The Cover of Life - 1994 - Off-Broadway Articles Page 15

Florida Grand Opera's 72nd season is marked by the return of company favorites. The company's season opener is none other than Puccini's internationally beloved La boheme, taking place at the Adrienne Arsht Center for the Performing Arts of Miami-Dade County from November 17, 2012 to December 2, 2012 and at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts in Fort Lauderdale on December 6, 2012 and December 8, 2012.

Andrea Zittel's exhibition 'Fluid Panel State' is now on view at the Andrea Rosen Gallery through October 27, 2012.

In preparation for the All-Day Long Island Al Jolson Festival (in Oceanside, NY) on Saturday, August 18, BroadwayWorld.com cabaret columnist Stephen Hanks offers his take on what made the 'World's Greatest Entertainer' so great, and muses about the reasons as to why he is such a devotee of the man who once owned Broadway and starred in the first talking picture.

In preparation for the All-Day Long Island Al Jolson Festival (in Oceanside, NY) on Saturday, August 18, BroadwayWorld.com cabaret columnist Stephen Hanks offers his take on what made the 'World's Greatest Entertainer' so great, and muses about the reasons as to why he is such a devotee of the man who once owned Broadway and starred in the first talking picture.

The cast of DANCING WITH THE STARS: ALL STARS has just been announced. The show will premiere Monday, September 24, 8:00-10:00 p.m., ET/PT on the ABC Network. The All-Stars cast will feature Gilles Marini, Pamela Anderson, Kelly Monaco, Shawn Johnson, Melissa Rycroft, Joey Fatone, Helio Castroneves, Drew Lachey, Bristol Palin, Apolo Anton Ono, Kirstie Alley and Emmit Smith.

Star of screen, stage, concert performer and and recording icon, Andrea Marcovicci will be making a special concert appearance at Chicago's Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.

NBC announced today that preeminent matchmaker Amber Kelleher-Andrews, relationship author Tracy McMillan and professional dating coach Matthew Hussey will join the innovative relationship series READY FOR LOVE, premiering in Winter 2012-13.

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.

Star of screen, stage, concert performer and and recording icon, Andrea Marcovicci will be making a special concert appearance at Chicago's Davenport's, 1383 N. Milwaukee Avenue, Chicago.

Today, June 16th Iron Age Theater and the NAACP Youth Council of Norristown will celebrate the freeing of the slaves in a theatrically dynamic way. The third annual Juneteenth event will take guests on a walking tour of downtown Norristown with a series of stops where professional actors from the region will present scenes, monologues or historical documents accenting the theme of freedom and slavery. Norristown celebrates Juneteenth as part of the towns year long bicentennial events.

On June 16th Iron Age Theater and the NAACP Youth Council of Norristown will celebrate the freeing of the slaves in a theatrically dynamic way. The third annual Juneteenth event will take guests on a walking tour of downtown Norristown with a series of stops where professional actors from the region will present scenes, monologues or historical documents accenting the theme of freedom and slavery. Norristown celebrates Juneteenth as part of the towns year long bicentennial events.

Cabaret chronicles author Jenna Esposito interviews rising star William Blake about his upcoming tribute to Etta James, his performance in the new Air Supply musical and more in a cabaret chronicles exclusive article!

According to Digitalspy.com, actor Idris Elba has been cast in the role of Nelson Mandela in the upcoming biopic THE LONG WALK TO FREEDOM. The film is set to begin filming this May.

The Highline Ballroom has announced upcoming shows for March 12th through April 12th. All shows will take place at the Highline Ballroom at 431 West 16th Street between 9th Avenue and 10th Avenue. Tickets may be purchased through Ticketweb, online at ticketweb.com or at the Highline Box Office from noon until doors close at 866-468-7619.

Oh, what a story. Frankie Valli, who came to fame in 1962 as the lead singer of the Four Seasons, is hotter than ever in the 21st century. Thanks to the volcanic success of the Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life and times of Frankie and his legendary group, such classic songs as "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "Rag Doll," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" are all the rage all over again.

If a $100,000 prize package and bragging rights as TOP SHOT aren't enough to tickle a marksman's trigger finger, consider this: one sharp shooter will also walk away from the new season of TOP SHOT with a professional contract with Bass Pro Shops. The hit competition series will be fully loaded with more twists and history-inspired challenges than ever before when it returns for a 4th season on Tuesday, February 14 at 10pm ET on HISTORY.

