Liza Minnelli News

On this very day in 1943, Michael DiFiglia was born in Buffalo, New York, and the world of Broadway would simply never be the same. Cutting his teeth with the accomplished choreography for A JOYFUL NOISE, PROMISES, PROMISES, SEESAW and COCO was merely the beginning of a career that would virtually rewrite and revolutionize the ways and means by which a director could yield ultimate control over a project. With COMPANY and FOLLIES, the later co-directing with Hal Prince, Bennett solidified himself as one of the most talented and brilliant choreographers of his generation and, shortly thereafter, proved with A CHORUS LINE that he was a master theatrical engineer with few, if any, peers. Worldwide success, Tony Awards and the Pulitzer Prize were just the gravy. Who else but Michael Bennett would then, or ever, receive - or should I say, earn - the credit "Entire Production Conceived, Produced and Directed by," besides him? While BALLROOM failed to live up to A CHORUS LINE in mostly every way, he soon after reinvented the wheel yet again with DREAMGIRLS in 1981. We never got to see his productions of CHESS and SCANDAL, both of which he was in the latter stages of developing at the time of his death in 1988. Broadway has never been the same since he's been gone. So, today, on the day following a glittering new production of COMPANY at Lincoln Center - with the complete dance sequence "Tick Tock" fully restored, now with five dancers - we take a tip of the top hat to the tops in taps, temerity and truthfulness onstage - the one and only Michael Bennett.

One of Broadway and Hollywood's most famous musicals, CABARET returns to Anchorage again, March 3 through April 4, 2011 at the Wild Berry Theatre.

The Drama League (Jano Herbosch, President; Gabriel Shanks, Executive Director) is pleased to announce this year's honorary co-chairs for The 77th Annual Drama League Awards Ceremony and Luncheon.

Madison Square Garden Entertainment announced today that the legendary Chicago Theatre will celebrate its 90th anniversary this year. Constructed in October of 1921 as the flagship in a series of opulent movie houses, the famed venue's six-story high marquee remains one of Chicago's most recognizable landmarks today.

The Fred Ebb Foundation (Mitchell Bernard, Trustee) in association with the York Theatre (James Morgan, Artistic Director) is pleased to present an invitation-only showcase presentation entitled An Afternoon with Doug Cohen featuring the words and music of the 2010 Fred Ebb Award Winner. Featured in the presentation will be Heidi Blickenstaff, Bradley Dean, Tovah Feldshuh, Jackie Hoffman, Lauren Kennedy, Jeff McCarthy, Lindsay Roberts, Lance Rubin, Howie Michael Smith and Barbara Walsh.

The Kneehigh Theatre Company will close its West End production of THE UMBRELLAS OF CHERBOURG on May 21 instead of the previously announced October 1 closing. The show opened at the Gielgud Theatre on March 22. Directed by Emma Rice, with lyrics translated by Sheldon Harnick, designs by Lez Brotherston, lighting by Malcolm Rippeth, sound by Simon Baker and musical supervision by Nigel Lilley, The Umbrellas of Cherbourg is produced in the West End by Daniel Sparrow and Mike Walsh Productions, Curve Leicester and City Lights International in association with BE MY Productions.

Sisters Liz and Ann Hampton Callaway, are set to bring their cabaret BOOM! back to New York City this May. Performances will take place at Birdland May 3-7 at 8:30PM and 11PM. For additional information, visit: www.Birdlandjazz.com.

The Hollywood Bowl launches its 90th season with the 2011 edition of the Opening Night at the Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame Concert, Friday, June 17, at 8:30 p.m. Grammy and Emmy award-winning singer/musician/actor Harry Connick, Jr., and seven-time Grammy award-winning pop music superstar Gloria Estefan will be inducted into the Hall of Fame this year.

Holding the world's record for playing the longest-running role in entertainment history, Erica Kane on ABC‘S ALL MY CHILDREN, is just one mere jewel amongst the scores in the fifty-year career crown tiara of television icon Susan Lucci. Having appeared on Broadway in ANNIE GET YOUR GUN and performed in nightclubs across the country with Regis Philbin, she is certainly no stranger to the stage - and what could better define working actor than memorizing scripts for a new hour-long drama every day, five days a week, for forty-one years? Commitment to her craft, an intense love of performance, and an affinity for the expression of human emotion - as well as an instant likeability and irrepressible allure - are just a few of the many features that make up the impressive journey of two women - Erica, included - over the course of Lucci's compelling and personally revealing new autobiography ALL MY LIFE, in stores today - as well as our warm and candid discussion about it. From Broadway to Hollywood; New York to LA to Vienna; from Broadway stages, concert stages, cabarets, to screens large and small - and, also, to some of the strongest television films of all time (plus, some starry stories and DANCING WITH THE STARS tidbits, too) - see some of the reasons why she is simply known as La Lucci, just as any grand opera diva (soaps, stage or otherwise) should undoubtedly be.

