Cole Porter News

Celebrity Series of Boston will present What Makes It Great? With Rob Kapilow today, November 3, 2013, at 3pm at NEC's Jordan Hall, 30 Gainsborough Street, Boston. Sponsored by Amy and Joshua Boger. Celebrity Series of Boston has presented What Makes It Great? with Rob Kapilow 33 times since its Boston debut in 1997.

The Elios Charitable Foundation announced today the program and honorees for the highly anticipated 9th Hellenic Charity Ball, to be held tonight, November 2, 2013 at Westin St. Francis on Union Square (335 Powell Street, San Francisco).

The York Theatre Company launches its 'New2NY' Series with a concert presentation of the musical Jack: A Musical Drama on the Life of John F. Kennedy, with Book and Lyrics byWill Holt and Tom Sawyer, Music by Will Holt, based on an original concept by Tom Sawyer. Directed by Igor Goldin, and with Music Direction by Matt Castle, the cast features Frank Anderson, Wilson Bridges, Patrick Cummings, Jessica Grove, Julia Johanos, Anne Kanengeiser, Erick Pinnick, Lauren Sterling, Debra Walton, and William Zeffiro. Stephen Lee Anderson has replaced the previously announced Walter Charles.

In the first pops concert of the season, Utah Symphony will welcome back to Utah Brian Stokes Mitchell, a much-loved vocalist who performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during their annual Christmas Concert in 2008.

The Houston Symphony's November calendar features an exciting lineup of concerts including the world premiere of Houston Symphony commission, La Triste Historia - Animated Film + Music, a multimedia concert experience that celebrates the Mexican tradition of Day of the Dead today, November 1 and November 2 and 3.

For their 2013-2014 season American Classics brings three 'firsts' to their programming. For the first time American Classics will present a guest performer in their own concert, acclaimed entertainer John O'Neil in his popular salute to Danny Kaye, 'So Kaye, a one man 'tongue-twisting tour-de force' showcasing songs, stories and monologues culled from Kaye's illustrious career. 'So Kaye was nominated for the prestigious IRNE award in 2001; since that time O'Neil has performed the show up and down the East Coast from Maine to Florida. 'Adding John O'Neil and 'So Kaye to our season is exciting for us. John has appeared with us in the past, but we are delighted to be able to showcase him in one of his most popular shows,' says Producing Director Benjamin Sears, who notes, 'this is Kaye's centenary year, so it's a perfect time to feature John in an American Classics season.'

PITTSBURGH – The second concert of the PNC Pops season celebrates one of America's most powerful and enduring musical artists with one of America's great multi-talented stars of stage and screen when Ann Hampton Callaway presents The Streisand Songbook on Nov. 14-17 at Heinz Hall with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. Big local openings ('Miss Saigon,' 'Hello, Dolly!' and 'Mary Poppins'), holiday fare like Menken's 'A Christmas Carol,' the return of 'We Three Lizas' and more, season announcements from MTC and LOW, plus the Season Of Concern CD and a BroadwayWorld Chicago Awards deadline!

As previously announced, the York Theatre Company will present the New York premiere of two musicals: a 'New2NY' concert presentation of Jack: A Musical Drama on the Life of John F. Kennedy, and a Developmental Lab presentation of Buddy's Tavern, with book by Raymond De Felitta, music by Kim Oler, and lyrics by Alison Hubbard at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

For anyone who loves joyful, unpretentious, but highly creative and spontaneous jazz, Todd Londagin's new album Look Out For Love will be a delightful discovery. The vocalist/trombonist's music is a vivid reflection of his personal roots. Growing up playing music and street busking in an itinerant, alternative-lifestyle family, he lived in buses, cars, homemade boats or tents, traveling throughout the U.S., Mexico, Canada and Europe. Home-schooled and with no formal musical training, Todd honed his skills the old-style way through influences like Nat King Cole, Billie Holiday, Ella Fitzgerald, early Sinatra and New Orleans traditional jazz, especially Jack Teagarden (one of the few other trombonist/vocalists in jazz) and later, J.J. Johnson.

