Marni Nixon News

Although operetta wasn't completely on its way out when Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein II brought Music In The Air to Broadway in 1932, the popularity of the genre was indeed waning a bit as jazzy and witty scores by the likes of George and Ira Gershwin, Rodgers and Hart and Cole Porter dominated the decade's theatre music. But the creators of Show Boat, just five years earlier, weren't done quite yet.

The Stonewall Chorale, the first mixed-voice gay choir in the U.S., presents its annual spring concert, entitled Eternal Light, featuring Durufl?s Requiem, and choral works by Elgar, Mawby and Grainger, at the Church of the Ascension, 5th Ave at 10th St., one of NYC?s finest acoustical spaces. The event will be taking place on Saturday, Mar. 28, 8 pm at the Church of the Ascension, 5th Ave. at W 10th Street, New York, NY.

Marni Nixon will be appearing at the Music for All Seasons' Conversations series on Monday, March 9th at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.

As announced earlier: The Jewish Alliance for Change (Doni Remba, President) will present 'BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA' - Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change, on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The benefit concert will feature over 25 top-name performers from the worlds of Broadway, television, film, music and comedy - including many Tony, Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award winners and nominees. Tickets to 'BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA' range from $40.00 to $125.00.

The show features performers and cast members from leading shows, including Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winners, stars from the worlds of television, film, music, and comedy, plus prominent political leaders, progressive and LGBT activists.

Marni Nixon will be appearing at the Music for All Seasons' Conversations series on Monday, March 9th at the New York Society for Ethical Culture.

As announced earlier: The Jewish Alliance for Change (Doni Remba, President) will present 'BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA' - Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change, on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM (doors open at 6:30 p.m.), at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The benefit concert will feature over 25 top-name performers from the worlds of Broadway, television, film, music and comedy - including many Tony, Oscar, Emmy, and Grammy Award winners and nominees. Tickets to 'BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA' range from $40.00 to $125.00.

The first full recording of Allegro, a 1947 musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein, has just been released on CD. Allegro producer Ted Chapin visited NPR Fresh Air from WHYY, February 17, 2009 to chat about the restored gem.

Marni Nixon will appear in person at The Film Forum for an on stage interview with Bruce Goldstein and award winning musical theater writer Stephen Cole. They will discuss her career and autobiography 'I Could Have Sung All Night', which will be avaliable for sale at the Forum. Admission is $20, $10 for Film Forum members. This event is on Monday February 23, and begins at 7:30pm.

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is now home to a newly launched podcast series on iTunes. The Sweetest Sounds, hosted by R&H President Ted Chapin (except where noted), and produced by award-winning NPR documentarian Jeff Lunden, will be an ongoing series of audio podcasts highlighting the musicals and authors we proudly represent.

As announced last week: The Jewish Alliance for Change (Doni Remba, President) will present'BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA' - Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change, on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM, at Peter Norton Symp hony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The benefit concert will feature a host of Broadway singers, performers and cast members from leading shows, including Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winners, stars from the worlds of television, film, music, and comedy, plus prominent political leaders, progressive and LGBT activists.

The Jewish Alliance for Change (Doni Remba, President) will present 'BROADWAY FOR A NEW AMERICA' ? Standing Up for Marriage Equality and a Progressive Agenda for Change, on Monday, March 2nd at 7:00 PM, at Peter Norton Symphony Space, 2537 Broadway (at 95th Street). The benefit concert will feature a host of Broadway singers, performers and cast members from leading shows, including Tony, Emmy and Grammy Award winners, stars from the worlds of television, film, music, and comedy, plus prominent political leaders, progressive and LGBT activists.

