Tony Bennett News

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson this season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson in 2005. Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

Week three of Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook brings to The Allen Room a soulful tribute to black music, a bluegrass legend, a genre-busting singer and the concert debut of a gifted actor, all celebrating the diversity of American popular song. On February 4th Soul Deep, an ensemble of some of the top black singers from Broadway and beyond will perform music - black music - that is the basis for most of the popular music heard today. The next night, bluegrass reigns with The Del McCoury Band (top right), who started out in the 1960s and remain so on top of their game that their latest CD is nominated for a 2009 Grammy. A new voice on the scene, and one that is electrifying all within range, is Lizz Wright (bottom left), who performs two shows on February 6th. She will perform songs from The Orchard, her third CD, as well as other pieces that shine with her expressive treatment. Next up on February 7th is the concert debut of the always surprising actor Alan Cumming (bottom right). Equally at ease in film and on the stage, this classically-trained star has never sung a concert before, and he has selected Dolly Parton and Cindi Lauper tunes, among others, to celebrate this new dimension in his career. American Songbook is presented in the spectacular Allen Room of Frederick P. Rose Hall. The Allen Room possesses one of New York's greatest settings - a stunning vista of Central Park and the Manhattan skyline provides an evocative backdrop for the performers.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns in January for its eleventh season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 17 nights of pop, folk, cabaret, R&B, country, rock, show tunes, bluegrass and multimedia, the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic contemporary songwriting. The 2009 season - January 14 through March 6 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including top vocalist Kurt Elling and country's winning Patty Loveless. It will feature the rare opportunity to hear Paulo Szot, star of Broadway's South Pacific, and film and stage star Alan Cumming, in intimate concert settings.

Pittsburgh CLO is proud to announce the cast and creative team for the premiere of My Way: A Musical Tribute to Frank Sinatra, which runs February 12 through May 10 at the CLO Cabaret. Relive the magic of an American legend with 56 of his greatest songs, including 'Fly Me to the Moon,' 'Young at Heart,' 'All the Way,' and, of course, 'My Way.' Tickets are available online at pittsburghCLO.org, or by calling 412-456-6666.

The new musical features a book written by the TV series' creator Garry Marshall. Music and Lyrics are by Academy Award-winning composer Paul Williams.

Back in Pictures celebrates the songs that were originally written for the masterpieces of the Golden Age of Hollywood, featuring music from Casablanca, Easter Parade, A Star Is Born, Pennies From Heaven, Disney, Meet Me In St. Louis, Gentlemen Prefer Blonds, The Wizard of Oz and many more. Back in Pictures is showing at the Reprise Room, 245 West 54th Street, between Broadway and 8th Avenue, New York, from April 7, 2008 through January 5, 2009.

Minsky's is a big, racy, new musical comedy set in a time when entertainment was about legs and laughs, and you had to push the limits to keep the customers buying tickets. A rollicking backstage story, set in Prohibition Era New York City. Tony Award winning costume designer Gregg Barnes talked about his creations for MINSKY'S on the show's official site in a wonderful audio/video essay that we are excited to bring you here on BWW TV!

Broadway, film, and television stars including - Alec Baldwin '94 (30 Rock), Broadway legend Elaine Stritch (At Liberty), Rainn Wilson '89 (The Office) and Mariska Hargitay (Law & Order: SVU) - were all on hand at Tisch on Stage, the annual gala benefiting NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. Baldwin, along with philanthropist and patron of the arts Iris Cantor; inventor, philanthropist, and patron of Tisch's Kanbar Institute of Film and Television Maurice Kanbar; and 'architect of American regional theater' Zelda Fichandler were honored at the gala on November 17th at the Frederick P. Rose Hall, Home of Jazz at Lincoln Center.

