Sondra Lee News

Urban Stages Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and producer Peter Napolitano present the World Premiere of Character Man. Jim Brochu's new musical memoir now at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th Street), with opening night set for Wednesday March 5th. This limited run will continue through March 30th only. Robert Bartley directs, with musical direction by Carl Haan.

THEATER TALK celebrates the 50th Anniversary of Hello, Dolly! with a trio of guests, each with a different association with the long-running show. Actress Sondra Lee was the production's original Minnie Fay; Lee Roy Reams was Cornelius in the 1978 revival and directed the second revival in 1995; and dancer Marge Champion, married to the show's director-choreographer Gower Champion, was present at the show's creation. The 1964 mega-hit was a musical adaptation of Thornton Wilder's The Matchmaker, with a book by Michael Stewart, score by 26-year-old Jerry Herman and produced by the notorious David Merrick. The show's original cast included: Carol Channing, David Burns, Charles Nelson Reilly, Eileen Brennan and Ms. Lee. It ran for a record-breaking 2,844 performances from Jan. 15, 1964 to Dec. 27, 1970 and won 10 Tony Awards, a record it held for 35 years.

Over the weekend, Richard Skipper kicked off a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of HELLO, DOLLY! with members of the original Broadway cast! In attendence for the special reunion were Nicole Barth (Original cast), Paul Berne (dancer, Original Company), Carleton Carpenter and Johnny Beecher (Sheridan (Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker: Mary Martin International Company), Wayne Clark (first National Company with Carol Channing), John Anthony Gilvey, David Hartman (Rudolph and Stage Manager: Original Company), Charles Karel (Original cast), Jan LaPrad (Original Company dancer), Joan 'Buttons' Leonard (original company), Bob Lydiard (Cornelius Hackl, Carol's first Broadway Revival), Lee Roy Reams (Cornelius Hackl 1977 tour and Broadway Revival, director 1996 Broadway tour and Revival),Megan Thomas (Carol's last tour), Andrea Bell (started with Carol Channing, as Ermengarde at the age of seventeen, in Carol's FIRST national tour as well as other productions.) Ron Young (dancer original cast). BroadwayWorld was there for the special event and you can check out photos from the reunion below!

Richard Skipper is kicking off a yearlong celebration of the 50th anniversary of HELLO, DOLLY! with members of the original Broadway cast! Scheduled to appear: Nicole Barth (Original cast), Paul Berne (dancer, Original Company), Carleton Carpenter and Johnny Beecher (Sheridan (Cornelius Hackl and Barnaby Tucker: Mary Martin International Company), Wayne Clark (first National Company with Carol Channing), John Anthony Gilvey: Author, Before the Parade Passes By: Gower Champion and the Glorious American Musical (click here), David Hartman (Rudolph and Stage Manager: Original Company), Charles Karel (Original cast), Jan LaPrad (Original Company dancer), Joan 'Buttons' Leonard (original company), Bob Lydiard (Cornelius Hackl, Carol's first Broadway Revival), Lee Roy Reams (Cornelius Hackl 1977 tour and Broadway Revival, director 1996 Broadway tour and Revival), Megan Thomas (Carol's last tour), Andrea Bell (started with Carol Channing, as Ermengarde at the age of seventeen, in Carol's FIRST national tour as well as other productions.) Ron Young (dancer original cast).

Tune in this Wednesday, October 9th, 2013 at 12:35 PM (ET) to join in the celebration with 'Mr. Showbusiness' on Jimmy Ferraro's THEATRE CHAT AND THIS 'N THAT, broadcasting live on WWJB -- regionally and nationally on the world wide web: www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's Guest is award-winning stage, teleivision and film star Avi Hoffman.

Jimmy Ferraro has announced that because of listeners Theatre Chat and This 'n That! has been receiving rave reviews around the country, and, beginning this week, today, October 2nd, the broadcast will be extended to a 1-hour show!

Jimmy Ferraro is thrilled to announce, that because of listeners, Theatre Chat and This 'n That! has been receiving rave reviews around the country, and, beginning next week on Wednesday, October 2nd, the broadcast will be extended to a 1-hour show!

Tune in this Wednesday, Sept. 25th, 2013 at 12:35 PM (est) to join the celebration with...'Mr. Showbusiness' on JIMMY FERRARO'S Theatre Chat and This 'n That!, broadcasting live on WWJB - regionally and nationally on the world wide web at www.wwjb.com/pages/4395150.php. This week's guest is Broadway, television, and film star Sondra Lee, an award-winning actress, dancer, director and author.

In preparation for Ford's Theatre Society and Signature Theatre's co-presentation of the Tony-winning musical HELLO, DOLLY!, which will be directed by Eric Schaeffer and runs March 15 through May 18, 2013 in Washington, D.C., The Washington Post conducted a series of interviews with those involved onstage and behind the scenes during the original Broadway production.

