Sally Ann Howes News

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, the 'most fantasmagorical stage musical in the history of everything,' flies into Her Majesty's Theatre Melbourne from 30 January 2013.

On Thursday, three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Richard Adler passed away at the ripe old age of 90. Responsible for two of the biggest Broadway smash hits of the 1950s, THE PAJAMA GAME and GAMN YANKEES, Adler never quite managed to equal his career-high double-hitter of that era, yet his earlier work with Tony Bennett ('Rags To Riches'), Doris Day ('Everybody Loves A Lover') and Marilyn Monroe (the iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President') surely shall solidify his place in the firmament of entertainment history along with his two classic musicals from the Golden Age. Winning both Best Score and Best Musical for both THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES, Adler's partnership with lyricist Jerry Ross - which began on Broadway in 1953 with JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON'S ALMANAC - was tragically cut short just months after the DAMN YANKEES premiere when Ross was diagnosed with lung disease and passed away soon thereafter. Yet, thanks to the beloved film versions of THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES and continued interest in the entities as expressed in the revivals and reappraisals of both onstage from Broadway to Biloxi to Bombay year after year, the snappy, snazzy tunes of Adler and Ross live on eight times a week all around the world - even now, more than fifty years after they premiered. Unfortunately, Adler's subsequent shows with other collaborators post-1955 failed to capture the early magic of his previous projects with Ross and his earlier musical and theatrical endeavors in the pop arena, with the racially charged KWAMINA flopping on Broadway in 1961 (though he took home a Best Composer Tony Award for his efforts anyway) and the awkwardly titled MUSIC IS failing to recreate the magic of its source material, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, in 1976. A MOTER'S KISSES, starring Bea Arthur and a young Bernadette Peters, died on the road, as well. In the intervening years, Adler attempted musical adaptations taken from a number of intriguing sources - OF HUMAN BONDAGE and others among them - though only his ballet scores seemed to reach an audience; particularly his last, commissioned for a new production of Lorca's THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA in 1998. Of course, THE PAJAMA GAME has had two Broadway revivals - most recently the rapturously received Kathleen Marshall-directed production starring Harry Connick, Jr. and Kelli O'Hara; and DAMN YANKEES famously returned to the Great White Way with much ado in 1994 starring Victor Garber. Now seems particularly ripe for remounting YANKEES, as we approach twenty years in its absence - especially given the musical's seriously smashing showing at Encores! in 2007. Who knows, perhaps some risky producer will even take a chance on a new production of KWAMINA, MUSIC IS, A MOTHER'S KISSES or one of the bottom drawer shows someday soon to see if they possess any of the limitless potential shown by Adler's earlier work. Or maybe a stage treatment of his TV musical GIFT OF THE MAGI (originally composed for then-wife Sally Ann Howes)? Or, better yet, how about a revue? What a stupendous songstack Adler created over the course of his career - 'Whatever Lola Wants' to 'Hey There' to 'Hernando's Hideaway' to 'You Gotta Have Heart' to 'Steam Heat' to the aforementioned Bennett, Day and Monroe standards and so many more chestnuts.

CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG, adapted for the stage from the MGM Motion Picture by Jeremy Sams and Ray Broderick with music and lyrics by Richard M. Sherman and Robert B. Sherman will open at Sydney's Capitol Theatre from the 16th of November. The show will be directed in Australia by Roger Hodgman and features sets and costumes by renowned English designer Anthony Ward.

Gingold Theatrical Group's GOLDEN SHAMROCK GALA was held last night at The Players Club (16 Gramercy Park South), honoring the talents of playwright, Terrence McNally, actor, Brian Murray and, of course, George Bernard Shaw. BWW was there to cover this event. Check out the photos below!

The life and career of playwright, composer, director and actor Noel Coward is being celebrated by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences in a new touring exhibition, 'Star Quality: The World of Noel Coward' which is currently open at the Lincoln Center until August 12. These photographs from the New York launch party yesterday, March 11, feature Jim Dale, Dana Ivey and more.

