Bessie Smith News

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin has announced that the award-winning musical by Thomas W. Jones II Bessie's Blues will be on stage at MetroStage beginning Jan. 22, 2015. Thomas W. Jones II will direct and choreograph, and William Knowles will music direct. A musical odyssey of African American people in the 20th century, it was ground-breaking in 1994 and is a perfect production for our stage as we celebrate our first 30 years.

Oscar nominee Queen Latifah ('Chicago') stars as legendary blues singer Bessie Smith in the HBO Films drama BESSIE, directed by acclaimed filmmaker Dee Rees ('Pariah') from a screenplay by Rees and Christopher Cleveland & Bettina Gilois. With a story by Rees and Horton Foote, the film focuses on Smith's transformation from a struggling young singer into 'The Empress of the Blues,' one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today.

Opera Exposures, the not-for-profit opera company founded in 2004 by Edna Greenwich, will celebrate the end of its tenth year with a holiday concert on Sunday, December 21, 2014, at 3 PM at the same venue where it all began for the company in February 2004 - St. Marks Church in the Bowery, 131 East Tenth Street at Second Avenue in Manhattan.

Theatrical Outfit continues its 'Season of Compassion' with the uplifting musical The Gifts of the Magi and storytelling event A Christmas Memory, which explores the compassion needed and realized when people really love each other and can triumphantly navigate adversity.

Segerstrom Center welcomes emerging vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant in four powerful performances this weekend, November 14 & 15 in Samueli Theater and will be accompanied by virtuoso pianist/composer Aaron Diehl.

Theatrical Outfit continues its "Season of Compassion" with the uplifting musical The Gifts of the Magi and storytelling event A Christmas Memory, which explores the compassion needed and realized when people really love each other and can triumphantly navigate adversity.

On Stage at Kingsborough is pleased to present The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, directed by Joe Brancato (Cobb) and starring Miche Braden, tonight, November 8, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. This performance is an exclusive Brooklyn engagement.

On Stage at Kingsborough is pleased to present The Devil's Music: The Life and Blues of Bessie Smith, directed by Joe Brancato (Cobb) and starring Miche Braden, on November 8, 2014 at 8:00 p.m. This performance is an exclusive Brooklyn engagement.

Jennifer Holliday is hitting the road in THE COLOR PURPLE.

Jennifer Holliday will soon be hitting the road in THE COLOR PURPLE.

Legacy Recordings, the catalog division of Sony Music Entertainment, announces the label's line-up of collectible 12', 10' and 7' vinyl releases created especially for Record Store Day's Black Friday 2014, celebrated this year at the nation's independent record stores on Friday, November 28, 2014.

PAGE 73 has announced the complete casting and design team for the world premiere of YOU GOT OLDER, a new play by 2014 P73 Playwriting Fellow Clare Barron.

Following its celebrated East Coast premiere at the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), the critically acclaimed ABSOLUTELY FILTHY will return to NYC as part of SoHo Playhouse's FringeNYC ENCORE SERIES with performances from today, October 1st through October 5th only at SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street between Varick and Spring Streets).

Need some motivation to get up on this early Fall, Saturday morning? Jennifer Holliday has it for you as she performs the Diana Ross classic 'I Ain't Been Licked' at her BB King Blues Club show this month.

Following its celebrated East Coast premiere at the 2014 New York International Fringe Festival (FringeNYC), the critically acclaimed ABSOLUTELY FILTHY will return to NYC as part of SoHo Playhouse's FringeNYC ENCORE SERIES with performances from October 1st through October 5th only at SoHo Playhouse (15 Vandam Street between Varick and Spring Streets).

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce MetroStage's 2014-15 season which will reprise some of the favorites from years past and welcome back many of the artists who have contributed so much on our stage over the past 30 years, both in our present location and dating back to the early 1990's on Duke Street.

Segerstrom Center welcomes emerging vocalist Cecile McLorin Salvant in four powerful performances on November 14 & 15 in Samueli Theater and will be accompanied by virtuoso pianist/composer Aaron Diehl.

Producing Artistic Director Carolyn Griffin is pleased to announce MetroStage's 2014-15 season which will reprise some of the favorites from years past and welcome back many of the artists who have contributed so much on our stage over the past 30 years, both in our present location and dating back to the early 1990's on Duke Street.

New Brooklyn Theater announces the cast and guest speakers for its site-specific production of a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard in Istanbul, Turkey. The show, performed in Turkish at the endangered Yedikule Gardens, addresses the ongoing issue of sacrificing cultural history and for the sake of development. Performances begin tonight, August 13, 2014 and run through Saturday, August 30, 2014. Jonathan Solari, Artistic Director of New Brooklyn Theater, directs the production, which is designed by Courtney Nelson.

New Brooklyn Theater announces the cast and guest speakers for its site-specific production of a new adaptation of Anton Chekhov's The Cherry Orchard in Istanbul, Turkey. The show, performed in Turkish at the endangered Yedikule Gardens, addresses the ongoing issue of sacrificing cultural history and for the sake of development. Performances begin Wednesday, August 13, 2014 and run through Saturday, August 30, 2014. Jonathan Solari, Artistic Director of New Brooklyn Theater, directs the production, which is designed by Courtney Nelson.