Lena Horne News

Executive Producers Dee Wilson-Bunn of the Stage Door Theatre in South Florida today announced an addition to the company's 2013-2014 Season - the award-winning pre-New York engagement of WIESENTHAL, written by and starring Tom Dugan. Produced by Tony Award-winner Normand Kurtz, who brought Broward audiences the record-breaking hit Too Jewish, WIESENTHAL tells the remarkable story of the life of Simon Wiesenthal, sometimes referred to as 'The Jewish James Bond.' Told with hope, humanity and humor, the play follows Wiesenthal as he addresses a group of visitors on his last day at the Jewish Documentation Center in Vienna. As he reflects on his life and work, Wiesenthal recounts how he faced Hitler's SS; how he endured the loss of family and friends; how he escaped a concentration camp only to be recaptured; and how, after liberation day, he began a remarkable journey for justice.

2014 sees some new names and some returns to The Crazy Coqs. January starts with the London debut of the sizzling cabaret performer Carole J .Bufford and her show Body and Soul (January 7 - 11) followed by the popular Broadway star Brent Barrett and his show Night Songs (January 14 -18) and then actress and singer Linda Purl with her show Midnight Caravan: Celebrating the Great Ladies of the Glamorous Nightclub Era of the 40s & 50s (January 21 - 25).

Legendary drummer and NEA Jazz Master Foreststorn 'Chico' Hamilton died on Monday, November 25, 2013, in New York City at the age of 92.

When the legendary performer Lena Horne told Maurice Hines to 'Love them [the audience], make it real' you can tell he took that advice to heart when conceiving Tappin' Thru Life currently playing at Arena Stage. For Tappin' Thru Life seems determined not only to love the audience, but to entertain them, and it succeeds at doing just that! While Tappin' Thru Life does have some flaws, it's hard to find anyone who isn't won over by Hines showmanship, humor, timing and above all else, talent.

Lifelong performer and Tony Award nominee Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Eubie!) captivates audiences with stories, songs and smooth choreography for his return to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Scroll down for photos from the opening night reception, featuring Maurice Hines, cast members and brothers John & Leo Manzari and Max & Sam Heimowitz, director Jeff Calhoun, Arena Stage Artistic Director Molly Smith, Italian Ambassador Claudio Bisogniero and Congresswoman Eleanor Holmes Norton!

Lifelong performer and Tony Award nominee Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Eubie!) captivates audiences with stories, songs and smooth choreography for his return to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Under the direction of Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Hines, who started performing at five years old, brings the history of American tap to life and pays tribute to his brother Gregory and the singers who inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A co-production with ALLIANCE THEATRE at the Woodruff and Cleveland Play House, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life runs tonight, November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Lifelong performer and Tony Award nominee Maurice Hines(Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Eubie!) captivates audiences with stories, songs and smooth choreography for his return to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Under the direction of Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Hines, who started performing at five years old, brings the history of American tap to life and pays tribute to his brother Gregory and the singers who inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A co-production with ALLIANCE THEATRE at the Woodruff and Cleveland Play House, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life runs November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater. Check out the photos below!

Josiah Theatre Works, has distinguished itself as a in-demand production company renowed for their sophisticated original dramas and musicals, ranging from the award-wiinning Lena Horne biopic 'Lena (Black Cinderella)' to their first award-winning drama, 'The Exchange'. In celebration of their 5th Anniversary, Josiah Theatre Works has announced the world premier soap opera 'UNSPOKEN'.

Lifelong performer and Tony Award nominee Maurice Hines (Broadway's Sophisticated Ladies and Eubie!) captivates audiences with stories, songs and smooth choreography for his return to Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater with Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life. Under the direction of Tony Award nominee Jeff Calhoun (Broadway's Newsies and Grey Gardens), Hines, who started performing at five years old, brings the history of American tap to life and pays tribute to his brother Gregory and the singers who inspired him, from Frank Sinatra to Lena Horne. A co-production with Alliance Theatre at the Woodruff and Cleveland Play House, Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life runs November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Amas Musical Theatre will present three free staged readings of 'Bleeding Love, a post-apocalyptic new musical comedy', book by Jason Schafer, music by Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, lyrics by Harris Doran, directed by Michael Bush. The readings will take place tonight, October 15th at 3:00pm and 7:00pm, and Wednesday, October 16th at 1pm at The Theatre at the 14th Street Y, 314 East 14th Street.

Omaha Performing Arts presents "A Night in Treme: The Musical Majesty of New Orleans" at the Holland Performing Arts Center on Thursday, November 14, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. The performance is part of Omaha Performing Arts' 13/14 Jazz Series. Tickets start at $30 and are available at TicketOmaha.com, 402.345.0606 or at the Ticket Omaha Office inside the Holland Center, 1200 Douglas St.

Star of stage and screen Maurice Hines returns to D.C. to teach a free master class at Howard University and hold open dance auditions at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to connect with the D.C.-area dance community and search for the next young tap star to appear in Arena Stage's Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life, running November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the 2013.14 Pops season with Ella, Louis, and All That Jazz tonight, October 11-13, 2013 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Guest conductor Jeff Tyzik leads the orchestra, featuring Byron Stripling, trumpet; Marva Hicks, vocalist; and Robert Breithaupt, drums. In tribute to Ella, Satchmo, and Fats Waller, the concerts include favorites such as S'Wonderful, It Don't Mean a Thing, What a Wonderful World, and selections from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.

After sell-out shows and rave reviews at The Southbank Centre and Tricycle Theatre, CAFE SOCIETY SWING - the true story about the legendary New York nightclub which promoted racial equality and progressive causes, will play a limited season at The Leicester Square Theatre on 21 and 22 December 2013.

What was referred to as "The Recording Event of the Decade," Frank Sinatra's groundbreaking and highly successful album Duets was originally released in November 1993, bringing together an array of global superstars

Over the last 20 or so years, there have been three nightclubs in New York that have been considered the venue Holy Grail for cabaret singers. Two of them--the Oak Room at the Algonquin Hotel and Feinstein's at the Loews Regency--have in the past year or so sadly died a corporate death, leaving the upper east side Cafe Carlyle as the Carnegie Hall of cabaret haunts. When she first came to New York from California 24 years ago, Natalie Douglas would save her pennies to see the legendary Bobby Short perform at the Carlyle and dream that she would some day star in a show from that stage. Last Thursday and Friday night, after almost a quarter century performing in every New York venue on the cabaret map and many prestigious clubs around the world, and after winning numerous MAC, Bistro and Nightlife Awards, Douglas finally soloed at the venerable venue and the audiences who saw her shows probably wondered why it took so long.

Star of stage and screen Maurice Hines returns to D.C. to teach a free master class at Howard University and hold open dance auditions at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater to connect with the D.C.-area dance community and search for the next young tap star to appear in Arena Stage's Maurice Hines is Tappin' Thru Life, running November 15-December 29, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.

Amas Musical Theatre will present three free staged readings of 'Bleeding Love, a post-apocalyptic new musical comedy', book by Jason Schafer, music by Arthur Lafrentz Bacon, lyrics by Harris Doran, directed by Michael Bush. The readings will take place on Tuesday, October 15th at 3:00pm and 7:00pm, and Wednesday, October 16th at 1pm at The Theatre at the 14th Street Y, 314 East 14th Street.

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra opens the 2013.14 Pops season with Ella, Louis, and All That Jazz on October 11-13, 2013 at the Marcus Center for the Performing Arts. Guest conductor Jeff Tyzik leads the orchestra, featuring Byron Stripling, trumpet; Marva Hicks, vocalist; and Robert Breithaupt, drums. In tribute to Ella, Satchmo, and Fats Waller, the concerts include favorites such as S'Wonderful, It Don't Mean a Thing, What a Wonderful World, and selections from Gershwin's Porgy & Bess.

Fall is quickly approaching, which means that Broadway will soon be blowing up with brand new productions. Soul Doctor and First Date already opened over the summer, but five upcoming musicals will also be eligible for Best Musical Tony nominations next year, including: Big Fish, A Night with Janis Joplin, After Midnight, A Gentleman's Guide to Love and Murder, and Beautiful: The Carole King Musical. Get the scoop on all five incoming musicals below!