Welcome to MDA | Muscular Dystrophy Association Helping Jerry's Kids.......Telethon History
Few television traditions in America are as popular as the annual Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon.
The 21½-hour, star-studded variety show simultaneously entertains, informs and raises funds for MDA’s vital service and research programs.
First broadcast over Labor Day weekend in 1966 by a lone TV station in New York City, the unique event starring popular comedian Jerry Lewis quickly caught the public’s attention – and raised more than $1 million in pledges. Now, more than 40 years later, the show will be broadcast by 180 MDA “Love Network” stations, assisted by 250,000 volunteers across the country. Some 40 million people will see the show.
In 1998, the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon made history as the first telethon seen around the world via Internet simulcast.
The Telethon derives drama from the ever-increasing fundraising total posted on the “tote board” – operated originally by hand in 1966, now electronically. Jerry’s goal of raising “one dollar more” than the previous year’s total has been more than met almost every year, thanks to the generosity and compassion of the American public. Last year’s total was $65 million.
Where Telethon Dollars Go
The Telethon is the single most important fund-raising event of the year for MDA. Funds raised help the Association carry on its fight against muscular dystrophy and related diseases, including a worldwide program of basic and applied research, a nationwide network of comprehensive medical and support services, and extensive professional and public education.
Children and adults with muscle diseases benefit directly from dollars raised during the Telethon through such services as:
- Specialized care at 220 MDA clinics and 35 MDA/ALS centers;
- free flu vaccinations;
- assistance with the purchase and repair of wheelchairs, leg braces and assistive communication devices;
- support groups for individuals and family members;
- MDA summer camp sessions for thousands of children; and
- ongoing public education and up-to-date information.
Research Advances
This year, MDA has allocated more than $42 million for research, funding more than 300 projects worldwide. MDA-funded scientists are making progress in understanding disease mechanisms, as well as testing promising treatments.In 2009, MDA-supported researchers have:
- completed a pilot trial of gene therapy in people with limb-girdle muscular dystrophy and found it was not only safe but showed promise of effectiveness
- identified stem cells that develop into specialized muscle-repair cells
- found a gene-repair strategy called "exon skipping" successfully treated dogs with muscular dystrophy when administered systemically
- seen their laboratory efforts to develop exon skipping bear fruit as the technique moves into systemic testing in people with Duchenne muscular dystrophy, the most common childhood form of muscular dystrophy
- identified abnormally leaky barriers between the bloodstream and the spinal cord as a possible factor in ALS (Lou Gehrig's disease)
- found that a protein called utrophin, which can substitute for the protein missing in the most common childhood muscular dystrophy, can significantly help mice with a similar disease when given as an injection
- found a drug called doxycycline, normally used as an antibiotic to fight infections, increased survival time and delayed the onset of paralysis in mice with a form of congenital muscular dystrophy
Celebrity Support
MDA is blessed to have the support of a spectacular array of stars – entertainers, athletes and leaders in business, government and civic affairs – who participate in the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon and other MDA activities.
Among those on MDA’s Board are singer and Telethon favorite Maureen McGovern and Olympic gold medalist Bart Conner, also a frequent Telethon co-host.
Other notables serve as MDA vice presidents, including Jann Carl of “Entertainment Tonight;” Alison Sweeney of “The Biggest Loser” and “Days of Our Lives;” Nancy O’Dell of “Access Hollywood;” sports great Nadia Comaneci; and entertainers Tom Bergeron and Tony Orlando; and “American Idol” favorite Ace Young.
And, of course, there’s MDA’s number-one volunteer for more than 50 years. Despite battling debilitating illness, severe back pain and heart surgery in recent years, MDA National Chairman Jerry Lewis has never missed a Telethon.
Corporate and Community Involvement
Many organizations and businesses support MDA through fundraising events year-round. From the high school marketing club DECA and the International Association of Fire Fighters, to such corporate friends as Harley-Davidson Motor Co. and CITGO, representatives from MDA’s sponsors appear each year on the Telethon to present Jerry with their contributions.MDA and its Telethon also depend on the solid support of a network of some 2 million volunteers nationwide.
For information on how to help MDA as a volunteer or sponsor, call (800) 572-1717. To learn about MDA online, visit MDA’s Web site at www.mda.org. You also can visit MDA’s site devoted exclusively to ALS at www.als-mda.org, or its Spanish-language site at www.mdaenespanol.org.
September 3, 2009
haven't hit blogasm yet, but i can feel it coming: Welcome to MDA | Muscular Dystrophy Association Helping Jerry's Kids.......
Dolly Parton - jamie reid header - check
Dolly Parton
Working 9 to 5 or 12 to 12?
