Julie Newmar News

Billie Holiday made her debut in 1948. Nina Simone first graced its stage in 1955. In 1963 Bob Dylan played the notorious venue.

Happy Medium Theatre, Inc. (HMT) furthers and challenges audiences with The Country Club, directed Mikey DiLoreto. The production runs May 26th - June 4th at the Factory Theatre, 791 Tremont Street, Boston, MA, 02118.

Transport Group Theatre Company, the winner of a special Drama Desk Award and two OBIE Awards, has announced casting and dates for the New York premiere of Lysistrata Jones, a new musical with a book by Douglas Carter Beane; music and lyrics by Lewis Flinn; directed and choreographed by Dan Knechtges.

On Thursday, April 21 at 8pm, legendary downtown diva and extraordinary mistress of music Joey Arias will join the ranks of Billie Holiday, Nina Simone and Bob Dylan, with a Town Hall debut in Joey Arias: Live at Town Hall! Presented by Josh Wood Productions, this one-night-only musical event is conceived and created by Arias and musical director Ben Allison with artistic direction my Manfred Thierry Mugler.

There aren't many concerts around where you can hear a full house go berserk at the promise of hearing Jill Eikenberry sing a number from Onward, Victoria.  Or where the mention of the name Bruce Yeko draws spontaneous applause and the audience enjoys a running gag about Lenny Wolpe.

This week, in a corollary column to tonight's InDepth InterView: John Leguizamo, who can currently be seen nightly in his one-man-show GHETTO KLOWN on Broadway, we have an abundance of performance clips from his past stage shows - FREAK, SEXAHOLIX, SPIC-O-RAMA and more - as well as clips from his most beloved films - THE PEST, CARLITO'S WAY and TO WONG FOO, THANKS FOR EVERYTHING, JULIE NEWMAR, among others - as well as a look at his most memorable and mind-blowing characters - ranging from Tybalt in Baz Luhrmann's ROMEO + JULIET to Toulouse Lautrec himself in MOULIN ROUGE - all coming on the heels of the nationwide release of his newest feature film, THE LINCOLN LAWYER, co-starring Matthew McConaughey, Marisa Tomei, Josh Lucas and William H. Macy, which we take a cursory look at, too, of course. Plus, some musical theatre parodies, celebrity impressions, his debut appearance in a Madonna music video, and even a visit from Elmo himself!

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment have announced that Tony and Olivier award nominee Douglas Carter Beane will provide additional book material to the upcoming musical SISTER ACT, working alongside Emmy and Golden Globe award-winning book-writers Cheri and Bill Steinkellner. Previews begin March 24 at the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway); opening night is April 20.

Billie Holiday made her debut in 1948. Nina Simone first graced its stage in 1955. In 1963 Bob Dylan played the notorious venue.

'Ballroom With A Twist' at the El Portal Theatre drew, quite possibly, the most eclectic audience in the history of the landmark venue.

Transport Group (TG), the winner of a special 2007 Drama Desk Award and 2007 and 2010 OBIE Awards, has announced that it will present the New York premiere of Lysistrata Jones, a new musical by Douglas Carter Beane (Xanadu, Little Dog Laughed) and composer-lyricist Lewis Flinn (Divine Sister) on the basketball court of the Judson Memorial Church gymnasium. Dan Knechtges (Xanadu, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee) will direct and choreograph. Previews begin May 2011 with an opening date to be announced.

The Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute has always been a location known for multiple celebrity sightings and many certainly turned out last Saturday, Nov 6th, for the opening night of 'BARRYMORE' starring Jack Betts as the famous thespian. The standing room only crowd included representatives of stage, film and TV with Julie Newmar, Fred Willard, Rip Taylor, Thao Penghlis, John Glover, Don Swayze, Ned VanZandt, Larry Pressman, as well as Ana Strasberg and John Barrymore, Jr. The evening's festivities included a birthday celebration for the opening's hostess, Doris Roberts.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg and Stage Entertainment announced today that the new Broadway musical, SISTER ACT, will play the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway) this spring. Preview performances are scheduled to begin on March 24, 2011. Opening night is confirmed for Wednesday, April 20, 2011. Casting and on sale date will be announced shortly.

