Harry on CD
Second, Kelli O'Hara's new solo album, Wonder in the World is also released today. Kelli starred opposite Harry on Broadway in 'The Pajama Game.' Harry arranged and orchestrated the music, plays piano on twelve of the fourteen tracks, and duets with Kelli on the title track "Wonder in the World" which he also wrote.
Harry on TV
Next up is the announcement that Harry will be starring in an original movie for Lifetime to premiere in October. The movie is being executive produced by Renee Zellweger, whom Harry recently filmed the movie Chilled in Miami with. Entitled Living Proof, Harry will portray real-life Dr. Denny Slamon, a UCLA doctor who developed the breast cancer drug Herceptin 2, and his relentless battle to keep the drug trials afloat and save the lives of thousands of women. The movie will be filmed in New Orleans.
Harry on Broadway
Finally, the exciting news that Harry will indeed be returning to Broadway next spring.
From AP:
Harry Connick Jr. and the Gershwins, George and Ira — Broadway's newest trio.
The jazz pianist-singer will return to Broadway in spring 2009 in "Nice Work If You Can Get It," a new musical comedy using Gershwin standards, producer Scott Landis announced Monday.
Connick will play a Long Island playboy in the show, which will feature a book by Joe DiPietro, one of the authors of "I Love You, You're Perfect, Now Change"; music by George Gershwin, and lyrics by Ira Gershwin.
"Nice Work If You Can Get It" will play a pre-Broadway engagement at Boston's Colonial Theatre. The show will begin preview performances on Broadway in February at a theater to be announced and open in March. Other casting will be announced later.
Kathleen Marshall will direct and choreograph. Marshall and Connick last worked together in the Tony-winning revival of "The Pajama Game" in 2006.
Stay tuned for more details! Its a great time to be a Harry fan!
Harry to perform for Pope Benedict XVI Wednesday, 16 April 2008 at 10:44 AM
On Sunday, April 20th, 2008, Harry Connick, Jr. will be part of the celebration of Mass at Yankee Stadium by Pope Benedict XVI. Harry was asked to compose the opening and closing pieces for the pre-Mass program.
There will be a live video feed of the Mass available on the Papal Visit website at www.uspapalvisit.org. Be sure to tune in to see and hear what are sure to be magnificent arrangements by Harry.
Update: The concert portion of the day's events should begin at noon EDT.
Happy 14th Anniversary to Harry and Jill! Wednesday, 16 April 2008 at 9:36 AM
Wishing you both many more years of happiness together!
Harry at the NBA All-Star Game in New Orleans : Tonight! Sunday, 17 February 2008 at 1:35 PM
Be sure to tune into TNT this evening to see a musical salute to New Orleans featuring our own Harry Connick, Jr. and a host of other NOLA musicians, including Branford Marsalis.
The 2008 NBA All-Star game is being hosted by New Orleans this year and the game begins at 8pm Eastern, with the halftime performance featuring Harry.
On Sunday, Feb. 17, Connick and Marsalis will take to the court for the 57th NBA All-Star Game at the New Orleans Arena. The Louisiana-born musicians collaborated on the evening's performance lineup creating a unique musical set that will not only give fans a taste of New Orleans jazz, funk and blues, but will also celebrate the rebirth of their beloved hometown in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. The performances will air live on TNT, Score Canada, ESPN Radio, and in 215 countries and territories beginning at 7:30 p.m. CT/8:30 p.m. ET.
Connick will serve as musical director for an unparalleled halftime show featuring four original compositions performed by four pairs of pianists who span the spectrum of New Orleans jazz including Dr. John, Allen Toussaint, Davell Crawford, Art Neville, Ivan Neville, Jonathan Batiste, Ellis Marsalis, and Harry Connick Jr. and his Big Band.
Harry was photographed with his daughters at one of the many All-Star weekend events on Saturday. Come see the pictures and let us know what you think of the performance tonight in the forum.
Harry to return to Broadway? Wednesday, 30 January 2008 at 10:34 PM
The New York Post has an article entitled Connick Comeback : Singer Considers Gershwin Hybrid discussing a Broadway show that Harry and Pajama Game director, Kathleen Marshall, are shopping to theater owners in New York City.
Ever since their pleasant revival of "The Pajama Game" won a surprise Tony Award in 2006 - beating out the great "Sweeney Todd" - the two close friends have been looking for their next show.
And it will be . . . "They All Laughed."
Never heard of it?
Who has?
"They All Laughed" opened at Goodspeed on Aug. 11, 2001. The critics gave it polite enough reviews, but there was plenty of backstage trouble - the director pulled out one week before opening night - and the show quickly became just another poster in Goodspeed's foyer.
The convoluted plot involves Prohibition, a Temperance Society, bootlegging, speakeasies, a playboy, an heiress and some lovable gangsters.
But it was the songs, pulled from the golden Gershwin trunk and inserted into the story line, that carried the evening: "I've Got a Crush on You," "He Loves and She Loves," "Blah Blah Blah," "Do Do Do" and "S'Wonderful," among them.
As dopey as the plot of "They All Laughed" might be, I suspect that plenty of theatergoers will line up to hear Connick sing those songs.
In "The Pajama Game," he brought down the house with "Hey, There," "There Once Was a Man" and, accompanying himself on the piano, "Hernando's Hideaway."
Just imagine what he'll do with a Gershwin tune.
My New Orleans Australia Tour 2008 Tuesday, 29 January 2008 at 4:50 PM
Four dates have been announced for Harry's tour stops in Australia:
23 Mar 2008 : Sydney, Australia @ Sydney Opera House
27 Mar 2008 : Melbourne, Australia @ Palais Theatre
28 Mar 2008 : Canberra, Australia @ Royal Theatre
30 Mar 2008 : Perth, Australia @ Kings Park
The tour will continue to Australia! Tuesday, 29 January 2008 at 9:42 AM
Attention all Aussie fans: The Sydney Morning Herald is reporting that Harry and his big band will be heading to Australia to perform at the Sydney Opera House on March 23rd. Tickets to go on sale next week.
There will most likely be more dates Down Under, check back for more updates!
Harry History : performances with Carly Simon Thursday, 24 January 2008 at 10:29 AM
Harry performed with Carly Simon several times in the late 1980's - early 1990's. The blog MV Obsession has a post and photos about seeing Harry and Carly perform together at the Tabernacle at Martha's Vineyard in September of 1990.
A performance that Harry and Carly did at the famed Oak Room in the Algonquin Hotel in New York around the same time can be seen on YouTube.
Kelli and Harry: together again; duet on her new album Wednesday, 23 January 2008 at 2:16 PM
Playbill.com is reporting that Kelli O'Hara (who memorably starred with Harry in The Pajama Game) will release her debut solo recording, "Wonder in the World", on May 6th.
Harry fans will want to take note of this release on Ghostlight Records, as Harry arranged and orchestrated the music, plays piano on twelve of the fourteen tracks, and duets with Kelli on the title track "Wonder in the World" which he also wrote.
We will provide updated information on how to purchase the album as soon as we find it.
