EAST HADDAM >> Don’t miss your chance to get the best seats for each of the five musicals during Goodspeed Musicals’ upcoming 2016 season. There’s something for everyone at Goodspeed this season. All aboard for the Cole Porter classic Anything Goes; from the composer of Annie, it’s Bye Bye Birdie, the musical comedy inspired by Elvis Presley and his draft notice into the Army; be charmed by the new musical Chasing Rainbows –the story of Judy Garland’s Road to Oz; experience an arresting new version of the Broadway hit The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd; and relive the spirit of the 60s in A Sign of the Times, featuring with the songs of Petula Clark.

“Anything Goes”: Set sail on a “de-lovely” cruise through some of Cole Porter’s most famous songs. A brassy nightclub singer, a starry-eyed stowaway and Public Enemy No. 13 are booked on a transatlantic luxury liner bound for romance and laughter. Hum along with an easy-to-love score packed with hits including “I Get a Kick Out of You,” “You’re the Top,” “It’s De-Lovely,” “Blow, Gabriel, Blow” and more! This tap-happy classic docks at Goodspeed for the first time. Anything Goes features Music and Lyrics by Cole Porter, Original Book by Guy Bolton, P.G. Wodehouse, Howard Lindsay and Russel Crouse, and New Book by Timothy Crouse and John Weidman. Anything Goes is sponsored by Chester Village West, Liberty Bank, The Shops at Mohegan Sun and Sennheiser.

“Bye Bye Birdie”: Put on a happy face! Army-bound rock star Conrad Birdie’s farewell appearance in Sweet Apple, Ohio is the talk of the town. But it’s a teenage crisis for new “steadies” Hugo and Kim: she just won the chance to give Birdie one last kiss before boot camp. Kids, parents and show folk collide in the Goodspeed debut of the hip-swiveling musical comedy set at the dawn of the sensational 60s. Bring the entire family to discover we’ve got a lot of livin’ to do! Bye Bye Birdie features a Book by Michael Stewart, Music by Charles Strouse and Lyrics by Lee Adams. Bye Bye Birdie is sponsored by Amica and Updike, Kelly & Spellacy, PC.

“Chasing Rainbows”: An awkward girl with a golden voice blossoms into Judy Garland in the inspirational new musical about the bumpy road to Oz. The future superstar’s complicated childhood comes alive with heartbreak, hope and the music that made her famous. “I Can’t Give You Anything But Love,” “You Made Me Love You” and “Over the Rainbow” sweeten the story of Judy striving to hold onto her family. A love letter to gifted underdogs who reach high—and how the dreams that you dare to dream really do come true. Chasing Rainbows features a Book by Marc Acito, Conceived by Tina Marie Casamento with Music adapted by David Libby. Chasing Rainbows is sponsored by ConnectiCare and Comacast.

Visit he Norma Terris Theatre in Chester and take in two unique musicals: In a world turned upside down, a rag-tag group relies on humor, song and dance to try to build a new life. But can show tunes and music hall merriment revive the human spirit? On the highway of life, hope is just around the bend in this arresting reinvention of the vivacious Broadway hit. Their world may have ended, but songs like “Who Can I Turn To?,” “The Joker,” “Feeling Good” and “A Wonderful Day Like Today” echo on, welcoming new love and another dawn. The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd features Book, Music and Lyrics by Leslie Bricusse and Anthony Newley.

1965. The pulse of a changing era lures Cindy from Middle America to the swirl of Manhattan. Unexpected friends, lovers, careers and conflicts are all a subway ride away in a pop-fueled new musical featuring songs made famous by Petula Clark and other hit-makers of the day. “I Know a Place,” “The Shoop Shoop Song” and “If I Can Dream” are among the fabulous favorites on an eye-opening ride from innocence to experience. Forget all your troubles, forget all your cares—go “Downtown” and find out who you are! A Sign of the Times features a Book by Bruce Vilanch, Story Created by Richard Robin.

Single tickets may be purchased by visiting the Box Office, open seven days a week at 6 Main Street, East Haddam, Conn.; by calling 860.873.8668; or on-line at goodspeed.org. Special ticket packages are still available: see three shows at The Goodspeed for only $108 or see all five shows for just $196. Contact the Box Office for details. Ticket cost may vary by performance; please call for current pricing. All prices are subject to change.

At the Goodspeed, Anything Goes runs from April 8 – June 16; Bye Bye Birdie will run from June 24 – Sept. 4; Chasing Rainbows runs from Sept. 16 – Nov. 27.

At the Norma Terris Theatre: The Roar of the Greasepaint – The Smell of the Crowd runs from May 20 – June 26; A Sign of the Times runs from July 29 – Sept. 4.

