Les Brown News

Columbia Records has announced the release of the About Last Night soundtrack, accompanying the insightful romantic comedy starring Kevin Hart, Michael Ealy, Regina Hall and Joy Bryant.

Four-time GRAMMY®-winning R&B group Boyz II Men, GRAMMY winner Ciara and DJ Michelle Pesce are scheduled to perform at the exclusive 2014 GRAMMY Celebration® - The Recording Academy®'s official after-party.

The Ritz Theater, the last remaining historic theater in the City of Newburgh, New York, is slated to begin work on a new marquee on Tuesday, December 10, 2013.

Presenters La MaMa and St. Ann's Warehouse, and producers piece by piece productions, Mabou Mines and Dovetail Productions-all ardent and longtime supporters of the 'bad boy of avant-garde theater' (Village Voice) Lee Breuer-unite for the World Premiere of Breuer's epic magnum opus, La Divina Caricatura. Breuer wrote and directs the work, a mixed-media pop-opera with Bunraku puppets, a cast of singers and live music composed by Lincoln Schleifer that ranges from Motown to Broadway and reggae to raga. La Divina Caricatura, a metaphorical send-up of Dante's classic, concerns Rose the Dog, who makes a pilgrimage through love to Paradiso. Rose thinks she's a woman and fantasizes a mad love affair with her master John, an East Village independent filmmaker. The show, Part 1 of a trilogy, draws on material that stretches all the way back to Breuer's doo-wop opera Sister Suzie Cinema (1975).

NYU Steinhardt Music and Performing Arts Professions, New York Foundation for the Arts, Yamaha Pianos, RS Berkeley Horns, presents the 42nd Street Jazz Festival, from December 16-23, 2013 at Theater Row, 410 W. 42nd Street, NYC.

Grammy-winning, British singer-songwriter Elvis Costello may have gotten his start on the '70s New Wave scene but he's been ever-changing, ever-challenging ever since. Named one of '100 Greatest Artists of All Time' by Rolling Stone, Costello will make a Jorgensen debut on his new East Coast tour tonight, Nov. 21, 2013, at 7:30 p.m. The November tour is his first set of headlining solo dates in a decade.

Presenters La MaMa and St. Ann's Warehouse, and producers piece by piece productions, Mabou Mines and Dovetail Productions-all ardent and longtime supporters of the "bad boy of avant-garde theater" (Village Voice) Lee Breuer-unite for the World Premiere of Breuer's epic magnum opus, La Divina Caricatura. Breuer wrote and directs the work, a mixed-media pop-opera with Bunraku puppets, a cast of singers and live music composed by Lincoln Schleifer that ranges from Motown to Broadway and reggae to raga. La Divina Caricatura, a metaphorical send-up of Dante's classic, concerns Rose the Dog, who makes a pilgrimage through love to Paradiso. Rose thinks she's a woman and fantasizes a mad love affair with her master John, an East Village independent filmmaker. The show, Part 1 of a trilogy, draws on material that stretches all the way back to Breuer's doo-wop opera Sister Suzie Cinema (1975).

Heart fans will have two new reasons to celebrate this year's holidays with the release of 'Please Come Home for Christmas' and 'All Through the Night,'

In November, the Department of Music, Theatre and Dance at Oakland University will host two concerts featuring multiple Grammy, Billboard and Emmy award-winning musician Bill Summers, a pioneer in the field of world percussion.

Doris & Me/conceived, written & performed by Scott Dreier/directed by Richard Israel/with musical accompaniment by Johnny May and Trevor Mulvey/Welk Resorts, Escondido/Thursday matinees at 1 pm through August 22

Expert life coach Shanel Cooper-Sykes releases new mini-book titled 'Elevation,' to help women transcend their lifestyle to unprecedented new heights.

The Kindling Theatre Company and Neighborhood Productions, in association with The Gym at Judson, are thrilled to present the world premiere of THE CAPABLES, written by Jay Stull and directed by Stefanie Abel Horowitz. THE CAPABLES begins performances tonight, July 17 for a limited engagement through Saturday, August 3. Press opening is Tuesday, July 23 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Today at 7 PM; Thursday - Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 7 PM. Performances are at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson Street, at Washington Square South). Tickets are $18. To purchase tickets, call SmartTix on 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.

The Ensemble Theatre is one of 30 African American theatres to participate in a national benefit staged play reading of A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller, tonight, June 17, 2013, 6:30PM at 3535 Main Street, Houston, TX.

The Ensemble Theatre is one of 30 African American theatres to participate in a national benefit staged play reading of A Soldier's Play by Charles Fuller, Monday, June 17, 2013, 6:30PM at 3535 Main Street, Houston, TX.

The Kindling Theatre Company and Neighborhood Productions, in association with The Gym at Judson, are thrilled to present the world premiere of THE CAPABLES, written by Jay Stull and directed by Stefanie Abel Horowitz. THE CAPABLES begins performances on Wednesday, July 17 for a limited engagement through Saturday, August 3. Press opening is Tuesday, July 23 at 7 PM. The performance schedule is Tuesday - Wednesday at 7 PM; Thursday - Saturday at 8 PM; Sunday at 7 PM. Performances are at The Gym at Judson (243 Thompson Street, at Washington Square South). Tickets are $18. To purchase tickets, call SmartTix on 212-868-4444 or visit www.smarttix.com.

The Gallery Players, Brooklyn's award winning Off-Off Broadway theater, continue their 46th season with Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger's Dreamgirls, beginning April 27th. Mark Harboth directs the limited engagement production that runs through May 19th. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the production below.

When you're a cabaret reviewer on the evening show prowl between Monday night and Saturday evening (although not every night, thank goodness), you'd like to think that the God of Cabaret would make Sunday a day of rest. No such luck, since the weekend allows clubs to book shows as early as brunch time. I learned this again early this month when I felt compelled to attend three shows starring charming female singers-Corinna Sowers-Adler at Stage 72 (the Triad), Eva Kantor at the Laurie Beechman, and Lianne Marie Dobbs at the Metropolitan Room. I didn't break my personal Sunday record of four shows in one day set in late January (yes, I should be committed), but there was a two-hour break in this mix so it still turned out to be an 8-hour cabaret extravaganza. (Thank you, oh God of Cabaret, for press comps!) While it would have been sweet for the musical marathon to have been a clean sweep of excellent shows, as Meat Loaf might croon, 'Two Out Of Three Ain't Bad.'

The Gallery Players, Brooklyn's award winning Off-Off Broadway theater, continue their 46th season with Tom Eyen and Henry Krieger's Dreamgirls, beginning April 27th. Mark Harboth directs the limited engagement production that runs through May 19th.

Warner Bros. Records has announced that it has signed vocalist and award-winning actress Emmy Rossum to its roster. The New York City native will release her first album for the label, a collection of covers of classic songs that span the '20s to the '60s entitled SENTIMENTAL JOURNEY, today, January 29th, 2013.