James Brown News

Berkeley Repertory Theatre announces the world premiere of The House that will not Stand, a historical comedic drama commissioned from award-winning poet-playwright and Oakland native Marcus Gardley. Sensuous, witty, heartbreaking, and uplifting - The House that will not Stand unearths a story about free women of color in 1836 New Orleans, where black Creole women entered into common-law marriages with affluent white men. When her wealthy lover mysteriously dies, Beartrice Albans' foundation of security hangs precariously by a thread. She is left to fend for her three unwed daughters in a world where freedom must be carefully negotiated. Told in a rich and lyrical river of words, this new play was developed through The Ground Floor: Berkeley Rep's Center for the Creation and Development of New Work. It's helmed by Patricia McGregor, whose many credits include the celebrated production of Spunk at California Shakespeare Theater. The House that will not Stand begins previews on Berkeley Rep's intimate Thrust Stage on Friday, January 31, opens on Wednesday, February 5 and runs through Sunday, March 16, 2014.

ON KENTUCKY AVENUE, a musical revue based loosely on fact and mostly fiction about the people and performers who took the stage and filled the tables at the majestic Club Harlem 'on Kentucky Avenue' in the north section of Atlantic City from the 1930s until the late 1980s, will make its NYC commercial stage debut at STAGE72/THE TRIAD, 158 West 72nd Street, on Sunday, February 2, with performances at 3pm and 7pm and Monday, February 3 at 7pm in honor of Black History Month.

Tony and Emmy Award-winning actress, singer, and recording artist Leslie Uggams (Roots, King Headley II, Hallelujah, Baby!) is ringing in the holidays with the release of a new single 'Wishing You a Happy New Year' written by renowned film, television, and concert composer-orchestrator Curtis McKonly. Available online at iTunes, Amazon.com, CD Baby and other major digital music outlets, this elegant new tune features the 41-piece Curtis McKonly Orchestra. Click below to watch a behind-the-scenes video of Uggams in the recording studio!

The full schedule of classes and instructors has been announced for the new Performing Arts Conservatory at Manatee Performing Arts Center. The semester starts January 6th and runs through May 31st. Instructors include Cynthia Ashford, Teri Booth, Wendy James Brown, Michael DeMocko, Kyle Ann Lacertosa, Martine Moore, Geena Ravella, Holly Rizzo, Carlo Thomas and Katie Zanders.

A first look at the Winter Garden Theater's stage, now being prepped for Broadway's ROCKY, has been unveiled via the show's official Twitter page. Check out the original image here!

Sylvester Stallone stopped by last night's TONIGHT SHOW WITH JAY LENO to talk about the new Broadway adaptation of 'Rocky,' which begins previews at the Winter Garden Theater on February 11

The University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) is delighted to announce its spring schedule of major events. The largest single source of performing arts events in the state of Ohio, CCM presents nearly 150 major public performances from Jan. 12 through May 18, ranging from faculty and guest artist concerts to fully supported opera, musical theatre, drama and dance productions.

The box office at the historic Winter Garden theatre (1634 Broadway) opens today, December 20th at 10am for the upcoming musical, Rocky.

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.

Classic rock fans can once again “travel down a dark desert highway and feel the cool wind in their hair” when Hotel California “A Salute to the Eagles” reproduces the Grammy Award-winning sounds of the legendary band at the Suncoast Showroom, January 4 and 5.

New York Theatre Workshop (NYTW) Artistic Director James C. Nicola and Managing Director Jeremy Blocker have announced that following rave reviews and strong box office, What's It All About? Bacharach Reimagined, music by Burt Bacharach; lyrics by Hal David and others; musical arrangements by Kyle Riabko; conceived by Kyle Riabko and David Lane Seltzer; directed by Steven Hoggett, will extend four weeks through Sunday, February 2, at NYTW, 79 East 4 Street, between Bowery and Second Avenue. What's It All About? had originally been scheduled to run throughSunday, January 5, 2014.

The box office at the historic Winter Garden theatre (1634 Broadway) opens Friday, December 20th at 10am for the upcoming musical, ROCKY. In honor of 1976, the year in which the Oscar-winning film was released, ROCKYwill offer a $76 ticket to a select number of preview performances. This offer is only available in person at the box office on Friday, December 20th and will be available on a first come first served basis. ROCKY begins previews February 11, 2014 and officially opens on March 13, 2014.

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.

Birthed from the depths of hippy-noise-punk-dungeon-slum-basements, Boston based rock outfit Guerilla Toss are a self proclaimed 'blah wave' band that are serious like cocaine and silly like Ringo Starr.

Stream Guerilla Toss' new album via Pitchfork Advance, on tour now 'Gay Disco' out today, Dec 10 via NNA Tapes. ALBUM STREAM: 'Gay Disco'.

It's beginning to sound a lot like Christmas with the release of Glee: The Music The Christmas Album Volume 4, available digitally on December 3 and exclusively in Walmart stores today, December 10.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond:

Craving a show after the show? 54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club, is expanding its popular late-night series with fresh faces and hot new performances to keep the party buzzing into the wee hours. Located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th St., 54 BELOW welcomes you to loosen your tie and embrace the night at its upcoming events, featuring no cover charges and low minimums:

Eight-time GRAMMY nominee Dave Koz always celebrates the holidays in a big way, entertaining thousands of his closest friends in a jaunt that takes him from coast to coast. In what has become an annual holiday PlayhouseSquare visit, Dave Koz and Friends Christmas Tour 2013 performs December 6 at 7:30 pm in the Palace Theatre.

The high-flying family musical PETER PAN returns to the Manatee Players' stage in Stone Hall this December! The show opens tonight, December 5 and runs through December 22.