How the World Began - Articles Page 22

On Thursday, three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Richard Adler passed away at the ripe old age of 90. Responsible for two of the biggest Broadway smash hits of the 1950s, THE PAJAMA GAME and GAMN YANKEES, Adler never quite managed to equal his career-high double-hitter of that era, yet his earlier work with Tony Bennett ('Rags To Riches'), Doris Day ('Everybody Loves A Lover') and Marilyn Monroe (the iconic 'Happy Birthday, Mr. President') surely shall solidify his place in the firmament of entertainment history along with his two classic musicals from the Golden Age. Winning both Best Score and Best Musical for both THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES, Adler's partnership with lyricist Jerry Ross - which began on Broadway in 1953 with JOHN MURRAY ANDERSON'S ALMANAC - was tragically cut short just months after the DAMN YANKEES premiere when Ross was diagnosed with lung disease and passed away soon thereafter. Yet, thanks to the beloved film versions of THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES and continued interest in the entities as expressed in the revivals and reappraisals of both onstage from Broadway to Biloxi to Bombay year after year, the snappy, snazzy tunes of Adler and Ross live on eight times a week all around the world - even now, more than fifty years after they premiered. Unfortunately, Adler's subsequent shows with other collaborators post-1955 failed to capture the early magic of his previous projects with Ross and his earlier musical and theatrical endeavors in the pop arena, with the racially charged KWAMINA flopping on Broadway in 1961 (though he took home a Best Composer Tony Award for his efforts anyway) and the awkwardly titled MUSIC IS failing to recreate the magic of its source material, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, in 1976. A MOTER'S KISSES, starring Bea Arthur and a young Bernadette Peters, died on the road, as well. In the intervening years, Adler attempted musical adaptations taken from a number of intriguing sources - OF HUMAN BONDAGE and others among them - though only his ballet scores seemed to reach an audience; particularly his last, commissioned for a new production of Lorca's THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA in 1998. Of course, THE PAJAMA GAME has had two Broadway revivals - most recently the rapturously received Kathleen Marshall-directed production starring Harry Connick, Jr. and Kelli O'Hara; and DAMN YANKEES famously returned to the Great White Way with much ado in 1994 starring Victor Garber. Now seems particularly ripe for remounting YANKEES, as we approach twenty years in its absence - especially given the musical's seriously smashing showing at Encores! in 2007. Who knows, perhaps some risky producer will even take a chance on a new production of KWAMINA, MUSIC IS, A MOTHER'S KISSES or one of the bottom drawer shows someday soon to see if they possess any of the limitless potential shown by Adler's earlier work. Or maybe a stage treatment of his TV musical GIFT OF THE MAGI (originally composed for then-wife Sally Ann Howes)? Or, better yet, how about a revue? What a stupendous songstack Adler created over the course of his career - 'Whatever Lola Wants' to 'Hey There' to 'Hernando's Hideaway' to 'You Gotta Have Heart' to 'Steam Heat' to the aforementioned Bennett, Day and Monroe standards and so many more chestnuts.

Easton's State Theatre has announced its 2012-13 season- on sale to State Theatre Members Wed, August 1 (Box Office window at 453 Northampton Street opens at 6 AM; Online Ticketing and Phone lines open at Noon). Tickets will go on sale to the Public August 15th at 10 AM. Limit 6 tickets per Member per performance during Members Only sales. Membership to the Non-Profit State Theatre starts at $75, lasts one year and is tax deductible to the fullest extent of the law.

Oxygen's 'The Glee Project' gains 'Glee' guest mentors Cory Monteith and Naya Rivera (June 19 and June 26, respectively). Hot off his season one win, Larsen will return to the set where it all began with 'Dance-ability.' Monteith will follow in an emotionally driven episode, 'Vulnerability,' which will focus primarily on bullying. Then, Rivera will help the contenders bring a spark to the screen with the theme of 'Sexuality' for the fourth episode of the series. 'The Glee Project' season two premiered on Tuesday, June 5 at 10 PM ET/PT with Lea Michele as the first guest mentor.

Classic Albums Live takes classic albums and recreates them live, on stage - note for note, cut for cut. Founded in 2003 by Craig Martin, Classic Albums Live has become the ultimate destination for music lovers who want to hear the greatest albums performed live without all the gimmickry and cheesy impersonations. Relying only on the music, using what Martin refers to as 'the world's best musicians'; Classic Albums Live has defined itself as a mainstay in Performing Arts Centers across North America.

