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.

There’s nothing quite like the sound of applause in Carnegie Hall, especially when the hall is standing-room-only and the performer is one of Broadway’s leading talents. It’s a sound that echoes throughout the room, filling the famed auditorium with a feeling of excitement that is unparalleled in any other venue. Such was the case this past Friday night when Patti LuPone made her eagerly-awaited Carnegie Hall solo concert debut. Before the evening began, two representatives from GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) welcomed the audience and announced that the concert had raised a whopping $400,000 to benefit the organization. And, then, the truly magical evening began. Even the overture induced goose-bumps, as several of La LuPone’s “greatest hits” were woven together. This prelude commenced with strains of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “Meadowlark,” segueing into segments from “As Long As He Needs Me,” “Buenos Aires,” “Anything Goes” and then, just a quick, almost teasing touch of “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” before concluding with “Over the Rainbow,” a nod to another famed diva who triumphed at Carnegie Hall, the late Judy Garland. As this orchestral suite ended, the two doors on the left side of the stage opened, and out walked LuPone, dressed in a burst of purple silk. As the star of the benefit concert made her entrance, the audience jumped to its feet and serenaded the smiling diva with a rapturous, thunderclap of adoration.

There’s nothing quite like the sound of applause in Carnegie Hall, especially when the hall is standing-room-only and the performer is one of Broadway’s leading talents. It’s a sound that echoes throughout the room, filling the famed auditorium with a feeling of excitement that is unparalleled in any other venue. Such was the case this past Friday night when Patti LuPone made her eagerly-awaited Carnegie Hall solo concert debut. Before the evening began, two representatives from GMHC (Gay Men’s Health Crisis) welcomed the audience and announced that the concert had raised a whopping $400,000 to benefit the organization. And, then, the truly magical evening began. Even the overture induced goose-bumps, as several of La LuPone’s “greatest hits” were woven together. This prelude commenced with strains of “Don’t Cry for Me Argentina” and “Meadowlark,” segueing into segments from “As Long As He Needs Me,” “Buenos Aires,” “Anything Goes” and then, just a quick, almost teasing touch of “As If We Never Said Goodbye,” before concluding with “Over the Rainbow,” a nod to another famed diva who triumphed at Carnegie Hall, the late Judy Garland. As this orchestral suite ended, the two doors on the left side of the stage opened, and out walked LuPone, dressed in a burst of purple silk. As the star of the benefit concert made her entrance, the audience jumped to its feet and serenaded the smiling diva with a rapturous, thunderclap of adoration.

BERNADETTE PETERS
The long-awaited revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun opened last night at the Marquis Theatre, starring the one-and-only Bernadette Peters as Annie Oakley, a role made famous by the legendary Ethel Merman. The star-studded audience included such notables as Danny Aiello, Brooke Astor, Lauren Bacall, Catherine Bach, Sandy Duncan, Ben Gazzara, Barbara Cook, Joel Grey, Merv Griffin, Mary Cleere Haran, Marilu Henner, James Earl Jones, Sharon Lawrence, Cameron Mackintosh, John McDaniel, Mary Tyler Moore, Rosie O'Donnell, Gregory Peck, Brooke Shields, Bobby Short, Ann Reinking, William Finn and many others. The audience leapt to its feet for the star of the evening, and I thought you would enjoy reading some of BP's fabulous reviews:

BERNADETTE PETERS
The long-awaited revival of Irving Berlin's Annie Get Your Gun opened last night at the Marquis Theatre, starring the one-and-only Bernadette Peters as Annie Oakley, a role made famous by the legendary Ethel Merman. The star-studded audience included such notables as Danny Aiello, Brooke Astor, Lauren Bacall, Catherine Bach, Sandy Duncan, Ben Gazzara, Barbara Cook, Joel Grey, Merv Griffin, Mary Cleere Haran, Marilu Henner, James Earl Jones, Sharon Lawrence, Cameron Mackintosh, John McDaniel, Mary Tyler Moore, Rosie O'Donnell, Gregory Peck, Brooke Shields, Bobby Short, Ann Reinking, William Finn and many others. The audience leapt to its feet for the star of the evening, and I thought you would enjoy reading some of BP's fabulous reviews:

In 2012, Bring It On: The Musical opens on Broadway.

The program from New York Youth Symphony will culminate in a performance at Joe's Pub.

Our collection of the 10 best musical mash-up performances from the Tony Awards.

Want a reminder of every show that opened on Broadway in the Tony season that just finished? We've got it.

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.

Here is a survey of recent cast album releases (and significant Broadway-related releases), and a schedule of those announced for the balance of 1999.

There are countless ways to cope with a break up: good friends, a long cry, a box of chocolate and a glass (or two) of wine are just a few. But there are few actions more therapeutic than singing along to a heartbreaking song. Music can express sadness in a way that words just aren't able to, and musical theatre offers a bounty of songs to sing (or cry) along to. Playbill.com correspondent Ben Rimalower offers 10 of the best break up songs.