John Legend News

With a vital role on band sensation Grizzly Bear's new CD Veckatimest (officially released today) and an appearance this Thursday backing up the band at Town Hall, the Grammy Award-winning Brooklyn Youth Chorus embarks on a six-week run of performances spanning music as diverse as indie rock and Mahler's 8th.

Cherry Lane Music Publishing Company, Inc. who represents Broadway writers including Maury Yeston, Leslie Bricusse and Jason Howland, has announced a multi-year, worldwide administration agreement for the score from Shrek The Musical, the first theatrical production from DreamWorks Theatricals. Based on William Steig's classic book and the Oscar-winning DreamWorks Animation film, Shrek The Musical tells the story of a swamp-dwelling ogre who goes on a life-changing adventure. Cherry Lane has been music administrator for DreamWorks Animation since 1997.

The Eurovision Song Contest, recently featured on 'The Oprah Winfrey Show,' is an annual competition for active Members of the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and is one of the most-watched TV programs in the world, with 42 countries competing for first place.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the final Family Series production of its 2008/2009 season, 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH' book and lyrics by SAMMY BUCK, music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO (LIKE YOU LIKE IT), directed by ELIZABETH LUCAS (THE LAST STARFIGHTER), choreographed by SHEA SULLIVAN and featuring JEFF BARBA, MONIQUE BEASLEY, ANGELA DIRKSEN, CAITLIN MESIANO, GEORGE SALAZAR and REBECCA STAVIS. The production runs March 14th through April 26th, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm.

Broadway Star/R&B Soul Recording Artist CHESTER GREGORY prepares for the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love', in stores on March 31, 2009. The lead singe is the classic remake of 'I Only Have Eyes 4 U', by Harry Warren and Al Dubin.

This past weekend, Broadway and recording star Billy Porter brought his new hit one man show 'The Standard' to Upright Cabaret at Mark's Restaurant for two sold-out SRO engagements. Upright Cabaret producers Chris Isaacson and Shane Scheel in association with Lenny Beer and Suzi Dietz proudly presented Porter to Los Angeles audiences, with those in attendance including Oscar winner Jennifer Hudson and 'Dreamgirls' film director Bill Condon.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the final Family Series production of its 2008/2009 season, 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH' book and lyrics by SAMMY BUCK, music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO (LIKE YOU LIKE IT), directed by ELIZABETH LUCAS (THE LAST STARFIGHTER), choreographed by SHEA SULLIVAN and featuring JEFF BARBA, MONIQUE BEASLEY, ANGELA DIRKSEN, CAITLIN MESIANO, GEORGE SALAZAR and REBECCA STAVIS. The production runs March 14th through April 26th, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm.

This weekend saw the Royal Albert Hall win their first ever ?Arthur Award? for ?First Venue to Come into your Head? at the ILMC?s annual awards dinner. Coming ahead of five other UK and continental concert venues, including Manchester Evening News Arena and O2 Berlin, the Royal Albert Hall was delighted to pick up one of the live industry?s most sought after accolades.

Grammy-nominated artist Raphael Saadiq will make a stop at Detroit's City Theatre at 8 p.m. Sunday, March 15. Raphael Saadiq is a contemporary artist continuing a time-honored tradition that goes back to the '60s and '70s. From his early days as a member of the groundbreaking '80s group Tony! Toni! Ton?! through his work as an award-winning producer of such artists as Joss Stone, The Roots, Snoop Dogg, John Legend among many others and his own solo albums, the multi-talented Raphael Saadiq has kept the faith. Tickets ($25) go on sale at 10 a.m. Friday, January 30 and may be purchased at OlympiaEntertainment.com, the Fox Theatre and Joe Louis Arena box offices, Hockeytown Authentics in Troy (without service charge) and at all Ticketmaster locations, including Macy's and Ticketmaster.com. To charge tickets by phone, call 1-800-745-3000. For additional information, call (313) 471-6611.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the final Family Series production of its 2008/2009 season, 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH' book and lyrics by SAMMY BUCK, music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO (LIKE YOU LIKE IT), directed by ELIZABETH LUCAS (THE LAST STARFIGHTER), choreographed by SHEA SULLIVAN and featuring JEFF BARBA, MONIQUE BEASLEY, ANGELA DIRKSEN, CAITLIN MESIANO, GEORGE SALAZAR and REBECCA STAVIS. The production runs March 14th through April 26th, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm. Special weekday Spring Break performances run Friday, April 10th at 12 pm and 2 pm and Thursday April 16th at 11 am.

