Julie Andrews News

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.

El próximo 7 de marzo tendrán lugar en la Sala de Espejos del Centro de Formación e Investigación Escénica del Palacio de Festivales (c/ Gamazo, s.n.) de Santander las audiciones infantiles para los personajes de Kurt, Marta y Gretl para el musical Sonrisas y Lágrimas.

There's so much already going on this season in Triangle theater! I'm so thrilled by what I've seen so far, and I cannot wait to dive into so many more amazing productions. I can't tell you exactly what to see, but I'll let you know what I am definitely going to be seeing this year.

Happy Birthday Carol Channing! She is the recipient of three Tony Awards (including one for lifetime achievement), a Golden Globe and an Oscar nomination. Channing is best remembered for originating, on Broadway, the musical-comedy roles of bombshell Lorelei Lee in Gentlemen Prefer Blondes, and matchmaking widow Dolly Gallagher Levi in Hello, Dolly! She also appeared in two New York revivals of Hello, Dolly!, and toured with it extensively throughout the United States. Channing also appeared in a number of movies, The First Traveling Sales Lady (1956) with Ginger Rogers, the cult film Skidoo and Thoroughly Modern Millie, opposite Julie Andrews and Mary Tyler Moore.

Nederlander Presentations, Inc. has announced that the JEKYLL & HYDE will return to Broadway in Spring 2013 following a 25-week National Tour starring Tony Award Nominee Constantine Maroulis in the dual title role of Dr. Henry Jekyll and Edward Hyde. The tour will launch at San Diego's Civic Theatre in San Diego, California on October 2, 2012.

There's so much already going on this season in Triangle theater! I'm so thrilled by what I've seen so far, and I cannot wait to dive into so many more amazing productions. I can't tell you exactly what to see, but I'll let you know what I am definitely going to be seeing this year.

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

Lerner and Lowe's classic stage musical "My Fair Lady," a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons to become a proper lady, comes to the California Theatre for one performance only on Jan. 26, 2012.