Thomas Z. Shepard News

Blue Hill Troupe, Ltd., the only musical theater group in New York City to donate its net proceeds to charity, continues its travel-themed 86th season with Gilbert & Sullivan's Venetian romance, The Gondoliers. The production, opening Friday, follows on the heels of the group's well-received Brigadoon last fall.

This week, both in memory of the real-life Baby June, June Havoc, who passed away this week, as well as a precursory introduction to a multi-part series critiquing the entire canon of all major Sondheim cast albums available in anticipation of the late April opening of the new review SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM (currently in previews at Studio 54), we are taking a listen to the various cast recordings of the major productions on Broadway/West End of GYPSY over the last fifty years. GYPSY was, of course, one of the first scores on Broadway boasting lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and whether a leading lady the likes of Ethel Merman, Angela Lansbury, Tyne Daly, Bernadette Peters or Patti LuPone, it is a score unlike any other before or since and a true pinnacle of not only musical theatre, but all theatre, on Broadway and beyond. Some may even say the greatest musical of all...

The New York Philharmonic will present SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert on March 15 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. This celebration of the 80th birthday of the great Broadway and film composer/lyricist will include his most enduring orchestral music and songs - performed, in some cases, by the stars of the original Broadway cast productions - in addition to rarely-heard material. Joining the celebration will be (in alphabetical order) Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and others to be announced, including surprise guests. Paul Gemignani, Mr. Sondheim's longtime collaborator, will conduct the New York Philharmonic; Lonny Price is the director; and Mr. Price and Matt Cowart are the producers.

The New York Philharmonic will present SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert on March 15 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.

David Hyde Pierce will host the New York Philharmonic's presentation of SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert, Monday, March 15, and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m.

The New York Philharmonic will present SONDHEIM: The Birthday Concert on March 15 and Tuesday, March 16, 2010, at 7:30 p.m. This celebration of the 80th birthday of the great Broadway and film composer/lyricist will include his most enduring orchestral music and songs - performed, in some cases, by the stars of the original Broadway cast productions - in addition to rarely-heard material. Joining the celebration will be (in alphabetical order) Michael Cerveris, Victoria Clark, Jason Danieley, Nathan Gunn, George Hearn, Patti LuPone, Marin Mazzie, Audra McDonald, Donna Murphy, Mandy Patinkin, Bernadette Peters, and others to be announced, including surprise guests. Paul Gemignani, Mr. Sondheim's longtime collaborator, will conduct the New York Philharmonic; Lonny Price is the director; and Mr. Price and Matt Cowart are the producers.

On behalf of the Kleban Foundation, New Dramatists presented the 19th Annual Kleban Award for the most promising musical theater lyricist has to Beth Falcone and the award for the most promising musical theater librettist has to Kait Kerrigan. The 2009 awards were presented on June 1, 2009, in a private ceremony at BMI.

It's the time of year where the Theatre World celebrates the best of the best and special recognition is bestowed upon certain individuals for their work. No...I am not talking about the Tony Awards...although I know where I will be that evening. I talking about the 19th Annual Kleban Awards, which will be presented in a private ceremony on June 1st, 2009.

The American Theatre Wing has announced its newest episode of the popular 'Working in the Theater' series: 'For the Record: Inside Cast Albums.' In this episode, guests Ted Chapin (President and Executive Director of The Rodgers and Hammerstein Organization), Kurt Deutsch (Sh-K-Boom/ Ghostlight Records), Brian Drutman (Decca Label Group) and Thomas Z. Shepard (Cast Album Producer) take us inside the world of producing cast albums.

Blue Hill Troupe, Ltd., the only musical theater group in New York City to donate its net proceeds to charity, presents the flagship production of its 85th season: a fresh take on Gilbert & Sullivan?s first full-length collaboration, The Sorcerer.

Blue Hill Troupe, Ltd., the only musical theater group in New York City to donate its net proceeds to charity, presents the flagship production of its 85th season: a fresh take on Gilbert & Sullivan?s first full-length collaboration, The Sorcerer.

For the first time ever, the legendary recordings of the exuberant, tune-filled musicals of Broadway composer-lyricist Jerry Herman are available in a new digital-only collection from Masterworks Broadway.

The New York Philharmonic presents Camelot beginning May 7th.

PBS to broadcast 'Camelot' on May 8th.

Celebrated Baritone Nathan Gunn, who will be performing the role of Lancelot in the New York Philharmonic's production of Camelot, discusses the classic musical and it's eternal passions, bonds of valor and it's tragic love triangle.

The New York Philharmonic has launched an online photo album following the cast of 'Camelot.'

Stacy Keach to guest star as Merlyn in the New York Philharmonic's 'Camalot' May 7-10, 2008

The New York Philharmonic's five, semi-staged performances of Lerner and Loewe's Camelot will star Gabriel Byrne (King Arthur); Marin Mazzie (Guenevere); Nathan Gunn (Lancelot); Christopher Lloyd (Pellinore); and Marc Kudisch (Lionel).

Now that the 50th Annual Grammy Awards ceremony is history, and before the Tony Awards season sneaks up on us, it might be a good time to do a little investigating into the relationship between the category that both award shows recognize-Best Musical, of course.

Lerner and Loewe's Camelot will be presented by the New York Philharmonic in four semi-staged performances, Wednesday, May 7 and Thursday, May 8, 2008, at 7:30PM, and Friday, May 9, and Saturday, May 10 at 8PM. The musical - a New York Philharmonic premiere - will be directed by Lonny Price. Thomas Z. Shepard is the producer. Casting and additional production credits will be announced at a future date.