2006 Streisand Live, Concert Rumors, Tidbits & Information
23-November-2006

European Tour Rumors

Barbra said it herself on stage Monday night ... She'd like to do it. Army Archerd revealed she'd do it from a boat, which would sail Barbra to her different venues.

The rumor is pretty substantial ... Look for Barbra to do 6 dates. No locations announced yet, though! (Please, my European Barbra-friends, don't bombard me with emails ... I DON'T KNOW!)

One clue as to WHEN Barbra would sing is with her "special guest", Il Divo. Assuming, of course, that Il Divo would continue to be a part of the concert, it is interesting to check Il Divo's tour schedule. Currently, the boys are performing in Japan and Australia through the end of February 2007. Michel, in Canada, has tipped The Barbra Archives that Il Divo is set to tour Canada for all of April 2007.

Then, they are booked in the UK for all of May 2007.

One would assume—if Il Divo are a part of the European leg of Barbra's tour— that Barbra's Europe dates would fall (a) in March 2007, or (b) June 2007 or later.

Barbra Archives has heard that an official announcement would be made .... soon.

Working our way backwards, here ... Barbra Archives exclusively presents an insider's view of the taping of the television show in Florida on 10/28/06. The first part, which was a summary of some of the 10/30/06 taping, is below ...

NOTE BEFORE READING: Matt at The Barbra Archives finds this sort of stuff extremely interesting. Please don't read the account below and think "Barbra's being difficult". Anyone who has ever worked on film, video, or stage knows that the process of getting it "in the can" is just that: a process. So, because we get to be a fly on the wall, read this as it is ... an account by someone who watched Barbra and her crew at work, catching precious time before the live show to film bits for the television special. Thanks!

TAPING THE TV SPECIAL 10/28/06 ... (Part Two)

I looked at the stage. The first thing I noticed was that the black curtain backdrop was covered in twinkling lights. I had never noticed that before at the other concerts.
 
I also looked up at the big screen monitors. They were turned on and had what I thought was a videotaped close up of Barbra chewing gum. It didn’t make sense until I looked closer at the stage and there she was live sitting in her chair!
 
Usually, at this point in the evening, Streisand is doing a sound check. Because she was filming this concert, they were discussing lighting and camera issues.
 
The director had his mike on and I could hear him discussing the lighting of her hair. It was looking too brown. They tried different lights. At one point the director asked for natural light. They turned up all the stage lights the spent time turning on and off different lights.
 
Barbra says “My hair looks brown. It should look blonde. This is not a good thing.” “My roots look dark.”
 
Somebody made a comment and she said “I haven’t change my color.” Some of the other people were not wired and I couldn’t hear the comments. But I heard Barbra say “Where’s Kim?” “Check to quads.”
 
She also changes out of her shoes and into her “clogs.” She did this standing up, but had help putting them on.
 
The director talks to Soonie (her hairdresser). Tells Soonie to fix the fly away hair.
 
Barbra is still chewing gum and would occasionally sip out of a straw from an insulated cup sitting on the table. There was also a white insulated thermos pitcher on the table.
 
Barbra comments that here hair looks green. “Look at the video from St. Paul.”
 
After the show she wants to view the tapes in the truck. She points to the monitor on the stage floor and comments again about her hair looking green. “Looks disturbing.”
 
They start the sound check. The band needs to take their 6 o’clock break. She says “Let’s do Wild is the Wind.” She takes the gum out of her mouth and moves the pitcher and insulated cup off the table and to the floor.
 
She then proceeds to sing “Wild is the Wind”!!! The time is approximately 6:10 p.m.  The doors to the venue have not opened yet.  The cameras were filming it and you could see it from the monitors. Up to that point only one camera was filming Barbra zooming in and out. During the song different cameras were filming from different angles and blending the shots together (as they did during the actual concert). After the song Barbra comments that she liked the low angle shot.
 
She also talks about the teleprompter being too high and the angle of the lighting with her eyes.
 
Barbra makes comments about the lighting of the dress- She didn’t like how it glitters and sparkles. She was wearing the pantsuit outfit with the minimum amount of sequins. She liked how the pantsuit sparkled in St. Paul. She comments about viewing the St. Paul tape again.
 
