Alan Bergman News

Last December, Texas treasure Holland Vavra made her 54 Below debut in Cuz We're F#cking Talented, a concert where a handful of artists showed off their skills. Last night, she made a special trip from Houston to premiere her tribute to Frank Sinatra, Holland at the Sands: My Blue Eyed Sinatra. With her own brand of lovable, quirky humor and her golden instrument, Vavra made her solo cabaret debut a delightful spectacle.

Acclaimed jazz vocalist, Jackie Ryan, will appear at Feinstein's at the Nikko on Thursday, August 20 at 8 p.m. for one performance only! Hailed as “a world-class talent” by the Los Angeles Times, the Bay Area native will perform her “Tribute to Michel Legrand.” The team of composer Michel Legrand and lyricists Marilyn & Alan Bergman have won multiple Grammy and Academy Awards. Tickets for Jackie Ryan range in price from $25 – $40 and are on-sale now and available by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

One might easily call Susan Winter's Monday night show at Don't Tell Mama, A Woman for All Seasons: Part Two as half its numbers were in the first show by this name she performed during a run starting last September at the Metropolitan Room. Winter is the kind of class act that would've been lauded in nightclubs way back when, as she's a steward of the American Songbook at its most genuine but with a side of jazz influence.

James Snyder got this week off to a great start when he brought James Snyder: Prince Charming to Birdland as part of the venue's ongoing Broadway at Birdland concert series. Existing partly as a way to promote the upcoming production of Ever After at Paper Mill Playhouse, this intimate cabaret concert was really just a great excuse to get to hear one of Broadway's favorite leading men sing a collection of songs.

Evoking Rita Hayworth, a spot lit Jennifer Sheehan weaves through 54 Below towards the stage, long dark hair cascading above a body-skimming white gown replete with twinkling sequins. “I'll build a stairway to the stars . . .,” (Mitchell Parish/Matt Malneck/Frank Signorelli) she sings with stunning vocal clarity and investment that might conjure a Ziegfeld Girl. In her new show, Stardust: A Night in the Cosmos, Sheehan welcomes the “dreamers, romantics, stargazers, astrophysicists, and Trekkies” with “songs that flicker like the street lamps of eternity” with lyrics featuring stars, moons, and rose-colored hope. It's an appealing theme and one that suits the artist's fetching performance and transition from ingénue into a more mature cabaret entertainer.

As anticipation builds for the December release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first new film in the Star Wars Saga in a decade, The Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm Ltd., and 20(th) Century Fox recently announced the upcoming release of The Star Wars Digital Movie Collection. For THE FIRST TIME ever, all six epic films in the Saga, from The Phantom Menace to Return of the Jedi, will be available on Digital HD throughout the galaxy - or at least here on Earth - globally beginning today, April 10.

IMAX Corporation(NYSE:IMAX)and The Walt Disney Studios, a division of The Walt Disney Company (NYSE: DIS), have renewed their exhibition agreement with a multi-picture deal, beginning this year and extending through 2017, that includeslive-action and animated tentpole releases from Disney, Pixar, Marvel and Lucasfilm.

As anticipation builds for the December release of Star Wars: The Force Awakens, the first new film in the Star Wars Saga in a decade, The Walt Disney Studios, Lucasfilm Ltd., and 20(th) Century Fox today announced the upcoming release of The Star Wars Digital Movie Collection.

STARS OF DAVID: STORY TO SONG, a new musical revue based on the best-selling book by Abigail Pogrebin, and produced by Tony Award winning producer Daryl Roth, continues its Florida tour, opening tonight, January 28 and continuing through February 1 at Miami's Dave and Mary Alper JCC, followed by performances February 4 through February 15 at Miami Beach's The Gleason Room - Backstage at the Fillmore and February 17 through March 15 at West Palm Beach's Kravis Center - Persson Hall.

STARS OF DAVID: STORY TO SONG, a new musical revue based on the best-selling book by Abigail Pogrebin, and produced by Tony Award winning producer Daryl Roth, continues its Florida tour, opening January 28 and continuing through February 1 at Miami's Dave and Mary Alper JCC, followed by performances February 4 through February 15 at Miami Beach's The Gleason Room - Backstage at the Fillmore and February 17 through March 15 at West Palm Beach's Kravis Center - Persson Hall.

