Starting Here, Starting Now - 1984 - London Fringe Articles Page 8

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Casting news for ChiShakes' 'Sunday,' TATC's '42nd Street' and Paramount's 'Grease,' plus ALW and the eye-popping Marriott season, Chicago's first 'Q,' Super September along Belmont Avenue and much more!

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.

Celebrating the best in R&B, hip-hop and soul music, the Fresh Music Festival comes to the Orleans Arena on June 2. Doug E. Fresh will be the host of the festival, with headlining performances from Keith Sweat, K-Ci & JoJo, Guy and SWV.

The Tribeca Film Festival has unveiled films screening in its Spotlight and genre-centered Cinemania section as well as Special Screenings and its Tribeca/ESPN Sports Film Festival lineup.

The COLUMN AWARDS Board of Directors and the Executive Director/Producer announced today that Tony Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Chita Rivera will be the Co-host for the 13th Annual COLUMN AWARDS Gala.

A multi-talented cast and onstage band bring to life the famous songs of 'The Man In Black' when Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH makes its Thousand Oaks premiere at the Civic Arts Plaza.

The COLUMN AWARDS Board of Directors and the Executive Director/Producer announced today that Tony Award winner and Kennedy Center Honoree Chita Rivera will be the Co-host for the 13th Annual COLUMN AWARDS Gala.

A multi-talented cast and onstage band bring to life the famous songs of 'The Man In Black' when Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH makes its Thousand Oaks premiere at the Civic Arts Plaza.

A multi-talented cast and onstage band bring to life the famous songs of 'The Man In Black' when Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH makes its Thousand Oaks premiere at the Civic Arts Plaza.

A multi-talented cast and onstage band bring to life the famous songs of 'The Man In Black' when Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH makes its Thousand Oaks premiere at the Civic Arts Plaza.

At the peak of its success and influence during the 1980s and '90s, New York-based indie label Profile Records boasted an artist roster that read like the Who's Who of hip-hop and rap stars - from Run-D.M.C., Dana Dane, Special Ed and Rob Base, to DJ Quik, Nine, Poor Righteous Teachers, and Onyx, to name just a few.

A multi-talented cast and onstage band bring to life the famous songs of 'The Man In Black' when Cabrillo Music Theatre's production of RING OF FIRE: THE MUSIC OF JOHNNY CASH makes its Thousand Oaks premiere at the Civic Arts Plaza.

In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere musical A Second Chance, featuring a book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen. Directed by Jonathan Butterell (Signature's Giant), A Second Chance fuses jazz and musical theater stylings, with musical direction by Zak Sandler.

In a special limited engagement, Signature Theatre presents the world premiere musical A Second Chance, featuring a book, music, and lyrics by Ted Shen. Directed by Jonathan Butterell (Signature's Giant), A Second Chance fuses jazz and musical theater stylings, with musical direction by Zak Sandler.

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST runs May 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22. Tickets are on sale now!

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST runs May 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22. Tickets are on sale now!

THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING EARNEST runs May 6, 7, 8, 12, 13, 14, 15, 19, 20, 21, 22. Tickets are on sale now!

This week, we are going to go a bit off of the beaten path in an attempt to remove the doom and gloom of midwinter as the snow nearly suffocates the Great White Way and take a look at some truly gloriously guffaw-inducing items from the legendary fifty-year-career of Broadway and Hollywood comedy icon Joan Rivers who is also this week‘s InDepth InterView participant. Ed Sullivan to Johnny Carson, red carpets to talk shows to her two weekly TV series FASHION POLICE and JOAN & MELISSA: JOAN KNOWS BEST? - as well as her best and most outrageous comedy special to date and an interview with Lucille Ball herself!

Today we are talking to the heart-stopping bombshell of BODY HEAT and PEGGY SUE GOT MARRIED, the satirical queen of comedy in SERIAL MOM, the Mother of mass suicide in THE VIRGIN SUICIDES and the unforgettable dog-trainer in MARLEY & ME, as well as the greatest Martha since Uta Hagan in the Edward Albee's ferocious work of staggering genius, WHO'S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF; star of stages and screens all over the world, the one and only Kathleen Turner. Talking theatre (her new play HIGH), film (past and future, including a few in the can such as one co-starring Jason Ritter), television (she plays David Duchovney's confidant on CALIFORNICATION), and her erudite insights on the cultural significance of the basic arts - like theatre - in a technology-drenched world. Ms. Turner also talks about working with Francis Ford Coppola, John Waters, Edward Albee, Michael Douglas, William Hurt, James Woods, Kirsten Dunst, Sofia Coppola, Jason Ritter, Emily Deschanel and a host of other huge Hollywood and/or Broadway heavyweights. Her unmistakable voice and spirit paw and purr through every word she selects, she is the cat's pajamas - or should I say, cat's negligee.

Lincoln Center Festival 2010 is sponsored by American Express. Lincoln Center Festival 2010 is also made possible by Nancy A. Marks, LuEsther T. Mertz Charitable Trust, Isilon Systems, The Skirball Foundation, The Harold & Mimi Steinberg Charitable Trust, The Katzenberger Foundation, Inc.

It's time for great movies on the big screen, free popcorn and soda! Come join Victoria Theatre Association for the first film of the 2010 Michelob Ultra Cool Film Series THE MUSIC MAN, July 2-4, at the historic Victoria Theatre.

It's time for great movies on the big screen, free popcorn and soda! Come join Victoria Theatre Association for the first film of the 2010 Michelob Ultra Cool Film Series THE MUSIC MAN, July 2-4, at the historic Victoria Theatre.

It's time for great movies on the big screen, free popcorn and soda! Come join Victoria Theatre Association for the first film of the 2010 Michelob Ultra Cool Film Series THE MUSIC MAN, July 2-4, at the historic Victoria Theatre.

The National Jazz Museum's June line-up includes discussions with musical artists Paquito D'Rivera and Craig Harris for Harlem Speaks; a talk with a living literary legend, Peter Straub, at Jazz for Curious Readers; and our adult education series, Jazz for Curious Listeners, features instrumentalists Jeremy Pelt, Nicholas Payton and Orrin Evans taking the reins of discourse on jazz in the 21st century. For more information visit http://jazzmuseuminharlem.org/

Glendale Philharmonic Orchestra Founder and critically acclaimed Russian Cellist, Ruslan Biryukov, will perform composer Sergei Prokofiev's 'Sinfonia Concertante, Op. 125' as a Guest Soloist with two different orchestras in two separate upcoming concerts to be held here in the Southland. Biryukov will waive his appearance fees and donate his time to appear in each concert during these challenging economic times.