Mike Stoller News

Simply hearing the name Ben Vereen uttered invokes the magic and allure of Broadway. From originating key roles in JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR and PIPPIN, Vereen has called the stages of Broadway home for years. Therefore, it is no surprise that he commands an audience with charm and pizzazz, easily entertaining a full house at 54 Below with his new cabaret show STEPPIN' OUT.

Acclaimed Jazz harpist-pianist-vocalist Corky Hale will present a 100th Birthday Show honoring Billie Holiday on Monday, April 6 at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Special guests will include singers Freda Payne, Eloise Laws and Tricia Tahara, with Hale on piano and harp, Lyman Medeiros on bass, John Chiodini on Guitar and Christopher Jones on drums. Holiday, who was born on April 7, 1915 and died in 1959, was one of the most important and influential jazz legends of all time.

The New Jersey City University Caroline L. Guarini Department of Music, Dance and Theatre will present 'Smokey Joe's Cafe,' Friday, March 20 through Sunday, March 22 and Thursday, March 26 through Saturday, March 28, in Margaret Williams Theatre of Hepburn Hall, on the University campus at 2039 Kennedy Boulevard in Jersey City.

Today in 1995, Smokey Joe's Cafe opened at the Virginia Theatre (now the August Wilson Theatre) where it ran for 2036 performances. Smokey Joe's Cafe is a musical revue showcasing 39 pop standards, including rock and roll, rhythm and blues songs written by songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The Original Broadway cast recording, Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs Of Leiber And Stoller won a Grammy award in 1996. In revue format with no unifying theme the 39 songs are presented by various members of the cast in various combinations, with no dialogue. There are novelty songs ('Charlie Brown'), romantic ballads ('Spanish Harlem') and infectious melodies ('There Goes My Baby').

The ensemble of the smash-hit musical Les Miserables has got to be one of the hardest working ensembles on Broadway. Last night this talented group impressed audiences by casting the wigs, dirt, and grime aside and singing the music that makes them tick at 54 BELOW.

The 20th Anniversary National Tour of 'Broadway's longest running musical revue,' Smokey Joe's Cafe, rocks its way to Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom opening January 2, 2015. This toe-tapping musical features some 38 Billboard hits from the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. This show, billed as 'the hottest joint in town', is directed by Tony Award nominee Chet Walker and features the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame group, The Coasters. The full Smokey Joe's Cafei cast of fourteen singers and dancers perform to a live on-stage musical ensemble.

The Recording Academy announced its Special Merit Awards recipients today, and this year's honorees are: the Bee Gees, Pierre Boulez, Buddy Guy, George Harrison, Flaco Jimenez, Louvin Brothers, and Wayne Shorter as Lifetime Achievement Award recipients

The 20th Anniversary National Tour of 'Broadway's longest running musical revue,' Smokey Joe's Cafe, rocks its way to Harris Center for the Arts in Folsom opening January 2, 2015. This toe-tapping musical features some 38 Billboard hits from the legendary team of Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. This show, billed as 'the hottest joint in town', is directed by Tony Award nominee Chet Walker and features the Rock 'n Roll Hall of Fame group, The Coasters. The full Smokey Joe's Cafei cast of fourteen singers and dancers perform to a live on-stage musical ensemble.

With another holiday season upon us, it's time to celebrate time honored traditions, and in keeping with what's become a New York tradition, Steve Tyrell is celebrating his 10th year as the holiday season entertainment at the swanky Café Caryle on the Upper East Side (through New Year's Eve). This Grammy award-winning record producer and singer is treating audiences to his latest cabaret show, That Lovin' Feelin', which features hit tunes that are the heartbeat of America.

The Grand 1894 Opera House will play host to a new national tour of the longest-running musical revue in Broadway history, Smokey Joe's Cafe, tonight, October 18, 2014 at 8 pm and Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 3 pm. The acclaimed musical revue showcasing the songs of legendary Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

September 10, 1964, some 50 years ago, The Kinks had their first number one with the classic 'You Really Got Me' and the rest is rock n roll history.

The Grand 1894 Opera House will play host to a new national tour of the longest-running musical revue in Broadway history, Smokey Joe's Cafe, on Saturday, October 18, 2014 at 8 pm and Sunday, October 19, 2014 at 3 pm. The acclaimed musical revue showcasing the songs of legendary Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame composers Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller.

STAGES St. Louis announces its exhilarating 29th season, a celebration of diversity, friendship, and community! The 2015 season launches with the Grammy award-winning sensation SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, a rousing homage to classic rock 'n' roll, and the celebrated song catalog of Leiber and Stoller. We continue with the tap happy Broadway classic ANYTHING GOES, a chic and sophisticated voyage across the Atlantic featuring the witty and romantic songs of Cole Porter. One of Broadway's recent hits, THE FULL MONTY, caps off the season with its powerful message of family, friendship, and community. The fun begins May 29 and continues through October 4, 2015. In addition, the 2015 season Theatre for Young Audiences production will feature Disney's THE ARISTOCATS, beginning June 17.

Bill Hanney has announced the lineup for the 2015 Summer Season at the historic Theatre By The Sea (TBTS). The four show subscription season will feature SMOKEY JOE'S CAFE, MY FAIR LADY starring Charles Shaughnessy, Disney's THE LITTLE MERMAID and the Mel Brooks musical YOUNG FRANKENSTEIN. Season subscriptions are on sale now and can be purchased by calling (401) 782-8587, order forms can be downloaded online at theatrebythesea.com, or ordered in person at the Box Office located at 364 Cards Pond Road, Wakefield, RI 02879.

Head back to the golden era of rock 'n' roll and rhythm 'n' blues as the historic Woodlawn Theatre stages the ultimate musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe, opening tonight, August 15 on the main stage. The show, which features the legendary tunes of Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame giants Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, runs through September 14.

Head back to the golden era of rock 'n' roll and rhythm 'n' blues as the historic Woodlawn Theatre stages the ultimate musical revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe, opening August 15 on the main stage. The show, which features the legendary tunes of Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame giants Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, runs through September 14.

Akin to a revue, Smokey Joe's Cafe is made up of songs, songs, and more songs without a single word of dialogue. Like the final tune says 'That Is Rock & Roll'; it's the music of Leiber and Stoller who gave us some of the biggest hits of the 50s like 'Hound Dog', 'Love Potion # 9' and 'Jailhouse Rock'. In a lively revival at Candlelight Pavilion Dinner Theatre, the smoke, the cafe and its music are ecstatically displayed by a cast of 9 thrilling vocalists.

Peggy King, one of the most popular TV and recording stars of the 1950's, will make her first Los Angeles appearance in more than 30 years on Sunday, July 27 at 7:30 PM at the Catalina Jazz Club in Hollywood. Joining her will be acclaimed pianist, harpist and vocalist Corky Hale, leading an all-star quartet including Lymon Medeiros on bass, Jack LeCompte on drums and John Chiodini on guitar.

If you want a high-energy show, Smokey Joe's Café is definitely for you. The musical revue, on Broadway from 1995-2000, highlights the music of songwriting team Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller. The spectacle has forty of their hit songs done back to back including 'Love Potion Number 9', 'Yakity Yak', 'Stand By Me' and 'Jailhouse Rock'. Believe me when I say that you will be dancing in your seat at some point.

The 2014-15 Performing Arts Season of The Grand 1894 Opera House promises countless opportunities to 'Celebrate with The Grand!'