Mickey Rooney News

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Tony nominee Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding').

Broadway fans had plenty of reasons to celebrate this year, with dozens of shows having opened since January, hundreds of actors having made their debuts, and many more having returned to the stage for critically acclaimed performances. Not all news was good though, as we also suffered a loss of an incredible amount of talent. Below, BroadwayWorld sends a fond farewell to those who passed away in 2014.

All of our favorite exhibits return in NIGHT AT THE MUSUEM 3: THE SECRET OF THE TOMB.

As my hand was turning to mincemeat while writing personal notes in Christmas card after Christmas card, I persevered, knowing that at the end of my travails there would be a reward: A much anticipated performance of Theatre Memphis' annual 'gift' to Memphis, Charles Dickens' venerable A CHRISTMAS CAROL. I must admit: I have not attended every performance of that classic since its inception. I have, however, infrequently stopped to hang my wreath at its door; and I've seen some fine 'Ebeneezers' over the years (I recall a former teaching colleague, Tom Ford, offering a tight, clipped interpretation and, of course, one of the best and most frequent of the actors donning those tattered gloves, Memphis acting favorite Barry Fuller). As I wrote card after card, I began to think about all the other interpretations of A CHRISTMAS CAROL that I have encountered through the years - Seymour Hicks; Reginald Owen (in the role MGM intended for an ailing Lionel Barrymore, who had become famous for his radio performance and who would have, no doubt, been superior; a not-all-that-bad consolation prize was his equally tight-fisted 'Mr. Potter' in Frank Capra's IT'S A WONDERFUL LIFE); Orson Welles (in a Mercury Theatre radio performance); Sir Ralph Richardson (a beautiful audio recording); Alastair Sim (in the early 1950's British film and offering my favorite interpretation of the role; Danny Peary, in his fascinating ALTERNATE OSCARS, selects him as Best Actor for that performance); and, certainly, George C. Scott, in what was considered to be the version to end all versions. (And does anyone recall Jim Backus' 'Mr. Magoo' in a delightful animated musical television special back in the 1960's?)

Get into the holiday spirit with getTV this December, as the network delivers a loaded lineup of marathons, stunts, and festive favorites, headlined by the rarely-seen Christmas special HAPPY HOLIDAYS WITH BING AND FRANK.

NEWSIES showcases enthusiastic, athletic, acrobatic dancing- the Company is chockablock with high-end dancers equal to the complications of Christopher Gattelli's choreography, which deservedly earned this show one of its Tony awards.

Serrano NY, LLC is thrilled to present the World Premiere of SERRANO THE MUSICAL, book and lyrics by Madeline Sunshine, music by Robert Tepper, musical direction by Jeff Rizzo (Sunset Blvd. The Wizard of Oz), choreography by Tony nominee Peggy Hickey (A Gentlemen's Guide to Love and Murder) and directed by Tony nominee Joel Zwick (Dance With Me, 'My Big Fat Greek Wedding').

Virginia Repertory Theatre presents the award-winning musical, Mame, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street, running through January 11, 2014. Mame is based on the novel, Auntie Mame, by Patrick Dennis with a book by Jerome Lawrence and Robert E. Lee and unforgettable music and lyrics by Jerry Herman. The show originally opened on Broadway in 1966 and starred Angela Lansbury and Beatrice Arthur. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action below!

PigPen Theatre Company tells a good, old-fashioned story in a good, old-fashioned style with folk music and various forms of theatrical magic at the Paramount Center Main Stage. In THE OLD MAN AND THE OLD MOON, the PigPen guys will draw you into their imaginative world of shadow puppets, sailboats, and swordplay while acting like a bunch of energetic school boys.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the award-winning musical, Mame, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street on Friday, November 21 with a preview tonight, November 20. The show runs through January 11, 2014.

ABC celebrates the joy of the holidays, including the world premiere of Pixar Animation Studios', “Toy Story That Time Forgot,” the return of the competition series, “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” special musical performances on “CMA Country Christmas,” and classic, animated Christmas specials from Walt Disney Animation Studios, PEANUTS, DreamWorks Animation and Dr. Seuss, among others.

Rob Diamond Films and Cedar Fort Entertainment & Media are pleased to announce the national release of 'Wayward: The Prodigal Son' in 46 theaters in 21 states.

Virginia Repertory Theatre announces the opening of the award-winning musical, Mame, at the Sara Belle and Neil November Theatre, 114 West Broad Street on Friday, November 21 with a Preview on Thursday, November 20. The show runs through January 11, 2014.

Rob Diamond Films and Cedar Fort Entertainment & Media are pleased to announce the national release of 'Wayward: The Prodigal Son' in 46 theaters in 21 states.

Skip E. Lowe, the comic, raconteur and perennial TV host whose weekly public access cable program has been airing in Los Angeles, New York and other major markets for more than 35 years--the longest in television history--and is generally credited as the inspiration for the Martin Short character “Jiminy Glick,” died in his home at Kingsley Manor Apartments in Hollywood on Monday, Sept. 22. He was 85 and had been suffering from emphysema and other respiratory ailments, though he never smoked, but blamed years of working as a comic in smoke-infested nightclubs. Lowe had conducted more than 6,000 interviews, often two a week, with guests that included Orson Welles and Bette Davis.

Following the recent triumph of the musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and nestled quietly in the more intimate setting of Theatre Memphis' Next Stage, Carson McCullers' touching THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING offers yet another 'Addams Family.' This time, however, the trio of performers who dominate the play - tomboyish 'Frankie' (nee 'Frances'), odd little 'John Henry,' and warm, nurturing 'Berenice' - easily draw the audience members into the world of their kitchen and garden area. It may seem a ridiculous notion, but I couldn't help seeing a similarity between the two plays. In both plays, the main characters are removed from an outside, 'normal' world; and in both plays, there are characters who wish to be seen by others as normal. Yet, THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING, despite its moments of humor (and there are many such moments), is full of longing and pain and frustration.

The Musical Theater Project, Kent State University and Beck Center for the Arts will present Rodgers and Hart's classic musical comedy 'Babes In Arms' in concert for two performances: Tonight, September 18, at 8pm on Beck Center's Mackey Main Stage and Sunday, September 21, at 2pm at Kent State University's E. Turner Stump Theatre.

A comprehensive new volume tracing the legacy and lore of classic movie musical THE WIZARD OF OZ courtesy of LIFE hits the shelves today.

There's a new couple in town. The musical Theatre Project and Kent State's Musical Theatre program are joining forces to do a staged reading/sing-through of the musical 'Babes in Arms.'

Cedar Fort Entertainment announced today that it will be releasing 'Wayward: The Prodigal Son,' on Nov. 7, 2014, in over 25 select faith-based markets.