The shortlist recognizes artists in stunning debut performances across England.

There's no music like show music. Just ask Jonathan Schwartz, the radio host, champion of the American popular song and son of Broadway composer Arthur Schwartz.

There's no music like show music. Just ask Jonathan Schwartz, the radio host, champion of the American popular song and son of Broadway composer Arthur Schwartz.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

Happy birthday to Tony winner Katie Finneran!

A DIVA-LOGUE:

A DIVA-LOGUE:

LES MIZ THOUGHTS:

LES MIZ THOUGHTS:

Hello, diva lovers! Thanks for all your e-mails last week regarding who should play Herbie opposite Bernadette Peters' Rose in the upcoming revival of Gypsy. I received a lot of suggestions, and the one that I found most interesting was Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey, who, I think, would make an ideal Herbie. Some of your other ideas included Marc Kudisch, Michael Rupert, Jason Alexander, Kevin Chamberlin, Michael Mulheren and Terrence Mann . . . Also, the Funny Girl countdown has begun! Hope a lot of you will be able to attend Monday's (Sept. 23) Actors' Fund benefit of Funny Girl, which has scheduled these actresses to share the role of Fanny: Kelly Bishop, Carolee Carmello, La Chanze, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Ana Gasteyer, Whoopi Goldberg, Spencer Kayden, Jane Krakowski, Judy Kuhn, Ricki Lake, Andrea Martin, Idina Menzel, Julia Murney, Bebe Neuwirth and Lillias White. Can't wait to see (and hear) what artistic producer/musical director Seth Rudetsky has planned for the evening. There should be some fierce belting going on at the New Amsterdam Theatre! Show time is 7:30 PM; for tickets call (212) 221-7300, ext. 133.

Hello, diva lovers! Thanks for all your e-mails last week regarding who should play Herbie opposite Bernadette Peters' Rose in the upcoming revival of Gypsy. I received a lot of suggestions, and the one that I found most interesting was Academy Award winner Kevin Spacey, who, I think, would make an ideal Herbie. Some of your other ideas included Marc Kudisch, Michael Rupert, Jason Alexander, Kevin Chamberlin, Michael Mulheren and Terrence Mann . . . Also, the Funny Girl countdown has begun! Hope a lot of you will be able to attend Monday's (Sept. 23) Actors' Fund benefit of Funny Girl, which has scheduled these actresses to share the role of Fanny: Kelly Bishop, Carolee Carmello, La Chanze, Kristin Chenoweth, Sutton Foster, Ana Gasteyer, Whoopi Goldberg, Spencer Kayden, Jane Krakowski, Judy Kuhn, Ricki Lake, Andrea Martin, Idina Menzel, Julia Murney, Bebe Neuwirth and Lillias White. Can't wait to see (and hear) what artistic producer/musical director Seth Rudetsky has planned for the evening. There should be some fierce belting going on at the New Amsterdam Theatre! Show time is 7:30 PM; for tickets call (212) 221-7300, ext. 133.

This week's column discusses the CD twofer of the cast recordings of the Booth Tarkington-Milton Berle Seventeen and the Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn-Phil Silvers laugh-fest High Button Shoes, as well as the Belgian French cast album of Jacques Brel in L'Homme de La Mancha.

This week's column discusses the CD twofer of the cast recordings of the Booth Tarkington-Milton Berle Seventeen and the Jule Styne-Sammy Cahn-Phil Silvers laugh-fest High Button Shoes, as well as the Belgian French cast album of Jacques Brel in L'Homme de La Mancha.