Lena Horne News

As part its 10th Anniversary Spring 2015 season, Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) proudly presents the New York Premiere of Carmen de Lavallade's As I Remember It, February 19-21 and 24 at 8PM, and February 25 at 1PM in the Jerome Robbins Theater. This intimate autobiographical performance combines movement and storytelling to weave a poignant memoir of Carmen de Lavallade's extraordinary career, highlighting the legendary artist's singular place in cultural history.

Hosted by Sirius XM Radio Star Seth Rudetsky, this unique series will debut this winter at The Nourse Theater with two concerts. First up will be the red-hot star of TV's “Smash” and Broadway's “Wicked,” Megan Hilty on February 7th, followed by Grammy, Emmy, and Tony Award nominated superstar Vanessa Williams on April 25.

The North Carolina Symphony will pay tribute to two of the most beloved performers of the 20th century with Louis and Ella: All That Jazz, which will feature the music of Louis Armstrong and Ella Fitzgerald performed by trumpeter and vocalist Byron Stripling and vocalist Marva Hicks, with drummer Robert Breithaupt. The Symphony concerts, which will be led by Associate Conductor David Glover, will take place in Meymandi Concert Hall in downtown Raleigh, Friday, Jan. 16, and Saturday, Jan. 17, at 8 p.m. each night.

The Musical Theater Project celebrates the 75th anniversary year of The Wizard of Oz by saluting the composer behind the music in "Over the Rainbow: The Songs of Harold Arlen," to be presented at Cuyahoga Community College's Eastern Campus Performing Arts Center on Sunday, January 18, 2015 at 3pm.

The Raymond F. Kravis Center for the Performance Arts invites entertainment fans to kick off 2015 with international artists and attractions from every discipline from rock to pop to classical music, from Broadway to Hollywood.

Vanessa Williams, one of the most respected and multi-faceted performers in entertainment today, will take the stage at The Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall on January 2, 2015. Vanessa Williams has conquered the musical charts, Broadway, music videos, television and motion pictures. She has sold over four million albums worldwide and her skills as an actress on stage, in film and on television have earned critical praise.

59E59 Theaters (Elysabeth Kleinhans, Artistic Director; Peter Tear, Executive Producer; Brian Beirne, Managing Director) is thrilled to host the US premiere of CAFE SOCIETY SWING, written by Alex Webb and directed by Simon Green. Produced by Richard Darbourne Ltd (producer of last season's Drama League nominated All That Fall) and The Copasetic Foundation, CAFE SOCIETY SWING begins performances on Tuesday, December 16 for a limited engagement through Sunday, January 4. Opening Night is Sunday, December 21 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7 PM; Friday at 8 PM; Saturday at 2 PM & 8 PM; Sunday at 3 PM & 7 PM. Please note the following Holiday schedule adjustments: There is no performance on Thursday, December 25; there is an added performance on Friday, December 26 at 2 PM; the performances on December 24 and December 31 are at 6 PM. Single tickets are $70 ($49 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or visit www.59e59.org.

Following the passing of his long-time friend and fellow comedic legend, Billy Crystal has penned a script, imagining the late Robin Williams in heaven. You can read it in full below, via Entertainment Weekly:

Baryshnikov Arts Center (BAC) celebrates its tenth anniversary in 2015, beginning with the spring season performance and residency series running January 14 to June 28. Programs at BAC throughout 2015 will exemplify the kind of creative engagement for which BAC has earned recognition during the last decade: presenting and nurturing artists from around the world, at varying stages in their careers, and who are working innovatively across disciplines.

Pat Halloran, longtime President and CEO of the Memphis Development Foundation which operates The Orpheum Theatre, has announced plans to retire on December 31, 2015. Halloran joined the Memphis Development Foundation (MDF) in 1980 and will have completed 35 years of service at the time of his retirement.

Creative Capital celebrates its 15th anniversary milestone with artist events, community gatherings and special programs across the country, including a Joe's Pub program spotlighting their New York artists.

Joe's Pub at the Public has announced its performances through the rest of November 2014. Visit www.joespub.com for a complete list of shows and scroll down for more!

