Josh Groban News

Get ready for a slew of guest co-hosts once Michael Strahan exits LIVE WITH KELLY AND MICHAEL on Friday, May 13th.

The upcoming Broadway transfer of NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 has released seating plans for the show on their website, including orchestra, mezzanine, and onstage seating. Check out the photos here!

Musical Theatre Factory (MTF) will present Heath Saunders in concert at Joe's Pub featuring special guests Jason Gotay (Bring it On: The Musical), F. Michael Haynie (Wicked), Ashley Perez-Flanagan (Natasha, Pierre, & The Great Comet of 1812), Ally Bonino (Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat at MTF), Nikko Benson (Nikola Tesla Drops the Beat at MTF), and Trent Saunders (Aladdin) on May 9 at 9:30 p.m. at Joe's Pub. Tickets are $20 and available at http://bit.ly/1rFOGLR.

Artistic Director Antoine Plante and Mercury close out a celebratory 15th Anniversary Season with Beethoven's monumental Ninth Symphony on Saturday, May 14 at 8 PM at the Wortham Center's Cullen Theater. Mercury presents this joyful and triumphant masterpiece on period instruments, as audiences would have heard at its premiere in 1824, alongside vocalists Mary Wilson (soprano), Sarah Mesko (alto), Zachary Wilder (tenor) and Tyler Duncan (baritone). Also joining the performance are select members of the Houston Symphony Chorus under the direction of Betsy Cook Weber. This performance is the culmination of Mercury's five-year Beethoven symphony cycle, described as the 'Mount Everest' of the orchestral repertoire. The evening also includes select opera arias by Vivaldi featuring each of the guest soloists. Major support for this concert comes from Houston Arts Alliance; Houston Endowment Inc.; Ting Tsung and Wei Fung Chao Foundation; Phillips66; Texas Commission on the Arts; Hans and Lili Kirchner; and Haynes and Boone, LLP. To purchase tickets or for more information visit www.mercuryhouston.org or call 713.533.0080.

West End performer Nadim Naaman, currently filling the boots of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera, will be releasing his second album Sides with independent label Auburn Jam Records on June 20th , with an album launch gig at The Hippodrome, London on Sunday June 19th at 3pm.

In all my years of watching (and sometimes reviewing) a variety of artistic presentations at the Kennedy Center, I can hardly think of any other event that so perfectly offers a nicely packaged look at what the performing art center is all about.

Created by Dave Malloy (Preludes, Ghost Quartet) and directed by Rachel Chavkin (Small Mouth Sounds, Preludes) -- making their Broadway debuts -- NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812 will blaze into Broadway's Imperial Theatre (249 West 45th Street) beginning in the first week of October with opening night set for Monday, November 14, 2016. Check out a first look at the new art for Broadway below!

My introduction to YoungArts happened on Wednesday evening, April 13, 2016 at Pearl Studios near Penn Station. The seventh floor of this dance facility was converted into their intensive week of interdisciplinary workshops, seminars, and master classes with renowned leaders in their fields. Since I am a dance reviewer, I was honored to observe a master class with Guest Teacher John Heginbotham. I was surprised that only five dancers were in attendance.  Usually, most master classes are packed wall-to-wall with dance students. Later on, I was informed that this intimate setting was designed like that because YoungArts wants to make sure that their artists have the dedicated attention of teachers such as Mr. Heginbotham. A quintet of an elite group.

Orange County, Calif.—April 19, 2016—The world's most popular trumpeter— Chris Botti—returns to Pacific Symphony for a concert overflowing with his astute mastery, as he effortlessly crosses the boundaries of jazz, classical, rock and pop. With polished charm and mesmerizing trumpeting skills, the talented musician/composer takes well-known pop ballads and transforms them into a soulful mix of grace, warmth and beautiful tones. Returning by popular demand for an all-new show, Botti makes his fourth Pacific Symphony appearance for a night of heart-melting, expressive music, backed by the lush sounds of the orchestra. Officially the best-selling instrumental artist in America, Botti performs worldwide, has received multiple Gold, Platinum and Grammy Awards and sold more than four million copies of his albums, including his latest Grammy-winning “Impressions.”

We talk to one of the West End's favourite leading ladies about her work with the John Wilson Orchestra, their new album of Gershwin repertoire, the UK tour of Guys and Dolls - and all the concerts she has lined up!

Good Noise Vancouver Gospel Choir (GNVGC) wraps up its season with SOUL GOSPEL, a concert tying two influential & inspiring genres, May 28, 3pm & 7:30pm at Christ Church Cathedral. Vancouver's own dynamo soul songstress, Dawn Pemberton, shares her rich and robust voice alongside the combined 140 singers of Good Noise and world touring White Rock Children's Choir. 

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its nightly performances, April 13-24, 2016.

The National YoungArts Foundation (YoungArts)'s 2016 YoungArts New York program will take place from April 12 to 17 and will offer 2016 YoungArts Winners from the New York area - selected from a record number of 12,000 applications - a rare opportunity to learn, connect and collaborate with fellow peers and creative luminaries across artistic disciplines.

Members of the cast of THE BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY national tour Lucy Horton, Amy Linden, Bryan Welnicki, Cole Burden, Mary Callanan, Caitlin Houlahan, J Michael Zygo, John Campione, Tom Treadwell, Cullen Titmas, Brad Greer, and Jessica Sheridan will perform at the Curtain Call Lounge (521 North Grand Blvd.) on Monday, April 11 at 7PM to benefit Broadway Cares/Equity Fights Aids (BCEFA). Doors to the event will open at 6 p.m.

CHRIS MANN, Christina Aguilera's classically-trained finalist from NBC's "The Voice" and current star of "The Phantom of the Opera" North American Tour, is set to release his sophomore full-length album, "Constellation," on May 6, 2016. 

THE 69TH ANNUAL TONY AWARDS is among the nominees for this year's WEBBY AWARDS. The show was recognized for its exemplary integrated digital experience, including a red-carpet live stream and social-media coverage.

The show has just launched a countdown teaser on its official website showing the comet's distance from the Great White Way, along with the opportunity to sign up for THE GREAT COMET's exclusive presale, starting April 24.

We already saw the multi-talented Josh Groban rock the accordion in rehearsal for Broadway's NATASHA, PIERRE & THE GREAT COMET OF 1812. Now, get a taste of the Broadway newbie's piano skills in his latest sit-down with DISASTER!'s Seth Rudetsky. Check it out below!

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its nightly performances, April 6-17, 2016. Scroll down for more details and visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows!