Sheldon Harnick News

The 92nd Street Y announces final casting for the 2009 season of Lyrics & LyricistsTM, the Y's legendary American Songbook series. Linda Purl, La Tanya Hall, Johnny Rodgers and Hilary Kole join Polly Bergen, Lucie Arnaz, Tom Wopat, Marilyn Maye and more who will sing the songs of Ira Gershwin, Mel Torm? and DeSylva, Brown & Henderson. Charles Osgood returns to L&L as host, for the latter show. This is the first season curated by new series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF starring Chaim Topol, the original star from the movie, will perform a one-week limited engagement at the Detroit Opera House, March 3- 8, 2009. Heralded as one of the great masterpieces in American Musical Theatre, tickets are available for purchase at the Fisher Theatre box office, the Detroit Opera House box office, all Ticketmaster locations, by phone at 1-800-982-2787, and online at www.ticketmaster.com or www.broadwayindetroit.com. A perennial hit since it first opened in 1964, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has enjoyed critical acclaim for bringing to the stage a poignant story about the enduring bonds of the family. Detroit audiences will have a once in a lifetime opportunity to see Jerome Robbins' original Broadway direction and choreography, complete with the star of the original West End production and the 1971 film, Chaim Topol.

On Saturday, March 7 (2009), The Players in Gramercy Park will host an evening of laughter and song honoring the 150th anniversary of the birthday of Yiddish writer and humorist Sholom Aleichem (born March 2, 1859).

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, heralded as one of the great masterpieces in American Musical Theatre, is currently performing on its National Tour. This landmark production, featuring the star of the original motion picture, Chaim Topol, in his farewell performances, kicked off officially on February 10 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a family musical about the bonds that hold husbands and wives and parents and children together in times of hardship and times of joy.

The first full recording of Allegro, a 1947 musical by Rodgers & Hammerstein, has just been released on CD. Allegro producer Ted Chapin visited NPR Fresh Air from WHYY, February 17, 2009 to chat about the restored gem.

The 92nd Street Y continues the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists with DAVID ZIPPEL as host and artistic director of It Started with a Dream, February 21-23. Subtitled David Zippel - Lyrics He Wrote, Lyrics He Wishes He Wrote, the Tony award-winning, Oscar-nominated lyricist of City of Angels and Disney's animated Hercules and Mulan, presents highlights from his own scores and shares his inspirations and personal favorites from the American Songbook. The show features an all-Broadway cast, including vocalists KATE BALDWIN (Wonderful Town, Thoroughly Modern Millie, The Full Monty), KEVIN EARLEY (A Tale of Two Cities, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Les Mis?rables), Tony Award-winner DEBBIE GRAVITTE (Jerome Robbins' Broadway, Chicago, Les Mis?rables), DANNY GURWIN (Little Women, Urinetown, The Full Monty), and Tony Award-winner LILLIAS WHITE (The Life, Dreamgirls, and. the voice of 'Calliope' in Hercules). One of the most acclaimed and sought-after lyricists working today, David Zippel's other credits include the Broadway musical The Goodbye Girl (written with Marvin Hamlisch and Neil Simon), The Woman in White (with Andrew Lloyd Webber, for which Zippel won another Tony nomination) and the musical stage version of Wendy Wasserstein's bestselling children's book, Pamela's First Musical, written with Wasserstein and City of Angels collaborator Cy Coleman. Series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer, in her first season at the helm, notes that this is the first time in over 25 years that L&L will devote an entire show to a contemporary Broadway songwriter at the height of his career--a return to the spirit in which L&L was founded, with the living lyricist as an active participant.

Village Theatre Pied Piper is excited to present this imaginative production of The Phantom Tollbooth at the Everett Civic Auditorium.

Village Theatre Pied Piper is excited to present this imaginative production of The Phantom Tollbooth at the Everett Civic Auditorium.

On February 18, 2009 at 8:30pm, Rocky Mountain PBS (Channel 6) will air Jerome Robbins: Something to Dance About.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner as Cervantes/Quixote. Julia Migenes, the renowned opera and theatre performer, will play Aldonza/Dulcinea; Valerie Perri will play the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea at matinee performances; and Tony nominee Lee Wilkof will play Sancho Panza. 'Man of La Mancha' is written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Court. 'La Mancha' will play at the Freud Playhouse from February 14-March 1 (press opening February 15).

Reprise Theatre Company presents Brian Stokes Mitchell Sings Broadway, a program especially created for Reprise. It will have one performance only on Monday, May 11 at 8 pm, at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

The 92nd Street Y continues its 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists, the Y's legendary American Songbook series, with It Started with a Dream, an evening with David Zippel (Shows: City of Angels, The Goodbye Girl, The Woman in White, Pamela's First Musical. Films: Mulan, Hercules). The 92nd Street Y has made a block of tickets available for BC/EFA supporters. Each ticket purchased through BC/EFA will include an exclusive and intimate post-performance wine and cheese reception with Mr. Zippel and the evening's performers.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner, written by Dale Wasserman with music by Mitch Leigh and lyrics by Joe Darion. The production will be directed by Michael Michetti, co-artistic director of The Theatre at Boston Cout.

