Tag: Betty Buckley

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New Music: Betty Buckley “Ghostlight”

Broadway icon, Tony Award-winner and 2-time Grammy Award nominee Betty Buckley is set to release her new album “Ghostlight” on September 16, 2014.  The recording re-unites her with longtime friend and legendary music producer T Bone Burnett.

The album’s title – “Ghostlight” – references the age-old stage tradition in which a single light bulb is kept onstage, after performers and audiences have gone home, to keep ghosts company.

When Buckley and Burnett were both 19 years old, living in Fort Worth, TX, they began making music together. Buckley, who has been called “The Voice of Broadway,” is one of theater’s most respected and legendary leading ladies.

Burnett’s highly sought after involvement in music, film, TV and stage projects is marked by his uncanny ability to successfully combine his unique artistic sensibilities with massive commercial appeal. One of the goals of the project, says Burnett, “was for a ghostly haunting sound, which I called ‘crime jazz,’ giving the project a timeless feel.”

“I love this record. It’s a dreamscape, and is true, I feel, to the essence of who I am as an artist, singer and storyteller,” says Buckley.

“There is an undeniable atmosphere to this recording. The music is not easily categorized. This music is haunting, timeless, and while the choice of songs is very eclectic in their origin, they coalesce to create an atmosphere that is both romantic and provocative, I think.”

I’ve heard several tracks from the upcoming release and I can tell you – this is Art, kids.  Many of these tracks are destined to being regarded as the quintessential recordings of the songs.

“Ghostlight” tracklist:

1. Come To Me Bend To Me
2. If You Go Away
3. Blue Skies
4. Throw It Away
5. Lazy Afternoon
6. Bewitched
7. This Nearly Was Mine
8. Body And Soul
9. Comin Back To Me
10. Dreamsville
11. Take It With Me When I Go
12. Where Time Stands Still

The CD will be released on September 16th.  To pre-order click here.

In addition to the regular CD package, “Ghostlight” will be available for sale as a commemorative limited art box which includes 2 separate vinyl records of the complete recording, a 24 page booklet of photos and notes, as well as a CD copy of the “Ghostlight” recording, plus “Bootleg: Boardmixes from the Road”, the promo CD for “Ghostlight”.

For more info, head over to the newly redesigned, very snazzilious official website for Miss Betty at www.bettybuckley.com.

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Las Vegas: Betty Buckley performs “The Other Woman: The Vixens of Broadway” this weekend at The Smith Center

Betty Buckley to perform acclaimed concert "The Other Woman: The Vixens of Broadway" at the Smith Center in Las Vegas October 25, 26 & 27, 2013.

The luminous Betty Buckley, direct from rave reviews for her star turn in the Off-Broadway world premiere of Horton Foote’s The Old Friends, is bringing her critically acclaimed concert “The Other Woman: The Vixens of Broadway” to the Smith Center on October 25, 26 & 27.

The Theater Hall of Fame honoree’s “The Vixens of Broadway” highlights some of the most memorable supporting female characters in Broadway’s most popular shows. Song selections include hits from Chicago, Evita, Company, Oklahoma and Into the Woods.

The Tony Award-winner will also incorporate songs from Jerry Herman’s Dear World in which she starred in the London Premiere earlier this year.

Described as “The Voice of Broadway,” by New York Magazine,  Betty Buckley has become the premiere leading lady of the American musical theatre via her show-stopping performances in Cats, Sunset Boulevard, Song and Dance, 1776, Pippin and The Mystery of Edwin Drood. Ms. Buckley won a Tony Award for her performance in Cats, received a Tony Award nomination for Triumph of Love, and an Olivier Award nomination in London for her performance in Sunset Boulevard, which she reprised on Broadway to rave reviews.

“The Vixens of Broadway” debuted last fall at Feinstein’s in New York to rave reviews.  Stephen Holden of the New York Times wrote, “You leave few evenings feeling exhilarated after peering into the souls of more than a dozen musical theater characters, all embodied by the same singer…the show is rich in musical theater lore and spicy autobiographical tidbits…the show is a master class in how a singer arrives at the right balance of self, the personality of a song and the character who sings it.”

A perfect fit at the comfortable and stylish Cabaret Jazz room, this appearance marks Buckley’s second run at the venue.  Playing to packed houses last fall in her Smith Center debut, she dazzled Las Vegas audiences with her show, “Ah Men – The Boys of Broadway.”

Don’t miss this theatre legend as she brings powerful and new interpretations to some of Broadway’s greatest female roles.