Last night, The Walt Disney Studios celebrated their Golden Globe nominees with talent and filmmakers including cast members and producers from INTO THE WOODS, THE HUNDRED FOOT JOURNEY, and more. BroadwayWorld brings you photos of the event below!

Stage, television and film chaunteuse Nita Whitaker brings a very special holiday show to the COPA Palm Springs for one night only - December 20 at 8:00 pm. The former Miss Louisiana and Hall of Fame Star Search Grand Champion Winner has shared the stage with the likes of Barbra Streisand, Andrea Bocelli, Michael Bolton, Patti Austin, Broadway legend Ben Vereen, Josh Groban, Michael Buble' and Chris Botti, to name a few. She recently penned her first award winning memoir titled, 'Finding My Voice: My Journey through Grief to Grace' and produced her newest CD release just in time for the holidays. I had the chance to chat with Ms. Whitaker as she was preparing for her holiday concert at The Copa. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation:

Yellow Sound Label has announced the release of the world premiere recording of Stars of David today, December 16 on iTunes and Amazon.com. The album is produced by Michael Croiter (Matilda, Heathers, Big Fish) and Executive Produced by Daryl Roth, featuring the talents of Alex Brightman, Joanna Glushak, Janet Metz, Brad Oscar, Alan Schmuckler, Aaron Serotsky, and Donna Vivino. The album features original musical material by Marilyn and Alan Bergman; Susan Birkenhead; Michael Friedman; Amanda Green; Marvin Hamlisch; Sheldon Harnick; Tom Kitt; Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire; Duncak Sheik and Steven Sater; Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller; and Jeanine Tesori.

Yellow Sound Label has announced the release of the world premiere recording of Stars of David on December 16 on iTunes and Amazon.com The album is produced by Michael Croiter (Matilda, Heathers, Big Fish) and Executive Produced by Daryl Roth, featuring the talents of Alex Brightman, Joanna Glushak, Janet Metz, Brad Oscar, Alan Schmuckler, Aaron Serotsky, and Donna Vivino. The album features original musical material by Marilyn and Alan Bergman; Susan Birkenhead; Michael Friedman; Amanda Green; Marvin Hamlisch; Sheldon Harnick; Tom Kitt; Richard Maltby, Jr. and David Shire; Duncak Sheik and Steven Sater; Nathan Tysen and Chris Miller; and Jeanine Tesori.

Order YENTL on Blu-ray now!

STARS OF DAVID: STORY TO SONG, a new musical revue based on the best-selling book by Abigail Pogrebin, is announced by Tony Award winning producer Daryl Roth, to launch an extensive 6-city Florida tour, premiering December 23 through January 4, at Fort Lauderdale's Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

Today we are thrilled to be the very first to review the new duets album from legendary stage and screen icon Barbra Streisand, PARTNERS.

A who's who of Hollywood's music elite is coming out to play with Michael Feinstein at the Pasadena POPS' August 16th Hooray for Hollywood concert, presented in partnership with the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers (ASCAP) at the LA Arboretum. Four of ASCAP's top film composers and lyricists will perform their hit music with the POPS: Alan Bergman ('Windmills of Your Mind,' with Marilyn Bergman and co-written with Michel Legrand, 1968 Oscar winner from The Thomas Crown Affair), Michael Giacchino (music from Up, winner of the 2010 Oscar for best original score), Bruce Broughton (music from Silverado, 1986 Oscar nominee for best original score) and Paul Williams ('Evergreen,' co-written with Barbra Streisand, 1976 Oscar winner from A Star Is Born).

Frank Military the legendary music publisher whose imprint was on many of the hit songs over the last 45 years was memorialized by his son at the Friars Club yesterday. It was an emotional afternoon as many of the icons of the music world attended.

"I'm in heaven," said Sean McNabb (bassist with House of Lords, Great White, and more), in reference to watching and meeting David Crosby. His sentiments seemed to be shared by the patrons of the 7th annual sold out "The Songs Of Our Lives" concert, benefiting The Fulfillment Fund, that paid tribute to two legendary songwriters: LAMONT DOZIER & DAVID CROSBY. Scroll down for photos from the concert!