Bessie Smith News

With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, proving music wasn't just a man's world anymore. Now, in a new musical event featuring more than a dozen singers and band members, playwright-director Randy Johnson creates 'a compelling portrait of an artist' (Culturemob) through the words, inspiration and music of one of America's greatest rock 'n' roll originals. One Night With Janis Joplin is a full-on concert experience and musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends and it runs in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse from May 3 - June 2, 2013 and opens on Monday, May 6, 2013. Packed with classic songs ('Piece Of My Heart,' 'Summertime,' 'Mercedes Benz'), One Night With Janis Joplin also shines the spotlight on trailblazers who influenced Janis - like Bessie Smith, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, proving music wasn't just a man's world anymore. Now, in a new musical event featuring more than a dozen singers and band members, playwright-director Randy Johnson creates "a compelling portrait of an artist" (Culturemob) through the words, inspiration and music of one of America's greatest rock 'n' roll originals. One Night With Janis Joplin is a full-on concert experience and musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends and it runs in The Rep's Quadracci Powerhouse from May 3 - June 2, 2013 and opens on Monday, May 6, 2013. Packed with classic songs ("Piece Of My Heart," "Summertime," "Mercedes Benz"), One Night With Janis Joplin also shines the spotlight on trailblazers who influenced Janis - like Bessie Smith, Etta James and Aretha Franklin.

In less than four weeks into its engagement, ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN has officially become the highest-grossing production in the history of The Pasadena Playhouse.

The Pasadena Playhouse in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. announced that in less than four weeks into its engagement, ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN has officially become the highest-grossing production in the history of The Pasadena Playhouse, breaking a previous record held by Stormy Weather which played for eight weeks in January - March, 2009. The production enters its final two weeks of performances, playing through April 21, 2013.

The Pepperdine University Fine Arts Division Theatre Department presents the US premiere of Why Do You Stand There in the Rain?, Scottish playwright Peter Arnott's drama based on the Bonus Army March in Washington, DC, at 7:30 p.m. tonight, April 2, through Saturday, April 6, at the Malibu campus' Smothers Theatre.

Following development in New York City and Washington, D.C., including a sold-out run at the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), Trav'lin - The New 1930s Harlem Musical receives its Regional Premiere at Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre, the original home of African-American theater in North Texas,beginning Friday, March 29, 2013. Opening Night is Friday, April 5, and the show runs through April 28, 2013.

Trav'lin - The New 1930s Harlem Musical, will receive its Regional Premiere production at Fort Worth's Jubilee Theatre in Spring 2013. The musical, which received a developmental production in 2010 as part of the New York Musical Theatre Festival (NYMF), runs tonight, March 29, 2013 through April 28, 2013.

The Cabaret at The Columbia Club announces its 2013 Summer/Fall lineup, featuring Ana Gasteyer, Eden Espinosa

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Plenty of Time by John Shevin Foster at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin April 4th with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 18th. Performances continue through May 5th only.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel welcomeed the elegant and sophisticated pianist/singer, Ms. Jo Thompson, for its new 'Second Act, A Late Night Series of Fun and Entertainment' at the Cafe Carlyle from March 21st-23rd, and continuing on March 28th and 30th. Ms. Thompson plays piano and vamps, purrs and romps her way through jazz and standards from the 1930s through the present, along with her own original material in her new program, 'Slender, Tender and Tall - An Evening With Ms. Jo Thompson'. She is joined by bassist, Calvin Hill, and drummer, Mike Campenni. BroadwayWorld was there for her first performance and brings you photos below!

ZACH- Austin's Theatre and Texas' longest running theatre, produced in partnership with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, the Estate of Janis Joplin, and Jeffrey Jampol of JAM, Inc., present the Texas premiere of ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, created, written and directed by Randy Johnson.

The Pasadena Playhouse, in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc., announced that ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN enjoyed a record-breaking day of sales yesterday, March 19, 2013. Tickets for the limited engagement, which runs through April 21st, are going fast and select performances are nearing sold-out status.

Woodie King Jr's New Federal Theatre, in association with Castillo Theatre, will present Plenty of Time by John Shevin Foster at the Castillo Theatre (543 West 42nd Street, between 10th and 11th Avenues.). Performances begin April 4th with Opening Night set for Thursday, April 18th. Performances continue through May 5th only.

The Pasadena Playhouse in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, and in further association with the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. presents ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. The show arrives in Pasadena after having left audiences clamoring for tickets in Portland, Cleveland and Washington D.C. Performances have been extended through April 21, 2013. BroadwayWorld has photos from opening night below!

ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN is a musical journey into the inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends. With a voice like whiskey and a laugh like pure joy, Janis Joplin took the music scene by storm. Simultaneously rough and vulnerable, Joplin was dubbed the Queen of Rock 'n' Roll, proving music wasn't just a man's world anymore. ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN explores the life and inspirations of Joplin in this musical journey packed with classic songs including "Piece of My Heart, "Summertime," and "Mercedes Benz." The show also shines the spotlight on the musical trailblazers who influenced Joplin, including Bessie Smith, Etta James, and Aretha Franklin.

The Carlyle, A Rosewood Hotel will welcome the elegant and sophisticated pianist/singer, Ms. Jo Thompson, for its new 'Second Act, A Late Night Series of Fun and Entertainment' at the Café Carlyle from March 21st-23rd, and March 28th and 30th. MS. Thompson, a timeless, knockout beauty of 80 plus years, plays piano and vamps, purrs and romps her way through jazz and standards from the 1930s through the present, along with her own original material in her new program, 'Slender, Tender and Tall - An Evening With Ms. Jo Thompson'. She will be joined by bassist, Calvin Hill, and drummer, Mike Campenni.

The Pasadena Playhouse, in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, LLC, and in further association with the Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc., presents tonight's opening night performance of ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, March 17, 2013. ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN arrives in Pasadena after having left audiences clamoring for tickets in Portland, Cleveland and Washington D.C. Performances have been extended through April 21, 2013.

People's Light & Theatre announces its 39th season with eight productions that will stir emotions, warm hearts, and inspire the music lover in you. The season opens with Philadelphia native N. Richard Nash's breakthrough hit The Rainmaker, followed by The Devil's Music which has received raves throughout New York, Connecticut and Florida for Miche Braden's incredible performance as Bessie Smith. Highlights include a dance-filled adaptation of Jane Austen's romantic Pride & Prejudice, Itamar Moses' innovative comedy, Bach at Leipzig, and the revival of our multi award-winning holiday panto, Cinderella. Our season also includes Dear Elizabeth, Sarah Ruhl's lyrical and whimsical portrait of the relationship between acclaimed American poets, Robert Lowell and Elizabeth Bishop and Henrik Ibsen's scandalous Ghosts.