Curtain times are Wednesday at 2 p.m. and 7:30 p.m., Thursday at 7:30 p.m., with select performances at 2 p.m., Friday at 8 p.m., Saturday at p.m. and 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m., with select performances at 6:30 p.m.

Under the leadership of Executive Director Michael Gennaro, Goodspeed Musicals is dedicated to the preservation, development and advancement of musical theatre and is the first theatre in the nation to receive two Tony Awards (for outstanding achievement). Goodspeed produces three musicals each season at The Goodspeed in East Haddam, Conn., and additional productions at The Terris Theatre in Chester, Conn., which was opened in 1984 for the development of new musicals. Goodspeed also maintains The Scherer Library of Musical Theatre and The Max Showalter Center for Education in Musical Theatre. Goodspeed acknowledges the support of United Airlines, the official airline of Goodspeed Musicals, and official auto sponsor Hoffman Audi. Goodspeed is supported in part the Connecticut Department of Economic and Community Development with support from the Connecticut Office of the Arts.

The post Tickets Available Now For ‘A Sign Of The Times’ Musical By Bruce Vilanch For Goodspeed Musical Season July 29 – Sept. 4 first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

I had the rare pleasure of seeing The Outrageous Sophie Tucker, a new documentary feature currently playing in select theaters. It opened the recent 2015 Los Angeles Jewish Film Festival, and is a genuine “rags to riches” show business story that will inspire today’s performers and certainly empower women of all ages, shapes and sizes. The film is directed by Academy Award nominated filmmaker William Gazecki, and written and produced by Susan and Lloyd Ecker. “The Last Of The Red-Hot Mamas” Sophie Tucker was known as the “female Al Jolson” and she paved the way for such icons as Mae West, Marilyn Monroe, Bette Midler, Cher, Madonna, Lady Gaga, Beyonce, even Amy Schumer.

The Eckers have been working on this in-depth documentary for eight years including immersing themselves in Tucker’s personal scrapbooks, interviewing numerous family, friends and show business personalities. Some of the on-camera interviews include Tony Bennett, Barbara Walters, Bruce Vilanch, Michael Feinstein, Carol Channing, narrated by David Hyde Pierce. Sophie Tucker was a pioneer, a woman ahead of her time as an entertainer, and a leader in Social Media. From 1906 through the beginning of television, her brash, bawdy style prevailed as a “star” attraction.

I spoke to the Eckers about their passion for getting Sophie’s story on screen, and they plan both a Broadway musical and feature film about The Outrageous Sophie Tucker. Is Sophie still relevant today? “Sophie represented that strong personable female voice that you see reincarnated today in performers such as Lady Gaga and Amy Schumer,” Lloyd Ecker explained. “Bette Midler started doing Sophie routines in her one-woman-shows which she still performs to this day, and Bette named her daughter Sophie. And Mae West was an early mentee of Mae West. Without Sophie there would not have been Mae West saying “Come up and see me sometime.” She was also a mentor to the young Judy Garland. According to Susan Ecker, “Sophie was the Forrest Gump of the first half of the 1900’s. She was close with U.S. Presidents, King George VI,young Queen Elizabeth, Charlie Chaplin, J.Edgar Hoover, Al Jolson, Jerry Lewis, Frank Sinatra, and every other notable of her era.”

Was she a feminist? “Sophie definitely believed a woman should receive equal pay to a man,” Lloyd Ecker stated. “When the suffragette movement came about, first she was against it, when it was in vogue, she was for it. Sophie Tucker fought for herself, created an environment and image, and rode the trends. But all she ever wanted was equal pay to a man.”

She sang “Some of These Days” and “After You’ve Gone” and she interpreted sex and innuendo in a way no woman had before her. Even though she was overweight, she stated boldly, “This is me. I’m comfortable in my own skin.” And if she were alive today, you can bet she’d be the Queen of Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Vines, Periscope and all forms of social media.

The Outrageous Sophie Tucker is an intriguing documentary feature that celebrated an original and lets us in on the creation of a Show Business Pioneer’s life and struggles.

The post ‘Sophie Mania’ Returns first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Festival Review

William Gazecki‘s documentary recounts the life and career of the famed performer known as the “Last of the Red Hot Mamas“

The post ‘The Outrageous Sophie Tucker’: New York Jewish Film Festival Review first appeared on We Got Bruce!.

Academy Award Winner Patty Duke discusses working with legend Judy Garland on the set of the 1967 camp classic VALLEY OF THE DOLLS w/ host Bruce Vilanch. This is a snippet from the sold-out event Marc Huestis Presents SPARKLE, PATTY, SPARKLE which also included performances by Connie Champagne as Neely Oâ€Hara & Matthew Martin as Helen Lawsen. This gala occurred 7/20/09 at the historic 1400 seat Castro Theatre in San Francisco.

The post Video: Bruce Vilanch Talks To Patty Duke first appeared on We Got Bruce!.