Johnny Rodgers News

Looking for something fun to do in Nashville this week? We have done the necessary legwork - we're all about saving you time and helping you make informed decisions about how to spend your entertainment dollar, after all - and we are delighted to present you with our newest edition of Critic's Choice, filled chock-a-block with all sorts of fun stuff…enough to keep you off the streets and entertained until our Friday offerings come your way!

We assume you are aware that the Kentucky Derby is this Saturday and that the Iroquois Steeplechase runs the following weekend in Nashville, so we have you covered with suggestions for non-equestrian events. Now, get out there and have some fun, y'all! And while you're at it, you'll be doing some good for the community by supporting the arts - and artists - in the Volunteer State!

Producer Eva Price has announced that Benjamin Scheuer, writer and performer of the gripping, highly acclaimed autobiographical solo show The Lion, has been awarded the 2015 ASCAP Foundation Jamie deRoy & friends Songwriting Award. He will receive a grant of $1,250, which will be presented on Wednesday, December 9, 2015 at The Appel Room at Jazz at Lincoln Center.

The latest in unauthorized gossip and buzz from the heart of Chicago's showtune video bars, and musical theater news from Chicago to Broadway. 'The Sound Of Music,' 'Empire' and 'Glee' stir up this week's TVs, 'First Wives Club,' 'Beauty And The Beast,' 'Jesus Christ Superstar' and 'First Date' claim their respective audiences,' Kokandy has more than 'The Full Monty,' Columbia's 'Oklahoma!,' lots at the Skokie Theatre and my upcoming busy weekend!

Marissa Mulder, who has been collecting rave reviews and awards in bunches over the past couple of years, debuted her new solo show, Instincts (with musical director Nate Buccieri), to a packed Metropolitan Room on Friday night January 30. It was the first effort in her new 'Residency' at the Chelsea club, not a surprising status given her steady climb up the cabaret singer hierarchy. Mulder offered an eclectic program of songs by artists from Cy Coleman to Radiohead, representing 'a snapshot of where [her] life is right now, a week away from 30.' Her distinctive vocal sound-sincere yet playful and sounding like a combination of a bell and a trumpet-is uniquely expressive, perhaps from 'living instinctively for quite a while now,' as she said in one her of her rare moments of interstitial patter.

Celebrating a milestone 125th Anniversary, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University kicks off its inaugural 'Made in Chicago' performance series highlighting the city's best homegrown music and dance artists and ensembles. Launching in November, the robust series will present three Windy City mainstays including 'On Stage With... Susan Werner' (today, November 8); the perennially popular Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic with 'CJP @ Ten' (November 14); and the award-winning Thodos Dance Chicago (November 29).

Celebrating a milestone 125th Anniversary, the Auditorium Theatre of Roosevelt University kicks off its inaugural “Made in Chicago” performance series highlighting the city's best homegrown music and dance artists and ensembles. Launching in November, the robust series will present three Windy City mainstays including “On Stage With... Susan Werner” (November 8); the perennially popular Orbert Davis' Chicago Jazz Philharmonic with “CJP @ Ten” (November 14); and the award-winning Thodos Dance Chicago (November 29).

Cabaret singers Claudia Hommel and Elizabeth Doyle will be accompanied by classical pianist Eugenia Cheng and accordionist Patricia Spaeth in a program that interweaves song and projected artwork. Called 'Vocal Canvas' by its creator Claudia Hommel, the multilayered, multimedia performance tour de force is the collaborative work of an A-list of Chicago's dynamic entertainers and artists past and present.

Cabaret singers Claudia Hommel and Elizabeth Doyle will be accompanied by classical pianist Eugenia Cheng and accordionist Patricia Spaeth in a program that interweaves song and projected artwork. Called 'Vocal Canvas' by its creator Claudia Hommel, the multilayered, multimedia performance tour de force is the collaborative work of an A-list of Chicago's dynamic entertainers and artists past and present.