Lerner and Lowe's classic stage musical "My Fair Lady," a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons to become a proper lady, comes to the California Theatre for one performance only on Jan. 26, 2012.

Lerner and Lowe's classic stage musical "My Fair Lady," a Cockney flower girl who takes speech lessons to become a proper lady, comes to the California Theatre for one performance only on Jan. 26, 2012.

The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company may be located in Vermont, but its heart and soul are in the New York theater community.

The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company may be located in Vermont, but its heart and soul are in the New York theater community.

The Weston Playhouse Theatre Company in Vermont has received national coverage recently, both of its devastating flood damage from Tropical Storm Irene, and of the inspiring community efforts to help with the clean up.

My Fair Lady composer Alan Jay Lerner was honoured this Wednesday, 14 June 2011, with the unveiling of a plaque in St Paul's Church, Covent Garden.

Theatrical legend Alan Jay Lerner was commemorated today, Wednesday 14 June, 25 years after his death, with a plaque in St Paul's Church Covent Garden. The plaque was unveiled by his wife, actress Liz Robertson, during a service in celebration of his life and work, attended by friends, family and other theatrical greats including Don Black, Anthony Andrews, Tim Rice, Russ Abbott and Tony Britton.

Theatrical legend Alan Jay Lerner died 25 years ago on June 14th. He was the lyricist of many famous musicals including BRIGADOON, PAINT YOUR WAGON, CAMELOT, GIGI, ON A CLEAR DAY YOU CAN SEE FOREVER and, most famously, MY FAIR LADY.

More than 250 guests promenaded the red carpet at the Kravis Center's Cohen Pavilion on Saturday, March 19th for a superb dinner 'a la Sardi's' with dazzling entertainment - in celebration and support of West Palm Beach's longest residing theater company - Palm Beach Dramaworks.

Palm Beach Dramaworks announced that Palm Beach's own 'Grill 264' Restaurant will honor the acclaimed theatre company with a special celebrity bartending event on Thursday, February 24th (5:30-7:30). Located at 264 South County Road, celebrities from the world of show business are planning to be guest mixologists and tend bar for the evening. Some of the them include Seaview Radio Hosts Joe Ranieri & Jo Ann Pflug as well as Dramaworks' producing Artistic Director Bill Hayes. There is no cover charge for this evening.

Palm Beach Dramaworks announced that Palm Beach's own 'Grill 264' Restaurant will honor the acclaimed theatre company with a special celebrity bartending event on Thursday, February 24th (5:30-7:30). Located at 264 South County Road, celebrities from the world of show business are planning to be guest mixologists and tend bar for the evening. Some of the them include Seaview Radio Hosts Joe Ranieri & Jo Ann Pflug as well as Dramaworks' producing Artistic Director Bill Hayes. There is no cover charge for this evening.

Palm Beach Dramaworks announced Broadway's legendary restaurant Sardi's, will be the theme of its 11th annual Spring Gala, an evening of dinner and entertainment on Saturday, March 19th (6:30PM) to benefit and celebrate West Palm Beach's longest residing theater company. At a recent planning meeting for the gala in Manhattan, Sardi's owner Max Klimavicius graciously granted the Gala's co-chairmen Calla and Ralph Guild, permission to use the restaurant's well known logo, elements of the restaurant, and their legendary caricatures as themes for what promises to be a 'must-attend' event this spring.

On Monday, September 13, The Actors Fund hosted a party for 'The Friends of The Lillian Booth Actors Home' at Gloria Crest, in Englewood, NJ, the former estate of film legend Gloria Swanson and now the home of the evening's hosts Jan and Edward Turen. The Turens welcomed Tony Award-winning actor Brian Stokes Mitchell, and the evening's entertainment host Emmy and Tony Award-winning actress Bebe Neuwirth. Emmy and Tony Award winner Leslie Uggams, Tony Award-nominated actor/singer Tom Wopat and singer-songwriter-pianist Peter Cincotti and his band, among others performed. BroadwayWorld was on hand and brings you photo coverage below.