Oscar Hammerstein II News

MARY TESTA -- the two time Tony Award nominated singer and actress -- and MICHAEL STAROBIN, the Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger will perform four concerts in January to promote their new album Have Faith from Ghostlight Records.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cinderella' and 'Lucy' hit town, 'Hansel And Gretel' play on the Mag Mile, a BC/EFA benefit at Sidetrack, 'Porgy' and Redmoon make splashes, two shows named 'Nativity' ready to open, and 'Rudolph' and Big Red return!

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music, will play the Fabulous Fox Theatre for a limited engagement from January 20 - February 1.

The ABC Television Network will air "The Sound of Music," the Rodgers & Hammerstein cinematic treasure, on SUNDAY, DECEMBER 21 (7:00-11:00 p.m., ET/PT).

The Music Theatre Company joins forces with The Ravinia Festival for a special one night engagement of OSCAR & RICHARD & JOE: An Evening About Rodgers & Hammerstein's Allegro on Saturday, January 31 at 8:30 pm at Ravinia Festival's Bennett Gordon Hall, 200 Ravinia Park Rd., Highland Park, IL. Tickets for OSCAR & RICHARD & JOE are $10 and available by calling the Ravinia Festival Box Office at (847) 266- 5100 or visiting www.ravinia.org.

Reality television star NeNe Leakes stopped by ABC's THE VIEW to talk about making her Broadway debut in Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA.

Stage and screen legend Julie Andrews returns for the sixth time to host the festive annual New Year's celebration with the Vienna Philharmonic, under the direction of Zubin Mehta, from Vienna's Musikverein.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's CINDERELLA will welcome actress and reality television sensation NeNe Leakes (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA) to the cast starting tonight, November 25, when she steps into the role of Cinderella's wicked stepmother 'Madame'.

The full cast has been announced for the new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's Pulitzer Prize-winning musical OKLAHOMA! presented by Music & Lyrics Limited and Royal & Derngate Northampton. From the award-winning producers of the highly successful tours of The King and I and Fiddler on the Roof, this new production of one of the great classic American musicals will feature Lucy May Barker as Ado Annie, James O'Connell as Will Parker, Paul Grunert as Andrew Carnes, Kara Lane as Gertie Cummings, Christopher D Hunt as Cord Elam and Barnaby Thompson as Ike Skidmore. Also in the cast are Simon Anthony, Christina Bennington, Robbie Boyle, Katie Marie-Carter, Lisa Dent, Emilie du Leslay, Ian Gareth-Jones, Hannah Grace, Ross Lee Fowkes, Perry O'Dea, Sasi Strallen and Gabriella Stylianou. They join the previously announced Belinda Lang as Aunt Eller, Gary Wilmot as Ali Hakim, Ashley Day as Curly, Charlotte Wakefield as Laurey and Nic Greenshields as Jud Fry.

John Doyle cuts Rodgers and Hammerstein's experimental musical extensively and casts actor/musicians.

Based upon the fairy tale Cinderella, particularly the French version Cendrillon, ou la Petite Pantoufle de Verre, by Charles Perrault. The story concerns a young woman forced into a life of servitude by her cruel stepmother, who dreams of a better life. With the help of her Fairy Godmother, Cinderella is transformed into an elegant young lady and is able to attend the ball to meet her Prince, but, in this version, she must open the Prince's eyes to the injustice in his kingdom.

Rodgers + Hammerstein's Cinderella (Broadway Theatre, 1681 Broadway) will welcome actress and reality television sensation NeNe Leakes (THE REAL HOUSEWIVES OF ATLANTA) to the cast starting November 25, when she steps into the role of Cinderella's wicked stepmother 'Madame'. Leakes joined today's Cinderella photo call in New York City, and BroadwayWorld brings you a preview below! Check back later for full coverage!

Last night, ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) conferred its singular, once-in-a-century ASCAP Centennial Awards, to a select group of American music icons in recognition of their incomparable accomplishments

South Pacific based on the 'Tales Of The South Pacific' by James Michener with Music by Richard Rodgers, Lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II, and Book by Oscar Hammerstein II and Joshua Logan will be directed by Ellen Faith Brodie and will run November 19-24, 2014 (Wednesday-Saturday at 7:30 p.m.; Sunday at 4 p.m.; Monday at 7:30 p.m.) in the Harry Hope Theatre (Shafer Hall ground floor; corner of High and Valley Streets, Willimantic, CT 06226).

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick, Managing Director Jeff Griffin, and Executive Director Greg Reiner, announced today that its new production of Rodgers & Hammerstein's ALLEGRO, directed by Tony Award-winner and CSC Associate Director John Doyle, now in previews at CSC (136 East 13th Street) will extend its limited engagement through Sunday, December 14. The official opening night of ALLEGRO is Wednesday, November 19. The cast of ALLEGRO features George Abud (Charlie Townsend), Alma Cuervo (Grandma Taylor), Elizabeth A. Davis (Jenny Brinker), Claybourne Elder (Joseph Taylor Jr.), David Finch (understudy), Malcolm Gets (Joe Taylor Sr.), Maggie Lakis (Hazel), Megan Loomis (Beulah), Paul Lincoln (Brook Lansdale), Kara Mikula (understudy), Jane Pfitsch (Emily), Randy Redd (Dr. Bigby Denby), Ed Romanoff (Ned Brinker) and Jessica Tyler Wright (Marjorie Taylor).

Ghostlight Records has announced the release of the new CD from MARY TESTA - the two time Tony Award nominated singer and actress currently starring in Wicked on Broadway - and MICHAEL STAROBIN, the Tony Award winning orchestrator and arranger. The album will be available in stores and via online outlets December 2, 2014. Mary and Michael will perform a special CD release engagement at The Laurie Beechman Theater at The West Bank Cafe January 4-5,11-12, 2015 at 7:00 PM. For tickets, please visit www.lauriebeechmantheatre.com.

As part of Barter's commitment to provide quality entertainment at an affordable price, new tickets have been released starting at $50 for the wildly entertaining Shirley Jones performance on November 13th at 7:30 p.m. The celebrity event is being held on Barter Theatre Main Stage. All proceeds from this event go to Barter's Annual Fund for Artistic Excellence.

RODGERS + HAMMERSTEIN'S CINDERELLA, the 2013 Tony Award-winning Broadway musical from the creators of South Pacific and The Sound of Music, will play the Aronoff Center for a limited engagement from January 6 - 18, 2015. Tickets for CINDERELLA go on sale Friday, October 31 at 9AM and can be purchased at the Aronoff Center Box Office downtown at 650 Walnut Street, online at CincinnatiArts.org or by phone at 513.621.ARTS.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Major productions of 'The King And I' and 'Camelot,' two versions of 'Titanic,' season announcements from Light Opera Works and The Music Theatre Company, JRB in Skokie, three G&S shows in rep, the new musicals 'Frederick' and 'The Guide To Being Single,' and more!

Light Opera Works' 2015 season will open with THE FANTASTICKS with expanded full orchestra (June 6-14), followed by SOUTH PACIFIC (August 15-30), HOLLYWOOD'S GREATEST SONG HITS (October 2-11), and GUYS AND DOLLS (December 26-January 3).