Acclaimed vocalist, recording artist and actress Karen Mason heads into Chicago to perform her acclaimed one-woman show The Secrets Of The Ancient Divas . Performing this acclaimed show all over the country, Mason brings it back to Chicago where it was hailed by Chicago Tribune critic Howard Reich who praised it saying "No show of Mason's travels as quickly between light and dark as her newest." And "no one in cabaret walks the line between humor and sorrow, joy and despair as nimbly as Karen Mason." With her Broadway stage performances, TV appearances, CD recordings and live concerts, Karen "has few peers when it comes to ripping the roof off with her amazing voice that knows no bounds" (TheaterScene.net), which her performances always reaffirm. The multi-MAC and Backstage Magazine Bistro Award winner, most recent CD release, Right Here/Right Now, also received a MAC Award for Album of the Year.

Absinthe, A Broadway Cabaret, LLC, has announced its premiere Broadway Gospel Sunday Brunch Series at Saffire Restaurant & Bar in The Factory of Franklin at 12:30pm on Sunday January 12, 2014. Headlining the opening show on January 12 is Liza Minnelli's accompanist, musical director and protege, Johnny Rodgers, also known as the Ambassador of American Music. He will be accompanied by local favorite, the Siren of the South, Ms. Stephanie Adlington, star of Always Patsy Cline.

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:

Friday night was the second even for The Absinthe Cabaret in Nashville. Their first event came off with flying colors, bringing in the lovely Eden Espinosa to our fair city and wowing those in attendance. Call me a skeptic, but with most things, I always wonder if it was beginner's luck. I'm very happy to say that the second event was just as fantastic and every bit as fun as the first go around. Its official, folks. The Absinthe Cabaret has brought the joy of cabaret to the Nashville area in a wonderful fashion.

Absinthe, A Broadway Cabaret, LLC, has announced its Nashville premiere performance in The Hermitage Hotel's Grand Ballroom tonight, November 15, 2013 at 8:00pm. Doors open at 7:30. Headlining is Liza Minnelli's accompanist, musical director and protege, Johnny Rodgers, also known as, The Ambassador of American Music, and local favorite Stephanie Adlington, star of Always Patsy Cline.

Friday, November 15th, The Absinthe Cabaret will have their first performance in the Grand Ballroom of The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Headlining the performance will be Johnny Rodgers, also called The Ambassador of American Music, and local favorite Stephanie Adlington.

Friday, November 15th, The Absinthe Cabaret will have their first performance in the Grand Ballroom of The Hermitage Hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. Headlining the performance will be Johnny Rodgers, also called The Ambassador of American Music, and local favorite Stephanie Adlington.

Due to a scheduling conflict, jazz vocalist Hilary Kole will replace Cyrille Aimee at tonight's November 13th performance with Freddy Cole. The performance is a part of the Courtyard by Marriott Stamford Broadway/Cabaret/Jazz series 'Perfect Pairs at The Palace,' which is also being sponsored by Norman Drubner.

Absinthe, A Broadway Cabaret, LLC, has announced its Nashville premiere performance in The Hermitage Hotel's Grand Ballroom on Friday November 15, 2013 at 8:00pm. Doors open at 7:30. Headlining is, Liza Minnelli's accompanist, musical director and protege, Johnny Rodgers, also known as, The Ambassador of American Music, and local favorite Stephanie Adlington, star of Always Patsy Cline.

Judy Garland. Frank Sinatra. Fred Astaire. Ginger Rogers. These are just a few of the stars of the silver screen thatChristine Pedi and Johnny Rodgers will be bringing to life in their performance "Heartthrobs & Bombshells" on Friday, October 18th at 8 p.m. atStamford's Palace Theatre. The performance is the second in the Courtyard by Marriott Stamford Broadway/Cabaret/Jazz Series "Perfect Pairs at The Palace." The series is also sponsored by Norman Drubner. Tickets are available at www.SCAlive.org.

'Our audiences have diverse tastes when it comes to programming so we do our best to satisfy those tastes with a wide variety of events,' says Palace Theatre Executive Director, Michael E. Moran, Jr. 'Comedy, music, dance, family events - we have it all this season, and we will continue adding shows as opportunities arise.'