Peter James Zielinski News

The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting that 'Drowsy Chaperone' Tony winner Bob Martin is working with Las Vegas titan Steve Wynn in developing a treatment for a new musical based on the music of the Bee Gees. Martin is currently working as the book writer on the LA bound Charles Strouse musical MINSKY'S which opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews begin January 21).

On January 4th 2009, after over 2,641 performances, the curtain will fall at the Neil Simon Theater on the final performance of Broadway's 2003 Tony Award? musical HAIRSPRAY starring original cast members Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. The producers of this landmark musical have generously donated a pair of orchestra seats to be auctioned on ebay with the proceeds to benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy have come to the rescue of the acclaimed production of David Mamet's SPEED-THE-PLOW, in the wake of the unexpected departure of Jeremy Piven.

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words, the critically-acclaimed, sell-out show called 'big-yuks entertainment' by Charles Isherwood of The New York Times, will be featured on ABC's 'The View' on Monday, December 22, at 11am on the ABC television network. Kristen Johnston, who appears regularly in Celebrity Autobiography, makes a guest appearance on the show, and is joined by 'View' co-hosts Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd, reading excerpts from the hit comedy sensation.

The 92nd Street Y announces casting for the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists?, the Y's legendary American Songbook series. Polly Bergen, Lucie Arnaz, Tom Wopat and Marilyn Maye are among the storied cast members who will sing the songs of Richard Rodgers, Ira Gershwin, Mel Torm?, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson, David Zippel and others. This is the first season curated by new series artistic director DEBORAH GRACE WINER, and her inaugural line-up of guest artistic directors - MARTIN CHARNIN, DAVID ZIPPEL, ROBERT KIMBALL, REX REED, and BILLY STRITCH.

TMZ is reporting that current Speed-The-Plow star and three-time Emmy Award winner Jeremy Piven is ailing and may not be able to return to the show.

Seth Rudetsky will interview Raul Esparza from Speed-the-Plow and Gina Kreiezmar from Forbidden Broadway Goes to Rehab for a SIRIUS XM broadcast featuring live musical performances and interviews on Wednesday, December 17th at 12pm.

Composer and lyricist Scott Alan will return to Birdland on January for a concert featuring a starry line-up of Broadway performers. The January 12th performance will feature selections from Alan's debut CD, 'Dreaming Wide Awake' and his recently released CD 'Keys.' Scheduled to appear at the 7pm concert include: Lisa Brescia, Heidi Blickenstaff, Jenn Colella, Erin Davie, Sutton Foster, Hadley Fraser, Nikki M. James, Marcus Paul James, Kenita Miller, Lauren Thomas, Katie Thompson, Natalie Weiss and The Broadway Boys.

The Path Fund / Rockers on Broadway presents The Who's TOMMY: 15th Anniversary Benefit Concert. Directed by Donnie Kehr, this one-night-only milestone event featuring the original cast of the groundbreaking Broadway musical will take place Monday, December 15 at 8:00 PM at the August Wilson Theatre (245 West 52nd Street). Proceeds will benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS, Broadway Dreams Foundation and the Bachmann-Strauss Dystonia and Parkinson Foundation. The event was announced in September to great excitement, the evening is set to be a truly exciting concert.

Jeff Marx, the Tony and Grammy winning co-creator of Avenue Q is singing a new Kwanzaa song titled 'White Kwanzaa' on CNN's D.L. Hughley Breaks The News tonight Sat 10PM & 1AM and tomorrow Sun 11PM & 2AM (EST). He will be featured during the first segment of the show

On Saturday, December 13, 2008, from 9:15am till 11:45am, StudentsLive and In The Heights will co-produce a pre-show educational and entertaining workshop involving 400 audience members at New World Stages (340 West 50th Street).

The Laurie Beechman Theatre, located within The West Bank Caf? (407 West 42nd St.), is pleased to continue our Friday night soiree, THE AFTER PARTY. Now going strong it's third, THE AFTER PARTY is billed as 'a weekly schmoozefest for the theatrically inclined.' Tonight Friday, December 12th, they welcome the cast of Prayer For My Enemy, including Tony Award winner Victoria Clark, Tony Award winner Michelle Pawk, Tony Award nominee Jonathan Groff, Skipp Sudduth, Theatre World Award winner Cassie Beck, and Zachary Booth. All will be in attendance and Jonathan Groff and Skip Sudduth will perform. The evening will also feature performances by former Bette Midler 'Harlette' and Hairspray's Charlotte Crossley and The Larry King Orchestra's LARRY KING. All will be on hand to greet fans.

THE NEW YORK CITY GAY MEN'S CHORUS launched its 29th season with a time-honored New York tradition: under the Artistic Direction of Charles Beale, NYCGMC presented The New York City Gay Men's Chorus Holiday Spectacular 'Celebrate Me Home' at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday December 9th. The special guest stars for the evening were the cast of [title of show], Jeff Bowen, Hunter Bell, Susan Blackwell and Heidi Blickenstaff.

Designed to provide theatergoers with an exclusive, behind-the-scenes glimpse into the world of CHICAGO, 'Talkback Tuesdays' Continued its series on Tuesday, December 9, 2008. The event featured a post-show conversation with five-time Tony Award-winning producer Barry Weissler.

Marrisa Jaret Winokur returned to her Tony Award-winning performance as Tracy Turnbladon Tuesday, December 9th. She will play Tracy straight through to the final performance on Sunday, January 4, 2009 at Broadway's Neil SimonTheatre.

The 66th Annual Golden Globe Award Nominations were announced today and several of the nominees have graced the Broadway stage many times, a few of them are currently threading the boards right now, Variety spoke to them to get their reactions, here are the latest, we'll update as new statements arrive.

The off-Broadway premiere engagement of the ZINA GOLDRICH and MARCY HEISLER musical, DEAR EDWINA is off to a splendid start. A fully staged musical comedy for all ages, DEAR EDWINA will run through Sunday, January 25 at the DR2 Theatre, 103 E. 15th Street, NYC.

The 20th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION announced a total of $3,061,000 had been raised by the 63 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras had VIP access on all levels to bring you the most complete coverage of this very special event!

The 20th Annual GYPSY OF THE YEAR COMPETITION announced a total of $3,061,000 had been raised by the 63 participating Broadway, Off-Broadway, and National Tour companies to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. BroadwayWorld.com's cameras had VIP access on all levels to bring you the most complete coverage of this very special event!

The Official Idina Menzel fan club is reporting that the Tony winning star will be performing at the Count Basie Theatre in Red Bank, NJ on March 21, 2009. Tickets go on sale Wednesday, December 17th at 12PM EST. However, members of Idina's official fan club will have access to pre-sale tickets.