Conceived and directed by Tommy Tune and written by Mark Saltzman, FIFTY FOUR FOREVER, will receive its world premiere at The University of Miami's Jerry Herman Ring Theatre, from November 9 to 19. The associate director and choreographer of the production will be David Warren Gibson.
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On Wednesday August 10 thirteen year-old triple threat performer Melody Hollis debuted her one-woman show Melodyland @ Sterling's Upstairs @ Vitello's to a packed house of enthusiastic fans. Produced and directed by Bruce Kimmel, Melodyland is perhaps the only cabaret show for a talented young lady ... that young. However, it's a great idea for such an amazing talent. Hollis can not only sing, dance and patter with the best of them, but she has a certain savoir faire and wisdom that go far beyond her years. And she understands the meaning behind the lyrics of the songs she sings. Not easy, considering she sang Stephen Sondheim's 'Children Will Listen' - has a child ever sung this before? - and an expert rendition of Kander & Ebb's 'A Quiet Thing'. Usually reserved for older people, who have had more experience with love and life, these songs require a rich understanding and interpretation, which, somehow, Hollis was able to supply. Her voice with time will be richer and more beautiful, so I can only imagine how dreamlike these will sound then. It doesn't hurt that your musical director is also your father - the wonderful Steve Hollis, giving the impression that Melody has been superbly trained and nurtured for seven years in the world of musical theatre.
Based on the popular children's book series by P.L. Travers that Disney shaped into an even more renowned movie musical, the stage iteration's current touring company has temporarily taken up residence at the Segerstrom Center for the Performing Arts in Orange County for an extended four-week limited engagement through August 7. Joyfully engaging but oddly peculiar, this stage version of MARY POPPINS--which weaves peppy elements from the much-beloved Disney movie with less-bouyant passages from Travers' darker, moodier books--is easily likable, but can be challenging to really love.
The new Disney animated feature WINNIE THE POOH was released in theaters nationwide today, July 15. Check out the trailer for the film below!
The new Disney animated feature WINNIE THE POOH is set to be released in theaters nationwide on July 15. This week, Robert Lopez and his wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez hosted a premiere for the film in NYC.
Tony Award winner Robert Lopez stopped by Sirius/XM's Live On Broadway Radio show on Wednesday and shared some exciting news with the live audience about his upcoming projects. Lopez revealed that he and collaborator/wife Kristen Anderson-Lopez have composed several songs for a brand new project for Disney.
On Wednesday, May 4, The Segerstrom Center for the Arts in conjunction with Disney Theatrical Productions hosted a perfectly enchanting reception and behind-the-scenes program to meet and greet legendary Academy Award-winning composer Richard Sherman. He was there to help celebrate the upcoming Orange County debut performances of the national touring company of MARY POPPINS, landing at the Center on July 14 for an extended four-week engagement. Hosted by Disney Theatricals producer Thomas Schumacher, the event featured Sherman behind the piano and live performances from the tour's main stars, Steffanie Leigh and Nicolas Dromard.
Tommy Tune has been announced as the 2011 recipient of the Helen Hayes Tribute Award. He will be honored at the 27th Helen Hayes Awards on April 25, at the Warner Theatre on Monday.
Tommy Tune has been announced as the 2011 recipient of the Helen Hayes Tribute Award. He will be honored at the 27th Helen Hayes Awards on April 25, at the Warner Theatre on Monday.
After more than a half-century of creating some of the world's most memorable songs, The Sherman Brothers are still going strong. Now octogenarians, Robert B. Sherman has lived in London where he continues songwriting and is actively writing novels and gallery quality paintings. Richard M. Sherman, who lives in Beverly Hills, says his life is writing songs.
After more than a half-century of creating some of the world's most memorable songs, The Sherman Brothers are still going strong. Now octogenarians, Robert B. Sherman has lived in London where he continues songwriting and is actively writing novels and gallery quality paintings. Richard M. Sherman, who lives in Beverly Hills, says his life is writing songs.