Barbra wanted to check the other two outfit under the lights. Marty says something to her (he wasn’t miked) apparently about not having time. She responded, “I have to Marty, I have to” while extending out her left arm.
 
Barbra goes offstage.
 
The director stands center stage and talks through the dialogue for the concert- the opening and the food references. In the process he’s editing out some of the patter. He cut out “A year ago if someone told me I’d be touring I’d say you are crazy . . . working on a house and needed to get out.” Then kept in “causes I believe in” regarding why she is touring. The director goes over it a couple of times.
 
Barbra comes out in the sailor outfit. Poses in different angles, looks at monitor with a left side profile with the leg slit.
 
At this time I went outside the arena area. It was now 6:25 p.m. I was lucky that I got to see as much as I did.
 
At 6:40 we were allowed back in. Nobody was on the stage.
 
At 6:45 the doors opened for the public.

The Live CD (pre-order, Feb. 6, 2007 release date on Amazon.com) and the Television Special/DVD are in the works ... As Yentl would have pointed out to Hadass, the Talmud professes, "Patience needs a long time, because it yields fruits that last a long time."

Please note that all options regarding Barbra's tour are being considered, including a European jaunt. The parties involved would not want to release a CD or even a television special if it interfered with the timing of anything else.

Therefore ... stay tuned! CD and video of the tour will be forthcoming .... eventually.

ALL ABOUT THE TELEVISION SHOW TAPING IN FLORIDA ... (Part One)

PLEASE NOTE: In case you don't know, making a Streisand television special involves more than just turning the cameras on.

Not only were Barbra's Florida concerts videotaped for a TV Special/DVD this weekend, but the crew, led by Gary Smith (who's worked on previous Streisand specials over the years) worked tirelessly before and after the shows capturing additional takes, close-ups, and re-takes. Fans should appreciate that a lot of time and energy goes into the creation of a Streisand special. Getting camera angles correct and close-ups of orchestra players, etc. doesn't always happen "live" while the concert is going on. The crew shoots "pick ups", insert shots and retakes of numbers to get it exactly right. When the final show is edited together, you will see a television special just like THE CONCERT or TIMELESS, but edited together seamlessly.

On Monday 10/30, the crew shot takes of entire musical numbers and pick ups with Barbra from 2-6pm. Barbra sang full-out for those four hours and then did the concert for the paying audience that same evening!

Below is a stream-of-consciousness report from an anonymous tipper who was present for that 2-6pm television taping before the 10/30 show. Barbra and crew were in the arena filming numbers and close-ups.

I arrived at the Bank Atlantic Center and I could hear Barbra singing “My Man” with orchestra for the sound/ camera check. No one else seemed to notice or care! Could also hear the director making comments after the song.
 
Around 5:00 p.m. I’m upstairs waiting outside the bullpen. I could hear more of the rehearsal, while the other ushers were busy talking! Peeked inside the arena, the house lights were off (dark). They were filming close-ups with the steadi-cam.
 
Barbra and Il Divo harmonize “somewhere, somewhere, somewhere” from “Somewhere”. Barbra talking: “If that happens again we’ll have to do it after the show.”
 
Barbra talking: “I leave my shoes there for you to see them. I think it’s fun” Director talking about camera placement for close-up of shoes.
 
“Gotta go, gotta go. Two hours”
 
Starts singing “Unusual Way” then interjects- “I end up on that side”. Starts singing “Unusual Way” again. “You don’t know- some nights we do it like that”.
 
Sings part of “Shining Hour”- talking during it then repeats some of it. Calls for Gary [Smith].

Shouts to camera guy to stop for dialogue. Upset the camera is still moving during the dialogue. Camera is suppose to stop at a certain spot during the dialogue part in the song. Barbra mildly upset. Had raised her voice.  Crew tried to calm her, appease her.
 
“What do I have left to do?”
 
“What are you doing?”
 
“Not on steadi-cam, live tonight”
 
“That’s what I’m saying”
 
“O.K. are you ready for Sammy and Smile?”
 