Center Theatre Group Artistic Director Michael Ritchie has set the 2012-2013 season at the CTG/Kirk Douglas Theatre in Culver City. In a season of contrasts - of surprising comedy and startling drama, the 2012-2013 season at the Kirk Douglas Theatre will include the magical and mystical hi-jinks of the CTG-commissioned "Elephant Room" by Trey Lyford, Geoff Sobelle and Steve Cuiffo; the acclaimed Gate Theatre Dublin production of the Beckett classic "Krapp's Last Tape" with one of Britain's greatest actors, John Hurt; the comic genius of The Second City with their unique, satirical twist on a Dickens's favorite - "A Christmas Carol: Twist Your Dickens!" written by Peter Gwinn and Bobby Mort; the world premiere of the otherworldly drama "The Nether" by the 2012 Susan Blackburn Smith prize-winning playwright Jennifer Haley; and the world premiere of the powerful boxing drama "The Royale" by Los Angeles playwright Marco Ramirez.

Hallmark Channel has moved the world premiere of THE MUSIC TEACHER to 9pm ET/PT, 8C on Saturday, August 11. Hallmark has also moved the world Premiere of SMART COOKIES to 9pm ET/PT, 8C on Saturday, August 18.

The 2012 New York Musical Theatre Festival presents the world premiere of How Deep Is The Ocean?, a new American musical with music and lyrics by Peter Cincotti ("Metropolis"), book by Pia Cincotti, and directed by Jeremy Dobrish (Rated P, Date of a Lifetime, The Joys of Sex, Signs of Life) and Gina Rattan (resident director, Billy Elliott). How Deep Is The Ocean? plays July 12th at 8:00pm, July 14 at 1:00pm, July 16 at 9:00pm, July 19th at 5:00 pm, July 19 at 9:00pm, and July 21 at 1:00pm at The Theater at St. Clements (423 W. 46th Street).

Oxygen's THE GLEE PROJECT season two opened last night with a vibrant and energetic rendition of Lady Gaga's "Born This Way" in front of one of the ultimate Gleek guest mentors, Lea Michele (Rachel Berry on "Glee").

Oxygen's 'The Glee Project' gains 'Glee' guest mentors Samuel Larsen, Cory Monteith and Naya Rivera (June 12, June 19 and June 26, respectively). Hot off his season one win, Larsen will return to the set where it all began with 'Dance-ability.' Monteith will follow in an emotionally driven episode, 'Vulnerability,' which will focus primarily on bullying. Then, Rivera will help the contenders bring a spark to the screen with the theme of 'Sexuality' for the fourth episode of the series. 'The Glee Project' season two will premiere on Tuesday, June 5 at 10 PM ET/PT with Lea Michele as the first guest mentor.

Citytv's 2012-13 fall and mid-season prime-time schedule, showcases 9 new comedies, 4 new dramas, 1 hit reality franchise series, the acquisition of late-night's 'it' show, and the triumphant return of award-winning journalist - and fan-favourite - Katie Couric to daytime television.

Katselas Theatre Company presents the world premiere of BEAUTIFIED by multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco, opening tonight, May 25, 2012 with reception to follow and then 8pm Friday and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through July 1, 2012 at the Skylight Theatre 1816 N. Vermont, LA 90027.

Oxygen Media will premiere ALL THE RIGHT MOVES, a new one hour docu-series following the tight knit friendships and lives of four of the most successful and sought-after dancers in the industry, on Tuesday, July 31 at 11PM ET/PT.

Following an acclaimed season which included the world premiere of Paul Weitz's Lonely, I'm Not and a critically lauded second staging of Paula Vogel's Pulitzer Prize-winner, How I Learned To Drive, Second Stage Theatre (Carole Rothman, Artistic Director) has just announced two of the four mainstage productions in the company's upcoming 34th season. For subscription or ticket information, please call the Second Stage Box Office at 212-246-4422 or visit the company's website, www.2ST.com. All productions are staged at Second Stage's Tony Kiser Theatre, 305 West 43rd Street (just west of Eighth Avenue).

ABC continues to set the industry standard for creative ingenuity, strong viewer retention and ratings success in primetime, delivering the No. 1 comedy ('Modern Family'), No. 1 drama ('Grey's Anatomy') and No. 1 freshman drama ('Once Upon a Time') this season in the key Adult 18-49 demographic.

NBC announced today an ambitious new primetime lineup for the 2012-13 primetime season that combines one of the top-quality returning lineups on television with a new fall edition of the red-hot musical competition 'The Voice' and a crop of six new scripted series in the fall and four at mid-season.

Katselas Theatre Company will presents the world premiere of BEAUTIFIED by multi-award-winner Tony Abatemarco, opening Friday, May 25, 2012 with reception to follow and then 8pm Friday and Saturdays, 2pm Sundays through July 1, 2012 at the Skylight Theatre 1816 N. Vermont, LA 90027.

