Varla Jean Merman News

Ricky Graham, every New Orleanians' favorite funny man, and his jolly comical crew are back on the Rivertown Mainstage to bring some different kind of holiday cheer with this Christmas musical that has theatergoers coming back for more!

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to cabaret superstar Natalie Douglas about Nina Simone's 1961 album 'Forbidden Fruit.' They also discuss The Eagles, 'South Pacific,' Mitzi Gaynor, Roberta Flack, Barbra Streisand, Karen Mason, Joe Williams, and Dolly Parton. Natalie shares stories about moving to New York and working at famous piano bars such as Brandy's and The Duplex. She now sings to audiences around the world and can be seen performing at her monthly residency at Birdland in New York City.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to legendary writer and New York nightlife fixture Michael Musto about the 1968 album 'Diana Ross and The Supremes Sing and Perform Funny Girl.' They also discuss 'The Wiz,' Motown, Barbra Streisand, 'Mahogany,' Liza Minnelli, Madonna, 'Evita,' Nancy Walker, Mary Wilson, 'Follies,' and Marilyn Maye. Michael talks about the first time he saw the movie 'Funny Girl,' as well as his attempt to see Diana Ross live in Central Park. Michael can be seen performing live at venues around New York City, and his weekly column can be found on NewNowNext.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson about Tori Amos's 1994 album 'Under the Pink.' They also discuss Liz Phair, Joni Mitchell, Mariah Carey, alt rock, Fiona Apple, 'Show Boat,' William Finn, 'In Trousers,' 'Raisin,' Sondheim, 'Company,' 'Rent,' and 'Passing Strange.' Michael talks about how he discovered his favorite songwriters and how they influenced his own writing process. Michael's acclaimed new musical 'A Strange Loop' recently played to sold-out audiences, and the cast recording is now available from Broadway Records.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson about Tori Amos's 1994 album 'Under the Pink.' They also discuss Liz Phair, Joni Mitchell, Mariah Carey, alt rock, Fiona Apple, 'Show Boat,' William Finn, 'In Trousers,' 'Raisin,' Sondheim, 'Company,' 'Rent,' and 'Passing Strange.' Michael talks about how he discovered his favorite songwriters and how they influenced his own writing process. Michael's acclaimed new musical 'A Strange Loop' recently played to sold-out audiences, and the cast recording is now available from Broadway Records.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to playwright, composer, and lyricist Michael R. Jackson about Tori Amos's 1994 album 'Under the Pink.' They also discuss Liz Phair, Joni Mitchell, Mariah Carey, alt rock, Fiona Apple, 'Show Boat,' William Finn, 'In Trousers,' 'Raisin,' Sondheim, 'Company,' 'Rent,' and 'Passing Strange.' Michael talks about how he discovered his favorite songwriters and how they influenced his own writing process. Michael's acclaimed new musical 'A Strange Loop' recently played to sold-out audiences, and the cast recording is now available from Broadway Records.

Ricky Graham, every New Orleanians' favorite funny man, and his jolly comical crew are back on the Rivertown Mainstage to bring some different kind of holiday cheer with this Christmas musical that has theatergoers coming back for more!

Producer Mark Cortale and The Broward Center will present the South Florida debut of Tori Scott, named a?oeThe Bette Midler of the new millenniuma?? by Provincetown Magazine and among the Top 10 Cabaret Performers in NYC by Time Out New York, with her holiday show Vodka Is The Reason For The Season on November 30. The performance is directed by Seth Sklar-Heyn with musical direction and arrangements by  Jesse Kissel. For tickets and information, please visit www.browardcenter.org or call 954 462-0222. 

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actress and singer Bridget Everett about Prince's legendary 1984 album Purple Rain. They also discuss Bread, Barry Manilow, Bette Midler, Patti LuPone, Little Richard, Lillias White, The Life, Tina Turner, Kiki & Herb, Murray Hill, Allison Janney, Brooks Ashmanskas, RuPaul, karaoke, lowbrow brilliance, and finding solace in music. Bridget talks about growing up with six siblings and how she found her way from Kansas to New York's electrifying downtown scene. Bridget can be seen in a number of TV shows such as Inside Amy Schumer, Lady Dynamite, Unbelievable, and Camping, as well as the upcoming AJ and the Queen on Netflix.

