Jerry Leiber News

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Today in 1995, Smokey Joe's Cafe opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre) where it ran for 2036 performances. Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The Original Broadway cast recording, Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller won a Grammy award in 1996. In revue format with no unifying theme the 39 songs are presented by various members of the cast in various combinations, with no dialogue. There are novelty songs ('Charlie Brown'), romantic ballads ('Spanish Harlem') and infectious melodies ('There Goes My Baby').

Last night, 92Y celebrated songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night withJanis Joplin). Performers included: legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers,Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino,Sally Kellerman, Bettye Lavette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists performed some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Check out photos from the special event below!

GRAMMY award-nominated and Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee, Gordon Lightfoot performs his '50 Years on the Carefree Highway Tour' at The Colonial Theatre tonight, November 8 at 8pm.

On December 9, 2013 92Y celebrates songwriting legend Mike Stoller on the occasion of his 80th year with An 80th Birthday Celebration, a one-night-only Lyrics & Lyricists Special Event hosted by Paul Shaffer and directed and written by Randy Johnson (director/writer of A Night with Janis Joplin). Confirmed artists performing expected and unexpected interpretations from Stoller's genre-spanning career in blues, R&B, rock 'n' roll and jazz include legendary vocal group The Coasters, along with artists Karen Akers, Mary Bridget Davies, Corky Hale, Maria Elena Infantino, Sally Kellerman, Bettye LaVette, Melissa Manchester, Billy Stritch, Tommy Tune and Steve Tyrell. Backed by Tyrell's band, the artists perform some of the greatest songs written by Stoller with his longtime lyricist partner Jerry Leiber and others. Leiber will be the subject of a special tribute during the evening. Stoller is planning to be in attendance for the celebration.

GRAMMY award-nominated and Songwriters Hall Of Fame Inductee, Gordon Lightfoot performs his '50 Years on the Carefree Highway Tour' at The Colonial Theatre on Friday, November 8 at 8pm.

Rollingstone.com reports that Tony Award winner Cyndi Lauper is among this year's nominees for the Songwriters Hall of Fame.

Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, whose career has spanned 50 years and produced numerous #1, Top 10 and Top 40 hits, including 'If You Could Read My Mind,' Carefree Highway' and 'The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald,' will appear at the Gallo Center for the Arts at 7:30 pm tonight, September 30.

Mainstage subscription packages are now available for purchase for the 2014 season at the historic Woodlawn Theatre in conjunction with the announcement of its 2014 season. Coming up on the main stage are three Texas premieres, two shows currently playing on and off Broadway, three popular movie adaptations and a fairytale.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents the hit Broadway musical revue SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE - THE SONGS OF LEIBER & STOLLER. Directed by Jeffrey Polk, performances will begin tonight, September 17 through October 13, with an official press opening on Sunday, September 22, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse. Tickets are now on sale.

Singer-songwriter Gordon Lightfoot, whose career has spanned 50 years and produced numerous #1, Top 10 and Top 40 hits, including "If You Could Read My Mind," Carefree Highway" and "The Wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald," will be appearing at the Gallo Center for the Arts at 7:30 pm on Monday, September 30.

The Pasadena Playhouse announced yesterday that its 2012 - 2013 "Better Than Ever" season, which concluded with the closing performance of Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical, exceeded sales and attendance goals for the theatre's fiscal year. The Playhouse's season was highlighted by the world premieres of the comedy Under My Skin and Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical; the smash-hit One Night With Janis Joplin, which was developed at The Playhouse, recently announced its Broadway engagement for this fall; and the launch of a long-term partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions for an annual holiday Panto at The Playhouse. The fiscal year closed with new summer programming that included an inaugural Cirque-A-Palooza festival, a one-week run of Letters From Zora starring Vanessa Bell Calloway and a sold out nine show limited engagement of Val Kilmer in Citizen Twain.

The Pasadena Playhouse (Sheldon Epps, Artistic Director and Elizabeth Doran, Executive Director) announced today that its 2012 - 2013 "Better Than Ever" season, which concluded with the closing performance of Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical, exceeded sales and attendance goals for the theatre's fiscal year. The Playhouse's season was highlighted by the world premieres of the comedy Under My Skin and Sleepless in Seattle - The Musical; the smash-hit One Night With Janis Joplin, which was developed at The Playhouse, recently announced its Broadway engagement for this fall; and the launch of a long-term partnership with Lythgoe Family Productions for an annual holiday Panto at The Playhouse. The fiscal year closed with new summer programming that included an inaugural Cirque-A-Palooza festival, a one-week run of Letters From Zora starring Vanessa Bell Calloway and a sold out nine show limited engagement of Val Kilmer in Citizen Twain.

The jukebox musical of Ellie Greenwich hits closes the 2013 season for Totem Pole with the roar of motorcycles and the harmonies of the Shirelles

The Pasadena Playhouse has announced the cast and creative team for the hit Broadway musical revue SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE - THE SONGS OF LEIBER & STOLLER. Directed by Jeffrey Polk, performances will begin September 17 through October 13, with an official press opening on Sunday, September 22, 2013, at 5:00 p.m. at The Pasadena Playhouse. Tickets are now on sale.

Next Up at The Pasadena Playhouse (September 17 - October 13) is SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE- THE SONGS OF LEIBER AND STOLLER, directed by Jeffrey Polk.

SJCChicago LLC announces the Theo Ubique Cabaret Theatre's production of Smokey Joe's Cafe - The Songs of Leiber and Stoller at the Royal George Cabaret Theatre, 1641 N. Halsted Ave. will close Sunday, July 21 following its 3 p.m. performance.