Harry Belafonte News

In 1988, John Lennon's wife Yoko Ono gave a candid interview to record-label president Joe Smith about the Beatles' split: "For John, it was a divorce. I think he was feeling very good about it, as if a big weight was off him." Ono was among more than 200 celebrated performers, producers and industry leaders whose words Smith captured on audiotape more than 25 years ago in an effort to document the oral history of popular music.

At The Acting Company's 40th Anniversary Ruby Ball on Monday, December 3, 2012 at Capitale, James Houghton, Founding Artistic Director of the Signature Theatre and the Richard Rodgers Director of Juilliard's Drama Division, will accept the John Houseman Award recognizing his profound commitment to the development of American actors and an audience for the theater. Earl Weiner, Board Chairman of both The Acting Company and the Theater Development Fund (TDF) will receive the Warburg Humanitarian Award for his outstanding philanthropic endeavor and leadership. According to Barbara Fleischman, Gala Chair, Harriet Harris(Thoroughly Modern Millie, upcoming in Cinderella) and Dr. Kate Levin, Commissioner of New York City's Department of Cultural Affairs, will present the awards; Jim Dale will host, Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow, upcoming in Giant) will perform and tributes will be offered by Angela Lansbury, Kevin Kline, Patti LuPone, Rainn Wilson, Dana Ivey, Hamish Linklater, Joe Dowling, Director of The Guthrie and Michael Kahn, Artistic Director of Washington's Shakespeare Theater. Four hundred guests complete an industry-filled audience of producers, directors, entertainers and other notables including The Honorable Thomas Kean, record producer Clive Davis,director/choreographer Susan Stroman, TV personality Pia Lindstrom, Juilliard President Joseph Polisi, composerMary Rodgers Guettel and The Broadway League's Charlotte St. Martin. Tickets from 212-258-3111.

The HistoryMakers will welcome and honor Berry Gordy, Jr., founder of Motown Records, during AN EVENING WITH BERRY GORDY on Saturday, November 17, 2012 at The Art Institute of Chicago.

Following a sold-out performance, iconic funny man Bill Cosby brings his signature comedy back to the Treasure Island Theatre November 23 at 8 p.m.

92nd Street Y announces casting for the 2013 season of Lyrics & Lyricists™. Jason Danieley, Rebecca Luker, Barbara Carroll and James Naughton are among the performers from the worlds of Broadway, jazz and cabaret presenting a panoramic journey through the American Songbook via New York, London, Hollywood, and Stratford-on-Avon. L&L's shows this season explore Shakespeare on Broadway, iconic singer/lyricist Peggy Lee, a fresh take on Jerome Kern, and our look at Vernon Duke's and W. S. Gilbert's influence on Broadway. The season is curated by series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer (also returning as artistic director for one of the shows), and a line-up of guest artistic directors - Rob Fisher (with host Sheldon Harnick), Billy Stritch, David Loud and Mark Lamos.

Grammy winner Jennifer Warnes, a singer-songwriter best known for introducing two Academy Award-winning best songs-"I've Had The Time of My Life," a duet with Bill Medley from Dirty Dancing and "Up Where We Belong," a duet with Joe Cocker from An Officer and a Gentleman, as well as for her top ten hit 'Right Time of the Night,' will perform at the Madison Theatre at Molloy College on Wednesday, October 31, at 8:00 p.m. Co-presented by Long Island Woman magazine, this will be her only New York appearance.

Richmond CenterStage previously announced the lineup for its second annual U.S. TRUST Life is a Cabaret! Series: A Celebration of the Great American Song Book, which will begin tonight, October 18 with Virginia's own Desiree Roots.

Bill Cosby, who has been making audiences laugh for decades with his keen insight into everyday existence, brings his signature comedy to the Treasure Island Theatre tonight, September 28 at 8 p.m.

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, is thrilled to announce the return of Grammy Award-winner Amanda McBroom with BREL IN THE BERKSHIRES! for three performances September 20-23 at Spice Dragon (297 North Street, Downtown Pittsfield).

Barrington Stage Company, under the leadership of Julianne Boyd, Artistic Director, and Tristan Wilson, Managing Director, presents the return of Grammy Award-winner Amanda McBroom with Brel in the Berkshires! for three performances September 20-23 at Spice Dragon (297 North Street, Downtown Pittsfield). Check out photos from the concert below!