This afternoon I was lucky enough to score some talk-time with legendary recording artist, Oscar-nominated songwriter and the most iconic female pop singer of the 60s, Ms. Lesley Gore. She will be appearing in Broadway's hit jukebox musical MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET one night only on Friday night, September 24th, but in this SOUND OFF SPECIAL INTERVIEW she opens up about her illustrious and accomplished career in the studio and on the stage - and also onscreen in an oh-so-classic BATMAN with Julie Newmar - as well some breaking news about her new biographical musical using both the stacks of hit songs she is so famous for and some newly written compositions. As if all that - and compelling recollections of time spent with Liza Minnelli, Jerry Lee Lewis, Quincy Jones, Laura Nyro (almost) and many more - weren't enough, we also have some breaking news about the future of her brother, a world-famous songwriter in his own right due to FAME, Michael Gore's infamous Broadway musical CARRIE may be making its way back to the boards very soon - which is the epitome of good news for Broadway babies who have wanted to know! Bloody lucky Broadway will be to have CARRIE - and the disarmingly warm and exceptionally delightful Lesley Gore!

After a career on Broadway and at Radio City Music Hall, New Jersey wardrobe & hair professional Vince Esoldi is retiring along with his unique Autograph Suit with over 300 famous signatures!

After a career on Broadway and at Radio City Music Hall, New Jersey wardrobe & hair professional Vince Esoldi is retiring along with his unique Autograph Suit with over 300 famous signatures!

Who Wants Cake? is delighted to announce the dates for their production of Douglas Carter Beane's hilarious play The Little Dog Laughed. Opening August 7th at Ferndale's Ringwald Theatre for an exclusive four-week engagement, this charming show is just what's needed to combat the end of summer blues.

Who Wants Cake? is delighted to announce the dates for their production of Douglas Carter Beane's hilarious play The Little Dog Laughed. Opening August 7th at Ferndale's Ringwald Theatre for an exclusive four-week engagement, this charming show is just what's needed to combat the end of summer blues.

Double Crown restaurant's Chef de Cuisine, Christopher Rendell, joins forces with playwrights Theresa Rebeck (Pulitzer Finalist for Omnium Gatherum; Mauritius), Rob Ackerman (the Drama Desk Award-winning Tabletop), and Tony® nominee Douglas Carter Beane (for Xanadu; To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything, Julie Newmar) to create an original three-course menu inspired by their world premiere plays.

Josh Charles ('The Good Wife,' 'In Treatment'), Ann Harada (AVENUE Q, 9 TO 5), Jason Tam (A CHORUS LINE, LES MISERABLES) and Katie Kreisler (NOISES OFF, OUR HOUSE) will star in 'Eating Their Words' benefit event for The Chase Brock Experience dance company on Monday, June 21st at Double Crown restaurant at 316 Bowery. For this unique evening, Double Crown's Chef de Cuisine, Christopher Rendell, joins forces with playwrights Theresa Rebeck (Pulitzer Finalist for OMNIUM GATHERUM; MAURITIUS), Rob Ackerman (the Drama Desk Award-winning TABLETOP), and Tony® nominee Douglas Carter Beane (for XANADU; THE LITTLE DOG LAUGHTED; screenwriter, 'To Wong Foo Thanks for Everything,' 'Julie Newmar') to create an original three-course menu inspired by their world premiere plays. Produced by Eating Their Words, the unprecedented innovator of events that wed seasoned chefs, award-winning playwrights and notable actors for a synthesis of the performing and culinary arts, the evening's proceeds will support the creation of two premiere dances in The Chase Brock Experience dance company's summer season. The event begins at 7pm in Double Crown restaurant's private dining room. Menu to be announced shortly.

'We are delighted to present LITTLE HOUSE ON THE PRAIRIE, THE MUSICAL,' states Christopher B. Manos, Producer of Theater of the Stars. 'This exciting new show will bring back fond memories for so many of us who loved the books and the hit television series.