Nationally acclaimed award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist, Johnny Rodgers will open his highly anticipated special performance at JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY at BIRDLAND (315 West 44th Street) on MONDAY, DECEMBER 29th with composer/lyricist CAROL HALL'S ?Big City Boogie' which he will then follow with her ?Change In

Nationally acclaimed award-winning singer/songwriter/pianist, Johnny Rodgers will open his highly anticipated special performance at JIM CARUSO'S CAST PARTY at BIRDLAND (315 West 44th Street) on MONDAY, DECEMBER 29th with composer/lyricist CAROL HALL'S ?Big City Boogie' which he will then follow with her ?Change In

The legendary Tony Bennett, an artist who moves the hearts and touches the souls of his audiences, will perform live at North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) on Sunday, December 7, 2008, at a special 6:00 p.m. show. Known as 'the singer's singer,' the fifteen-time Grammy Award winner has sold over 50 million records worldwide and performs to sold-out audiences receiving rave reviews everywhere he appears. Don't miss this chance to experience the musical magic and artistry of Tony Bennett in NSMT's intimate theater in the round!

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is proud to announce the cast of its upcoming world premiere production of Jim Henson's classic holiday favorite Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, adapted for the stage. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas will run December 7, 2008, through January 4, 2009, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.

International singing sensation Cristina Fontanelli will sing a program of Italy's best-loved songs, arias, Neapolitan and Christmas classics during her fifth-annual 'Christmas in Italy,' concert at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, Sunday, December 7th at 8:00 p.m.

International singing sensation Cristina Fontanelli will sing a program of Italy's best-loved songs, arias, Neapolitan and Christmas classics during her fifth-annual 'Christmas in Italy,' concert at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, Sunday, December 7th at 8:00 p.m. Called a 'vocal genius' by the New York Sun, Ms. Fontanelli's 5th-annual 'Christmas in Italy' concert is a 'love letter' and a tribute to her grandparents and her wonderful and colorful Italian heritage. 'I decided to begin this tradition of performing holiday favorites and well-known songs and arias because of my concern that Italian folk and classical music is quickly becoming lost,' says Ms. Fontanelli.

Former SNL genius, Celebrity Autobiography mainstay and gifted comic actress Rachel Dratch is a member of the cast of the currently in rehearsal musical Minsky's, she reveals her joy of working with composer Charles Strouse and her hope of it continuing to Broadway in the future to NYMag.com's Diana Scholl.

Feinstein's at Loews Regency, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue its 10th Anniversary season with the return of the club's founder Michael Feinstein for an exclusive engagement from December 2 - 30. Musical Director John Oddo will lead a 17-piece band featuring Bucky Pizzarelli on guitar, Jim Saporito on drums, and David Finck on bass.

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson this season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson in 2005. Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

International singing sensation Cristina Fontanelli will sing a program of Italy's best-loved songs, arias, Neapolitan and Christmas classics during her fifth-annual 'Christmas in Italy,' concert at Merkin Concert Hall at Kaufman Center, Sunday, December 7th at 8:00 p.m. Called a 'vocal genius' by the New York Sun, Ms. Fontanelli's 5th-annual 'Christmas in Italy' concert is a 'love letter' and a tribute to her grandparents and her wonderful and colorful Italian heritage. 'I decided to begin this tradition of performing holiday favorites and well-known songs and arias because of my concern that Italian folk and classical music is quickly becoming lost,' says Ms. Fontanelli.

Bidding begins at noon EST on eBay for BID 2 BEAT AIDS, a massive annual auction of rare and autographed items from stars in music, film, Broadway, sports, and television. Broadway fans can bid on tickets to the opening night of Hair and the post-show party, a backstage visit with Hairspray star Harvey Fierstein, signed Playbills, a 'For Rent' sign autographed by the cast of Rent, or even a signed can of hairspray by the cast of Hairspray; concert-goers can snag VIP seats and backstage meet-and-greets with Tony Bennett, Jewel, Bernadette Peters, Aimee Mann, Duncan Sheik, Harry Connick Jr, Estelle, Joan Rivers or Michael Feinstein; sports fans can bid on meet-and-greets with Olympic champion Michael Phelps or skateboarder Tony Hawk.

Goodspeed Musicals, the only two time Tony Award winning theatre in the country, is proud to announce the cast of its upcoming world premiere production of Jim Henson's classic holiday favorite Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas, adapted for the stage. Emmet Otter's Jug-Band Christmas will run December 7, 2008, through January 4, 2009, at the Goodspeed Opera House in East Haddam, Connecticut.