Ruby Keeler News

A big break for the legendary Broadway star was this charming spoof of Ruby Keeler/Busby Berkeley movie musicals.

Al Hirschfeld immortalized celebrities, politicians, Broadway productions, films, television shows and beyond with his iconic linear drawings for nine decades, establishing himself as one of the most important contemporary portrait artists. Over a decade since the legendary artist drew his final line drawing, he continues to inspire. This spring and summer, Hirschfeld is being celebrated with the publication of a new book and a major exhibition at the New-York Historical Society.

Wednesday, June 10 at 8PM, 92Y presents Drawing Music - Hyman's Piano Meets Hirschfeld's Pen. Legendary pianist Dick Hyman will perform music inspired by Al Hirschfeld's magically inked images of Broadway shows and music stars, while a selection of these drawings is shown on stage. Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, president of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, and David Leopold, Creative Director of the Al Hirschfeld Foundation, will discuss the life and work of this original and iconic artist, and the stories behind his drawings. Tickets for Drawing Music at 92nd Street Y (1395 Lexington Avenue, at 92nd Street) are $30. For tickets and information www.92Y.org or call (212) 415-5500. 

Thursday, May 28 at 6:30PM, The New-York Historical Society presented Memories of Al Hirschfeld, a special event featuring Al Hirschfeld Foundation President Louise Kerz Hirschfeld, Robert Osborne of The Hollywood Reporter and Turner Classic Movies, legendary Broadway producer and director Harold Prince, and Frank Rich of New York Magazine in discussion about the life and legacy of Al HIrschfeld through his art, career, and personal relationships. 

Al Hirschfeld immortalized celebrities, politicians, Broadway productions, films, television shows and beyond with his iconic linear drawings for nine decades, establishing himself as one of the most important contemporary portrait artists. Over a decade since the legendary artist drew his final line drawing, he continues to inspire. This spring, Hirschfeld will be celebrated with the publication of a new book and a major exhibition at the New-York Historical Society.

Al Hirschfeld immortalized celebrities, politicians, Broadway productions, films, television shows and beyond with his iconic linear drawings for nine decades, establishing himself as one of the most important contemporary portrait artists. Over a decade since the legendary artist drew his final line drawing, he continues to inspire. This spring, Hirschfeld will be celebrated with the publication of a new book and a major exhibition at the New-York Historical Society. Just last night the New-York Historical Society celebrated the launch of The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld. the first major retrospective of Hirschfeld. Below, BroadwayWorld takes you inside the exhibit!

Al Hirschfeld immortalized celebrities, politicians, Broadway productions, films, television shows and beyond with his iconic linear drawings for nine decades, establishing himself as one of the most important contemporary portrait artists. Over a decade since the legendary artist drew his final line drawing, he continues to inspire.  This spring, Hirschfeld will be celebrated with the publication of a new book and a major exhibition at the New-York Historical Society.  Just last night the New-York Historical Society celebrated the launch of The Hirschfeld Century: The Art of Al Hirschfeld. the first major retrospective of Hirschfeld. Below, check out photos from insode the special cocktail party!

A conversation with Tony Waag, Executive/Artistic Director of the American Tap Dance Foundation, in anticipation of their upcoming 'Rhythm in Motion' contemporary tap dance showcase in New York City, April 22 through April 26. 'Rhythm in Motion' presents forward thinking, groundbreaking tap dance choreography, 'shaking tap dance to its core.' Last year's 'Rhythm in Motion' included tap dance with video, computers, sound manipulating machines and electronically rigged platforms.

Al Hirschfeld immortalized celebrities, politicians, Broadway productions, films, television shows and beyond with his iconic linear drawings for nine decades, establishing himself as one of the most important contemporary portrait artists. Over a decade since the legendary artist drew his final line drawing, he continues to inspire. This spring, Hirschfeld will be celebrated with the publication of a new book and a major exhibition at the New-York Historical Society.