Kern and Hammerstein's Music in the Air, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008-09 season, concluded its limited run yesterday, Sunday, February 8th. Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 musical, was directed by Gary Griffin with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Michael Lichtefeld. The production ran for five performances at City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). BroadwayWorld's camera caught the final curtain call of the Encores! treat. The cast includes Kristin Chenoweth, Douglas Sills, Dick Latessa, Marni Nixon, Tom Alan Robbins, Sierra Boggess, Walter Charles, Anne L. Nathan, David Schramm, Ryan Silverman and Robert Sella. Music in the Air, with music by Jerome Kern, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett, has been restored by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization and has not been seen in New York in its original form since its premiere Broadway engagement at the Alvin Theatre in 1932. Opening on November 8th of that year, it played for 342 performances in a production directed by the authors. A revised version had a brief revival at the Ziegfeld Theatre in 1951. Music in the Air is a musical romance, with the wit and elegance of an Ernst Lubitsch film. It's the story of a Bavarian music teacher (Robbins), his beautiful young daughter (Boggess), and the daughter's suitor (Silverman), who travel to the big, bad city of Munich where they encounter a cast of self-involved, egotistical theater folk who promise them fame, fortune and romance. Kristin Chenoweth and Douglas Sills play a Diva (Chenoweth) and an egotistical operetta librettist (Sills) who take the young couple under their wings (and claws). Songs include 'I've Told Ev'ry Little Star' and 'The Song Is You.' Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Kern and Hammerstein's Music in the Air, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008-09 season, concluded its limited run yesterday, Sunday, February 8th. Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 musical, was directed by Gary Griffin with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Michael Lichtefeld. The production ran for five performances at City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). BroadwayWorld's cameras caught the final curtain call of the Encores! treat.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Friday, February 6, 2009.

Kern and Hammerstein's Music in the Air, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008-09 season runs February 5-8. Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 musical, is directed by Gary Griffin with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Michael Lichtefeld. The production runs for five performances at City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues).

As the season of romance is upon us, Ray of Light Theatre continues its astronomical 2008/2009 season with I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change. A laugh-inducing, award-winning musical comedy about love in the suburbs, this stage sensation has been described as 'Seinfeld set to music'. It's a hilarious look at love and relationships that is touching, insightful and humorous. With six actors playing over forty roles scaling the dizzying spectrum of male/female relationships, I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change reveals the difficulties and joys of connecting with another person. Featuring amazing local talent (with many familiar faces) and live musicians, Ray of Light Theatre is bringing I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change to the San Francisco stage at Off-Market Theatres - 965 Mission St (between 5th/6th). Running February 5 - 28, 2009, this 4-week limited engagement makes for the perfect Valentine's treat. The show plays Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays at 8pm and Sundays at 2pm. For tickets ($18-$30) and information, please visit www.roltheatre.com. Tickets may also be purchased at TIX Bay Area (Booth in Union Square) or by calling 1-800-838-3006. Student/senior discounts available. The Cast Sarah Kathleen Farrell Holly Nugent Amy Penney Alex Kirschner Justin Taylor Nixon Justin Torres Director/Choreographer: Ellyn Marie Marsh Ellyn Marie Marsh is very happy to be back in the Bay Area, where she was raised. She was last seen in the bay in Steve Silvers Beach Blanket Babylon, where she received rave reviews for her spot-on impressions of Barbara Streisand, Britney Spears, Hillary Clinton and the legendary Pineapple Princess. Other performing credits include Lincoln Center's My Fair Lady (Mrs. Hopkins) where she shared the stage with Kelsey Grammar, Brian Denehey and Kelli O'Hara, European and National Tours and Regional Credits of Broadway Dancin', West Side Story (Anita), Grease (Rizzo), Chorus Line (Diana), Sweet Charity (Nickie), Xmas Carol-Madison Square Garden Version (Xmas past), blah blah blah. Her directing and choreographing credits include, Once on this Island, Grease, Annie and High School Musical. She directed Ray of Light Theatre's 2006 production of Seussical. www.ellynmarsh.com. Love and thanks to Shane and the ROLT family, and to her husband, Travas, who supports all she does.

THE SWEETEST SOUNDS -- ALLEGRO Written in 1947, ALLEGRO was preceded in the R&H canon by OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL, and followed directly by SOUTH PACIFIC and THE KING AND I. In this podcast, hosted by Jeff Lunden, the bold innovations and experimental aspects of ALLEGRO are explored in the context of the first complete recording of its score, released by Sony Masterworks Broadway today, February 3, 2009. The CD is produced by David Lai, Bruce Pomahac and Ted Chapin.

The Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization is thrilled to announce that the first complete recording of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO will be released by Sony Masterworks Broadway on February 3, 2009. The CD is produced by David Lai, Bruce Pomahac and Ted Chapin.

Kern and Hammerstein's Music in the Air, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008-09 season,will run February 5-8. The production runs for five performances at City Center.