Milan Stitt's drama THE RUNNER STUMBLES, presented by Retro Productions and The Bleecker Company, in association with The Arclight Theatre at The Arclight Theatre (152 West 71st Street) concludes its limited Off-Broadway run today, May 20. Peter Zinn, who helmed Retro Productions' revivals Michael Frayn's BENEFACTORS and Sally Nemeth's HOLY DAYS, directs.

Milan Stitt's drama THE RUNNER STUMBLES, presented by Retro Productions and The Bleecker Company, in association with The Arclight Theatre at The Arclight Theatre (152 West 71st Street) concludes its limited Off-Broadway run on Sunday, May 20. Peter Zinn, who helmed Retro Productions' revivals Michael Frayn's BENEFACTORS and Sally Nemeth's HOLY DAYS, directs.

Retro Productions and The Bleecker Company, in association with The Arclight Theatre, present Milan Stitt's drama THE RUNNER STUMBLES, with an Off-Broadway run opening tonight, May 3 at The Arclight Theatre (152 West 71st Street). Peter Zinn, who helmed Retro Productions' revivals Michael Frayn's BENEFACTORS and Sally Nemeth's HOLY DAYS, directs.

In April, four-time Grammy nominee violinist Philippe Quint celebrates two milestones - the release of his recording of concertos by Mendelssohn and Bruch, and Beethoven's Romances Nos. 1 and 2, with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria led by Carlos Miguel Prieto (US release date: today, April 24) on the Avanticlassic label, as well as the theatrical opening by International Film Circuit of Downtown Express, a new film Quint stars in from multiple Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director David Grubin, produced by Michael Hausman (Brokeback Mountain, Gangs of New York, Amadeus), and co-starring singer-songwriter Nellie McKay (Quad Cinema in NYC, opening April 20). In addition, Quint will give a concert in New York at Joe's Pub on Monday, April 23 at 7:30pm featuring musical selections from both the album and the film.

In April, four-time Grammy nominee violinist Philippe Quint celebrates two milestones - the release of his recording of concertos by Mendelssohn and Bruch, and Beethoven's Romances Nos. 1 and 2, with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria led by Carlos Miguel Prieto (US release date: April 24) on the Avanticlassic label, as well as the theatrical opening by International Film Circuit of Downtown Express, a new film Quint stars in from multiple Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director David Grubin, produced by Michael Hausman (Brokeback Mountain, Gangs of New York, Amadeus), and co-starring singer-songwriter Nellie McKay (Quad Cinema in NYC, opening April 20). In addition, Quint will give a concert in New York at Joe's Pub tonight, April 23 at 7:30pm featuring musical selections from both the album and the film.

In April, four-time Grammy nominee violinist Philippe Quint celebrates two milestones - the release of his recording of concertos by Mendelssohn and Bruch, and Beethoven's Romances Nos. 1 and 2, with the Orquesta Sinfonica de Mineria led by Carlos Miguel Prieto (US release date: April 24) on the Avanticlassic label, as well as the theatrical opening by International Film Circuit of Downtown Express, a new film Quint stars in from multiple Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director David Grubin, produced by Michael Hausman (Brokeback Mountain, Gangs of New York, Amadeus), and co-starring singer-songwriter Nellie McKay (Quad Cinema in NYC, opening April 20). In addition, Quint will give a concert in New York at Joe's Pub on Monday, April 23 at 7:30pm featuring musical selections from both the album and the film.

Philippe Quint stars in Downtown Express, a new film from multiple Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director David Grubin, produced by Michael Hausman (Brokeback Mountain, Gangs of New York, Amadeus), and co-starring singer-songwriter Nellie McKay.

Retro Productions and The Bleecker Company, in association with The Arclight Theatre, present Milan Stitt's drama THE RUNNER STUMBLES, with an Off-Broadway run set to open Thursday, May 3 at The Arclight Theatre (152 West 71st Street). Peter Zinn, who helmed Retro Productions' revivals Michael Frayn's BENEFACTORS and Sally Nemeth's HOLY DAYS, directs.

Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Executive Director) will present Heathens, a new play by Heather Hill, directed by Stefanie Sertich, having its Off-Broadway premiere beginning March 1st and continuing through March 17th only.

Philippe Quint stars in Downtown Express, a new film from multiple Peabody and Emmy Award-winning director David Grubin, produced by Michael Hausman (Brokeback Mountain, Gangs of New York, Amadeus), and co-starring singer-songwriter Nellie McKay.

Theater for the New City (Crystal Field, Executive Director) will present Heathens, a new play by Heather Hill, directed by Stefanie Sertich, having its Off-Broadway premiere beginning March 1st and continuing through March 17th only.