Judy Collins News

Today it is BroadwayWorld's extreme honor to bring you an exclusive and extensive discussion with one of the finest American actors in history all about his legendary career onstage and on screens large and small - the commanding and versatile two-time Tony Award-winning and Academy Award-winning James Earl Jones. Touching upon much of his internationally regarded iconography as well as looking ahead to current and future endeavors, Jones eloquently expresses his observations on acting, art, humanity and life itself. Focusing on the ScreenVision presentation of Alfred Uhry's DRIVING MISS DAISY starring opposite fellow icon and InDepth InterView participant Dame Angela Lansbury, Jones astutely outlines the themes of the touching Southern drama depicting the unlikely friendship between an uptight society woman and her dedicated chauffer as well as opens up about his own experiences with culture clashes and race in his life. Additionally, Jones juxtaposes his observations of working alongside Vanessa Redgrave on the Broadway and West End iterations of the play versus the Australian tour with Lansbury which has now been preserved on film and is being shown in movie theaters across the country throughout this month. Plus, Jones reveals some of his own favorite moments in the powerful play and dissects the dynamics of his dense and complex characterization of Hoke in the piece and how he sees Hoke's relationship to that of Daisy (Lansbury) and her son, Boolie (played by Boyd Gaines). Besides all about DRIVING MISS DAISY, Jones also previews his upcoming Broadway return in the recently announced revival of the classic Kaufmann & Hart chestnut YOU CAN'T TAKE IT WITH YOU and expresses his thoughts on the multi-racial casting planned for the hotly anticipated production. Furthermore, Jones looks back at some of his most fondly remembered roles to date - ranging from the voice of Darth Vader in STAR WARS and Mufasa in THE LION KING, to his seminal work in films such as DR. STRANGELOVE, CLAUDINE, CRY, THE BELOVED COUNTRY, FIELD OF DREAMS and more. All of that, his thoughts on the upcoming STAR WARS sequels currently in production, observations on his role in the new feature film comedy THE ANGRIEST MAN IN BROOKLYN, memories of his Shakespeare In The Park KING LEAR (available on DVD), his Tony Award-winning work in August Wilson's FENCES as well as much, much more!

San Francisco Gay Men's Chorus (SFGMC) named winner for "I Am Harvey Milk" in the Soundtrack / Cast Recording Album category at the 13th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs). "I Am Harvey Milk" is an emotional celebration of an American icon. Part choral work, part theater piece, it weaves the story of Harvey Milk's life -- from boyhood to his rise as the first openly gay man to hold public office in California and to his untimely assassination.

The original cast recording of Andrew Lippa's I Am Harvey Milk was just named by Music Resource Group (MRG) as the winner of Best Soundtrack/Cast Recording in The 13th Independent Music Awards (The IMAs), the influential awards program for independent music and fans. Representing the broad spectrum of today's global independent music scene, the nominees in over 80 Album, Song, Music Video and Design categories were culled from thousands of submissions from North America, South America, Asia, Africa, Australia, Greenland and Europe.

Jennie Litt and David Alpher, Brooklyn's own married songwriting duo, celebrate the May release of their debut recording, TWO APPLES, with an appearance at New York's Metropolitan Room tonight, June 5 at 7pm.

Tony Award nominee Tom Wopat and GRAMMY Award-winning Broadway songwriter Stephen Schwartz are joining the festivities in Broadway at Moorland, the 14th annual summer concert and fireworks display at Moorland Farm in Far Hills, NJ, a partnership between New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) and Far Hills Race Meeting Association. Wopat (Annie Get Your Gun, A Catered Affair) will join previously announced Tony-nominated and Emmy Award-winner Liz Callaway, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra, five-time MAC-winning cabaret star Scott Coulter, Jessica Hendy (Broadway's Cats and Aida), and Kelli Rabke (Broadway's LES MISERABLES and in the Broadway revival of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat). Due to a scheduling conflict, Brian Stokes Mitchell will no longer perform on the bill.

Judy Collins returns to Cain Park's Evan Amphitheater on Saturday, June 14 at 8 PM, bringing with her the tricks of the trade for which she is so well-known and loved: sublime vocals, skillful musicianship, boldly vulnerable songwriting, sharing personal life triumphs, and her firm commitment to social activism.

Eric Andersen, Larry Campbell and Teresa Williams with Byron Isaacs will perform at Bridge Street Live on Friday, June 13th, 2014 at 8:00 PM. Tickets are $27 GA, $37 VIP, and available at http://41bridgestreet.inticketing.com/events/ericANDlarry.