To celebrate the publication of The Untold Stories of Broadway, Volume 2 on November 18 by Dress Circle Publishing, Jennifer Ashley Tepper will be sharing three short excerpts about each of the Broadway theaters featured in the book-countdown style! Today: The Nederlander Theatre

The Pasadena Playhouse presents STOP KISS, the second production of its 2014-2015 Season. Written by Diana Son and directed by Pasadena Playhouse Associate Artistic Director Seema Sueko, STOP KISS stars Sharon Leal (Bill Condon's Dreamgirls, Fox's 'Boston Public,' and Lionsgate's Addicted), Angela Lin (Broadway's Chinglish), John Sloan (Fox's 'Happy Hour'), Brandon Scott (ABC's 'Grey's Anatomy'), Amanda Carlin (Liar Liar), and Jeff De Serrano (A&E's 'Longmire'). The production is performed tonight, November 4 - 30, 2014 with the official press night on Wednesday, November 9, 2014.

CHATHAM, N.J., Nov. 3, 2014 /PRNewswire/ The Secret Life of Walter Newkirk is a new book outlining a story of 17 years of misdiagnosis and over medication. The author was labeled 'bipolar' which led to a breakdown of his private life and 4 hospitalizations. The story spotlights the problem with depression medications and how the medical system deals with unique individuals. Newkirk recently diagnosed with Type II Diabetes, stopped the depression meds and now has control of his health and is living happily drug free.

New Book from Theatre/Film/Art Publicist Now Available: THE SECRET LIFE OF WALTER NEWKIRK by Walter Newkirk. Backstage stories about Lena Horne/LENA HORNE: The Lady & Her Music, Sheryl Lee Ralph/ DREAMGIRLS, Grey Gardens The Musical and The Broadway Annies including Sarah Jessica Parker, Andrea McArdle, Shelley Bruce, Alyson Kirk and Alyson Smith are featured in the new book The Secret LIfe of Walter Newkirk.

Birdland Jazz Club is thrilled to announce their great line-up of amazing talent for the month of November 2014. Featuring: Django Reinhardt NY Festival's 15th Anniversary, Karrin Allyson, Cyrill Aimee, Barbara Carroll, Anita Gillette, Music of Joe Henderson, Native Soul, Peter Mazza, Jim Caruso's Cast Party, and more.

Today we are talking to a world famous triple-threat star of stage and screen who first shot to fame in the 1980s as the first African American Miss America and found considerable success as a recording artist and actress thereafter, the divine Vanessa Williams. Sharing sage wisdom from her life and career as well as reflecting on many of her most popular properties to date, Williams reveals some of her many secrets to success while also looking ahead to next month's hotly anticipated all-star concert presentation of legendary Jerome Kern and Oscar Hammerstein musical SHOW BOAT, co-starring Julian Ovenden, Norm Lewis, Jane Alexander and many more along with the New York Philharmonic under the direction of Ted Sperling. Also, Williams shares her enthusiasm for setting out to create new renditions of some of SHOW BOAT's most noted selections, including 'Can't Help Lovin' Dat Man Of Mine'. Additionally, Williams opens up about her multiple musical theatre endeavors highlighting the work of Stephen Sondheim, including the Tony Award-winning 2002 Best Revival production of INTO THE WOODS and the recent original revue SONDHEIM ON SONDHEIM. Plus, Williams details her ongoing participation in THE TRIP TO BOUNTIFUL, after having starred in the well-received Broadway production last season and now finishing up headlining the Los Angeles production before bringing the drama to Boston. All of that, KISS OF THE SPIDER WOMAN memories, saving Audra McDonald's wedding day and much, much more with one of Broadway's brightest stars!

59E59 Theaters will welcome The Directors Company with ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR, written by Robert Callely and directed by Michael Parva. ON A STOOL AT THE END OF THE BAR begins performances on Friday, November 14 for a limited engagement through Sunday, December 14. Press Opening is Thursday, November 20 at 7:15 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Thursday at 7:15 PM; Friday at 8:15 PM; Saturday at 2:15 PM & 8:15 PM; and Sunday at 3:15 PM. Please note, there is no performance on Thursday, November 27 (Thanksgiving). Performances are at 59E59 Theaters (59 East 59th Street, between Park and Madison Avenues). Single tickets are $35 ($24.50 for 59E59 Members). To purchase tickets, call Ticket Central at (212) 279-4200 or go to www.59e59.org.

Banks Brothers Productions will be presenting the World Premiere of the stage play 'Blaque Tcherie'written by Houston Playwright Vincent Victoria. The show opens March 6 ,2015 and runs through March 22 at Midtown Art Center .3414 La Branch Houston, Texas 77004