Billie Holiday News

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to host the US premiere of CAFE SOCIETY SWING, written by Alex Webb and directed by Simon Green. Produced by Richard Darbourne Ltd (producer of last season's Drama League nominated All That Fall) and The Copasetic Foundation, CAFE SOCIETY SWING begins performances on Tuesday, December 16 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 4. Opening Night is Sunday, December 21 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM & 7 PM. Please note the following Holiday schedule adjustments: There is no performance on Thursday, December 25; there is an added performance on Friday, December 26 at 2 PM; the performances on December 24 and December 31 are at 6 PM. Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Guest vocalist Steve Marvin joins the Capital Jazz Orchestra in A Centennial Salute to Frank Sinatra on Friday, January 16, at 7:30pm. The first and possibly the greatest American musical superstar, Frank Sinatra was inarguably one of the most successful, multi-talented entertainers of the 20th century, singing with the most popular big bands of the 40s, pursuing a successful solo recording career, and earning Academy Awards as an actor. Backing Mr. Marvin in this centennial salute to the musical legacy of the Chairman of the Board is the acclaimed Capital Jazz Orchestra under the direction of Clayton 'Skip' Poole.

Coming up next on Kitchen Theatre Company's 24th Main Stage Season is Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored Sunset Baby. A secret cache of letters brings together a former Black Power leader, his estranged daughter, and her drug-dealing boyfriend in this story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. Sunset Baby begins previews tonight, December 3rd, and opening night is December 6th. The play runs until December 21st.

Coming up next on Kitchen Theatre Company's 24th Main Stage Season is Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored SUNSET BABY. A secret cache of letters brings together a former Black Power leader, his estranged daughter, and her drug-dealing boyfriend in this story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. Sunset Baby begins previews on December 3rd, and opening night is December 6th. The play runs until December 21st .

Audra McDonald reveals that she has no plans to perform songs from her recent Broadway show Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill for which she won a record sixth Tony Award for her portrayal of Billie Holiday.

Following critically acclaimed workshop presentations, the plays of Steven Carl McCasland will return to NYC in a month-long festival celebrating the young playwright. Together with The Clarion Theatre, they'll present six plays beginning on May 6th, 2015, with a company of actors performing in repertory. All of the plays focus on historical figures, including Laurette Taylor, Billie Holiday, Tennessee Williams, Gertrude Stein, Lillian Hellman and more.

Coming up next on Kitchen Theatre Company's 24th Main Stage Season is Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored Sunset Baby. A secret cache of letters brings together a former Black Power leader, his estranged daughter, and her drug-dealing boyfriend in this story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. Sunset Baby begins previews on December 3rd, and opening night is December 6th. The play runs until December 21st.

The Hot Sardines reinvent 'hot jazz' for the 21st century at Pepperdine University's Smothers Theatre in Malibu on Thursday, January 15 at 8 p.m.

AnthonyKen LLC and Sheryl Lee Ralph/The Diva Foundation are pleased to announce that the critically acclaimed MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the musical celebration of the life of the original 1970s "Queen of Disco" Sylvester, will return for a special one-night-only event in New York City at The Gramercy Theater (127 East 23rd Street) on Sunday, January 18th, 2015 at 8 PM. The musical will then take off for a limited engagement in Sylvester's beloved city, San Francisco, where it will play the Brava Theater Center (2781 24th Street) from Wednesday, February 11th - Sunday, March 1at, 2015 (Opening Night: February 14th, 2015). Plans for other engagements in cities across the country - and a return to New York City - will be announced in the New Year.

Jimmy has Tony Award-winning Audra McDonald sing replies to real Yahoo! Answers to questions like, 'Are White Castle's burgers any good?'

? Since Joe's Pub at The Public opened its doors in 1998, it has been a stomping ground for both the masterful legends and powerful young voices of music and the performing arts. This winter (November 2014-February 2015), Joe's welcomes a slate of emerging musicians, performers and artists including soulful French-Cuban twin sister duo Ibeyi, critically acclaimed performance artist Kalup Linzy, cabaret charmer Ali Grieb and more on the cusp of major careers. These artists, full lineup below, are the ones to watch.

Coming up next on Kitchen Theatre Company's 24th Main Stage Season is Dominique Morisseau's explosive, uncensored Sunset Baby. A secret cache of letters brings together a 1960s revolutionary, his estranged daughter, and her drug-dealing boyfriend in this story of family and activism, revolution and estrangement. Sunset Baby begins previews on December 3rd, and opening night is December 6th. The play runs until December 21st.

DECADES OF DIVAS makes its world premiere ahead of a national tour tonight, Nov. 8, 2014 at the Count Basie Theatre, 99 Monmouth St., Red Bank, NJ. Show time is 8 p.m. Tickets $59, $39, $29 and $19 on sale NOW at www.countbasietheatre.org or through the box office at (732) 842-9000.

Celebrating a milestone 125th Anniversary, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University kicks off its inaugural 'Made in Chicago' performance series highlighting the city's best homegrown music and dance artists and ensembles. Launching in November, the robust series will present three Windy City mainstays including 'On Stage With... Susan Werner' (today, November 8); the perennially popular Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic with 'CJP @ Ten' (November 14); and the award-winning Thodos Dance Chicago (November 29).

Six-time Tony Award winner and Musical America's 2014 Musician of the Year Audra McDonald, returns to Carnegie Hall on Friday, December 12 at 8:00 p.m. in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage.

Esteemed singer, songwriter, guitarist and producer DAVE STEWART and his DAVE STEWART ENTERTAINMENT continue to stay busy in all aspects of the musical and cultural landscape.

Without a doubt, Soulpepper Theatre Company's Global Cabaret Festival is my favorite Toronto arts festival. It's like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get. Forrest Gump would dig it. Each year I'm tempted to bring my sleeping bag and just camp out for the weekend.