Pearl Bailey News

MetroStage's 2009-10 Season 25 Years of Eclectic Theatre By Popular Demand MetroStage's Favorite Shows and Artists Return Inspirational, Unforgettable Theatre in an Intimate Setting

'Alice in Wonderland' has never been more magical than in the world premiere musical kicking off the performance season at Mercer County Community College's Kelsey Theatre in September. Appearing for the first time at Kelsey, Twenty Minutes to Curtain Productions, under the wing of legendary costume designer and show producer Arthur Gerold, presents this professional production of a literary and family classic.

Rachel York's one-woman show, 'For The Love Of It,' performs at Cabaret at the Castle, located in the Inner Circle of the world famous Magic Castle.

Tony Bennett, the epitome of cool, brings his smooth vocals and interpretive artistry to the Orange County Performing Arts Center's Segerstom Hall on September 25 at 7:30 p.m. Bennett's fourth visit to the Center will feature all the great songs and that impeccable style that have earned him multiple Gold and Platinum albums, Grammy and Emmy awards, Billboard's Century Award and a Kennedy Center Honor. Frank Sinatra called him 'the best singer in the business.'

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre continues its 49th season with Jerry Herman?s sensational musical Hello, Dolly!, running July 8th through July 18th. Based on Thornton Wilders? play, The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! won an impressive 10 Tony Awards in 1964 .

The Arrow Rock Lyceum Theatre continues its 49th season with Jerry Herman?s sensational musical Hello, Dolly!, running July 8th through July 18th. Based on Thornton Wilders? play, The Matchmaker, Hello, Dolly! won an impressive 10 Tony Awards in 1964 .

Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans are proud to announce the 2009-2010 Northlight Season, which includes Roger Bean?s pop musical, The Marvelous Wonderettes; Stephen Temperley?s comedic musical tribute, Souvenir; Clifford Odets? Depression-era classic Awake & Sing! directed by Amy Morton and featuring Rondi Reed and Mike Nussbaum; Hugh Leonard?s Irish drama, A Life directed by BJ Jones, starring John Mahoney; and the world premier Low Down Dirty Blues, by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman.

Among the many topics discussed on Sunday June 21st at the Magic Castle's Inner Circle gathering featuring the comedic icon Phyllis Diller, was how she was one of the long and impressive list of Dolly's such as Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey and Ethel Merman to perform at the St James Theatre in Jerry Herman's HELLO DOLLY! 'David Merrick wanted either George Burns or Jack Benny to do Dolly in drag, but couldn't get them so he settled for me,' says Ms. Diller, whom everyone referred to as Madam. 'Can you imagine? It would still be running on Broadway today!'

Storrs: Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will restart its summer theatre, the Nutmeg Summer Series, by presenting the hit musical show Crowns June 11 - 21 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will restart its summer theatre, the Nutmeg Summer Series, by presenting the hit musical show Crowns June 11 - 21 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs. Tickets go on sale March 30. For tickets and information, call 860-486-4226 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

Artistic Director BJ Jones and Executive Director Timothy J. Evans announce the final selection for the 2009-2010 Northlight Season, the world premiere of Low Down Dirty Blues, by Randal Myler and Dan Wheetman, the creators of It Ain't Nothin' But the Blues and Fire on the Mountain. The production will feature two-time Jeff Award winner Mississippi Charles Bevel.

The play with lyrics and music by UM alum Jerry Herman (A.B., '53) features beloved songs such as Hello, Dolly!, Put On Your Sunday Clothes, Ribbons Down My Back, Before the Parade Passes By, Elegance, It Only Takes A Moment, and So Long, Dearie. Herman's Tony Award-winning musical promises to be the thrilling conclusion to the Ring's season. The first Broadway show I ever saw was Hello Dolly! with Pearl Bailey and Cab Calloway. It changed my life forever. This show is a masterpiece.

The Triad Theatre Presents the legendary Maurice Hines: in ?Cole And Sinatra With Love?- Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 9:00pm - featuring members of the Diva Orchestra, with Bobby Crenshaw on bass, John Dimartino on piano all under the Musical Direction of drummer, Sherrie Maricle.

Friends In Deed will present a legendary trio as Charles Busch, Whoopi Goldberg and Lypsinka star in the first-ever New York presentation of the infamous Broadway-play-that-wasn't, LEGENDS!. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner James Kirkwood (A Chorus Line), the play will be presented in a special One Night Only staged reading benefit on Monday evening, March 23 at 8PM at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street).

The Triad Theatre Presents the legendary Maurice Hines: in ?Cole And Sinatra With Love?- Saturday, March 28th, 2009 at 9:00pm - featuring members of the Diva Orchestra, with Bobby Crenshaw on bass, John Dimartino on piano all under the Musical Direction of drummer, Sherrie Maricle.

Connecticut Repertory Theatre (CRT) will restart its summer theatre, the Nutmeg Summer Series, by presenting the hit musical show Crowns June 11 - 21 in the Harriet S. Jorgensen Theatre, Storrs. Tickets go on sale March 30. For tickets and information, call 860-486-4226 or visit www.crt.uconn.edu.

The 5th Avenue presents the classic American Musical Hello Dolly!, with music and lyrics by Jerry Herman and book by Michael Stewart, from the play The Matchmaker by Thornton Wilder. Set in New York in the 1890s, the show tells the story of the irrepressible Dolly Levi, matchmaker and social phenomenon, who is employed by grumpy small-town merchant Horace Vandergelder to find him a wife. But instead of helping Horace, the formidable widow assists his two hapless clerks Barnaby and Cornelius to find love and adventure in New York, while setting her sights on Vandergelder herself! Brimming with exuberant songs like ?Put On Your Sunday Clothes,? ?Before the Parade Passes By,? ?It Only Takes a Moment,? and of course the title song, Hello Dolly! celebrates the exuberant philosophies of seizing the moment and spreading one?s wealth around.

Friends In Deed will present a legendary trio as Charles Busch, Whoopi Goldberg and Lypsinka star in the first-ever New York presentation of the infamous Broadway-play-that-wasn't, LEGENDS!. Written by Pulitzer Prize and Tony Award winner James Kirkwood (A Chorus Line), the play will be presented in a special One Night Only staged reading benefit on Monday evening, March 23 at 8PM at Town Hall (123 West 43rd Street).

Theater news from Broadway and the Baltimore/Washington area.

The Wilshire Theatre Beverly Hills, 8440 Wilshire Boulevard; Beverly Hills, CA 90211, will open its doors to the general public on Sunday, September 21, 2008, after being closed for several months for completion of Phase I of the historic venue's Revitalization Project. Corky Hale Productions will present a star-studded musical event, entitled, 'It's Magic! A Tribute to Sammy Cahn' celebrating the life and lyrics of one of Hollywood's greatest Academy Awardâ-winning songwriters.