Li'l Abner - 1956 - Broadway Articles Page 2

Legendary composer and lyricist Johnny Mercer's tremendous musical accomplishments were celebrated by the New York Pops, along with some very special guests, in a concert on November 20 at Carnegie Hall. Joining the New York Pops were Tony Award nominee Anne Hampton Callaway, James T. Lane, N'Kenge, and the Camp Broadway Kids.

Tonight, November 20, The New York Pops celebrates the centenary of the birth of lyricist and composer Johnny Mercer with a special concert at Carnegie Hall. Joining Music Director Steven Reineke and the orchestra are multi-platinum selling singer and songwriter Ann Hampton Callaway, star of the Broadway musical Swing!; Broadway performer James T. Lane; and actress and opera singer N'Kenge. Together with the Camp Broadway Kids, they will perform treasured compositions from the vast Johnny Mercer songbook; highlights include 'Dream,' 'Come Rain or Come Shine,' and 'Moon River.'

South Coast Repertory kicks off the 2009-10 Season with Putting It Together, a compilation of Stephen Sondheim songs, that the composer put together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, creating a narrative set at a cocktail party in an elegant Manhattan condo. The non-traditional musical, led by Broadway and television star Harry Groener, has a cast of five (a glamorous but slightly jaded couple, a starry-eyed younger couple and a savvy observer) who sing more than 30 songs that reflect their lives, lifestyles and moods of the moment. Some of the songs will be familiar, some less so, a few were even cut from their original musical scores, but they are all sophisticated, smart and drop-dead droll. All, in other words, Sondheim.

South Coast Repertory kicks off the 2009-10 Season with Putting It Together, a compilation of Stephen Sondheim songs, that the composer put together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, creating a narrative set at a cocktail party in an elegant Manhattan condo. The non-traditional musical, led by Broadway and television star Harry Groener, has a cast of five (a glamorous but slightly jaded couple, a starry-eyed younger couple and a savvy observer) who sing more than 30 songs that reflect their lives, lifestyles and moods of the moment. Some of the songs will be familiar, some less so, a few were even cut from their original musical scores, but they are all sophisticated, smart and drop-dead droll. All, in other words, Sondheim.

South Coast Repertory kicks off the 2009-10 Season with Putting It Together, a compilation of Stephen Sondheim songs, that the composer put together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, creating a narrative set at a cocktail party in an elegant Manhattan condo. The non-traditional musical, led by Broadway and television star Harry Groener, has a cast of five (a glamorous but slightly jaded couple, a starry-eyed younger couple and a savvy observer) who sing more than 30 songs that reflect their lives, lifestyles and moods of the moment. Some of the songs will be familiar, some less so, a few were even cut from their original musical scores, but they are all sophisticated, smart and drop-dead droll. All, in other words, Sondheim.

South Coast Repertory kicks off the 2009-10 Season with Putting It Together, a compilation of Stephen Sondheim songs, that the composer put together like pieces of a jigsaw puzzle, creating a narrative set at a cocktail party in an elegant Manhattan condo. The non-traditional musical, led by Broadway and television star Harry Groener, has a cast of five (a glamorous but slightly jaded couple, a starry-eyed younger couple and a savvy observer) who sing more than 30 songs that reflect their lives, lifestyles and moods of the moment. Some of the songs will be familiar, some less so, a few were even cut from their original musical scores, but they are all sophisticated, smart and drop-dead droll. All, in other words, Sondheim.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the birth of Johnny Mercer, master of the American song, 'A Centennial Celebration of Johnny Mercer' (June 24 to 27) will launch the 2009 Summer Music Theatre Festival at the Theatre and Interpretation Center at Northwestern University.

BroadwayWorld's own James Sims was on hand for Li'l Abner's dress rehearsal earlier this week and spoke with the cast and creative team regarding the rigorous Reprise! schedule and about the comic strip-turned musical production.

Jason Alexander, new artistic director of Reprise! Broadway's Best, announced that Cleavant Derricks, Meg Gillentine, Amelia McQueen, Ken Page, Ty Taylor, Lillias White and Jackee Harry would head up the cast of Damn Yankees. Damn Yankees will perform Tuesday, November 6 through Sunday, November 25 (opening November 7) at UCLA's Freud Playhouse.

BroadwayWorld was there for The Broadway Musicals of 1956, the latest edition of the popular Broadway by the Year series, featuring Christine Andreas, Brent Barrett, Marc Kudisch and director Emily Skinner, among others

The Broadway Musicals of 1956, the latest edition of the Broadway by the Year series and directed by Tony-nominee Emily Skinner, will take place at Town Hall on Monday, April 3rd

The Goodspeed Opera House in CT has announced full casting for its upcoming production of Li'l Abner

On April 3rd, Emily Skinner will direct stars such as Christine Andreas, Brent Barrett and Marc Kudisch in The Broadway Musical of 1956, in which she will also perform

The Broadway by the Year series will showcase musicals from 1930, 1956, 1968 and 1978 in 2006, and other events will also be featured at Town Hall

The 2006 season of Goodspeed Opera House musicals will include Li'l Abner, Pippin (which will tour) and The Pirates of Penzance

In 2006, four new Broadway by the Year concerts will feature songs from the musicals of 1930, 1956, 1968 and 1978

One of Broadway's legends talks about growing up, the role that changed his life forever and more!