Aretha Franklin News

One of Australia's finest vocalists and performers, Paulini, will play the leading role of Rachel Marron in the international award-winning hit musical. Australia first fell in love with Paulini and her impressive five octave range during the inaugural series of Australian Idol.

The 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year gala will begin with a reception and silent auction offering an exclusive and unparalleled selection of luxury items, VIP experiences, and one-of-a-kind celebrity memorabilia for bidding guests.

CENTRIC today announced Bobby Brown, Anderson .Paak, D.R.A.M., MA$E, Blackstreet, Guy, Doug E. Fresh, Yuna, Eric Benet, BJ the Chicago Kid, Ro James, Wreckx-n-Effect, Candice Boyd, MAJOR., Carl Thomas and Total have been added to the star-studded lineup of performances for SOUL TRAIN AWARDS 2016.

Charlie Blum, president and CEO of Star Productions, today announced that plans to shutter the Star Plaza Theatre have been reversed; the iconic theater with a decades-long history of presenting concerts, comedians and arts programming, will continue operating as it has in the past.

The Martina Arroyo Foundation's 12th Annual Fundraising Gala, a celebration of Prelude to Performance, Role Class and Outreach Programs, will be held on Monday, November 7, 2016 beginning with a cocktail hour and silent auction at 6:30pm in the Grand Salon of the JW Marriott Essex House, 160 Central Park South, NYC.

Bee & El and Sony Masterworks Broadway announced today that Tony & Grammy Award-Winner Billy Porter will release a new studio album, Billy Porter Presents The Soul of Richard Rodgers, in April 2017.

Bay Street Theater & Sag Harbor Center for the Arts have announced THE SIXTIES SHOW today, October 29 at 8 pm.

When it was released as a CD box set in 2013, Rounder Records' deluxe collection, Skydog: The Duane Allman Retrospective, was a critical and commercial success.

Laguna Playhouse Artistic Director Ann E. Wareham and Lythgoe Family Panto have announced a very special holiday event, Cozi Zuehlsdorff ('Dolphin Tale' Films), Joely Fisher (Broadway: Cabaret, 'Desperate Housewives'), Barry Pearl ('Grease'), The Book of Mormon's Benjamin Schrader, Jeff Sumner (Genie in Disney's Aladdin-A Musical Spectacular), 'American Idol' finalist Vonzell Solomon and Conor Guzman (Pasadena Playhouse; The Fantasticks) starring in SLEEPING BEAUTY AND HER WINTER KNIGHT, book by Kris Lythgoe, choreography by Spencer Liff, musical supervisor Michael Orland, musical direction by Michael Sobie and directed by Linda Goodrich.

CEK Productions presents the World Premiere of LUSH LIFE, book by Carole Eglash-Kosoff, musical direction and arrangements by Rahn Coleman, choreography by Cassie Crump and direction by John Henry Davis. LUSH LIFE begins previews Friday, November 11, 2016 and opens Friday, November 18 at 8pm. The production runs through Sunday, December 18 at the Matrix Theatre, 7657 Melrose Ave. in West Hollywood.

Producers John Frost, Michael Harrison and David Ian today announced that one of Australia's finest vocalists and performers, Paulini, will play the leading role of Rachel Marron in the Australian Premiere of the international award-winning hit musical THE BODYGUARD.

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by audience favorite Albert George Schram as conductor for Great American Songbook, the first concert in the Pops Series on October 22 at 2 & 8 p.m.

Broadway star Josh Franklin's new pop album 'Spent' was officially released today, October 21. Having already received numerous accolades for his Broadway and acting career work and having performed alongside such musical legends as Aretha Franklin, Kylie Minogue, and Barry Manilow, the new release shines a spotlight on Josh Franklin's immense talent as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist musician. Click below to watch his just-released music video for 'Fairytale'!

This spring, Kate Baldwin will appear in one of the most highly anticipated shows of the season, the Bette Midler-starring revival of HELLO, DOLLY! Baldwin will once again be portraying the fun-loving and yearning Irene Molloy, a role which she had previously taken on at the Paper Mill Playhouse a decade ago. Prior to stepping back into Molloy's shoes, though, Baldwin will return to Feinstein's/54 Below to perform a brand new solo show, EXTRAORDINARY MACHINE, singing the songs of some of her favorite artists. Busy as she is, BroadwayWorld had a chance to chat with Baldwin ahead of her four-show engagement at the cabaret venue, the first of which kicks off on October 25. Baldwin, sincerely affable and reflective, shared the 'full circle' nature of costarring alongside Bette Midler (she may have once made the ill-advised decision to sing 'The Rose' at a middle school talent show), how she uses her solo concerts to introspect her life and career, and why she, like many others surely, often asks herself, 'What would Gavin Creel do?'

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) presents an evening with Russell Thompkins, Jr. & The New Stylistics, The Dramatics featuring LJ Reynolds, The Jones Girls featuring Shirley Jones, Harold Melvin's Blue Notes, Ted Mills - the voice of Blue Magic - and more! Only NJ appearance of this '70s soul band extravaganza! Friday, November 25, 2016 8:00 PM at Prudential Hall. Tickets Available Now at NJPAC.org or 888.GO.NJPAC (888.466.5722). 

Having already received numerous accolades for his Broadway and acting career work and having performed alongside such musical legends as Aretha Franklin, Kylie Minogue, and Barry Manilow, Josh Franklin's sophomore album SPENT, out today, shines a spotlight on his immense talent as a songwriter and multi-instrumentalist musician.

The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra will be joined by audience favorite Albert George Schram as conductor for Great American Songbook, the first concert in the Pops Series on October 22 at 2 & 8 p.m.

Are you a fan of the likes of Frankie Valli or The Temptations? How about The Jackson 5 of The Beatles? Stevie Wonder? Neil Diamond? Aretha Franklin? Marvin Gaye? The list goes on and on. If these artists are your cup of tea, you don't want to miss Motones vs. Jersey at Midtown Arts Center. Even if it is not necessarily your cup of tea, I guarantee you will enjoy it. Believe me. I speak from first hand experience.

Having already garnered praise from media outlets across the country, performing the world over on Germany's “Superkids” TV show this past July, and continuing to gain massive exposure with her larger than life talent- young star Merideth Grace Puckett is winning over fans across the globe!

After two years away from the studio playing festivals and shows around the world, The Dustbowl Revival returns with new music that is more emotional, experimental and bolder than ever.