Walter Bobbie News

Today as we celebrate a landmark 21 years since the long-running revival of Kander and Ebb's Chicago landed on Broadway, let's venture way back in time to when the revival made its world premiere at City Center Encores.

Not only does actress Karen Ziemba have a career for the history books, but her work in 2017 alone has been jam-packed with credits most performers would trade their career for. Since making her Broadway debut in A CHORUS LINE in 1975, Ms. Ziemba has worked steadily on the stages of New York, starring in everything from CRAZY FOR YOU to CONTACT to CURTAINS. Now back on the road in IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, I caught up with the actress about her transition from song-and-dance starlet to larger-than-life character roles.

Today we set our sights on the razzle dazzle Broadway revival of Chicago, which opened on this day in 1996.

The producers of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS have announced full casting for the North American Tour of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS.

The Tony Award nominated musical 'Bright Star' is currently running through November 19, 2017 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Presented by Center Theatre Group, the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, with music, lyrics and story by Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Steve Martin and Grammy winner Edie Brickell, will be directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbieand choreographed by Josh Rhodes. See the Carmen Cusack and the cast of the show in a new music video for the opening number, 'If You Knew My Story' below!

Cruel Intentions: The Musical has turned the 90s nostalgia level up to eleven.

BRIGHT STAR at Ahmanson Theatre plays through November 19. This original musical tells a sweeping tale of love and redemption set against the rich backdrop of the American South in the 1920s and '40s. Propelled by an ensemble of onstage musicians and dancers, the story unfolds as a rich tapestry of deep emotion, beautiful melodies and powerfully moving performances.

Steve Martin's and Edie Brickell's Bright Star played Broadway in 2016, garnering a Tony nomination for Carmen Cusack. The show fared somewhat well, but did not seem to be an overall critics' choice. On the minus side, it is an all too familiar story about a backwoods pregnant girl and parental abuse in the 1920s, with far-fetched resolutions and a sweet, but for many, saccharine ending. In spite of this, I was delighted with the bluegrass music by Martin and Brickell, with Walter Bobbie's fluid staging and with the performances. It's most definitely uplifting and an entertaining evening at the Ahmanson through November 19.

Presented by Center Theatre Group, 'Bright Star' opened at the Ahmanson Theatre on Friday, October 20. Go inside opening night below!

Presented by Center Theatre Group, 'Bright Star' will open at the Ahmanson Theatre on Friday, October 20. The Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, with music, lyrics and story by Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Steve Martin and Grammy winner Edie Brickell, is currently in previews and is directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. Performances will continue through November 19, 2017. BroadwayWorld has an exclusive first look at the cast onstage in Los Angeles below!

'Bright Star' begins previews tonight, October 11, opens October 20, and runs through November 19, 2017 at the Ahmanson Theatre. Presented by Center Theatre Group, the Tony Award-nominated Best Musical, with music, lyrics and story by Grammy, Emmy and Oscar winner Steve Martin and Grammy winner Edie Brickell, will be directed by Tony Award winner Walter Bobbie and choreographed by Josh Rhodes. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek at the company in rehearsal below!

West Orange High School Theatre kicks off their season with the high school premiere of BRIGHT STAR. Written by Steve Martin and Edie Brickell, the musical follows the story of Alice Murphy at two different points of her life. I talked with director Tara Whitman about premiering the show, the live band, staging, and more!

Building upon the artistic acclaim of the of 2016-17 Season and reaffirming the commitment to bring "more theatre to more people", Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) announced today a dynamic 2017-18 Season; celebrating the prismatic and perennial impact of musical theatre.

The producers of IRVING BERLIN'S WHITE CHRISTMAS, the stage adaptation of the beloved classic film, have announced casting for the upcoming National Tour.

Carole Shorenstein Hays is inviting the Bay Area community to the newly renovated Curran (445 Geary Street) tonight, October 4, 2017, for a celebration of Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's Tony Award nominated musical BRIGHT STAR.

Steve Martin and Edie Brickell's gorgeous musical, Bright Star, will be coming to the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles this fall and will feature a number of original cast members. The talented and charismatic A.J. Shively will reprise his role as Billy Cane, the young soldier who returns from war and pursues his dream of being a writer at home in North Carolina. Shively's character is full of hope and optimism, as he is figuring out what's most important in life and coming full circle with the individuals who have shaped his personal story.

The world premiere of Paul Rudnick's new play NIG NIGHT runs at the Kirk Douglas Theatre through October 8, and the critics are weighing in!

Master satirist Paul Rudnick blends a deep humanity with a honed sense of hilarity in this powerful and funny play about family and fame, the personal and the political, and the drive to stand up and speak out. But it is also one that promotes a very progressive political stance on human rights, especially within the gay community, with much of the dialogue presented as if they are soapbox speeches meant to sway the listener to take action. But given our current political circumstances, there is nothing wrong with encouraging people to take a stand and speak out to make the world a better and more equal place for everyone.

The world premiere of Paul Rudnick's new play 'Big Night' opened Saturday, September 16 at 8 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie ('Chicago' and 'Bright Star'), 'Big Night' will continue through October 8, 2017. BroadwayWorld has an inside look at the opening night below!

The world premiere of Paul Rudnick's new play 'Big Night' opens tonight, September 16, at 8 p.m. at Center Theatre Group's Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. Directed by Tony winner Walter Bobbie ('Chicago' and 'Bright Star'), 'Big Night' is currently in previews. Performances will continue through October 8, 2017. BroadwayWorld has a look at the cast in action below!