Tom Jones News

According to online reports, British jazz drummer and 'The Muppet Show' bandleader Jack Parnell died on Sunday at age 87 after a yearlong battle with cancer.

The Westport Country playhouse has announced that Lewis Cleale will join the previously announced Kate Baldwin in their production of I DO! I DO! The production will run from August 10 to August 28.

A representative for The Westport Country Playhouse has confirmed that Broadway star Kate Baldwin will lead the theater's production of I DO! I DO! from August 10 through August 28.

The Weekly 411 at the RRazz room **at Hotel Nikko is located at 222 Mason Street (at Ellis) San Francisco, California 94102 www.therrazzroom.com

Critically acclaimed novelist Francine Prose, writer of the recently published Anne Frank: The Book, The Life, The Afterlife, will present an author talk and book signing, on Sunday, September 19, 3 p.m., at Westport Country Playhouse. Prose will speak about her book, followed by an interview with David Kennedy, Playhouse associate artistic director, and a Q&A with the audience.

POWER BALLADZ - the new rock and roll cabaret musical that features some of the most unforgettable rock anthems of the 70's 80's and 90's - will begin its Off-Broadway run at the Midtown Theater (163 W. 46 St. in Times Square) in August with a series of special weekly events that call to mind the fads, fashions and zeitgeist of that era in pop culture.

Westport Country Playhouse present a Sunday Symposium with Tom Jones, book writer and lyricist of 'I Do! I Do!,' following the Sunday, August 15, 3 p.m. matinee performance of the joyful and touching musical spanning 50 years of marriage. Jones, along with music composer Harvey Schmidt, received an Obie Award and a Special Tony Award for 'The Fantasticks.' In 1999, their stars were added to the Off-Broadway Walk of Fame outside the Lucille Lortel Theatre.

Bay City Players will hold auditions for its upcoming musical production, THE FANTASTICKS. Book and Lyrics by TOM JONES, Music by HARVEY SCHMIDT, on Friday, September 10th at 7:00 p.m. and Saturday, September 11th, 2010 at 1:00 p.m. Callback Only: Sunday, September 12th at 1:00 p.m.

Celebrating 80 Years with a Variety of Outstanding Plays and Playwrights: Westport Country Playhouse Announces 2011 Season

The Jefferson Performing Arts Society proudly presents the Ensemble Arts Production of THE FANTASTICKS, on stage at Teatro Wego! Theatre, 177 Sala Avenue in Westwego, August 13-29, 2010.

Light Opera Works' 2010 season continues in the fall with Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's, I DO! I DO! (October 3-November 14) on the Second Stage, and Jerry Herman's HELLO, DOLLY! (December 26-January 2) on the mainstage.

MEN ALOUD, the award-winning, multi-platinum singing ensemble from the UK, are about to make their mark upon the shores of North America thanks to their first performance special, 'Men Aloud: Live From Wales' which has been chosen as the premiere Public Television pledge drive program to be aired nationally beginning August 1st.

August 2010 Concerts set for the RRazz room at Hotel Nikko San Francisco. The RRazz room at Hotel Nikko is located at 222 Mason Street (between Ellis and O'Farrell) San Francisco, California 94102

THE FANTASTICKS, with a book and lyrics by Tom Jones and music by Harvey Schmidt will be directed by Bill English and play the SF Playhouse thru September 4.

MEN ALOUD, the award-winning, multi-platinum singing ensemble from the UK, are about to make their mark upon the shores of North America thanks to their first performance special, 'Men Aloud: Live From Wales' which has been chosen as the premiere Public Television pledge drive program to be aired nationally beginning August 1st.

A sweeping saga of love beneath the Tuscan sun, TheatreWorks, the nationally acclaimed theatre of Silicon Valley presents the epic Tony Award-winning musical THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, with book by Pulitzer Prize-nominee Craig Lucas and music and lyrics by Adam Guettel, based on the 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer. Set to the soaring melodies of what the Chicago Tribune called 'the most beautiful score written for the American musical theater in 20 years,' this breath-taking musical is the poignant tale of two extraordinary young people and the overwhelming power of love. Featuring Broadway veterans Rebecca Eichenberger and Martin Vidnovic and regional favorites Whitney Bashor and Constantine Germancos, with TheatreWorks Founding Artistic Director Robert Kelley at the helm, THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA plays August 25-September 19, 2010 (press opening August 28) at TheatreWorks at the Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts. For tickets and information the public may call (650) 463-1960 or visit www.theatreworks.org.

'50 Years of The Fantasticks', a special episode of Theater Talk devoted to the world's longest-running musical, will premiere on PBS this Friday evening, July 30, 2010 at 12:30am.

POWER BALLADZ - the new rock and roll cabaret musical that features some of the most unforgettable rock anthems of the 70's 80's and 90's - will begin its Off-Broadway run at the Midtown Theater (163 W. 46 St. in Times Square) in August with a series of special weekly events that call to mind the fads, fashions and zeitgeist of that era in pop culture.

Westport Country Playhouse's Young Professionals Network and Norwalk's Triangle Community Center will present the first-ever 'LGBT Night Out at the Playhouse,' for members of the gay/lesbian/bisexual/transgender communities and allies, on Thursday, August 12.

Erik Altemus, currently appearing as Matt in the Off Broadway production of The Fantasticks, has been cast in the HBO pilot The Miraculous Year, written by John Logan (Red) and directed by Kathryn Bigelow (The Hurt Locker). Altemus will play Brandon, a dancer.