Phil Spector News

Off-Broadway's The New Group proudly presents Burning, written by Thomas Bradshaw and directed by Scott Elliott, kicking off the company's 2011-12 Season. Previews begin October 26 advance of an Official Opening on Monday, November 14 at 7:00 PM. Burning plays a limited engagement through December 17 at The New Group @ Theatre Row (The Acorn Theatre, 410 West 42nd Street).

ARLA Productions & Rosalind Productions will present the Off-Broadway premiere of Alan Lester Brooks' A Splintered Soul.

The Recording Academy has released a statement on Jerry Leibler, who has passed away from cardiopulmonary failure. He was 78 years old.

According to published reports, lyricist Jerry Leiber, of the legendary songwriting team Leiber and Stoller, passed away from cardiopulmonary failure. He was 78 years old.

The Hollywood Bowl's production of HAIRSPRAY reunites original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Both Fierstein and Winokur, playing mother Edna Turnblad and daughter Tracy Turnblad, were awarded Tony Awards for best leading actor in a musical and best leading actress in a musical respectively for their appearances in HAIRSPRAY on Broadway. This is the first time that they have performed these roles together in Los Angeles; this is also Fierstein's Hollywood Bowl debut.

The Hollywood Bowl's production of HAIRSPRAY reunites original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Both Fierstein and Winokur, playing mother Edna Turnblad and daughter Tracy Turnblad, were awarded Tony Awards for best leading actor in a musical and best leading actress in a musical respectively for their appearances in HAIRSPRAY on Broadway. This is the first time that they have performed these roles together in Los Angeles; this is also Fierstein's Hollywood Bowl debut.

The Hollywood Bowl's production of HAIRSPRAY reunites original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Both Fierstein and Winokur, playing mother Edna Turnblad and daughter Tracy Turnblad, were awarded Tony Awards for best leading actor in a musical and best leading actress in a musical respectively for their appearances in HAIRSPRAY on Broadway. This is the first time that they have performed these roles together in Los Angeles; this is also Fierstein's Hollywood Bowl debut.

The Hollywood Bowl's production of HAIRSPRAY reunites original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Both Fierstein and Winokur, playing mother Edna Turnblad and daughter Tracy Turnblad, were awarded Tony Awards for best leading actor in a musical and best leading actress in a musical respectively for their appearances in HAIRSPRAY on Broadway. This is the first time that they have performed these roles together in Los Angeles; this is also Fierstein's Hollywood Bowl debut.

As is their yearly tradition, tomorrow morning, Friday August 5th at 10am will be the free, open to the public dress rehearsal for HAIRSPRAY at the Hollywood Bowl. It'll be sunny tomorrow to make sure to pack your sunscreen as it can get hot out there!

The development of Phil Spector's magnificent Wall Of Sound productions, 'Tomorrow's Sound Today,' is given its most expansive display ever on the new box set, PHIL SPECTOR PRESENTS THE PHILLES ALBUM COLLECTION.

The Songs of Dusty Springfield starring Kirsten Holly Smith will be presented at the Algonquin Seaport Theater on August 20th and 21st at 7 PM. Tickets cost $15 and can be purchased by calling 212-349-7505.

2011 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame inductee Darlene Love, most known for her Phil Spector recordings of 'He's a Rebel' and '(Christmas) Baby Please Come Home,' plays Motormouth Maybelle and is one of four cast members performing roles they played in the Broadway company of HAIRSPRAY. She celebrated a birthday on July 26th, and her cast members were there to help her celebrate - check out photos below!

The Hollywood Bowl's production of HAIRSPRAY reunites original Broadway stars Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. Both Fierstein and Winokur, playing mother Edna Turnblad and daughter Tracy Turnblad, were awarded Tony Awards for best leading actor in a musical and best leading actress in a musical respectively for their appearances in HAIRSPRAY on Broadway. This is the first time that they have performed these roles together in Los Angeles; this is also Fierstein's Hollywood Bowl debut. Click below to watch Winokur chat about the production on 'Good Day LA.'

John Stamos is best known for his TV roles - 'Uncle Jesse' on Full House and Carl on GLEE, to name just two - but the actor also has a distinct presence on stage with four Broadway credits under his belt. Next up for Stamos is the Hollywood Bowl production of HAIRSPRAY, and he just posted a photo of him and castmates Marissa Jaret Winokur, and Drew Carey in rehearsal for the show. Check out the duo in action below!

John Stamos is best known for his TV roles - 'Uncle Jesse' on Full House and Carl on GLEE, to name just two - but the actor also has a distinct presence on stage with four Broadway credits under his belt. Next up for Stamos is the Hollywood Bowl production of HAIRSPRAY, and he just posteda photo of him and castmate Nick Jonas in rehearsal for the show. Check out the duo in action below!

I'm a big fan of lowbrow horror and science fiction films, especially those made between the 1930's and late 1970's, and I've always enjoyed the work of cult director/producer Roger Corman. The original 1960 film version of LITTLE SHOP OF HORRORS, was supposedly shot in four days, and it downright bristles with a sense of energy and cheap thrills, even though the budget was a mere pittance compared to what's spent on the blockbusters we witness today. Howard Ashman (book and lyrics) and Alan Menken (music) took the basic premise put forward by writer Charles Griffith and crafted a very clever and funny off-Broadway musical which, in turn, spawned a rather lackluster and overblown movie version. So, it was with some trepidation that I looked forward to The Muny's current production. It's simply not a big splashy affair, and it would seem to benefit most from a smaller venue. Happily, they do the show justice, and the expansive stage that allows for larger production numbers doesn't get in the way of the simpleness of the story.

This summer, Broadway actors Darlene Love, Julia Murney, Anthony Rapp and Matt Dengler star in 'Free to Dream: New Songs for the American Journey,' a concert specially adapted for Colonial Williamsburg. Television personality Willard Scott also lends his recorded voice to the program, which showcases the people and places that make up the fabric of America with musical styles from country, rock and pop to swing and the blues. It is a compilation of pieces by Grammy-winning composer Doug Katsaros and two-time Emmy-nominated lyricist William Schermerhorn. A nine-piece band accompanies the singers.

As previously reported by BroadwayWorld, Bette Midler has pulled out of the cast of the untitled film centered around Phil Spector. Midler suffered from a herniated disc and left the film on doctor's orders. HBO today announced her replacement: Helen Mirren.

HBO has acquired the North American TV rights to Martin Scorsese's GEORGE HARRISON: LIVING IN THE MATERIAL WORLD from Grove Street Pictures. The film was produced by Scorsese (through his Sikelia Productions banner), Olivia Harrison (through her Grove Street Pictures banner) and Nigel Sinclair (through Exclusive's documentary label, Spitfire Pictures).