Ron Abel News

One of the most beloved and enduring characters in the history of American popular culture is aiming to finally make her way to the Broadway stage. Hazel - the saucy maid whose wry attitude, infallible wisdom and heart of gold has captured the hearts of millions for more than 60 years - will be in the spotlight again in an exciting new Broadway musical with music by composer Ron Abel and lyrics by Chuck Steffan. The veteran duo has acquired the rights to Hazel from the estate of creator Ted Key and are hoping to bring the show to the Great White Way in 2011.

"Who The F*#! Are These Guys," The Songs of Ron Abel & Chuck Steffan With Special Guests Lucie Arnaz & Valarie Pettiford plays BIRDLAND Monday, November 22 at 7pm

Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration was presented yesterday, October 4th at Symphony Space. Produced by Murphy Cross, Paul Kreppel and Bonnie Kole, the starry evening will benefit The Actors Fund and honored longtime Broadway Musical Director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with MS. Guests who appeared with Mr. Hamlisch included Lucie Arnaz, Kelly Bishop, Liz Callaway, Victor Garber, Lesley Gore, Robert Klein, Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Jack Noseworthy, Donald Pippin, Billy Stritch, Sammy Williams and more. Ron Abel served as the evening's Musical Director. The evening was directed by Ms. Cross & Mr. Kreppel.

Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration was presented yesterday, October 4th at Symphony Space. Produced by Murphy Cross, Paul Kreppel and Bonnie Kole, the starry evening will benefit The Actors Fund and honored longtime Broadway Musical Director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with MS. Guests who appeared with Mr. Hamlisch included Lucie Arnaz, Kelly Bishop, Liz Callaway, Victor Garber, Lesley Gore, Robert Klein, Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Jack Noseworthy, Donald Pippin, Billy Stritch, Sammy Williams and more. Ron Abel served as the evening's Musical Director. The evening was directed by Ms. Cross & Mr. Kreppel.

Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration was presented yesterday, October 4th at Symphony Space. Produced by Murphy Cross, Paul Kreppel and Bonnie Kole, the starry evening will benefit The Actors Fund and honored longtime Broadway Musical Director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with MS. Guests who appeared with Mr. Hamlisch included Lucie Arnaz, Kelly Bishop, Liz Callaway, Victor Garber, Lesley Gore, Robert Klein, Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Jack Noseworthy, Donald Pippin, Billy Stritch, Sammy Williams and more. Ron Abel served as the evening's Musical Director. The evening was directed by Ms. Cross & Mr. Kreppel.

Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration will be presented on Monday, October 4th at 7:30PM at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway @ 95th Street). Produced by Murphy Cross, Paul Kreppel and Bonnie Kole, the starry evening will benefit The Actors Fund and honor longtime Broadway Musical Director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with MS. Scheduled to appear with Mr. Hamlisch include Lucie Arnaz, Kelly Bishop, Liz Callaway, Victor Garber, Lesley Gore, Robert Klein, Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Jack Noseworthy, Donald Pippin, Billy Stritch, Sammy Williams and many more! Ron Abel will serve as the evening's Musical Director. The evening will be directed by Ms. Cross & Mr. Kreppel.

Following the successes of Love Exposed in both London (Pizza on the Park) and New York (Don't Tell Mama), Harold Sanditen returns with Thoughts ‘Round Midnight, a brand new show of songs, exploring the those innermost thoughts we all can fall into late at night - loneliness, gratitude, jealousy, joy, love, fantasies, lost opportunities, and even revenge.

Lucie Arnaz, Robert Klein, Victor Garber, Donna Murphy and more...all under the same roof for one night with Marvin Hamlisch...a theatregoers dream which will come to fruition on October 4th. It's all part of Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration, to be presented on Monday, October 4 at 7:30pm at Symphony Space. Murphy Cross and Paul Kreppel will direct the event, which will have musical direction by Ron Abel and serve as a benefit for The Actors Fund.

Following the successes of Love Exposed in both London (Pizza on the Park) and New York (Don't Tell Mama), Harold Sanditen returns with Thoughts ‘Round Midnight, a brand new show of songs, exploring the those innermost thoughts we all can fall into late at night - loneliness, gratitude, jealousy, joy, love, fantasies, lost opportunities, and even revenge.

Following the successes of Love Exposed in both London (Pizza on the Park) and New York (Don't Tell Mama), Harold Sanditen returns with Thoughts ‘Round Midnight, a brand new show of songs, exploring the those innermost thoughts we all can fall into late at night - loneliness, gratitude, jealousy, joy, love, fantasies, lost opportunities, and even revenge.

