Duke Ellington News

It was announced today during a live appearance from the stage of the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, that Multi-Platinum recording artist and actress Vanessa Williams is set to join the roster of 'Special Guest Star' vocalists in the critically acclaimed Broadway musical, After Midnight. Williams will play performances from Tuesday, April 1, 2014 through Sunday, May 11, 2014 at theBrooks Atkinson Theatre (256 W 47th Street). Directed and choreographed by Warren Carlyle, After Midnight began preview performances on Friday, October 18, 2013, and opened to rave reviews on Sunday, November 3, 2013.

Legendary American singer and pianist Leon Russell has entertained the world for five decades, getting his start as an in-demand Wrecking Crew session player and playing on hundreds of hit records before he began releasing his own albums in 1967.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Last Ship' sails, 'Chicago' and 'The Heartbeat Of Home' stop by, 'Chicago's Golden Soul,' and 'Ain't Misbehavin' pack 'em in, catch 'Dessa Rose,' 'Love Story' and 'A New Brain,' and the Waa-Mu Show announces 2014, plus more!

Dule Hill and cast members from the smash hit Broadway musical, AFTER MIDNIGHT, appeared on Katie Couric's nationally syndicated talk show, 'Katie' today. Dule sat down for a chat with Katie before cast members Vigril Lil' O Gadson, Julius 'iGlide' Chisholm, Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards, Phillip Attmore and Daniel Watts performed 'Hottentot' and 'New Broom.' Check out photos from their appearance below!

The Broadway at Birdland concert series has announced that Donna McKechnie's new Talk/Variety show will return on Monday, March 24 at 7pm. Andrea McArdle has signed on to be Donna's Very Special Guest.

On Sunday, March 23 at 3:00 p.m. in Carnegie Hall's Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage, high school singers from across New York City and young artists from the recently launched Jazz at Lincoln Center Youth Orchestra (JLCYO) will join together to perform works from Duke Ellington's celebrated Sacred Music concerts. The afternoon's performance is led by jazz composer, arranger, and recognized authority on the music of Duke Ellington and the Swing era David Berger, along with special guest soloists alto Lalah Hathaway, baritone Rufus Bond Jr., soprano Nicole Cabell, tenor saxophonist Jimmy Heath, trumpeter and composer Sean Jones, trombonist and JLYCO Director Vincent Gardner, and tap dancer Jason Samuels Smith.

Ocean State Theatre Company (OSTC), currently celebrating its first full season in its new state-of-the-art theatre in Warwick is proud to present the international hit, The All Night Strut! from February 26 - March 16.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts presents an exclusive Southern California engagement of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater March 27 - 30.

The iconic festival, Newport Jazz Festival, turns 60 and takes the show on a road with Philadelphia performance and debut at the Merriam Theater on Sunday, March 9 at 8 p.m. The Newport Jazz Festival: Now 60 pays homage to jazz luminaries such as Billie Holiday, Dizzie Gillespie, and Duke Ellington, whose classic jazz standards where first recorded at the festival, reinterpreted through the lens of contemporary jazz artists. The program also provides a progressive exploration of global jazz with Brazilian, Gypsy, Latin influences.

On the heels of their one-year wedding anniversary, distinguished entertainers Christine Reisner-Rebic (an international cabaret chanteuse and dancer) and Don Rebic (Broadway and cabaret musical director and composer) will join forces for the New York City debut of their first full-length cabaret act as a duo. 'Look Who's in Love' features their original songs as well as songs by veteran Broadway composer Albert Hague (Christine's uncle) and timeless jazzy standards by Irving Berlin, Jule Styne, Jimmy Van Heusen, Betty Comden and Adolph Green. The show is directed by Michael Bush. The performance is set for Wednesday, February 19, 2014 at The Laurie Beechman Theatre at the West Bank Cafe, 407 West 42nd Street (at 9th Avenue), NYC. TICKETS: $20 cover charge ($15 for MAC members) plus a $15 food/beverage minimum. RESERVATIONS: 212-695-6909 or www.LaurieBeechmanTheatre.com.

The cast of Broadway's AFTER MIDNIGHT had a special Black History Month guest when Rev. Jesse Jackson attended the show and visited the cast backstage. Scroll down for photos!

In one of its most ambitious projects to date, Chicago Opera Theater (COT) will collaborate with the Chicago Jazz Orchestra (CJO) to present the Chicago premiere of Duke Ellington's only opera 'Queenie Pie,' running today, February 15 - March 5 at the Harris Theater, 205 E. Randolph Street. Tickets ($35 - $125) are now on sale.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced their sensational line-up of incredible talent for February 24 - March 2, including: Quest: With Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure & Billy Hart, Broadway Belts, David Ostwald's Louis Armstrong Eternity Band, Arturo O'Farrill Afro Latin Jazz Orchestra, and more. Details below!

Birdland Jazz Club's March 2014 schedule will feature Quest: with Dave Liebman, Richie Beirach, Ron McClure & Billy Hart, Billy Hart Quartet, Kevin Mahogany, Cheyenne Jackson; Now This: with Gary Peacock, Marc Copland & Joey Baron, Bill Charlap Trio, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, Billy Stritch; and more! Check out full details below!

Music legend Shirley Bassey, perhaps best known in the U.S. for recording the theme songs to the James Bond films may be making a return to Broadway in the new musical AFTER MIDNIGHT.

Celebrating the life and legacy of Alvin Ailey and his innovative, inspiring and thrilling work, 25 years after his passing, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, "long one of the nation's more cherished troupes," ("Chicago Tribune") graces the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University's landmark stage February 28 - March 9, 2014 as part of a 23-City U.S. Tour. Robert Battle returns for his third year as Artistic Director to lead the world renowned company as they continue to inspire and delight audiences with both new work as well as traditional pieces that have made "the Cultural Ambassadors" a staple on the international stage. Tickets ($32 - $92) are on sale now and available online at ticketmaster.com/auditorium, by calling (800) 982-ARTS (2787) or at the Auditorium Theatre Box Office (50 E Congress Pkwy).

Due to the severe weather conditions in the Atlanta area, this weekend's performance schedule for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater has been changed. Ailey's performance on Thursday, February 13 at 8:00pm has been RESCHEDULED to Sunday, February 16 at 7:30pm. (Tickets for Thursday evening's performance will be honored at the new Sunday evening performance.)

AFTER MIDNIGHT, currently playing at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre, just welcomed k.d. lang as its special guest star. Lang will continue her Broadway run through March 9. Fashion duo Isabel and Ruben Toledo hosted a pre-opening night reception at their atelier in honor of for four-time Grammy Award-winning icon k.d. lang's Broadway debut in After Midnight. Scroll down for photos from the festivities!