George Gershwin News

Salute the red, white and blue with the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra during the BNY Mellon Grand Classics 'American Fanfare' weekend today, March 28-30 at Heinz Hall.

The CSO's last Luken Holdings Pops Series concert of the 2013/14 season pays tribute to the greatest team of collaborators in American music history – George and Ira Gershwin. Here to Stay: The Gershwin Experience is a multi-media concert with a top-notch touring party, including Grammy Award-winning soprano Sylvia McNair. This concert event provides an unprecedented insider view into the legendary duo, and offers rare audio and video footage of the Gershwins.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'Cats' and 'Les Miserables' open in major suburban productions, a world premiere from Hershey Felder, a Chicago premiere from Pride Films And Plays, 'Carnival' spins, Harms and Scrofano feted, season announcements from Porchlight, Williams Street and Milwaukee Skylight, and more!

The Ordway Center for the Performing Arts announced today that The Gershwins' Porgy and Bess, winner of the 2012 Tony Award for Best Musical Revival, will perform today, March 25-30, 2014 at the Ordway.

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) Artistic Director, Dr. Timothy Seelig, announced the program for LUSTER: AN AMERICAN SONGBOOK at Davies Symphony Hall (201 Van Ness Avenue, San Francisco), tonight, March 25 and Wednesday, March 26, 2014 at 8 p.m.

The Geffen Playhouse is announcing three plays of its eight-play 2014-2015 season, including the West Coast Premiere of Choir Boy, written by 2013 MacArthur Fellow Tarell Alvin McCraney, directed by Trip Cullman, with its off-Broadway star Jeremy Pope; Hershey Felder as Irving Berlin, directed by Trevor Hay; and the West Coast Premiere of Bad Jews, which received rave reviews for its off-Broadway production, written by Joshua Harmon and directed by Matt Shakman.

On April 8, just two months before the New York-based artist Monty Alexander celebrates his 70th birthday, Motéma Music will release Harlem-Kingston Express Vol. 2: The River Rolls On

BroadwayWorld.com's SHOW BIZ: Rush, Lottery & Standing Room Only Ticketing Policies - updated on 3/21/2014.

Tennessee Shakespeare Company (TSC), the Mid-South's professional classical theatre, presents William Shakespeare's The Taming of the Shrew inside Dixon Gallery and Garden's Winegardner Auditorium from April 23 - May 4 in Memphis.

Continuing in a tradition of storytelling and music, Hershey Felder (George Gershwin Alone, Maestro Bernstein and last season's smash hit Mona Golabek in The Pianist of Willesden Lane) will present the World Premiere of Chris Lemmon in JACK LEMMON RETURNS, a new play with music. The production will preview May 2 and open on Monday, May 12 at 7 p.m. at The Royal George Theatre, 1641 North Halsted Street. The production is written and directed by Hershey Felder and based on the true story of the legendary Jack Lemmon (Mister Roberts, Some Like it Hot, Days of Wine and Roses, The Odd Couple) and his relationship with his son, actor and musician Chris Lemmon (Duet, That's Life, Lena's Holiday, etc.).

Back from a SRO concert in San Miguel de Allende in Mexico where she performed More Rules of the Road at the Angela Perlata Theater and Opera House, Baby Jane Dexter returns to Metropolitan Room for two performances of that hit show on Friday, April 18 and Friday April 25.

Hartford Stage will launch its second half-century this fall with a shimmering lineup - equal parts classics and premieres - including a nod to one of Hartford's most influential moments in world history and the awe-inspiring tale of a young girl, who survives the Nazis to become a world-class pianist.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, SONGS Music Publishing has picked up the exploitation rights to the George Gershwin catalog, with the intent to 'deploy creative strategy for the catalog of songs.' SONGS acquired the catalog from the Godowsky family and Heyward Memorial Fund.