Barbra asks about “Don’t Rain on my Parade” “Take me through it.” “What will the lighting be?” “I just want to see the light.”
 
Hums the beginning part with orchestra playing. Sings part of it then talks. Concerned about the green light. Does no like green lighting. “It’s horrible. I’ve always hated it.”
 
Talks to Gary about lighting. “The two star flares. I want those flares. You have to.” Refers to St. Paul having it. “We didn’t get it Saturday. You need the steadi-cam right there. He’s got to be right there.” “Two blue lights back in the opening.” “Do you have the flare?” “Then he can move” “Isn’t that pretty. Yes. Where? At STARTING HERE, STARTING NOW” (Barbra loudly). “We can’t get those stars.”
 
Sammie rehearsal. (Apparently trying to let Sammie loose and run to Barbra). Barbra talks “baby talk” to Sammie to get her to go to her. Laughter from crew and Barbra. (Apparently Sammie chooses to run somewhere else on the stage). Director comments that since she’s talking through the mike, the dog is going toward the speaker. “Richard move, Sammie stay.” More “baby talk” to Sammie. Director stays “keep it, keep it.” Barbra does the part about Sammy being a boy and Smile song connection. In baby talk-“my precious little baby (kissy, kissy)” (Sammie apparently not being cooperative.) “This is show biz.”
 
Sings Smile. Interjects “You’re not moving. The 10 o’clock position. C’mon guys. Start again please.” “C’mon, let’s go. She [Sammy] doesn’t like this.”
 
Some mild applause afterward.
 
“I don’t know we’re too far apart.”
 
“She’s too heavy. She’s 20 pounds [Sammy].”
 
“O.K. Anything I have to do?”
 
“Thank you guys”
 
“Oh, Shit. Happy Days, Happy Days. But I may not do it. Or should I?”
 
“Can you show me in my room Happy Days from Saturday night?”
 
She leaves. It’s 5:40 p.m.
 
Director starts filming close-up of the “S” with orchestra. Plays about a minute of the opening overture then leaves.
 
Kinda quite. At 5:45, I peek through the curtain. A guy is cleaning the front table with Windex.

Live album to come from Streisand tour

NEW YORK, Oct. 20 (UPI) -- Columbia Records plans to release a two-disc live album later this year featuring two U.S. recordings from Barbara Streisand's current North American tour.

A Dec. 5 release date has been set for the album, whose recordings was made during the 64-year-old singer's recent concert at New York's Madison Square Garden and at her Oct. 4 record-setting show at Philadelphia's Wachovia Center, said Billboard magazine.

Streisand's opening night show at the Philadelphia locale set the 10-year-old arena's single event gross record by drawing in 16,510 people who paid more than $5.26 million to see Streisand perform.

While Columbia has not released the forthcoming album's track listing, Streisand consistently has been performing a number of her fan favorites such as "People" and "The Way We Were."

Billboard said that Streisand's tour is set to continue Friday night with a show in Toronto and will come to an end when the singer performs Nov. 20 in Los Angeles.

Philadelphia Inquirer 10/5/06
By Michael Klein
Inquirer Columnist

Barbra Streisand didn't just pop into Philly for last night's Wachovia Center concert.

She did four days of rehearsals at the Sovereign Bank Arena in Trenton - same management as the Wachovia - and overnighted at Philly's Four Seasons with husband James Brolin.

After Babs and Brolin toured the Art Museum on Monday - where she shot part of her 1966 special Color Me Barbra - they showed up at the National Constitution Center at 4:30 p.m. hoping to see "Freedom Rising," the center's theater production.

Last show for you and me would be at 4 p.m. Not wishing to rain on her parade, the center ran "Freedom Rising" especially for them, and the couple followed up by touring Signers' Hall.

Tuesday afternoon, about 500 of the luckiest people - including fashion icon Donna Karan - watched the dress rehearsal at the Wachovia Center, where Streisand mentioned getting a cheesesteak at Pat's, clams casino at Old Original Bookbinder's, and ice cream at Bassett's in Reading Terminal Market.