April 14th, 2009
4.14.09
Hey everybody,
Lots of things going on in my world since we last talked. I feel like one of those little dust devils that spins in the wind on a hot day. (Ha!)
At this moment I'm in New York at the Marriott Marquis Theater where we are already in previews for "9 to 5: The Musical." The buzz about the show is really good. We're selling out every show and we haven't even officially opened yet. The big night, of course, is April 30th. We'll have lots of stars coming to walk the red carpet and to see the show. That should be fun.
I'm loving hanging out with all the folks involved in the show. I threw a party for everybody at a restaurant called Vynl. They have a bathroom named after me where they have pictures of me, memorabilia on the walls and they play my music while you pee. (Ha!) I guess I should be flattered; but I keep wondering if it means they think my career is in the toilet... I hope not.
We go to work every day around Noon and work until midnight or so. We fall in bed, then get up and do it all over again trying to get it perfect. But I am really enjoying living in my new apartment. I have a great view of the city.
Every night after the show everybody signs autographs outside the stage door. That always draws a big crowd there as they're loving the cast. We're still doing little improvements on the show, as I said, trying to get it perfect before opening night. I've had lots of family and friends come from Nashville every weekend to see it. They all seem to love it.
I'm looking forward to recording the soundtrack album the first week of May with the cast.
I'm planning to do a few more TV shows while I'm in New York... David Letterman, The View and The Today Show. Hopefully the cast will sing some songs from the play on a couple of those shows, which should be fun.
I'm also very excited and pleased that the "Backwoods Barbie" video has been so well received and that the "Backwoods Barbie Collectors Edition" at Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores is selling so well. The same with the Collectors Edition of the Photo Album and the pink rocking chairs. Guess you can say I'm rockin' right along. (Ha!)
We had a great opening at Dollywood. I'm excited to receive my honorary doctorate from UT on May 8th and to see the opening of Sha-Kon-O-Hey on May 9th. I'll ride in Pigeon Forge parade on May 8th. Pray for nice weather. I'd hate to have it rain on our parade.
Gotta get back to work. We will talk more later.
I will always love you,
Dolly
Dolly Parton
Dolly PartonDolly's "Change It" video to Debut #1 on CMT Pure Country!
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August 28th, 2009
A big thank you to all of the Big Wigs, Dollyites and Twitter followers who have been persistently voting. Thanks to you, Dolly's "Change It" video will debut at #1 tonight on CMT Pure Country's 12-Pack Countdown at 9 PM ET/PT!
Dolly Parton "Live From London" Performance to Appear on Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon!
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August 27th, 2009
A video clip of Dolly, "Live From London" will play on the 44th Annual MDA Telethon this Labor Day weekend! This wonderful program raises millions of dollars each year to help with MDA research, services and education programs.
Be sure and check www.mda.org for local stations and start times.
75th Anniversary of Great Smokey Mountains National Park
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August 27th, 2009
On September 2nd, Dolly will be on hand as Ambassador for the Great Smokey Mountains National Park 75th Anniversay rededication. She will join Tennessee Governor Phil Bredesen and North Carolina Governor Bev Perdue along with several others in celebrating 75 years of this National Park.
Vote for "Change It" on CMT Pure!
August 24th, 2009
Hi Dolly Fans!
Show your support for Dolly and her new video, "Change It," by voting for it on the CMT Pure 12 Pack. You can head here to vote!
Playbill News: Punching Out: 9 to 5 Will Close Sept. 6; Tour Will Launch in Nashville
Playbill News: Punching Out: 9 to 5 Will Close Sept. 6; Tour Will Launch in NashvillePunching Out: 9 to 5 Will Close Sept. 6; Tour Will Launch in NashvilleBy Kenneth Jones
29 Jul 2009
9 to 5 stars Megan Hilty, Allison Janney and Stephanie J. Block photo by Joan Marcus The marquee value of both songwriter Dolly Parton and the hit title 9 to 5 was not enough to keep the new musical version of the popular 1980 movie alive on Broadway. The musical will close Sept. 6.
Producer Robert Greenblatt told his cast the bad news before the matinee on July 29. The financial loss for Greenblatt and his partners doesn't keep them from thinking 9 to 5: The Musical has legs: a national tour is in the works, to launch the week of Sept. 20, 2010, at the Tennessee Performing Arts Center in Nashville.
By close, the Broadway run of 9 to 5 will have played 148 performances and 24 previews.
"I couldn't have asked for a better experience on my first Broadway show," stated Dolly Parton. "I've had the privilege of working with an amazing group of people who have become like family to me. I can't wait for this show to hit the road so people across the country can see why I'm so proud of everyone involved. And I'm so pleased that we'll be opening the tour in Nashville. Great things happen in Nashville."
