PROUD-FM to carry FRONT ROW CENTRE radio program

PROUD-Fm (CIRR 103.9 fm) in association with theatre reviewer Mark Andrew Lawrence present Broadway's biggest hits on Front Row Centre.

You'll hear the songs from current and classic musicals, as well as fascinating behind-the-scenes anecdotes and backstage interviews with the performers and creators who put the glitter and glamour in the world of musical theatre.

Each program will highlight shows playing in Toronto and the surrounding area, new and current Broadway and off-Broadway hits, as well as theatrical anniversaries and birthdays.

Regular features include:

Fabulous Flops – a look a great songs that came from not so great shows, and some interesting ideas that never quite worked.

The Merman Moment – to honour the centenary of Broadway's most celebrate diva, we'll sample some of the more than two dozen standards Ethel Merman introduced during her 40-year reign as the Queen of Broadway.

Tony Trivia – Everyone remembers which shows won Best Musical but what about the non-winners? What about the performers and creators? We'll cover them all, and showcase highlights from this years nominees and winners.

Now Playing – a rundown of some of the shows playing in the area.

Front Row Centre was the brainchild of the late Michael Compeau (1940-2005.) Working at Toronto's CHFI-FM in the 1960's and 70's, Compeau decided that a Sunday afternoon program of Broadway musicals might provide an interesting feature. The program, hosted by Don Parish, ran on CHFI every Sunday afternoon until September 1975.

It was these Sunday afternoon broadcasts that inspired Mark Andrew Lawrence to begin a career in radio. One of his first assignments was to produce Ray Wickens' Broadway, heard on St, Catharines radio station CHRE. During this time, Mark also became the station's theatre correspondent reviewing shows in Niagara, Toronto and New York.

A chance meeting with Michael Compeau led to an offer for Mark Andrew to join the staff of the fledgling radio station CFMX-FM based in Cobourg, Ontario. It was there, under Compeau's tutelage that Mark Andrew developed as both an announcer and music programmer.

In 2004, Mark Andrew decided to launch his own business to write and syndicate reviews and feature articles to local newspapers and magazines. With Compeau's blessing the new venture was dubbed Front Row Centre, in tribute to the radio program that inspired it all!

Front Row Centre provides theatre news, reviews and interviews to a number of Metroland Newspapers including The North York Mirror, City Center, Mississauga News, and Oakville Beaver. In addition, it provides material to Expose Entertainment Magazine and The Sondheim Review. A 2- minute daily radio feature is heard on 88.5  THE JEWEL (CKDX-FM) and now the weekly one-hour program is heard each Sunday night on 103.9 PROUD-FM (CIRR.)

Front Row Centre isheard on Proud-fm Sunday nights from 8:00 to 9:00 pm. The station can also be heard in streaming audio at:  http://www.proudfm.com/

For more information, to make a request or to inquire about advertising on Front Row Centre contact Mark Andrew Lawrence at: frontrowcentre@hotmail.com

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