Stevie Wonder News

On last night's Jimmy Kimmel Live, Lionel Richie talks about his Hand and Footprint Ceremony at the Chinese Theatre that Jimmy hosted last week, embarrassing his kids, receiving a Kennedy Center Honor, and working on a song with Stevie Wonder. He also reveals why you should never vacation with Kenny Rogers, and talks about getting pranked by Katy Perry and Luke Bryan.

The Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts announces the cast for its upcoming production of Blues in the Night.  Conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, the production will feature Yvette Cason (Shout Sister Shout, Broadway and film versions of Dreamgirls), Bryce Charles (The Book of Mormon, ABC's "Black-ish"), Paulette Ivory (Disney's Aida and the West End premieres of The Lion King and Blues in the Night) and Chester Gregory (Broadway's Motown: The Musical, Hairspray and  Sister Act).  Blues in the Night will begin performances April 27 through May 20 in the Lovelace Studio Theater.

The Grammy-nominated Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, which captures the infectious fun of big band music, will perform at the Younes and Soraya Nazarian Center for the Performing Arts (The Soraya) on Thursday, April 5 at 8:00pm.  Jazz Times called the Los Angeles-based band, with a 32-year history, "one of current jazz's most vital large ensemble." Co-founder bassist John Clayton is a CSUN alumnus who has gone on to play with superstars such as Michael Jackson, Patti LaBelle and Madonna.

Motown the Musical is a musical unlike any other. The history of Motown Records takes place between 1957 and 1983. Audience members will recognize the music whether they were a part of this time period or not. I was born in 1996 and went into the production not knowing the history of Motown Records, but I could name a number of the songs included. On the other hand, there were audience members who were singing along to the entire musical and remembered moments from it. As an audience member who did not know the history of Motown, the production opened my eyes to the impact the music has had. A musical that brings generations together through music, history, and unity of humankind.

"Reach out and touch somebody's hand, make this world a better place if you can." With its incredible opportunities for audience participation, the cast of Motown the Musical did just that at their performance on March 7th. Stopping for one night in Jackson, Mississippi, the tour made the world a better place for the theatre-goers in the audience of Thalia Mara Hall.

Today, Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) and the Santa Rosa Symphony announced the lineup for the 2018-19 Symphony Pops Series, to be presented in the Ruth Finley Person Theater at Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa). Now in its 14th year, the Sunday afternoon concert series introduces audiences to the great depth and range of sounds of the Santa Rosa Symphony and acclaimed soloists, through the music of legendary Motown artists, dynamic divas, and tributes to pop sensations.

El ensemble de la produccion de MOTOWN en el West End de Londres cuenta con la excepcional participacion de nuestra Mireia Mambo, que vuelve a la capital britanica tras protagonizar varios musicales de exito en nuestro pais.

Sara Bareilles Earns Songwriters Hall of Fame's 2018 Hal David Starlight Award

The Downtown Cabaret Children's Theatre has adults and children laughing with a highly entertaining musical adaptation of GOLDILOCKS, starring five cast members who truly get to shine in a show that I highly recommend to all ages.

The Old Globe will celebrate in style at the 2018 Globe Gala on Saturday, September 22, in support of the theatre's arts engagement and artistic programs. The glamorous annual event will feature an exclusive, one-night-only performance by the incomparable Andra Day. Karen Cohn, Nina Doede, andSheryl White serve as Co-Chairs.

Billboard Chart Topping Soul Singer-Songwriter-Actor and Los Angeles Native Phillip Brandon to open for 10-time Grammy(R) Award Winning THE MANHATTAN TRANSFER at The Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills, March 9 at 8 p.m. Celebrating their 45th anniversary in 2017, The Manhattan Transfer continues to set the standard as one of the worlds greatest and most innovative vocal groups.

In celebration of their 35th year producing award-winning entertainment for thousands of visitors a year, Newport Playhouse and Cabaret Restaurant, 102 Connell Highway, Newport, is thrilled to announce the reopening of their newly renovated dining room and their upcoming season of comedic plays. Tickets for the 2018 lineup of shows are on sale now and start at $49.95 per person, which includes dinner buffet, full-length play, and post-show cocktail cabaret. Purchase online at www.newportplayhouse.com or by calling (401) 848-7529 (PLAY).

Taiko is an ancient Japanese art form, but Taikoproject artists aren't purists. The premier drumming ensemble performs a passionate, fluid, and fiery show, a thrill with every beat, Friday, March 9, in the Atwood Concert Hall, and next week in local schools, presented by the Anchorage Concert Association.

Blue Note Hawaii welcomes some of music's most renowned artists this month, continuing the Hawaii News Now Jazz Legends series with Tony and GRAMMY (R) Award-winning jazz vocalist Dee Dee Bridgewater and epic drummer Billy Cobham. Jazz virtuoso guitarist Earl Klugh returns, jazz fusion saxophonist Boney James and reggae giants Big Mountain close the month. Local artists this month include Kuana Torres Kahele, Josh Kaye and Friends featuring Riya Davis in a tribute to Jill Scott, a tribute to the Miles Davis First Great Quintet with DeShannon Higa & QuadPod, Amy Hanaiali'i, and a tribute to Antonio Carlos Jobim with Sandy Tsukiyama and friends. Mike Lewis will present tribute shows to Duke Ellington and Natalie Cole featuring songstress Ginai and John Kolivas will host a tribute to the music of Stevie Wonder. The genre-bending Augie Rey makes his Blue Note Hawaii debut and Tavana returns to the stage by popular demand.

Ledisi will bring her Let Love Rule Tour to the Peace Center on Wednesday, May 30, at 7:30 p.m., with special guests Melanie Fiona and Tweet.

Those who have made significant contributions to the arts in a variety of categories will be recognized for their achievements in enriching the communities and citizens of Utah at the 13th Annual Star Awards held Saturday, March 10, 2018 at the SCERA Center for the Arts in Orem. 

The Apollo Theater in collaboration with The Atlantic announced that Oscar-winning actress Lupita Nyong'o will join her Marvel Studios' BLACK PANTHER co-star Chadwick Boseman for a sold-out conversation about the film, taking place tomorrow, Tuesday, February 27 at 7:30PM EST at the Apollo. In addition to providing hundreds of free tickets to a number of Harlem organizations and their constituencies, the event will be live-streamed by the Apollo, The Atlantic, and AFROPUNK—making the conversation available to fans and audiences worldwide.

As Black Panther continues to land rapturous praise and smash box office records in its opening days, the Apollo Theater in collaboration with The Atlantic will present a discussion about the film with its star Chadwick Boseman in conversation with The Atlantic's national correspondent and author Ta-Nehisi Coates. The event will take place on Tuesday, February 27 at 7:30PM EST at the Apollo.

NEIL BERG'S 50 YEARS OF ROCK 'N' ROLL at Rockland Community College

Berkshire Theatre Group welcomes five-time Grammy Award-winning acappella ensemble, Ladysmith Black Mambazo to The Colonial Theatre on Friday, March 9 at 8pm.