Josephine Baker News

Producers Daniel Nardicio and Andy Brattain will honor Edith Piaf, the iconic French songstress on her actual 100th Birthday with PIAF: A CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION with stars from Broadway, London's West End, Jazz, Cabaret and Rock 'n' Roll. Starring Elaine Paige, Christine Ebersole, Marilyn Maye, Vivian Reed, Little Annie, Gay Marshall, Molly Pope, Amber Martin, Aaron Weinstein and Meow Meow, the concert will take place on Saturday, December 19, 2015 at 8:00 PM at The Town Hall(123 West 43rd Street).

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) launches its 26th Fall Festival, featuring 130 events which will explore the theme of 'Citizens', today, Oct. 24, through Nov. 8, 2015 at venues across Chicago.

Add another threat to the Tony-winning star's list of talents.

Abrons Arts Center and UK's Live Art Development Agency (LADA) in collaboration with Chelsea Theatre present Just Like a Woman, (October 23-25), a three day program of performances, installations, cabarets, screenings, panels and book launches that examine the performance of identity - the ways femininity can be 'performed' and how representations of gender can be queered through performance.

The Harlem Chamber Players and ChamberMusicNY are pleased to announce that the New York State Council on the Arts has awarded a grant for the commissioning of composer Jeffrey Scott's A Hug For Harlem.

Abrons Arts Center and UK's Live Art Development Agency (LADA) in collaboration with Chelsea Theatre present Just Like a Woman, (October 23-25), a three day program of performances, installations, cabarets, screenings, panels and book launches that examine the performance of identity - the ways femininity can be 'performed' and how representations of gender can be queered through performance.

Due to great reviews and a sold-out run, Colin Quinn The New York Story the new comedy written by and starring Colin Quinn, based on his book THE COLORING BOOK (Grand Central Publishing) and directed by Jerry Seinfeld returns The Cherry Lane Theatre, (38 Commerce Street) beginning tonight, October 20th.

BroadwayWorld has learned that MIGHTY REAL: A FABULOUS SYLVESTER MUSICAL, the musical celebration of the life of the original 1970s 'Queen of Disco' Sylvester, has been nominated for five AUDELCO Awards, including Outstanding Musical Production of the Year.

Due to great reviews and a sold-out run, Colin Quinn The New York Story the new comedy written by and starring Colin Quinn, based on his book THE COLORING BOOK (Grand Central Publishing) and directed by Jerry Seinfeld returns The Cherry Lane Theatre, (38 Commerce Street) beginning next Tuesday, October 20th.

Following a sold-out engagement at London's Hippodrome, San Francisco native Holly Penfield makes her Feinstein's at the Nikko debut with her acclaimed show, HOLLY PENFIELD SINGS JUDY GARLAND today, October 15 at 8 p.m.  Penfield will present the songs of the legendary Judy Garland in her own inimitable style.

Tonight, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

Long before the devil wore Prada -- 20 years ago, in fact -- the story of the irrepressible Diana Vreeland first commanded the stage of the Globe in a world premiere in 1995. Oscar and Tony Award winner Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King, Lost in Yonkers) now brings "The Empress of Fashion" back in FULL GALLOP. Written by Mark Hampton and Mary Louise Wilson and directed by Andrew Russell. Both critics and audiences are loving it, and FULL GALLOP will now add a limited week of additional performances, extending through Sunday, November 1, 2015, in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Long before the devil wore Prada -- 20 years ago, in fact -- the story of the irrepressible Diana Vreeland first commanded the stage of the Globe in a world premiere in 1995. Oscar and Tony Award winner Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King, Lost in Yonkers) now brings 'The Empress of Fashion' back in FULL GALLOP. Written by Mark Hampton and Mary Louise Wilson and directed by Andrew Russell, FULL GALLOP runs now through October 25, 2015, with opening night tonight, October 1 at 8:00 p.m., in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

Long before the devil wore Prada -- 20 years ago, in fact -- the story of the irrepressible Diana Vreeland first commanded the stage of the Globe in a world premiere in 1995. Oscar and Tony Award winner Mercedes Ruehl (The Fisher King, Lost in Yonkers) now brings 'The Empress of Fashion' back in FULL GALLOP. Written by Mark Hampton and Mary Louise Wilson and directed by Andrew Russell, FULL GALLOP will run tonight, September 26, through October 25, 2015, with opening night on Thursday, October 1 at 8:00 p.m., in the Sheryl and Harvey White Theatre, part of the Globe's Conrad Prebys Theatre Center.

The Chicago Humanities Festival (CHF) presents Four Women: Josephine, Eartha, Nina, and Tina, this year's William and Greta Wiley Flory Concert, an annual cabaret performance, Monday, Nov. 2 as part of the 26th Fall Festival: Citizens, Oct. 24-Nov. 8.

Eastbound Theatre, a division of the Milford Arts Council, is excited to present the first show of its 22nd season, the hilarious comedy, Moonlight and Magnolias, by Ron Hutchinson, directed by Richard Mancini. 

BroadwayWorld has just learned that six-time Tony Award winner Audra McDonald, who will star next spring in Shuffle Along Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, will take a break from the show next summer. An official show rep commented: 'Due to a pre-existing commitment, Audra McDonald will not appear in Shuffle Along from Tuesday, June 21 to Sunday, September 25, 2016.  Miss McDonald will return to Shuffle Along beginning Tuesday, September 27 and is currently contracted to stay with the production through  Sunday, June 11, 2017.'

Folk people are the People's People. Folk signify kith, kin, family, ancestry, and flesh and blood.

On Friday, October 9, noted orchestrator and conductor Fred Barton will bring the music of Broadway and the American Songbook to the Schimmel Center at Pace University, in American Showstoppers: An Evening of Johnny Mercer. In his seventh concert at Pace, Fred Barton now brings the power of Mercer's music and lyrics front and center, with a 14-piece orchestra and a cast of 16 Broadway singers and dancers, with direction and choreography by Scott Thompson. The cast is headlined by Damon Kirsch, Tony nominee Lee Roy Reams, two time Tony nominee Vivian Reed, Nick Spangler, Tony Nominee Lauren Worsham, and Tony Award winner Karen Ziemba. The cast also features Jesse Luttrell, Sean McGibbon and Molly Pope.

Tickets go on sale tomorrow, Saturday, September 12 for SHUFFLE ALONG Or The Making of the Musical Sensation of 1921 and All That Followed, the striking new production that presents both the landmark 1921 musical itself, and additionally details the events that catalyzed the songwriting team of Noble Sissle and Eubie Blake, and librettists F.E. Miller and Aubrey Lyles to create this ground-breaking work.