OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II - OUT OF MY DREAMS features musical numbers from five of the timeless, ever popular Rodgers & Hammerstein films and songs and scenes from two versions of Show Boat, the groundbreaking musical written with composer Jerome Kern. Irene Dunne, Paul Robeson and Helen Morgan star in 1936 film and Kathryn Grayson and Howard Keel are the stars of the 1951 remake.  Also included, from the rarely seen 1941 film, Lady Be Good, Ann Sothern sings "The Last Time I Saw Paris," a song written by Oscar Hammerstein and Jerome Kern, which won the Academy Award as Best Song and "Dat's Love" from Carmen Jones.    

Featured in archive footage from a 1954 television program saluting Rodgers & Hammerstein, are the original Broadway stars of Carousel, Jan Clayton and John Raitt,  and South Pacific stars, Ezio Pinza and Mary Martin, singing hit songs from the musicals. From the same program, Bill Hayes and Janice Rule recreate the musical number, "You Are Never Away," from Allegro.    

Very little film footage of Oscar Hammerstein exists but he is seen and heard on the program. Excerpts from his 1958 television interview with Mike Wallace are included as well as recorded comments from conversations with Arnold Michaelis and Tony Thomas.     

Confirming the program's premise, Oscar says, "When a writer writes anything about anything at all, he gives himself away and what he has to say comes out."        

This program also celebrates Hammerstein's work as a humanitarian and a political activist, a part of his life that is not universally known. From the beginning of his career to the end, he used his creative talents to raise the social consciousness of audiences all over the world.  Show Boat examined racial discrimination long before the American Civil Rights' Movement began and South Pacific took a bold stand on the same subject with its dual plot of two couples struggling with 'inbred' prejudices. The powerful song, "You've Got to Be Carefully Taught," was controversial in 1949 but Rodgers and Hammerstein refused to cut it from the show.     

From its inception, Hammerstein was a staunch supporter of the United Nations and worked with the World Federalist Movement to introduce the idea of World Government, which he hoped would lead to an enduring peace.  He had helped Adlai Stevenson with some of his speeches in his presidential campaigns and it is believed that he was hoping to do more political writing in the future.       

Stephen Sondheim, mentored by Oscar Hammerstein from an early age, is interviewed on the program and discusses the lessons he learned from the man he considers a theatrical revolutionary and both an artistic and a surrogate father.  Also interviewed are Director/Producer Harold Prince, Shirley Jones (star of two films, Oklahoma! and Carousel), Mitzi Gaynor (star of the film South Pacific), Lyricist/Scriptwriter Joe DiPietro, Ted Chapin, President of the Rodgers & Hammerstein Organization, and Hammerstein family members including his daughter, Alice Hammerstein Mathias, grandchildren, Oscar Andy Hammerstein, Melinda Walsh, and Peter Mathias, and his stepdaughter, Susan Blanchard.   Seen in archive interviews are Oscar's late son, James Hammerstein, in a 1995 interview, and his deceased wife, Dorothy, interviewed in 1985.      

OSCAR HAMMERSTEIN II - OUT OF MY DREAMS was written, produced and directed by JoAnn Young. Edited by Laura Young. Producer:  Sven Nebelung. Audio Editor: Richard Fairbanks. Consulting Producer:  Oscar Andrew Hammerstein. Associate Producer: Amy Asch. Produced by Young Productions/Creative Retrospectives - A NJ Non-profit Corporation.  

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

LAVISH PERFORMANCE CAPTURED ON BLU-RAY™ DVD AND CD

AVAILABLE FEBRUARY 7^TH FROM UNIVERSAL STUDIOS HOME ENTERTAINMENT AND DECCA BROADWAY

To celebrate the 25^th anniversary of one of theater’s most internationally acclaimed and beloved masterpieces, composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron Mackintosh collaborated once again to present a once-in-a-lifetime experience of “The Phantom of the Opera” at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall. Available on February 7, 2012, this lavishly staged production debuts on CD from Decca Broadway and Blu-ray™, DVD, On Demand and Digital Download from Universal Studios Home Entertainment. The anniversary performance will also be broadcast nationally on PBS stations across the country beginning in March 2012.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall stars Ramin Karimloo (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actor in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the lovestruck Phantom and Sierra Boggess (2011 Olivier Award nominee for Best Actress in a Musical for “Love Never Dies”) as the beautiful and gifted soprano Christine. The show also features Barry James, Gareth Snook, Liz Robertson and Wynne Evans, as well as special guest appearances from the actors who originated the roles of The Phantom and Christine, Tony^® Award winner Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, in a memorable final curtain call.

The Phantom Of The Opera, based on the French novel by Gaston Leroux, has been staged in 145 cities across 27 countries and has been seen by over 130 million people, making it the single most successful entertainment entity in history. It became the longest running show on Broadway January 9, 2006 after celebrating its 7,486^th performance. The original cast recording remains one of the biggest selling music titles of all time.

