Liza Minnelli News

I don't care how old you are, I'm pretty sure this recording sounds like home. Nat King Cole, with his velvety croon, sings one of the more perfect songs ever written with simplicity and good taste. It's been recorded thousands of times, in every conceivable style - with riffs and shrieks and all kinds of dazzlement. But this arrangement and performance is the only one I want to hear.

If you have spent more than twelve minutes with me, you know that I am in love with a fake person named Miranda Sings. I first saw her on YouTube when she gave a 'free voice lesson' to the interwebs. I thought she was a neo-Florence Foster Jenkins, as did most everyone. I wrote to 'her,' inviting her to Cast Party, my weekly open mic night at Birdland. I heard back from her creator, Colleen Ballinger, a wildly intelligent and brilliantly funny actress. That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship and subsequent business relationship. 'Miranda' became a regular on my Broadway at Birdland concert series, until our walls couldn't hold her fan base. Now, she's playing the biggest theaters in the world (Kennedy Center!), just signed for the second season of her Netflix sit-com 'Haters Back Off,' had a #1 book on the New York Times Bestseller List, has guested on the Tonight Show, and hangs with Jerry Seinfeld. Colleen's online following rivals the Catholic Church (almost a billion hits), yet she's still as funny and normal and adorable as ever. This insane video clip makes me hysterical, as do most of her awkward shenanigans.

This ravishing song has an interesting history. The lyric was written in 1946 by a nineteen-year old Frank Pooler, as a gift to a girlfriend he was missing. Twenty years later, a nineteen-year old Richard Carpenter set it to music. In four years, this recording by The Carpenters went to #1, which it did for three consecutive holiday seasons. It sounds as fresh today as it did in 1970, partly because of Richard's lush arrangement and backup vocals, and that famous tenor sax solo. But honestly, it's all about Karen. For my money, Karen Carpenter had one of the warmest and truest voices in the history of popular music. Sometimes the universe makes a terrible mistake and we lose someone way too soon…long before they've finished. That's how I feel about Karen Carpenter.

I know, I know, this isn't really a song about Christmas, but's it's a standout from Carol Hall's wonderful 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' score! I used to sing this song with a vocal trio, and everytime we'd get to 'Maybe I'll count the stars until dawn. Me, I will go on,' my eyes would well with tears. It's a song of passion, strength and looking forward to brighter days. If that's not what this season is about, I don't know what is. In this clip, Jenn Colella, Adrienne Warren and Keala Settle perform the song on the Birdland stage for the Lilly Awards. Three better singers, you won't find.

Need some last minute gift ideas for the Broadway lover in your life? Fear not! There may be only a few short weeks left before the holidays, but we've got plenty of ideas to add to your shopping list!

I know, I know, this isn't really a song about Christmas, but's it's a standout from Carol Hall's wonderful 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' score! I used to sing this song with a vocal trio, and everytime we'd get to 'Maybe I'll count the stars until dawn. Me, I will go on,' my eyes would well with tears. It's a song of passion, strength and looking forward to brighter days. If that's not what this season is about, I don't know what is. In this clip, Jenn Colella, Adrienne Warren and Keala Settle perform the song on the Birdland stage for the Lilly Awards. Three better singers, you won't find.

HB Studio, one of New York's most venerable institutions for theater training and practice, launches its first acting class conducted entirely in Spanish this January.

I know, I know, this isn't really a song about Christmas, but's it's a standout from Carol Hall's wonderful 'Best Little Whorehouse in Texas' score! I used to sing this song with a vocal trio, and everytime we'd get to 'Maybe I'll count the stars until dawn. Me, I will go on,' my eyes would well with tears. It's a song of passion, strength and looking forward to brighter days. If that's not what this season is about, I don't know what is. In this clip, Jenn Colella, Adrienne Warren and Keala Settle perform the song on the Birdland stage for the Lilly Awards. Three better singers, you won't find.

To celebrate the festive season, the Royal Albert Hall has recreated the world's first ever commercial Christmas card - designed by Sir Henry Cole, instrumental in creating the iconic venue - using 14 stars from its glittering past.

In 1981, more than 500,000 music fans gathered in Central Park to witness a concert by the now legendary reunion of folk duo Simon & Garfunkel. On Friday, March 31, award-winning recording artists, Lee Lessack and Johnny Rodgers recreate that magical night in Wilson Theater at Vogel Hall as part of the MC Presents series.

After a successful opening night 2014 MAC Award Nominee MargOH! Channing is returning to Pangea with her all new show MargOH! Channing is HUNG on December 15 at 7PM.

We've all seen Becca Ayers on Broadway in Addams Family, South Pacific, Les Miserables and Avenue Q. She's a kickass singer, fabulous actress and very handy with a puppet. But did you know she writes great folky-poppy tunes? 'Simple Wish' is a witty, charming and slightly bitter ode to the search for holiday love!

Ice skating in Bryant Park. The lighting of the Rockefeller Center Christmas tree. Seeing the Rockettes at Radio City Music Hall. The holiday windows on 5th Avenue. Fighting crowds at the airport with the promise of family on the other side of a long flight. Curling up with hot chocolate to watch Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer for the millionth time. The rich, familiar nuttiness of egg nog.

I couldn't be more thrilled to share some of my all-time favorite holiday tunes with the BroadwayWorld readers! Rob Diamond, BroadwayWorld and I have had a long history together, with countless podcasts, interviews, and kajillions of photo flashes to our credit. The consistent support the site gives to the entire entertainment community is a thing to behold, and one that all of us consider a great present!

'Murder for Two,' the Off-Broadway and regional theater musical mystery sensation, takes on a decidedly holiday glow when it is transformed into 'Murder for Two: Holiday Edition' in a world-premiere production at Bucks County Playhouse, tonight, December 9, through December 31.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are delighted to announce the cast and creative team for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. This commanding and moving play, written by Lanie Robertson, directed by Bill Fennelly and featuring Deidrie Henry as Billie Holiday, is set in the intimate atmosphere of the Bingham Theatre.

Tony Award winner and Metropolitan Opera baritone Paulo Szot will join Music Director Alan Gilbert, mezzo-soprano Joyce DiDonato, and the New York Philharmonic for the Orchestra's New Year's Eve celebration, Saturday, December 31, 2016, at 8:00 p.m., an evening of American classics including music by Rodgers & Hammerstein, Lerner & Loewe, and Copland.

Four dynamic, award-winning Broadway musical stars -- Andrea McArdle (Broadway's original 'Annie'), Maureen McGovern (#1 Gold record 'The Morning After'), Christine Andreas (Oklahoma!, On Your Toes) and Faith Prince (Tony winner Guys & Dolls) -- come together in concert for an evening of song, laughter and memories in 4 Girls 4, coming to Mayo Performing Arts Center on Saturday, January 14, 2017 at 8 pm.

Cabaret. It's 1931 in Germany, a country of unrest. We find ourselves at the Kit Kat Klub, a seedy cabaret, a place of decadence and emotional abandonment. Hanging over the entire scene is the aura of the growth of the Nazi party and the impending reign of terror.