Laura Nyro News

THIRTEEN's American Masters presents the first film biography of media mogul David Geffen. The Emmy-winning filmmaker Susan Lacy's new documentary features candid interviews with Geffen, Cher, Tom Hanks, Steven Spielberg, Elton John, Don Henley, Neil Young, Jackson Browne, Nora Ephron, Mike Nichols, Clive Davis, Irving Azo

Judy Kuhn, known on Broadway for her role in Chess and Les Misérables (and by 90s Disney fans as the singing voice of the animated Pocahontas), is performing a week-long cabaret run at the Hippodrome Casino's Matcham Room

Back to the Garden will play one night only at Joe's Pub, featuring Melissa Hammans, Carey Anderson, Maddy Wyatt and Amy Lynn Zanetto, with musical direction by Debra Barsha. The show takes place tonight, October 7th, doors at 9 p.m., show at 9:30 p.m.

Back to the Garden will play one night only at Joe's Pub, featuring Melissa Hammans, Carey Anderson, Maddy Wyatt and Amy Lynn Zanetto, with musical direction by Debra Barsha. The show takes place on Sunday, October 7th, doors at 9 p.m., show at 9:30 p.m.

Judy Kuhn has been nominated for three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards for her work on Broadway in She Loves Me, the American premieres of Chess and Les Misérables, and Rags. She joins the acclaimed lineup of the Broadway at The Art House series in Provincetown, today, Sept 8 and 9 for two shows only. Series host Seth Rudetsky joins her at piano. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

Judy Kuhn has been nominated for three Tony Awards and three Drama Desk Awards for her work on Broadway in She Loves Me, the American premieres of Chess and Les Misérables, and Rags. She joins the acclaimed lineup of the Broadway at The Art House series in Provincetown, on Sept 8 and 9 for two shows only. Series host Seth Rudetsky joins her at piano. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 508-487-9222.

Today we are talking to one of the most alluring and anomalous recording stars on the rise all about this week's US release of her sophomore album, BOYS DON'T CRY, a tribute to male songwriters of the 1970s - the ethereal Rumer. Discussing many aspects of this new release, as well as her previous studio work - such as her Burt Bacharach Christmas EP - Rumer sheds some light on what makes her such an arresting and intriguing performer to follow for the enthusiasts of intimate, revealing, performance-based artists around the world, as she herself reveals the early influences - Judy Garland, Barbra Streisand and Karen Carpenter most of all - that have shaped the unmistakable sound she continues to perfect on this moody, subdued and intoxicating new cover album. Plus, Rumer offers forth candid recollections of participating in recent gala concert presentations - none the least of which would be her superb "A House Is Not A Home" on the PBS Burt Bacharach edition of IN PERFORMANCE AT THE WHITE HOUSE - as well as recounts her own favorite performances, performers and albums and what she plans for the future; another new album is already in the ether! Additionally, Rumer also shares her thoughts on GLEE, provides amusing anecdotes about famous friends like Darryl Hall and Duffy, compares the recording industry now to the era BOYS DON'T CRY pays tribute to, recalls reactions to her dynamic new covers of these rare pop gems - all of that as well as much, much more!

It may be the final week of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, but the festival isn't winding down when it comes to exciting performances. This week, Lincoln Center celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the landmark Soul at the Center, highlighted by Valerie Simpson's first tribute to her late partner, Nick Ashford, since his passing. The pair that wrote such Motown hits as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)," and "I'm Every Woman," made their performing debut as a duo at Lincoln Center 40 years ago. The Tribute takes place on Friday, August 10 at Damrosch Park.

David Geffen's far-reaching influence - as agent, manager, record industry mogul, Hollywood and Broadway producer, and philanthropist - has helped shape American popular culture for the past four decades.

Presentations of Page 73 Productions' developmental workshop of A THICK DESCRIPTION OF HARRY SMITH (Volume I) by Chicago-based playwright Carlos Murillo (DARK PLAY OR STORIES FOR BOYS) and directed by Kip Fagan (Page 73's JACK'S PRECIOUS MOMENT) will begin Thursday, June 28 at 2pm and continue Friday, June 29 at 2pm; Sunday, July 1 at 7pm and Monday, July 2 at 3pm (please note the altered performance time for the July 2nd performance) at Culture Project (45 Bleecker Street). Tickets are $10 and can be purchased online at page73.org/harrysmith.

Best Actress Tony nominee Linda Lavin will be joined by an array of notable playwrights, directors and actors -- Vineyard Theatre artists all -- when she hosts The Vineyard's 5th annual luncheon presentation of the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award to emerging playwright Erika Sheffer (RUSSIAN TRANSPORT), today, June 21 (12 p.m. - 2 p.m.) at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan.

Best Actress Tony nominee Linda Lavin will be joined by an array of notable playwrights, directors and actors -- Vineyard Theatre artists all -- when she hosts The Vineyard's 5th annual luncheon presentation of the Paula Vogel Playwriting Award to emerging playwright Erika Sheffer (RUSSIAN TRANSPORT), on Thursday, June 21 (12 p.m. - 2 p.m.) at the National Arts Club (15 Gramercy Park South) in Manhattan.

Off-Broadway's Page 73 Productions will present its first "Page 2" presentation of 2012 - a developmental workshop of A THICK DESCRIPTION OF HARRY SMITH (Volume I) by Chicago-based playwright Carlos Murillo (DARK PLAY OR STORIES FOR BOYS) and directed by Kip Fagan (Page 73's JACK'S PRECIOUS MOMENT), with performances June 28 through July 2 at Culture Project (45 Bleecker Street), it has been announced by Page 73's Executive Directors Liz Jones and Asher Richelli.

