Aretha Franklin News

Based on Stephen King's bestselling novel of the same name, THE OUTSIDER is a new drama series that explores the investigation into the gruesome murder of a local boy and the mysterious force surrounding the case.

The powerhouse singer that she is, Ledisi takes on the songs of legendary Nina Simone, honors them and makes them uniquely her own in LEDISI: THE LEGEND OF LITTLE GIRL BLUE (A MUSICAL JOURNEY INTO THE LIVES OF NINA SIMONE AND LEDISI), opening at The Wallis December 13, 2019. Transcending a wide range of musical genres, Ledisi will take you on her own path of musical discoveries, while describing the influence Ms. Nina Simone has made on her. Ledisi ever so graciously blocked open some time to answer a few of my tuneful queries.

Urban Stages (Frances Hill, Founding Artistic Director and Tom Toce , Musical Director) announces the line-up for this year's award-winning series, WINTER RHYTHMS 2019, which will begin Wednesday, December 11 featuring some of New York's best musical performances through Saturday, December 21, 2019 at Urban Stages Theatre (259 West 30th St., East of 8th Ave.)

See the first image of Tony Award-winner, Cynthia Erivo, as soul legend, Aretha Franklin on the next installment of the National Geographic series, Genius!

The incomparable Darlene Love returns to Kean Stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14 to perform Love for the Holidays, a Christmas show like no other. The event will take place at Wilkins Theatre, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, N.J. on Kean University's main campus.

Boyd Gaming destinations across the Las Vegas Valley are hosting New Year's Eve celebrations, featuring top live entertainment on Tuesday, Dec. 31. Guests must be 21 years of age or older to attend the events below.

The incomparable Darlene Love returns to Kean Stage at 7:30 p.m. on Saturday, December 14 to perform Love for the Holidays, a Christmas show like no other. The event will take place at Wilkins Theatre, 1000 Morris Ave., Union, N.J. on Kean University's main campus.

Hot on the heels of her breakthrough jazz EP, Smoky Nights, internationally acclaimed singer-songwriter Jennifer Saran is revving up holiday spirits with a smashing new single, “(Don't Let It Be) a Sad Ol' Christmas,” to be released December 6 on Tarpan Records.

BroadwayWorld caught up with Nya and Dusty Ray Bottoms, who recently starred in CLEOPATRA at Chelsea Music Hall, about the cast recording; what the legendary Queen of the Nile has taught them about confidence; and their favorite show memories.

 'Surely, you can't be serious!' In 2020, 14 of movie history's greatest romances, funniest comedies, scariest monsters, boldest visions, ultimate adventures, and most unforgettable dramas will be back in movie theaters across the country as Fathom Events and Turner Classic Movies present the fourth annual, yearlong TCM Big Screen Classics series.

Georgia Ensemble Theatre (GET), the professional North Fulton theatre company, kicks off the new year with SHE ROCKS: Tara Vaughan's The Women of Rock. This concert experience will run January 2nd a?" 19th, 2020, Wednesdays through Sundays, at the company's home in the Roswell Cultural Arts Center. Back in 2016, GET brought in the hugely popular Yesterday and Today: The Interactive Beatles Experience, which is the same band that will back up Tara Vaughan for this phenomenal show. Northside Hospital, long-time partner of GET and supporter of the community, will sponsor the production.

City Winery Chicago, 1200 W. Randolph Street, announces world-renowned violinist Damien Escobar, American Idol runner-up David Archuleta, three-time Grammy winner Taj Mahal, and more. The following shows go on sale to the public on Friday, December 6 at noon. Tickets will be available at citywinery.com/chicago.

Damien Sneed's 40+-City North American tour, 'We Shall Overcome: A Celebration of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.' tour kicks off at Joe's Pub in New York, NY on Tuesday, January 14, 2020, at 9:30 p.m. Presented by IMG Artists, today's leading global performing arts management agency, the tour will make stops at concert halls and universities in the U.S. and Canada. For a complete list of the tour dates, click HERE.

Three-time Grammy Award-winning singer-songwriter, New York Times best-selling poet, and critically acclaimed actor Jill Scott will bring her 20th Anniversary Tour to the Fabulous Fox Theatre on Sunday, February 9 at 7:30 p.m. Before having the #1 album in the country with 'The Light of The Sun', performing at The White House, being named People Magazine's Top TV Breakout Star of 2010 and appearing on VH1 Divas alongside Aretha Franklin, the triple threat began her career collaborating with musical icons, The Roots, Will Smith, and Common in the late 90s. In 2000, she released her much anticipated debut record, Who is Jill Scott? Words & Sounds, Vol. 1, a double platinum album that earned Scott several Grammy nominations, including Best New Artist. Two more critically acclaimed albums followed, Beautifully Human: Words & Sounds, Vol. 2 and The Real Thing: Words & Sounds, Vol. 3 which garnered two more Grammy Awards and spawned multiple worldwide tours.

Actor / comedian Rhonda 'Passion' Hansome, (SiriusXM 'John Fugelsang's Tell Me Everythinga??) will join actor/producer/vocalist Rome Neal for a night of jazz and jokes at his next a?oeBanana Pudding Jazz Jama?? scheduled for Saturday, December 7, 2019 at the Nuyorican Poets Café in Manhattan.

A new curator has stepped into the spotlight for Centaur Theatre's Wildside Festival, the boundary-blasting showcase of independent works from Quebec and beyond, appropriately billed as the a?oehottest two weeks of wintera??. For the 2020 edition, Rose Plotek, the former Associate Director of the National Theatre School's Directing Program, has selected eight trailblazing works, including Centaur's choice for the Best of the 2019 Fringe Festival, Vancouver's Multiple Organism.

The Fourth Annual DangerMan Hero Award Show and Concert will be super special this year! Among the numerous honorees for the night being acknowledged for their community activism are two celebrated thespians who have portrayed history making superheroes on television. Actors Carl Lumbly, the star of 'M.A.N.T.I.S.' the first primetime African-American superhero on network television and CBS 'All Rise' star Simone Missick, TV's first black female superhero Misty Knight on Marvel's 'Luke Cage,' will be celebrated alongside nine additional illustrious recipients. The occasion is produced by actor, mentor and philanthropist Roger I. Tinsley, the founder of the DangerMan Urban Superhero brand and CEO/President of the DangerMan Education Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501(c)(3) organization. The show will take place at the California African American Museum located at 600 State Drive in Los Angeles. The red carpet and VIP Reception start at 5:30 pm with the concert and show starting at 6:45 p.m. and ending at 10:00 p.m., on Saturday, December 7, 2019. Aetna Foundation is the event sponsor.

Kimberly Scott has joined Liesl Tommy's Aretha Franklin biopic “Respect,” playing “Mama Franklin” opposite Jennifer Hudson and Forest Whitaker.