The critics weren't all that interested in the production at the Marquis Theatre, but fans of the picture that starred Parton, Lily Tomlin and Jane Fonda howled to their favorite lines from the script and tapped their feet to the expanded title number, which serves as the opening sequence, choreographed by In the Heights Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler (who was Tony-nommed for his work here).
Joe Mantello (Wicked) directed the show, which features a libretto by Broadway newcomer Patricia Resnick (who created the film story and co-wrote the screenplay).It is thought that a return of Irving Berlin's White Christmas will be the next tenant at the Marquis, for a run between November and January. That seasonal show played the Marquis in 2008. No official announcement has been made.
In the roles created by Parton, Tomlin and Fonda, the Broadway trio of secretaries included Megan Hilty, Allison Janney and Stephanie J. Block. Their work is preserved on a cast album released by Dolly Records in July 28.
9 to 5: The Musical opened April 30. Judy (Block), Doralee (Hilty) and Violet (Janney) — three office workers who are "just a step on the bossman's ladder," according to the title tune — came to life on Broadway on April 7, the first day of previews. The troupers had a fall 2008 tryout world-premiere run at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles.
The stage score includes six new Parton songs written especially for the show. 9 to 5 marks the songwriting Broadway debut of the seven-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and musician.
9 to 5 was nominated for 2009 Tony Awards in the following categories: Best Original Score Written for the Theatre (Dolly Parton), Best Actress in a Musical (Janney), Best Featured Actor in a Musical (Kudisch), Best Choreography (Blankenbuehler).
Allison Janney won the 2009 Drama Desk Award as Outstanding Actress in a Musical for her work in the show.
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As in the film, the heroines of the piece prey on chauvinist boss Franklin Hart (here played by Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch), but their worlds and passions are now more fully realized with songs, new mates and fresh scenes. There's also a video screen upstage to create atmosphere and settings ("imaging" is by Peter Nigrini & Peggy Eisenhauer).
Like the film, the musical is set around 1980.
Of the Broadway process, Parton admitted, "I was kinda scared of it…I thought, 'This is a whole different world to me. I hear these people can just eat you up alive.' And I thought, 'Well, I'm not one to be eaten alive without kickin' and a-fightin'!'"
Musical direction and vocal arrangements are by Stephen Oremus (Wicked, All Shook Up).
Parton told Playbill.com in a summer 2008 interview, "I was more than happy to adjust and adapt to anything they needed me to change. I didn't take that as an insult as a writer. I thought, 'Well, this is what they do — they should know.' And I certainly can change it, I can write on my feet, y'know. They were impressed 'cause I'd never done [this] before. I was kinda proud of myself, 'cause I didn't know that I could do it at all."
Parton has said that 9 to 5 is a theatre score, not a country music score — despite the fact that Parton recorded and released one country-flavored song from the show, "Backwoods Barbie," a number for Doralee.
Here's the 9 to 5 plot in a nutshell: "When pushed to their boiling point by their boss, Franklin Hart, Jr. (Kudisch), Violet Newstead (Janney), the super efficient office manager, Judy Bernly (Block), a frazzled divorcee, and the sexy executive secretary Doralee Rhodes (Megan Hilty) turn the tables on him. The trio hatches a plan to get even with the sexist, egotistical, lying, hypocritical, bigot, and that plan quickly spins wildly and hilariously out of control."
The production features scenic design by two-time Tony Award winner Scott Pask, costume design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winners Jules Fisher and Kenneth Posner and sound design by John H. Shivers. Oremus also shares credit (with Alex Lacamoire) for additional orchestrations and incidental music arrangements. Orchestrations are by Bruce Coughlin. Lacamoire wrote the dance music arrangements. Hair design is by Paul Huntley and Edward J. Wilson. Production supervisor is William Joseph Barnes.
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9 to 5: The Musical stars four-time Emmy Award winner and Tony Award nominee Janney ("The West Wing," Present Laughter), Block (The Pirate Queen, Wicked) as Judy and Hilty (Wicked) as Doralee, plus two-time Tony Award nominee Kudisch (Bells Are Ringing, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) as Franklin Hart Jr., the chauvinist boss women loved to hate 30 years ago in the movie comedy.
The 30-member opening-night cast featured Kathy Fitzgerald (as evil office supervisor Roz), Andy Karl (as accounting employee Joe, a possible love interest for Violet), Ioana Alfonso, Timothy George Anderson, Jennifer Balagna, Justin Bohon, Paul Castree, Daniel Cooney, Jeremy Davis, Gaelen Gilliland, Autumn Guzzardi, Ann Harada, Neil Haskell, Lisa Howard, Van Hughes, Michael X. Martin, Michael Mindlin, Karen Murphy, Mark Myars (dance captain), Justin Patterson, Jessica Lea Patty, Charlie Pollock, Tory Ross, Wayne Schroder, Maia Nkenge Wilson and Brandi Wooten.
