Charlie Piane - Page 190

The League of Professional Theatre Women, a non-profit organization committed to promoting visibility and increasing opportunities for women in the professional theatre, is pleased to announce its new slate of officers. These women will serve as leaders of the League for a two-year term, from July 1, 2009 until June 30, 2011.

Recording artist and Broadway performer Sasha Allen (Hair) will perform the song 'Huddled Masses' from the upcoming new musical LIBERTY at the reopening of the Statue of Liberty crown, which was closed after the 9/11 attacks, on Saturday, July 4, 2009. The ribbon-cutting ceremony will begin at 9:00 a.m. on NYC's Liberty Island with the performance taking place at 9:40 a.m. The City Lights Youth Theatre will perform 'Huddled Masses' and 'Horizon' on Liberty Island at 11:00 a.m. and 1:30 p.m.

Billboard's Top Cast Albums chart for week ending 6/28/2009.

Actor Harve Presnell, star of stage and screen productions of 'The Unsinkable Molly Brown' has passed away from cancer at age 75. Presnell died June 30th of pancreatic cancer at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California, according to Gregg Klein, Presnell's agent.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences will present a tribute to comic legend Mel Brooks on Friday, July 24, at 8 p.m. at the Samuel Goldwyn Theater in Beverly Hills. Hosted by film historian Leonard Maltin, the evening will feature Brooks in person, along with numerous film clips and stories from his artistic collaborators and friends. Special guests will include Richard Benjamin, Teri Garr, Cloris Leachman, Carl Reiner, Tracey Ullman and Lesley Ann Warren (schedules permitting).

Manhattan Theatre Club announces the final extension for Lynn Nottage's Pulitzer Prize winning play RUINED. The play, currently in performances at MTC at New York City Center - Stage I (131 West 55th Street), must play its final performance on Sunday, September 6.

Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID will play its final Broadway performance on Sunday, August 30th after 50 previews and 685 performances at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46th Street). For tickets to the final 79 performances and information on the show visit www.disneyonbroadway.com or call (866) 870-2717.

Emmy and Golden Globe Award winner Laura Linney ('John Adams,' The Savages) will play the lead role in Manhattan Theatre Club's upcoming New York premiere of TIME STANDS STILL by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright Donald Margulies. The limited engagement, to be directed by Tony winner Daniel Sullivan (Accent on Youth, Sight Unseen on Broadway, Brooklyn Boy, Dinner with Friends) will begin previews at MTC's Samuel J. Friedman Theatre (261 West 47th Street) on Tuesday, January 5, 2010 in preparation for a Thursday, January 28, 2010 opening night. The production had previously been announced to play MTC's New York City Center - Stage I.

The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences is extending invitations to join the organization to 134 artists and executives who have distinguished themselves by their contributions to theatrical motion pictures. Those who accept the invitation will be the only additions in 2009 to the Academy's roster of voting members.

Celebrated songwriting and performing team Marcy Heisler and Zina Goldrich will return to Birdland with 'The Marcy & Zina Show', Monday, July 20th, 2009 at 7pm. The duo will be performing songs from their upcoming cd. Also scheduled to appear are Jill Abramovitz, Jeff Blumenkrantz, Mike Croiter, MaryAnn McSweeney, and special guest Clinton Kelly.

A new cast has been announced for Patrick Barlow's adaptation of The 39 Steps, directed by Maria Aitken, currently in its third year at the Criterion Theatre. The new cast will feature John Hopkins as Richard Hannay. Other cast members include Stephen Critchlow, Stephen Ventura, and Natalie Walter. The new cast members of the hilarious 100-minute whodunnit begin July 13.

Jane Fonda has taken to her blog to discuss Michael Jackson and her thoughts on death itself. The actress says she 'knew (Jackson) as well as one could know him' but that she 'couldn't pretend to understand him.'

Renowned UK singer and performer John Barrowman will star in ROBIN HOOD: THE PANTOMIME ADVENTURE at the New Theatre in Cardiff. The production will run December 12, 2009 through January 24, 2010.

Fox television series GLEE has received three 2009 Teen Choice Awards nominations.

Among the many topics discussed on Sunday June 21st at the Magic Castle's Inner Circle gathering featuring the comedic icon Phyllis Diller, was how she was one of the long and impressive list of Dolly's such as Carol Channing, Ginger Rogers, Pearl Bailey and Ethel Merman to perform at the St James Theatre in Jerry Herman's HELLO DOLLY! 'David Merrick wanted either George Burns or Jack Benny to do Dolly in drag, but couldn't get them so he settled for me,' says Ms. Diller, whom everyone referred to as Madam. 'Can you imagine? It would still be running on Broadway today!'

Broadway favorite Raul Esparza, currently appearing in the Shakespeare in the Park production of TWELFTH NIGHT, is featured in a new interview by the Associated Press. In the article, Esparza talks about the production and his co-star, Anne Hathaway, as well as his career and his interaction with the internet.

Travel back in time to the decadent world of 1930s Berlin as Theatre Under The Stars (TUTS) produces the sizzling new presentation of the Tony Award-winning musical, Cabaret, June 16-28, 2009 at the Hobby Center for Performing Arts in downtown Houston.

Billboard's Top Cast Albums chart for week ending 6/21/2009.

The governors of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences approved the rules for the 82nd Academy Awards at their meeting earlier this week (6/23). In addition to the previously announced change in the Best Picture category, a significant change was made in the Music - Original Song category.

In light of yesterday's events and in celebration of the life and work of Michael Jackson, The GRAMMY Museum has extended and re-purposed the exhibit, Michael Jackson: HIStyle. Starting today, a collection of Jackson's most iconic wardrobe pieces (including the suit he wore on the cover of the Thriller album) will be exhibited on the Museum's third floor alongside video of some of his most exciting GRAMMY performances. This will all open to the public this morning at 11:30am PST.