Maury Yeston News

For this week's FLASHBACK FRIDAY we are bringing together the subjects of my two other columns from this week - SOUND OFF: The Way We Are and InDepth InterView: Maury Yeston - with a perfect performance showcasing the supreme l'actrice/chanteuse Streisand's take on a song from Yeston's 1982 Best Musical and Best Score Tony-winner NINE: the evocative, eerie, sensual "Unusual Way".

Today, in honor of the DVD release of Rob Marshall's film version of the 1982 Tony-winning Best Musical NINE, Maury Yeston was gracious and generous enough to grant me a few hours in which I could ask him intimate questions about his life, career and the future of theatre itself. Not one to mince words, Yeston is a veritable font of knowledge and it became clear during the interview that he may be as gifted and talented in his educational and mentorship skills as he is as a two-time Tony-winning composer and lyricist. His stage musicals include two Tony-winning Best Musicals, NINE and TITANIC, as well as: IN THE BEGINNING, GRAND HOTEL, PHANTOM, and the forthcoming DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, as well as a full-length ballet of TOM SAWYER premiering later this year. From the handwritten letter sent by Katharine Hepburn to Frederico Fellini after seeing the workshop of NINE thirty years ago to this very day when NINE hits DVD, we will take a look at this magnanimous maestro's starry career in this inaugural InDepth InterView. Enjoy!

Today, in honor of the DVD release of Rob Marshall's film version of the 1982 Tony-winning Best Musical NINE, Maury Yeston was gracious and generous enough to grant me a few hours in which I could ask him intimate questions about his life, career and the future of theatre itself. Not one to mince words, Yeston is a veritable font of knowledge and it became clear during the interview that he may be as gifted and talented in his educational and mentorship skills as he is as a two-time Tony-winning composer and lyricist. His stage musicals include two Tony-winning Best Musicals, NINE and TITANIC, as well as: IN THE BEGINNING, GRAND HOTEL, PHANTOM, and the forthcoming DEATH TAKES A HOLIDAY, as well as a full-length ballet of TOM SAWYER premiering later this year. From the handwritten letter sent by Katharine Hepburn to Frederico Fellini after seeing the workshop of NINE thirty years ago to this very day when NINE hits DVD, we will take a look at this magnanimous maestro's starry career in this inaugural InDepth InterView. Enjoy!

David Ordinas llevará su espectáculo 'El Broadway Desconegut' al Teatre Guasch de Barcelona del 6 al 9 de Mayo. En este show el actor mallorquí interpreta una selección de 14 piezas de teatro musical moderno, presentándo nuevos autores y compositores al público catalán, en cuya lengua han sido traducidas todas las letras por David Ordinas y David Pintó.

Today, May 4, BMI has announced that the BMI Lehman Engel Musical Theatre Librettists Workshop is now accepting applications for membership. This unique writing program is dedicated to the development and discovery of bookwriters for the musical theatre. The deadline for applicants is May 15. The application can be downloaded here.

Sony Pictures Home Entertainment will release Rob Marshall's film musical NINE on Blue-ray and DVD on May 4, according to Blue-ray.com. It is reported that bonus features will accompany the discs, including an exclusive interview with Sophia Loren, commentary by Rob Marshall and producer John DeLuca as well as three music vidoes.

Following an acclaimed season which included the New York Premiere of Anna Deavere Smith's Let Me Down Easy and the Broadway transfer of the musical hit Everyday Rapture, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has announced three plays for its upcoming 32nd Season.

Broadway Producer Barry Weissler has confirmed that Antonio Banderas will headline a revival of Zorba next season.

Tony Award winner Sutton Foster performed her solo show 'An Evening with Sutton Foster' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre on April 29 and 30. Foster was accompanied by her Musical Director Michael Rafter. Songs for the evening were drawn from her critically-acclaimed debut solo album Wish and from the stage roles that have helped make her famous, such as Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Drowsy Chaperone.

Everyday Rapture opened officially on April 29th, 2010 at the American Airlines Theatre On Broadway (227 West 42nd Street) to great reviews. This is a limited engagement through July 11th, 2010.

Sing for Hope (www.singforhope.org), a public service organization for artists, has joined forces with Yale University to present an evening of song performed by distinguished Yale alumni. The second annual Songs for Our Future concert will take place in honor of Yale's 'Day of Service' as a benefit for Sing for Hope's Art U! program, which brings dynamic arts and leadership education to underserved New York City youth.

Tony Award winner Sutton Foster will perform her solo show 'An Evening with Sutton Foster' at the Kirk Douglas Theatre on April 29 and 30. Foster will be accompanied by her Musical Director Michael Rafter. Songs for the evening are drawn from her critically-acclaimed debut solo album Wish and from the stage roles that have helped make her famous, such as Thoroughly Modern Millie and The Drowsy Chaperone.

PROMISES, PROMISES, starring Sean Hayes and Kristin Chenoweth, began previews at the Broadway Theater on Saturday, March 27, 2010 and opened last night, Sunday, April 25, 2010. BroadwayWorld.com was there to bring you all the excitement of the show's opening night red carpet!

PHANTOM will play at The Arizona Broadway Theatre from April 26th until May 30th. Evening performances will begin at 7:30pm with a 5:30pm dinner beforehand. Matinees will begin at 2:00pm.

A revival of Circle Players' 2008 production, which was staged at the company's then-home at the Z. Alexander Looby Theatre, this 'new and improved' mounting (a collaboration between Circle and SCA) is astounding in its sheer chutzpah. Who'd have ever thought a community theatre could take on such a daunting task and be so imminently successful in doing so? Frankly, it boggles the mind.

The time is 1928. The world is between wars, the stock market is booming, Berlin is the center of high life, and optimism rules the day. Inspired by Viki Baum's period novel, book writer/playwright Luther Davis collaborated once again with the prolific, distinguished composer-lyricist team Robert Wright and George Forrest for GRAND HOTEL. Together, they created a seamless musical that boasts an engaging, non-stop book and a powerful score that is sure to sweep you away with all of the lavishness of the 1920s.

David Ordinas llevará su espectáculo 'El Broadway Desconegut' al Teatre Guasch de Barcelona del 6 al 9 de Mayo. En este show el actor mallorquí interpreta una selección de 14 piezas de teatro musical moderno, presentándo nuevos autores y compositores al público catalán, en cuya lengua han sido traducidas todas las letras por David Ordinas y David Pintó.

Additional casting has been announced for the Monday, June 21 concert of the Tony-winning musical Titanic. The benefit for the New York Society for Ethical Culture (NYSEC) will be helmed by director Matthew Hamel (Utah's Crying, Abington Theatre, I Love You, Madam President, NYMF). Music director Jonathan Tessero (Aida, The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway) will lead an orchestra of 20 and a cast of 24. Produced by Sarah Melissa Rotker in association with Josh Wellman, the event will take place in NYSEC's 800-seat Concert Hall, located at 2 W. 64th St. at Central Park West.

The time is 1928. The world is between wars, the stock market is booming, Berlin is the center of high life, and optimism rules the day. Inspired by Viki Baum's period novel, book writer/playwright Luther Davis collaborated once again with the prolific, distinguished composer-lyricist team Robert Wright and George Forrest for GRAND HOTEL. Together, they created a seamless musical that boasts an engaging, non-stop book and a powerful score that is sure to sweep you away with all of the lavishness of the 1920s.

WESTCHESTER BROADWAY THEATRE's NINE continues through April 24th, 2010.