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return of Golden Globe winning singer, actress and songwriter, Amanda McBroom in her new concert, CINEMA VERITE...AMANDA GOES TO THE MOVIES. Performances are tonight, September 7 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, September 8 at 7:30 PM, Sunday, September 9 at 4:00 PM. Tickets are $37.50.

BROADWAY BALLYHOO will welcome an all-star cast for its Thursday, 11 PM show at Feinstein's on September 6th. The series is now in it's 10th smash month.

The US premiere of the acclaimed UK production, Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience - A Parody by Dan and Jeff, closes today, September 2nd, at the Little Shubert Theater (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues).

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return of Golden Globe winning singer, actress and songwriter, Amanda McBroom in her new concert, CINEMA VERITE...AMANDA GOES TO THE MOVIES. Performances are on Friday, September 7 at 7:30 PM, Saturday, September 8 at 7:30 PM, Sunday, September 9 at 4:00 PM. Tickets are $37.50.

Bill Cosby, who has been making audiences laugh for decades with his keen insight into everyday existence, brings his signature comedy to the Treasure Island Theatre September 28 at 8 p.m.

Today we are talking to a Tony Award-winning star known for her many impressive appearances on Broadway in JELLY'S LAST JAM, PLAY ON!, THE WILD PARTY and her tremendous title turn in the towering CAROLINE, OR CHANGE - the one and only Tonya Pinkins. Opening up about her career and many of her most memorable roles, Pinkins lets us in to her world and shares experiences of working with some of the most noted names in theatre - George C. Wolfe, Harold Prince, August Wilson, Stephen Sondheim, Lloyd Richards, Daniel Sullivan, David Esbjornson and many more among them - on everything from MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG, her Broadway debut, to her many musical roles to August Wilson's THE PIANO LESSON and RADIO GOLF all the way to last season's Shakespeare In The Park double-header of THE MERRY WIVES OF WINDSOR and MEASURE FOR MEASURE. Most importantly, Pinkins fills us in on all the details about her upcoming Ethel Waters tribute at 54 Below and what we can expect from one of musical theatre's most dynamic divas taking on the song catalog of an entertainment pioneer in this New York premiere of the in-development new musical solo spotlight showcase. Additionally, Pinkins shares some candid reminiscences about some of her most fondly remembered film and television roles - such as ABOVE THE RIM, BEAT STREET, ROMANCE & CIGARETTES, ENCHANTED and others - as well as offers her thoughts on the ever-changing world of soaps, having appeared in major roles on both AS THE WORLD TURNS and ALL MY CHILDREN. All of that, comments on her two upcoming feature films - HOME and NEWLYWEEDS - and much, much more!

Birdland (315 West 44th Street - between 8th & 9th Aves.) has announced entertainment for the month of September, 2012.

Themed 'Harlem: Where the World Meets the World,' this year's HARLEM WEEK events celebrates Harlem's global presence and international legacy while honoring the 50th anniversary of Jamaica's independence; the 100th anniversaries of South Africa's African National Congress and Japan's Sakura Festival plus much more.

The US premiere of the acclaimed UK production, Potted Potter: The Unauthorized Harry Experience - A Parody by Dan and Jeff, continues through September 2nd only at the Little Shubert Theater (422 West 42nd Street, between 9th and 10th Avenues). The National Tour kicks off in Winnipeg in November, and continues on to Chicago, Schenectady, Millville (NJ), Greenvale (NY), Bangor, Omaha, Columbia (MO), St. Louis, Fayetteville (AR), Mesa (AZ), Detroit, Mississauga, and Hartford, with more dates to be announced.

Jacob's Pillow presents Trey McIntyre Project (TMP) in an engaging triple-bill program that features the legendary folk music of Peter, Paul and Mary, as well as the world premiere of LADIES AND GENTLE MEN, inspired by Marlo Thomas's iconic children's book, record, and TV show Free to Be…You and Me, August 8-12 at the historic Ted Shawn Theatre. Artistic Director Trey McIntyre, a celebrated dancemaker, "has proven his talent and takes his place as one of the top choreographers of the decade' (Marene Guston, Dance International).