Luther Vandross News

Along with contempt, familiarity is also pretty good at breeding hit Broadway musicals. Take The Wiz, for example; the perfectly pleasant but sketchily written 1975 Tony winner for Best Musical that, if it weren't based on L. Frank Baum's classic The Wonderful Wizard of Oz (which became an iconic American story once MGM got its hands on it), would probably leave audiences completely baffled as to what the devil was going on.

Queens Theatre in the Park (QTP) announces its 2009/2010 season of dance, theatre, classical music, film, and family programming - more than 40 events, including the world premiere of Against the Rising Sea, featuring Tony Award-winning actress Elizabeth Franz; the development of a new musical, Opa! The Musical; and the return of international superstar Eva Ayllón.

Encore! Encore! New York City's favorite summer jazz tradition, the Smooth Cruise series, is set to take this year's curtain call around Manhattan on October 9th. With two world-class performances featuring Grammy-award winning jazz temptress Patti Austin, this year's last Smooth Cruise is certain to be a memorable one!

Encore! Encore! New York City's favorite summer jazz tradition, the Smooth Cruise series, is set to take this year's curtain call around Manhattan on October 9th. With two world-class performances featuring Grammy-award winning jazz temptress Patti Austin, this year's last Smooth Cruise is certain to be a memorable one!

Songwriter Extraordinare and president of ASCAP talks about the music biz, Streisand and Emmy nomination.

On Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 9pm - Upright Cabaret presents Broadway star Jennifer Leigh Warren (Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors, Big River, Marie Christine) and 2-time Star Search Grand Champion Jake Simpson as they collide in cosmic cocktail with 'JEN AND JAKE: SONGS FOR GROWN FOLK!'

On Sat, Aug 29, 2009 at 9pm - Upright Cabaret presents Broadway star Jennifer Leigh Warren (Broadway: Little Shop of Horrors, Big River, Marie Christine) and 2-time Star Search Grand Champion Jake Simpson as they collide in cosmic cocktail with 'JEN AND JAKE: SONGS FOR GROWN FOLK!'

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will present the premiere engagement at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical. Dreamgirls will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. will present the premiere engagement at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical.

BroadwayWorld.com presents it's newest column, Twitter Watch, which will bring you only the best and most interesting reports straight from the mouths of Broadway stars, shows and more on the hot social networking service - Twitter!

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to present the newly-formed band, LIMBSAKIMBO in 'What's Going On,' at Birdland on Monday, August 3 at 7pm. The concert will be part of the award-winning series Broadway at Birdland.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to present the newly-formed band, LIMBSAKIMBO in 'What's Going On,' at Birdland on Monday, August 3 at 7pm. The concert will be part of the award-winning series Broadway at Birdland.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced casting today for the premiere engagement at the Apollo Theater, prior to the national tour of the groundbreaking musical. Dreamgirls will introduce Moya Angela as Effie White and feature, as The Dreams, Syesha Mercado as Deena Jones, Adrienne Warren as Lorrell Robinson, and Margaret Hoffman as Michelle Morris with Chaz Lamar Shepherd as Curtis Taylor, Jr., Chester Gregory is James 'Thunder' Early, Trevon Davis as C.C. White, Milton Craig Nealy as Marty Madison in a cast of 26 that also features Tallia Brinson, Felicia Boswell, Ronald Duncan, Talitha Farrow, Brittney Griffin, James Harkness, Robert Hartwell, Eric Jackson, Chauncey Jenkins, Jared Joseph, Nikki Kimbrough, Brittany Lewis, Douglas Lyons, Kimberly Marable, Jarran Muse, Amaker Smith and Marc Spaulding.

Today's Broadway Blogs on BroadwayWorld.com from Tuesday, June 23, 2009.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to announce the appearance of Broadway's Shoshana Bean in ?Flipped!? on Monday, June 22 at 7pm. The evening is part of the award-winning Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Jim Caruso's Cast Party is proud to announce the appearance of Broadway's Shoshana Bean in ?Flipped!? on Monday, June 22 at 7pm. The evening is part of the award-winning Broadway at Birdland concert series.

Producer John Breglio and the Apollo Theater Foundation, Inc. announced today that tickets for the smash hit musical Dreamgirls at the Apollo Theater go on sale Friday, April 17 at 10am. The national tour of Dreamgirls will premiere at the legendary Apollo Theater (253 West 125 Street) for a four-week limited engagement November 7 through December 5. Performances are Tuesday though Saturday at 8pm with matinees Wednesday and Saturday at 2pm and Sunday at 3pm. Ticket prices range from $35 to $106 and will be available at the Apollo Theater box office, all Ticketmaster locations and Ticketmaster.com/apollotheater. Group orders for 10 or more may be placed by calling 212-302-0995. For more information, please visit the official Dreamgirls website at www.DreamgirlsOnStage.com.

Songwriter Paul Williams was elected President and Chairman of the Board of ASCAP (the American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) today by the ASCAP Board of Directors at its meeting in Nashville, TN.

March 2, 2009 Los Angeles - The Off-Broadway hit ?Back to Bacharach and David? will have a short 23 performance engagement at The Music Box @ Fonda April 15 to May 17 (opening April 19).

Cortes Alexander who just finished a sold-out Broadway run performing with Liza Minnelli in 'Liza's At The Palace...!', has also just completed recording his first solo album, Swell, releasing on March 16th.