Julie Andrews News

Andrew Lloyd Webber, David Ian and The Really Useful Group are delighted to announce that Verity Rushworth will star as 'Maria' alongside Jason Donovan as 'Captain Von Trapp' in their smash hit production of the legendary Rodgers and Hammerstein musical "THE SOUND OF MUSIC".

Having essayed the roles of Belle in BEAUTY & THE BEAST and the title role in MARY POPPINS on Broadway, as well as having created a role in the jukebox revue ON THE RECORD, Ashley Brown has carved a place for herself as the premiere Disney leading lady of the 21st century and her participation in the recent symphonic presentation of SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARVES only furthers that point. I spoke to Ashley yesterday as she was on her way to rehearsals for SIR TIM RICE & FRIENDS, a special concert taking place in NYC on Friday at 6 PM and we discussed her career so far and her plans for the future, both near and far. Also, here you will find the first news of Ashley's upcoming PBS special airing in March and a forthcoming original Charlie Chaplin musical as well as a Cole Porter revue based on the film ROMAN HOLIDAY.

The Juilliard String Quartet, one of the world's great cultural treasures, will be honored by The Recording Academy®'s National Board of Trustees with its Lifetime Achievement Award, which acknowledges lifelong artistic contributions to the recording medium.

According to Syracuse.com, arts and entertainment critic and much loved Syracuse native Joan E. Vadeboncoeur passed away yesterday, January 4 in her home in Cazenovia. She was 78 years old.

Tony winning Broadway legend Carol Channing will be honored at the LIGHT OF HOPE AWARDS on February 5, 2011 at The Rancho Las Palmas Resort in Palm Springs, California for her outstanding work with The Dr. Carol Channing And Harry Kullijian Foundation For The Arts in advocating for arts education in all public schools across the nation. The 'Night At The Movies' Gala will star Tony Nominated stage, film and television actress Jonelle Allen and the nationally renowned young performing group, The Kids Next Door. Proceeds from the event will benefit Christophers Clubhouse, a non profit organization dedicated to educating and empowering children, parents and communities to keep children safe from predatory crimes.

Playwrights Horizons announced in December that it had commissioned FAR FROM HEAVEN, a new musical with book by Tony Award winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain), music by Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens) and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens, The Grapes of Wrath).

Bestselling children's book author, editor and educator Emma Walton Hamilton has announced the launch of the Children's Book Hub (www.childrensbookhub.com), a membership-based 'virtual salon' providing information, resources and support for aspiring and established children's book authors.

Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns for the third year to host the festive annual New Year's celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic, under the direction of Franz Welser-Möst from Vienna's Musikverein.

2010 was a year filled with all sorts of exciting BroadwayWorld interviews - here's some of this year's highlights!

The UK Daily Express reports that Dame Julie Andrews will likely make a guest appearance on GLEE as Kurt's grandmother, alongside none other than The Princess Diaries co-star Anne Hathaway, who has reportedly been tapped to play Kurt's aunt.

The stars were out for Sarasota and fans of Bonnie & Clyde who filled Asolo Rep's Mertz Theatre Tuesday night to attend- An Intimate Evening with Frank Wildhorn & Friends. The starry concert featured musical theatre legend and Bonnie & Clyde composer Frank Wildhorn, and starred Rob Evan and Laura Osnes, with Marlyn Sanchez, and Jack Murphy; who performed songs from Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Wonderland, Bonnie & Clyde and more. Bassist Gregg Voorhees accompanied.

Celebrate the holidays with the Des Moines Community Playhouse and a journey to once upon a time, in a kingdom far, far away with the family musical Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Cinderella,' Dec. 10-23. Tickets may be purchased at the Playhouse ticket office, 831 42nd St.; by phone at 515-277-6261; and online at dmplayhouse.com. Rodgers & Hammerstein's 'Cinderella' is sponsored by Wellmark Blue Cross & Blue Shield.

The Recording Academy® announced its Special Merit Awards recipients today, and this year's group includes: Julie Andrews, Roy Haynes, Juilliard String Quartet, The Kingston Trio, Dolly Parton, Ramones, and George Beverly Shea as Lifetime Achievement Award honorees; Al Bell, Wilma Cozart Fine and Bruce Lundvall as Trustees Award honorees; and Roger Linn and Waves Audio as Technical GRAMMY Award® honorees. The special invitation-only ceremony will be held during GRAMMY® Week on Saturday, Feb. 12, 2011, and a formal acknowledgment will be made during the 53rd Annual GRAMMY Awards telecast, which will be held at STAPLES Center in Los Angeles on Sunday, Feb. 13, 2011, and broadcast live at 8 p.m. ET/PT on the CBS Television Network.

Asolo Repertory Theatre today announced further details and pricing for special concert, An Intimate Evening with Frank Wildhorn & Friends. The starry concert features musical theatre legend and Bonnie & Clyde composer Frank Wildhorn at the piano, starring Rob Evan and Laura Osnes, with Marlyn Sanchez, and Jack Murphy; singing songs from Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel, Wonderland, Bonnie & Clyde and more.

Asolo Repertory Theatre today announced adding a new title to its Asolo Rep Extras series, An Intimate Evening with Frank Wildhorn & Friends. The starry concert features composer Frank Wildhorn at the piano along with some of Broadway's finest voices. Further details will be announced soon. The show, to be held on December 21st at 8 p.m. in the Mertz Theatre, replaces the Holiday concert originally scheduled. Details and prices will soon be released latter this month. Call the box office for more information at 941-351-8000; toll free 800-361-8366, or go online at www.asolorep.org.

Broadway, TV and Film actress Andrea McArdle will star in Connecticut Repertory Theatre's (CRT) production of the smash-hit Broadway Musical Urinetown, April 14 - 17 & 27 - 30, 2011 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre on the Storrs campus.

Here is the second part of our three-part discussion, in which Esparza and I analyze his roles and performances in plays, as well as a thorough discussion of the art of acting - and, additionally, a chat about roles he would like to play in the future, both near and far.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) announced today that it has commissioned FAR FROM HEAVEN, a new musical with book by Tony Award winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain), music by Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens) and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens, The Grapes of Wrath). The musical is being adapted from the acclaimed, award-winning 2002 Focus Features/Vulcan Productions motion picture Far From Heaven, written and directed by Todd Haynes.

As previously reported, Blake Edwards, husband of 41 years to Julie Andrews and a well known writer and director who produced and directed Victor/Victoria on Broadway, died at age 88 on December 16, 2010.

Playwrights Horizons (Tim Sanford, Artistic Director; Leslie Marcus, Managing Director) announced today that it has commissioned FAR FROM HEAVEN, a new musical with book by Tony Award winner and two-time Pulitzer Prize finalist Richard Greenberg (Take Me Out, Three Days of Rain), music by Tony Award nominee Scott Frankel (Grey Gardens) and lyrics by Tony Award nominee Michael Korie (Grey Gardens, The Grapes of Wrath). The musical is being adapted from the acclaimed, award-winning 2002 Focus Features/Vulcan Productions motion picture Far From Heaven, written and directed by Todd Haynes.