9 To 5: The Musical is produced by Robert Greenblatt, Green State Productions, Richard Levi, John McColgan/Moya Doherty/Edgar Dobie, James L. Nederlander/Terry Allen Kramer, Independent Presenters Network, JAM Theatricals, Bud Martin, Michael Watt, The Weinstein Co/Sonia Friedman/Dede Harris, Norton Herrick/Matthew C Blank/Joan Stein, Center Theatre Group, Toni Dowgiallo and GFOUR Productions.
The Marriott Marquis is located at 1535 Broadway between 45th and 46th Streets.
The playing schedule for 9 to 5 is as follows: Tuesday at 7 PM; Wednesday through Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM; with matinees on Wednesday and Saturday at 2 PM.
Tickets are available through Ticketmaster.com (212) 307-4100 or at the Marriott Marquis Theater Box Office and range from $126.50 to $66.50.
For more information visit www.9to5themusical.com.
Megan Hilty and Marc Kudisch in 9 to 5. photo by Joan Marcus
Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty (left to right) from the Broadway Musical 9 to 5 perform at Broadway in Bryant Park
A Working Lunch : OurTownNYA Working Lunch
July 22, 2009
Allison Janney, Stephanie J. Block and Megan Hilty (left to right) from the Broadway Musical 9 to 5 perform at Broadway in Bryant Park. The free lunchtime concert series runs every Thursday through Aug. 13. Photo by Andrew Schwartz
FOR THOSE OF YOU WHO WANT TO SEE GAY MEN REENACT ROCK 'N' ROLL HISTORY: 'Good Rockin' Tonight', MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET To Open On Broadway Spring 2010
'Good Rockin' Tonight', MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET To Open On Broadway Spring 2010
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, the new musical inspired by the famed 1956 recording session that brought together four of the most legendary figures in the history of rock 'n' roll - Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley - will open on Broadway in the Spring of 2010 in a theatre to be announced.
Directed by Eric Schaeffer, with a book by Colin Escott (WORK IT, COLIN--SAY HELLO TO JERRY LEE IN HELL FOR ME) and Floyd Mutrux, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET is produced by Relevant Theatricals, John Cossette Productions, Northern Lights Inc., Broadway Across America, and James L. Nederlander. Casting for Broadway to be announced.
MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET recently received 3 nominations for Jeff Awards, including Best Production of a Musical (Large) and Best Ensemble.
On December 4, 1956, an auspicious twist of fate brought Johnny Cash, Jerry Lee Lewis, Carl Perkins and Elvis Presley together. The place was Sun Records' storefront studio in Memphis. The man who made it happen was Sam Phillips, the "Father of Rock 'n' Roll," who discovered them all. The four legends-to-be united for the only time in their careers for an impromptu recording that has come to be known as one of the greatest rock jam sessions of all time.
Featuring a treasure trove of the greatest rock 'n' roll, gospel, R&B and country hits from these music legends, including "Blue Suede Shoes," "Fever," "Sixteen Tons," "Who Do You Love?," "Great Balls of Fire," "Riders in the Sky," "I Walk the Line," "Folsom Prison Blues" and "Whole Lotta' Shakin' Goin' On," MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET captures the infectious spirit, freewheeling excitement and thrilling sounds of a singular moment when four of the music industry's most extraordinary talents, all in their creative prime, came together for one of the most memorable nights in music history.
For information about the Chicago production of MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, visit www.milliondollarquartetlive.com.
Eric Schaeffer (Director) is the acclaimed co-founder and artistic director of the Signature Theatre in Arlington, VA, where his work has been honored with the 2009 Tony Award for Regional Theatre Excellence as well as numerous Helen Hayes Awards including Outstanding Direction. He directed Putting it Together and Glory Days on Broadway, the first national tour of big, The Musical, and the West End debut of The Witches of Eastwick. He also served as artistic director for the Kennedy Center's Sondheim Celebration.
Floyd Mutrux (Co-bookwriter) has written, directed or produced numerous films, including the classic biopic of early rock 'n' roll American Hot Wax, Dick Tracy and Mulholland Falls.
Colin Escott (Co-bookwriter) is a noted music historian and the author of numerous books including Good Rockin' Tonight - Sun Records and the Birth of Rock 'n' Roll. Escott was awarded a Grammy for producing The Complete Hank Williams, and was nominated for a Grammy for producing B.B. King - King of the Blues.
