Lester Young News

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with Count Basie Orchestra, Natalie Douglas Tributes: Ella Fitzgerald, The Renee Manning/Earl McIntyre Septet, Nina Storey at the Birdland Theater, and more!

Birdland will kick-off their exciting month of programming with the following acts:

WRITE ACT REP announces PREZ The Lester Young Story, a solo show written by playwright Willard Manus, continues in Los Angeles, as part of a Spring and Summer Festival Series at Write Act Rep's Brickhouse Theatre called THREE BY WILL IN REP.  The Series includes two World Premiere's along with the extension of the acclaimed  PREZ, which chronicles the unique life of jazzman Lester Young, featuring Leslie A. Jones.  The intimate drama is produced by John Lant and Tamra Pica, and will be directed by Daniel E. Keough.  The show is moving to a new night and extending, beginning April 27th 2018, through June 29, 2018.  All performances for PREZ will now be on FRIDAYS at 8PM, through as part of the three production Series, 'THREE BY WILL IN REP'.

According to Variety, Lee Daniels is in talks to direct the Billie Holiday biopic “Billie.” Sources also add that R&B singer Andra Day is the top choice for the title role and Lakeith Stanfield for the male role, though nothing is yet finalized.

Beck Center for the Arts is pleased to announce its 2018-2019 professional theater season filled with their signature eclectic titles that include modern classics and the eighth collaboration with Baldwin Wallace University Musical Theatre program.

New York Youth Symphony (NYYS), is proud to continue its mission of providing an outstanding music education and performance opportunities to students between the ages of 12-22 by launching a new Musical Theater Composition program aimed at diversifying the world of musical theater. The new director and performance information is expected to be announced in summer 2018. Also new in 2018/19 the NYYS Orchestra and Chamber Music Programs will tour together for the first time ever to Spain in 2019, where they will explore cities including Madrid, Granada, and Seville.

WRITE ACT REP announces PREZ The Lester Young Story, a solo show written by playwright Willard Manus, continues in Los Angeles, as part of a Spring and Summer Festival Series at Write Act Rep's Brickhouse Theatre called THREE BY WILL IN REP.  The Series includes two World Premiere's along with the extension of the acclaimed  PREZ, which chronicles the unique life of jazzman Lester Young, featuring Leslie A. Jones.  The intimate drama is produced by John Lant and Tamra Pica, and will be directed by Daniel E. Keough.  The show is moving to a new night and extending, beginning April 27th 2018, through June 29, 2018.  All performances for PREZ will now be on FRIDAYS at 8PM, through as part of the three production Series, 'THREE BY WILL IN REP'.

Producers John Lant and Cornell Christianson with ICFB Productions are pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of IT CAME FROM BEYOND, a 1950's sci-fi, musical comedy with book by writer / producer Cornell Christianson, music and lyrics by Stephen M. Schwartz and Norman E. Thalheimer, and directed by Jim Blanchette. 

Producers John Lant and Cornell Christianson with ICFB Productions are pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of IT CAME FROM BEYOND, a 1950's sci-fi, musical comedy with book by writer / producer Cornell Christianson, music and lyrics by Stephen M. Schwartz and Norman E. Thalheimer, and directed by Jim Blanchette.

The Hostos Center for the Arts and Culture presents the New Cuban Express and the Steven Kroon Latin Jazz Sextet as part of a Latin jazz double bill in the Repertory Theater of Hostos Community College, 450 Grand Concourse in the Bronx, on Saturday, May 5, 7:30 PM.

In the annals of jazz history, few events have been more influential than the Jazz at the Philharmonic concert series, and the album series of the same name. From 1944 to 1957, pioneering impresario, Verve Records founder, Norman Granz organized a series of prestigious all-star concerts that featured a who's-who of the genre's most popular and influential artists. These shows were instrumental in raising jazz's public profile, and were among the first high-profile performances to feature racially mixed bands performing for integrated audiences.

Producers John Lant and Cornell Christianson with ICFB Productions are pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of IT CAME FROM BEYOND, a 1950's sci-fi, musical comedy with book by writer / producer Cornell Christianson, music and lyrics by Stephen M. Schwartz and Norman E. Thalheimer, and directed by Jim Blanchette. 

Write Act Repertory's Producing Artistic Director John Lant and Producer Tamra Pica are pleased to announce the extension of LILI MARLENE, a new musical about a family's escape from the rising tide of Nazism, with book, music and lyrics by Michael Antin and directed and choreographed by Mark Blowers.

Write Act Repertory Producing Artistic Director John Lant is pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of WICKED FROZEN, the untold parody musical of some magic ice witch princesses and other stuff like that, with book and lyrics by Zoe Farmingdale and music and lyrics by Toby Singer. The production is directed and choreographed by Zoe Farmingdale

Producers John Lant and Cornell Christianson with ICFB Productions are pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of IT CAME FROM BEYOND, a 1950's sci-fi, musical comedy with book by writer / producer Cornell Christianson, music and lyrics by Stephen M. Schwartz and Norman E. Thalheimer, and directed by Jim Blanchette.

WRITE ACT REP announces the extension of? PREZ? - The Lester Young Story?, a solo show written by playwright Willard Manus, in celebration of Black History Month, and returns to Los Angeles, as part of a Festival Series at Write Act Rep's Brickhouse Theatre called THREE BY WILL IN REP.

Write Act Repertory Producing Artistic Director John Lant is pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of WICKED FROZEN, an untold parody musical of some magic ice witch princesses and other stuff like that, with book and lyrics by Zoe Farmingdale and music and lyrics by Toby Singer. The production is directed and choreographed by Zoe Farmingdale

Write Act Repertory Producing Artistic Director John Lant and Producer Cornell Christianson, ICFB Productions are pleased to announce the Off-Broadway premiere of IT CAME FROM BEYOND, a 1950's sci-fi, musical comedy with book by writer / producer Cornell Christianson, music and lyrics by Stephen M. Schwartz and Norman E. Thalheimer, and directed by Jim Blanchette.

Write Act Repertory's Producing Artistic Director John Lant and Producer Tamra Pica are pleased to announce the extension of the off-Broadway East Coast premiere of LILI MARLENE, a new musical about a family's escape from the rising tide of Nazism, with book, music and lyrics by Michael Antin and directed and choreographed by Mark Blowers. 

Producing Artistic Director John Lant, Write Act Repertory and Tamra Pica are pleased to announce another extension of FRANKENSTEIN, a new musical based on Mary Shelley's novel, about the human need for love and companionship, with book, music and lyrics by Eric B. Sirota and directed by Clint Hromsco. The production continues Mondays at 7:00 pm through June 25th 2018.