Mercedes Ellington News

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will launch its 1st Jazz Vocal Competition at New York City's 40th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2014. The Competition, which will take place between 1:00 and 4:00 PM in the Performance Area at the southeast corner of 52nd Street and Avenue of Americas,, will feature 26 talented up-and-coming jazz vocalists who will be vying for cash prizes and opportunities to perform at future concerts and musical events presented by the Ellington Center for the Arts. .

The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts (DECFA) will introduce its 1st Jazz Vocal Competition at New York City's 40th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival on Saturday, October 25, 2014, it was announced here today by renowned dancer/choreographer Mercedes Ellington, founder and artistic director of DECFA

Once The Music Played, a new film by writer/director J. Niles, has just released an IndieGoGo campaign to partially fund the upcoming film.

Just last night, ROLEX presented NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee at New York City Center. Angela Lansbury received the 2014 Rolex Dance Award. BroadwayWorld brings you photos from inside the special night below!

Dame Angela Lansbury tonight receives the 2014 Rolex Dance Award from the Career Tranisition for Dancers', during their 29th Anniversary Jubilee tonight.

ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee tonight, October 6th, 2014 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves.), NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury will receive the 2014 Rolex Dance Award. Special performance is added.

ROLEX Presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee at the Hilton New York Hotel 6th Ave (bet 54 & 55 Sts) on Monday, Oct. 6th.

ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 6th, 2014 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves.), NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury will receive the 2014 Rolex Dance Award. Special performance is added.

The 13th Street Repertory Theater will offer talkbacks--in which audience members can ask any questions they like of the actors, playwright, and choreographers-after select performances of ASCAP award-winner Chip Deffaa's new musical comedy, "Theater Boys." The show-about actors auditioning for a gay musical--opens Sunday, September 21st. Talkbacks will held after the following performances: Sunday, September 21st at 3 p.m; Thursday, September 25th at 7 pm; Sunday, September 28th at 3 p.m.; Thursday, October 2nd at 7 pm; Sunday, October 5th at 3 p.m.; Thursday, Oct 9th at 7 pm; Sunday, October 12th at 3 p.m; Thursday October 16th at 7 p.m.; Thursday, October 23rd at 7 pm; Sunday, October 26th at 3 pm.

ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 6th, 2014 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves.) NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury will receive the 2014 Rolex Dance Award. Broadway dancer & choreographer Alex Sanchez has created a special number with some of the best dancers from the great white way for the show. The music has been composed by Steven Jamall, who is the Music Director and Supervisor for Rosie O'Donnell and her Rosie's Theater Kids.

Longtime arts patrons Ann and William Van Ness welcomed guests to their art filled townhouse for a very special kickoff cocktail reception for the committees and honorees of the upcoming ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee which takes place Monday, October 6, 2014 followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Scroll down for photos from the soiree!

ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves) NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury will receive the 2014 Rolex Dance Award. The Rockette Alumnae and Karen Ziemba will perform "I Want To Be A Rockette." This special number was written by Alan Menken and Tom Eyen.

ROLEX presents NEW YORK NEW YORK a helluva town - Career Transition For Dancers' 29th Anniversary Jubilee on Monday, October 6, 2014 at 7:00 pm at New York City Center, 131 West 55 Street (btwn. 6th & 7th Aves) NYC followed by dinner at The Grand Ballroom at The Hilton New York. Angela Lansbury will receive the 2014 Rolex Dance Award.

The recipients of the 2014 'What a Wonderful World' Award are Jon Batiste, Aimee Telsey, MD, FAAP, Ann Marie Dassler, RN, FNP, MSN, and Gweneviere Mann, announced Joanne V. Loewy, DA, MT-BC, LCAT, Director of Mount Sinai Beth Israel's Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine.

The recipients of the 2014 "What a Wonderful World" Award are Jon Batiste, Aimee Telsey, MD, FAAP, Ann Marie Dassler, RN, FNP, MSN, and Gweneviere Mann, announced Joanne V. Loewy, DA, MT-BC, LCAT, Director of Mount Sinai Beth Israel's Louis Armstrong Center for Music & Medicine

The Duke Ellington Center of the Arts (DECFA) will present 'Ellington, New York and the Essence of Jazz,' a discussion led by composer and jazz scholar Edward Green tonight, July 31 at 6pm, and 'Summer Serenade with Bobby Sanabria,' a concert by Sanabria on August 17 at 2:30pm.

The Duke Ellington Center of the Arts will present 'Ellington, New York and the Essence of Jazz,' a discussion led by composer and jazz scholar Edward Green on July 31 at 6pm, and 'Summer Serenade with Bobby Sanabria,' a concert by Sanabria on August 17 at 2:30pm.

On Monday, July 7, the Broadway at Birdland concert series was delighted to present 'A Sophisticated Reunion,' starring Terri Klausner, Valarie Pettiford and Ty Stephens. Scroll down for photos from the concert!

The Critically Acclaimed Hit New Musical 'BUGLE BOY' exploring the life and work of legendary band leader Glenn Miller is set to tour the country again after its highly successful 2011; 2012 & 2013 UK Tours; including a full house standing ovation in the West End Garrick Theatre receiving terrific reviews from both critics and audiences alike and hailed a Triumph.

Following yesterday's matinee, the cast and band of Broadway's After Midnight paraded to 47th and Broadway where West 47th Street was renamed 'DUKE ELLINGTON WAY' in an official Street Sign Unveiling Ceremony at the corner of 47th and Broadway. Musicians from the Jazz at Lincoln Center All-Stars (including Arthur Baron, one of the last surviving members from Ellington's orchestra) played two Ellington favorites for all of Times Square, in celebration. Check out coverage from the event below!