Hottest Articles on BWW from Saturday, Jun. 23

1) FLASH SPECIAL: A Richard Adler Retrospective - THE PAJAMA GAME, DAMN YANKEES & More

On Thursday, three-time Tony Award-winning Broadway composer Richard Adler passed away at the ripe old age of 90. Responsible for two of the biggest Broadway smash hits of the 1950s, THE PAJAMA GAME and GAMN YANKEES, Adler never quite managed to equal his career-high double-hitter of that era, yet his earlier work with Tony Bennett ("Rags To Riches"), Doris Day ("Everybody Loves A Lover") and Marilyn Monroe (the iconic "Happy Birthday, Mr. President") surely shall solidify his place in the firmament of entertainment history along with his two classic musicals from the Golden Age. Winning both Best Score and Best Musical for both THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES, Adler's partnership with lyricist Jerry Ross - which began on Broadway in 1953 with John Murray Anderson'S ALMANAC - was tragically cut short just months after the DAMN YANKEES premiere when Ross was diagnosed with lung disease and passed away soon thereafter. Yet, thanks to the beloved film versions of THE PAJAMA GAME and DAMN YANKEES and continued interest in the entities as expressed in the revivals and reappraisals of both onstage from Broadway to Biloxi to Bombay year after year, the snappy, snazzy tunes of Adler and Ross live on eight times a week all around the world - even now, more than fifty years after they premiered. Unfortunately, Adler's subsequent shows with other collaborators post-1955 failed to capture the early magic of his previous projects with Ross and his earlier musical and theatrical endeavors in the pop arena, with the racially charged KWAMINA flopping on Broadway in 1961 (though he took home a Best Composer Tony Award for his efforts anyway) and the awkwardly titled MUSIC IS failing to recreate the magic of its source material, Shakespeare's TWELFTH NIGHT, in 1976. A MOTER'S KISSES, starring Bea Arthur and a young Bernadette Peters, died on the road, as well. In the intervening years, Adler attempted musical adaptations taken from a number of intriguing sources - OF HUMAN BONDAGE and others among them - though only his ballet scores seemed to reach an audience; particularly his last, commissioned for a new production of Lorca's THE HOUSE OF BERNARDA ALBA in 1998. Of course, THE PAJAMA GAME has had two Broadway revivals - most recently the rapturously received Kathleen Marshall-directed production starring Harry Connick, Jr. and Kelli O'Hara; and DAMN YANKEES famously returned to the Great White Way with much ado in 1994 starring Victor Garber. Now seems particularly ripe for remounting YANKEES, as we approach twenty years in its absence - especially given the musical's seriously smashing showing at Encores! in 2007. Who knows, perhaps some risky producer will even take a chance on a new production of KWAMINA, MUSIC IS, A MOTHER'S KISSES or one of the bottom drawer shows someday soon to see if they possess any of the limitless potential shown by Adler's earlier work. Or maybe a stage treatment of his TV musical GIFT OF THE MAGI (originally composed for then-wife Sally Ann Howes)? Or, better yet, how about a revue? What a stupendous songstack Adler created over the course of his career - "Whatever Lola Wants" to "Hey There" to "Hernando's Hideaway" to "You Gotta Have Heart" to "Steam Heat" to the aforementioned Bennett, Day and Monroe standards and so many more chestnuts. (more...)

2) Photo Flash: Saturday Intermission Pics, June 23 - PRISCILLA's Last SIP, West End's GHOST and More!

This will be regular participants Priscilla, Queen of the Desert's Nick Adams, Ellyn Marsh and company's final SIP before the show closes on Broadway tomorrow, and the cast of Godspell prepares for its June 24 closing on the Great White Way as well. We wish them well! See below for June 23rd's matinee SIPs from Broadway's Priscilla, Queen of the Desert, Jesus Christ Superstar, The Phantom of the Opera, Newsies, Mary Poppins, Evita, Rock of Ages, The Book of Mormon, Nice Work If You Can Get It, Ghost (Broadway AND West End!), The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, Once On This Island at Paper Mill, First You Dream at the Kennedy Center, La Cage aux Folles National Tour, Pittsburgh CLO's A Chorus Line, Gateway's My Fair Lady, Arizona Broadway Theatre's Grease and more! (more...)

3) Twitter Watch: Hugh Jackman-'Filming for les miserables has finished!!!'

On Twitter Watch, Hugh Jackman wrote "Filming for les miserables has finished!!! Thank you Tom and the whole crew! Amazing. 24601 signing out! " (more...)

4) STAGE TUBE: On This Day 6/23- Bob Fosse

Happy Birthday, Bob Fosse! Fosse won an unprecedented eight Tony Awards for choreography, as well as one for direction. He was nominated for an Academy Award four times, winning for his direction of Cabaret. Amonst his many Broadway credits are The Pajama Game, Damn Yankees, Sweet Charity, Pippin, Chicago, Dancin' and many more. (more...)

5) Flashback: PRISCILLA, QUEEN OF THE DESERT Takes Final Bow on Broadway, June 24

Priscilla, Queen of the Desert plays its final performance on Broadway tomorrow, June 24, 2012, after 23 previews and 526 performances. After a pre-Broadway try-out in Toronto, the show opened on March 20, 2011, at The Palace Theatre (1564 Broadway), starring Tony Award nominee Will Swenson, Tony Award nominee Tony Sheldon and Nick Adams as a trio of friends on a road trip, who hop aboard a battered old bus searching for love and friendship in the middle of the Australian outback, and end up finding more than they could ever have dreamed. (more...)

6) Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame Inducts Reba and Chaka Khan at Event Kick-Off

The Hollywood Bowl officially launched its 91st season with the 13TH Annual Hollywood Bowl Hall of Fame and Opening Night Concert, last night, Friday, June 22, at 8 pm, which for the first time honored all women artists. (more...)

7) Flashback: GODSPELL Plays Final Broadway Show, June 24

Godspell will play its final performance on Broadway tomorrow, June 24th, 2012, at Circle in the Square Theatre. Below, BroadwayWorld brings you a multimedia flashback chronicling Godspell's beginning and journey to its final show on the Great White Way. (more...)

8) BWW TV: Tony Winner John Tiffany - 'ONCE Works Because We're Family'

John Tiffany is this year's recipient of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Direction of a Musical for ONCE. Click below to catch John's first moments as a Tony winner, and take a first "spin" with his award! (more...)

9) Rory O'Malley, Constantine Maroulis, et al. Take Part in Pride Run Today, 6/23

More than 5,000 LGBT runners and their allies will take to Central Park to celebrate Pride Weekend today, June 23, 2012. This is the 31st running of this 5-mile race, produced in conjunction with New York Road Runners and in partnership with City Parks & Recreation and The Central Park Conservancy. This annual event (which sold out more than a month in advance) has turned into one of the largest LGBT sporting events in the world and this year will benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS. (more...)

10) STAGE TUBE: Jared Zirilli Chats with LYSISTRATA JONES' LaQuet Sharnell on 'Broadway Boo's!'

Jared Zirilli (of FAT CAMP, Original Broadway Cast of LYSISTRATA JONES, WICKED, TWILIGHT the Musical) brings you episode 27 of the Jared Zirilli Blog and his sixth interview installment of "Jared's Broadway Boo's!" with LaQuet Sharnell of SWEET CHARITY, LION KING, MEMPHIS, and LYSISTRATA JONES. (more...)

11) Panelists Announced for ANMT's Musical Theatre Writers Conference 2012, 7/20-22

The Fourth Bi-Annual conference for musical theatre writers and composers is coming to Los Angeles, July 20-22 at the NoHo Arts Center in North Hollywood, CA. Confirmed panelists include: Cheri Steinkellner (the Tony Award-nominated writer of Sister Act), Paul Gordon (Tony Award-nominated lyricist/composer of Jane Eyre); Michael Jung (Disney Theatricals); Michael Shapiro (Kensington Entertainment), Michael Kerker (ASCAP Director of Musical Theatre); David Elzer (award-winning producer of The Marvelous Wonderettes); Tim Dang (Producing Artistic Director of East West Players, the nation's premiere Asian American theatre company); Gordon Firemark (CEO of Fierce Theatricals) and more! (more...)

12) Premiere Props Holds Hollywood Memorabilia Auction, 6/23-24

Premiere Props announced that they will be auctioning off over 1000 Hollywood costumes and props including several personal items from Hollywood icons Elizabeth Taylor, Marilyn Monroe, Sammy Davis Jr., Liberace and Michael Jackson, plus hundreds of items from contemporary films including the "Harry Potter" and "Piranha" franchises, "What to Except When You are Expecting," and "Seeking a Friend For the End of the World" during their Hollywood Extravaganza VI today, June 23 and Sunday, June 24, 2012. The auction will take place at Premiere Props' headquarters in El Segundo, Calif. beginning at 11am PT, with a preview from 9-11am PT each day. (more...)

13) Photo Coverage: Upright Cabaret's VIVA LAS VEGAS Starring SMASH's Leslie Odom Jr, Patrick Cassidy & more!

On June 17, 2012, Chris Isaacson presented the 3rd year Season Finale of Upright Cabaret's American Icon Series with VIVA LAS VEGAS - a presentation of personality and pop that honors the flashiest performers of all time: Elvis Presley, Cher & Elton John! (more...)

14) BWW's On This Day - June 23, 2012

Here are the Broadway, Off-Broadway and West End shows which opened on June 23 along with all of the upcoming show openings, closings and special events! (more...)

15) Full Line-Up for WEST END LIVE in Trafalgar Square June 23-24 Including MATILDA, LES MIS, JERSEY BOYS & Much More

West End LIVE is back for its 8th year, playing this weekend 23-24th of June in Trafalgar Square. Check out the full programme below, which features Matilda, Wicked, Les Mis, and indeed every single West End musical currently running in London! (more...)

16) Samantha Spiro Stars in THE TAMING OF THE SHREW at Shakespeare's Globe, Beg. Tonight, June 23

According to the Daily Mail's Baz Bamigboye, two-time Olivier winner Samantha Spiro will play Kate in the new production of The Taming Of The Shrew at Shakespeare's Globe. Toby Frow helms the production, which begins performances tonight, June 23. (more...)

17) BWW Reviews: Meredith Braun's SOMEONE ELSE'S STORY

‘Someone Else's Story' sees the return of New Zealand-born performer Meredith Braun after a ten-year break. During her fruitful career, she played lead roles in ‘The Phantom of the Opera', ‘Les Miserables', ‘Sunset Boulevard' to name but a few. She also starred as Belle in ‘The Muppet Christmas Carol', the Disney film released in 1992. This album, produced by Stage Door Records, showcases new material from Braun and is a reminder of just how good she was, and evidently still IS. (more...)

18) THE IN-BETWEEN Concept Album CD Launches Today, June 23

A CD version of the concept album for new musical The In-Between is being released by Dress Circle today, Saturday 23 June 2012. The album will be launched with an in-store signing from 11am to 12 noon, with cast members just announced to attend including West End stars Sabrina Aloueche, Daniel Boys, Dianne Pilkington and Lauren Samuels. (more...)