When Mark Nadler, singing the iconic Irving Berlin song and Al Jolson standard 'Let Me Sing and I'm Happy,' strolls from the back of 54 Below to his rightful place center stage (accompanied by Nick Russo on banjo), he seems, in all respects, a jaunty, debonair thespian. The song is light, unembellished, infectious. What you're watching in truth is a state of the art ballistic missile unerringly headed for its target. 'My name is Mark and I'm a spotlightaholic.' Tonight Nadler celebrates two 'out of control' spotlightaholics--Danny Kaye and Al Jolson--both of whom put themselves (and kept themselves) in front of audiences every available moment. (The artist designates himself as a 'functional' sufferer of the compulsion.) Memorable anecdotes enlighten and entertain. 'In the spirit of Kaye and Jolson, however, this show is all about ME.' Four decades in, Nadler calls show business his religion. Judging by ensuing narrative, his zealous devotion is, in context, worthy of sainthood.

A successful Broadway company manager, general manager and producer for more than 20 years, Peter Neufeld passed away peacefully after a long battle with Parkinson's disease this morning, January 27, 2015, at The Actors Fund's Lillian Booth Residence in Englewood, NJ, where he had been living since 2007. He was 78.

Western Carolina University has revived the classic 42ND STREET with its original choreography by Gower Champion. You can't get better than that for a dance musical.

59E59 Theaters will welcome The Directors Company with ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR, written by Robert Callely and directed by Michael Parva. ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR begins performances on Friday, November 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 14. Press Opening is Thursday, November 20 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Please note, there is no performance on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving). Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

THE LAST SHIP - the new musical with music and lyrics by 16-time Grammy Award-winner Sting and book by Tony Award winner John Logan and Pulitzer Prize-winner Brian Yorkey opens tonight, October 26. The Last Ship is directed by Tony Award winner Joe Mantello and choreographed by Olivier Award winner and Tony Award nominee Steven Hoggett. Scroll down to learn more about the full cast and watch the company onstage in a commercial for the show below!

The Ziegfeld Society will present Tony Award nominee and Theatre World Award winner Walter Willison in JOLSON, MY DAD & ME on Saturday, September 27th. The multi-media musical weaves together the songs of Al Jolson to tell the story of his father as a young man, growing up in the early part of the 20th Century, through Prohibition, The Great Depression, WWII, and into the present day, and of his own personal encounters with such iconic Jolson associates as Ruby Keeler, Patsy Kelly, Judy Garland, Richard Rodgers, Irving Berlin and others. Featuring such all-time American Songbook classics as 'Rockabye Your Baby with a Dixie Melody', 'Swanee', 'You Made Ne Love You' and many more.

The 18th Long Island Al Jolson Festival coming up on August 16 is a whole-day affair featuring film presentations, lectures, memorabilia displays and sales, and a performance--'The Heart of Al Jolson'--by singer and Staten Island native Tony Babino (photo below), who can sing Jolson songs like, well, you ain't heard nothin' yet. The other day, like clockwork, I received my yearly invitation to attend from Oceanside, LI resident Jan Hernstat, who for the past 10 years has been the President of the 62-year-old International Al Jolson Society (which was formed in early 1950, a few months before Jolson died), an organization with a worldwide membership hovering around 1,000. I am proud to say that for 30 years, I've been one of them. I'm even prouder to say that I've been an Al Jolson fanatic for much longer. Here's my story about how it happened.

Director Ryan Gibbs and choreographer Dann Dunn put the tapping feet of 42ND STREET on the Allenberry stage.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Warner Bros. is eyeing Ryan Gosling to play Busby Berkeley in its upcoming biopic. Gosling would produce the feature and is also being considered as director.

The Museum of the Moving Image's popular series See It Big! will turn its focus to the movie musical with a fourteen-film celebration of the genre, from today, January 24 through February 28, 2014. Musicals are, by their very nature, filled with spectacle. They are heightened forms of storytelling, in which the narrative is amplified by song and dance, where characters express their innermost feelings in the most extravagant ways imaginable. It is a genre that celebrates excess and stylization, and the best examples of the form can only be truly enjoyed... big!

The Museum of the Moving Image's popular series See It Big! will turn its focus to the movie musical with a fourteen-film celebration of the genre, from January 24 through February 28, 2014. Musicals are, by their very nature, filled with spectacle. They are heightened forms of storytelling, in which the narrative is amplified by song and dance, where characters express their innermost feelings in the most extravagant ways imaginable. It is a genre that celebrates excess and stylization, and the best examples of the form can only be truly enjoyed… big!