President Obama News

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns to the elegant Allen Room in January for its fourteenth season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 16 nights the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting. Week One of the 2012 season will start off with a relatively new composer on the scene, multiple Tony-winning Lin-Manuel Miranda (In the Heights) who will be bringing his new rap composition about American historical figure Alexander Hamilton called The Hamilton Mixtape. Next up is the just-nominated-for-a-Grammy Award duo Chris Thile and Michael Daves, who play a dazzling, modern form of bluegrass that nonetheless references legendary bluegrass artists from the past. From the rock canon will be J.D. Souther, performing songs he wrote for Linda Ronstadt and the Eagles as well as newer compositions. To close out Week One, composer William Finn (Falsettos, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), along with guest vocalists, will be performing a song cycle inspired by the poetry of William Blake.

Hottest Articles on BroadwayWorld.com from this weekend Sunday, December 4, 2011 - Sunday, December 4, 2011.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this year honors singer Barbara Cook, singer and songwriter Neil Diamond, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins, and actress Meryl Streep as their 2011 honorees. The special broadcast of the gala will air on December 27 on CBS. BroadwayWorld is excited to present special video coverage of Broadway's own Barbara Cook and more... Here is what President Obama had to say.

The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts this year honors singer Barbara Cook, singer and songwriter Neil Diamond, cellist Yo-Yo Ma, saxophonist and composer Sonny Rollins, and actress Meryl Streep as their 2011 honorees. The special broadcast of the gala will air on December 27 on CBS. BroadwayWorld is excited to present special photos and coverage of Broadway's own Barbara Cook and more... Here is what President Obama had to say.

Jessye Norman is "one of those once-in-a-generation singers who is not simply following in the footsteps of others, but is staking out her own niche in the history of singing". This rich history continues to be made when she visits Australia in 2012 for a recital tour, accompanied by the acclaimed pianist Mark Markham.

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the new CD from GEORGIA STITT, the award winning and critically acclaimed composer and lyricist.

The Venetian® and The Palazzo® Las Vegas are thrilled to announce Grammy-nominated and platinum recording artist Jordin Sparks will perform live during the kick-off ceremony for Winter in VeniceTM, the first true celebration of the holiday season on the Las Vegas Strip. The complimentary festive event will take place on Monday, Nov. 21 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the front exterior of The Venetian and open to the public.

Lehmann Maupin Gallery is delighted to announce its participation in Art Basel Miami Beach with a booth presentation of works by artists Hernan Bas, Billy Childish, Mary Corse, Tracey Emin, Teresita Fernández, Klara Kristalova, Angel Otero, Tony Oursler, Do Ho Suh, Juergen Teller, Mickalene Thomas, Nari Ward, and Erwin Wurm.

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the new CD from GEORGIA STITT, the award winning and critically acclaimed composer and lyricist. My Lifelong Love features thirteen of Stitt's original songs performed by some of the entertainment industry's most exciting singers, including Jesse Tyler Ferguson (TV's 'Modern Family,' The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee), Anika Noni Rose (The Princess and the Frog, Dreamgirls, TV's 'The Good Wife'), Brian d'Arcy James (TV's 'Smash,' Shrek, Titanic), Susan Egan (Beauty And The Beast, Thoroughly Modern Millie), Shoshana Bean (Wicked, Hairspray), Heidi Blickenstaff ([title of show], The Addams Family), Laura Osnes (Anything Goes, Bonnie and Clyde), Christopher Jackson (In The Heights, TV's 'The Electric Company'), Michael Arden (Bare, Source Code), jazz duo Jessica Molaskey and John Pizzarelli, Kate Baldwin (Finian's Rainbow) and Michael McElroy (Rent, Broadway Inspirational Voices). The recording will be available on November 29, 2011. You can pre-order the album at http://sh-k-boom.com/georgiastitt.shtml.

SH-K-BOOM RECORDS will release the new CD from GEORGIA STITT, the award winning and critically acclaimed composer and lyricist.

