Her father and her uncle were U.S. congressmen. Her grandfather was a U. S. senator. Although born to privilege in Alabama and groomed in a convent school, Tallulah Bankhead resolved not to be just another Southern belle.
Quickly she rose to the top and became an acclaimed actress of London's West End and on the Broadway stage. Her performances in many plays of the 1920s brought her to the notice of Hollywood. She starred in such Paramount films as My Sin, Faithless, The Devil and the Deep, and Thunder Below. Even though she won a New York Film Critics Circle Award for her leading role in Alfred Hitchcock's Lifeboat (1944), she never achieved the prominence in movies that she enjoyed in the theater and on radio. On the New York stage she originated the starring roles of Regina Giddens in Lillian Hellman's The Little Foxes and of Sabina in Thornton Wilder's The Skin of Our Teeth.
Tallulah, like Eudora, Flannery, and Coretta, was a southern woman identifiable by her first name. Her flamboyant public personality may be the most fully realized and memorable character Bankhead ever played. She became famous for her snappy repartee, candid quotes, and scandalous lifestyle. She was disposed to remove her clothes and chat in the nude. Overfond of Kentucky bourbon and wild parties, she was a lady baritone who called everybody "Dahling."
In Tallulah, first published in 1952 and a New York Times bestseller for twenty-six weeks, Bankhead's literary voice is as lively and forthright as her public persona. She details her childhood and adolescence, discusses her dedication to the theater, and presents amusing anecdotes about her life in Hollywood, New York, and London. Along with a searing defense of her lifestyle and rambunctious habits, she provides a fiercely opinionated, wildly funny account of American stage at a time when the movies were beginning to cast theater into eclipse. This is not only a memoir of an independent woman but also an insider look at American entertainment during a golden age.
Michael Ball and Alfie Boe latest joint venture, an album titled, 'Together At Home', has hit the #1 spot on the official UK Albums Chart, making it their fourth album to do so.
Rob Rokicki, known for THE LIGHTNING THIEF, announced the digital release of his concept album THE REAL GEMMA JORDAN, featuring a book by Anna K. Jacobs and a cast of Broadway stars. Learn more!
T.3 has released their new holiday EP FaLaLaLonely in streaming and digital formats. A CD edition will be released in December. Learn more about T.3 and their album!
Rufus Wainwright's latest work, Dream Requiem, received its world premiere in Paris this year with the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France and with Meryl Streep as the narrator. On January 17th 2025, Warner Classics will release the live recording.
Cue the snow and holiday cheer: the Chris, Mrs. - A New Holiday Musical studio album from Boldly Productions is almost here! Listen to the single 'Ready to Try' now!
Reefer Madness: New Los Angeles Cast Recording, featuring the full cast from its 25th Anniversary Los Angeles revival will be released this winter! Three tracks are available now. Listen here!
BroadwayWorld has your exclusive first listen to the track 'Little Saint Nick' from vocal trio T.3. Listen to the track now, and learn more about the EP out this week!
Join the South Street Seaport Museum's free book club to discuss 'Native New Yorkers' by Evan T. Pritchard, focusing on the Lenape's legacy in New York City. Registration encouraged.
YELLOW SOUND LABEL will release of the new album Reefer Madness: New Los Angeles Cast Recording, featuring the full cast from its critically acclaimed 25th Anniversary Los Angeles revival. Check out a first listen of a song from the album here!
GREG PROOPS (Whose Line Is It Anyway?) will release his new comedy album 'PURPLE SHASTA RACCOON' on FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 15. The album was recorded live at The Punch Line in San Francisco for the third New Year's Eve in a row.
Mauricio Martinez is writing his inspiring autobiography, tentatively titled My First Act. The book, scheduled for worldwide release in late 2025, will be accompanied by a new album that serves as a musical companion.
Musical Theatre Melodies, hosted by Rob Morrison, will mark the 70th anniversary of the Broadway premiere of Fanny by Harold Rome on Tuesday, November 12th featuring the original 1954 Broadway cast recording.
Author Anton S. Sommer has released his latest novel, Modern Times - Double Future, a gripping political thriller set against the backdrop of a not-so-distant future.
Naomi Moon Siegel has released her third album, SHATTER THE GLASS SANCTUARY. The album explores her transition to life in Missoula, Montana. Listen to it now!
David G. Gitkov has invited readers on a journey spanning continents, seas, and decades in A Long, Long Watch: Volume II: The Sea: 1925 to 1946. This remarkable historical biography chronicles Gitkov's relentless pursuit of a life shaped by ambition, adventure, and the pursuit of freedom during some of the 20th century's most turbulent years.
Kelvin Funches has announced the release of his debut children's book, Sprouting Success! Little Tim's Mission. This heartwarming story follows Little Tim, a determined boy who sets out to grow more than just a garden-he sows the seeds of hope, healthy living, and community spirit.
CLUB44 RECORDS has released “Silver Bells” – the new holiday single from celebrated jazz vocal stylist Jane Monheit – on streaming and digital formats. The song, a joyously infectious Latin-inspired take on the seasonal classic, was originally released as a bonus track on last year's vinyl edition of her 2022 album, The Merriest.
Celebrated guitarist and songwriter Mike Campbell (Tom Petty and The Heartbreakers, Fleetwood Mac) is set for the release of his memoir, Heartbreaker, written with Ari Surdoval. The book is due March 18 via Grand Central Publishing.
The original Australian cast recording of MURIEL'S WEDDING THE MUSICAL has been released in the UK for the first time, offering fans a chance to experience the acclaimed production's music.
'I Am Not A Secret' from THE COMPLETE PICTURE: A NEW ROCK MUSICAL is now streaming. Featuring music by Erin Maya and Nicholas James Connell, the track showcases a powerful ensemble rock anthem.
Explore the making of cult classic REPO! THE GENETIC OPERA with Staci Layne Wilson's book, BLOOD SAGA, featuring cast interviews, behind-the-scenes insights, and a look at its enduring fandom. Learn more and see how to purchase.
The Arts & Climate Initiative and Centre for Sustainable Practice in the Arts released an anthology of short plays, ALL GOOD THINGS MUST BEGIN, exploring future visions with themes of regeneration and justice. Learn more!
Yo-Yo Ma and longtime collaborator Kathryn Stott have released their newest album, Merci (Sony Classical), which is out now. Merci is a deeply personal expression of gratitude, a celebration of the powerful relationships that keep music alive. Listen to the new album here.
Karen Mason And All That Jazz! – the singular album from acclaimed Broadway star and concert artist KAREN MASON – is now available on CD and in digital and streaming formats. Listen here.
JC Chasez and Jimmy Harry release their groundbreaking new musical theater concept album, Playing With Fire. Inspired by Mary Shelley’s timeless novel Frankenstein, Playing with Fire marks Chasez’s first major musical theater recording project. Listen to it now!
Third Reprise, in partnership with Rodgers & Hammerstein, released a reimagined, soul-filled take on “Some Enchanted Evening” to celebrate the 75th anniversary of Rodgers & Hammerstein’s South Pacific. Watch the video here!
Explore the theatrical side of Edward Gorey in 'The Theatrical Adventures of Edward Gorey,' a new book by Carol Verburg, highlighting his inventive designs and original works in theater.
BroadwayWorld spoke with Grammy-nominated singer-songwriter JC Chasez and Golden Globe-winning songwriter and producer Jimmy Harry, whose new musical theater concept album, Playing With Fire, is out now! Read the interview here.
Ryan Scott Oliver’s new musical folk horror, Tomorrow, the Island Dies has just been released as a complete studio cast recording album on all streaming services.