The 2008-2009 Reprise Theatre Company season continues with the classic international hit 'Man of La Mancha,' starring Brent Spiner as Cervantes/Quixote. Julia Migenes, the renowned opera and theatre performer, will play Aldonza/Dulcinea; Valerie Perri will play the role of Aldonza/Dulcinea at matinee performances; and Tony nominee Lee Wilkof will play Sancho Panza.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, heralded as one of the great masterpieces in American Musical Theatre, is embarking on its National Tour, which will officially open in Providence. This landmark production, featuring the star of the original motion picture, Chaim Topol, in his farewell performances, will have two preview performances at the Dupont Theatre in Wilmington, Delaware before it begins a multi-city tour that kicks off officially on February 10 at the Providence Performing Arts Center. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a family musical about the bonds that hold husbands and wives and parents and children together in times of hardship and times of joy. In what is a huge theatrical feat, PPAC audiences will have the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see Chaim Topol play Tevye for the last time in his farewell performances of the award-winning role that made him legendary in FIDDLER ON THE ROOF. Topol joins this tour on the heels of a successful, short tour in the South Pacific. After first playing the role of Tevye onstage in 1967, Topol starred in the film version, garnering a Golden Globe Award and an Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category. In 1983, he reprised the role of Tevye in a London revival and in 1990 he again played the part in a Broadway revival, for which he received a Tony Award nomination for Best Leading Actor in a Musical. FIDDLER ON THE ROOF performance times are Tuesday, February 10 at 7:00P, Wednesday, February 11 at 7:30P, Thursday, February 12 at 7:30P, Friday, February 13 at 8:00P, Saturday, February 14 at 2:00P & 8:00P, and Sunday, February 15 at 1:00 & 6:30P. Tickets for FIDDLER ON THE ROOF are $70, $65, $63, $58, $53, $48, $43; all ticket prices include a $3 per ticket restoration charge. Tickets for all shows can be purchased at PPAC's Box Office window, or by calling (401) 421-ARTS, Monday - Friday from 10A - 5P and Saturdays from 10A - 2P; or visit www.ppacri.org to purchase tickets any time. Discounted admission is available for groups of 20 or more; for more information, email Paul Hiatt at phiatt@ppacri.org or call (401) 574-3162.

FIDDLER ON THE ROOF has been heralded as one of the great masterpieces in American Musical Theatre. Based on the stories of Sholom Aleichem, FIDDLER ON THE ROOF is a family musical about the bonds that hold husbands and wives and parents and children together in times of hardship and times of joy. Create a new tradition in your family and see FIDDLER ON THE ROOF at the Providence Performing Arts Center.

Kern and Hammerstein's Music in the Air, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008-09 season, concluded its limited run yesterday, Sunday, February 8th. Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 musical, was directed by Gary Griffin with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Michael Lichtefeld. The production ran for five performances at City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). BroadwayWorld's camera caught the final curtain call of the Encores! treat. The cast includes Kristin Chenoweth, Douglas Sills, Dick Latessa, Marni Nixon, Tom Alan Robbins, Sierra Boggess, Walter Charles, Anne L. Nathan, David Schramm, Ryan Silverman and Robert Sella. Music in the Air, with music by Jerome Kern, book and lyrics by Oscar Hammerstein II and orchestrations by Robert Russell Bennett, has been restored by the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization and has not been seen in New York in its original form since its premiere Broadway engagement at the Alvin Theatre in 1932. Opening on November 8th of that year, it played for 342 performances in a production directed by the authors. A revised version had a brief revival at the Ziegfeld Theatre in 1951. Music in the Air is a musical romance, with the wit and elegance of an Ernst Lubitsch film. It's the story of a Bavarian music teacher (Robbins), his beautiful young daughter (Boggess), and the daughter's suitor (Silverman), who travel to the big, bad city of Munich where they encounter a cast of self-involved, egotistical theater folk who promise them fame, fortune and romance. Kristin Chenoweth and Douglas Sills play a Diva (Chenoweth) and an egotistical operetta librettist (Sills) who take the young couple under their wings (and claws). Songs include 'I've Told Ev'ry Little Star' and 'The Song Is You.' Photos by Walter McBride/Retna Ltd.

Attention ticket stub collectors! The 92nd Street Y has a special deal for theater-going packrats. Bring in a Playbill or ticket stub from any Broadway or off-Broadway production and get a 50% discount for the upcoming Lyrics & LyricistsTM show, featuring host/artistic director DAVID ZIPPEL and an all-Broadway cast. This offer is good for performances on Sun, Feb 22 at 3 & 8 pm and Mon, Feb 23 at 2 & 8 pm. Full price tickets are $60 and $50; pay $30 or $25 with your Playbill or ticket stub. Tickets must be purchased in person at the 92nd Street Y Box Office at Lexington Ave. at 92nd Street. Patrons must bring their Playbill or ticket stub to the box office when they pick up their tickets. There is a maximum of four tickets per person. This offer is not available online or on the phone.

Village Theatre Pied Piper announces its' on sale ticket dates for Kennedy Center Theatre for Young Audiences on Tour's imaginative production The Phantom Tollbooth. Single tickets go on sale to the public Wednesday, February 4, 2009.

THE SWEETEST SOUNDS -- ALLEGRO Written in 1947, ALLEGRO was preceded in the R&H canon by OKLAHOMA! and CAROUSEL, and followed directly by SOUTH PACIFIC and THE KING AND I. In this podcast, hosted by Jeff Lunden, the bold innovations and experimental aspects of ALLEGRO are explored in the context of the first complete recording of its score, released by Sony Masterworks Broadway today, February 3, 2009. The CD is produced by David Lai, Bruce Pomahac and Ted Chapin.