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz about Judy Collins' 1967 album 'Wildflowers.' They also discuss Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, The Supremes, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,' Motown, 'Bye Bye Birdie,' and Leonard Cohen. Stephen talks about the conception and creation of a number of his works, including 'Wicked,' 'Godspell,' 'Pippin,' 'The Baker's Wife,' 'Working,' 'Rags,' and 'The Prince of Egypt.' He tells stories about working with artists such as Howard Ashman, Charles Strouse, Steven Spielberg, and Whitney Houston, and talks about collaborating with Alan Menken, with whom he wrote the songs for the hit Disney films 'Pocahontas,' 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' and 'Enchanted.'

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to Tony, Grammy, and Academy Award-winning composer and lyricist Stephen Schwartz about Judy Collins' 1967 album 'Wildflowers.' They also discuss Joni Mitchell, Laura Nyro, The Supremes, 'Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf,' Motown, 'Bye Bye Birdie,' and Leonard Cohen. Stephen talks about the conception and creation of a number of his works, including 'Wicked,' 'Godspell,' 'Pippin,' 'The Baker's Wife,' 'Working,' 'Rags,' and 'The Prince of Egypt.' He tells stories about working with artists such as Howard Ashman, Charles Strouse, Steven Spielberg, and Whitney Houston, and talks about collaborating with Alan Menken, with whom he wrote the songs for the hit Disney films 'Pocahontas,' 'The Hunchback of Notre Dame,' and 'Enchanted.'

In this episode, Ben and Daniel talk to actor and comedian Cole Escola about Judy Garland's beloved 1961 Grammy-winning live album Judy at Carnegie Hall. They also discuss Bernadette Peters, Liza Minnelli, Barbara Cook, and Marin Mazzie. Cole talks about how he discovered each of these legendary performers and how live albums and concert patter have helped inform his own career. Cole currently writes for and stars in Amy Sedaris's Emmy-nominated show At Home with Amy Sedaris on truTV.

Provincetown's Art House theater has announced a busy lineup of performances for P-Town's once quiet and now bustling a?oeoff-seasona?? fall and winter months. Slated to perform will be longtime venue favorites including Varla Jean Merman, Well-Strung, Melissa Ferrick, all-female rock band BETTY, Sirius XM star Christine Pedi, pop-classical vocalist & violinist Edmund Bagnell (of the group Well-Strung), and a Broadway @ The Art House debut performance by recent Tony winner Rachel Bay Jones with Seth Rudetsky as music director and host.

BroadwayWorld is excited to announce the official launch of the site's first self-produced podcast - Ben Rimalower's Broken Records, The Albums You Wouldn't Shut Up About. On each weekly episode Rimalower and co-host Daniel Nolen chat with guests about one album that they were obsessed with, how they discovered it, what it led them to, where they were in life when it impacted them and how it's stayed with them since.

Emmy Award-winning comedian and writer Judy Gold shares the stage for the first time ever with Boston-area cabaret sensation and Norton Award winner Varla Jean Merman at the Huntington Theatre Company for one night only on Saturday, October 19 at the Calderwood Pavilion at the BCA. Performance times are 6pm and 9pm. Produced by Mark Cortale, these two extraordinary talents will deliver what is sure to be an unforgettable evening of music, stand-up, and all-around hilarity. The Judy and Varla show features Gerald Goode at the piano.

As summer's latest heat wave breaks, a surge of star-power will amp-up the footlights inside Provincetown's (air conditioned!) Art House and Town Hall theaters for Producer Mark Cortale in August & September. For Tickets and information, visit www.ptownarthouse.com or call 800-838-3006.

Jessie Mueller, Gavin Creel. Seth Rudetsky and more will head to Provincetown this summer!

Now, as Marianne Faithfull, British pop's queen of survival, Starlite resurrects 1979's Broken English as a thoroughly modern tale of adventure, abyss and hard-won vengeance - one of the most brutally frank albums of its time, made flesh again, in poignant lethally honest character. - David FrickeRolling Stone

TheaterWorks and the Wadsworth Museum of Art are joining forces to present drag superstar Varla Jean Merman in her one-woman comedy cabaret Under a Big Top on Sunday, June 23rd at 7pm. The performance, co-written by Hartford-area playwright Jacques Lamarre and directed by Michael Schiralli, will be held in the Wadsworth Atheneum's theater.

For his ninth consecutive season as Producing Artistic Director at Provincetown's Art House, Mark Cortale is announcing a special music and comedy lineup.