Ann Hampton Callaway News

This weekend, April 2-4, the Houston Symphony celebrates the iconic pop music of the United Kingdom in U.K. Rocks.

The Metropolitan Room became one of those Art Deco Night Clubs in a1940 Black & White Movie last night. Harking back to the days when the girl singers had that luscious, sensual, understated, but spectacular voices and musicianship that made every person in the room fall in love with them. Although I have ears that sometimes show signs of wear and tear from a lifetime of hearing a lot of stuff, Celia's ability to annunciate and melodically roll out lyrics had me hearing vowels and consonants I usually miss in a crowded noisy cabaret. Come to think of it, the Metropolitan Room had the quietness of a recording studio as the very musically sophisticated audience was held in rapt attention by Celia's artistry. I would be enamored with any song she wrapped her voice around, but her unique song selection made the evening especially compelling. How fitting it was the Stacy Sullivan and Joanne Tatham were in the audience. Two singers that represent that same kind of sexy, restrained and understated musical excellence that Celia Berk possesses. It was also ironic that the title song of the show ( You Can't Rush Spring) was written by another of my favorite ladies - Ann Hampton Callaway.

Show business' brightest stars memorialized one of their own yesterday, at A Tribute to Polly Bergen, at the American Airlines Theatre (227 W. 42nd Street). An Emmy Award-winning actress and singer, Ms. Bergen's career spanned more than six decades in films, TV, Broadway musicals and concerts. She passed away from natural causes September 20 at age 84. A Tribute to Polly Bergen, produced by Rex Reed and Michael Alden with creative consultant Deborah Grace Winer, celebrated her life and career with a star studded lineup of participants. They included Christine Andreas, Harry Belafonte, Arlene Dahl, Raul Esparza, Michael Feinstein, Gregory Harrison, Judith Ivey, Chris Matthews, Phyllis Newman, Kelli O'Hara and cast members from the 2001 revival of Follies.

Following the success of the previous two festivals, the 3rd Annual New York Hot Jazz Festival -- produced by the impresario Michael 'Misha' Katsobashvili, performer Bria Skonberg, and composer/producer Patrick Soluri (of Prohibition Productions and The Salon) -- returns to The Players this year and promises some of the biggest stars of the Hot Jazz and swing scenes in a summit of uptown and downtown talent spanning three generations.

Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire will present two performances Legacies of Hope tonight, March 21, 2015 at 5pm and 8pm at St. James Episcopal Cathedral (65 E. Huron, Chicago, IL). Advance purchase tickets are available at http://www.windycitysings.org for $10-$30.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its April 2015 schedule, featuring Sheila Jordan with the Steve Kuhn Trio, Ms. Lisa Fischer, Eliane Elias, James Carter Organ Trio, Barbara Carroll, The Beegie Adair Trio with Monica Ramey, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

On April 2-4, the Houston Symphony celebrates the iconic pop music of the United Kingdom inU.K. Rocks. Storm Large from the group Pink Martini and J. Robert Spencer of the Midtown Men perform songs ranging from The Beatles to contemporary artists such as Coldplay and Adele in this "across the pond" spectacle.

On April 2-4, the Houston Symphony celebrates the iconic pop music of the United Kingdom in U.K. Rocks.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Ravinia's summer season announced, plus the 'Mormon' and 'Merman' rivalry/revelry. 'The Addams Family' and 'Mr. Burns' extend, 'That's Weird' goes musical, Annaleigh Ashford and 'Tyler's Songs' bow on March 21, and Joan Curto and 'Finishing The Birthday Hat' honor Sondheim's 85th birthday!

Principal Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein and the Pasadena POPS announce their one of a kind, popular outdoor summer concert series at the Los Angeles Arboretum with five events sure to make your summer sizzle.

In just three years since the inception of the BroadwayWorld New York Cabaret Awards, the ceremony has evolved into one of the community's most-anticipated events. And this year's festivities, the second one at Joe's Pub, proved to be the most glittering and energetic assemblage to date. In fact, there couldn't have been a more promising start to the annual cabaret awards season, which continues with the Bistro Awards at Gotham Comedy Club on March 4, and culminates with the MAC Awards (Manhattan Association of Cabarets & Clubs) at BB King's on March 26. The 3rd Annual BWW Awards Show was just the right spark to get this season's prizes off to a veritable fireworks display.

Click below to watch highlights from Ann Hampton Callaway's performance live on the RSVP 30th Anniversary Caribbean Cruise, accompanied by Nate Buccieri at the piano, on February 11, 2015!

The Tony winner is costarring in downtown performance piece 'The Life and Death of Kenyon Phillips' and doing cabaret shows uptown.

Windy City Gay Chorus and Windy City Treble Quire will present two performances Legacies of Hope on Saturday, March 21, 2015 at 5pm and 8pm at St. James Episcopal Cathedral (65 E. Huron, Chicago, IL). Advance purchase tickets are available at http://www.windycitysings.org for $10-$30.

Segerstrom Center presents Platinum Award-winning singer-songwriter and Tony Award® nominated actress Ann Hampton Callaway May 7 - 9 in Samueli Theater. In her show - The Streisand Songbook - Callaway performs songs made classics by her musical heroine, the incomparable Barbra Streisand, though giving them her own personal style. Selections will come from Streisand's unforgettable catalogue of hits made during her multi-faceted, five-decade career that includes Broadway, film and concept albums. Callaway weaves humorous and inspiring anecdotes of how Streisand began as a role model for her and evolved into a mentor and even recording Callaway's songs on six of her recent CDs, including "I've Dreamed of You," the song that Streisand sang on her wedding day.

NiCori Studios and Productions in association with the Oakeside Bloomfield Cultural Center announces a new installment of the monthly concert series, Music at the Mansion, on Sunday, February 22, at 3pm. Performers include Nathan Chang, Tracy Stark and Richard Holbrook. Kevin W. Bergen will be the Young Musician Moment.

In Episode 307, award-winning musical theatre writer Joel B. New sat down with Tom Morin and Caroline Selia, the Founders of Polish Your Passion, now featuring the MomentB4 Video Feedback Service (pypnyc.com).

For John Lloyd Young's special Valentine's weekend cabaret concert titled 'My Turn'---which continues at the Samueli Theater on the campus of Orange County's Segerstrom Center for the Arts through February 14---the Tony Award-winning star of JERSEY BOYS presented an hour-long set of love songs, both joyful and heart-tugging. With the confidence and panache of a seasoned old-school song interpreter and showman, Young oh-so-passionately crooned and belted his way through an enjoyable songbook of personally curated classic standards that reverberated with the highs and lows of love.