Nat "King" Cole News

Actress/singer/vocal coach Susan Edwards Martin, Lady Blues in Torch Song Trilogy on Broadway and star of many other musical shows, recently premiered her solo cabaret show at Upstairs at Vitello's. I reviewed the show and she was sensational.* She is taking the show to Feinstein's 54/Below in New York on March 23. Edwards Martin also has created an original show about the optimistic way she lives her life called, 'Unlimited! You'll Have the Time of Her Life!", that had a spectacular one night presentation and is currently waiting in the wings for a full production. Busy, busy, busy, Edwards also recently performed with Musical Theatre Guild as the lead in Minnie's Boys to rave reviews. Ms. Edwards Martin sat down and discussed her career thus far, and about the story behind Unlimited! You'll Have the Time of Her Life! and her latest cabaret show. Before we start to look back I always ask a few less relevant questions about musical theatre.

In this electrifying exploration into the soul of an American icon, Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor imagine Nat 'King' Cole as he faces the final Christmastime broadcast of his groundbreaking variety show and weighs the advice of his friend Sammy Davis Jr. to 'go out with a bang.' Cole's hit songs, such as 'Nature Boy,' 'It's a Good Day' and 'Smile,' underscore this boldly original homage to the renowned performer who struggled to break through America's color barrier in the early days of television.

In this electrifying exploration into the soul of an American icon, Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor imagine Nat 'King' Cole as he faces the final Christmastime broadcast of his groundbreaking variety show and weighs the advice of his friend Sammy Davis Jr. to 'go out with a bang.' Cole's hit songs, such as 'Nature Boy,' 'It's a Good Day' and 'Smile,' underscore this boldly original homage to the renowned performer who struggled to break through America's color barrier in the early days of television.

In this electrifying exploration into the soul of an American icon, Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor imagine Nat 'King' Cole as he faces the final Christmastime broadcast of his groundbreaking variety show and weighs the advice of his friend Sammy Davis Jr. to 'go out with a bang.' Cole's hit songs, such as 'Nature Boy,' 'It's a Good Day' and 'Smile,' underscore this boldly original homage to the renowned performer who struggled to break through America's color barrier in the early days of television.

In this electrifying exploration into the soul of an American icon, Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor imagine Nat 'King' Cole as he faces the final Christmastime broadcast of his groundbreaking variety show and weighs the advice of his friend Sammy Davis Jr. to 'go out with a bang.' Cole's hit songs, such as 'Nature Boy,' 'It's a Good Day' and 'Smile,' underscore this boldly original homage to the renowned performer who struggled to break through America's color barrier in the early days of television.

Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole/book by Colman Domingo & Patricia McGregor/music supervision:John McDaniel/directed by Patricia McGregor/Geffen/Gil Cates Theater/through March 17 A much anticipated musical in Los Angeles has been Lights Out: Nat 'King' Cole, which has received previous tryouts back east. Penned by Colman Domingo and Patricia McGregor, who also directs the piece, the show is supposedly based on real facts from Cole's life and includes most of his standard hits arranged by John McDaniel. Currently onstage at the Gil CatesTheater of the Geffen Playhouse in Westwood, Lights Out is spectacular entertainment, especially from Dule Hill as Cole and Daniel J. Watts as Sammy Davis Jr. but its book is in need of some major retooling. It is December 17, 1957 in the NBC Studio in Burbank where Cole's final  30 minute TV variety show is about to be presented live with the Nelson Riddle Orchestra and Randy Van Horn Singers. Fifteen minutes to air time, Cole is in a deep state of depression over this being the final show. Why? He has millions of fans. Southern states have refused to continue paying for advertising on the show. Cole is a Negro, pure asnd simple. In spite of his fame, it's Lights Out for him. Guest star Peggy Lee has not shown up and friend Sammy Davis Jr. comes in to replace her with his amazing style of frantic comed

Music's Biggest Night - the GRAMMYs - is here! Live from STAPLES Center, and hosted by Alicia Keys, the 61st Annual GRAMMY Awards will be broadcast on CBS at 8:00 p.m. ET/5:00 p.m. PT. 

Director Patricia McGregor returns to the Geffen Playhouse after her successful directorial stint of Dominique Morriseau's SKELETON CREW last year. This time, Patricia directs the west coast premiere of LIGHTS OUT: NAT 'KING' COLE (now, already in previews), co-written by herself and Coleman Domingo. Patricia took some time after a long day of rehearsals to chat with me over the phone.

