entertainment - "music"

Music Reviews: When Andrea McArdle sings 'If He Walked Into My Life,' Jerry Herman's ardent reflection from 'Mame,' it appears as if an imaginary proscenium arch surrounds the singer on the tiny stage of the intimate Metropolitan Room. It is a fervent musical statement, and the vivacious redhead turns it into a theatrical anthem of the first order.

TV News: Reteams with N.Y. Musical theater Festival -- The Paley Center has reteamed with the new york Musical Theater Festival to present 'Musicals on Television,' presentations of rarely seen TV tuners.

Legit News: 'Lydia,' 'Vanya' on L.A. theater's '09 schedule -- Two musicals, the world premiere of a Culture Clash play, a new drama by Octavio Solis and 'Uncle Vanya' highlight the Center theater Group's 2009 season at the refurbished Mark Taper Forum.

Legit Reviews: Thank God for the law of averages. 59E59's 'Summer Shorts 2' might merely be a swamp of lousy direction and poorly edited writing were it not for Terrence McNally and Skip Kennon's lovely little musical comedy 'Plaisir D'Amour,' which makes excellent use of 'Avenue Q' vet Stephanie D'Abruzzo as Ruth and Jonathan C. Kaplan as her partner Sam.

Take a look at this new environmental reality series starring the two musicians.

Album Reviews: An enjoyable effort offers a small taste of the local L.A. music scene, the Airborne Toxic Event's self-titled debut stops short of creating a truly original sound.

Music Reviews: Leonard Slatkin served as the Los Angeles Philharmonic's principal guest conductor at the Hollywood Bowl from 2005-07, bringing some fresh ideas on how to assemble Bowl programs. He came back for a brief visit Tuesday night with one more brainstorm -- pairing Edward Elgar, symbol of the British Empire, with Philip Glass, the iconoclastic American who helped break the grip of the Twelve-Tone Empire that once had a stranglehold on the definition of progress in music. As mischievous as it seemed on paper, the idea worked.

Music Reviews: Two legends threw no curveballs into their standard sets at the Hollywood Bowl and one came out like a warhorse and the other emerged as vital and current.

Music critic David Was is all smiles over After The Rain, the new CD by veteran R&B singer Irma Thomas. It features duets with an all-star roster of piano players including Dr. John, Ellis Marsalis and Norah Jones.

American Idol 7 finalist Michael Johns has been released from the show's restrictive contract that prevents finalists from being signed by other record labels or from releasing records until six months after the show concludes, thereby keeping their music out of the way of the show's winner (and runner-up). Johns 'asked to be released from the 19 Entertainment contract' and '19 agreed, The Atlanta Journal-Constitution reports. Johns has already 'been on two major labels and an indie' and now 'plans to go on his own like Elliott Yamin and hopes to find distribution any way he can,' and 'says he's recorded eight songs (two songs by Diane Warren), most done before the tour started. He hopes to get 25 done by Thanksgiving and pick 12 for an album set to be released in January or February,' according to the paper.'They said, 'Look--we realize you're 29 years old. Good luck.' I was so thankful. I've been able to work and get things done instead of wait around,' Michael told the paper. He