The Phantom of the Opera at the Royal Albert Hall

Audiences can now bring the music of the night home with this special CD featuring performers Ramin Karimloo, Sierra Boggess and Hadley Fraser feat. Peter Jöback, John Owen-Jones, Anthony Warlow and Colm Wilkinson.

DISC ONE:

1 Prologue

2 Overture

3 Think of Me

4 Angel of Music

5 Little Lotte/The Mirror (Angel of Music)

6 The Phantom of the Opera

DISC ONE CONTINUED:

7 The Music of the Night

8 I Remember/Stranger Than You Dreamt It

9 Magical Lasso

10 Notes/Prima Donna

11 Poor Fool, He Makes Me Laugh

12 Why Have You Brought Me Here?/Raoul, I’ve Been There

13 All I Ask of You

14 All I Ask of You (Reprise)

DISC TWO:

1 Entr’acte

2 Masquerade/Why So Silent…?

3 Notes/Twisted Every Way

4 Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again

5 Wandering Child/Bravo, Monsieur

6 The Point of No Return

7 Down Once More/Track Down This Murderer

8 Grand Finale

» deccabroadway.com

» bit.ly

» teamcoco.com

» teamcoco.com

"Irish songstress Imelda May is known for both her retro rockabilly musical stylings -- she counts legends like Elvis Presley and Gene Vincent as influences -- and her 1950s pinup girl looks to match."

http://aol.it/rcQH7F

» www.livestream.com

» www.imeldamay.co.uk

Many should be more than satiated with what we have here because this HOW TO SUCCEED certainly succeeds. Read More

» www.npr.org

RELEASE DATE SET FOR TUESDAY, JUNE 7

The 50^th Anniversary production of the Tony Award and Pulitzer Prize-winning musical comedy HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, starring Daniel Radcliffe and John Larroquette, will get a new cast recording from Decca Broadway. The album, produced by five-time Grammy nominee Robert Sher, was recorded by the cast and orchestra on Monday, April 11 at the legendary Manhattan Center in New York City and will be available everywhere on Tuesday, June 7. HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is currently playing Broadway’s Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45^th Street), where it officially opened March 27, 2011.

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING, directed and choreographed by Tony and Emmy Award-winner Rob Ashford,  stars Daniel Radcliffe as J. Pierrepont Finch, John Larroquette as J. B. Biggley, introduces in her Broadway debut  Rose Hemingway as Radcliffe’s onstage romantic interest Rosemary Pilkington, Tammy Blanchard as Hedy La Rue,  Christopher J. Hanke as Bud Frump, Rob Bartlett as Twimble/Wally Womper, Mary Faber as Smitty, Ellen Harvey as Miss Jones, Michael Park as Bert Bratt, and Emmy and Peabody Award-winning journalist Anderson Cooper making his Broadway debut as the voice of the narrator.  The cast of 30 includes Cameron Adams, Cleve Asbury, Tanya Birl, Kevin Covert, Paige Faure, David Hull, Justin Keyes, Marty Lawson, Erica Mansfield, Barrett Martin, Nick Mayo, Sarah O'Gleby, Stephanie Rothenberg, Megan Sikora, Michaeljon Slinger, Joey Sorge, Matt Wall, Ryan Watkinson, Charlie Williams and Samantha Zack.  

HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING has music and lyrics by Academy Award and Tony Award winner Frank Loesser, and a book by Abe Burrows, Jack Weinstock and Willie Gilbert, based on the book by Shepherd Mead.  The creative team for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING includes Derek McLane (Sets) Catherine Zuber (Costumes), Howell Binkley (Lighting), Jon Weston (Sound), Tom Watson (Hair), Doug Besterman (Orchestrations), and David Chase (Music Director and Arranger).  The 50^th Anniversary production of HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is produced by Broadway Across America (John Gore, Thomas B. McGrath, Beth Williams), Craig Zadan, Neil Meron, Joseph Smith, Michael McCabe, Candy Spelling, Takonkiet Viravan/Scenario Thailand, Two Left Feet Productions/PowerArts, Jen Namoff/Fakston Productions, Hilary A. Williams, HOP Theatricals, LLC/Paul Chau/Daniel Frishwasser/Michael Jackowitz, and Michael Speyer - Bernie Abrams/Jacki Barlia Florin - Adam Blanshay/Arlene Scanlan/TBS Service.

With the aid of a trusty self-help book "How to Succeed in Business" wily window washer J. Pierrepont Finch enjoys a riotous rise up the corporate ladder.  Will Finch’s unorthodox business practices at the World-Wide Wicket Company get him in hot water with the head honcho J.B. Biggley, and jeopardize his romance with secretary Rosemary Pilkington?  With a hilarious book and beloved score by Frank Loesser, HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING is packed with hit standards such as “I Believe in You,” “Happy to Keep His Dinner Warm,” “The Company Way,” “Been a Long Day,” “Rosemary,” and “Brotherhood of Man.”

