Jane Summerhays News

Theater message boards became very busy places on September 10, 2009. The curtain had hardly wrung down when theatergoers reached for their blackberries to post their opinions about the first preview of BYE BYE BIRDIE. In fact, there were a few who posted their comments during intermission. Everyone and their grandparents wanted to express their opinions about the 39 year old musical that was being revived by The Roundabout Theatre. At times the chatter became quite acrimonious and the discussions went on for days. It seems that these people forgot that the show had just given its first preview and the house was filled with an audience that had stood on line during one of the hottest days in the summer to get ten dollar tickets for this one performance. Perhaps that's why they felt they had a right to be so vocal about their opinions.

You would think that Edith Wharton's fizzy little comic novel, The Glimpses Of The Moon, might have been a perfect property for Rodgers & Hart or Kern, Wodehouse & Bolton to musicalize when it was fresh off the presses in 1922.  But no, it took until 2008 for New Yorkers to get a glimpse, not to mention a pleasant earful, of a brand new frothy little musical charmer based on her book, courtesy of a couple of moderns, Tajlei Levis (book and lyrics) and John Mercurio (music).

As a complement to its exhibition, 'Lincoln and New York,' the New-York Historical Society is presenting free performances of the original play, Mr. Lincoln, on weekends in October and November. Performances begin tonight, Oct. 9 at 7 PM at The New-York Historical Society and will continue through Nov. 15.

Joan Kobin, accomplished singer on Broadway, and respected voice teacher to many Hollywood and Broadway stars, passed away in her sleep of natural causes on May 30th, 2009.

30 Days of NYMF, DAY 11: Written by Jimmy Ray Bennett, role of Nick Steele in 'SYMPATHY JONES.'

Tony Award nominated actress Jane Summerhays, last seen on Broadway in The Wild Party, will join the cast of the new musical Sympathy Jones, which will debut at this year's New York Musical Theatre Festival.

Go for the costumes, go for the music, and go for the amazing Zaza (aka James Beaman) - you'll have a ball without the beach

The Ogunquit Playhouse has announced that Maxwell Caulfield and James Beaman will star in its production of La Cage aux Folles.

On Monday, May 14th, the Lambs Club, America's oldest Actors Organization, established in the 1870's, celebrated director Rick McKay and his award-winning film, 'Broadway: The Golden Age.'

On Thursday, May 10th, BroadwayWorld.com hosted a VERY special screening of SHOWBUSINESS: THE ROAD TO BROADWAY, an AMAZING new documentary film that we proudly presented the night before it opens to the public!

The George White's Scandals - the peppy revue that regularly sparkled on Broadway in the early part of the 20th century - will be brought back to life on April 16

Legendary Broadway soprano Barbara Cook was presented by the National Arts Club with this year's Medal of Honor

On December 30, 2005, the Blue Heron Arts Center closed its doors.

Anyone Can Whistle returns home to Philadelphia where it first previewed at the Forrest Theater.