Jackie Wilson News

Motown: The Musical - a snapshot of one of the most successful musical era driven by one man with big dreams: Berry Gordy

Award-winning Broadway actor Dr. Chester Gregory will be presenting Manifest Your Inner Shine: The Performing Artist's MasterClass for Singers & Actors in Chicago today, July 25, 2015.

Last week, I had the opportunity of speaking with Jarvis B. Manning Jr., a Texas native from the national tour of MOTOWN The Musical. In addition to speaking about returning to his hometown as a professional performer, Jarvis spoke about the unique experience of touring the country during the Michael Brown trials, and the emotion the cast has felt while performing in different cities.

Award-winning Broadway actor Dr. Chester Gregory will be presenting Manifest Your Inner Shine: The Performing Artist's MasterClass for Singers & Actors in Chicago on July 25, 2015.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, June 28, 2015 - Sunday, June 28, 2015.

Today in 1987, the FIRST Broadway revival of Dreamgirls opened at the Ambassador Theatre, where it ran for 177 performances. Dreamgirls features music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called 'The Dreams', who become music superstars. The musical opened on December 20, 1981 at the Imperial Theatre, and was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and won six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006. The 1987 cast featured Lillias White as 'Effie.'

For nearly three vigorous hours, MOTOWN - THE MUSICAL provides one helluva show. More like a CONCERT rather than your typical book musical, this dazzling, high-octane extravaganza of music and dance is a visual and aural feast that gamely crams in more than 60 hits from the groundbreaking record company's discography. The story---penned by Motown founder Berry Gordy himself---may be its lone weak spot, but there's no denying how fun it is to see and hear this impressive cast of quintuple-threats recreate these greatest hits live on stage. The rousingly entertaining, exuberantly-performed stage spectacular continues at Costa Mesa's Segerstrom Center for the Arts through June 28.

Bill Hanney's award-winning North Shore Music Theatre (NSMT) has added THE FAB FOUR to the 2015 Concert Series. The act the LA TIMES called "The best Beatles show in the world!" will play one show on September 11, 2015 at 8pm. Tickets are $40.50 and $50.50

Broadway star and recording artist Chester Gregory recently returned to Chicago to receive the highest honor from his alma mater, Columbia College Chicago (BFA Musical Theatre, '95). For his phenomenal achievements in the fine, creative, and performing arts, Chester Gregory was presented with an honorary doctorate degree during the Spring 2015 commencement ceremonies on May 17, 2015.

Knoxville Opera celebrates the arts with a spectacular feast of dance, music and performance through Knoxville Opera's annual Rossini Festival International Street Fair today, April 25 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. The event is free to the public and draws attendees from around the region and country.

Knoxville Opera celebrates the arts with a spectacular feast of dance, music and performance through Knoxville Opera's annual Rossini Festival International Street Fair on Saturday, April 25 from 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. The event is free to the public and draws attendees from around the region and country.

Skyline Theatre Company will present one of Broadway's most thrilling musical hits, DREAMGIRLS, April 24-26 and May 1-3 at the George Frey Center for Arts and Recreation in the Fair Lawn Community Center. Tickets are $29 for adults, $24 for seniors, and $20 for students.

In Music Is Forever: Dizzy Gillespie, the Jazz Legend and Me, Dave Usher, white and Jewish, tells the story of how he, at age 14, met the jazz giant, a black man who practiced the Baha'i Faith, and forged a 50-year friendship.

It was the music that put the Motor City on the map for something other than moving vehicles.

Recording artist, songwriter and two-time Grammy Award winner Rita Coolidge will set a romantic tone at her Valentine's show, “Rita Coolidge: A Special Valentine Evening,” at the Suncoast Showroom this weekend, February 14 and 15.

'The Eve of Jackie Wilson: A Musical Look at the R&B Legend,' starring Broadway's Chester Gregory, comes to the Palladium's Hough Hall (253 Fifth Avenue North, St. Petersburg, FL) on Monday, January 19 at 8 p.m. Presented by the Palladium and Real Music.

Recording artist, songwriter and two-time Grammy Award winner Rita Coolidge will set a romantic tone at her Valentine's show, “Rita Coolidge: A Special Valentine Evening,” at the Suncoast Showroom February 14 and 15.

Today in 1981, Dreamgirls opened at the Imperial Theatre, where it ran for 1521 performances. Based upon the show business aspirations and successes of R&B acts such as The Supremes, The Shirelles, James Brown, Jackie Wilson, and others, the musical follows the story of a young female singing trio from Chicago, Illinois called 'The Dreams', who become music superstars. It was nominated for thirteen Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Musical, and won six. It was later adapted into a motion picture from DreamWorks and Paramount Pictures in 2006.

R&B and soul singer Bobby Brooks Wilson will perform at Sam's Town Live! tonight, December 5.

For 23 years the NAACP Beverly Hills/Hollywood branch has produced a star-studded gala honoring thespians for their astonishing achievement in entertainment and theatre.