Da Camera of Houston's 2018-19 jazz series continues with a performance by Cuban pianist, composer, arranger and bandleader Chucho Valdes at the Cullen Theater, Wortham Theater Center, on Friday, February 8, 2019, at 8 p.m. Winner of six Grammy Awards, three Latin Grammy Awards and the Latin Academy of Recording Arts & Sciences' Lifetime Achievement Award, Valdes has been a key figure in the evolution of Afro-Cuban jazz for the past 50 years.

Geffen Playhouse today announced the full cast for its production of Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole

Birdland will kick-off their great week of programming with the following acts:

Theatre Philadelphia's Barrymore Awards were announced yesterday. The awards recognized the best Philadelphia area theater from July 1, 2017, to June 30, 2018. Judges and recommenders saw 112 productions by 40 companies were eligible, of which 10 companies won awards, for 11 productions.

Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 92-year-old Palace Theatre has received a full facelift of its 2,691-seat auditorium. The first major renovation for the Palace since 1984, the six-month, main-hall makeover included the repair of damaged plaster, new paint in a new color scheme, all-new seats on the main floor, full refurbishment of balcony seats, and installation of a new LED house lighting system in the dome and main chandelier. The first public performance in the fully renovated auditorium will be Grammy-nominated comedian Jim Gaffigan on Friday, November 2.

Theatre Philadelphia proudly announces the 2018 nominees for the Barrymore Award for Excellence in Theatre. Celebrating the rich, diverse professional theatre scene in the Greater Philadelphia region, the Barrymore Ceremony will be held on Monday, November 5, 2018 at 7:00pm at the Bok Building at 1901 S. 9th Street in South Philadelphia. Guests will continue the festivities with an after-party Celebration at the same location. Tickets for artists, supporters, and the general public start at $50 and are now on sale at www.theatrephiladelphia.org.

Ms. Sarah Dash will premiere her new show, A Tribute To Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul, in three cities this November. This special concert celebration will feature Sarah Dash singing All The Great Aretha Franklin Classics (including Respect, Chain Of Fools, Freeway Of Love, Ain't No Way, Jump To It), and telling inside stories of her friendship with The Queen. Bernard Purdy, who played in Ms. Franklin's band through the years, will be the musical director for Ms. Dash for these performances.

Ms. Sarah Dash will premiere her new show, A Tribute To Aretha Franklin: The Queen Of Soul, in three cities this November. This special concert celebration will feature Sarah Dash singing All The Great Aretha Franklin Classics (including Respect, Chain Of Fools, Freeway Of Love, Ain't No Way, Jump To It), and telling inside stories of her friendship with The Queen. Bernard Purdy, who played in Ms. Franklin's band through the years, will be the musical director for Ms. Dash for these performances.

The Old Globe invites your participation as Globe for All celebrates five years of making theatre matter to more people! This talented company of professional actors will tour Shakespeare's most popular comedy A Midsummer Night's Dream throughout San Diego County to a wide variety of economically, geographically, and culturally diverse communities. The free Globe for All Tour begins Tuesday, October 30 and will visit 17 community partner venues new and old, from Oceanside to the South Bay, from Linda Vista to the Imperial Valley. Patricia McGregor returns to direct her second Globe for All tour, following Measure for Measure in 2016, along with recent critical acclaim for her direction of the world premiere of Lights Out: Nat "King" Cole (People's Light, Geffen Playhouse) and Skeleton Crew (Studio Theatre, Geffen Playhouse).

“Dancing with the Stars” is back with a new, dynamic cast of 13 celebrities who are ready to move out of their comfort zones and hit the ballroom floor on a special two-night premiere. The competition begins with a two-hour season premiere, live, MONDAY, SEPT. 24 (8:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on The ABC Television Network, streaming and on demand. The show will kick off with an exciting opening number featuring the full cast dancing to Erin Boheme's “I Won't Dance,” choreographed by the show's own Emmy®-winning Mandy Moore.

This Friday, September 14th at 7:00pm at Pangea, Downtown's Alternative Supper-Club. Dinner is available before the show. Use "MAC" when you reserve online for a $5 discount here: https://m.bpt.me/event/3594715 Pangea is at 178 Second Avenue in the East Village, between 11th and 12th streets, NYC. Hope to see you there. Tex has written gorgeous arrangements for some lovely songs that aren't heard as often as they should be. And that Scotty is an interesting character who really got around. So, it'll be fun!

People's Light kicks off its 2018/2019 Season with Such Things as Vampires, a highly theatrical folk-punk twist on the Dracula tale. Infused with lilting ballads, rock anthems, and melodious love songs, this concert-theatre event is an irreverent, bloody, and wickedly fun retelling of Bram Stoker's 1897 gothic masterpiece. Such Things as Vampires runs September 20 - October 31 on the Steinbright Stage in Malvern. Tickets range from $30-$50.