Lansbury will receive 1st Sondheim Award

November 8, 2009 at 12:00a.m.

ARLINGTON, Va. — Angela Lansbury will be the first recipient of the Stephen Sondheim Award from a Washington-area theater that has produced more of his works than any other U.S. theater.

Signature Theatre announced Thursday that it will honor Lansbury at a gala celebration in April.

Lansbury is a five-time Tony Award-winning Broadway musical star. Two of her Tonys are for Sondheim musicals — the 1974 revival of “Gypsy” and “Sweeney Todd” in 1979.

Lansbury’s first musical theater appearance was in “Anyone Can Whistle.” Sondheim wrote the score, but the show ran for only nine performances. Sondheim says the award will help make it up to Lansbury.

Lansbury returns to Broadway this month in Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” with Catherine Zeta-Jones.

Midler’s ready to close curtain on Vegas ‘Showgirl’

LAS VEGAS — Bette Midler will perform her Las Vegas show “The Showgirl Must Go On” for the last time Jan. 31.

Midler’s show has had a home for nearly two years at The Colosseum at Caesars Palace. Her stint at Caesars began Feb. 20, 2008.

Midler said in a statement Thursday that her run has been fabulous. She thanks both Caesars Palace and AEG Live for “the best partnership a showgirl could imagine.”

“The Showgirl Must Go On” runs from through Nov. 15 and Dec. 30-Jan. 31. There are no performances on Mondays, Thursdays and some Fridays.

Cirque du Soleil reveals new show: ‘Viva ELVIS’

LAS VEGAS — Elvis is coming to The Strip — Cirque du Soleil style.

Cirque du Soleil announced Thursday that its new show in Las Vegas will be called “Viva ELVIS.”

The show will be a tribute to the life and music of Elvis Presley. It will have a permanent home at the Aria Resort & Casino at MGM Mirage’s CityCenter complex, set to open in December.

Known for its extravagant theatrical performances combining live music, dance and acrobatics, the Quebec-based circus troupe announced plans for the show in August 2006.

Cirque du Soleil has teamed with CKX Inc. and Elvis Presley Enterprises to create the show.

Today’s birthdays

Actress June Havoc is 97. Actor Norman Lloyd (“St. Elsewhere”) is 95. Singer Patti Page is 82. CBS newsman Morley Safer is 78. Singer Bonnie Bramlett is 65. Singer Bonnie Raitt is 60. “Entertainment Tonight” host Mary Hart is 59. Former Playboy CEO Christie Hefner is 57. Actress Alfre Woodard is 57. Singer-songwriter Rickie Lee Jones is 55. Singer-actor Leif Garrett is 48. Actress Courtney Thorne-Smith (“According to Jim,”) is 42. Actress Parker Posey is 41. Singer Diana King is 39. Actress Gretchen Mol is 36. Actor Matthew Rhys (“Brothers and Sisters”) is 35. Actress Tara Reid (“American Pie”) is 34. Singer Bucky Covington (“American Idol”) is 32. Actress Dania Ramirez is 30. TV personality Jack Osbourne (“The Osbournes”) is 24. Actress Jessica Lowndes (”90210”) is 21.