Bessie Smith News

BroadwayWorld has received word that Broadway's recent rock 'n' roll hit A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will replace the musical in development SLEEPING BEAUTY WAKES as part of The 5th Avenue Theatre's 2015/16 season. The show will share the same run dates (March 25-April 17) with minor changes to the performance schedule.

John Berg, the veteran Columbian Records art designer who was responsible for the iconic album covers of Bob Dylan, Bruce Springsteen and more,  passed away Sunday, Oct. 11th

Prefacing his 1990 playscript for SPUNK, a musical amalgam of three saucy Zora Neale Hurston short stories, George C. Wolfe warned that there was a thin line between Zora and the minstrelsy of Amos and Andy. On Q Performing Arts director Jermaine Nakia Lee fearlessly tramples on that line, giving us the opportunity to appreciate and critically examine Hurston's understated feminism in a richly ambivalent production.

Final performances of the acclaimed madcap comedy DROP DEAD PERFECT, starring the legendary Everett Quinton, will take place Oct 7th, 8th, 9th, 10th and 11th at Theatre at St. Clements (423 West 46 Street - between 9th and 10th Avenues) completing its limited engagement. The revival opened on August 23rd and received overwhelming rave reviews, critic picks, and audience accolades. DROP DEAD PERFECT is directed by Joe Brancato and written by Erasmus Fenn. The comedy is produced by Penguin Rep Theatre, Morton Wolkowitz, Barbara Freitag and Jamie deRoy.  Tickets are $69 and can be purchased by visiting www.dropdeadperfect.com or calling 845-786-2873.

Robert Wilson presents 'Black and White' at the National Arts Club in New York City from September 28th through October 24th.

BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, proudly presents a wide range of events in the 2015-2016 Season, including The National Circus & Acrobats of China, performing on Wednesday, October 14 at 7:30pm, Beyond Third Wave (dance troupe), performing Friday, May 19 and Saturday, May 20 at 7:30pm through Sunday, May 21 at 3:00pm, David Gonzalez with City Of Dreams - Featuring the Poetic License Band performing Friday, October 23 at 8PM, and more! We also continue to present a diverse slate of Family programming, free film retrospectives, and a variety of dance, comedy, and special events.  All 2015-2016 events are listed below with more information. Tickets are $15-$25 and on sale soon. To purchase tickets, call 212-220-1460 and/or visit www.tribecapac.org.  

Queen Latifah is Bessie Smith!

On JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, Queen talks about playing legendary blues singer Bessie Smith.

DROP DEAD PERFECT, the madcap comedy starring the legendary Everett Quinton returns to the Theatre at St. Clements (423 West 46 Street - between 8th and 9th Avenues) and begins previews on Wednesday, August 19th, for a limited eight week engagement. The official opening is set for Sunday, August 23rd.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is now in its final performances at The Pasadena Playhouse and must close Sunday, August 23, 2015. The production was extended by popular demand, and became a summer smash, garnering milestone numbers at The Pasadena Playhouse box office.

On Saturday 12 September, Riverside Theatres presents Pearl: The Janis Joplin Story, a musical presentation that celebrates the queen of rock 'n' roll and vintage funk, Janis Joplin.

Baby boomers don't normally show their approval at the theater by leaping to their feet and giving standing ovations during a performance… unless they happen to be seeing A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at Pasadena Playhouse. The power of remembrance combined with the powerhouse performances of Mary Bridget Davies (as Janis Joplin) and her crew - four dynamic supporting female vocalists and an eight piece kickass rock band - prove that the Queen of Rock 'n Roll can still conjure up a revolution in the hearts of her fans and get them on their feet in spite of themselves.

The Pasadena Playhouse has extended by popular demand A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, which will now play through August 23, 2015. The Pasadena Star News said of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, "Fearsome energy…a musical treat" and Beacon Media said "Truly amazing…a DO-NOT-MISS play!" The production stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run.  Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, alternates the role of Janis Joplin with Davies.  The production is conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director) presents A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, starring Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award® nominated Broadway run.  Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will alternate the role of Janis Joplin with Davies.  The production is conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans.  Check out a first look below!

Hot on the high heels of last year's acclaimed sold-out production, the madcap comedy DROP DEAD PERFECT, starring the legendary Everett Quinton returns to the Theatre at St. Clements (423 West 46 Street - between 8th and 9th Avenues) for a limited 8-week engagement Off-Broadway with an opening set for Sunday, August 23rd.   Previews begin Wednesday, August 19th. With overwhelming rave reviews, critic picks, and audience accolades, DROP DEAD PERFECT is directed by Joe Brancato and written by Erasmus Fenn. The comedy is produced by Penguin Rep Theatre, Morton Wolkowitz, Barbara Freitag and Jamie deRoy.  Tickets are $69 and can be purchased by visiting www.dropdeadperfect.com or calling 845-786-2873.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. Conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run. Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will alternate the role of Janis Joplin with Davies.

The Pasadena Playhouse presentes A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. Conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run. Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will alternate the role of Janis Joplin with Davies.  Check out a first look below!

The Pasadena Playhouse presents A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. Conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run. Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will alternate the role of Janis Joplin with Davies. Check out Mary Bridget Davies and the Joplinaires on Good Day LA! 

BroadwayWorld has confirmed that Queen Latifah and Mary J. Blige have joined the cast of NBC's highly-anticipated THE WIZ LIVE! Latifah will play the Wiz, and Blige will be the Wicked Witch of the West.