From Vienna to Berlin and on to Montreal, Las Vegas, New York and Florida
The Play Spatz and Engel Celebrates Marlene Dietrich’s and Edith Piaf’s Friendship
The play Spatz and Engel tells a merely known story about two of the most famous divas of the twenty-first century. The stage play is filled with music, many humorous, tragic and moving moments about two of the biggest chanteuse of all time. The play Spatz and Engel, which means The Angel And The Sparrow, focuses story wise on this friendship. A range of songs – among both the biggest hits of both of them and hidden treasures – have been concretely integrated into the plays dramaturgy and benefit the act. One of these songs is a gem — “Awake in a Dream,” composed by Frederick Hollander with lyrics by Leo Robin — first featured in Desire, a 1936 romantic comedy-drama film starring Marlene Dietrich and Gary Cooper, and produced by Ernst Lubitsch. To learn more about this story about Marlene Dietrich’s and Edith Piaf’s friendship and view Marlene Dietrich singing and playing piano to “Awake in a Dream” with Gary Cooper gazing at her, click on this image.
Happening Now on the Jazz Mecca in New Orleans
The National World War II Museum in New Orleans Premieres new exhibit Expressions of America featuring Jazz Classic “Thanks for the Memory”
On the eve of Veterans Day, The National World War II Museum in New Orleans premiered its newest attraction, Expressions of America, a first-of-its-kind nighttime sound and light show celebrating the power of individual Americans to impact the world around them during a time of monumental conflict. Hosted by actor and veterans advocate Gary Sinise, the 90-minute experience includes a special custom exhibit highlighting the role of correspondence during the war, a menu of festive food and drinks, and live pre-show entertainment before guests move outdoors to the Parade Ground for the approximately 25-minute sound and light show, followed by original jazz versions of war-era classics including “Thanks for the Memory,” composed by Ralph Rainger with lyrics by Leo Robin, and artistic projections of information about the real-life individuals featured in the show. To access more details about the newest attraction Expressions of America that premiered at the National World War II Museum in New Orleans including the war-era jazz classic “Thanks for the Memory,” click on the image:
Happening Now On The Town in New York
Smart Blonde Celebrates Judy Holliday‘s Life
The New York premiere of Willy Holtzman’s Smart Blonde, starring Andréa Burns as Judy Holliday, opens at 59E59’s Theater B on March 16 for a limited engagement and runs through Saturday, April 13, 2019. Memory and song converge as the “dumb blonde” with a genius IQ charts her experiences from Greenwich Village to Broadway and beyond in the new off-Broadway musical. To learn more about how Judy Holliday began her show business career in Greenwich Village as part of a nightclub act called The Revuers and get a sneak peek of the show Smart Blonde with highlights including the cast singing and dancing to the song written by Nacio Herb Brown and Leo Robin, “It’s All for Art’s Sake,” click on the image.
Feinstein and Ebersole will take a summer stroll throughclassic standards
Michael Feinstein, ambassador of the Great American Songbook and two-time Tony Award winner Christine Ebersole introduce a program of duets and medleys from the Golden Age at the New York theater district nightclub that bears Feinstein’s name, Feinstein’s/54 Below. Feinstein and Ebersole will take a summer stroll through classic standards such as “Thanks for the Memory,” in a resplendent celebration of the Great American Songbook. This show is part of Feinstein’s/54 Below’s Summer 2018 concert series: Duo Shows at 54! From partners to siblings to co-stars and beyond, these evenings will celebrate the special collaboration of two artists brought together. To access more details of this cabaret show held at Feinstein’s/54 Below, click on the image:
The 92nd Street Y Celebrates The Classics of Leo Robin
The 92nd Street Y celebrated Songbook Classics By Unsung Lyricists with a wonderful ensemble of actors from Broadway shows and an orchestra on May 6, 7 and 8, 2017. Many of the popular standards penned by songwriter Leo Robin were covered including “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend” and “Bye Bye, Baby” from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes. The show was exquisite with its mission to pay special tribute to all the great songwriters who went out to Hollywood and created some of the greatest songs ever written. Leo Robin moved from New York, where he was working on Broadway shows, to Hollywood where he wrote some of the most memorable scores for films and became the Dean of Lyricists in Hollywood. The 92nd Street Y honored Leo Robin on many occasions over the years and he attended “The Lyrics and Lyricists: Lyrics For Film” Program when it presented an evening at The 92nd Street Y in 1982 to honor Leo Robin’s unforgettable contribution to musical film. To access more details of this event held at the 92nd Street Y, click on the image:
Leo Robin’s ode to New York and it’s nightlife with “Night in Manhattan”
A throwback track — “Night in Manhattan” — was released June 30, 2017 on the new album, titled after the song, Night In Manhattan (Songs about New York – Original Recordings 1932 – 1936). The album Night In Manhattan is an eclectic collection of eleven songs about the New York experience. Leo Robin’s journey in New York where he wrote songs for Broadway gave him a perspective so that he can emote a view of what being in New York truly feels like. The melody and lyrics of the song “Night in Manhattan” are evocative and of haunting beauty. The song has a rhumba rhythm and the powerfully evocative lyrics of Leo Robin is his ode to New York and it’s nightlife. For your enjoyment, click on the image to take delight in Leo Robin’s ode to New York and it’s nightlife with “Night in Manhattan” and view much more.
Happening Now On The Shoreline in Florida
Delray Beach Playhouse presents Thanks for the Memories! – The Songs of Leo Robin
The historic Delray Beach Playhouse, located on beautiful Lake Ida, has been known for its exceptional community theater offerings since it was established in 1947. The Playhouse continues its highly popular Musical Memories Series, hosted by Artistic Director Randolph DelLago, and the series leads off with the show Thanks for the Memories! – The Songs of Leo Robin. this October 15-24. “Leo Robin wrote his first Broadway show in 1926, and he continued writing great songs for Broadway and Hollywood for the next three decades!…“Thanks for the Memory” for Bob Hope, he also created signature songs for Hollywood legends like Jeannette MacDonald (“Beyond the Blue Horizon”), Tony Martin (“Hooray for Love”), Perry Como (“Prisoner of Love”) and Bing Crosby (“June in January” and “Love in Bloom”). Elvis Presley even had a hit with his song “Blue Hawaii.”…Marilyn Monroe…with “Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend.” To access more details of this special event held at the Delray Beach Playhouse, click on the image:
