Streisand Visits Her Funny Girl Dressing Room On Broadway

Very sweet moment as Barbra Streisand visits her Funny Girl dressing room on Broadway for the first time in 50 years.

I visited that very dressing room 30 years ago when I was rehearsing for the national touring company of CATS and the Broadway production was playing at the Winter Garden Theater.

Via CBS’ “Sunday Morning:”

In this web exclusive, the singer who became a superstar in the 1960s Broadway musical “Funny Girl” visited her old haunts at the Winter Garden Theatre in New York City, including the dressing room now occupied by “School of Rock” star Sierra Boggess.

News Round-Up: August 11, 2016

Some news stories you may have missed:

• First same-sex marriage proposal at the 2016 Rio Olympics – “She said ‘Yes!'”

• Pop powerhouse Adele is in talks to record an album of duets with none other than Barbra Streisand. Can you say “ka-ching?”

• Donald Trump, who claims he will be very good for “the gays” is set to headline a radical anti-LGBT event in Orlando. Other LGBT haters in attendance include Marco Rubio, Mat Staver and David Barton.

• A former aide to New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says Christie “flat-out lied” about knowledge of Bridgegate.

• The president of the Philippines called the U.S. Ambassador, who is openly gay, “the son of a whore.” I’m not making this up, kids.

• 72% of Republicans doubt President Obama is an American. I shit you not.

• Sean Hannity believes the person with the biggest social media following will win the White House. And so, I give you President Kim Kardashian.

Video: Barbra Streisand “Fifty Percent”

Here’s a treat from the upcoming Barbra Streisand.

In addition to the standard 10 track release of her “Encore – Movie Partners Sing Broadway,” Target will be releasing a Deluxe version with four additional tracks.

From Playbill:

Target will issue an exclusive 14-track deluxe version of the album that includes several show-stopping, dramatic songs, which fans have been waiting to hear Streisand record.

Along with the wistful ballad “I Didn’t Know What Time It Was” from Too Many Girls, the bonus material includes “Not a Day Goes By” from Merrily We Roll Along, the Follies torch song “Losing My Mind,” and the powerhouse eleven o’clock number from Ballroom, “Fifty Percent.”

While the musical Ballroom was technically a flop back in the late 70s (it was director/choreographer Michael Bennett’s follow-up to A Chorus Line), the show-stopping eleven o’clock number “Fifty Percent” from the musical has elevated to legendary status for singing divas. Dorothy Loudon was nominated for a Tony Award based in great part for her performance of the song.

One small quibble here, though – the Bergmans (who penned the lyrics for the song) have rewritten some of the lyrics which, after 40 years, feels a bit jarring.

That aside, la Streisand is a perfect fit for the song. Looking forward to the new collection.

p.s. I hear from sources her new concert is, not surprisingly, fantastic.

Barbra Streisand Shares Cover Of Upcoming “ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway”

La Streisand tweeted out this first look at the cover of her upcoming album ENCORE: Movie Partners Sing Broadway.

Here’s the complete track list:

1. At The Ballet with Anne Hathaway & Daisy Ridley
2. Loving You with Patrick Wilson
3. Who Can I Turn To (When Nobody Needs Me)with Anthony Newley
4. The Best Thing That Has Ever Happened with Alec Baldwin
5. Any Moment Now with Hugh Jackman
6. Anything You Can Do with Melissa McCarthy
7. Pure Imagination with Seth MacFarlane
8. Take Me To The World with Antonio Banderas
9. I’ll Be Seeing You/ I’ve Grown Accustomed To Her Face with Chris Pine
10. Climb Ev’ry Mountain with Jamie Foxx

The new collection will be available August 26th. Click here to pre-order the CD on Amazon.

UPDATE: La Streisand has released this first track from the album – her take on the A Chorus Line ballad “At The Ballet” with Anne Hathaway and Daisy Ridley

Barbra Streisand To Return To Tony Awards For First Time In 46 Years

Oscar/Emmy/Grammy and special Tony Award winner Barbra Streisand has been announced as a presenter at this year’s Tony Awards airing June 12th on CBS.

This will be the first time since 1970 that La Babs will appear on the awards show that honors the best in Broadway theater.

The appearance comes as Streisand preps for her upcoming tour set to begin in August. The tour will promote her upcoming theater-themed album, “Encore: Movie Partners Sing Broadway.”

Additional star power will appear on the Tonys telecast: host James Corden, Cate Blanchett, Steve Martin, Nathan Lane, and Oprah Winfrey.

(source)

Barbra Streisand Announces 9 Concert Date Tour

There’s joy in Babs-Land today!

La Streisand took to Instagram to announce her new 9 city concert tour beginning August 2nd in Los Angeles.

All the details at BarbraStreisand.com.

Sondheim, Streisand & Spielberg To Be Honored With Presidential Medal Of Freedom

Today, President Barack Obama named seventeen recipients of the Presidential Medal of Freedom. The Presidential Medal of Freedom is the Nation’s highest civilian honor, presented to individuals who have made especially meritorious contributions to the security or national interests of the United States, to world peace, or to cultural or other significant public or private endeavors. The awards will be presented at the White House on November 24th.

Among those being honored are Broadway composer/lyricist Stephen Sondheim, theater/music/movie legend Barbra Streisand, film visionary Steven Spielberg and Gloria & Emilio Estefan.

President Obama said, “I look forward to presenting these 17 distinguished Americans with our nation’s highest civilian honor. From public servants who helped us meet defining challenges of our time to artists who expanded our imaginations, from leaders who have made our union more perfect to athletes who have inspired millions of fans, these men and women have enriched our lives and helped define our shared experience as Americans.”

Click here for a list of all 2015 Presidential Medal of Freedom honorees.

Barbra Streisand/Lady Gaga Summit – Part 2

A photo posted by The Countess (@ladygaga) on Aug 22, 2015 at 11:44pm PDT

First, we got the above pic via Instagram of Lady Gaga and Barbra Streisand on Saturday night.

Then the story becomes even more interesting as it appears Streisand and hubby James Brolin not only hosted Gaga but also John Travolta, his wife Kelly Preston, and writer/director Ryan Murphy (GLEE, American Horror Story).

What could the Hollywood powerhouses be up to?

Enquiring minds want to know…

A photo posted by Barbra Streisand (@barbrastreisand) on Aug 23, 2015 at 1:04pm PDT