This week in the life of Seth Rudetsky, Seth shares tales from his interviews with Weed and Rodgers and Hammerstein expert Todd Purdum from Seth Speaks, plus what critics said about now-classic musicals.

The season includes Ayad Akhtar’s The Who & The What, Guys and Dolls, and the new musical Mark Twain’s River of Song.

Fans of Kelli O'Hara rejoiced when, after 15 years and five nominations, the leading lady of Broadway won her first Tony Award. One month later, O'Hara reflected on what the award means to her.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

The star-studded production of Terrence McNally's It's Only a Play opened on Broadway Oct. 9. Nathan Lane, Matthew Broderick and Megan Mullally were there. So was Playbill.

Everybody has one. We offer eight favorite guilty pleasure musicals.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

News, views and reviews about the multi-talented women of the musical theatre and the concert/cabaret stage.

You know her as a morning TV host, a Broadway performer from Putting It Together and as an advocate for children in need. Now, meet Kathie Lee Gifford — musical theatre writer.

Hello, diva lovers! Well, I must admit it was a bit daunting to open a blank Word Perfect document this past Tuesday morning to attempt to write a millennium-based diva column while finishing our January subscription issue and starting our February theatre edition. At one point I decided I would just write a regular weekly column and not deal with the approaching 2000 mark, but then I thought I would simply list many of the women of the musical theatre/cabaret worlds who have brightened our lives throughout the past few decades. So, in alphabetical order, here they are. (I’m sure I’ve left out many of your favorites, so please excuse any omission!) Following this grand diva list are more detailed thoughts and musings about some (but not all) 25 of my very favorite gals (alphabetically, of course). I hope you enjoy reading this column, and may the New Year bring every diva lover out there much joy and happiness, and may it also be diva-filled!

Hello, diva lovers! Well, I must admit it was a bit daunting to open a blank Word Perfect document this past Tuesday morning to attempt to write a millennium-based diva column while finishing our January subscription issue and starting our February theatre edition. At one point I decided I would just write a regular weekly column and not deal with the approaching 2000 mark, but then I thought I would simply list many of the women of the musical theatre/cabaret worlds who have brightened our lives throughout the past few decades. So, in alphabetical order, here they are. (I’m sure I’ve left out many of your favorites, so please excuse any omission!) Following this grand diva list are more detailed thoughts and musings about some (but not all) 25 of my very favorite gals (alphabetically, of course). I hope you enjoy reading this column, and may the New Year bring every diva lover out there much joy and happiness, and may it also be diva-filled!

BETTY BUCKLEY
The diva news of the week would have to be Betty Buckley's decision to star as Mama Rose in the upcoming production of Gypsy at the Paper Mill Playhouse. It was touch-and-go for a while as contracts were being negotiated, but now that Buckley has signed, theatre lovers have good reason to rejoice: It should be a thrilling experience to watch Buckley portray one of the most demanding roles in the musical theatre canon. The Tony winner will also get the chance to wrap her voice around such Jule Styne/Stephen Sondheim/classics as "Some People," "You'll Never Get Away from Me," "Small World," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Wherever We Go" and, of course, "Rose's Turn."

BETTY BUCKLEY
I guess the diva news of the week would have to be Betty Buckley's decision to star as Mama Rose in the upcoming production of Gypsy at the Paper Mill Playhouse. It was touch-and-go for awhile as contracts were being negotiated, but now that Buckley has signed, theatre lovers have good reason to rejoice: It should be a thrilling experience to watch Buckley portray one of the most demanding roles in the musical theatre canon. The Tony winner will also get the chance to wrap her voice around such Jule Styne/Stephen Sondheim/classics as "Some People," "You'll Never Get Away from Me," "Small World," "Everything's Coming Up Roses," "Wherever We Go" and, of course, "Rose's Turn."

I have a confession to make," Jerry Herman told a couple of Carnegie Hall audiences recently. "All these years that I've been writing Broadway musicals, whenever I've had to write a real hit-'em-in-the-gut show tune, I always pictured it in the voice of Judy Garland. Invariably, my work came out more theatrical and exciting because of that little trick. So I've come here tonight with this special lyric, not only to honor the greatest entertainer of this century but to say thank you to Judy for all the years she has been my secret muse." With that, he walked to the piano and socked across his "That's Entertainment" rewrite: "For years, there's a debt I have owed/To the girl from the yellow-brick road . . ."