Musical Director Chuck Mead, with multiple hit records, has stood at the forefront of the alternative country music explosion as founder and lead of BR549, the three-time Grammy Award nominated country band.
Relevant Theatricals (Producer) is a commercial Production Company headed by Gigi Pritzker and Ted Rawlins, dedicated to developing new work for the stage. Current projects include: F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby, which premiered at the Guthrie Theatre and is on course to open in London next year; Snapshots, a new musical with book by David Stern and music and lyrics by Stephen Schwartz; and a new musical version of Dennis The Menace. Relevant's sister company, Odd Lot Entertainment, develops and produces outstanding new film properties. Current Productions include the feature "Rabbit Hole," based on the Pulitzer Prize-winning play by David Lindsay-Abaire, starring Nicole Kidman and Dianne Wiest, and directed by John Cameron Mitchell. Relevant Theatricals is proud to be part of the producing team that developed MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET.
John Cossette's (Producer) more than 30-year career in the entertainment and music industry has earned him a respected reputation as an innovative and creative producer of large scale television shows and events. With John Cossette Productions, Cossette has produced the Grammy Awards for the past 17 years and is the Consulting Producer on the Latin Grammy Awards. Cossette also produces five annual event specials for BET, including The BET Awards, which have become the premier event in Urban Music. Cossette has spearheaded a variety of corporate marketing events. At the 1996 Olympic Games in Atlanta, Cossette produced a series of 20 concerts for AT&T, which were attended by more than 2.5 million people. Cossette helped launch the American Express Blue Card with "Central Park In Blue with Sheryl Crow & Friends" featuring Eric Clapton, Keith Richards and The Dixie Chicks, among others. Among his numerous additional producing credits, Cossette is heavily involved in a number of charitable events. The winner of two NAACP Image Awards, Cossette has produced benefits for the House Ear Institute, The Concern Foundation for Cancer Research, MusicCares, The NARAS Foundation and the Society of Singers. He also helps to underwrite the E.J. Jackson Foundation to feed the homeless in South Central L.A., helping to feed over 15,000 people on Thanksgiving.
Broadway Across America (Producer) is owned and operated by British theatre producer John Gore (CEO) and entertainment industry veteran Thomas B. McGrath (Chairman). Broadway Across America presents first-class touring Broadway musicals and plays, family productions and other live events throughout a network of 43 North American cities. Broadway Across America is also dedicated to the development and production of new and diverse live theatre for productions on Broadway, across America and throughout the world. Broadway Across America most recently produced the Broadway productions of Hair, West Side Story and Irving Berlin's White Christmas. Upcoming productions include Minsky's, Promises, Promises, MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET and the West End production of Breakfast at Tiffany's. Touring productions include Nickelodeon's Storytime Adventures featuring Dora the Explorer, and Dreamgirls. For more information or to purchase tickets through an authorized agent go to BroadwayAcrossAmerica.com.
Photo by Paul Natkin
OH, THIS IS GONNA BE GOOD: TWITTER WATCH: MEMPHIS - 'Memphis lives in me, does Memphis live in you?'
TWITTER WATCH: MEMPHIS - 'Memphis lives in me, does Memphis live in you?'
BroadwayWorld.com presents it's newest column, Twitter Watch, which will bring you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!
Today on Twitter Watch we rock and roll by the page for the upcoming Broadway musical MEMPHIS.
MEMPHIS opens Monday, October 19, 2009 at the Shubert Theatre (225 W. 44th Street) following critically-acclaimed and sold-out engagements atLa Jolla Playhouse and Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre. Previews begin on Wednesday, September 23, 2009.
MemphisBroadway
via @mymemphismusic Today in Memphis Music History: 1956 Only 19, Jerry Lee Lewis came to Memphis to record for the first time @sunrecords
about 2 hours ago from webMemphis lives in me, does Memphis live in you?
about 2 hours ago from webThe cast of Memphis will be performing as part of Broadway on Broadway, Sunday, September 13th at 11:30am in Times Square!
about 5 hours ago from FacebookPhoto Coverage: Bryan, DiPietro And The MEMPHIS Cast Celebrate Shubert Theatre Box Office Opening http://bit.ly/ab1xe
11:49 AM Aug 27th from FacebookOur box office is now open! Come get your tickets! The Shubert Theatre box office is located at 255 West 44th St, NYC
7:26 AM Aug 24th from webMEMPHIS features a brand new score with music by Bon Jovi's founding member/keyboardist David Bryan and lyrics by Bryan and Joe DiPietro (I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change), who also pens the musical's book. Bryan and DiPietro also collaborated on the current award-winning off-Broadway hit, The Toxic Avenger. MEMPHIS is based on a concept by the lateGeorge W. George (producer of the Tony nominated Bedroom Farce and the film My Dinner With Andre), with direction by Tony nominee Christopher Ashley (Xanadu) and choreography bySergio Trujillo (Jersey Boys).
