Liza Minnelli News

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Pippin' performs at the Cadillac Palace and Sidetrack, dueling showtune concerts on August 17, and a summer 'Altar Boyz.' Plus local premieres of 'The Boy From Oz,' 'American Idiot' and 'Dogfight,' 'Gypsy' in Lake County, and 'The Producers' in true rep with 'Victor/Victoria!'

Six years after closing Liza's at The Palace, one of the most heralded Special Events in recent Broadway memory, Liza Minnelli gathered up her best friends, that famous songbook, and some beaded couture to try out a new concert in Biloxi, Mississippi. ('The glamour...the glitter...the Gulf,' Liza giggled.) As a try-out for her 2016 'Great Day' tour, Minnelli, musical director/pianist/singer Billy Stritch and singers Cortes Alexander and Jim Caruso warbled their way into the hearts of the Gulf Coast fans, garnering a half-dozen standing ovations and some love-letters from the press. Armed with a few Palace re-creations, some fresh new harmonies and the obligatory Liza standards, it seems that the sky's the limit for this happy band of players.

Lines are blurring. Gender-bending is seemingly everywhere these days, from high fashion ads to news coverage to I AM CAIT, Queen Latifah as The Wiz and beyond. Furthermore, one of the most provocative and popular stories of last week was the news of a Canadian regional production of A CHORUS LINE casting a male actor in the leading role of Cassie, renamed Casey. With the additional angle of Broadway currently being abuzz with the appearance of stage and screen star Taye Diggs stepping into the iconic high heels of the titular character in the recently multi-Tony Award-winning musical HEDWIG & THE ANGRY INCH - itself centered on a transsexual character - it seems as though now would be the ideal time to consider some other musical theatre mainstays and how they could be re-purposed and refreshed with a gender-bended twist. Although certain roles seems tailor-made to such treatment, it is illuminating to consider the rich possibilities that could potentially be afforded in the experience of witnessing the right performer of perhaps the perceivably wrong sex tackling a role normally associated with the opposite gender. Who knows, maybe a female Phantom or a make Elphaba are not that wildly spurious or far-fetched to consider given the compelling performances that have been given by unlikely actors in roles traditionally portrayed in a certain way. Theatre is nothing without reinvention and these are my top 10 picks for musicals I would like to see taken on with fresh eyes and a new outlook.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? Today's big news: James Lecesne brings 'ABSOLUTE BRIGHTNESS' off-Broadway and more!

The sparkles and feather boas were out in full force last night because after more than a year away from the stage, EGOT winner Liza Minnelli is back in action!  Last night she graced the Gulf Coast at Biloxi's IP Casino with her comeback performance 'Liza Minnelli in Concert with Billy Stritch.'

As previously reported, Liza Minnelli appeared in her first concert in more than a year this summer, on Friday, July 24 at 8 p.m. at the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi, Mississippi. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the show!

Singer Scott Coulter joked that those sitting in the Terrace sections had the "view to kill" at Thursday's San Francisco Symphony concert, but truly all who attended enjoyed a "killer" evening of action-packed, sensual scores and vocals.

Good morning, BroadwayWorld! Because we know all our readers eat, sleep and breathe Broadway, what could be better than waking up to it? This weekend's big news: Broadway divas are heading out across the country and the globe today, and LUCKY STIFF premieres in NYC!

Sam Harris, starred on Broadway in The Producers, Grease and The Life. He was also the first ever Grand Champion of TV's Star Search, and joins the star-studded lineup of Broadway @ The Art House this weekend, July 24 & 25 for two shows only at 7PM.

?Liza Minnelli will appear in her first concert in more than a year this summer. Minnelli is slated to perform tonight, July 24 at 8 p.m. at the IP Casino Resort Spa in Biloxi, Mississippi.

