Melissa Manchester News

Music lovers in the Valley will have the opportunity to experience the charisma and artistry of three significant artists as the live jazz club hosts Emmet Cohen Trio on Feb 8th, the extraordinary saxophonist Cory Weeds with legendary pianist Harold Mabern on February 11th and the ever-charismatic Francine Reed on Feb 12th.  All performances are expected to sell out.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are delighted to announce the cast and creative team for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. This commanding and moving play, written by Lanie Robertson, directed by Bill Fennelly and featuring Deidrie Henry as Billie Holiday, is set in the intimate atmosphere of the Bingham Theatre.

SAVE A CHILD'S HEART (SACH), an international, humanitarian organization dedicated to providing life-saving pediatric heart surgery for indigent children from developing countries around the world, will present a benefit concert featuring a lineup of major international stars in a special evening of music and entertainment, Sunday, January 29th, 2017.

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are delighted to announce the cast and creative team for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. This commanding and moving play, written by Lanie Robertson, directed by Bill Fennelly and featuring Deidrie Henry as Billie Holiday, is set in the intimate atmosphere of the Bingham Theatre.

'Oleg Frish is an interesting study in intelligence, good taste and consummate entertaining and has earned the right to fully own that. He has a profound understanding of the genres in which he performs and, above all, an enthusiasm and affection for material that should never be forgotten.' - Music Connection

Artistic Director Les Waters and Managing Director Kevin E. Moore are delighted to announce the cast and creative team for Lady Day at Emerson's Bar and Grill. This commanding and moving play, written by Lanie Robertson, directed by Bill Fennelly and featuring Deidrie Henry as Billie Holiday, is set in the intimate atmosphere of the Bingham Theatre.

The Nash brings brilliant clarinetist ANAT COHEN with guitarist HOWARD ALDEN for a special night of jazz, Wednesday January 18 at 7:30 pm.

Recording artist Kurtis Simmons has released his first holiday recording entitled “This Year for Christmas.” Along with Simmons, the EP features the writing and performance talents of multi-platinum and award-winning Stefan Lit and acclaimed jazz artist and actor Scott Dreier.

On Today, November 4, classic song stylist and songwriter Kiki Ebsen presents her Joni Mitchell Project (TM) as they return to Vitello's Upstairs in Studio City.

The incomparable Reva Rice will make her solo debut at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center with her all new show Song Bird, a musical journey through the American songbook for two performances only today, October 22, 2016 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

Fifteen of the state's brightest and most-talented young musicians will display their impressive virtuosity and remarkable musicianship at the 2016 Arizona Musicfest Young Musicians Fall Concert on Sunday, Oct. 30 at 1 p.m. at the Musical Instrument Museum (MIM), 4725 E. Mayo Blvd., Phoenix. Tickets are $20.

The incomparable Reva Rice will make her solo debut at Cabaret Jazz at The Smith Center with her all new show Song Bird, a musical journey through the American songbook for two performances only on Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 2:30 pm and 7:00 pm.

Just one more chance to join IRA LEE COLLINGS as he celebrates his 80th birthday with his show Simply, Ira Lee (A Gay Geezer Celebration Through the Looking Glass..warts and all at Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC on Monday, October 17th at 7 PM.  Ira Lee first presented this show this spring and is revisiting it with some additional surprises.  He is joined by Musical Director John M. Cook on piano. 

For its third monthly production, Dorothy's Piano Bar and Cabaret presents two fabulous performers who have known each other well over 20 years, having worked together at Village Theatre in Issaquah and in various clubs in the Pacific Northwest.

On Friday, November 4, classic song stylist and songwriter Kiki Ebsen presents her Joni Mitchell Project (TM) as they return to Vitello's Upstairs in Studio City.

Celebrating its 4th Birthday, The Nash hosts an all-out weekend Birthday Bash with a quintet of heavy hitters, The Lewis Nash Big Apple Quintet.

Singer IRA LEE COLLINGS returns to Don't Tell Mama, 343 West 46th Street, NYC on Monday, October 10th and 17th at 7 PM to continue celebrating his 80th birthday with his show Simply, Ira Lee (A Gay Geezer Celebration Through the Looking Glass..warts and all).

Celebrating its 4th Birthday, The Nash hosts an all-out weekend Birthday Bash with a quintet of heavy hitters, The Lewis Nash Big Apple Quintet.

On Monday August 29 actor/singer Kurtis Simmons made his solo cabaret debut at Rockwell Table and Stage to a SRO crowd of adoring fans and well-wishers. Simmons is no stranger to Los Angeles audiences, as he has appeared onstage in such popular shows as Forever Plaid and premiered his musical Hipster Sweatshop at Rockwell in the company of co-creators Kyle Puccia and Darryl Stephens, in May of this year. But, there is something special about a solo show. As good as a performer is - and Simmons is very good indeed with a phenomenal voice - there's always that question, 'Can he carry a show by himself?' The answer is a resounding 'Yes!'

Recording artist Kurtis Simmons made his LA solo debut at Rockwell Table & Stage in Los Feliz on Monday, August 29 at 8pm. With music direction by Sean Bart, Simmons performed songs from his critically acclaimed pop/rock CD Fraction of a Thread along with some tunes from his original musical Hipster Sweatshop (co-written with Kyle Puccia and Darryl Stephens).  BroadwayWorld brings you a first look below!