Tickets range from $41.50 to $126.50 (including a $1.50 facility fee). The performance schedule is as follows: Tuesday - Saturday evenings at 8pm, Wednesdays and Saturdays at 2pm, and Sundays at 3pm. Beginning October 26th, Tuesday evening curtains will be at 7pm. There will be special performance times during previews and holiday weeks. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit www.Telecharge.com or call 212.239.6200. The Shubert Theatre Box Office will be open beginning August 24th.
MEMPHIS played a limited, sold-out engagement at La Jolla Playhouse from August 19 - September 28, 2008 and received San Diego's Craig Noel Awards for Excellence in Theatre for both Outstanding New Musical of 2008 and for its star Chad Kimball, in the role of DJ Huey Calhoun. The show then played another critically-acclaimed, extremely successful engagement at Seattle's 5th Avenue Theatre from January 27 - February 15, 2009. This production was co-produced by La Jolla Playhouse (Christopher Ashley, Artistic Director) and 5th Avenue Theatre, Seattle, WA, (David Armstrong, Producing Artistic Director/ Marilynn Sheldon, Managing Director). The world premiere of MEMPHIS in 2003-2004 was co-produced by North Shore Music Theatre in Beverly, MA and TheatreWorks in Silicon Valley, CA.
Scenic Design for MEMPHIS is by Tony Award winner David Gallo (The Drowsy Chaperone, Reasons to Be Pretty), Costume Design is by Tony nominee Paul Tazewell (In The Heights), Lighting Design is by Tony Award winner Howell Binkley (Jersey Boys) and Sound Design is byKen Travis (The Threepenny Opera).
MEMPHIS will be produced on Broadway by Junkyard Dog Productions, Barbara and Buddy Freitag and Kenny and Marleen Alhadeff with Jim and Susan Blair, Demos Bizar Entertainment, David Copley, Dancap Productions Inc., Latitude Link and Tony Ponturo in association withBroadway Across America, Lauren Doll, Linda and Bill Potter, Chase Mishkin and Patty Baker/ShadowCatcher Entertainment.
For more information visit www.memphisthemusical.com.
To follow BroadwayWorld.com on Twitter, click here (http://www.twitter.com/broadwayworld) to follow the main web site and click here (http://www.twitter.com/broadwaypulse) to follow Editor-in-Chief Rob Diamond.
THIS ONE HAS MORE LINKS THAN JIMMY DEAN '9 To 5: THE MUSICAL' Celebrates At Barnes and Noble - The Performance!
Photo Coverage: '9 To 5: THE MUSICAL' Celebrates At Barnes and Noble - The Performance!Dolly Parton's Tony Award-nominated score for 9 To 5: The Musical was released on Tuesday, July 14, 2009 by DOLLY RECORDS. The cast celebrated the big day with a performance and CD signing at Barnes & Noble Lincoln Center, New York City. July 14, 2009 and BroadwayWorld.com was there!
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of 9 to 5: The Musical was recorded Sunday, May 3, and Monday, May 4, 2009, at Legacy Recording Studios in New York.
Iconic singer, songwriter, musician and actress Dolly Parton debuted her new label, DOLLY RECORDS, with the release of "Better Get To Livin'" in September 2007, the first single from 2008's critically acclaimed top 10 CD Backwoods Barbie. The album's current hit single and video is "Backwoods Barbie." The Original Broadway Cast Recording of 9 To 5: The Musical is the label's second release and is produced by Stephen Oremus and Dolly Parton. Alex Lacamoire (music director and co-orchestrator for the Lacamoire (music director and co-orchestrator for the Grammy winning original cast recording of In The Heights) is co-producer, and the album was recorded and mixed by Frank Filipetti.
Multiple Drama Desk and Tony Award nominated 9 To 5: The Musical stars four-time Emmy Award winner and two-time Tony Award nominee and recent Drama Desk winner Allison Janney, along with Stephanie J. Block, Megan Hilty, and three-time Tony Award nominee Marc Kudisch. It opened Thursday, April 30, 2009, at the Marriott Marquis Theatre (1535 Broadway). 9 To 5: The Musical marks the Broadway debut of seven-time Grammy Award winning singer, songwriter and musician Dolly Parton as composer and lyricist. With direction by two-time Tony Award winner Joe Mantello and choreography by Tony Award winner Andy Blankenbuehler, 9 To 5: The Musical has a book by Patricia Resnick, based on her original story and screenplay for the smash 1980 film comedy. 9 To 5: The Musical is produced by Green State Productions, Richard Levi, John McColgan/Moya Doherty/Edgar Dobie, James L. Nederlander/Terry Allen Kramer,Independent Presenters Network, Jam Theatricals, Bud Martin, Michael Watt, The Weinstein Co/Sonia Friedman/Dede Harris, Center Theatre Group, Norton Herrick/Matthew C Blank/Joan Stein, Toni Dowgiallo, and GFour Productions.