Last week, I selected ten top picks for a major headliner to star as Norma Desmond in a potential future stage and/or screen version of Andrew Lloyd Webber, Don Black and Christopher Hampton's Tony Award-winning Best Musical SUNSET BOULEVARD in honor of both the show's anniversary of its West End opening and recent news that Glenn Close is considering a return to her Tony-winning role in an upcoming revival. As a result of that column, BroadwayWorld readers took the title of this column to heart and sounded off on some of their ideal choices for a leading lady with major star quality to tackle the unforgettable role in a future production - and, what fabulous choices they are! Among the reader submissions, Ilene Argento posited, 'If not Patti Lupone, maybe Meryl Streep (with some more singing lessons!), but it should be Patti (although Patti plus ALW will probably never happen again).' while Brian Lipensky wrote, 'Glenn Close can still play her. That said, Meryl Streep can pull it off. We know she can sing and play characters with psychological problems. Susan Sarandon also. Maybe even Emma Thompson.' Furthermore, Jonathan Caplan offered, 'ANNIE LENNOX. Period. Well, if it can't be Elaine Paige, then absolutely, Annie Lennox. I said this before the musical ever opened, and I stand by it....ANNIE LENNOX!!!!!!' whereas David Macaluso relayed, 'Seriously. With a good director, in a film. LIZA! she could be AMAZING.' Other suggestions sure to inspire discussion included Cher, Lady Gaga, Ruthie Henshall, Donna Murphy and even Caitlyn Jenner. So, without further ado, here are ten more delectable choices for a new Norma Desmond for 2015.

Milford Arts Council, in association with Pantochino Productions Inc. has announced a new entertainment series, Nite Spot Nights, debuting this Fall at the Center for the Arts on Railroad Avenue in Downtown Milford.

Founded by BroadwayWorld TV's own Michael Sterling (On-air Producer and Host for live entertainment news events in Los Angeles), Sterling's Upstairs first opened its doors at the renowned Vitello's Restaurant in Studio City, CA. where it single handedly brought back to Los Angeles the art of intimate upscale cabaret concerts which had all but vanished from the cultural scene in movie town, USA.  However, in due time, the venue was whole heartedly embraced by enthusiasts of LA's performing arts community and continued to thrive for 6 successful years in a former storage room that was transformed by Sterling into a true supper club environment.  

Liza Minnelli is at it again! The Living legend of the stage and screen is set to perform at Mississippi's IP Casino Resort & Spa this month and will bring her new show, Great Day, to two venues in Oklahoma this November. This past week she sat down with PAPER to discuss her top 10 things that make her happy!

MARCUS GOLDHABER, acclaimed NYC jazz vocalist-songwriter and a fixture on Manhattan's jazz/cabaret circuit for a decade, has just added special guest vocalist Melissa Stylianou to his long-awaited debut at 54 BELOW,Broadway's Supper Club. She's there to add special sauce to the world premiere of Marcus' new show, 'FREE & EASY: LIVIN' ON SWING STREET.'

 Segerstrom Center for the Arts' 2015 - 2016 Spotlight Series opens with the sidesplitting savagery known as Forbidden Broadway October 1 - 4, 2015. There will be just four performances of a special adaptation of their recent hit edition, Forbidden Broadway Alive and Kicking! The cast includes members of the Tony Award®-winning New York company, including Forbidden Broadway stalwarts Gina Kreiezmar, Marcus Stevens, Kevin B. McGlynn and Trisha Rapier (who hails from Orange County!). This touring edition is presented by John Freedson and Harriet Yellin.

According to a listing on Facebook, Liza Minnelli will appear in her first concert in more than a year this summer.

Sam Harris, starred on Broadway in The Producers, Grease and The Life. He was also the first ever Grand Champion of TV's Star Search, and joins the star-studded lineup of Broadway @ The Art House on July 24 & 25 for two shows only at 7PM. This will be the first time that Harris is paired with Sirius XM Radio's Seth Rudetsky as interviewer and pianist. Given the pair have known each other for twenty years since the Broadway revival of Grease, the evening should prove to be hilariously entertaining and filled with incredible music. For tickets please visit www.ptownarthouse.com, or call 1-800-838-3006.

The real-life acting couple Keir Dullea (2001: A SPACE ODYSSEY) and Mia Dillon (CRIMES OF THE HEART, Broadway original cast) will be joined by actors Todd Cerveris, Cameron Clifford, Don Noble and Christa Scott-Reed in the BUCKS COUNTY PLAYHOUSE production of Ernest Thompson's comedy ON GOLDEN POND, running tonight, July 10, to August 2, at the Playhouse, located at 70 S. Main Street in New Hope, Pa.