Streisand, 64, also unapologetically acknowledged "senior moments" as she pointed out that she had lyrics in large type on a prompter.

Barbra Archives will cover the tour (with your help!). On October 4th, visit this page for all the latest on each venue >>

News from today's Invited Dress Rehearsal: Barbra sounds great, the show is fantastic, Il Divo are integrated very well, there is an intermission. A 58-piece orchestra accompanies. For those who got seats behind the stage - not to worry. The show is "in the round", the stage is at the end of the arena.

* Barbra Streisand Music Guide has a complete transcript >>

Below are some of Streisand's responses to the Electronic Press Kit Q&A ...

"I have to raise money. Just call me a charity slut."

"If I"m going to sing 'Happy Days' again, how can I do it differently? Well, in this show it's done as a duet -- I'm not going to tell you with who... Il Divo sings 'Evergreen' with me. They sound so beautiful. And it gives it another rich texture. It's lovely ... and 'Somewhere' has a whole other sound to it with them."

"I open the show. Then Il Divo comes in while I get a bite to eat and take my shoes off."

"This time I'm singing a lot of songs I haven't sung for a long time. Like 'When the Sun Comes Out'. I haven't sung that since 1967. 'Down with Love', 1963. And then some new songs; songs I haven't sung before that I love. "

Make sure to check out the Official Streisand Tour Store ... Many new items have been added! >>

Matt at the Barbra Archives TRIPLE LOVES Rosie O'Donnell and especially her blog. Rosie, of course, is a die-hard Streisand fan, has interviewed her twice on her talk show ... Today on her blog, Rosie wrote:

barbra can u hear me
i am going to philly

how could i not
as my own life comes full circle

Hope to see you in Philly, Rosie!!

So is everyone as excited as I am about Barbra's tour? I will be in Philly, too ... opening night. And again in D.C. Too lucky and too blessed to attend twice. There is good karma around this tour ... Barbra, back on stage, singing ....... Something's coming, something good.

I hope to hear from all of you Barbra Archives readers ... send me your cameraphone shots, comments, and mini-reviews of each concert for my 2006 Tour pages!!

-- Matt :)

DETROIT CANCELLED *UPDATED*: October concert at The Palace canceled due to lagging ticket sales

Because Detroit was the only city with a "lagging response," Streisand's national promoter Michael Cohl has removed the Oct. 18 performance at The Palace of Auburn Hills from the schedule and put a second Toronto concert on sale for that day.

Fans who bought tickets for the Metro Detroit show will get refunds and an exclusive chance at blocks of tickets set aside for them in Columbus, Ohio, on Oct. 6 or Toronto on Oct. 17. The promoter also will offer Detroiters who bought tickets an $85 credit toward transportation to either of those cities.
Ticketmaster will automatically refund the credit-card transactions, while those who bought tickets with cash can go to point of purchase for their refunds.

** Palace ticketholders wishing to buy tickets to the Columbus or Toronto shows will be contacted by e-mail with a special link to tickets set aside for them at those shows, according to the announcement.**

"We apologize to the dedicated Barbra Streisand fans in Detroit who had purchased tickets, but it was impossible not to accommodate the extraordinary demand in Toronto," said Cohl, whose Concert Productions International is presenting the tour. "… We are truly sorry for any inconvenience."

Streisand Live Album due in December ??

Tour Book is Gorgeous

This richly produced 40 page tour book features a beautiful mix of classic and rare photos from Barbra's extensive photographic legacy. Reaching deep into the archives for images not widely seen before, as well as gorgeous large reproductions of select classic images. This elegant program book would be right at home on your coffee table and is a must have for fans of Barbra.

The book also features an introduction by Barbra, a written portrait of the artist, The Barbra Streisand Foundation mission and achievements, as well as quotes from her fellow artists, including Celine Dion, Tony Bennett, and Barry Gibb.

You can order the Tour Book online here >>

Streisand article from 17-Sept-06 Parade Magazine (Click Thumbnail below to read it!)

November 9th Chicago Show Added!