The production features scenic design by two-time Tony Award winner Scott Pask, costume design by five-time Tony Award winner William Ivey Long, lighting design by Tony Award winners Jules Fisher and Kenneth Posner, sound design by John Shivers, imaging by Peter Nigrini and Peggy Eisenhauer, with music direction by Stephen Oremus.
The 30 member cast of 9 To 5: The Musical features Kathy Fitzgerald, Andy Karl, Ioana Alfonso,Timothy George Anderson, Jennifer Balagna, Justin Bohon, Paul Castree, Daniel Cooney, Jeremy Davis, Gaelen Gilliland, Autumn Guzzardi, Ann Harada, Neil Haskell, Lisa Howard, Van Hughes,Michael X. Martin, Michael Mindlin, Karen Murphy, Mark Myars (Dance captain), Justin Patterson,Jessica Lea Patty, Charlie Pollock, Tory Ross, Wayne Schroder, Maia Nkenge Wilson and Brandi Wooten.
The Original Broadway Cast Recording of 9 to 5: The Musical is available at the Marquis Theatre in New York City, on all digital formats, in retail outlets and via www.dollypartonmusic.net.
For more information on 9 To 5: The Musical visit www.9to5themusical.com
Seymour Herald :To keep abreast of Dolly's comings: news : This week with Dolly
Seymour Herald :: news : This week with Dollythis week with dolly
Seymour Herald/Library PhotoDolly speaks to the crowd at a recent event.published: July 14 2009 11:35 AM updated:: July 14 2009 12:25 PMBy Duane Gordon
Dolly Parton has recorded a solo version of one of the songs from her Tony-nominated score to "9 To 5: The Musical" which will soon be released as her next single, she announced last week in a video diary released via YouTube.
In the video, she said she has cut the track "Change It" and will sell it as an iTunes download and in the online store at her official record label website, Dolly Parton Music.net. The single comes as the show's cast album sees early release this week at the Marquis Theatre in New York, select Barnes & Noble stores and online at Dolly's site and the show's website in advance of its national retail release to other stores on July 28.
The show's cast is set to perform Tuesday at New York's Lincoln Triangle Barnes & Noble, where they are also expected to sign copies of the CD.
In less desirable news, the holiday week was not kind to the show, as it continued to decline in the grosses, according to the report for the week of June 29-July 5 that came out last week. Attendance, 9,671 audience members, was down more than 2 percent compared to the previous week, with the percentage of seats filled falling to 75 percent. The overall gross, $675,135, was 14 percent lower than the week before because the per-ticket average also fell, down more than 11 percent to $69.81. The show remained steady for the week at No. 15 for biggest Broadway gross but dipped one to No. 13 for audience size. Since opening for previews, the show has grossed $9.2 million and been seen by 138,272 people.
Dolly's "Backwoods Barbie" dropped two more places to No. 63 in its 49th week on the country albums chart last week. Up north, "The Very Best Of Dolly Parton, Vol. 1" fell back off of the top 50 Canadian country albums list, down from No. 50 the previous week, but Down Under the collection re-enters the top 20 Australian country albums tally at No. 15. In the U.S., Steve Martin's "The Crow - New Songs for the 5-String Banjo," with his Dolly guest appearance, remained steady at No. 1 bluegrass in its 20th week and rose 15 to No. 170 pop in its sixth week there.
Dollywood was in the news on opposite sides of the Atlantic last week with positive mentions in two different publications. A writer for The Chicago Tribune on Thursday proclaimed the Pigeon Forge area the best "place to spend quality time with the kids" and declared that Dollywood is one of the best theme parks in the world. In London, England, The Financial Times extended Dolly a quite lengthy and comprehensive profile last week that focused on her most recent visit to the park and concluded: "Liberal or conservative, gay or straight, Parton's fans are moved by her tale of poverty and survival. As visitors stand in line in the punishing southern heat to peer into Dollywood's replica of the tiny cabin in which she spent her dirt-poor childhood, it feels almost as if they are communing with the American dream."
