Bernard Sahlins, who, as the co-founder of Second City, the legendary improvisational comedy theatre group, had an incalculable affect on generations of American comedy, died June 16 in his home. He was 90.

Bernard Sahlins, who, as the co-founder of Second City, the legendary improvisational comedy theatre group, had an incalculable affect on generations of American comedy, died June 16 in his home. He was 90.

Paul Sills, one of the founders of the famous Chicago-based improvisational comedy group known as The Second City, died June 2 at his home in Baileys Harbor, WI, of complications from pneumonia. He was 80.

The comedian and character actor, Avery Schreiber, known for his standup comedy with Jack Burns in the 1970s, and for acting in plays and musicals, including Cy Coleman's Welcome to the Club in 1989, died of a heart attack Jan. 7, according to wire services.

Remember Paul Sills’ Story Theatre, a company that based its storytelling on theatre games created by Sills’ mother, teacher Viola Spolin? It’s been three decades since the troupe originally made their mark on Broadway, but rumor had it they were to return this season. Now plans for their arrival are completely up in the air, albeit not completely scotched, according to general manager Brent Peek (reached July 12).

Remember Paul Sills’ Story Theatre, a company that based its storytelling on theatre games created by Sills’ mother, teacher Viola Spolin? It’s been three decades since the troupe originally made their mark on Broadway, but they may be coming back next season, if managing producer Sharon Rosen has her way.

Is it me or is time dragging in the weeks before the June 15 Tony Award ceremony? In the past, a journalist covering the awards season barely had time to breathe and slug back a cup of black coffee in the days between when the Tony nominations were announced and when the trophies were actually handed out. It was hectic and non-stop. But this year it feels like a week at the cabin upstate in late May and early June could have been easily arranged.

Twyla Now, marking Tharp’s 80th birthday, runs November 17–21.

A new work by Naomi Wallace, the U.S. premiere of Sam Shepard's A Particle of Dread and the world premiere of a new play by Athol Fugard will be featured in the Signature Theatre's 2014-15 season.

RCA/BMG has continued its periodic series of CD transfers of long out-of-print original cast albums, bringing us two titles from the winter of 1967-68. Let us say, first and foremost, that RCA is to be admired for continuing to send this series of reissues our way. Some of them, presumably, make a little money, while others probably don't. RCA has maintained a strong presence in the current-day musical theatre -- next up, I understand, is Marie Christine -- and they seem to feel an obligation to give fans these little gifts; for this, we can be grateful. Other labels owned by international media conglomerates (as RCA is) seem not to be interested in spending time and money on obscure cast albums with little earning potential, thereby keeping some important scores out of the hands of the post-vinyl generation. RCA's present releases will surely please aficionados, although their overall appeal might be somewhat limited.

RCA/BMG has continued its periodic series of CD transfers of long out-of-print original cast albums, bringing us two titles from the winter of 1967-68. Let us say, first and foremost, that RCA is to be admired for continuing to send this series of reissues our way. Some of them, presumably, make a little money, while others probably don't. RCA has maintained a strong presence in the current-day musical theatre -- next up, I understand, is Marie Christine -- and they seem to feel an obligation to give fans these little gifts; for this, we can be grateful. Other labels owned by international media conglomerates (as RCA is) seem not to be interested in spending time and money on obscure cast albums with little earning potential, thereby keeping some important scores out of the hands of the post-vinyl generation. RCA's present releases will surely please aficionados, although their overall appeal might be somewhat limited.

Show tune fans have arcana to look forward to Nov. 23, when cast albums of How Now, Dow Jones (1967) and Your Own Thing (1968) get re-released on CD, by RCA Victor.

"If music be the food of love, play on."

"If music be the food of love, play on."