Vanessa Williams News

Singer/Actress Frenchie Davis brings her brash wit and iconic vocal style to The Copa in Palm Springs for two intimate performances, January 16 and 17 at 8:00 pm. Davis auditioned for the second season of the groundbreaking FOX show "American Idol" and her tremendous success on the show launched a career that has taken her to Broadway (Rent, Dreamgirls and eventually becoming a Grammy-nominated artist for the revival of Ain't Misbehavin') and, perhaps, her highest profile gig as one of the top four finalists in the first season of The Voice. Her cover of 'When Love Takes Over' landed at #3 on the iTunes Dance Chart. I had the chance to chat with French as she was preparing for her Palm Springs engagement. Here are a few excerpts from the conversation:

Poway OnStage is elated to participate as a featured stop in the Upright & Grand Piano Festival presented by The San Diego Symphony on January 15th, 2016 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts (15498 Espola Rd Poway, California). The evening will include a presentation of Liszt's Black Gondola, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1, and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5: Emperor, led by conductor Cristian Macelaru. The performance will feature renowned and award-winning pianist Jeremy Denk.

BROAD CITY is back bb! Season three of the hit Comedy Central series returns with ten all-new episodes beginning on Wednesday, February 17 at 10:00 p.m. ET/PT.

Broadway's Darling N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical and Sondheim and Sondheim) will bring Motown hits and more in a series of performances and master classes on Monday, January 11, 2016 at the Cranbrook Academy of Art.

Poway OnStage is elated to participate as a featured stop in the Upright & Grand Piano Festival presented by The San Diego Symphony on January 15th, 2016 at the Poway Center for the Performing Arts (15498 Espola Rd Poway, California). The evening will include a presentation of Liszt's Black Gondola, Shostakovich's Symphony No. 1, and Beethoven's Piano Concerto No. 5: Emperor, led by conductor Cristian Macelaru. The performance will feature renowned and award-winning pianist Jeremy Denk.

INSPIRATIONAL BROADWAY - an evening of Broadway, R&B, Gospel, and Pop classics featuring Broadway's brightest lights and an ensemble of uplifting voices - has added special guest stars Adam Pascal, Eden Espinosa, Telly Leung and Jarrod Spector. The concert takes place at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on February 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM). Michael McElroy and The Broadway Inspirational Voices will be joined by previously-announced performers Billy Porter, Renee Elise Goldsberry, Joshua Henry and Marcus Paul James. The music will be performed with the signature soul and innovative musical arrangements of the Grammy-nominated Broadway Inspirational Voices. This event will help benefit the BIV Outreach Program. Tickets begin at $30, and can be purchased by visiting http://www.bbkingblues.com.

INSPIRATIONAL BROADWAY -- an evening of Broadway, R&B, Gospel, and Pop classics featuring four of Broadway's brightest lights and an ensemble of uplifting voices -- will debut at B.B. King Blues Club & Grill on February 15, 2016 at 7:30 PM (Doors at 6:00 PM).

Encores! Artistic Director Jack Viertel today announced the creative teams for New York City Center's 2016 Encores! season. J. Bernard Calloway, Chuck Cooper, Marva Hicks, Carly Hughes, LaChanze, Norm Lewis, Forrest McClendon, and J.D. Webster will star in Vernon Duke and John Latouche's jazz?filled fable Cabin in the Sky, running for seven performances at City Center from February 10-14. The 1940 musical will be directed by Tony Award winner Ruben Santiago?Hudson with choreography by Camille A. Brown.

Sunday, December 6, 2015 at 7:00PM at the Peabody Opera House in St. Louis, the stage will be electric with the one-and-only Motown icon Smokey Robinson and 'best male classical crossover artist,' Mario Frangoulis will share their talent in support of putting an end to veteran homelessness. The Voices for Veterans St. Louis concert is made possible with the generous support of Boeing Defense and Ameren Missouri, and is presented by Give US Your Poor, Eisenhower Fellows of St. Louis and Attila Glatz Concert Productions.

There will be some happy fans after tonight's episode of THE GOOD WIFE. No doubt there will be some unhappy ones too, given the subject matter - even if one of the show's rarely used viewer warnings was deployed in advance of 'Restraint'. The happiness will come from seeing Christine Baranksi get to own the hour, after a mostly Diane-lite start to the season.

Known for her powerful and riveting vocals, Broadway's Darling N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical and Sondheim on Sondheim) will grace the stage in Classic FM's Four Decades of Radio Hits show with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, under the direction of conductor, Jack Everly for two days dedicated to the best-of-the best from the FM radio dial, Today, November 20 (11:00am/8:00pm) and Saturday, November 21 (8:00pm), 2015.

Signature Theatre just announced a second one-week extension for INCIDENT AT VICHY, by Arthur Miller and directed by Michael Wilson, due to its sold-out run. INCIDENT AT VICHY will now play through Sunday, December 20, 2015 in The Irene Diamond Stage at The Pershing Square Signature Center (480 West 42nd Street between 9th and 10th Avenues). Check out photos from opening night below!

Broadway veteran, Billboard dance sensation and People Magazine's first-ever gay 'Hottest Bachelor' Matt Zarley has received critical acclaim as an LGBT artist for over a decade since his debut on the music scene. As one of the first openly gay male artists in music, a lot has changed in the world for the LGBT community. In his latest endeavor, hopefulROMANTIC, Zarley has created an original musical film about one man's emotional journey through love, heartbreak, and healing. It's a universal story about loving, letting go, and holding onto faith that there's somebody for everybody. In addition, the film also features film and TV icon, "Star Trek" star and LGBT activist, George Takei. The project consists of not only the film but, the original soundtrack and pop album titled 'hopefulROMANTIC - The Deluxe Edition', featuring new, acoustic renditions of songs featured in the film, as well as a bonus video duet with Jeb Havens - available on October 16, 2015.

There's just too much craziness in this world. So says Alicia Florrick tonight, and boy, ain't that the truth. Sometimes - unlike the real-life, tragic events of this past weekend - the craziness can be fun. Tilt-a-whirly. Unexpected and delirious. Like being on a ride someone else designed, so you just get to let go - and have fun. 

On the next episode of CBS's THE GOOD WIFE titled "Driven," Alicia and Lucca join a case involving an automotive executive represented by Lockhart, Agos & Lee.

Michael McElroy and the Broadway Inspirational Voices (BIV) are welcomed back to First Corinthian Baptist Church for their holiday concert, HOW GREAT OUR JOY, on Monday December 14th at 7:00pm. The concert will feature music from their upcoming album Great Joy II: Around the World, with members from such shows as: HAMILTON, ON YOUR FEET!, THE LION KING, THE COLOR PURPLE, BOOK OF MORMON, FUN HOME, KINKY BOOTS and ALADDIN.

On Monday, December 14 at 7:00 p.m., Carnegie Hall presents Sting in his highly acclaimed concert Symphonicities in a one-night-only gala benefit concert with Orchestra of St. Luke's conducted by Rob Mathes.