Bette Midler News

Sporting a name that may raise an eyebrow or two, "Jazz is Dead Reunion- a jazz exploration of the Grateful Dead" comes to the South Orange Performing Arts Center (SOPAC) on Thursday, August 20 at 7:30pm to the delight of jazz aficionados who are fans of The Grateful Dead.

Pearl, a new American-Chinese dance-theatre spectacular, inspired by the life of Pearl S. Buck, the first woman to win both the Nobel and the Pulitzer Prizes, will have its world premiere at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for four performances only, August 27-30th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the dancers in action below!

The RRazz Room at The Prince is an intimate venue programmed by the entrepreneurs who created the infamous and iconic RRazz Room in San Francisco. The RRazz Room brand has become synonymous with quality entertainment presented at its purest and most intimate form. The unique space allows patrons to experience all their favorite entertainers up close and personal. The RRazz Room venues (also located in Coral Springs, FL, South Miami-Dade, FL, and New Hope, PA) present performances by local and national artists from a wide variety of musical and theatrical genres including Broadway, pop, opera, gospel, drag, comedy, rhythm & blues, and jazz. The RRazz Room at the Prince is located within the historic Prince Theater, 1412 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa. 19102 (near the corner of Broad and Chestnut Streets on the Avenue of the Arts).

When four dynamic, award-winning musical stars from Broadway, film, TV and recordings come together in concert for one night on the same stage, what transpires is an evening of song, laughter and memories. You'll be delighted by the biggest hits from their Tony Award-winning shows and performances. Produced by Wayne J. Gmitter and Production Manager Patrick Rinn, 4 GIRLS 4 will play at Ocean Grove on Saturday, August 15 at 8 PM. 

The Film Society of Lincoln Center has announced the remaining guests for this summer's popular FREE Film Society Talks series (sponsored by HBO), and they're loaded with Broadway talent! 

BroadwayWorld.com is sad to report the death of Jennifer Rae Beck, after a recurring and long-term battle with breast cancer. The actress, mother and business owner was a longtime friend of the site's, having performed in Standing Ovations IV, BroadwayWorld.com's sold-out benefit concert.

ABCD Productions II is proud to present Love in the Middle Ages as part of the 19th annual New York International Fringe Festival - FringeNYC.  

MOLLY POPE - brassy belter/whiskey guzzler/benevolent lunatic - will continue her acclaimed concert series on Friday, August 14, following her recent acclaimed Off Broadway performances in Found at the Atlantic Theater Company and Horseplay, or the Fickle Mistress at La MaMa ETC / Theatre Askew. With the new show Molly Pope Likes Your Status, she sheds all pretense of humility and shamelessly entreats you to adore her for an hour while she prances about making loud noises. Unable to deny that she defines her self-worth entirely via social media notifications, the 'viscerally thrilling alto' (Time Out New York) exploits her fragile ego and vocal chops for your entertainment. Expect the unexpected juxtapositions of song and substance alongside a healthy helping of her roots in The Great American Songbook. Over-sharing? Of course. Sing-a-long? Yes. Three encores? Why not. After debuting earlier this season, the show has been extended a month and will now be performed on Friday nights, August 14, September 11 and October 9, all 9:30 PM at The Duplex in New York. Molly Pope Likes Your Status will be recorded as a live album next season.

Grammy award winning singer and songwriter Melissa Manchester has done it all.  Her first singing job, as a solo singer/pianist in the clubs of New York, is where she met Bette Midler.  She was hired as a back-up singer for Bette, as one of the famous, “Harlettes,” and six months later, she had her own recording contract!

While Tom Cruise blows up the box office this weekend in Mission Impossible: Rogue Nation, critic/reporter David Sheehan's original web series 'Sheehan & The Stars' spotlights an upclose over-the-years look at Cruise

Internationally celebrated vocalist and Tony Award-winning original WICKED star Idina Menzel is currently on a hotly anticipated world tour capitalizing on her newfound international celebrity due to Disney's most successful film to date, FROZEN. Thus far, she has visited Asia, Europe, and multiple states in the Eastern U.S.

Hell in a Handbag Productions' sell-out hit BETTE, LIVE AT THE CONTINENTAL BATHS has added one additional performance, extending through August 28, 2015 at Mary's Attic, 5400 N. Clark St. in Chicago's Andersonville neighborhood.

Pasadena Pops Conductor Michael Feinstein puts down the conducting baton and picks up the microphone for one night only to sing a full concert devoted to the legacy of Frank Sinatra.

A music master reflects on some career highlights!

Mark Cortale, Producing Artistic Director of The Art House in Provincetown, MA has announced that cabaret star Roslyn Kind will join the critically acclaimed Broadway @ The Art House series for two shows only on July 31 and August 1 at 7:00 PM. The production is directed by Richard Jay-Alexander who has directed productions for Barbra Streisand (who is also Ms. Kind's big sister), as well as for Kristin Chenoweth, Il Divo, Bette Midler and Well-Strung. Musical Direction is by Alex Rybeck, with Jered Egan on bass and Dan Gross on Drums.  For tickets and information visit www.ptownarthouse.com  or call 800-838-3006.

ScoBar Entertainment will present actress/singer/comedian RAIN PRYOR in DIVORCED, DANGEROUS & DIVALICIOUS - Songs of Hope Heartache & Truth, at Iridium NYC, for one night only, Tuesday, August 25 at 8pm. She will be accompanied by Zach Lapidus on piano, Jerry  DeVore on bass & Joel E. Mateo on drums.

Pearl (www.PearlTheShow.com), a new American-Chinese dance-theatre spectacular, inspired by the life of Pearl S. Buck, the first woman to win both the Nobel and the Pulitzer Prizes, will have its world premiere at the David H. Koch Theater at Lincoln Center for 4 performances only, August 27-30th. Scroll down for a sneak peek at the dancers!

Abingdon Theatre Company launches its 2015-2016 Season of new plays beginning this fall with the world premiere of CUT THROAT by JB Reich. Directed by Drama Desk nominee Mark Waldrop (NEWSical The Musical, When Pigs Fly), CUT THROAT is set to begin previews October 2 at Abingdon Theatre Arts Complex's Dorothy Strelsin Theatre (312 West 36th Street).

This week at 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. To purchase tickets or for more information, visit www.54Below.com or call (646) 476-3551.