Freddie Gershon Videos

As BroadwayWorld reported earlier this year, Music Theatre International announced the launch of Broadway Senior, a new series of adaptations of popular Broadway musicals specifically designed for older adults.

As magical as the evening was, after Freddie Gershon gave an impassioned presentation to the duo, Harvey Schmidt and Tom Jones hit the stage and brought the house down at ages 88 and 89 respectively. They joined forces onstage to perform a song from their musical The Bone Room, described by Jones as being about 'the pleasures of dying and being embalmed in this great country of ours.' Below, watch as they perform together for the last time. BWW feels privileged to share with you a bit of highlights of these two legends together before a rapt and ecstatic audience who precded to shower them with a (well deserved) standing ovation... RIP Harvey Schmidt. 

Just yesterday, 2012 Tony honoree and MTI Chairman and CEO Freddie Gershon; Rodgers & Hammerstein President and past American Theater Wing Chairman Ted Chapin, SMASH's Krysta Rodriguez and more joined forces in Times Square to celebrate Musicals in our Schools Week. During Musicals in our Schools Week, Monday, March 18 through Monday, March 25, students, educators, industry leaders and community members advocate for the importance of quality arts programs in schools through grassroots efforts like organizing a flash mob, giving a free public performance from a Spring musical or sending a thank you note to an educator via letter, internet, video or kind deed.

Yesterday evening, June 9th, Music Theatre International Chairman and CEO Freddie Gershon was among the recipients of a 2012 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre at the 2012 Tony Eve Cocktail Party at the InterContinental Hotel. The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories.

Tonight may be the big night but last evening, June 9, The Tony Awards Administration Committee hosted the annual Tony Eve Cocktail Party Tony at the InterContinental Hotels & Resorts to celebrate this year's Special Tony Award winners. The Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre were established in 1990 and are awarded annually to institutions, individuals and/or organizations that have demonstrated extraordinary achievement in theatre, but are not eligible in any of the established Tony Award categories. This year's Tony Honors were presented to: Freddie Gershon, CEO and Chairman of Musica Theatre International, Artie Siccardi, Production Supervisor of Arthur Siccardi Theatrical Services, Inc. who has overseen more than 200 Broadway productions, and TDF Open Doors, Theatre Development Fund's arts education program.

As previously reported, the Tony Award's Administration Committee has announced that Theatre Development Fund's Open Doors program will be among those honored with a special 2012 Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theatre.

Daniel Radcliffe, star of the Tony-nominated How to Succeed in Business without Really Trying and the beloved Harry Potter films, served as master of ceremonies as hundreds of students from middle and intermediate New York City Public Schools in Brooklyn, Bronx, Queens and Manhattan had their Broadway debut at the Shubert Foundation/MTI Broadway JR. Student Celebration at the Majestic Theatre (245 West 44th Street) today, Monday, June 6th from 10:30 AM to noon. Each school performed a song from their production of a student version of a classic musical, including Annie JR., Once on this Island JR., Seussical JR., Disney's Aladdin JR. and Guys and Dolls JR. A list of schools which participated in the June 6th celebration follows.

The production played 3 nights - July 31, August 1 and August 2 to cheering crowds, but the crazy part is - the final dress is done at 10am, in broad daylight and is open to the public, as the venue is a county-owned facility. People showed up in droves, for the run-through and cheered on the actors, the Hollywood Bowl orchestra and conductor Kevin Stites, who you will see is wearing a black, casual shirt for the rehearsal. The show's director, Richard Jay-Alexander, made a brief speech before the run, welcoming everybody, and in this exclusive footage, I was also able to catch him, in his dressing room, before the Opening Night performance.