Jack Jones celebrates his fiftieth anniversary in show business in a special one night only concert at The McCallum Theatre in Palm Desert on Saturday, November 23, at 8:00pm. Jones won two Grammys for 'Best Pop Male Vocal Performance' with his singles 'Lollipops and Roses' and 'Wives and Lovers.' He was also nominated for 'The Impossible Dream,' and his recording of 'Wives and Lovers' was nominated for 'Record of the Year'. His hit records include 'The Race Is On,' 'Lady,' 'Call Me Irresponsible,' and 'What I Did for Love.' He is a leading interpreter of musical theater, with acclaimed performances in Guys and Dolls, South Pacific, She Loves Me, Pajama Game, and as Don Quixote in the national tour of Man of La Mancha. Jones's credits also include film and television roles, an internationally syndicated TV variety show, and performances at Carnegie Hall, the Kennedy Center, and the White House and he has performed and recorded theme songs for film and TV, including 'Love with a Proper Stranger" and 'The Love Boat.'

Due to popular demand and wide-spread critical acclaim, producer George Youakim from James Anthony Productions today announced that the season of the devilishly cheeky, fun-filled Broadway musical Dirty Rotten Scoundrels has been extended to December 8 at Sydney's Theatre Royal. New performances go on sale on Friday. Sydney audiences are rolling in the aisles to what the Sydney Morning Herald has labelled 'the best new musical to hit Sydney this century.'

The York Theatre Company launches its 2013-14 season with a special concert presentation of the musical Six Wives, with Book and Lyrics by Joe Masteroff and Music by Edward Thomas tonight. Directed by David Green, and with Music Direction by Dennis Buck, the five member cast features Nick Wyman and Claybourne Elder, with Judy Kaye and Alexander Silber as the six wives, and Alexander Gemignani playing Henry VIII.

Actor Howard McGillin, Broadway's longest-running Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera, has agreed to headline Tennessee Shakespeare Company's Fifth Annual Valentine's Gala on February 14, 2014, at Germantown Performing Arts Center.

SCU•PRESENTS will feature the Faculty, Staff and Students at Santa Clara University in the Fall 2013 Music Season, which includes FOLKSONGS, RITUALS AND RITES OF PASSAGE, featuring SCU faculty member, Teresa McCollough on the piano with special guest artist, Michael Boyd. SCU•PRESENTS is also proud to announce three new Music Directors and Conductors joining the Department of Music; John Kennedy, Music Director & Conductor, of the Santa Clara University Orchestra, Dr. Douglas Harris, Director of Bands, Santa Clara University Wind Symphony and Jazz Band and Scot Hanna-Weir, Music Director and Conductor, Santa Clara University Concert Choir and Chamber Singers.

In the first pops concert of the season, Utah Symphony will welcome back to Utah Brian Stokes Mitchell, a much-loved vocalist who performed with the Mormon Tabernacle Choir during their annual Christmas Concert in 2008.

The York Theatre Company (James Morgan, Producing Artistic Director; Andrew Levine, Executive Director) launches its 2013-14 season with a special concert presentation of the musical Six Wives, with Book and Lyrics by Joe Masteroff and Music by Edward Thomas. Directed by David Green, and with Music Direction by Dennis Buck, the five member cast will feature Nick Wyman and Liam Forde, who replaces the previously announced Claybourne Elder, with Judy Kaye and Alexander Silber as the six wives, and Alexander Gemignani playing Henry VIII. The one-night only concert event will be held tonight, October 28, 2013 at 7:30 p.m. at The York Theatre Company at Saint Peter's (Citicorp Building, entrance on East 54th Street, just east of Lexington Avenue).

Some people, especially some cabaret reviewers and cabaret fans, might think it's lazy or a copout or both for a performer to keep recycling previous shows. But when the Café Carlyle comes a'callin' you: A) May not have enough time to create a totally new show or B) Want to pitch the big game with your best stuff or C) All of the above. Since I only started reviewing cabaret in late 2010, I missed the Laurie Beechman Theatre debut of Jennifer Sheehan's 2009 show You Made Me Love You: Celebrating 100 Years of the Great American Songbook, and missed it again when she brought it to the Metropolitan Room in 2010. So I, for one, am not complaining that she dusted off the critically praised set again (with the new slug 'Timeless Classics and New Treasures' from said Songbook show) for her debut last Saturday night at the prestigious Café Carlyle. Sheehan may have been booked for the room's new 10:45 late night series and not the prime time slot, but at least the Carlyle is giving opportunities to exciting young cabaret performers like Sheehan (and Marissa Mulder, who will make her debut at the room on November 7). With You Made Me Love You, Sheehan made everything old new again-at least for me.

TV actress, celebrity masterchef, and cabaret singer - Denise Black is a woman of many talents. She's also a woman of seemingly boundless energy: yesterday she spent the day filming for Emmerdale before heading off to see a movie