RECALL, written by Eliza Clark, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt, and produced by Stephen Stout. Performances begin tonight, June 8th at 8pm, at the Wild Project, 195 East 3rd Street, New York, NY 10009. Opening night is set for Tuesday, June 12th at 7pm. The show must close Saturday, July 7th. Tickets are $25 general admission and may be purchased at Ovationtix or by calling 212.352.3101.

Today we are talking to a two-time Tony Award winning lyricist and book writer who was responsible for the 2010 Best Musical winner, MEMPHIS, and who has since written the libretto of the Gershwin revue NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET and received a well-earned Tony nomination for his efforts; one of the show's ten nods - Joe DiPietro. In this concluding portion of our conversation, DiPietro and I break down the process of creating NICE WORK IF YOU CAN GET IT and he comments on the starry cast - including Matthew Broderick, Kelli O'Hara, Judy Kaye and Estelle Parsons - and the process of collaboration in bringing the 2012 Tony Awards top nominee to the Broadway stage. Additionally, DiPietro fills us in on the future for THE TOXIC AVENGER and its tentative Broadway plans, as well as the upcoming West End mountings of MEMPHIS and, hopefully, NICE WORK - and, a look ahead to his next David Bryan collaboration, CHASING THE SONG, as well. Plus, a glance back at his work on I LOVE YOU, YOU'RE PERFECT NOW CHANGE, F*CKING MEN and ALLEGRO and his favorite current pop acts.

Immediately following Taj Mahal's 70th birthday celebration at the Boulder Theater, TheBluesMobile.com, 97.3 KBCO, Daily Camera & Colorado Daily present the 2nd Annual Boulder Roots & Blues Summit at the Fox Theatre & Boulder Theater tonight, May 18th through Saturday, May 19th. Ladies of the Blues Night, ft. Treasa Levasseur, Hope Waits and Fredericks Brown ft. Deva Mahal, daughter of legendary blues musician, comes to The Fox Theatre for a free show tonight, May 18th.

Immediately following Taj Mahal's 70th birthday celebration at the Boulder Theater, TheBluesMobile.com, 97.3 KBCO, Daily Camera & Colorado Daily present the 2nd Annual Boulder Roots & Blues Summit at the Fox Theatre & Boulder Theater Friday, May 18th through Saturday, May 19th. Ladies of the Blues Night, ft. Treasa Levasseur, Hope Waits and Fredericks Brown ft. Deva Mahal, daughter of legendary blues musician, comes to The Fox Theatre for a free show on May 18th.

Ars Nova presents, as part of the Out Loud series, a FREE reading of: QUEEN BEE by Sharyn Rothstein, directed by Adrienne Campbell-Holt. The cast includes Leslie Ayvazian, Kyle Beltran, Aya Cash, Will Jackson Harper and Chip Zien.

Four letters say it all: LIZA. Descended from Hollywood royalty - the only Academy Award winner with both parents recipients of the prize, as well; Judy Garland and Vincente Minnelli - Liza Minnelli made her mark on show business first with her stupendous debut in 1965's FLORA THE RED MENACE by a new songwriting team comprised of composer John Kander and lyricist Fred Ebb, and the rest is showbiz history. The fruitful musical marriage of the three over the next four decades would result in some of the finest achievements in all of entertainment, many featuring Ms. Minnelli, the peerless entertainer of a generation, as the central interpreter. FLORA THE RED MENACE to CABARET, CHICAGO, NEW YORK, NEW YORK, THE ACT, THE RINK and beyond, the partnership between Liza Minnelli and Kander & Ebb has yielded some of the most spectacular and unforgettable songs ever written or performed and 2012 is a special year indeed to celebrate their many fine achievements. In addition to the long-awaited Blu-ray premiere of the iconic Bob Fosse film musical for which Liza won a Best Actress Oscar, CABARET - premiering in the HD format later this year to mark its fortieth anniversary - this week sees the hotly anticipated CD and digital premiere of one of her finest live recordings ever captured - LIZA MINNELLI LIVE AT THE WINTER GARDEN - completely remastered, with bonus tracks. Featuring a powerhouse performance by the central star at the very height of her astonishing abilities, the diverse catalog of material is woven together seamlessly and quite wonderfully by master director Bob Fosse and conductor/musical director Marvin Hamlisch - and that's without even making mention of the tremendous original specialty songs penned by Kander & Ebb for the event, including a song sequel to "Liza With A Z". Discussing all aspects of the LIVE AT THE WINTER GARDEN album and the new digital and CD release of it, Minnelli reminisces about the electric evening with her trademark style, wit, humor, insight and passion while also sharing anecdotes about noted collaborators Bob Fosse, Fred Ebb, John Kander, Charles Aznavour, Marvin Hamlisch and many more. In addition to all about LIVE AT THE WINTER GARDEN and its multitude of charms and riches, Minnelli and I also discuss the new HD remastering of CABARET and her personal opinion of it, having just viewed the pristine new print at its gala debut, and she also shares how she feels the film has held up in the forty years since its premiere and her remembrances from the set. Additionally, Minnelli offers her candid opinions on a host of topics ranging from her ultimate show business legacy to sizing up CABARET versus THE GODFATHER to her affection for pop superstar and devoted Liza fan Lady Gaga to thoughts on Laura Nyro, Stephen Sondheim - and much, much more!

Vineyard Theatre will present its 5th annual Paula Vogel Playwriting Award to emerging playwright Erika Sheffer, author of the play RUSSIAN TRANSPORT, it has been announced by Vineyard Theatre's Artistic Director Douglas Aibel and Co-Artistic Director Sarah Stern.