Following the successes of Love Exposed in both London (Pizza on the Park) and New York (Don't Tell Mama), Harold Sanditen returns with Thoughts ‘Round Midnight, a brand new show of songs, exploring the those innermost thoughts we all can fall into late at night - loneliness, gratitude, jealousy, joy, love, fantasies, lost opportunities, and even revenge.

Following the successes of Love Exposed in both London (Pizza on the Park) and New York (Don't Tell Mama), Harold Sanditen returns with Thoughts ‘Round Midnight, a brand new show of songs, exploring the those innermost thoughts we all can fall into late at night - loneliness, gratitude, jealousy, joy, love, fantasies, lost opportunities, and even revenge.

Six Degrees of Marvin Hamlisch - An All Star Celebration will be presented on Monday, October 4th at 7:30PM at Symphony Space (2537 Broadway @ 95th Street). Produced by Murphy Cross, Paul Kreppel and Bonnie Kole, the starry evening will benefit The Actors Fund and honor longtime Broadway Musical Director and keyboardist Fran Liebergall who is living with MS. Scheduled to appear with Mr. Hamlisch include Lucie Arnaz, Kelly Bishop, Liz Callaway, Victor Garber, Lesley Gore, Robert Klein, Priscilla Lopez, Robert LuPone, Donna McKechnie, Donna Murphy, Jack Noseworthy, Donald Pippin, Billy Stritch, Sammy Williams and many more! Ron Abel will serve as the evening's Musical Director. The evening will be directed by Ms. Cross & Mr. Kreppel.

Michele Lee brought her acclaimed night club act Catch the Light to the California International Theatre Festival @ Founder's Hall in Calabasas for one night only Saturday July 24. Although suffering from a bout of laryngitis, Lee proved the consummate trouper, doing about half of her show and substituting a few other songs to suit the lower registers of her voice. Lending a helping hand was Festival Director actress/singer Linda Purl who sang 2 sets of tunes, thus giving Lee some rest time in the wings. Ah, the unpredictability of live theatre! Sometimes it's wondrous.

California International Theatre Festival 2010 season is presented by the City of Calabasas with Linda Purl as Festival Director, M. Edgar Rosenblum as Executive Director and Tammy Taylor as Festival Producer. The Festival will take place in several Calabasas locations and will include distinguished international productions.

Following the successes of Love Exposed in both London (Pizza on the Park) and New York (Don't Tell Mama), Harold Sanditen returns with Thoughts ‘Round Midnight, a brand new show of songs, exploring the those innermost thoughts we all can fall into late at night - loneliness, gratitude, jealousy, joy, love, fantasies, lost opportunities, and even revenge.

California International Theatre Festival 2010 season is presented by the City of Calabasas with Linda Purl as Festival Director, M. Edgar Rosenblum as Executive Director and Tammy Taylor as Festival Producer. The Festival will take place in several Calabasas locations and will include distinguished international productions.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County proudly announced the special engagement of BABALU, a loving tribute celebrating the musical legacy of Desi Arnaz. Created, directed, and hosted by Lucie Arnaz, BABALU's engagement at the Adrienne Arsht Center will feature multiple Tony Award-nominee and Miami native Raúl Esparza, Broadway's Tony-nominated diva of dance Valarie Pettiford and in a rare, special guest appearance, Desi Arnaz, Jr. playing percussion on his father's classic hits.

The Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County opened the special engagement of BABALU, a loving tribute and phenomenal stage show celebrating the extraordinary musical legacy of Desi Arnaz last night, July 8. The show will run through July 11. Created, directed, and hosted by Lucie Arnaz, BABALU's engagement at the Adrienne Arsht Center multiple Tony Award-nominee and Miami native Raúl Esparza, Broadway's Tony-nominated diva of dance Valarie Pettiford and in a rare, special guest appearance, Desi Arnaz, Jr. playing percussion on his father's classic hits. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a preview of the backstage photo coverage. Check back soon for complete coverage of the event.

BABALU was a fine night at the theater. I am not positive yet if it is a revue, a nightclub act, or a Broadway musical trying to find its way. Filled with the music of Desi Arnaz, and a few others, this show is a love letter from Lucie Arnaz to her much adored father, Desi. She talks a lot about her father, sings and dances to music from his career and spends the performance as a charming host. Lucie looks beautiful, and her singing is wonderful. She appears to be having a fine time, and certainly wants the audience to have a great time.