Tickets for HOW TO SUCCEED IN BUSINESS WITHOUT REALLY TRYING range from $52 - $132, and are available at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre box office and at Telecharge.com (212-239-6200).  The playing schedule is as follows: Tuesdays and Thursdays at 7pm, Wednesdays, Fridays, and Saturday at 8pm, with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm.  Please note: there will be no performances on Thursday, July 7 and Friday, July 8. There will be no matinee on Saturday, July 9 but there will be an 8pm evening performance.

For more information please visit:

www.howtosucceedbroadway.com

» www.audaud.com

**COMPOSER STEPHEN SCHWARTZ TO RECEIVE COMMEMORATIVE PLAQUE IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWING THE WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 10TH MATINEE PERFORMANCE**

(NEW YORK, NY – November 8, 2010) With sales surpassing the two million mark, the Grammy® award-winning original cast recording of Wicked has officially been certified double platinum by the Recording Industry Association of America. Since its opening, the production has continued to captivate audiences and currently ranks in the top 20 of Broadway’s longest running shows, having played over 2,910 performances to date.

Declared “a cultural phenomenon” by Variety and “The Best Musical of the Decade” by Entertainment Weekly, Wicked is the winner of 35 major awards including the Grammy® and three Tony Awards. The acclaimed CD continues to be a mainstay on top of Billboard’s Broadway Chart and the music has very clearly made its mark on popular culture – having been performed on hit TV shows such as ‘Glee’ and ‘American Idol’.

The story begins long before Dorothy drops in, when two other girls meet in the land of Oz. One, born with emerald-green skin, is smart, fiery and misunderstood. The other is beautiful, ambitious and very popular. Wicked tells the story of their remarkable odyssey and how these two unlikely friends grow to become the Wicked Witch of the West and Glinda the Good.

To celebrate the occasion, composer Stephen Schwartz will be presented with a commemorative plaque following the matinee performance at The Gershwin Theater on November 10, 2010. Schwartz’s storied career spans over four decades and his body of work includes scores for Godspell (1971) and Pippin (1972) as well as a number of successful films including Pocahonatas (1995), The Hunchback of Notre Dame (1996), The Prince of Egypt (1998) and Enchanted (2007).

With this honor, Wicked joins an elite group of Decca Broadway cast recordings to achieve double platinum status including Rent, Les Miserables, Phantom of the Opera and Cats.

RounderRecords is pleased to announce country music star and Grand Ole Opry member JoeDiffie’s return to bluegrass music with Homecoming:The Bluegrass Album. Due October 26, Homecomingwas co-produced by Diffie and Luke Wooten and features a who’s who of bluegrassA-listers including The Grascals, Rhonda Vincent, Bradley Walker, and AleciaNugent.  He also enlisted atop-notch band that includes Rob Ickes, Aubrey Haynie, Mike Compton, BryanSutton, Mark Fain and Charlie Cushman to back his better-than-ever vocals onthis set of songs that are sure to appeal to Diffie’s long-time fans andbluegrass traditionalists alike.

Whilethis is Diffie’s first bluegrass release, it’s not the first bluegrass releaseon which he’s appeared.  Prior to his moving to Nashville and becomingthe country star he is today, he spent several years touring and recording withthe bluegrass band Special Edition. Homecoming is an homageto bluegrass, his musical legacy and first love.  Not only does he reach into his own past for songs such as“Tennessee Tea” and into classic catalog tunes like Flatt & Scruggs’“Somehow Tonight” – he also covers modern repertoire like “Lonesome And Dry AsA Bone,” written by long time friend Shawn Camp, and Larry Cordle’s moving “IKnow How It Feels.”  Diffiecontributed a few originals as well, such as the soon to be bluegrass classic,“It’s Raining On Her Rubber Dolly Now,” co-written with Camp and featuring theremarkable bluegrass group and label mates, The Grascals. 

Since hefirst topped the charts in 1990 with Home,Diffie has delivered hit after hit totaling twelve #1’s, twenty top 10’s andfour gold and platinum albums.  Someof his most popular hits include “Ships That Don’t Come In,” “Pickup Man,” “JohnDeere Green,” and “If the Devil Danced (In Empty Pockets).”  As a songwriter, Diffie’s success isequally impressive.  In addition tothe numerous hits he kept for himself, his songs have been recorded by HollyDunn, Tim McGraw, Tracy Lawrence, Conway Twitty, Doug Stone, and most recentlyJo Dee Messina, whose recording of “My Give a Damn’s Busted” became a #1hit.  He has won a Grammy®, severalCMA Awards, and has been honored as “Humanitarian of the Year” by the CountryMusic Broadcasters.

Checkout the making of Homecoming: The BluegrassAlbum here: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SjK9s8ODtQA

Homecoming Track Listing:

1.             SomehowTonight 

2.             Lonesomeand Dry as a Bone 

3.             TallCornstalk 

4.             FitFor a King 

5.             Route5 Box 109 

6.             Rainin’On Her Rubber Dolly - with The Grascals 

7.             IKnow How It Feels 

8.             TennesseeTea 

9.             Freeand Easy

10.             StormyWeather Once Again 

11.             ’TilDeath 

12.             HardTo Handle  

» www.deccarecords-us.com