Eddie Varley - Page 229

The China Post has reported that a Taiwan university announced the creation of what could be the world's first robot theater, which will make its debut on Dec. 27th by performing the musical The Phantom of the Opera.

Once again another large-scale scandal rocks Wall Street as Bernard Madoff, a successful Wall Street mainstay and investment advisor was arrested for an alleged $50 billion dollar fraud against investors. His arrest has struck fear in the hearts of investors worldwide, it is being felt in the already bruised and battered world of creative nonprofits. An excellent feature from Bloomberg News gives a detailed report on the effects of the Madoff scandal in relation to the arts.

There has always been a lopsided balance when it comes to attendance regarding muscials versus straight plays, but in recent times the scale has dipped even sharper in favor of the musical production. At many of Broadway's most glowingly reviewed plays you'll find many an empty seat. A new report on the state of non-profit theatres nationwide sheds a bit of light on the topic while giving a very detailed report on the industry as well.

This spring, WEST SIDE STORY returns to Broadway in a groundbreaking new production. Tonight it returns to where it all began for the show in 1957, the National Theatre in Washington, DC. WEST SIDE STORY will play a limited engagement at the National through January 17th, 2009.

This spring, WEST SIDE STORY returns to Broadway in a groundbreaking new production, the upcoming revival's director and legendary book writer of the original production Arthur Laurents gives a revealing interview with the Sunday Washington Post. The article is a must read.

Tune in to ABC tomorrow night, Monday, December 15th for a special two hour '20/20' titled 'Drama High: The Making of a High School Musical.' The fascinating behind-the-scenes special follows three months at a predominantly white high school in Virginia that is putting on 'The Wiz' - the African American musical version of the 'Wizard of Oz.' ABC collected more than three hundred hours of footage for the special.

The Village Voice recently noted 'There's no business like Gaynor's show business' and now fresh on the heels of attracting a new generation of fans with her acclaimed PBS musical documentary, Mitzi Gaynor: Razzle Dazzle! The Special Years, -- Green Isle Inc. has announced the world premiere of Mitzi Gaynor's all new one-woman show, RAZZLE DAZZLE! MY LIFE BEHIND THE SEQUINS opening Saturday, January 10th (8:00PM) at the historic Herbst Theatre in San Francisco.

SIRIUS XM Radio welcomes legendary entertainer Regis Philbin as the special guest host of Bing Crosby Christmas Radio, an entire channel devoted to classic Bing Crosby radio broadcasts.

Known to millions as Carol Brady, Florence Henderson, a multi-talented actress, talk show host, performer, recording artist, author and Broadway veteran, brings her critically acclaimed one-woman production of ALL THE LIVES OF ME?A Musical Journey, under the musical direction of Emmy award-winning Composer Glen Roven, to Los Angeles at Sunset's Catalina Bar & Grill.

An informal read-through of the first act of a new musical, Tangled Webs, took place on Friday December 12th, in Manhattan. The reading starred Mary Poppins star Rebecca Luker. The musical is about an elegant Park Avenue woman (played in the read-through by Rebecca Luker) who's lost her husband and starts her life over by going to work at a producer's office. She discovers a young writer's work that she feels passionate about, and she will stop at nothing to get the show to the Broadway stage.

Lauren Graham (Golden Globe Award nominee for 'Gilmore Girls') will make the leap back into primetime reports Variety. The entertainment trade publication reveals that 'ABC has given a production commitment to a new comedy starring Graham, who will play a self-help guru who teaches women how to live a stress-free life -- but struggles to follow her own advice when her boyfriend dumps her.'

Featuring talent from the Great White Way to the sandy beaches of LA, 'Upright's West Side Stories' takes you up close and personal with some of your favorite entertainers in show business. This webisode finds Chris and Shane in beautiful San Diego interviewing the incredibly talented cast for the world premiere of PRINCESS AND THE BLACK EYED PEA which is currently performing through December 21, 2008 at the Lyceum Theatre.

Jeff Marx, the Tony and Grammy winning co-creator of Avenue Q is singing a new Kwanzaa song titled 'White Kwanzaa' on CNN's D.L. Hughley Breaks The News tonight Sat 10PM & 1AM and tomorrow Sun 11PM & 2AM (EST). He will be featured during the first segment of the show

Cheyenne Jackson and Mary-Louise Parker are featured on lesbian comedian Cat Davis' online show, 'CAT ON THE PROWL'.

Phylicia Rashad is the latest actress to be signed as a spokeswoman for Jenny Craig, PEOPLE has reported exclusively. 'Jenny Craig confirms a new relationship with Phylicia Rashad,' said a spokesperson for the company. 'We look forward to sharing the details at a press conference in late January.'

Visit LIZA'S AT THE PALACE...!, catch up with the cast of MINDGAME and take a look at some of the shows saying 'Goodbye' in January 2009 - only with Broadway Beat and BroadwayWorld.com!

Cameron Mackintosh's new production of OLIVER!' starts previews tonight Saturday 13 December at 7.30pm at the Theatre Royal Drury Lane. The earlier scheduled preview performances on Friday 12 December at 7.30pm and Saturday 13 December matinee at 2.30pm were canceled.

Variety is reporting that Whoopi Goldberg is set to star and exec produce the sci-fi miniseries 'Strange' for FEARnet.com. Set to debut online and on video on demand beginning Jan. 15th, 'Strange' will air in six five-minute weekly segments. Goldberg will play the lead character, Jodi, trying to come to terms with her lifelong fears.

Marin Mazzie, Douglas Sills, Dick Latessa, Tom Alan Robbins, Sierra Boggess, Walter Charles, Anne L. Nathan and Sally Ann Howes have been cast in Kern and Hammerstein's Music in the Air, the second Encores! production of New York City Center's 2008 - 2009 season, playing for five performances, February 5 - 8 at City Center, West 55th Street (between 6th and 7th Avenues). Music in the Air, a rarely seen 1932 musical, will be directed by Gary Griffin with music direction by Rob Berman and choreography by Michael Lichtefeld.

Upright Cabaret producers/hosts Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel proudly present Broadway star and Los Angeles native Eden Espinosa in her first solo effort entitled EDEN ESPINOSA - ME to be directed by Broadway & recording star Billy Porter with Ben Toth taking over Music Direction. During the last month of Wicked's run at the Pantages Theatre in Los Angeles, where she is currently starring as Elphaba, Espinosa will take off the green to perform four solo concerts which will feature a different special guest each night. Special guests T.B.A.