Described by the New York Times as 'a Fab Five peddling Celtic stylings,' CELTIC THUNDER consists of five dashing, talented Irishmen whose specials have been a popular staple on Public Television.

The Connecticut Forum and The Bushnell Center for the Performing Arts will celebrate 20 years of Forum events at The Bushnell March 16, 2012 at 7 p.m.

Pioneer, innovator and the voice of an entire new musical theatre generation coming in the dawning of the age of GLEE, Tony Award recipient and Grammy-winning composer, lyricist and performer Lin-Manuel Miranda has merged the worlds of the two most significant of original American art forms - musicals and rap - in such a striking and surprisingly inventive way with his hit musical IN THE HEIGHTS - currently touring the country - and is setting out to do the same with his fresh collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning NEXT TO NORMAL composer Tom Kitt on their new musical BRING IT ON!, currently in previews out of town in Los Angeles as it eyes New York. In addition to discussing the development of IN THE HEIGHTS and BRING IT ON! in detail, Miranda and I also outline his experience working alongside the two modern-day masters of the musical theatre - Stephen Sondheim and the recently deceased Arthur Laurents - on the Spanish translation and new lyrics for the recent bilingual revival of WEST SIDE STORY - in addition to his forthcoming ALEXANDER HAMILTON project, which Miranda recently performed a medley from for President Obama himself at the White House Poetry Jam. As if all of that were not enough, we also delve into his thought process as he sets out to take on one of Sondheim's most challenging roles in all of musical theatre - that of Charley Kringas in MERRILY WE ROLL ALONG at Encores!, under the direction of James Lapine. Plus, news on his new feature film THE ODD LIFE OF TIMOTHY GREEN, as well as recollections of his fondest Broadway shows, scores, cast albums, movie musicals and general musical and theatrical inspirations - and his favorite Shakespeare plays, too - as well as much, much more!

The Venetian® and The Palazzo® Las Vegas are thrilled to announce Grammy-nominated and platinum recording artist Jordin Sparks will perform live during the kick-off ceremony for Winter in VeniceTM, the first true celebration of the holiday season on the Las Vegas Strip. The complimentary festive event will take place on Monday, Nov. 21 from 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the front exterior of The Venetian and open to the public.

Student representatives from two New York City youth organizations--the Young People's Chorus of New York City under Artistic Director/Founder Francisco J. Núñez, and the Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History--will be presented with a 2011 National Arts and Humanities Youth Program Award by First Lady Michelle Obama at a White House ceremony today.

The award-winning Equity professional East Lynne Theater Company has received its third grant in three years from Target Department Stores, funding from which goes exclusively to help to fund an artist-in residence program.

Lincoln Center's acclaimed series American Songbook returns to the elegant Allen Room in January for its fourteenth season celebrating the diversity of American popular song. For 16 nights the series will explore the best of the golden age of musical standards through to today's most dynamic songwriting. The music of Broadway, Latin culture and hip-hop, bluegrass, rock, and pop will be presented, along with three evenings devoted to great American composers and lyricists. The 2012 season - January 11 through February 11 - will bring to the stage some of today's most gifted interpreters of song, including Tony Award winners Laura Benanti, Michael Cerveris, and LaChanze, as well as the 'Queen of British Musicals,' the great Elaine Paige.

THE TOWN HALL'S Seventh Annual Broadway Cabaret Festival concluded with A TRIBUTE TO Judy Garland AND THE ART OF AMERICAN DANCE on Friday, October 28th. Produced by The Town Hall,, the festival wass created, written and hosted by Scott Siegel. The evening was also co-hosted by Lorna Luft, Susan Stroman.

Rep Stage, the professional Equity theatre in residence at Howard Community College (HCC), continues its 19th season with William Luce's 'Barrymore,' directed by Steven Carpenter ('Hysteria,' 'Mrs. Farnsworth').