Several former Fantasma employees have filed a lawsuit against the company which was sold to Live Nation after the death of founder and long-time Florida concert promoter Jon Stoll.

The Coral Springs Center for the Arts had done business with Fantasma for many years partnering with them on concerts and comedy shows.

For more details on this lawsuit check out the link below...

http://encore.celebrityaccess.com/index.php?encoreId=131&articleId=26470

A lot of shows cross my desk over the course of the year, some perk my interest and others I pass on. In a crowded marketplace like South Florida, you have to be very careful which performers you roll the dice on, hoping the public's interest is worthy of their pricetag. It's a very risky business, picking shows for our theater, especially these days with the slumping economy taking its toll on consumers.

Recently, Frank Sinatra, Jr. was pitched to us for next season. Everybody loves Sinatra right? Well, I passed. Loved the original, but unfortunately the son does not move tickets like his Dad and the asking price was way too high.

Imagine my amusement then when I came across this juicy bit of gossip about him on a recent Today show episode...

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117986130.html?categoryid=2062&cs=1

The Tony Award nominations are out for the 2007-2008 season and there are some big surprises. For all the info., check out the details in this Playbill.com article...

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117686.html

You either love him or hate him, but comedian Jackie Mason is tearing it up in his latest stint Off-Broadway. We're hoping to have some exciting news to announce on him coming to Coral Springs again next season in the next few weeks. To read more on Mason, check out the latest in Playbill.com...

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117645.html

As American Idol winds down this season, it's interesting to look at the career paths of previous winners. As many of you know, Taylor Hicks appeared at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts last season.

Another winner, Fantasia, has become quite the Broadway star in New York appearing in The Color Purple. Prior to appearing in Oprah Winfrey's pet project, Fantasia had never seen a Broadway show before. Most critics didn't expect much from her, but she has blown them away with her performance. Variety has all the details in this well-written piece...

http://www.variety.com/article/VR1117975619.html?categoryid=2831&cs=1

Mandy Patinkin, who appeared at the Coral Springs Center for the Arts this past February, is heading back to the stage in New York City this fall. Patinkin, who won a Tony Award for his role of Che in Evita nearly 30 years ago, will star Off-Broadway in the classic Shakespeare play The Tempest. Read more here...

http://www.playbill.com/news/article/117299.html