Will Rogers News

Actor, singer, dancer and Broadway theatre veteran Rick Faugno, who was named 'Best Singer' by the Las Vegas Review-Journal staff in this year's 'Best of Las Vegas' poll based on his current role as Frankie Valli in 'Jersey Boys,' will debut his first-ever solo performance for an afternoon of 'Songs My Idols Sang (And Danced)' on Sunday, Aug, 23, at 3 p.m. at the South Point Casino Showroom.

After a 48 year absence, Roundabout Theatre Company (Todd Haimes, Artistic Director) presents the first new Broadway production of Bye Bye Birdie as the inaugural production of the new Henry Miller's Theatre (124 West 43rd Street) beginning Thursday, September 10th, 2009 with an official opening on Thursday, October 15th, 2009. This will be a limited engagement through January 10th, 2010.

Dennis Parlato, seen on Broadway in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels, The Sound of Music and The Graduate, will assume the role of El Gallo in Off Broadway's The Fantasticks from July 13 through August 2, 2009 while Lewis Cleale, who normally plays the role, appears in Camelot at The Muny.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

Rubicon Theatre Company has announced the cast and creative team for the World Premiere of THE BEST IS YET TO COME: THE MUSIC OF CY COLEMAN, which began previews July 9 at Rubicon's intimate 200-seat home at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. The show continues Wednesdays through Sundays through August 2, 2009.

Nederlander Alliances, LLC and Pittsburgh CLO, co-producers and founding partners of The National High School Musical Theater Awards, presented the first annual Jimmy Awards in a ceremony held last night at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University. The Jimmy Award is named in honor of legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander. The award features an illustration of James M. Nederlander drawn by world renowned artist Al Hirschfeld.

Theater Aspen received an award for Outstanding Regional Theatre at the 4th Annual Henry Awards ceremony held at the Denver Center for the Performing Arts on Monday June 29th. Artistic Director Paige Price accepted the award, given by the Colorado Theatre Guild, which was founded in 1976 and boasts 250 members.

The revised cast list for the upcoming Benefit Concert, Help Is On The Way, is now available. Help Is On The Way 15: No Business Like Show Business is on Sunday, August 2nd at the Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

Nederlander Alliances, LLC and Pittsburgh CLO, co-producers and founding partners of The National High School Musical Theater Awards, presented the first annual Jimmy Awards in a ceremony held last night at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University. The Jimmy Award is named in honor of legendary Broadway theater owner and producer James M. Nederlander. The award features an illustration of James M. Nederlander drawn by world renowned artist Al Hirschfeld.

Pittsburgh CLO and Nederlander Alliances, LLC. will present The , celebrating excellence in high school musical theater programs nationally, at Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, NYU (566 LaGuardia Place at Washington Square South) on Monday, June 29 at 7:30 p.m.

Fresh from his acclaimed stint as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict in the Signature Theatre's production of Michael John LaChiusa's Giant, Lewis Cleale has returned to the role of El Gallo in The Fantasticks. He previously played the role from September 2008 through March 2009. Addi McDaniel will join the cast as Luisa on Monday, June 29, 2009. They replace, respectively, Bradley Dean and Ramona Mallory.

North Shore Music Theatre is pleased to announce that it will join 15 other professional theater organizations from 11 states participating in the first annual presentation of The Jimmy Awards, to be held in New York City on Monday, June 29 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University.

Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) is pleased to announce that they will join 15 other professional theater organizations from 11 states participating in the first annual presentation of The Jimmy Awards, to be held in New York City on Monday, June 29 at the Skirball Center for the Performing Arts, New York University.

Rubicon Theatre Company has announced the cast and creative team for the World Premiere of THE BEST IS YET TO COME: THE MUSIC OF CY COLEMAN, which begins previews July 9 at Rubicon's intimate 200-seat home at 1006 E. Main Street in Ventura's Downtown Cultural District. The show continues Wednesdays through Sundays through August 2, 2009.

Fresh from his acclaimed stint as Jordan 'Bick' Benedict in the Signature Theatre's production of Michael John LaChiusa's Giant, Lewis Cleale has returned to the role of El Gallo in The Fantasticks. He previously played the role from September 2008 through March 2009. Addi McDaniel will join the cast as Luisa on Monday, June 29, 2009. They replace, respectively, Bradley Dean and Ramona Mallory.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) The Rising Star Awards are modeled after the Tony® Awards and Paper Mill's program serves the entire state of New Jersey with 100 entered productions from high schools. The 2009 Rising Star Award ceremony was held at Paper Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, June 16th in which the nominees performed and the award recipients were presented with a crystal award from Rising Star Award partner Tiffany's & Co. Investors Savings Bank Foundation is the title sponsor of the 2009 Rising Star Awards.

Paper Mill Playhouse (Mark S. Hoebee-Artistic Director, Mark W. Jones-Executive Director) The Rising Star Awards are modeled after the Tony® Awards and Paper Mill?s program serves the entire state of New Jersey with 100 entered productions from high schools. The 2009 Rising Star Award ceremony was held at Paper Mill Playhouse on Tuesday, June 16th in which the nominees performed and the award recipients were presented with a crystal award from Rising Star Award partner Tiffany?s & Co. Investors Savings Bank Foundation is the title sponsor of the 2009 Rising Star Awards.

Bill Cosby, one of the most influential comedians and storytellers of his generation, will give a solo stand-up comedy performance - his only scheduled New York appearance - on Saturday, October 17, 2009, at 7:00 and 9:30 p.m. at Avery Fisher Hall.

La Jolla Playhouse announced today the addition of the world-premiere musical Bonnie & Clyde, to its 2009-10 season, replacing The Big Time. This production features music by Frank Wildhorn (Jekyll & Hyde, The Scarlet Pimpernel), lyrics by Tony Award-winner Don Black (Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance), book by Ivan Menchell (The Cemetery Club, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang), and direction by Jeff Calhoun (Deaf West's Big River and Pippin, Grease!). Bonnie & Clyde will run November 10 - December 20, 2009 in the Playhouse's Mandell Weiss Theatre.

The Cleveland Play House is excited to announce that Dee Hoty, a three-time Tony Award? nominated actress, will be the featured entertainer at their Annual Gala on Saturday, June 6, 2009. Born and raised in Lakewood, Ohio, Hoty began her professional career at The Cleveland Play House as a member of the repertory company (1975 and 1976). The evening begins at 6:30pm and will include complimentary valet parking, a cocktail hour with hors d'oeuvres, dinner, silent and live auction, entertainment and dancing. Hoty earned Tony Award? nominations for her starring roles in Footloose, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, and The Will Rogers Follies. She recently starred on Broadway in Mamma Mia! and continued on the national tour in eight major U.S. cities. She can be heard on the original recordings of City of Angels, The Will Rogers Follies, The Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public, and Footloose, and on the 2CD set of Stephen Sondheim's Follies from the Papermill Playhouse production. She is also featured on the video/DVD of My Favorite Broadway: The Leading Ladies. Other Broadway shows include City of Angels, Me and My Girl, Big River, The Five O'Clock Girl and Shakespeare's Cabaret. A favorite of Tommy Tune's, Hoty starred opposite him in the recent U.S. tour of Doctor Dolittle. She also appeared with Stacy Keach in the first national tour of Barnum. Her New York nightclub and cabaret appearances include the Russian Tea Room, Rainbow and Stars and the Metropolitan Room with Larry Gatlin.