway opposite Julie Andrews in Stephen Sondheim's Putting It Together and in the Lincoln Center Theater production of Dessa Rose. Most recently, Rachel was seen in The Best Is Yet to Come: The Music of Cy Coleman and created the role of Cruella de Vil in The 101 Dalmatians Musical directed by Jerry Zaks.

At this time, Goodspeed Musicals regrets to inform you that, due to her recent injuries on the set of "The Good Wife," Kristin Chenoweth will not be able to attend their gala, as she is at home recuperating. However, the show will go on as planned, with Broadway, film, and television star Alan Cumming accepting the award in her absence and a Special Tribute Performance by Tony- and Grammy-nominated composer Andrew Lippa. They will be joined by Goodspeed alums Kirsten Wyatt (Gooch in Goodspeed's Mame) and Khris Lewin (Goodspeed's My One and Only.)

The Litchfield hills are alive as TriArts Sharon Playhouse continues its 2012 season with the heartwarming family classic, The Sound of Music. Directed and choreographed by Gary John La Rosa, with music direction by Artistic Director Michael Berkeley, The Sound of Music opens August 9 and runs through August 26, 2012. Tickets ($16-$47) are available by calling 860.364.SHOW (7469) or at www.triarts.net.

Cinema at the Square returns to PlayhouseSquare for its fifteenth year of bringing classic films back to the BIG screen in Cleveland August 2-19.

Victoria Clark, Harriet Harris, Ann Harada and Peter Bartlett will join Laura Osnes as Cinderella and Santino Fontana as the Prince in a workshop of the new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA August 2nd and 3rd in New York, it has been announced by the musical's producer Center Theatre Group in association with Robyn Goodman, Stephen Kocis and Jill Furman.