Bessie Smith Videos

An all new trailer has been released for the Tony nominated Broadway musical 'A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN' playing at London's Peacock Theatre for a limited run from August 20th.  Check out the video here!

Jennifer Holliday, the Tony and Grammy Award-winning original star of Dreamgirls, appeared on Tamron Hall for a special performance of “And I’m Telling You I’m Not Going.' Holliday won a Grammy Award for the performance of the show-stopping Dreamgirls song and her Tony Award for Best Actress in a Musical for playing Effie White. Watch the video!

Award-winning Porchlight Music Theatre latest mainstage production the “Best Musical” Tony Award-nominated Blues in the Night, conceived by Sheldon Epps, with the music of Bessie Smith, Johnny Mercer, Harold Arlen, Vernon Duke, Gordon Jenkins, Alberta Hunter and others, is now playing through March 13 at The Ruth Page Center for the Arts, 1016 N. Dearborn St.

Set in 1948 in a Chicago hotel that has seen better days, the interwoven stories of BLUES IN THE NIGHT evoke the misery and humor of life, love and the dogged determination to do more than just survive. The drama reveals itself through glorious songs by Bessie Smith, Duke Ellington, Johnny Mercer, Alberta Hunter, Harold Arlen, Jimmy Cox, Ida Cox and more.

Austin-based duo Pike & Sutton recently announced their new self-titled band project earlier this fall. Led by 'hometown favorites' (Austin American-Statesman) Patrice Pike and Wayne Sutton, the band has evolved out of the longtime alternative rock band Sister 7 and will release their debut full-length Heart Is A Compass in early 2020. To close out the year, they've teamed up with Blues Traveler's John Popper for a reimagined version of Otis Redding and Carla Thomas' classic 'New Year's Resolution.'

BroadwayHD is about to rock 'n' roll! This new year will bring the 48th anniversary of Janis Joplin's untimely death and 50th anniversary celebration for Woodstock, so BroadwayHD is opening the new year by releasing A NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin starring the show's Tony-nominated star Mary Bridget Davies. The cast will also feature Aurianna Angelique, Ashley Támar Davis, Tawny Dolley, Paige McNamara and Jennifer Leigh Warren. This tribute to the iconic rock star will be released on what would have been her 76th birthday, January 19. 

The Wallis production of BLUES IN THE NIGHT, conceived and directed by Sheldon Epps, starts performances next week in the intimate Lovelace Theater! Artistic Director Paul Crewes snuck into rehearsal to chat with cast members Yvette Cason, Bryce Charles, Chester Gregory, and Paulette Ivory about this exciting new production.

Art has a responsibility and so too does the artist - one of the many requirements of art is that it elevates the viewer in some manner - not necessarily in spirit - but definitely in thought. In many ways Franck de las Mercedes embraces this responsibility as his work not only pleases aesthetically, it often teases intellectually. The viewer is often left having to dig deep within de las Mercedes subjects, tunneling with him, in a manner towards what can only be de?ned as the sublime. De las Mercedes, is also an artist that shares his existence with the viewer taking us through the ups and downs of not only his life, but of life in general - thereby adding the understanding of the human condition to his artistic responsibility.

On JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE, Queen talks about playing legendary blues singer Bessie Smith.

The Pasadena Playhouse presents A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. Conceived, written and directed by Randy Johnson, with choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans. A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN stars Mary Bridget Davies, following her Tony Award nominated Broadway run. Pasadena native Kacee Clanton, also from the Broadway production of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, will alternate the role of Janis Joplin with Davies. Check out Mary Bridget Davies and the Joplinaires on Good Day LA! 

Queen Latifah sings the blude in her new film BESSIE. The multi-talented actress and singer, who produced and stars in the new HBO film, stopped by ABC's Good Morning America to talk about the film.

Starring Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah ("Chicago") in the title role, BESSIE focuses on legendary blues singer Bessie Smith's transformation from a struggling young singer into "The Empress of the Blues," one of the most successful recording artists of the 1920s and an enduring icon today. Check out the first trailer for the film below!

The HBO film BESSIE is scheduled to debut SATURDAY, MAY 16 at 8:00 p.m. (ET/PT) on HBO. This marks a return to the network for Oscar® nominee Queen Latifah following her Golden Globe- and SAG Award-winning performance in HBO Films' “Life Support.”

Today we continue our Tonys coverage with Mary Bridget Davies, a nominee for Best Leading Actress in a Musical for A Night with Janis Joplin, who chats about the honor of bringing Janis back to the stage, getting to take a group picture with her fellow nominees, and more. Check out what she had to say below!

'Dreamgirls' star Jennifer Holliday stopped by ABC's THE VIEW and performed a song from her new solo album, 'The Song is You.' Check out the appearance below!

On January 21, 2014, Shanachie Entertainment/Euphonic Records will release Jennifer Holliday's highly anticipated label debut, The Song Is You, an enchanting collection of R&B and Jazz numbers that showcase Holliday at her best. Listen to a sampling of the album below!

Mary Bridget Davies, star of the new Broadway musical A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, appeared on ABC's "World News Now" late last night. In a backstage interview, she chatted about preparing for the role of a lifetime and teaching Broadway audiences through her performance about the blues singers who influenced Janis's music so deeply. Check out her interview below!

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical, performed live on "THE WENDY WILLIAMS SHOW" on Tuesday, December 10. Mary Bridget Davies, critically acclaimed for her portrayal of Janis, was joined by Taprena Michelle Augustine,De'Adre Aziza, Nikki Kimbrough, and NaTasha Yvette Williams as Aretha Franklin to perform the show-stopping Act One finale "Spirit in the Dark." Check out their performance below!

Mary Bridget Davies of A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN, the new Broadway musical, performed live on FOX5's "Good Day New York" this morning, November 14. Davies wowed co-hosts Greg Kelly and Rosanna Scott with stories of growing up on Janis's music and a live in-studio performance of "Me and Bobby McGee' - check out her interview and peformance below!

A NIGHT WITH Janis Joplin began previews on September 20 and opened on Thursday night, October 10 at the Lyceum Theatre (149 W. 45th Street). BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was on hand for the opening night after party to chat with the full company and you can check out what they had to say below!