Michael Learned News

Tune in this Wednesday, November 13, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web:www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guest is Emmy-winning actress Michael Learned.

Cops 4 Causes invites the public to consider supporting the Cops 4 Causes delegation and project "Operation Gratitude" and thank celebrities from stage and screen such as Pauley Perrette, Jack Osbourne, Michael Learned, Loni Anderson, Connie Stevens and Tippi Hedren for their support earlier this year.

UCLA Film & Television Archive salutes the extraordinary career of actor, singer and dancer George Chakiris in this exciting screening and discussion. Trained in Los Angeles, Chakiris first distinguished himself as a dancer in Hollywood films, displaying an athleticism and grace that helped bring renown to West Coast dance styles. Best known for his Academy Award-winning performance in West Side Story (1961), Chakiris has enjoyed a multi-faceted, international career on stage, screen and television. This program assembles a selection of his sparkling television appearances drawn from the Archive's holdings, including excerpts from "The Garry Moore Show" (1961), "The Dinah Shore Chevy Show" (1962) and "The Andy Williams Show" (1967), followed by a screening of Jacques Demy's The Young Girls of Rochefort (1967), foregrounding Chakiris' command of song, dance…and our attention. Chakiris won a Golden Globe and an Oscar for the role of Bernardo in the film and in Nov 2012, Chakiris received what many refer to as the highest honor in Hollywood - His Hand & Foot Prints were placed in cement (with colleagues Rita Moreno and Russ Tamblyn and placed along side friend and co-star, Natalie Wood) for all history in connection with the 50th anniversary of classic film West Side Story which premiered at Grauman's 50 years ago.

The writer who gave television some of its favorite moments in entertainment with 'Flamingo Road,' 'Dallas,' 'Falcon Crest,' 'The Colbys,' 'General Hospital,' and 'Dynasty,' Frank V. Furino, has brought Marilyn Monroe back to life ... on stage in 'Marylin ... MADNESS & Me,' which is based on an original concept by Didier Bloch, under the direction of Joe Leonardo. Opening in the Monroe Forum at the El Portal Theatre on Sept 26th for a limited run, the overwhelming response from the public and press alike, has resulted in the production's extension through October 20th, 2013, at which point the destiny of the show, with an eye on Broadway's Great White Way, will be determined. Scroll down for photos from the show!

As BroadwayWorld.com continues to celebrate the site's landmark 10th anniversary, with a variety of special features, today we're turning our spotlight on the wonderful photography of Linda Lenzi.

Among the guests attending the opening night gala for the West Coast theatrical premiere of 'Marylin ... MADNESS & Me' were those who worked with the plays subject matter, Marilyn Monroe, such as Dawn Wells who appeared as an extra in Monroe's last film, 'The Misfits' and Oscar winner George Chakiris, who danced with Monroe in 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes.' Other noted guests in attendance for the celebration included Judy Tenuta, Ilene Graff, Jerry Mathers, Florence Henderson, Michael Learned, Geri Jewell, Erin Murphy, Kate Linder, Jane Kean, Mrs. Dick 'Cari' Clark and more. Scroll down for photos from the production and the festivities!

And it's a play every theatre in the country has coveted getting the rights to perform. One of the very first theatre companies to win that right is the Binghamton area's own Chenango River Theatre. On Sept. 27, the theatre opens the regional premiere of a sensational new drama by Bruce Graham titled The Outgoing Tide. It's first and foremost a love story - a 50 year marriage now visited by an unwelcome intruder - the loss of memory - in a deeply moving, surprisingly funny, straight talking story that runs smack dab into what happens when we know we're seeing the end of the road, how we want to deal with that and how that affects our family.

Stage, screen and television personality, Loretta Swit, and Producer, Jan Thompson, co-hosted the premiere Never The Same: The Prisoner of War Experience at The Museum of Tolerance, in Los Angeles. Scroll down for photos from the event!

The Alhambra Theatre & Dining will feel like the beaches of North Carolina this August as it opens The Dixie Swim Club, a heartwarming comedy about the power of friendship by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope & Jamie Wooten. The play focuses on five Southern women who met on their college swim team and for 30 years have set aside a long weekend every August to meet up at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to recharge their relationships. Free from their husbands, children, and jobs, the ladies catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives.

The Alhambra Theatre & Dining will feel like the beaches of North Carolina this August as it opens The Dixie Swim Club, a heartwarming comedy about the power of friendship by Jessie Jones, Nicholas Hope & Jamie Wooten. The play focuses on five Southern women who met on their college swim team and for 30 years have set aside a long weekend every August to meet up at the same beach cottage on North Carolina's Outer Banks to recharge their relationships. Free from their husbands, children, and jobs, the ladies catch up, laugh and meddle in each other's lives.

