Kelly Ward News

The Great American Songbook Foundation will host two special film screening events as part of its StageStruck! Conference to honor the 100th anniversary of MGM. This celebration will feature participation by distinguished guests including Patricia Ward Kelly and Lorna Luft to shed light on the life and legacies of film icons Gene Kelly and Judy Garland.

Barry Pearl and Michelle Elkin, two powerhouse talents in Los Angeles Theatre, gear up to co-direct the energetic musical FOOTLOOSE. Produced by Panic! Productions & BarCinBoo Productions.

Panic! Productions, along with Born To Perform Studios and BarCinBoo Productions, Inc. have announced that Barry Pearl will once again direct their late summer teen musical 13, this time at the Simi Valley Cultural Arts Center. This will be Pearl's third time working with Panic! Productions and also his third time directing the musical on the West Coast. I decided to speak with Barry about his connection to the teen musical and what inspired him to direct it for the third time, as well as how it may differ from his previous incarnations.

The Warehouse Theatre's main stage will light up again on September 24th with the same raucous cast of characters that blew them out on March 15th, 2020 when the  pandemic began shutting down theatres all over America. Funny, touching, and vibrant, the show  remains a perfect protagonist to launch the theatre back for its 2021/22 season. 

Everyone knows who Gene Kelly is, but after seeing this wonderful tribute to the many sides of him, you can't help but feel love in your heart for what he accomplished, how he felt about life, love and happiness, work, and for the amazing gifts he gave to all of us.

Broadway Kids Jam has released their latest jam session cover video, 'We Go Together', from the hit movie and Broadway musical, Grease. The jam session features Carly Gendell (School of Rock the Musical, Annie), Joshua Turchin (The Pill, TrevorLIVE LA, A Christmas Story the Musical), Mckayla Twiggs (Anastasia, Once the Musical, Les Miserables), Paul Luke Bonenfant (School of Rock the Musical, Dynasty), Shaina Turchin, Hudson Loverro (A Bronx Tale, Ragtime / Ellis Island), Molly Richardson (Matilda the Musical National Tour), with Justin Ramos (Rehearsal Pianist For On Your Feet!, Motown the Musical Tour) as Musical Director. See the Broadway Kids Jam of 'We Go Together' from Grease here: https://youtu.be/pRxM9voiYEM

In this unique, live one-woman show, described as 'mesmerizing' and 'a real treat' by Variety, Patricia Ward Kelly - Gene Kelly's wife and biographer - gives us his story. Taking the Harris Center audience behind the scenes, she presents an intimate portrait of this innovative artist who gave us such iconic works as An American in Paris and Singin' in the Rain.

In this unique, live one-woman show, described as "mesmerizing" and "a real treat" by Variety, Patricia Ward Kelly - Gene Kelly's wife and biographer - gives us his story. Taking the Harris Center audience behind the scenes, she presents an intimate portrait of this innovative artist who gave us such iconic works as An American in Paris and Singin' in the Rain.

The Crescendo Chapter of The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its popular 2014 - 2015 Celebrity Series that presents fascinating and informative lectures by notable personalities from the arts, entertainment, education, sports and literature.

The Crescendo Chapter of The Guilds of Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its popular 2014 - 2015 Celebrity Series that presents fascinating and informative lectures by notable personalities from the arts, entertainment, education, sports and literature.

If I ever become famous-the odds are against me--but if I do, I want Patricia Ward Kelly to give a talk about me. Bright, articulate, witty, insightful, eloquent, compassionate, she spoke about her late husband, the very famous Gene Kelly, for over two and a half with not an 'uh, er or' to be heard. Yes, it's entertainment, but it's much more: professional speaking of the highest caliber. To say that I was impressed is an understatement. I wanted to hand her a prize. I'll zing to the point: Patricia Ward Kelly, you were superb. I can't think of a higher compliment.

The Pasadena Playhouse will bring back by popular demand GENE KELLY: THE LEGACY An Evening with Patricia Ward Kelly for three performances only - Friday, April 18 at 8pm and Saturday, April 19 at 2pm and 8pm.

The McCallum Theatre presents Gene Kelly - The Legacy, An Evening with Patricia Ward Kelly on Wednesday, March 5, at 8:00pm. Gene Kelly became one of the top stars of the 1940s and 1950s. He didn't just act, sing, and dance; he also served as choreographer and had a major impact on dancing in the movies. Biographer and film historian Patricia Ward Kelly takes audiences behind the scenes and shares an intimate story of her late husband Gene Kelly, the man who helped create some of the most memorable scenes in film history. This unique, live performance combines rare and familiar film clips, never released audio recordings, memorabilia, and personal insights culled from hours of interviews with her husband. I had the chance to chat with Ms. Kelly for a few minutes about this very special theatrical event celebrating the life and career of this legendary dancer, performer and director. Here are a few excerpts from that conversation.

The Pasadena Playhouse Theatre will present GENE KELLY: THE LEGACY, An Evening with Patricia Ward Kelly for two performances only - tonight, March 1 at 8pm and Sunday, March 2 at 2pm.

The Pasadena Playhouse Theatre will present GENE KELLY: THE LEGACY, An Evening with Patricia Ward Kelly for two performances only - Saturday, March 1 at 8pm and Sunday, March 2 at 2pm.

We speak with Gene Kelly's wife, Patricia Ward Kelly on her romance with the legend, what his legacy means to her and her one-woman show at the STARZ Denver Film Festival!

Cabrillo Music Theatre welcomes a new gang in the theatre's premiere of the classic rock 'n' roll musical, GREASE. Guided by Director Barry Pearl ('Doody' in the film version of 'Grease') and Choreographer Kelly Ward ('Putzie' in the movie) and Musical Director David O, GREASE provides a showcase for 16 talented young people in this classic rock n' roll musical. GREASE opened on Friday, April 12th, 2013, and plays until Sunday, April 21st, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks. BroadwayWorld was there for last night's opening and brings you photos below!

The list of musical theatre artists given their start by Cabrillo Music Theatre welcomes a new gang of members, in the Cabrillo Music Theatre premiere of the classic rock 'n' roll musical, GREASE. Guided by Director Barry Pearl ('Doody' in the film version of 'Grease') and Choreographer Kelly Ward ('Putzie' in the movie) and Musical Director David O, GREASE provides a showcase for 16 talented young people in this classic rock n' roll musical. GREASE opens on Friday, April 12th, 2013, and plays until Sunday, April 21st, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.

The Burger Palace Boys and the Pink Ladies take you for a joyride back to 1959 in the Cabrillo Music Theatre premiere of the classic rock 'n' roll musical, GREASE. At one time the longest-running Broadway musical in history, GREASE gave birth to two revivals and a beloved movie. Songs include "Summer Lovin'," "We Go Together," "Beauty School Dropout," and "Greased Lightnin'," among many others. Cabrillo audiences will go to the pajama party with Sandy and Rizzo; pile into the trunk and ride to the drive-in movie with Danny, Kenickie and the guys; and dance the "Hand Jive" in the High School Gym. GREASE opens on Friday, April 12th, 2013, and plays until Sunday, April 21st, at the 1,800-seat Kavli Theatre at the Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza, located at 2100 Thousand Oaks Boulevard in Thousand Oaks.