Marilyn Monroe News

Known primarily for their excellent work with the Prospect Theatre Company (of which she is Producing Artistic Director and he is Resident Writer), the husband and wife team of director/bookwriter Cara Reichel and composer/lyricist/bookwriter Peter Mills are responsible for some of the most exciting and innovative musical theatre New York has seen since the company was founded in 1998.  And I daresay that with Iron Curtain, they and their inspired cohorts fully succeed in presenting one of their most difficult and risk-taking concepts yet; a fast, loud and funny 1950s-style musical comedy.

Just like Pope Paul VI figured when The Vatican told followers to go ahead and celebrate mass in the vernacular, John-Michael Tebelak figured that if the musical he penned with Stephen Schwartz, based on the Gospel According to St. Matthew, was going to connect with young people, it had to be done in their language.  So when Godspell premiered Off-Broadway forty years ago, the son of God and his disciples were depicted as soft pop and folk singing flower children who were too busy learning how to spread love to be bothered with sex, drugs and burning their draft cards.  Arriving on Broadway after Hair and Jesus Christ Superstar, it was the first major rock musical that didn't scare the hell out of parents.

To those who've seen the Oscar-winning screen adaptation of WEST SIDE STORY, the recollections of George Chakiris' performance as Bernardo remain vivid. His acting is top notch, his singing is superb and his dancing comes darn close to burning up the celluloid it is preserved on. He was awarded an Oscar as 'Best Supporting Actor' for his work on that film and now, fifty years later, he is about to imprint his handprints and signature outside of the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater in Hollywood. Sometimes the film industry can be a little slow on the uptake, won't you agree?

It's official, NBC's new Broadway-filled series SMASH will premiere on February 6 at 10pm. The show, which is about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical was developed by NBC's Robert Greenblatt, Steven Spielberg, and Broadway producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman - whose latest venture, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN, is now running at the Neil Simon Theatre - wrote the music for the show. Michael Mayer directed the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck penned the script.

On Twitter Watch, Megan Hilty wrote 'There are no words to properly describe how beautiful, generous and kind Miss Bernadette Peters is. We are so so lucky to have her at #Smash The show, which is about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical was developed by NBC's Robert Greenblatt, Steven Spielberg, and Broadway producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (HAIRSPRAY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN), wrote the music for the show. Michael Mayer directed the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck penned the script. The plot will follow an out-of-town tryout of a Broadway musical, and centers around a songwriting team (Debra Messing and Christian Borle) who write a musical about Marilyn Monroe based on an offhanded remark. They post a showstopping number on YouTube. When it's a viral hit, a producer (Anjelica Huston) who's looking to recapture success long past decides to produce the musical. There are two choices to play Marilyn: Karen (Katharine McPhee), a talented young newcomer, and Ivy (Megan Hilty), a theater veteran. Brian d'Arcy James has also been cast as Debra Messing's character's husband. SMASH will premeiere on NBC on February 6, 2012. '

Accidental Repertory Theater (John Strasberg, Founder/Artistic Director) will present the Good Morning America Johnny Johnson Dream Show written and directed by John Strasberg.

The show, which is about a group of people who come together to put on a Broadway musical was developed by NBC's Robert Greenblatt, Steven Spielberg, and Broadway producing team Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. Broadway's Marc Shaiman and Scott Wittman (HAIRSPRAY, CATCH ME IF YOU CAN), wrote the music for the show. Michael Mayer directed the project, and playwright Theresa Rebeck penned the script. Hear what the stars of the show had to say below!

Following a sold-out run in October, Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Executive Director), in association with Cinna Productions, announces the extended run of SIREN'S HEART - Marilyn in Purgatory, November 17-December 11. Lissa Moira directs this one-woman show, written by Walt Stepp, about Marilyn Monroe starring Louisa Bradshaw.

Oscar nominee Michelle Williams will star in the upcoming film 'My Week With Marilyn' opposite Tony winner Eddie Redmayne (who will also star in the upcoming film version of Les Miserables). Williams will have the chance to show off her song and dance skills in the film when she performs the Irving Berlin classic 'Heat Wave,' which Marilyn Monroe performed in 1954's There No Business Like Show Business.

The Hollywood Museum pays tribute to Lucy with a special Lucy Day to celebrate the 60th Anniversary of I Love Lucy, on Saturday, November 12, 2011 at10:00 a.m. - 5:30 p.m.

People.com reports that Queen Elizabeth will have a private screening of the upcoming film MY WEEK WITH MARILYN. The screening will take place at Buckingham Palace. The film takes place in the summer of 1956, when actress Marilyn Monroe, played in the film by Michelle Williams, was making a the movie The Prince and the Show Girl in the United Kingdom. It was during this brief period that the actress met with the Queen. Sources tell People.com that the monarch is curious to see how the meeting is depicted on the big screen.

MARTI PELLOW, one of Britain's great music icons, is to make his hugely anticipated return to the London stage, joining Willy Russell's smash hit musical, one of the longest running in history. From TUESDAY 1 NOVEMBER 2011, Marti will join the West End cast of BLOOD BROTHERS as The Narrator at the Phoenix Theatre, for a limited season.

Megan Hilty, who will soon be seen vying for a starring role in a Marilyn Monroe musical on the upcoming NBC series SMASH, will appear with the Seattle Men's Chorus on November 26th and 27th. She will be the series' opening guest; the concerts are entitled 'Cool Yule: the Big Band Theory' and run from November 26 through December 23.

New York City Center will reopen following a historic renovation and modernization with a star-studded gala on October 25.

Accidental Repertory Theater (John Strasberg, Founder/Artistic Director) will present the Good Morning America Johnny Johnson Dream Show written and directed by John Strasberg.

The 15th Annual Hollywood Film Festival and Hollywood Film Awards, presented by Starz Entertainment, are pleased to announce that Academy Award-nominated actress Michelle Williams will be honored with the 'Hollywood Actress Award,' at the festival's Hollywood Film Awards Gala Ceremony, which will take place October 24, 2011, at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills.

Julien's Auctions, the world's premier entertainment auction house, announces their 2nd annual Legends Auction on Saturday, October 22, 2011 in Macau China at Ponte 16, a world-class entertainment resort.

Julien's Auctions, the world's premier entertainment and celebrity estate auction house will offer an extraordinary collection of personal property from the legendary entertainer Bette Midler.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) announces the lineup for ANT Fest 2011.

Ars Nova (Jason Eagan, Artistic Director; Jeremy Blocker, Managing Director) announces the lineup for ANT Fest 2011.