TLC has announced that the two-episode vacation that the Duggar Family took to Pigeon Forge will air over the next two weeks. The first episode, "Duggars In Dixie," airing at 9 p.m. Tuesday with an 11 p.m. repeat, will feature their experience at Dolly's Dixie Stampede dinner theatre. The second episode, "Duggars Meet Dolly," airing at 9 p.m. July 21 with an 11 p.m. repeat, will include their actual meeting with Dolly herself.
Dolly's Imagination Library literacy program recently saw its first book delivery to the most remote inhabited place on the planet, according to Britain's Royal Mail. The 13 children under the age of 5 who live on the island Tristan da Cunha, a British territory in the middle of the Atlantic Ocean about halfway between South America and South Africa, are the program's newest additions. To get there, the books take a 6,000-mile flight to South Africa, followed by a week-long fishing boat trip to the island.
To keep abreast of Dolly's comings and goings, be sure to check out the nightly news updates on Dollymania.net: The Online Dolly Parton Newsmagazine!
“9 to 5’s” Stephanie J. Block on What She Does “5 to 9″ - Speakeasy - WSJ
“9 to 5’s” Stephanie J. Block on What She Does “5 to 9″ - Speakeasy - WSJBy Michelle Kung
- AP
- Block with co-stars Allison Janney and Kathy Fitzgerald
Stage actress Stephanie J. Block made her Broadway debut as Liza Minnelli (opposite Hugh Jackman’s Peter Allen) in “The Boy From Oz,” which she quickly followed with leading roles in the national tour of “Wicked” and the short-lived “The Pirate Queen.” Ms. Block can currently be seen as the nervous new employee Judy Bernly in the Tony Award-nominated musical adaptation “9 to 5.” Like many soaring voices of the Great White Way, she released a solo album entitled “This Place I Know” last month. But unlike most Broadway recording artists, she asked the composer of each her selected songs to perform with her, including “Wicked” composer Stephen Schwartz and, of course, “9 to 5″ song writer Dolly Parton. We recently spoke to Ms. Block about the evolution of her debut album, from which she’ll be singing several selections when she performs at Manhattan’s Birdland nightclub Monday evening.
The Wall Street Journal: The concept behind your album is that you’ve asked each song’s composer to join you in performing each selection. How did you decide on that idea?
I first started planning my album several couple years ago, when I was doing this little evening of music that I’d put together. Specifically, I knew I wanted to get the composer Stephen Schwartz to record a song called “Making Good” with me; [the song] was originally a part of “Wicked,” but then got replaced with “The Wizard and I.” He was very open to it, so in 2006, we laid down that first track. After doing that first song, I realized this was the concept I wanted to thread together my album with and started reaching out to other composers.
How many composers did you reach out to?
Probably 14 or 15. 12 to 13 actually said yes, but with everyone’s different schedules, not all of them made it onto the album.
That must have taken a ton of coordination.
Yes. In addition to arranging their schedules, each composer really wanted their own specific arrangements and musicians. Usually when you record an album, you have studio musicians that will sit there for 2 days. This was different, because each composer wanted different musicians, so in the studio, we’d do sound tests with one group, and then they would leave and another group of musicians would come and you’d need to reset the entire studio for a whole new instrumentation and arrangement. It became a lot more complicated than I was expecting and took a lot of extra time and care. But it was worth the two years in the making and the emptying of my bank account.
Yikes. Was the music licensing very expensive?
Well, we had to license the music, but I also wanted to produce this myself — I wanted to make sure that the final say on every decision came down to me, and that takes a producer credit, and that takes money.
You sing one of Dolly’s most iconic songs — “I Will Always Love You” — on the album. Was that intimidating?
It was actually her idea — I think, in humor and humility, she said, I wrote this song and Whitney Houston has recorded it [for the movie "The Bodyguard"], but I think your voice would sound great with it and we can do something completely different, so there is no sort of people reminiscing about other recordings. I thought about it and said, “Let’s really focus on the lyrics, and make it almost the most simple track on the CD — almost like lullaby.” The lyrics really are heart breaking. When you listen to the Whitney version, it’s all about the vocal tricks and sounds very produced. I mean, Whitney can do amazing things, but I wanted to focus on the lyrics.
What can audiences expect to hear at Birdland on the 13th?
Half of the set will be from the album, and the other half will be some of the tunes I fell in love with, but didn’t quite make it onto the album. Not that they’re sub-quality; they just didn’t work with the flow and cohesiveness of the album.
The first time I played Birdland was in 2004 and I was nervous as all get-out, because it was truly the first time I was going to step on stage in New York as myself — it’s very different playing a character and singing music that was written for a character and services the play. When you’re standing up there for yourself, there’s really a vulnerability and a feeling of being naked. I love it now, but with every set date, it gets to be a little nerve-wracking because you hope that you’re giving the audience the same experience that you first got at your first show.