American Express cardholders can get tickets to the new Nov. 9 date beginning Monday; the rest of her fans can buy from the usual outlets beginning Sept. 24 (the Nov. 7 concert is sold out).

PHOENIX ADDED!

Thu, 11/16/06, 07:30 PM
US Airways Center formerly America West Arena
Phoenix, AZ
ON SALE Wed, 09/13/06 10:00 AM

2nd Toronto Show Added

TORONTO (CP) - Barbra Streisand has added another show for Toronto fans.

Those who missed out on tickets for the diva's Oct. 17 show can now try to catch her on Oct. 20, the promoter said Tuesday in a release.
Tickets - ranging in price from $85 to $550 - go on sale Sept. 12 at 10 a.m ET.

There will be a six ticket limit per person.

Streisand's Oct. 17 show sold out in a mere 30 minutes when tickets went on sale last month.

The concert dates, also featuring the operatic boy band Il Divo, will mark Streisand's first time performing in Toronto.
She will also perform in Montreal on Oct. 15

William (Bill) Ross is conducting Streisand's tour.

Richard Jay-Alexander is directing.

Organizers of Barbra Streisand's first U.S. tour since 1994 said Tuesday that at least 1,000 tickets — purchased with stolen credit cards and then put up for sale on various Internet ticket resale sites — had been invalidated.

Ticketmaster officials urge concertgoers to check www.ticketmaster.com/barbrastreisand for a list of the invalidated tickets.

8/29
According to the Montreal Gazette:

Tickets for Barbra Streisand's Oct. 15 show at the Bell Centre went on sale yesterday, and are going fast. Most of the 16,000 tickets were sold yesterday, including 12,000 in the first hour. Extra sections behind the stage were opened up to accommodate demand. There are still some tickets remaining, according to promoter Gillett Entertainment Group, and more sections may be opened up. Tickets cost $85 to $375. Call 514-790-1245 or go to www.admission.com to order.

8/25/06
Barbra Archives can report that it looks like Barbra's concert show will be turned into a television special. Plans to film it are being developed; most likely it'll be the Vegas show in November that is preserved for posterity.

MORE DATES ADDED TODAY
(See Complete List of all dates in Left Column!)

TICKETS ON SALE MONDAY, AUGUST 28th AT NOON!
PRE-SALE GOES ON SALE THURSDAY, AUGUST 24th AT 10am

Montreal/Canadian Fans:
Charge by phone : (514) 790-1245 or 1 800 361-4595
Order online at : www.admission.com and www.geg.ca

Barbra History ...

The Barbra Archives would like to remind everyone that Streisand has, indeed, played Ohio and Canada before ... back in 1963!

Read more about her dates in Ohio, 1963 >>

Read more about her performances in Canada, 1961 >>

8/17/06
Army Archerd's blog featured the following news on 8/15:

Barbra Streisand and Jim Brolin caught "World Trade Center" Sunday night at Mann's Agoura Hills Theater. She starts rehearsals next week for her concert tour, which bows Oct. 4 in Philadelphia.

8/10/06
LOS ANGELES (Reuters) - When Barbra Streisand sings, the cash register rings at Bill Clinton's favorite charity.

With a gift of $1 million, Streisand has selected the former president's Climate Change Initiative as the first recipient to benefit from the millions she has pledged to charitable causes generated by her upcoming national concert tour.

The gift helped make Streisand the leading contributor to Clinton's effort to bring together a consortium of major cities around the world to drive down greenhouse gas emissions.

Streisand recently announced that she would undertake a concert tour in October and November to help raise money for organizations dealing with environmental, women's health and educational issues.

A spokesman for Streisand said she has been funding efforts to deal with global climate change since the late 1980s.

Marty Erlichman, Streisand's longtime manager, is a principal in the company, LISTEN LIVE NOW! He told a reporter today that Streisand is one of the artists signing up for the program.

LISTEN LIVE NOW is the call-in connection that allows you to experience a music event anywhere in the world! Starting at just $1.99 USD for 7 minutes through LISTEN LIVE NOW! you can access a concert by your favorite artist at venues around the world.

