Nina Simon News

This fall Shoshana Bush will appear in her East Coast album release show for 'Shoshana Bush and Friends - Live at Catalina Jazz Club' at a venue TBD. In the meantime, she will host Birdland's Jazz Party on June 2nd from 6-7:15pm (doors5:00pm). Birdland is located at 315 West 44th Street, NYC between 8th and 9th Avenues.

Soul Doctor: Journey of a Rock-Star Rabbi, which tells the true story of the beloved and controversial father of popular Jewish music, Shlomo Carlebach, will open at Broadway's Circle in the Square Theatre this summer. The musical will begin previews on July 17 and open on August 15. Casting has not yet been announced.

Theatre Communications Group (TCG), the national organization for theatre, announces its finalized speaker line-up for the 23rd annual TCG National Conference in Dallas from June 6 to 8, 2013. The line-up includes Ayad Akhtar, winner of the 2013 Pulitzer Prize for Drama, and national theatre legend Adrian Hall. This convening will bring hundreds of theater practitioners together from around the world for plenary speakers, breakout sessions, workshops and performances; as well as a chance to explore the Dallas-Fort Worth theatre community.

Earlier today, Broadway actor/singer and Epic Records recording artist Morgan James (Motown: The Musical, Godspell, The Addams Family, her recent debut CD release 'Morgan James Live, a celebration of Nina Simone"), Tony Award winner Nikki M. James (The Book of Mormon), Tony Award nominee Judy Kuhn (Passion, Les Miserables, Chess, Rags, Sunset Boulevard, the upcoming album "All This Happiness"), six-time Emmy Award-winner Bruce Vilanch (TV's "Hollywood Squares," Broadway's Hairspray) previewed their upcoming 54 Below shows. Check out a photo preview from the festivities below!

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond. 54 Below also launched its series of late night events. Joining Tuesday nights' popular "Backstage" with Susie Mosher is "54 Piano Bar," a new vocal competition - 'The Callback," and more:

Broadway's Morgan James will return to 54 Below with songs from her debut recording on Epic Records, Morgan James Live: A Celebration of Nina Simone.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater has confirmed eight bands for the Joe's Pub Stage at the just-announced and second annual Great GoogaMooga. The three-day outdoor food, drink and music festival is produced by Superfly Presents and will take place Friday, May 17 through Sunday, May 19, 2013 in Brooklyn's Prospect Park. The Joe's Pub Stage will host eight performances on Saturday, May 18 and Sunday, May 19.

As America prepares to commemorate the 80 th birthday of Willie Nelson on April 29 th, the country music icon will be celebrated as Artist of the Month for April, 2013 by Legacy Recordings, a division of SONY MUSIC ENTERTAINMENT.

Frederick Douglass is recognized as one of the greatest American anti-slavery leaders of the 1800s. Eloquent, smart and determined, Douglass gained fame as a speaker, began his own anti-slavery publications, and became a 'conductor' on the Underground Railroad. Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland in 1838, The exact date of Douglass' birth is unknown. He chose to celebrate it on February 14. Join African Burial Ground National Monument for our first-ever celebration of the life of Frederick Douglass today, February 14, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

Frederick Douglass is recognized as one of the greatest American anti-slavery leaders of the 1800s. Eloquent, smart and determined, Douglass gained fame as a speaker, began his own anti-slavery publications, and became a 'conductor' on the Underground Railroad. Douglass was born into slavery in Maryland in 1838, The exact date of Douglass' birth is unknown. He chose to celebrate it on February 14. Join African Burial Ground National Monument for our first-ever celebration of the life of Frederick Douglass on Thursday, February 14, 2013, from 10:00 a.m. until 4:00 p.m.

THE JOHN MILLER QUARTET PLUS 2 will debut at The Cutting Room on Friday, February 1 for two shows after an unprecedented 21 week-run at the New York nightclub 54 Below. There will be performances at 10:00 PM and 11:30 PM. John Miller - the music and theater industry veteran best known as a bassist and music coordinator - brings together an all-star group of Broadway musicians who get together after the curtain falls to play their deep-groove favorites. In addition to Miller on bass, the show will feature Larry Saltzman on Guitar (Simon and Garfunkel, Carole King, Bette Midler, Chris Botti), John Korba on Piano (Hall & Oates, Phoebe Snow, Carly Simon, John Waite), Clint DeGanon on Drums (Stuff, Kid Rock, Elvis Costello, Saturday Night Live Band), David Mann on Tenor Sax (Tower of Power, James Taylor, Paul Simon, Stevie Wonder), and Joe Passaro on Percussion (Aretha Franklin, Manhattan Transfer, Nina Simone, Donald Fagen). The Cutting Room is located at 44 East 32nd Street between Madison and Park Avenues.

Each week Joe's Pub at The Public presents some of New York City's most eclectic programming ranging from world to classical, pop, singer-songwriter, jazz and more. At the center of Joe's Pub's genre-blind booking is The Public Theater's mission to bring world-class performance to New York City's diverse cultural community.

Broadway's Morgan James brought to 54 Below her smoky and soulful renditions of songs from her debut CD 'Morgan James Live: A Celebration of Nina Simone,' as well Motown tunes (an ode to her next stint on Broadway this spring!) and a glimpse of her upcoming studio album, on January 12. View photos from the concert below!

A HANDFUL OF KEYS, one of South Africa's most successful two-hander musical revues, will premiere on Off-Broadway at the Theatre at St. Peter's (home of Drama Desk Award-winning theater group York Theatre Company) tonight, January 14 and will run until the next day, January 15; both performances will start at 7:30 p.m.

Broadway's Morgan James will bring to 54 Below her smoky and soulful renditions of songs from her debut CD 'Morgan James Live: A Celebration of Ninan Simone', as well as a sampling of tunes you've not yet heard from her, including Motown tunes (an ode to her next stint on Broadway this spring!) and a glimpse of her upcoming studio album, tonight, January 12, 2013 at 11 p.m. (doors at 10 p.m.).

A HANDFUL OF KEYS, one of South Africa's most successful two-hander musical revues, will premiere on Off-Broadway at the Theatre at St. Peter's (home of Drama Desk Award-winning theater group York Theatre Company) on Monday, January 14 and will run until the next day, January 15; both performances will start at 7:30 p.m.

Below, THE PIRATES! BAND OF MISFITS director Peter Lord who was nominated for a Best Animated Feature Film Academy Award this morning reacts to the news.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz and beyond, featuring Tony Award and Golden Globe winner Linda Lavin, BACKSTAGE, Tony nominee Sally Mayes and award-winning jazz singer/songwriter Mark Winkler, award-winning singer Amber Martin, Sondheim Unplugged, musical legend Darlene Love, The Broadway Boys, Broadway star Morgan James and Night of Stars!

Broadway's Morgan James will bring to 54 Below her smoky and soulful renditions of songs from her debut CD 'Morgan James Live: A Celebration of Ninan Simone', as well as a sampling of tunes you've not yet heard from her, including Motown tunes (an ode to her next stint on Broadway this spring!) and a glimpse of her upcoming studio album, on January 12, 2013.

En route to Broadway, Soul Doctor: Journey of a Rock-Star Rabbi is currently playing in Florida. It was previously announced that Mike Burstyn would replace Gary Morris in the production. The new musical tells the true story of the beloved and controversial father of popular Jewish music, Shlomo Carlebach.