Brighton Festival at TOM - The Old Market provides two fantastic shows for young folk and their grown-ups; the touching and poetic puppetry of Cloud Man, and rock 'n' roll musical Kid Carpet & The Noisy Animals. Sky Arts set up the cameras for a live broadcast of The Book Show With Mariella Frostrup. Finally, conclude your whole Brighton Festival on the last Saturday with an all-swinging, all-dancing Festival Ceilidh.

The Old Globe's 2012-13 Season will feature the World Premieres of two new musicals: Allegiance - A New American Musical by Jay Kuo and Lorenzo Thione and A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder by Robert L. Freedman and Steven Lutvak. The season also includes George Bernard Shaw's Pygmalion in celebration of the classic play's 100th anniversary and the World Premiere of a new adaptation of Henrik Ibsen's A Doll's House by Anne-Charlotte Hanes Harvey and Kirsten Brandt. Two recent Broadway hits will make their San Diego debuts at the Globe: David Lindsay-Abaire's Good People and Jon Robin Baitz's Other Desert Cities. Rounding out the season are the West Coast Premiere of Bekah Brunstetter's Be a Good Little Widow and the Southern California Premiere of Tarell Alvin McCraney's The Brothers Size.

Brighton Festival at TOM - The Old Market provides two fantastic shows for young folk and their grown-ups; the touching and poetic puppetry of Cloud Man, and rock 'n' roll musical Kid Carpet & The Noisy Animals. Sky Arts set up the cameras for a live broadcast of The Book Show With Mariella Frostrup. Finally, conclude your whole Brighton Festival on the last Saturday with an all-swinging, all-dancing Festival Ceilidh.

Lehman Center for the Performing Arts continues its 31st season with a night of dance hits on Saturday, April 21, 2012 at 8pm. One of dance music's biggest stars for over three decades, GRAMMY Award winner GLORIA GAYNOR will perform with a full band. Her 1979 #1 hit, the greatest disco anthem of all time, "I Will Survive," is her signature song of inspiration that has touched the hearts of people all over the world. The song was inducted into the GRAMMY Hall of Fame at this year's ceremony in February. Urban and dance music phenomenon COLONEL ABRAMS will perform his biggest hits, including "Trapped," "I'm Not Gonna Let You" and "How Soon We Forget." Also performing will be THE HIT MEN, a group of six guys who made, played, sang and recorded the hits of the '60s, '70s and '80s. This group features original recording and performing members of such iconic bands as Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons and Tommy James and The Shondells and the original recording artists of such historic megahits as "Oh What a Night (Dec. '63)," "Sherry," "Bad, Bad, Leroy Brown" and 'Who Loves You."

Broadway Records will release an EP of Nick Jonas performing five tracks from the smash hit musical HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING. The CD will be released Tuesday, May 8, 2012, and will be available in the Hirschfeld Theatre the week of May 1. Pre-orders are now being taken at amazon.com at http://www.amazon.com/dp/B007V3N0KG/ref=cm_sw_su_dp. Produced by six-time Grammy nominee Robert Sher who produced the Grammy nominated Daniel Radcliffe/John Larroquette HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUR REALLY TRYING cast album, the new Nick Jonas recording is executive produced by Van Dean and Kenny Howard of Broadway Consortium (Executive producers of the Radcliffe/Larroquette album) and Ken Mahoney.

Acting Up Stage enjoyed a tremendously successful season last year, and they're aiming to top it with their latest offering which was announced a few weeks ago. Featuring a new Canadian musical and a much loved classic, Acting Up Stage's new season has something for everyone. BWW spoke to Artistic Director Mitchell Marcus about how he went about programming the season, how his company hopes to appeal to the next generation and what the secret to their success is.

In October of 1971, three days after the original Broadway production of Jesus Christ Superstar began its week and a half of previews, the title song of what is considered to be the world's first rock opera was heard on American television's highest-rated show.  No, it wasn't The Ed Sullivan Show, which had ended its run earlier in the year, but the controversial new sitcom, All In The Family.

CHRIS ISAACSON announces the performers for UPRIGHT CABARET's AMERICAN ICON SERIES' third show of their 3rd Season, RHYTHM OF THE NIGHT, starring Olivier Award-Winner LESLI MARGHERITA, American Idol's DAVID HERNANDEZ (Thousand Oaks and Hollywood Shows only) & LEXI LAWSON, (Rent, In The Heights)) and ROGELIO DOUGLAS, JR. (In The Heights, The Little Mermaid)) celebrating the music of Ricky Martin, Gloria Estefan and Santana!

On the heels of the most successful year and quarter in network history, SCIENCE takes a bold step toward the future by unveiling its 2012-2013 Upfront slate in New York today. The network, which broke ratings records in 2011, continued its momentum by posting its most-watched first quarter ever in 2012. One of cable's fastest-growing networks, SCIENCE will be in more than 80 million homes in 2013.