The entire entertainment world is reeling. We have lost one of our most iconic pop, R&B and soundtrack performers this evening - as well as a formidable movie star in her own right - Whitney Houston was just reported dead at the age of 48. Having had one of the most successful and most multimedia of careers of any multi-hyphenate star in recent memory, Houston scored multiple Grammys and racked up countless nominations over the course of her multi-decade recording career, yet her most notable contributions to the world of music reside in her outstanding soundtrack work - most of all, the songs for the film in which she made the transition into feature film leading lady, 1992's THE BODYGUARD. The biggest hit from THE BODYGUARD's blockbuster soundtrack was undoubtedly Houston's rendition of a Dolly Parton song originally recorded in 1974 and later made famous by Parton in the feature film version of the Broadway hit THE BEST LITTLE WHOREHOUSE IN TEXAS, "I Will Always Love You". In addition to Houston's sensational work on that mega-selling soundtrack - one of the Top 5 best-selling soundtracks of all time - she also provided her dramatic and vocal skills to the multi-platinum soundtracks to THE PREACHER'S WIFE and WAITING TO EXHALE, both films which she also starred in to much box office success. An Oscar-winning duet with Mariah Carey, "When You Believe" by WICKED's Stephen Schwartz from THE PRINCE OF EGYPT is yet another diadem in Houston's triple crown of accomplishments in the realms of music, film and television - having dominated all. Theatre fans may know Houston best for her incomparable portrayal of the Fairy Godmother in the incredibly successful 1997 ABC TV adaptation of Rodgers & Hammerstein's CINDERELLA starring Brandy and produced by Craig Zadan and Neil Meron. In addition to Houston's contributions to THE BODYGUARD, THE PREACHER'S WIFE, WAITING TO EXHALE, THE PRINCE OF EGYPT and CINDERELLA, Houston also rose to fame early in her career for her rendition of "Home" from THE WIZ on THE Merv Griffin SHOW, as well as made a mark with a Cissy Houston duet on the CHESS international smash, "I Know Him So Well" on her second hit album. The last project Houston was working on prior to her death on Saturday night was the feature film musical SPARKLE, co-starring AMERICAN IDOL winner and Broadway standout Jordin Sparks. SPARKLE reportedly completed production of principal photography and soundtrack sessions, though it is not clear when the musical remake will now be released in light of Houston's unexpected death. No matter the circumstances of her life and death, Whitney Houston most surely left a legacy that will never be forgotten by those that adored her for her vast multitude of talents and many notable accomplishments in all areas of entertainment.

The Recording Academy® is pleased to announce its selection of world-famous architect and multitalented artist Frank Gehry to create the official artwork for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards®.

Oh, what a story. Frankie Valli, who came to fame in 1962 as the lead singer of the Four Seasons, is hotter than ever in the 21st century. Thanks to the volcanic success of the Tony-winning musical Jersey Boys, which chronicles the life and times of Frankie and his legendary group, such classic songs as "Big Girls Don't Cry," "Walk Like a Man," "Rag Doll," and "Can't Take My Eyes Off You" are all the rage all over again.

The erstwhile jazz singer has such musical theater heavyweights as Michael Mayer, Tom Kitt and William Finn in her corner.

If a $100,000 prize package and bragging rights as TOP SHOT aren't enough to tickle a marksman's trigger finger, consider this: one sharp shooter will also walk away from the new season of TOP SHOT with a professional contract with Bass Pro Shops. The hit competition series will be fully loaded with more twists and history-inspired challenges than ever before when it returns for a 4th season on Tuesday, February 14 at 10pm ET on HISTORY.

The Recording Academy® is pleased to announce its selection of world-famous architect and multitalented artist Frank Gehry to create the official artwork for the 54th Annual GRAMMY Awards®.

Ernestine, the most famous telephone operator ever, and the hilariously precocious 5-year-old Edith Ann, will be visiting the California Theatre of the Performing Arts when Lily Tomlin comes to town on Jan. 29, 2012.

The Highline Ballroom has announced the following UPCOMING SHOWS - December 19 - December 25.

Joe's Pub has announced the following upcoming events.