Billie Holiday News

October 8, 2014 - The Billie Holiday Theatre's Executive Director Marjorie Moon announces the appointment of Kelley Girod as the Theatre's Producing Director. Girod is the founder and executive producer for The Fire This Time Festival, for which she was awarded nytheatre.com Person of the Year in2011, and has been featured in American Theatre Magazine,The New York Times, and The Boston Globe. She received her MFA from Columbia University and her BA from Louisiana State University.

LOS ANGELES

Tonight, October 9 at 8:00 PM, Martinis Above Fourth Table + Stage and Sher Krieger Events are presenting Karen Giorgio in '5 Times A Lady: Bette, Barbra, Judy, Ella, Billie - Their Songs, Their Stories.'

Karen Sander, Artistic & Executive Director, World Music Institute and The Apollo Theater, in partnership with World Music Institute, presents AFRICA NOW!, South Africa, showcasing today's South African music scene, today, October 9-12, 2014.

59E59 Theaters will 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.

Renowned director, Peter Brook, has stripped the production of all unnecessary accoutrements in order to focus entirely on the story.

The concept of tribute in jazz has become as common as the use of 4/4 time. But when a tribute is paid to a giant by an artist who has earned her own right to tribute through her personal accomplishments, an entirely new dimension is in play. Such is the case with Annie Ross' stunning To Lady with Love – an extraordinary homage to Annie's personal idol – the immortal Billie Holiday.

MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, a musical celebration of the life of the original 1970s 'Queen of Disco' Sylvester, will end its critically acclaimed, limited Off-Broadway engagement on Sunday, October 5, 2014 at Theatre at St. Clement's (423 W. 46th Street). Presented by AnthonyKen LLC and Sheryl Lee Ralph/The Diva Foundation, the musical was written by and starred Anthony Wayne (Pippin, Anything Goes, Priscilla Queen of the Desert), and was co-directed by Mr. Wayne and Kendrell Bowman, who also designed the show's costumes. Mr. Wayne and Mr. Bowman are currently planning a San Francisco engagement for the show, as well as a return to New York City in 2015.

This fall, WQXR, New York City's classical music station and CARNEGIE HALL will once again bring concerts from the renowned concert hall to national and international audiences through live and recorded broadcasts and webcasts of 12 concerts from the 2014-15 season.

LAS VEGAS (September 29, 2014) - Vocal impressionist Veronic DiCaire will raise funds and awareness for her selected charity partner Nevada Ballet Theatre in October, as part of her "Lend Your Voice" campaign, a monthly goodwill effort for Las Vegas-based nonprofits. During her performances from October 2 through October 18 at the Jubilee Theater at Bally's Las Vegas, Veronic will encourage audience donations and provide information on Nevada Ballet Theatre's mission from the powerful platform that is her stage.

GFour Productions, winners of 54 Drama Desk and 44 Tony Awards are proudly bringing the international hit show Menopause The Musical to Concord, New Hampshire and will play the Capitol Center for 2 performances, tonight, September 27, at 7pm & Sunday, September 28, at 2pm.

Macy Gray fans won't want to miss her only area performance at The Ridgefield Playhouse on Saturday, October 4, at 8 p.m.

On Thursday, October 9 at 8:00 PM, Martinis Above Fourth Table + Stage and Sher Krieger Events are presenting Karen Giorgio in '5 Times A Lady: Bette, Barbra, Judy, Ella, Billie - Their Songs, Their Stories.'

Welcome to this week's edition of our new WEEKLY GROSSES ANALYSIS, part of our new Industry Insights section that will feature insider industry information, commentary and insights! Read on for all the weekly grosses statistics for the movers and shakers from the latest grosses, 9/21/2014.

Following a sold-out engagement last October, Joey Arias returns to Feinstein's at the Nikko for one performance only with an intimate show for piano and voice featuring his music director and pianist Matt Ray on Friday, October 10 at 8 p.m. Ray has served as music director for Arias' sold out residencies at Joe's Pub and resumes this role on Arias' forthcoming Billie Holiday Centennial Concerts in the Spring of 2015. The piano and voice format allows for a high degree of improvisation, allowing these peerless musicians an opportunity to explore the depths of their musical communion. The repertoire includes original songs, unexpected covers and, of course, Arias' signature 'channeling' of Billie Holiday. Tickets for Joey Arias range in price from $25-$40 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Following the recent triumph of the musical THE ADDAMS FAMILY, and nestled quietly in the more intimate setting of Theatre Memphis' Next Stage, Carson McCullers' touching THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING offers yet another 'Addams Family.' This time, however, the trio of performers who dominate the play - tomboyish 'Frankie' (nee 'Frances'), odd little 'John Henry,' and warm, nurturing 'Berenice' - easily draw the audience members into the world of their kitchen and garden area. It may seem a ridiculous notion, but I couldn't help seeing a similarity between the two plays. In both plays, the main characters are removed from an outside, 'normal' world; and in both plays, there are characters who wish to be seen by others as normal. Yet, THE MEMBER OF THE WEDDING, despite its moments of humor (and there are many such moments), is full of longing and pain and frustration.

Due to popular demand, The Public Theater has extended Bridget Everett's critically acclaimed ROCK BOTTOM at Joe's Pub to Thursday, October 16. Created by Bridget Everett, Marc Shaiman, Scott Wittman, Adam 'Ad-Rock' Horovitz, and Matt Ray, and directed by Scott Wittman, this shockingly funny and moving new show began performances on September 9 and was originally slated to close on October 11. ROCK BOTTOM was originally commissioned as part of the Joe's Pub 2013 New York Voices series.