Billie Holiday News

Kathy Sledge is the lead singer of famous sister group 'Sister Sledge' whom held numerous number one hits and Grammy nominations is performing her show BRIGHTER SIDE OF DAY live at the Metropolitan Room for one night only on September 9 and 9:30pm.

Musician, singer, and songwriter, Lilla releases her second album, "The Awakening," just one week after graduating from Berklee College of Music

Last night, on ABC World News, Audra McDonald marked the second African-American Broadway actor to be featured as a PERSON OF THE WEEK on the popular telecast this year. The program is hosted by Diane Sawyer, who soon leaves that chair to 'create innovative specials' for the network. On the broadcast, McDonald discussed how she prepares to become Billie Holiday each night, as she continues to strive bettering her 'Lady Day' for every performance. This production, directed by Lonny Price, earned her the distinction of being the only actress in history to receive a record 6th Tony Award earlier this year.

Steven Carl McCasland is a rising voice in the world of theatre. After their acclaimed and sold-out production of Little Wars in April, Beautiful Soup presents the last two works in McCasland's trilogy. The plays examine the lives of historical women in the arts. Beginning on August 27th, Shades of Blue: The Decline and Fall of Lady Day and What Was Lost, an examination of Laurette Taylor's preparation for The Glass Menagerie, will open at the Dorothy Strelsin Theatre.

After more than two decades of exciting contribution to the New York musical scene, The Mabel Mercer Foundation hits a new high this autumn by producing its 25th annual New York Cabaret Convention for four evenings, October 20th-23rd. All performances begin at 6 o'clock at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, The Frederick P. Rose Hall at Broadway and 60th Street.

Beautiful Soup Theater will offer discounted marathon ticketing for both plays in their repertory program later this month. Audiences can save $6 and see both plays for $30 on marathon days: Saturday, August 30th, Wednesday, September 3rd and Sunday, September 7th. Simply select the 'See Both Plays' option at http://beautifulsoup.showclix.com.

Blue Note Jazz Club, one of the world's most iconic jazz and blues venues based in Greenwich Village, is proud to announce an impressive schedule of artists for August 2014.

Milwaukee Repertory Theater announced casting today for The Color Purple, the glorious musical saga which opens Friday, September 26, 2014 and runs from September 23 - November 2, 2014.

On Sunday July 27 powerhouse vocalist Jeanne Page made a stylish return to Sterling's Upstairs at the Federal for a marvelous evening of standards done her way, entitled Reboot. This lady has a unique brand of humor that is intoxicating and infuses every song she sings with the true colors they deserve. She is about to release a CD of her work, so Reboot was a preview of the album. Believe me, it's a knockout!

59E59 Theaters has announced the line-up of shows for Fall 2014.

Peggy King, one of the most popular TV and recording stars of the 1950's, will make her first Los Angeles appearance in more than 30 years on Sunday, July 27 at 7:30 PM at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Joining her will be acclaimed pianist, harpist and vocalist Corky Hale, leading an all-star quartet including Lymon Medeiros on bass, Jack LeCompte on drums and John Chiodini on guitar.

The current Stephen Sondheim tribute show, Our Time, starring KT Sullivan and Jeff Harnar at the Laurie Beechman (which I attended on July 9 and 16; there are two more Wednesday performances at 6pm on August 6, 13), is a charming, classy, and entertaining affair. But it also includes enough flaws in execution that prevent it from being truly great. For one thing, it doesn't really feel like a duo show. It's more like two solo performances within one show, where the performers fit in a couple of numbers together to justify the concept. A critique of the Sullivan/Harnar Sondheim set provides an interesting opportunity to analyze the anatomy of a duo show and the choices that can make it work—or not.

Daniel Nardicio will also present 'Dworld Underwear Party' tonight, July 25th at 11pm - Fire Island's largest and sexiest weekly party with special guest dancer Levi Michaels. Plus, more dancers, C-In2 Underwear Giveaways, 2am skinny-dipping in the pool, massages by DN's 'official rubbers' the guys from MMX, water taxis all night from the Pines, sexy visuals in the erotic lounge by Marco Ovando and Ned Stressen Reuter and more. It all takes place at The Ice Palace, Cherry Grove $15, or $10 with password.

PS Classics' Original Broadway Cast Recording of Audra McDonald in Lady Day at Emerson's Bar & Grill topped four of the Billboard Charts in its first week of release: #1 in Cast Albums, #1 in Jazz, #1 in Traditional Jazz and #1 in Heatseekers. According to Billboard, the album is McDonald's highest-charting solo release ever.

On last night's TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JIMMY FALLON, 6-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald returned to once again sing some actual Yahoo! Answers. Watch the hilarity below!

Arbender Robinson (Broadway's Les Miserables, Beautiful and The Book of Mormon) and nightlife personality Witti Repartee join Beautiful Soup Theater for an evening of stories and songs. Celebrating the music and life of Billie Holiday, whose life inspired Steven Carl McCasland's Shades Of Blue: The Decline & Fall Of Lady Day, this concert evening will benefit Beautiful Soup's World Premiere Production of that play. The previously announced Shades Of Blue... will run in repertory with McCasland's What Was Lost, a study of Laurette Taylor and Tennessee Williams at The Dorothy Strelsin Theatre beginning August 27th.

The new voice of modern jazz, Cecile McLorin Salvant, performs at the Westhampton Beach Performing Arts Center on Sunday, August 10 at 8:00 p.m. Tickets are $60, $70, $80 and are available online at www.whbpac.org.

Celebrating his 20th year in NYC, Daniel Nardicio brings back his Manniversary edition of XXX Triple X on Thursday, July 31st at 11pm - all dude/all lewd/all nude, featuring dancers and a live show at the cock, 29 2nd Avenue. Admission: $20 or $10 before 11:30.

BMCC Tribeca Performing Arts Center, the longest operating performance venue in lower Manhattan, presents Peter Cincotti, performing on Saturday, October 25 at 8PM, the first of four major concerts in the 2014-2015 Main Event Series.

The Town Hall 2014 Summer Season: Broadway Preludes just presented Broadway Rising Stars, the annual revue giving recent graduates from the nation's leading performing arts schools a chance to showcase their talents and perform on the legendary stage. Directed by Scott Coulter, Broadway Rising Stars is created, hosted and written by Scott Siegel and features the brightest talent from AMDA, CAP 21, Circle in the Square, Juilliard, Marymount, The New School, NYU's Steinhardt and Tisch, Pace University, and more. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from the special night below!