Tickets range from $39-$79

For tickets or more information head over to The Smith Center website by clicking here.

You can listen to my interview with Betty for The Candi & Randy Show below, where she chats on her recent off-Broadway success in “The Old Friends.” her concert “The Vixens of Broadway” and her creative approach to new material for stage and concerts.  Really fascinating chat from a true legend.

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Betty Buckley in “The Old Friends”

Me with Betty Buckley and Michael after Betty’s fab performance in “The Old Friends” in NYC

BEST anniversary ever!

Last night on our quick NYC trip, we saw why Betty Buckley and company are receiving rave reviews for the Signature Theatre world premiere of Horton Foote’s “The Old Friends.”

A force of Texas nature, Betty is amazing in a role worthy of her considerable skills and star power.  This play is an “event” and her performance is fantastic.

While the production closes this weekend after being extended twice, one can only hope we see this gorgeous play moved to Broadway.

Bravo everyone!

I interviewed Betty this week for my radio show, The Candi & Randy Show. Click the play button below to her Betty chat on her new hit play, her upcoming concerts in Las Vegas, and how she sees her creative process.

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Opening night – Betty Buckley’s dressing table

I don’t I can even explain how much I love this pic…

Betty Buckley shared this pic on her Instagram (if you don’t follow her there, you’re really missing out).

Something about the energy of an opening night in NYC with a new play, etc, etc…  You can just see the exuberance in Betty Lynn’s face.

And then there’s the perfect “Texas” hair – which Betty would know something about, don’t you know?

p.s. did I mention she got RAVE reviews…?

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Betty Buckley window shopping in NYC

Betty Buckley is one of the most fab people I know (how cool that I even get to say that???).

Betty is in NYC for the new world premiere of the Horton Foote play, The Old Friends.

Directed by Michael Wilson, the play will star Betty, Hallie Foote (the late playwright’s daughter and a renowned interpreter of his work), and Lois Smith. It begins performances Aug. 20 at the Signature Theatre’s Pershing Square Signature Center, with official opening set for Sept. 12.

However, Betty loves taking pictures and she recently posted great photos on her Instagram account of the gorgeous window at Bergdorf Goodman. What I love is that Betty captures not only the window design itself, but in the reflection you can see her taking the picture in the middle of all the gorgeosity (I may have made that word up, but it seems appropriate).

Don’t miss the premiere of Horton Foote’s play – here’s ticket (and more) info.

And if you’re in NYC, just note that that person taking pictures next to you on the street just might be a certain Tony Award winner… 🙂

Follow Betty on Instagram here.

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Orange County: Betty Buckley in concert this weekend

Hey Orange County!  You have three opportunities to see the fab Betty Buckley this weekend at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, starting tonight at 7:30.

Betty will be performing her acclaimed “Ah Men – the Boys of Broadway” along with some songs from the follow-up “The Other Woman: The Vixens of Broadway.”  I’ve seen Miss Betty perform many times in concert, and every time I walk away breathless.  Here’s a link to my review of the show when Betty was in Las Vegas last fall.

What could be better than great songs performed by a great artist in a beautiful setting?

If you don’t have the opportunity to see Betty Buckley this weekend, you can enjoy this evening of songs on her CD of the same name. Check it out on Amazon. 

For more info, click here.  

Samueli Theater at the Segerstrom Center
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NYC: Betty Buckley to star in world premiere of “The Old Friends”

Tony Award winner Betty Buckley and Tony Award nominees Hallie Foote and Lois Smith will appear in the world premiere of  Horton Foote’s The Old Friends as part of Signature Theatre’s 2013-14 season.  Performances will begin Aug. 20 with a Sept. 12 opening.
Go to Signature Theatre’s official website for more info.

Horton Foote’s work has been produced at Signature Theatre in previous seasons. He was the fourth Playwright-in-Residence during its 1994-95 season.

Signature Theatre also produced the world premiere of The Last of the Thorntons in its 2000-01 season and The Trip to Bountiful, featuring Lois Smith, in the 2005-06 season.

“In The Old Friends, matriarch Mamie Borden and the remaining members of two longtime Texas farming families await a visit from Mamie’s son Hugo and his wife Sybil,” press notes state. “When Sybil arrives with alarming news, old friends on opposing sides must confront the issues surrounding legacy, loyalty, and the meaning of happiness that have hounded them for generations.”

Foote’s The Trip to Bountiful is currently on Broadway starring Cicely Tyson, Vanessa Williams and Cuba Gooding Jr.