Carrie Linquist of Memphis was the first reader last week to let me know Sullivan's Shakespeare-text request of me. Caliban speaks it in The Tempest as the drunken Stephano and Trinculo attempt to sing: 'That's not the tune!'

Gleaming with glamour and virtuosity, Sarah Chang, one of the world's foremost violinists, returns to Pacific Symphony to perform Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto, which takes full advantage of the violin's expressive range, from the rippling high chords to the growling alto notes. With an international career that spans more than two decades, Chang enthralls once again-this time alongside guest conductor Tito Muñoz, who recently served as music director of two esteemed organizations in Lorraine, France. Muñoz leads the orchestra in Dvo?ak's Symphony No. 8, optimistic and bright, filled with folk music and Bohemian dances. Opening the concert and having its West Coast premiere is a sensuous work by Adam Schoenberg, "Finding Rothko" (2006). Inspired by four bold paintings by American Abstract Impressionist painter Mark Rothko, the work is a musical depiction of the emotions Schoenberg felt embodied in each of the paintings.

Gleaming with glamour and virtuosity, Sarah Chang, one of the world's foremost violinists, returns to Pacific Symphony to perform Jean Sibelius' Violin Concerto, which takes full advantage of the violin's expressive range, from the rippling high chords to the growling alto notes. With an international career that spans more than two decades, Chang, the “thrill seeker” who made Mendelssohn “sizzle” (Orange County Register) when she opened the Symphony's 2011-12 season enthralls once again—this time alongside guest conductor Tito Muñoz, who recently served as music director of two esteemed organizations in Lorraine, France. Muñoz leads the orchestra in Dvo?ák's Symphony No. 8, optimistic and bright, filled with folk music and Bohemian dances. Opening the concert and having its West Coast premiere is a sensuous work by Adam Schoenberg, “Finding Rothko” (2006). Inspired by four bold paintings by American Abstract Impressionist painter Mark Rothko, the work is a musical depiction of the emotions Schoenberg felt embodied in each of the paintings.

The Columbus Symphony today announced its 2014-15 Masterworks and Pops seasons. Masterworks will continue to present eight concerts at the Ohio Theatre and four concerts at the Southern Theatre. All Pops concerts will remain at the Ohio Theatre.

Cornelia Street Cafe presents 'An Old-Fashioned Piano Party with Leslie Goshko' today, March 15, 2014 at 6 p.m. at Cornelia Street Cafe in New York City.

Overlooking their summer home on the Esplanade, Boston Landmarks Orchestra staff, board, sponsors, and partners gathered yesterday morning (albeit snowy) at the Goethe-Institut where Music Director Christopher Wilkins revealed the 2014 collaborative and inclusive civic celebrations of music and programs in Boston's neighborhood. This summer's free concerts at the DCR's Hatch Shell selections are inspired by a wonderful range of the world's musical traditions. Concerts will be held every Wednesday evening (7pm) beginning July 16 thru August 27, 2014. For more information and schedule visit www.landmarksorchestra.org. Check out the details for each concert below!

Summer is just around the corner and families are already thinking about packing picnics and heading out to Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in Irvine for five music-infused evenings under the stars with Pacific Symphony. Presented by Mercedes-Benz, the Symphony's 2014 Summer Festival explodes with the annual July 4th extravaganza, featuring Big Bad Voodoo Daddy and a brilliant fireworks finale. Then it's on to classic Americana for “Gershwin Greats,” featuring guest pianist Jeffrey Biegel, soprano Angela Brown and bass Kevin Deas. Next, it's the the magnificent repertoire of Disney “Fantasia”: Live in Concert from the original 1940 version and “Fantasia 2000,” performed live as Disney's stunning footage is shown on the big screen. The fourth concert delivers the silky smooth sounds of saxophone superstar Kenny G, before the Symphony concludes the season with an OC tradition: “Tchaikovsky Spectacular,” which this year features guest pianist Jon Nakamatsu, and, of course, breathtaking cannons and fireworks during the “1812 Overture.”