My first exposure to the Broadway debut of the new Mel Brooks musical, Young Frankenstein, was a brief teaser of performance snippets during the Macy’s Day parade in 2007. At the time, I couldn’t help wondering how it would do stacked up against some of the masterpieces of musical comedy I wished would return to touring the U.S. A fan of the movie starring Gene Wilder, I also wasn’t sure how the screenplay humor would translate to the stage performance.

Following the show’s opening at Playhouse Square’s Palace Theatre in downtown Cleveland last Tuesday, I attended the first Saturday night performance yesterday. Turnout was greater than I had expected with the balcony near full by the time the orchestra was warmed up and the houselights had dimmed. The stage was blanketed in a blue screen featuring a glowing moon and spooky, mist-wrapped mountain with a winding path leading up to a great castle overlooking a small town. With a burst of lighting and thunder, the show was quickly underway.

Playhouse Square announced today seven exciting new shows coming to Cleveland as a part of the KeyBank Broadway Series. The following shows will be staged in Cleveland during 2009 and 2010:

YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN
October 13-25, 2009
The classic Mel Brooks movie is ALIVE as a monstrously-good, award-winning new musical.

CHICAGO
January 12-24, 2010
Broadway’s razzle-dazzle smash musical is the sensational tale of sin, corruption and all that jazz.

IN THE HEIGHTS
February 9-21, 2010
The incredible Tony ® Award-winning Best Musical about chasing your dreams and finding your true home.

XANADU
March 2-14, 2010
“‘Xanadu’ is one of the funniest things to land on a Broadway stage in ages! It is like ecstasy in Broadway ticket form.” (Variety)

AUGUST OSAGE COU NTY
April 13-25, 2010
“Flat-out, without qualification, the most exciting new American play Broadway has seen in years” - The New York Times

GREASE
May 11-23, 2010
Hand jive the night away as Danny & Sandy fall in love all over again to the tune of your favorite songs, starring American Idol’s Taylor Hicks.

DIRTY DANCING
June 15- July 3, 2010
Based on the hit movie, see this live theatrical event and have the time of your life!

Six time Emmy Award winner Lily Tomlin brings her comedy act to the Palace Theater at Playhouse Square Thursday. The 69 year old got her start on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In in 1969 and her credits include movies and television shows such Nashville (Academy Award nomination - Best Supporting Actress), 9 to 5, All of Me, Big Business, and a role on the popular sitcom Murphy Brown in the mid-1990's. Tomlin has a vast ttrophy case earning a Grammy and multiple Tony Awards to go along with her Emmy.

Her 40 year career is still going strong and you can catch her show on Thursday Evening with a curtian time of 7:30 am. Here is a clip from her time on "Laugh In":

After 35 years in the business, it is rumored that the Carousel Dinner Theatre in Akron, Ohio will soon be shuttering its doors. Employees indicate that they were given the news on New Year's Eve that the theater would be closing, at least temporarily.

The Carousel Dinner Theatre has been in its current location at 1275 E. Waterloo Road in Akron for the past 20 years. Prior to that it was located in Ravenna, Ohio, before relocating in 1988. Over the years it has played host to thousands of actors and dozens of musicals.

Over 150 people are employed by the theater, which has been owned by Joe Palmer and David Slaght for the past six year. The owners have not disputed the rumors, and said that an official announcement will be made on Monday.

''Until someone hears it from me, it's all speculation, it's all rumors, and that's all I can tell you at this time. I understand there's a lot of rumors going on, and I will be addressing the Carousel situation on Monday," said co-owner Palmer.

Palmer also said that the theater will remain open through Saturday, where "All Shook Up" is currently ending its run. It debuted November 5 and is scheduled to end this weekend.

As we told you earlier this month, The Beatles and Cirque du Soleil are releasing a new DVD, which will be sold at Best Buy, that documents their successful show 'Love' which plays in Las Vegas at the Mirage. A new trailer has made its way to the web that will show you what to excpect from the new Fab Four flick.

Here is the preview:

If you know all the words to 'Jesus Christ Superstar', The Who's 'Tommy', or The Beatles 'Sergeant Peppers Lonely Heart Club Band' you may want to cancel any plans that you have made for October 11th. The Cleveland Playhouse Square's Allen Theater will host an event called 'A Night at the Rock Opera' which will be part theater, part rock and roll concert, and 100% fun if the hybrid of the two genres sounds like your type of thing.

The Boston based group who perform under the name The Ultrasonic Rock Orchestra are a 25 member group who perform hits such as Queen's "Bohemian Rhapsody", hits from the Beatles classic Abbey Road , David Bowies "Ziggy Stardust" and other hits from the genre.

The Boston Globe said this of their show recently:

'The spectacle is more party than an opera - one big party courtesy of an insanely versatile band. The URO brings off even the most intricate of rock pieces with effortless ease, lighthearted humor, and an audacious display of vocal prowess.'

Tickets for the event run from $10-$40.

Here is a video of what you can experience live next month:

Kevin Federline sure is lucky he secured the custody deal with ex-wife Britney Spears, ensuring that he'll have some money to fall back on if his career prospects fail, which they've already begun to do. K-Fed was supposed to be heading to Broadway to play three small roles in the musical "Legally Blonde", however he's been dumped because of his diva-like demands. There's now a casting call to fill his parts.

Kevin was going to move to New York with his two boys in tow to fulfill his roles in the show, however, he'll now be staying put in LA. According to Star Magazine, “The producers gave Kevin his walking papers. Kevin was acting like a Broadway diva, and he hasn’t even stepped onto the stage yet!”

Former 'Saved by the Bell' star Mario Lopez is Broadway bound for the first time. The actor is joining 'A Chorus Line' for the dates of April 15-September 7th. Lopez will play Zach. No, not Zach Morris. Zach, the director of a show himself.

Lopez is excited about the chance, saying:

"Every actor dreams about appearing on a Broadway stage. I have as well and have been searching for the right time and opportunity."

'A Chorus Line' is being staged at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theater.

Former 'American Idol' turned flat out freak Clay Aiken thought that he was going to have a soft-ball interview with Newsweekto promote his stage debut for Broadway's rendetion of 'Spamalaot'. When the reporter started to ask some real questions Aiken started to show off his famous temper.

Here is what went down:

How did you get into a fight with that lady on a plane?
I'm not going to talk about it.

I was just curious because you've never talked about it.
I did talk about it.

What about the Kelly Ripa thing?
I'm not going to discuss it.

Did you think it was homophobic?
I'm not going to discuss it.

What do you want to talk about?
I think we're done.

Theater fans rejoice, the strike has been settled on Broadway. Last night at around 11 pm the two sides agreed on a tentative contract.

Union president James Claffey released a statement to that read:

"The contract is a good compromise that serves our industry," St. Martin said in a statement. "What is most important is that Broadway's lights will once again shine brightly, with a diversity of productions that will delight all theatergoers during this holiday time.

"We look forward to celebrating the season and welcoming our talented stagehands, and the theatergoing public, back to Broadway."