Marilyn News

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with The Cookers, Perry Joslin, The Emmet Cohen Trio, and more!

Fort Worth Opera (FWO) announced today the news that the FWO-TCU Lesley Artist Program, in collaboration with the TCU Opera Studio, has expanded from four to eight artists for the 2018-2019 season. These talented young singers have been selected through a highly competitive nationwide audition process and will perform in the company's productions of Hansel and Gretel and composer Michael Ching's Three Pigs Remix. This season's artists are sopranos Anne Wright and Janani Sridrar, mezzo-sopranos Bridget Cappel and Heather Weirich, tenors Jonathan VanKuren and Myles Garver, and baritones Sam Parkinson and Erik Larson. This prestigious discovery and training program is led by Fort Worth Opera's Coordinator of Educational Outreach, Sheran Goodspeed Keyton, and David Gately, Director of the TCU Opera Studio.

NELLY, a narrative feature about the escort turned international literary star, which features the French-Canadian actress and Toronto International Film Festival Rising Star, Mylène Mackay (L'Age adulte, Endorphine) in the title role, will premiere theatrically in select U.S. theaters this September.

Sony Crackle today released the official trailer and new photography for the sophomore season of 'Snatch' premiering with all 10 episodes Thursday, September 13 on the free streaming network. Ahead of the wide release, the scripted original drama series will debut with a sneak peek on Amazon devices through the Sony Crackle app starting Friday, August 31.

Following an exciting kickoff at Bryant Park, the Carnegie Hall Citywide free concert series continues this fall with a vocal recital and jazz in Manhattan, Cuban son and Greek dance in Brooklyn, Afrobeat and Afro-Cuban music in the Bronx, and honky-tonk and Broadway hits in Queens. The series, now entering its 43rd year, brings leading artists and rising stars to all five boroughs of New York City.

East West Players (EWP), the nation's longest-running professional theater of color in the country and the largest producing organization of Asian American artistic work, is pleased to announce that its Theatre for Youth (TFY) touring production, Tam Tran Goes To Washington-which commenced in the Spring of 2018 and caters to middle and high schools, community colleges, and universities in Greater Los Angeles-will be extended through the Fall of 2018. 

Kelly Mullis will reprise her starring role as Marilyn Monroe after a successful run in the 2018 Hollywood Fringe Festival. This Producer's Encore Winner is Written and Performed by Kelly Mullis, co-Directed by Wayne Orkline with Original Stage Direction for the Hollywood Fringe by Odalys Nanin.

Contra Costa Civic Theatre (CCCT) today announced the cast for its season-opening production, Allegiance, directed by Lily Tung Crystal, with music direction by Kenji Higashihama and choreography by Allison Paraiso.

Sharon McNight (Tony nominee: STARMITES), Nayo Wallace (B'way: THE LION KING), Brett Ryback (MURDER FOR TWO in NYC and LA), and Brittney Bertier (Norma Jeane in MARILYN! THE NEW MUSICAL) join the class of (mostly)musicals #29: BACK TO SCHOOL on Monday, 8.27.18.

LYMAN, The Musical, is about, centrally, a person named Lyman Liri. We are first introduced to him as an adult when a lady stops to talk to him while he is selling Valencia oranges on the streets of Redlands, California. We begin to learn about both of them, and how they might even be connected, as the woman seems to recognize him, but can't recall from where or when. This is a brand new Musical that made it's El Portal debut the night I saw the performance. It is an amazing and courageous endeavor to not only put a spotlight on the homeless in our city, but to show how possible it could be that one choice, one decision could change the course of your life forever, in a flash, and this theme is explored thoroughly throughout Lyman's story.

Lee Roy Reams (Tony nominee for 42nd Street), Jane Summerhays (Tony nominee for Me and My Girl), Diane J. Findlay (Fish in the Dark), Neva Small (Fiddler on the Roof), and Don Johanson (Jelly's Last Jam) have joined the 40th Anniversary concert of BALLROOM, the 1978 Tony nominated musical, at Feinstein's/54 Below on Tuesday, September 4th at 7:00pm.

Shelter Transport Animal Rescue Team (START) in association with Pacific Resident Theatre presents the world premiere of a funny, refreshing and highly theatrical solo show, based on true events, by writer/performer Steve Spiro. PRT's Ann Bronston directs UK Underdog opening Sept. 20 at theZephyr Theatre for a six-week run through Oct. 28. All proceeds from the production will benefit START Rescue as well as selected animal charities and anti-bullying groups.

'Razzle Dazzle 'Em' is what Ben does, innately; it's in his blood, it's in his soul. 'Steppin' Out' signifies going beyond what you have achieved thus far. Ben Vereen is an Evolved Entity that shares his evolutional journey with us, delightedly so... on both sides!! This past Saturday evening, I had the great pleasure to see Ben Vereen perform at the Catalina Bar & Grill. When I first heard where he would be, I wondered why he chose a Jazz Club. Now I know why. Ben Vereen not only has decades of hit Broadway Shows, TV Series, Nightclub Acts, Awards and Accolades to his repertoire, but from that he has still kept his initial joy and exuberance in performing, yet taken his showmanship to another level.

The Berkshires is one of the most beautiful and cultural geographical places in the United States. It's hills have been the playpen of artists, actors, and musicians since the 1920's. The area welcomed one of our generations finest pop/jazz vocalists this weekend in Mr. Finn's Cabaret at Barrington Stage Co.

Love, lust, takeout and everything in between! Singer/Songwriter Michele Brourman celebrates the launch of her brand-new CD 'The Price of Love' with an evening of original songs at Pangea, New York's Downtown Alternative Supper-Club. The show, LET'S ORDER IN, direct from a successful engagement in London's premier cabaret The Pheasantry, is a mix of familiar tunes and new gems from the album.

Writer and director Anne Johnstonbrown announced today the full cast for her production of LYMAN, The Musical, which tackles the prevalent issue of homelessness and how choice and chance define our future. The musical stars Lou Beatty, Jr. (Tales from the Hood 2, The Yard), and features Eric Baily, Jr., Jacob Betts, Chantel Cagle-Cordova, Jack Dempsey Collins, Tony Collins, Erik Dabrowski, Natalie Eleftheriadis, Kevin C. Ezeh, Andrew Flory, Eddie Griego, Michael Naishtut, Betty Ann Ortega, Emily Priestly, Nathan Smith-Finley, Connie Ventress, William Warren, Howard Wilson, and Veronica Crystal Young.

San Francisco Opera today announced a cast change for Gaetano Donizetti's Roberto Devereux, opening September 8 and running for six performances through September 27. Romanian-American baritone Andrew G. Manea will perform the role of the Duke of Nottingham, replacing Artur Rucinski who has withdrawn due to lung injuries sustained in a serious bicycling accident involving a car in his native Poland. He is expected to make a full recovery. Rucinski deeply regrets having to withdraw but looks forward to returning to San Francisco Opera in the future.

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with Charlie Parker Birthday Celebration, Kat Gang, Katie Thiroux and Special Guest Ken Peplowski, and more!

Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS close out their popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles County Arboretum on Saturday, September 8 with Broadway Goes to the Movies. The POPS season finale will provide a quintessential Feinstein experience with some of Broadway's greatest performers recreating songs from hit shows that traveled from 42nd St. to Hollywood. "This program is going to celebrate all the different musical aspects of Broadway and Hollywood," says Feinstein, who has put together a program spanning the Broadway canon from My Fair Lady to The Sound of Music to Jersey Boys. Highlights include "The Impossible Dream," "Can't Take My Eyes off of You," and "There's No Business Like Show Business," among many other beloved showtunes.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts: