Jackie Wilson News

Performances are March 12-April 6, 2014. Press opening is Saturday, March 15 at 8 p.m. The Paramount Theatre is located at 23 E. Galena Blvd. in downtown Aurora, IL. Show times are Wednesday at 1:30 p.m. and 7:30 p.m.; Thursday at 7:30 p.m.; Friday at 8 p.m.; Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 p.m.; and Sunday at 1 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. Tickets are only $36.90 to $49.90. To purchase, go to ParamountAurora.com, call (630) 896-6666, or visit the Paramount box office Monday through Saturday, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and 2 hours prior to evening performances. Note: RENT is rated R for strong adult language and themes. Not recommended for audiences under 17.

The Cabaret celebrates Black History Month with Broadway star Chester Gregory in his award-winning show The Eve of Jackie. Gregory reveals the sometimes tragic side of the man who recorded over 50 hit singles from 1957-1975 from "Lonely Teardrops" to "(Your Love Keeps Liftin' Me) Higher and Higher" and inspired generations of entertainers from Elvis Presley to Al Green to Michael Jackson.

Segerstrom Center's Off Center Festival returns for its third consecutive year today, January 23 - February 2. This year's festival will showcase an entirely new lineup of wonderfully creative and innovative contemporary performance companies and artists.

Court Theatre announces the extension of Seven Guitars written by August Wilson, and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. The production will now run through Sunday, February 16, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Tickets for the week-long extension are now on sale.

Court Theatre continues its 2013-2014 season with Seven Guitars written by August Wilson, and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. Seven Guitars will run tonight, January 9 - February 9, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 8:00PM.

Segerstrom Center for the Arts has announced its upcoming shows for January 2014. Details below!

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.

Court Theatre continues its 2013-2014 season with Seven Guitars written by August Wilson, and directed by Resident Artist Ron OJ Parson. Seven Guitars will run January 9 - February 9, 2014 at Court Theatre, 5535 S. Ellis Avenue. Press Opening is Saturday, January 18, 2014 at 8:00PM.

With it's catchy tunes (including the ever popular rendition of "My Guy"), fun-loving nuns, and a bit of crime on the side, this movie became a household favorite. Much to our pleasure, the movie was turned into SISTER ACT THE MUSICAL, and made its debut on Broadway in 2011. The show is currently touring North America, and makes its way to New Orleans this week.

'The Cabaret is thrilled to be celebrating its 5th Anniversary,' says Shannon Forsell, The Cabaret's Executive Director. 'This season we are celebrating with a cocktail of cabaret created for even the most discerning of cabaret connoisseurs; a mixture of classic and contemporary, high-brow and low-brow, European and American with a splash of Broadway, popular music and Jazz.'

Rrazz Entertainment presents A Spring Rockin Doo Wop Spectacular at Tarrytown Music Hall located at 13 Main Street in Tarrytown New York…

Segerstrom Center's Off Center Festival returns for its third consecutive year January 23 - February 2. This year's festival will showcase an entirely new lineup of wonderfully creative and innovative contemporary performance companies and artists.

EBONY Magazine, the curator of the African American experience, past, present and future, today announced that it will host a gala event in New York City at Jazz at Lincoln Center's Frederick P. Rose Hall on Monday evening, November 4, 2013 to celebrate the honorees on its annual EBONY Power 100 list. The event is presented by Nationwide Insurance, and this is the second year the company holds the presenting sponsor title.

Producers Whoopi Goldberg, Stage Entertainment and Troika Entertainment have announced that the North American Tour of the five-time Tony Award nominated musical SISTER ACT will begin its second year of performances. The tour opened on October 2, 2012 at Toronto's Ed Mirvish Theatre and is still rocking the rafters across the country. SISTER ACT opened to stellar reviews and continues to receive them across the country.

Yoshi's San Francisco announces updated calendar for club and restaurant through September 15, plus new shows through December 2013. Details below!

Yoshi's San Francisco has announced its updated calendar for club and restaurant through September 1, plus new shows through November 2013. Details below!

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.'

It is hard to connect the soft-spoken young actor with whom I am conversing to the soul-singing, hip-swinging rogue he is playing onstage at the Pickard Theatre. Indeed, the more we chat, the more Kelvin Roston, Jr., who plays James 'Thunder' Early in the Maine State Music Theatre hit production of Dreamgirls, seems to be full of surprises.

Gary Jenkins All-Stars with Eddie Baccus Sr. will perform this weekend, June 14 and 15, at the DC JAZZ FEST. The groups will play both 8pm and 10pm sets at the Twins Jazz Club.