After more than a half-century of creating some of the world's most memorable songs, The Sherman Brothers are still going strong. Now octogenarians, Robert B. Sherman has lived in London where he continues songwriting and is actively writing novels and gallery quality paintings. Richard M. Sherman, who lives in Beverly Hills, says his life is writing songs.
On Wednesday, January 12 Kritzerland at the Gardenia, a series presented on the first Wednesday of every month - January being the exception, and which originated in September of 2010, offered The Sondheim Albums. The series, based on Bruce Kimmel's record label and albums, honors a composer's lesser known material, oft times cut from an original score. Nine skilled singers participated in the fine evening; they were: Damon Kirsche (photo at left), Kim Huber, Zachary Ford, Juliana Hansen, Alet Taylor, Shannon Cudd, Aleah Whaley, Holly Long, and very special guest artiste Millicent Martin.
Having essayed the roles of Belle in BEAUTY & THE BEAST and the title role in MARY POPPINS on Broadway, as well as having created a role in the jukebox revue ON THE RECORD, Ashley Brown has carved a place for herself as the premiere Disney leading lady of the 21st century and her participation in the recent symphonic presentation of SNOW WHITE & THE SEVEN DWARVES only furthers that point. I spoke to Ashley yesterday as she was on her way to rehearsals for SIR TIM RICE & FRIENDS, a special concert taking place in NYC on Friday at 6 PM and we discussed her career so far and her plans for the future, both near and far. Also, here you will find the first news of Ashley's upcoming PBS special airing in March and a forthcoming original Charlie Chaplin musical as well as a Cole Porter revue based on the film ROMAN HOLIDAY.
Today, we are concluding our spotlight on the new school of Disney feature film directors begun last week with Byron Howard and Nathan Greno of TANGLED - now in Disney Digital 3D in movie theaters nationwide - and continuing yesterday with Don Hahn of WAKING SLEEPING BEAUTY, with a indepth conversation with Jeff Sherman and Greg Sherman, the directors of THE BOYS documentary - now available on DVD - tracing the glorious career of their famous songwriting fathers, even if life was anything but 'A Spoonful of Sugar' behind the scenes. MARY POPPINS to THE TIGGER MOVIE, CHITTY CHITTY BANG BANG on screen and on Broadway to BUSKER'S ALLEY, the Beatles, the Beach Boys, and much more, the Sherman Brothers' career continues on in their twilight years as their sons carry on the tradition of incisive, emotional storytelling in THE BOYS documentary just as their fathers have done in their hundreds of beloved songs - some, such as those from MARY POPPINS, Academy Award winners. The rich legacy lives on with the Sherman Sons in THE BOYS, new on DVD this week.
The UK editor in chief talks to one half of the incredibly successful Stiles and Drewe duo!
On October 2, Emily Skinner joined the Broadway company of Billy Elliot as the beloved Mrs. Wilkinson, a role she took nationwide on the first national tour of the show. BroadwayWorld recently caught up with the busy triple threat to talk about how it feels to bring the role home to Broadway.
On November 2nd families everywhere can experience 'fantasmagorical' adventures, legendary sing-alongs and magical moments like never before as MGM Home Entertainment releases an all-new remastered version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Blu-ray.
Tony® Award nominee Emily Skinner, currently starring as ‘Mrs. Wilkinson' in the first national touring production of Billy Elliot the Musical in Chicago, will join the Broadway company on October 2, 2010. Kate Hennig will play her final Broadway performance on October 1, 2010 and will return to her home town to launch the Toronto engagement of Billy Elliot, which begins performances at the Canon Theatre on January 28, 2011.
On November 2nd families everywhere can experience 'fantasmagorical' adventures, legendary sing-alongs and magical moments like never before as MGM Home Entertainment releases an all-new remastered version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang on Blu-ray.
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