Vinton Freedley

On this day in 1984, Ethel Merman, a Broadway institution known as the 'undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage, passed away at the age of 76.

What makes a Broadway theatre? Technically any venue with 500 seats or more, located along Broadway in New York City's Theatre District is a Broadway theatre, and the art that is produced in these special places is widely considered the highest form of theatrical entertainment in the world. Today, forty-one theatres are technically Broadway houses, each with their own rich history. Below, we're giving you the scoop on the life of every one of them!

Ethel Merman was a Broadway institution known as the 'undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage.' After being discovered by Vinton Freedley as a singer at Brooklyn's Paramount movie theatre, she was signed to star in the Gershwin's new Broadway hit GIRL CRAZY where she stopped the show nightly with her performance of 'I Got Rhythm'.

On this day in 1984, Ethel Merman, a Broadway institution known as the 'undisputed First Lady of the musical comedy stage, passed away at the age of 76. 

An Equity staged reading of "The Book Of Merman", a new play with music tracing the ups and downs of the famed Broadway star affectionately known as "the Merm", is currently rehearsing for private presentations to industry producers and insiders.

An Equity staged reading of PRESENTING ETHEL MERMAN, a new play with music tracing the ups and downs of the famed Broadway star affectionately known as 'the Merm', is being held today, October 13, in a private presentation for industry producers and insiders.

BroadwayWorld has just learned that an Equity staged reading of PRESENTING ETHEL MERMAN, a new play with music tracing the ups and downs of the famed Broadway star affectionately known as 'the Merm', is currently rehearsing for private presentations to industry producers and insiders.

The national tour of ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Houston premiere today, October 14-19 as part of the 2014-2015 Season of Broadway at the Hobby Center.

The national tour of ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Houston premiere October 14-19 as part of the 2014-2015 Season of Broadway at the Hobby Center. Individual tickets will be on sale beginning Sunday, August 24 at 10:00 a.m.

The national tour of Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Orange County premiere tonight, September 24 - 29 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts as part of the Curtain Call Series.

The national tour of Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Orange County premiere September 24 - 29 at Segerstrom Center for the Arts as part of the Curtain Call Series.

The national tour of Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES, the new Broadway revival of Cole Porter's timeless classic musical theatre masterpiece, will make its Pittsburgh premiere April 16-21, 2013 at Heinz Hall as part of the PNC Broadway Across America-Pittsburgh series.

Roundabout Theatre Company has announced that critically acclaimed Broadway actress Rachel York will star as "Reno Sweeney" in the national tour of the 2011 Tony® Award winning Anything Goes. Presented by Roundabout Theatre Company, the national tour will set sail in Cleveland this fall. Anything Goes is the winner of three Tony® Awards including Best Musical Revival.

Roundabout Theatre Company will present the national tour of ANYTHING GOES, the 2011 Tony® Award winning Broadway musical theatre masterpiece. Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES sets sail at Cleveland's PlayhouseSquare in October 2012. Following its opening in Cleveland, Roundabout Theatre Company's ANYTHING GOES will cruise into more than 25 other cities during the 2012/2013 season including the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.

If there's one thing this town can't resist it's a gal who can reinvent herself, and in director/choreographer Kathleen Marshall's smashing new revival of the Cole Porter classic, Anything Goes, Sutton Foster foregoes the spunky wholesomeness that made her a Broadway star for a sleek, sophisticated and sexy turn as nightclub singer turned evangelist, Reno Sweeney.