James Brown News

Last night I had the privilege of taking a look back on an incredibly impressive recent string of major musicals starring the phenomenally talented Brandon Victor Dixon with the leading man himself, ranging from his work last year Off-Broadway in RENT as well as the Williamstown Theatre Festival mounting of FAR FROM HEAVEN, both directed by Michael Greif, through to his acclaimed performance in Kander & Ebb's THE SCOTTSBORO BOYS through to his new role portraying music titan Berry Gordy himself in the audience hit of the 2012-2013 season, MOTOWN. In addition to eloquently expounding on his various starring roles in those four major musicals and reflecting upon his time spent in each production, Dixon also opens up about his passion for performance in general and the importance of collaboration in the creation of any musical from the ground-up. Dixon also comments upon his experiences originating a role in Oprah Winfrey's recent stage venture THE COLOR PURPLE as well as recounts his association with COTTON CLUB PARADE - set to premiere on Broadway under a new title later this year - as well as the various incarnations of his stage piece based on the life and career of Ray Charles. Most importantly, besides all about MOTOWN and his work with Gordy and the cast on the hit show, Dixon also previews what we can expect from the cast of the show on tonight's A CAPITOL FOURTH PBS concert extravaganza, featuring Dixon alongside MOTOWN standout Saycon Sengbloh. All of that, first news on Dixon's upcoming self-penned solo album project, memories of working on THE GOOD WIFE, thoughts on GLEE and the modern performing arts revolution and much, much more!

UPDATE: BroadwayWorld has confirmed with a Theater of the Stars resentative that despite Holliday's tweets, only the Wolf Trap production has been cancelled. The production will run as scheduled in Atlanta, August 22-25.

Dave Stryker's Blue to the Bone IV CD Release will take place at Birdland in New York City Fri/Sat. July 5-6 – 8:30 and 11:00 pm.

MUSE/IQUE, known for its counter-conventional performances that feel more like parties than formal concerts, launches 'Summer of Sound' 2013 with 'Lost in the Stars with Patti Austin,' featuring the Grammy Award-winning legend, tonight, June 29, 2013, 7:30 pm, outdoors at Caltech's Beckman Mall in Pasadena.

Roger Salloom featuring Charles Neville and Jessica Freeman will perform tonight, June 28, 2013 at 9:00 PM at Bridge Street Live - Tickets available: $20 General Admission; $30 VIP Reserved.

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.'

When Sly and The Family Stone hit the scene back in the late '60s, the world – socially, culturally and politically – was in a state of upheaval. And their music perfectly evangelized the moment. Today, we stand dangerously at the edge of a similar precipice – and that message of celebratory potential and jubilant clarity is sorely needed. With that concept squarely implanted in his mind's eye, visionary conceptualist, producer, arranger, composer and keyboard wizard Jason Miles has created the extraordinary Sly Reimagined on the Zoho Roots label. With his groundbreaking, genre-defying borderless mothership Global Noize providing the vehicle, Miles takes on eight classic Sly Stone journeys into the wilds of a reality nearly half a century beyond their point of inception.

BROADWAY BARES 23: UNITED STRIPS OF AMERICA, a randy road trip of modern-day burlesque featuring 220 of New York's sexiest dancers, raised an all-time record high for the fourth year in a row on Sunday, hitting $1,430,241 to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS.

Third Man records is beyond pleased to announce today's release of three very special live records - The Shins, The Kills, and Seasick Steve -more amazingly the first three releases recorded live using Third Man's one-of-a-kind direct-to-acetate recording process.

Lakeshore Records will release The Heat - Original Motion Picture Soundtrack digitally and in stores today, June 25, 2013. The album features the new song 'Rock This' by Santigold along with songs that will make you want to get up and dance from LCD Soundsystem, Parliament, The Isley Brothers, Kimbra, and Deee-Lite.

Agachiko has been turning heads since 2008, when the septet led by Kenyan-born, Boston-based vocalist Gabrielle Agachiko was formed. On her debut album 'Yes!,' to be released July 9 by Accurate Records, she brings an international sensibility to the incantatory spirit of Nina Simone and Abbey Lincoln.

National Entertainment Collectibles Association (NECA), in association with Twentieth Century Fox Consumer Products (FCP), has announced an exclusive global merchandise program around the groundbreaking animated series, THE SIMPSONS.

Today's Northrop Summer Music Festival concert by The Tasty Tones has been rescheduled due to weather. We will share the rescheduled date of this noontime concert as soon as it is finalized with the artists.

Theater of the Stars is proud to welcome back Tony and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday in the Broadway hit musical that made her a legend- DREAMGIRLS. Winner of 6 Tony awards, DREAMGIRLS plays The Fox Theatre August 2-11, 2013. BroadwayWorld has a sneak peek below.

Theater of the Stars is proud to welcome back Tony and Grammy Award winner Jennifer Holliday in the Broadway hit musical that made her a legend- DREAMGIRLS. Winner of 6 Tony awards, DREAMGIRLS plays The Fox Theatre August 2-11, 2013. "We are overjoyed that Ms. Holliday will be joining us once again for this spectacular production," says Producer Christopher B. Manos.

Trinity Broadcasting Network, the world's largest religious broadcaster and America's favorite faith and family channel, will set aside this Father's Day weekend to honor dads around the world and to encourage them in their crucial role as family providers, leaders, and molders of future generations.

Mad Cow Theatre presents Dreamgirls, with music by Henry Krieger and lyrics and book by Tom Eyen, in The Harriett Theatre at 54 W. Church Street. New performances are scheduled for: Thursday, July 4 at 7:30 pm; Friday, July 5 at 7:30 pm; Saturday, July 6 at 7:30 pm; and Sunday, July 7 at 2:30 pm. Dreamgirls opens tonight, June 7, 2013. Below, BroadwayWorld has a first look at the cast in action onstage!