"It's a great thing for the artists," Erlichman explained to Reuters. "It's passive income, and they're helping fans enjoy the experience without affecting ticket sales."

How does it work? When the show is ready to start you will receive a callback from the LISTEN LIVE NOW System and you will immediately begin listening to the concert. Once your 7 minutes expires or at any time during the show you can call in again for another 7 minutes.

The feeds come directly from the soundboard. If fans call during an intermission, they will not be charged and will get a message instructing them to call back.

This may be a way for Streisand fans to "be there" even if they can't. Stay tuned to make sure Streisand will actually be using the system for her tour. This is not confirmed yet.

http://www.listenlivenow.com/

More Friday Concert Tidbits:

Matt at The Barbra-Archives simply adores Rosie O'Donnell's blog and Ms. O'Donnell herself, who is a true Streisand fan and has interviewed her twice on her television talk show.

In today's "Ask Rosie", a fan ponders "Will you be attending more than one of Barbara’s concerts?" to which O'Donnell responded:

"good god yes"

Barbra-Archives.com has learned that Streisand's tour has "reserved" Severence Hall in Cleveland Ohio for October 6th and 15th but, to date, have not announced a show there.

Things have been quiet regarding the concert tour lately. However, Barbra's lyricist friend Marilyn Bergman did break the silence by telling columnist Army Archerd, "I think she wants a new concert experience with this."

Regarding those rumors (copied and pasted across the internet at various online news sites) that Streisand's ticket sales are a bust, tour promoter Michael Cohl told New York Daily News' Page Six column he is "extremely happy with the ticket sales." A statement from his publicist says, "More than 75 percent of the tickets currently available for purchase are already sold, a full three months prior to the start of the tour." Cohl claims he wants to add 20 dates to the original 20 shows planned: "It certainly shows my faith and that of Michael Rapino, CEO of Live Nation, my partner, in the success of the tour."

* Oct. 11 show @ NYC Madison Square Garden Added!

* Oct. 30 show @BankAtlantic Center, FL Added!

Nov. 4 show @ Atlantic City's Boardwalk Hall (New Jersey) Added!

Barbra Streisand Tour Kicks off October 4th in Philadelphia; Welcomes Il Divo as Her Special Guest; Tickets On Sale, Monday, June 19th

It was announced today that the multi-platinum quartet, Il Divo will take the stage with Barbra Streisand as her special guest for her highly anticipated national tour set to kick off October 4th in Philadelphia at the Wachovia Center.

[...] A Partial list of the Barbra Streisand 2006 North American Tour include:

October 4 Philadelphia Wachovia Center
October 9 New York City Madison Square Garden
October 13 Washington, D.C. Verizon Center
October 18 Detroit The Palace Of Auburn Hills
October 22 Boston TD Banknorth Garden
October 28 Ft. Lauderdale BankAtlantic Center
November 2 Atlanta Philips Arena
November 7 Chicago United Center
November 13 San Jose HP Pavilion at San Jose
November 18 Las Vegas MGM Grand Garden Arena
November 20 Los Angeles Staples Center

American Express has partnered with Barbra Streisand to secure a special opportunity for Cardmembers to purchase their tickets (in select markets and venues) to what promises to be an incredible tour prior to the general public on-sale. Tickets to Barbra Streisand's performances in New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, San Jose and Los Angeles will be available exclusively to American Express Cardmembers from June 12th at 1pm to June 18th at 2pm. Additionally, tickets to the Las Vegas show will be available exclusively to American Express Cardmembers from June 17th to June 22nd and tickets for the Detroit performance will be available exclusively to Cardmembers from June 19th to June 25th. American Express will offer VIP packages exclusive to their Gold Card Events and By Invitation Only eligible Cardmembers.

Tickets for the Barbra Streisand tour will go on sale to the general public beginning Monday, June 19th for New York, Boston, Chicago, Philadelphia, Washington, Ft. Lauderdale, Atlanta, San Jose and Los Angeles. Fans in Las Vegas can purchase beginning June 24th and in Detroit on June 26th. A limited number of seats will be sold at $750 with remaining tickets at $350, $200 and $100. There will be a 6 ticket limit per person. For Official Fan Club, Tour and Ticket information visit: www.BarbraStreisand.com. For special VIP Packages, visit: www.cpitour.com.

