Richard Rodgers News

In the latest edition of Opera News, Michael Portantiere asks Stephen Schwartz, Adam Guettel, Jason Robert Brown, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Michael John LaChiusa, Stephen Flaherty and Stew for their opinions on the difference between opera and musical theatre.

New York Musical Theatre Festival (Isaac Robert Hurwitz, Executive Producer) has commissioned a new dance piece, 'Wild About Harry,' to be presented in their fifth season at Manhattan Movement & Arts Center 248 West 60th Street (between Amsterdam & 11th Avenues) September 19th, 20th, 21st, and 28th.

Barnes & Noble Lincoln Square store will host performances and a CD signing by the cast of 2008 Tony Award-winning Best Musical In The Heights.

The Carlyle Hotel (James McBride, Managing Director) welcomes the return of John Pizzarelli & Jessica Molaskey, the gifted husband-and-wife team, as they open the fall entertainment season in the legendary Café Carlyle. Beginning Tuesday, September 9th and playing through Saturday, November 1st, Mr. & Mrs. Pizzarelli, who made their debut engagement in May 2007, will once again grace the stage to present an entertaining evening of romantic ballads and swinging jazz tunes, including songs from each of their latest recordings: 'With A Song in My Heart' (Telarc, 2008), Mr. Pizzarelli's tribute to composer Richard Rodgers, and 'A Kiss to Build a Dream On' (Arbors Records, 2008), a sophisticated collection of 15 of Ms. Molaskey's favorite tunes. Mr. Pizzarelli (guitar and vocals) will lead a quartet consisting of younger brother Martin Pizzarelli (bass), Larry Fuller (piano) and Tony Tedesco (drums).

The National Alliance for Musical Theatre (NAMT) and Executive Director Kathy Evans announced the directors and preliminary casts for the eight musicals being presented at its 20th Annual Festival of New Musicals at New World Stages (340 West 50th St) on Monday, October 20 and Tuesday, October 21, 2008

In celebration of Charles Strouse's 80th birthday celebration, his 50 years of contributing to the American Popular Songbook and his new memoir Put On A Happy Face - A Broadway Memoir, NASDAQ invited Charles Strouse to ring the closing bell in Times Square on Monday, September 8, 2008.

Audience Rewards and The Drama Bookshop hosted an exclusive discussion and book signing with Charles Strouse, with very special guest interviewer Lin-Manuel Miranda, on Friday, September 5th, at the Drama Bookshop (250 West 40th Street, New York, NY.)

Cabrillo Music Theatre of Thousand Oaks, Calif proudly kicks off the new 2008-2009 season by announcing that Deborah Gibson will star in Rodgers & Hammerstein's classic, 'The King and I'. Cabrillo Music Theatre's Artistic Director Lewis Wilkenfeld will direct, while Darryl Archibald will serve as Musical Director and Conductor. The production will feature the original Jerome Robbins choreography of the 'Small House of Uncle Thomas' Ballet, recreated by Irene Cho, who performed the piece under Robbins' supervision in 'The King and I' and 'Jerome Robbins' Broadway'.

AUDIENCE REWARDS and The Drama Bookshop will host an exclusive discussion and book signing with Charles Strouse, with very special guest interviewer Lin-Manuel Miranda, at 5:00PM, Friday, September 5th, at the Drama Bookshop (250 West 40th Street, New York, NY.)

Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical TELL ME ON A SUNDAY, receiving it's Chicago premiere in the Bailiwick Repertory Studio Theater, has been extended to September 26. This one-woman tour de force chronicles the journey of Emma, a free-spirited British hat designer making a new home in New York. Completely sung through, it's a powerful tour-de-force for Chicago actress Harmony France.

WAKE UP MARCONI! is pleased to announce the production of THE SPITFIRE GRILL, directed by Robert Francis Perillo.

In honor of National Grandparents Day, all Grandparents attending the hit musical comedy The Boys from Syracuse at Drury Lane Theatre Oakbrook, 100 Drury Lane, will receive a complimentary Crème Brulee dessert on Sunday, September 7. The Flight of Crème Brulee features a decadent trio of chocolate, raspberry and vanilla flavors and will be served in the restaurant adjacent to the theater after the 2:00 p.m. performance or before the 6:00 p.m. performance. For reservations, call (630) 530-0111 and mention the code GRANDPARENTS.

Classic Stage Company, under the leadership of Artistic Director Brian Kulick and Executive Director Jessica R. Jenen, will open its 2008-09 season with Tony Award winner Mandy Patinkin starring in William Shakespeare's THE TEMPEST, to be directed by Kulick. Performances begin Wednesday, September 3. The official press opening is Thursday, September 18.

The Cabaret at Germano's in Little Italy opens September 4 with Carolyn Black-Sotir Singing Sondheim

Lea Thompson and Patrick Cassidy join Vicki Lewis and Jason Alexander.

Director Billy Porter and Grammy nominee Ledisi mark their debuts with Reprise Theatre Company in the 1990 musical 'Once on This Island,' opening the 2008-2009 season, September 2 to 14 at UCLA's Freud Playhouse. The press opening is September 3.

Barbara Walsh, celebrated Tony and Drama Desk award nominated actress in such Broadway musicals as the 2007 revival of COMPANY, FALSETTOS, BIG, HAIRSPRAY, BLOOD BROTHERS, NINE AND ROCK AND ROLL: THE FIRST 5,000 YEARS, as well as television's 'One Life To Live' and 'Law and Order,' will star as Beatrice Stanton in the New York Musical Theatre Festival's production of ABOUT FACE.

Following her sold-out engagement last spring, Anna Bergman returns to the stage of 'the nightclub of New York,' Feinstein's at Loews Regency (540 Park Avenue @ 61st Street) for the opening of its 10th Anniversary season on September 14th, 15th and 21st (8:30PM) when she will present her new show, My Heart Stood Still: The Love Songs of Richard Rodgers with special guest, Broadway veteran, Brent Barrett.

AUDIENCE REWARDS and The Drama Bookshop will host an exclusive discussion and book signing with Charles Strouse, with very special guest interviewer Lin-Manuel Miranda, at 5:00PM, Friday, September 5th, at the Drama Bookshop (250 West 40th Street, New York, NY.)

Paulo Szot is off this week, so it's 'America's Baritone's' turn to shine.