The new production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING opened at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre 302 West 45th Street on Sunday night, March 27, 2011. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the whole evening's excitement! Below are photos from the arrivals red carpet!

Storrs: Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will present the smash-hit Broadway Musical Urinetown, featuring Broadway star Andrea McArdle, April 14 - 17 & 27 - 30, 2011 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre on the Storrs campus. For tickets and information, call 860-486-4226 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu

The Stella Adler Studio of Acting announced today that the Sixth Annual Stella by Starlight Benefit Gala will be held on May 2nd at the home of songwriter and philanthropist, Denise Rich. This year's honorees include Liza Minnelli, Annette Bening, Muriel 'Mickey' Siebert and Donald Katz.

The new production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING opened at Broadway's Al Hirschfeld Theatre 302 West 45th Street Sunday night, March 27, 2011, at 5pm. BroadwayWorld.com was there to capture the whole evening's excitement! Below are photos from the starry after party!

'Mary Minnelli' channels the glamour of a legend in Performing Tonight: Liza Minnelli's Daughter, opening Saturday, April 30, 2011 at The Neo-Futurarium, 5153 N. Ashland.

Following the news this week of the passing of Elizabeth Taylor, we are taking a look back at some of her most memorable screen appearances over the years, beginning with LASSIE COME HOME and NATIONAL VELVET, and ranging from Vincente Minnelli's loveable comedies FATHER OF THE BRIDE and its equal sequel FATHER'S LITTLE DIVIDEND, to her unforgettable dramatic performance in A PLACE IN THE SUN, to the series of legendary pictures produced alongside her (sometime) husband and (always) love of her life Richard Burton, in roles ranging from Antony and Cleopatra in, of course, CLEOPATRA, to BOOM! Based on Tennessee Williams' THE MILK TRAIN DOESN'T STOP HERE ANYMORE - with a screenplay by Williams himself (his sole screen adaptation) - and one of the greatest films in cinematic history, based on one of the most important plays of the latter half of the twentieth century: Edward Albee's WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? That's not even mentioning her iconic performance in Williams' CAT ON A HOT TIN ROOF and SUDDENLY, LAST SUMMER - plus, BUTTERFIELD 8 (her first Oscar win), A PLACE IN THE SUN and GIANT. Who knows, there may even be time for a little FLINSTONES action, as well! Here we have a surefire spangled salute to one of the last great stars Broadway and Hollywood has known.

Although for the better part of five decades, John Kander has been known as part of the writing duo Kander and Ebb, he's now working on a new set of one-act shows with a new collaborator: 32-year-old Gregory Pierce.

Times Square's landmark concert venue, will present one of America's classic singer-songwriters, DON McLEAN on Friday, March 25th at 8PM. McLean is forever associated with his classic hits 'American Pie' and 'Vincent (Starry Starry Night)'. Since first hitting the charts in 1971, he has amassed over 40 gold and platinum records world-wide and, in 2004, was inducted into the Songwriters' Hall of Fame.

Dame ElizaBeth Taylor has passed away this morning at the age of 79 due to heart failure. According to ABC News, all four of her children were with her when she passed.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. A benefit for Japanese disaster relief, the Paramount Theatre's season, Donny and Marie for Christmas, Porchlight and Billy Stritch at Mayne Stage, 'A Chorus Line,' 'Always, Patsy Cline' and other suburban productions, 'The Magic Flute' in English, more....

The Town Hall's critically acclaimed Broadway by the Year's®11th Season continues with The Broadway Musicals of 1932, a year that brought us famous shows by musical theater icons such as Kern and Hammerstein (Music in the Air), Irving Berlin, (Face the Music), Cole Porter (Gay Divorce) and Dietz and Schwarz (Flying Colors), among others. Produced by The Town Hall, The Broadway Musicals of 1932 was created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel. Siegel took the audience on a musical travelogue, exploring the history of the Great White Way and providing social anecdotes while showcasing the beloved hits and lesser-known gems from the golden age of Broadway. The show was directed by Scott Coulter and choreographed by Jeffry Denman, who both performed in the show as well. Ross Patterson was the musical director. BroadwayWorld was on hand as usual and brings you photo coverage below!