[...]

Marty Erlichman, Streisand's longtime manager, says the possibility exists for a DVD, CD or television special from the tour, but those details had not yet been negotiated. "And if Barbra and Ill Divo can find a song that they both like, they’ll record it," Ehrlichman tells Billboard.com. "They’re both on the same label, so that makes life a little simpler." (Billboard)

Barbra Streisand Set for Fall Concert Tour, Which Will Provide Millions of Dollars to Organizations Concerned with the Environment, Education and Women's Health

http://www.barbratour.com/

With a commitment to direct millions of dollars to charitable organizations she supports, Barbra Streisand will undertake her first national tour in over a decade next Fall. The announcement was made by her longtime manager and the tour's producer, Martin Erlichman, who stated that the engagements will comprise twenty concerts in major U.S. cities during the months of October and November.

Ms. Streisand notes, "The increasingly urgent need for private citizen support to combat dangerous climate change, along with education and health issues was the prime reason I decided to tour again. This will allow me to direct funds and awareness to causes that I care deeply about."

Designated proceeds in support of philanthropic initiatives will be distributed through The Streisand Foundation.

Ms. Streisand's only previous multiple city national tour, the "Barbra Streisand: The Concert" tour in 1994, set standards of critical and popular success not since exceeded.

The past year has been one of extraordinary success for the director/actress/singer/writer/composer/producer. Her album, "Guilty Pleasures," quickly became her 50th Gold Album. In addition, the film that returned her to movie acting, "Meet The Fockers," became the first live-action comedy to exceed a half billion dollars at the box-office. It also set a record of 3,000,000 copies sold in its first 24 hours of video release. Additionally, Warner Bros.' release of the DVD box set of her first five television specials has been a major success with quintuple platinum sales.

Selected cities, specific concert dates and other pertinent information for the upcoming tour will be announced shortly.

Rumors of Streisand coming out of "retirement" and performing in concert circulate often through the news ever since she performed her "final" concerts in L.A. and New York in 2000. Now, six years later, the buzz about Barbra going on the road again is starting. This time, the buzz seems to be reality-based.

However, here's some of the clues, rumors, and news related to Barbra in concert in 2006:

James Brolin, interviewed on the Tony Danza show on 3/31/06 said the following:

Tony Danza: [Barbra Streisand] is going to come back out and do a concert tour?

James Brolin: Yeah. She is. Yeah.

[...] Then Danza asked Brolin why Barbra is so reluctant to sing publically.

James Brolin: I never hear her sing, ever. And once she finishes an album, it's never played. Unless she's doing some research for, let's say, a concert — which songs should I sing, or whatever.

Danza turned to the camera and said, "Barbra, if you're watching, we all want you to come back out and sing a little bit." Then Danza joked that he and Barbra have had the same "nail technician" for the last few years.

# # #

In an interview that aired on "Access Hollywood," Friday, March 24, James Brolin talked about his wife's plans to tour. He said:

"It took her six months. She kept saying, 'no, no, no' and now she is going to go out in November."

# # #

On 3/22, Mr. Guttman, Streisand's publicist has told me: "As has long been rumored, a tour is being explored, but nothing has been finalized."

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We're told that Streisand's tour will have 20 shows, in which she'll perform "in the round" from the middle of arenas. She'll be paid $2 million per show, and the best tickets will go for $1,500 a pop.

Streisand's handlers have yet to secure an opening act. "They've tried unsuccessfully for Rod Stewart, Neil Diamond and Andrea Bocelli as opening acts," says our music industry snitch. "They're trying to get [operatic vocal group] Il Divo now."

[...] "The promoter is Michael Cohl, who does the Rolling Stones. The industry is freaked out about her ticket prices as the greediest ever. Her manager, Marty Erlichman, has screwed [talent agency] CAA out of their involvement, so there's a lotta bad blood out there about this one."

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Back to Streisand News Page >>