The Midtown Men's performance at the majestic Prudential Hall will be taped as a concert special for public television. The 90-minute show, recorded in high-definition, will be offered to public television stations to broadcast nationwide. The concert special will air in the NY metropolitan area starting in December.

Last night New York's elite came together with music legends for Caron New York's 20th Annual Gala Fundraiser at the elegant Cipriani on 42nd in New York City, NY. The event raised over a million dollars, all of which will be used towards charity recovery services. Caron's own Harris Stratyner Ph.D , Honoree's Frankie Valli and Denise LeFrak Calicchio were joined by Paul Williams, James Lipton, David Johansen and comedianStewie Stone. The Goo Goo Dolls Johnny Rzeznik was also honored but at the last minute was unable to attend.

Singer/songwriter Ruth Carlin returns to the Laurie Beechman Theater this spring with an illuminating exploration of the eclectic repertoire of iconic folkie turned cabaret favorite, Judy Collins. 'A Light in the Window - Songs of Judy Collins.' Performances are tonight, May 17th at 7:30pm and June 12th at 7pm.

Darien Arts Center Stage is a community theatre dedicated to providing excellence in entertainment through plays, musicals, cabarets, and special events. Their Weatherstone Studio at the Darien Arts Center has recently played host to a production of Jacques Brel is Alive and Well and Living in Paris. Flawlessly directed by Peter Green, the timeless songs, intimate theater setting, simple set pieces, inspired costumes and brilliant Broadway-caliber cast combined for an entertaining and memorable evening. I felt privileged to be able to attend such a perfect production.

Bernard Haitink will return to the New York Philharmonic to conduct two weeks of performances highlighting works by Austrian composers - Berg, Webern, and Mahler - and Beethoven, who spent much of his career in Austria. In the first program, Mr. Haitink will conduct Webern's Im Sommerwind, Berg's Violin Concerto with Leonidas Kavakos, and Beethoven's Symphony No. 3, Eroica, tonight, May 8, 2014, at 7:30 p.m.; Friday, May 9 at 8:00 p.m.; and Saturday, May 10 at 8:00 p.m. Bernard Haitink's appearances are part of an international, season-wide celebration of the 60th anniversary of his conducting debut with the Netherlands Radio Union Orchestra (now the Netherlands Radio Philharmonic Orchestra) and his 85th birthday.

Sleeping Cutie: A Fractured Fairy Tale Musical with Music by Doug Katsaros and Lyrics / Book by Diane Sampson - A world premiere production in this exclusive Off a Cliff / PlayGround co-production in San Francisco has been extended! Due to popular demand - six Performances have been added! Now playing thru May 21, 2014.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its upcoming performances, April 30 - May 11, 2014. Details below!

The Metropolitan Museum of Art is more than just a splendid showcase of brilliant artifacts; it is home to a broad range of ideas and personal narratives from every civilization. The 2014–15 season of Met Museum Presents brings these stories to life through theater, performance, and discussions that celebrate the enormous breadth, depth—and surprising relevance—of these narratives.

This Sunday, May 4, 2014, two programs on WFUV (90.7 FM/wfuv.org), Sunday Breakfast and Woody's Children, will honor the memory of Pete Seeger, the day after the folk music legend and activist would have turned 95. Seeger, who wrote or co-wrote classics such as “If I Had a Hammer,” “Turn, Turn, Turn,” and “Where Have All the Flowers Gone,” died on January 27th of this year, just six months after the death of Toshi, his beloved wife of nearly 70 years.

Joe's Pub at The Public has announced its upcoming performances, running tomorrow, April 23 through May 4, 2014. Details below!

Sleeping Cutie: A Fractured Fairy Tale Musical with Music by Doug Katsaros and Lyrics / Book by Diane Sampson will have its world premiere in this exclusive Off a Cliff / PlayGround co-production in San Francisco for a limited engagement, running four weeks only.

Jennie Litt and David Alpher, Brooklyn's own married songwriting duo, celebrate the May release of their debut recording, TWO APPLES, with an appearance at New York's Metropolitan Room on Thursday, June 5 at 7pm. TWO APPLES is a collection of eleven original songs covering topics ranging from lingerie to gym addiction to the random miracle of existence. Ms. Litt describes Alpher&Litt as 'eclectic writers inspired by American popular song and most comfortable in an idiom that's equal parts musical theatre, Tin Pan Alley, and Allan Sherman.' Additionally, Litt is an award-winning fiction writer and Alpher a world-renowned composer.