The Book of Merman - Articles Page 18

He's donned the mask and now he steals the candlesticks… and the show! The multi talented Hugh Panaro returns to Philly to play Jean Valjean.

Mature theater-goers proudly recall seeing musical comedy greats perform. It's easy to remember seeing Mary Martin, Ethel Merman, Alfred Drake or Joel Grey because these stars contributed exemplary work in leading roles. However, a book could be written about actors who create vivid impressions in our minds while playing supporting roles in memorable shows. There is no greater example of such an actor than Mary Louise Wilson.

Center Theatre Group's latest musical, Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson, has a central message, and it is rather simple, f@$k theatrical conventions. Thanks to the progressive nature of recent offerings including Spring Awakening and the soon to open Passing Strange, Broadway has been breaking away from tradition with rock music infiltrating the stage and concert style staging springing up...

Reached by telephone in Florida on the day after Christmas, Jerry Herman had just taken his morning swim and was enjoying the balmy weather. 'It's beautiful here. You know you take your chances with the weather this time of the year even in Miami, but it's just been beautiful.' After doing considerable reading about the composer and enjoying a lengthy conversation with him, it is quite apparent that much of this man's life has indeed been quite beautiful.

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) announced today that tickets for the 2007 festival are now available and bookings are open for those who purchased NYMF memberships

Stephen Lang, who gives not one but eight tour de force performances in 'Beyond Glory,' discusses his craft and the multiple personality disorders of actors.

Kate Shindle, the current co-star of Broadway's Legally Blonde, will play the title role in Sympathy Jones, a new musical which will debut at this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival

The New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF) has announced 12 additional new musicals to join the 18 musicals previously announced as part of the 4th annual Festival from September 17 through October 7, 2007 in New York City.

Jerry Herman, Barbara Cook and Angela Lansbury watch the made-for-PBS doc 'Words and Music by Jerry Herman' with museum members in NYC.

Obie Award-winner Nancy Opel, LoveMusik's Ann Morrison and Tony-nominee Stephanie D'Abruzzo have joined 'Undercover Showtunes' - the New York Musical Theatre Festival's finale of its Spring Concert Series on Monday, June 18 at 7pm

Curtains may not be the kind of show that flies you into musical comedy heaven, but for two hours and forty minutes it cruises securely in the air stream of sock-o.

We got the chance to talk with Jim Brochu and Steve Schlachlin the creators, songwriter, book writer, and stars of the, relatively, new Off-Broadway show 'The Big Voice: God or Merman'. The discuss whether they are characters or not, and what happens when they are replaced... We also hear them perform two songs from the show in an exclusive, in-studio performance!

Heather MacRae will headline the cast of TheatreworksUSA's Anne of Green Gables.

The Prince Music Theater welcomes back a Philly favorite. From 'Annie' to 'Annie', McArdle not only gets her man but wins the home crowd.

Jim Brochu and Steve Schalchlin discuss 'The Big Voice: God or Merman?'

The WaterTowerTheatre's production of Man of La Mancha demonstrates the show still possesses superior music.

This week: Raising a Star, Ethel Merman: The Biggest Star on Broadway, I Could Have Sung All Night: My Story by Marni Nixon and the Playbill Broadway Yearbook!

Gypsy, starring Tony Award-winner Patti LuPone in the towering role of Rose, played from August 11th through August 13th at the Ravinia Festival in Chicago

Borrowing a line from A Chorus Line, I saw the red shoes' at seven years old and I fell in love with dance.

Feature a report on 'without you' by Anthony Rapp, 'til the fat girl sings' by Sharon Wheatley, 'Female Brando: The Legend of Kim Stanley' by Jon Krampner, 'The Importance of Being Barbra' by Tom Santopietro and 'TIME STEPS ? My Musical Comedy Life' by Donna McKechnie with Greg Lawrence.

Tovah Feldshuh gives no less than a star performance in a subtler interpretation that eschews larger than life fireworks and presents the character as an earthier, more realistic representation of late 1800's immigrant survival in America

star performance needs strong support. Even the greatest of leading ladies can't save a production boggled by misguided choices. It is too bad that Village Theatre's wonky new production of Hello, Dolly! is never able to live up to its delightful star (in her return to Seattle) Peggy O'Connell. With a solidly tuneful Jerry Herman score, a tight book by Michael Stewart, and opportunities for multiple star turns, you would expect this local revival to be a triumph. Sadly, director Steve Tomkins' tendency to gravitate towards the superficial requires O'Connell to make a difficult uphill climb. Stars of her caliber should never be subjected to this chore.

BroadwayWorld.com and Barricade Books are pleased to announce the winners of the book 'Ethel Merman: The Biggest Star on Broadway' written by Geoffrey Mark.

After Tony in West Side Story, Dear World, and Follies, Kurt Peterson left the world of performing. Now he's back producing Stephen Schwartz's Captain Louie....

Why would sell-out crowds drive through lightning, thunder, floods and mudslides just to hear this crazy woman rant? During the height of the January monsoon, Jackie Hoffman's solo show, The Kvetching Continues, played to rave reviews and SRO audiences at the L.A. Gay & Lesbian Center's Renberg Theatre.