Undercover Productions will present the WORLD PREMIERE of ETHEL SINGS: Espionage in High C, written by Joan Beber. ETHEL SINGS begins previews on June 27th, with tonight's June 28th opening at Walker Space. Directed by Jules Aaron, ETHEL SINGS has set design by Gary Guidinger, lighting design by John Eckert Original Music by Max Kinberg & costume design by Michele Young. Sarah Brown stages manages & Sherry Netherland assistant directs. Ethel Sings is produced by Linda Toliver & Gary Guidinger for Undercover Productions.

Undercover Productions will present the WORLD PREMIERE of ETHEL SINGS: Espionage in High C, written by Joan Beber. ETHEL SINGS begins previews on June 27th, with a June 28th opening at Walker Space. Directed by Jules Aaron, ETHEL SINGS has set design by Gary Guidinger, lighting design by John Eckert Original Music by Max Kinberg & costume design by Michele Young. Sarah Brown stages manages & Sherry Netherland assistant directs. Ethel Sings is produced by Linda Toliver & Gary Guidinger for Undercover Productions.

For its annual summer family show, the Alhambra Theatre & Dining will stage the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Written by Weber with lyrics by Tim Rice, this Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father's favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock 'n' roll, this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless. The show opened in London's West End in 1973 and then on Broadway in 1982. It has enjoyed several revivals, including a current UK tour since 2010.

For its annual summer family show, the Alhambra Theatre & Dining will stage the Andrew Lloyd Webber hit, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat. Written by Weber with lyrics by Tim Rice, this Biblical saga of Joseph and his coat of many colors comes to vibrant life in this delightful musical parable. Joseph, his father's favorite son, is a boy blessed with prophetic dreams. When he is sold into slavery by his jealous brothers and taken to Egypt, Joseph endures a series of adventures in which his spirit and humanity are continually challenged. Set to an engaging cornucopia of musical styles, from country-western and calypso to bubble-gum pop and rock 'n' roll, this Old Testament tale emerges both timely and timeless. The show opened in London's West End in 1973 and then on Broadway in 1982. It has enjoyed several revivals, including a current UK tour since 2010.

Celebrate Memorial Day next Today at the Lobero Theatre with an evening of great American folk music, beginning at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a buffet from Woody's Bodacious BBQ at 5:30 p.m. in the tent behind the Lobero. There's a second performance on Tuesday evening, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. 'The Lonesome Travelers in Concert' is a musical event that takes audiences on a journey down the rivers and streams of American Folk -- from the hills of Appalachia to the nightclubs of San Francisco and New York; from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Celebrate Memorial Day next Monday at the Lobero Theatre with an evening of great American folk music, beginning at 7:30 p.m., preceded by a buffet from Woody's Bodacious BBQ at 5:30 p.m. in the tent behind the Lobero. There's a second performance on Tuesday evening, May 28 at 7:30 p.m. 'The Lonesome Travelers in Concert' is a musical event that takes audiences on a journey down the rivers and streams of American Folk -- from the hills of Appalachia to the nightclubs of San Francisco and New York; from the 1920s to the 1960s.

Off-Broadway's Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) continues its 33rd Season with the Off-Broadway premiere of ACCORDING TO GOLDMAN by Bruce Graham (THE OUTGOING TIDE, ANY GIVEN MONDAY), with previews set to begin tonight, April 6, prior to its official press opening April 14, at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). TBTB artistic director and founder Ike Schambelan directs.

In 1992, Crazy for You opened on Broadway and won the 1992 Tony Award for Best New Musical and ran for over 1600 performances before closing in 1996. Originally billed as 'a new Musical Comedy' by George and Ira Gershwin, the production is heavily based on Girl Crazy, a show written by the songwriting team back in 1930. Crazy for You will open at the new Alhambra Theatre & Dining tonight, March 20.

All four main stage shows in Chenango River Theatre's 2013 season, (Season Sponsor-Empire Toyota of Oneonta), will be regional premieres - the first time each of these noteworthy shows has been produced in the area. Season tickets start as low as $60 for the area's only non-profit theatre company to feature professional actors in every show.

Off-Broadway's Theater Breaking Through Barriers (TBTB) continues its 33rd Season with the Off-Broadway premiere of ACCORDING TO GOLDMAN by Bruce Graham (THE OUTGOING TIDE, ANY GIVEN MONDAY), with previews set to begin April 6, prior to its official press opening April 14, at Theatre Row's Clurman Theatre (410 West 42nd Street). TBTB artistic director and founder Ike Schambelan directs.