Broadway Star/R&B Soul Recording Artist CHESTER GREGORY prepares for the release of his debut album 'In Search of High Love', in stores on March 31, 2009. The lead singe is the classic remake of 'I Only Have Eyes 4 U', by Harry Warren and Al Dubin.

Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater, has announced the 26-member Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Newcomers to the cast include Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy and Sasha Allen, who join the rest of the tribe, who are reprising their roles from Central Park last summer. HAIR begins preview performances on Friday, March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC) with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, March 31, 2009.

VITAL THEATRE COMPANY is pleased to announce the final Family Series production of its 2008/2009 season, 'THE FROG AND THE WITCH' book and lyrics by SAMMY BUCK, music by DANIEL S. ACQUISTO (LIKE YOU LIKE IT), directed by ELIZABETH LUCAS (THE LAST STARFIGHTER), choreographed by SHEA SULLIVAN and featuring JEFF BARBA, MONIQUE BEASLEY, ANGELA DIRKSEN, CAITLIN MESIANO, GEORGE SALAZAR and REBECCA STAVIS. The production runs March 14th through April 26th, Saturdays and Sundays at 11 am and 1 pm. Special weekday Spring Break performances run Friday, April 10th at 12 pm and 2 pm and Thursday April 16th at 11 am.

Academy Awards for outstanding film achievements of 2008 were presented on Sunday, February 22, 2009, at the Kodak Theatre at Hollywood & Highland Center, and televised live by the ABC Television Network. The Oscar presentation was televised live in more than 200 countries worldwide.

Kenny Leon's True Colors Theatre Company is proud to announce its production of Miss Evers' Boys by David Feldshuh, directed by Kenny Leon, featuring Jasmine Guy, TC Carson and Eugene Lee. Performances will take place at Fulton County's Southwest Arts Center, March 4 - 21, 2009; performance times vary and are listed on the True Colors website, truecolorstheatre.org. Cast also includes Bart Hansard, Eric Little, Enoch King and E. Roger Mitchell.

The Grammy Awards were presented on February 8, 2009, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles.

terraNOVA Collective is proud to present the second SUBTERRANEAN, a new monthly party at the D-Lounge, a cabaret-style venue at 101 East 15th Street at Union Square. terraNOVA Collective strives to create a creative home for artists from a variety of different genre's. As the newest addition to terraNOVA's residency at the DR2 Theatre & D-Lounge, SUBTERRANEAN presents a variety of monthly performances including spoken word, music, burlesque, magic, storytelling, short play readings, vaudeville acts, and DJ's.' The line up for Thursday, February 5 will include slam poet, Roger Bonair-Agard, Maya Azucena & Vanessa Hidary performing excerpts from their show, Culture Bandit Soul, and DJ Popcorn spinning tunes for you. SUBTERRANEAN curator, James Carter says, 'We are happy to have Maya Azucena and Vanessa Hidary perform excerpts form their show Culture Bandit Soul, whose full performance was canceled due to the shuttering of The Zipper Factory's doors. These fierce women, along with National Slam Champion, Roger Bonair-Agard and DJ Popcorn of dancelikeforever fame, will blow the roof off the Daryl Roth Theater.'

Current GRAMMY nominees Adele, Chris Brown, and Sugarland; a special performance with Miley Cyrus and Taylor Swift; Estelle and Kanye West to perform together; and a Four Tops tribute featuring Duke Fakir (2009 Lifetime Achievement Award honoree and original member of the Four Tops), Academy Award winner Jamie Foxx, and current nominee Ne-Yo are the next round of performers announced for the 51st Annual GRAMMY Awards.

Oskar Eustis, Artistic Director of The Public Theater, has announced the 26-member Broadway cast of HAIR: The American Tribal Love-Rock Musical. Newcomers to the cast include Gavin Creel, Caissie Levy and Sasha Allen, who join the rest of the tribe, who are reprising their roles from Central Park last summer. Currently in rehearsal at the Union Square Theatre, HAIR begins preview performances on Friday, March 6 at the Al Hirschfeld Theatre (302 West 45th Street, NYC) with an Opening Night set for Tuesday, March 31, 2009.