Bobby Rydell News

Former SNL genius, Celebrity Autobiography mainstay and gifted comic actress Rachel Dratch is a member of the cast of the currently in rehearsal musical Minsky's, she reveals her joy of working with composer Charles Strouse and her hope of it continuing to Broadway in the future to NYMag.com's Diana Scholl.

Minsky's is the second new musical playing the Ahmanson this season, boasting a book by Bob Martin and direction and choreography by Casey Nicholaw, who both crafted the U.S. premiere of the musical The Drowsy Chaperone at the Ahmanson in 2005. Composer Charles Strouse (Bye Bye Birdie, Annie) will join lyricist Susan Birkenhead (Triumph of Love) on the musical, which begins performances January 21 through March 1, 2009.

Bobby Rydell and Lou Christie, two teen sensations from the 1950's and 60's, will bring an evening of music to Herbst Auditorium, 401 Van Ness Ave., San Francisco on Saturday, Nov 15 at 8 PM.

Moving on from a third summer of sold-out performances highlighted by such LA-based artists as Popera singing star Jamie Angelise; Nightclub, recording and television stars Craig Heath and Jeanne Page; the irresistible Broadway star and film star Marion Ramsey (from the hilarious Police Academy series 1 - 6); Disney's Danyelle Bossardet (Beauty and the Beast); and the revered musical comedy duo of BaulPointPen (Paul Peglar and Ben McLain); Sterling's Upstairs at Vitello's in Studio City, CA ushers in October and November with seven sensational leading men.

This September, Charles Strouse's year-long 80th birthday celebration continues in the United Kingdom. Following tributes at venues ranging from New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Paley Center for Media, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Chicago's Theatre Building and Washington DC's The Library of Congress and The Kennedy Center, Strouse will cross the Atlantic where he will celebrate his 80th birthday, his 50 years of composing for the theatre, film and television and the release of his new book, Put On a Happy Face - A Broadway Memoir.

This week, Charles Strouse's year-long 80th birthday celebration continues in the United Kingdom. Following tributes at venues ranging from New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Paley Center for Media, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Chicago's Theatre Building and Washington DC's The Library of Congress and The Kennedy Center, Strouse will cross the Atlantic where he will celebrate his 80th birthday, his 50 years of composing for the theatre, film and television and the release of his new book, Put On a Happy Face - A Broadway Memoir.

This September, Charles Strouse's year-long 80th birthday celebration continues in the United Kingdom. Following tributes at venues ranging from New York's Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Paley Center for Media, New York Public Library for the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center, Chicago's Theatre Building and Washington DC's The Library of Congress and The Kennedy Center, Strouse will cross the Atlantic where he will celebrate his 80th birthday, his 50 years of composing for the theatre, film and television and the release of his new book, Put On a Happy Face - A Broadway Memoir.

On Monday June 16th at the 21 Club there was a cocktail reception celebrating Charles Strouse, his 80th birthday, his 50-year career and the launch of his new book, Put on a Happy Face: A Broadway Memoir. The evening included a musical tribute, the reading of a proclamation from the city of New York, and a performance by Strouse from behind the piano.

On June 7, 2008, Charles Strouse, the award winning composer of Annie, Bye Bye Birdie and some of the most popular music from the last 50 years of Broadway, film and television, turns 80. To mark the occasion, a year-long celebration of events including concerts, international tributes, revivals of popular favorites and premieres of new works will take place across the United States and around the world.