Nina Simon News

In honor of THIRTEEN's 50th anniversary on September 16, 2012, the flagship station of PBS is kicking off a year-long celebration the week of September 17-23, 2012 with the premiere of Pioneers of THIRTEEN, a four-part documentary chronicling the growth and breadth of the station's programming over 50 years.

According to The New York Times' Arts Beat blog, Off-Broadway's Soul Doctor is in negotiations to move to Broadway's Circle in the Square Theater or to another Off-Broadway venue at New World Stages.

It may be the final week of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, but the festival isn't winding down when it comes to exciting performances. This week, Lincoln Center celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the landmark Soul at the Center, highlighted by Valerie Simpson's first tribute to her late partner, Nick Ashford, since his passing. The pair that wrote such Motown hits as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)," and "I'm Every Woman," made their performing debut as a duo at Lincoln Center 40 years ago. The Tribute takes place on Friday, August 10 at Damrosch Park.

The classics & jazz concert tonight, August 4 at 8 p.m. and features a fulsome program of beautiful music: Rachmaninoff, Verdi, Menotti, Prokofiev, Chopin, Gershwin, Bernie, Nina Simone and hit melodies like Route 66, The Man I Love, Sweet Georgia Brown, Summertime and Impossible Dream.

There is a love-in going on at the Cleveland Play House's Allen Theatre between Janis Joplin and the audience. Janis Joplin? She's dead. She died in 1970 at the age of 27. You'd never know it from the happenings on the CPH stage. Mary Bridget Davies, who took over the role opening night, doesn't imitate Janis, she is Janis!

Philadelphia native and acclaimed singer Melody Gardot returns to Philadelphia to make her debut at the Merriam Theater on Saturday, September 29 with a performance of works from her third album release, The Absence.

SOUL DOCTOR, the Schlomo Carleback musical, begins performances tonight, July 30th, for three weeks only, and run thru August 19th.

Mezzo-soprano Natalie Bancroft is a distinguished female singer who imbues her vocals with dramatic force. The Italian classical & jazz pianist Raimondo Campisi is an unruly artist with communicable joie de vivre. Together they make music - beautiful music - stuff from the soul.

Nina Simone's story may be headed for the stage; the mononymous Simone, Nina's actress-singer daughter who also serves as the administrator of the Nina Simone estate, tells S2S Magazine that she's considering a play about her late mother.

Independent artists are a cornerstone of the programming at Joe's Pub. Come see what rising singer-songwriters like NYC-locals Annie and the Beekeepers and Brooklyn's Shenandoah and the Night have up their sleeves from now through August.

SOUL DOCTOR, the Schlomo Carleback musical, will begin performances on Monday, July 30th, for three weeks only, and run thru August 19th.

BroadwayWorld.com and Broadway Records are co-sponsoring a liner notes essay contest for the new Jekyll & Hyde studio concept recording. Fans will have the opportunity to submit a 250 to 500 word essay for consideration. Five finalists will be chosen by the staff of BroadwayWorld.com in consultation with Broadway Records. Frank Wildhorn, Constantine Maroulis and Broadway Records will select the Grand Prize Winner who will have his or her liner notes essay will be included in the upcoming recording.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of Roald Dahl's WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. Roald Dahl'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays tonight, July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will welcome back KIM NALLEY - awarded 'Most Influential African American in the Bay Area" - for a special two week engagement from tonight, July 11 to 22.

Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company return to The Joyce Theater for their annual New York season tonight, July 9 through July 14, 2012 with four new company members, new works and new collaborators. This frisson of excitement is the hallmark of the season, which will include two programs.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will welcome four time Grammy nominee Oleta Adams back to the Bay Area in her new show "Get Here." Since the runaway success of her 1990 debut Platinum album Circle of One, and the hit single 'Get Here' (a Brenda Russell composition), Oleta Adams has inspired a growing legion of fans in the U.S. and Europe with journeys of the heart via songs that draw deeply from her roots in gospel, while crossing effortlessly into the realms of soul, R&B, urban, and popular music.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will welcome back KIM NALLEY - awarded 'Most Influential African American in the Bay Area" - for a special two week engagement from July 11 to 22.

Ronald K. Brown and Evidence, A Dance Company return to the Joyce Theater for their annual New York season July 9-14, 2012 with four new company members, new works and new collaborators. This frisson of excitement is the hallmark of the season, which will include two programs.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, will welcome four time Grammy nominee Oleta Adams back to the Bay Area in her new show "Get Here." Since the runaway success of her 1990 debut Platinum album Circle of One, and the hit single 'Get Here' (a Brenda Russell composition), Oleta Adams has inspired a growing legion of fans in the U.S. and Europe with journeys of the heart via songs that draw deeply from her roots in gospel, while crossing effortlessly into the realms of soul, R&B, urban, and popular music.

Berkeley Playhouse closes its 2011-12 main stage season with a delicious adaptation of ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY. Berkeley Playhouse founding Artistic Director Elizabeth McKoy helms this musical treat, based on Roald Dahl's stylish children's story about the world famous candy man, starring noted Bay Area singer/songwriter, musician, and recording artist Vernon Bush in the title role. ROALD DAHL'S WILLY WONKA AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY plays July 14 through August 19 at the Julia Morgan Theatre in Berkeley.