Vernon Duke News

Olivier Award winner, West End and Broadway star, and director of the Huntington's Merrily We Roll Along, Maria Friedman brings her critically acclaimed solo show Lenny & Steve: The Music of Bernstein & Sondheim to the Huntington for a one-night only concert event on Monday, September 18 at 7:30pm, accompanied by her longtime collaborator, musical director and pianist Jason Carr. This special cabaret will take place at the Avenue of the Arts / Huntington Avenue Theatre. Tickets are now on sale and start at $25.

To celebrate the 121st birthday of lyricist E.Y. 'Yip' Harburg, Richard Skipper has assembled a brunch time cabaret tribute to the legendary lyricist, to be staged at the Laurie Beechman Theatre on April 8, with cabaret stars Karen Oberlin, Leslie Orofino, Maureen Kelley Stewart and a special appearance by Anita Gilette.

Cabaret on the Hudson Series continues on April 9 at the Irvington Town Hall Theater.

Named for alto saxophonist and jazz pioneer Charlie 'Bird' Parker who dubbed it 'The Jazz Corner of the World,' Birdland opened on December 15th 1949. For 60 years it has been home to jazz legends, from Parker, John Coltrane Duke Ellington and Count Basie to Oscar Peterson, Hank Jones, Diana Krall and everyone in between. The original 52nd street location was a cultural barometer and meeting place, inspiring the songs 'Birdland' and 'Lullaby of Birdland,' and serving as a regular haunt for celebrities and cultural figures. The modern incarnation is a state of the art nightclub featuring award winning Southern and Cajun cuisine, first rate sound and lighting and a who's who of contemporary musical artists, 7 nights a week.

The U.S. National Tour of ANNIE, now in its third smash year, will return to the State Theatre in Easton today, February 24.   Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE is a brand new incarnation of the iconic Tony Award-winning original.

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

The U.S. National Tour of ANNIE, now in its third smash year, will return to the State Theatre in Easton on Friday, February 24.   Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE is a brand new incarnation of the iconic Tony Award-winning original.

Music For Life International continues its decade-long tradition of global humanitarian concerts at Carnegie Hall by presenting Mahler For Vision, a benefit concert of Gustav Mahler's monumental Second Symphony "Resurrection" on Monday, February 13, 2017 at Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium/Perelman Stage.

A cast of Broadway stalwarts will join Tony Award winning legend and international stage and film star Liliane Montevecchi in The Ziegfeld Society's gala benefit performance of Ziegfeld Follies Of The Air: The New 1934 Live from Broadway Broadcast Revue, devised and directed by Walter Willison with musical direction and special musical arrangements by Mark York.

Fifth Third Bank Broadway in Atlanta is proud to announce that the U.S. National Tour of ANNIE, now in its third smash year, will play five performances March 17 - 19, 2017 at the Fox Theatre as a special addition to the 2016/2017 season. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE is a brand new incarnation of the iconic Tony Award®-winning original.

Liliane Montevecchi headlines an all-star cast in The Ziegfeld Society of New York City's gala benefit performance of Ziegfeld Follies Of The Air: The New 1934 Live from Broadway Broadcast Revue.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that individual tickets for the U.S. National Tour of ANNIE go on sale to the public Friday, September 9.

It's a topsy-turvy world where it seems every one is shouting, pointing fingers, skirting scandal or spewing venom. Acclaimed singer Craig Jessup, on the other hand, is taking a chance on love with some of the greatest songwriters from the Great American Songbook - Rodgers and Hart, the Gershwins, Burton Lane, Vernon Duke.

Broadway In Chicago has announced that individual tickets for the U.S. National Tour of ANNIE go on sale to the public Friday, September 9.

Shows include THE MYSTERY OF LOVE AND SEX, CUDDLES, BLUES IN THE NIGHT: A MUSICAL, & BREADCRUMBS. For more information and tickets got to  www.artsgarage.org or call 561-450-6357.

Robert Cuccioli and Glory Crampton will reunite at a special gathering for the official release of the new cast recording of the York Theatre Company production of Jerry Bock, Sheldon Harnick, and Sherman Yellen's musical Rothschild & Sons on Monday, July 25 at 6:00pm at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Ronny Whyte epitomizes everything gracious, refined, and sophisticated that's become rare in music presented by artists under a certain age and temperament. Even with jazz interpretation, his accessible choices and deceptively casual delivery present songs as their authors intended. When he composes, tacit symbiosis with lyricists creates melody and images that seem to come from a less complicated era. Last Saturday night, Whyte was joined by veteran collaborators--Boots Maleson on bass, David Silliman on drums, and guest guitarist Sean Harkness--for a show that featured mostly eclectic American Songbook standards and originals from his own oeuvre.

Leapin' lizards! With more than 400 performances under her belt, the new U.S. National Tour of ANNIE will play the National Theatre for one week only, March 15 - 20, 2016. Directed by original lyricist and director Martin Charnin for the 19th time, this production of ANNIE is a brand new physical incarnation of the iconic 1977 Tony Award-winning original.

Catalina Bar & Grill will present singer ALEXIS GERSHWIN, the niece of the iconic American composer and lyricist, GEORGE & IRA GERSHWIN, in a 75-minute musical journey and salute to her uncle's music in a show entitled 'GERSHWIN SINGS GERSHWIN,' backed by The Gershwin Singers & Band, under the musical direction of Steven Applegate, to be presented One Night Only on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 at 8:30 p.m. at Catalina Bar & Grill; 6725 West Sunset Boulevard (just east of North Highland Avenue); Los Angeles, CA 90028. There is $20 Cover Charge, plus dinner or a two-drink minimum per person. Valet Parking is available.

Harvey Blanks, Chuck Cooper, Marva Hicks, Carly Hughes, LaChanze, Norm Lewis, Forrest McClendon, and J.D. Webster star in Vernon Duke and John Latouche's jazz-filled fable CABIN IN THE SKY, running for seven performances for Encores! at New York City Center, now through February 14. Let's see what the critics had to say...