Eddie Varley - Page 225

Cirque du Soleil will bring to New York its big top touring production KOOZA, on Wednesday, April 15, 2009. KOOZA will perform at Randall's Island Park under the trademark blue-and-yellow Grand Chapiteau (Big Top) for a limited engagement.

Richard Gay has been named Executive Vice President of Strategy and Operations for MTV and VH1. The news was announced yesterday by Stephen Friedman, General Manager of MTV and Tom Calderone, President of VH1. Mr. Gay previously held a similar position for VH1 and CMT. In this newly created role, he will work closely with VH1's and MTV's leadership respectively to manage business functions, drive planning and strategic initiatives and execute a broad range of operational activities.

The Las Vegas Review Journal is reporting that 'Drowsy Chaperone' Tony winner Bob Martin is working with Las Vegas titan Steve Wynn in developing a treatment for a new musical based on the music of the Bee Gees. Martin is currently working as the book writer on the LA bound Charles Strouse musical MINSKY'S which opens February 6, 2009, at Center Theatre Group/Ahmanson Theatre and continues through March 1 (previews begin January 21).

Chicago Film Critics Association have announced their 2008 Award Winners and Pixar's animated and very successful release WALL-E was in the lead taking four awards, including Best Picture.

Variety is reporting that former SPEED-THE-PLOW star Jeremy Piven's physician said that the actor's 'mercury malady' is a genuine health scare and concern for the actor.

On January 4th 2009, after over 2,641 performances, the curtain will fall at the Neil Simon Theater on the final performance of Broadway's 2003 Tony Award? musical HAIRSPRAY starring original cast members Harvey Fierstein and Marissa Jaret Winokur. The producers of this landmark musical have generously donated a pair of orchestra seats to be auctioned on ebay with the proceeds to benefit Broadway Cares / Equity Fights AIDS.

Tony Award winner Norbert Leo Butz and Emmy Award winner and Academy Award nominee William H. Macy have come to the rescue of the acclaimed production of David Mamet's SPEED-THE-PLOW, in the wake of the unexpected departure of Jeremy Piven.

Celebrity Autobiography: In Their Own Words, the critically-acclaimed, sell-out show called 'big-yuks entertainment' by Charles Isherwood of The New York Times, will be featured on ABC's 'The View' on Monday, December 22, at 11am on the ABC television network. Kristen Johnston, who appears regularly in Celebrity Autobiography, makes a guest appearance on the show, and is joined by 'View' co-hosts Joy Behar and Sherri Shepherd, reading excerpts from the hit comedy sensation.

Songwriting and performance legend Paul Anka spoke to the Las Vegas Sun and revealed he's working on a musical of his life that he'll do 'My Way'.

DreamWorks Theatricals and Neal Street Productions, Ltd. brought SHREK THE MUSICAL to the Broadway Theatre (1681 Broadway @ 53rd St) on Sunday, December 14, 2008. Preview performances began on Saturday, November 8, 2008. The cast album from Universal/Decca Broadway will be released March 3rd, 2009.

Variety is reporting that Hairspray and upcoming Bedtime Stories director Adam Shankman has signed on to direct two new projects, Bob the Musical at Disney and Sinbad at Sony

The New York Post is giving more details regarding Piven's exit from the show, and reveals that Norbert Leo Butz will step in to help the production for now. Variety reported last night that Jeremy Piven would abruptly end his run in Broadway's Speed-the-Plow, after missing Tuesday evening's performance and a Wednesday matinee.

The 92nd Street Y announces casting for the 2009 season of Lyrics & Lyricists?, the Y's legendary American Songbook series. Polly Bergen, Lucie Arnaz, Tom Wopat and Marilyn Maye are among the storied cast members who will sing the songs of Richard Rodgers, Ira Gershwin, Mel Torm?, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson, David Zippel and others. This is the first season curated by new series artistic director DEBORAH GRACE WINER, and her inaugural line-up of guest artistic directors - MARTIN CHARNIN, DAVID ZIPPEL, ROBERT KIMBALL, REX REED, and BILLY STRITCH.

IN THE HEIGHTS welcomes Rick Negron on December 19th when takes on the role of Kevin Rosario at the Richard Rodgers Theatre. He replaces Carlos Gomez, Negr?n was a member of the early reading of the show.

Following her sold-out debut engagement in September, Amanda Duarte returns to The PIT (The Peoples Improv Theater, 154 West 29th Street, 2nd Floor, between 6th & 7th Avenues) with her hilarious, very pink solo show, Lucky Pink Wonderland on Thursday evenings during the month of January.

Morgan Sills Sings the Johnny Mercer Songbook, the first New York show celebrating the centennial of the noted lyricist, will be presented at The Metropolitan Room (34 West 22nd Street between 5th & 6th Avenues). Beginning Tuesday, January 6th at 7PM (and playing each Tuesday at 7PM through the month of January)

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed 'Best of New York' by New York Magazine and 'an invaluable New York institution' by The New York Post, will continue their 10th Anniversary season with present Broadway's John Treacy Egan, in his debut at the club. Seen on Broadway as Chef Louis in Disney's The Little Mermaid, John will spend the evening performing a collection of classic favorites, new songs and amusing stories of Christmas past in his new show, 'On Christmas Morning,' Monday, December 22 at the Regency Hotel (540 Park Avenue at 61st Street).

Grey Gardens: From East Hampton to Broadway, the new documentary film produced by East of Doheny with Albert Maysles that has already reached cult status during its rollout of limited screenings, will air nationwide on PBS on the Emmy Award-winning Independent Lens, hosted by Terrence Howard, on Tuesday, December 23, 2008 at 10:00 p.m. (check local listings).

A.M.L. Entertainment is proud to present a special post- show Talk-Back with writer Tom Kane of the Brooklyn Eagle newspaper following the January 16 performance of Anthony Michael Laura's When It Rains. Performances begin January 14, 2009 at 8:00 pm at The Grand Theater at the The Producers Club. The Producers Club is located at 358 West 44th Street in NYC. Tickets are $22.00. Reservations can be made by calling 516-983-2791.

Signature Theatre today announced that the run of its innovative new production of Les Miserables will be extended for four weeks through February 22 due to ticket demand. The environmental staging brings the beloved musical's epic scale of 28 actors, 138 costumes, a Broadway-sized 14-piece orchestra, and a five-ton steel set right into the audience's laps in the intimacy of Signature's 280-seat MAX Theatre.