Larry Gelbart News

Broadway In Chicago and Scott Sanders Productions have announced individual tickets for the world premiere Chicago production of the new comedy musical, TOOTSIE, will go on-sale Friday, July 6.

Join Broadway General Manager Peter Bogyo in conversation with Tony Award-winning Producer Margot Astrachan as they discuss the nitty-gritty of the business side of show business. Bogyo will offer fascinating and entertaining glimpses into the inner workings of the normally closed world of theatrical general management. You can also expect some personal anecdotes and bits of theatrical lore. This evening will offer invaluable insight not only to fledgling general managers but to producers, writers, actors... anyone who is interested in the hows and whys of what happens in theatre before the curtain goes up.

Excitement has been running so high for North Coast Rep's Season 36 closer, A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM. The theatre has already extended the beloved musical by one week to accommodate the ticket requests. Composer Stephen Sondheim has created a laugh-a-minute audience favorite with songs such as "Comedy Tonight," "Lovely" and "Everyone Ought to Have a Maid." Winner of six Tony Awards including Best Musical, FORUM was written by Burt Shevelove and Larry Gelbart, who based their farce on the over-the-top antics of the Roman slave Pseudolus, who will do anything to win his freedom and bring two lovers together. Tickets are already flying out the door, so it's best to order early.

The Muny announced today its full cast, design and production teams for the theater's opening centennial season show, Jerome Robbin's Broadway. In its first production ever in the world since its original Broadway and national tour productions, Jerome Robbins' Broadway will run June 11 - 17.

In 1993 Neil Simon penned his experiences as a young writer for Your Show of Shows on early 50s television in a play entitled Laughter on the 23rd Floor. At that time he was a novice learning from the likes of series star Sid Caesar and fellow-writers Mel Brooks, Larry Gelbart, Carl Reiner, and Selma Diamond among others. The seven member team plus Caesar collaborated on sketch comedy that ran live weekly on NBC. Daily work was hellish with the crazies bringing their personal issues and divergent styles of expression every hour of every day to the writers' room. The sketch material was not only affected by their various personalities clouded by bold ethnic traits but also by the world around them that included the infamous attacks of McCarthyism. In the arts actors, writers, directors and other artists were endangered of being branded a communist and fired from their work. NBC found Your Show of Shows to be too sophisticated and thereby made cuts threatening the show's existence. It was cut back to an hour. In the play Sid Caesar is Max Prince (Pat Towne), an alcoholic and drug addicted tyrant who will stop at nothing to prove his point. He fights NBC; of course, to no avail. Laughter... plays the Garry Marshall Theatre through April 22, brilliantly directed b

In 2002, The Way Off Broadway Dinner Theatre opened its season with a set of new owners and the hilarious musical comedy farce A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. Sixteen years later, the Kiska family, who purchased the theatre in 2002, and Way Off Broadway are very excited to see the return of one of the funniest shows to ever appear on the WOB stage. Forum will continue the theatre's 2018 Mega-Mini Season, running March 23rd - May 19th.

As a tribute to the late David Ogden Stiers, WGN America will celebrate his life with back-to-back “M*A*S*H” marathons starting Friday, March 9 from 7pm-12am ET/CT. The programming block will continue on Saturday, March 10 from 11am-10pm ET/CT. Fans are in store to enjoy over 15 hours of nostalgia with this cult-classic-filled weekend.

Southwestern University's Sarofim School of Fine Arts' Theatre Department is excited to present the Tony Award winning musical A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. In this classic piece of musical theatre, the lives of three neighbors in Ancient Rome are intertwined when two members of opposite households fall in love but cannot be together. Pseudolos, a crafty slave determined to live his life as a free man, offers to join the two lovers together in exchange for his freedom. Hilarity ensues as Pseudolos and the lovers try to succeed in creating their own happy endings. Note production includes Mature Content.

It is incredibly thrilling to see Tony winning musical A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum on the schedule for the BroadHollow Theatre Company. We have an amazing collection of comedic actors here on Long Island, so this has all the makings for a special treat. Indeed, the outstanding cast superbly delivers.

Westport Country Playhouse will present a Script in Hand playreading of 'Better Late,' a romantic comedy by Larry Gelbart, on Monday, February 26, at 7 p.m. Gelbart was a creator and producer of the television series 'M*A*S*H,' and a co-writer of the film 'Tootsie' and the Broadway musicals 'City of Angels' and 'A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum.'

The Unique Panel Discussion will celebrate a new book by Ronald Rand, "CREATE! How Extraordinary Artists Live to Create and Create to Live" at the historical theatrical club, The Lambs 3 West 51st Street, New York City, Monday, March 12th, 2018, 7:00-8:00pm. There is no charge for the Event. Seating is limited - reservations are necessary at: (212) 586-0306 or RSVP@The-Lambs.org     

TOOTSIE's story is hitting the stage! Scott Sanders Productions announced today that the world premiere of the new comedy musical, TOOTSIE, will play a pre-Broadway engagement this fall at Broadway In Chicago's Cadillac Palace Theatre (151 West Randolph Street, Chicago, IL) from September 11 October 14. TOOTSIE will come to Broadway in spring 2019.

Pittsburgh Public Theater continues Ted Pappas' grand finale season with A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum. This riotous musical comedy features music & lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Burt Shevelove & Larry Gelbart, and direction & choreography by Ted Pappas. Forum runs January 25 February 25, 2018 at the O'Reilly Theater, Pittsburgh Public Theater's home in the heart of Downtown's Cultural District. For tickets call 412.316.1600 or visit ppt.org. The production is Presented by PNC.

Screenwriter and LGBTQ rights activist Dustin Lance Black (Milk, When We Rise) is set to receive the Writers Guild of America West's 2018 Valentine Davies Award in recognition for his civil and human rights efforts, which have positively impacted the LGBTQ community.

WGN America scored its strongest Total Day performance among Adults 25-54 (146K) in nearly three years (since 1/3/15 - 165K) when they kicked-off the holiday season with a 19-hour 'M*A*S*H-athon' on Saturday, December 9 beginning at 9:00am ET /8:00am CT featuring fan-favorite episodes of the beloved TV Series.

The Muny announced today the directors, choreographers and music directors for The Muny's 2018 centennial season, which opens on June 11 with the first production in the world of Jerome Robbins' Broadway since it's Tony - award winning Broadway and national tour productions.

Fresh from the sold-out premiere in Philadelphia, the new docu-musical An Enchanted Evening: A Night With Oscar Hammerstein II comes Off-Broadway for a limited engagement starting tonight, December 8.

Fresh from the sold-out premiere in Philadelphia, the new docu-musical AN ENCHANTED EVENING: A NIGHT WITH OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II is headed Off-Broadway for a limited December 2017 engagement.

The name Stephen Sondheim is one that conjures excitement in many a theatre enthusiast. His most popular works, such as INTO THE WOODS and SWEENEY TODD, thrive on scathing social commentary and twisting melodies that only the more experienced musicians can follow. However, as this reviewer has come to realize, Sondheim lets his funny bone shine in his lesser known musicals. Theatre Harrisburg brings one of these unfairly forgotten shows to life with their current production of A FUNNY THING HAPPENED ON THE WAY TO THE FORUM, and reminds the audience that musicals can be more than drama and heartbreak. In fact, as the opening number 'Comedy Tonight' suggests, FORUM is a far cry from tragedy.

The Tony Award-winning musical comedy A Funny Thing Happened On The Way To The Forum hits the Garry Marshall Theatre stage, following Ovation Recommended play Master Class.