Aretha Franklin News

Carnegie Hall's 2019a?"2020 season is upon us, and we are looking forward to a variety of exceptional programming and exciting new projects. A major programming highlight to note for this fall, Carnegie Hall has invited Grammy Award-winning singer Angélique Kidjo to chart the journey of African music and culture around the world for her season-long Perspectives series with four concerts including: Benin International Musical; a concert dedicated to the powerful voices of the African diaspora led by musical director Terence Blanchard featuring The E-Collective; guitarist Lionel Loueke and his trio; and a special concert marking both Ms. Kidjo's 60th birthday and the anniversary of independence for Benin and 16 other West African countries.

The 2019 National Black Theatre Festival has ended with memories of grandeur and spectacular stage plays. Here is my review of the productions I attended.

BRIC announces additional programming, marathon daily lineup, single day tickets, and other details for the 2019 BRIC JazzFest, the fifth annual edition of the celebrated Brooklyn jazz festival, which continues the 41st season for the pioneering NYC arts-and-media organization and leading presenter of free cultural programming in Brooklyn.

Solo performance legends Brian Copeland and Charlie Varon join forces to present new monologues on life in the Age of Trump in THE GREAT AMERICAN SH*T SHOW. After a successful and highly-praised show in San Rafael in April, they're bringing it back on Sunday, August 18 at The Marin Center's Showcase Theater.

A Night With Janis Joplin will play at The Orpheum Oct. 13.

Luther Burbank Center for the Arts (LBC) announced today that it has added four shows to its 2019a?"20 season lineup: A Night with Janis Joplin, Mark O'Connor's a?oeAn Appalachian Christmas,a?? The Price is Right LIVE!, and Ballet Hispánico. Tickets for all shows, as well as single tickets for the Carlton Senior Living Symphony Pops Series and the Clover Sonoma Family Fun Series, will be available beginning Friday, August 16 at 12 p.m. online at lutherburbankcenter.org, by calling 707-546-3600, or at the Luther Burbank Center for the Arts ticket office (50 Mark West Springs Road in Santa Rosa).

Giraffes strut, birds swoop, gazelles leap - the entire Serengeti comes to life on stage each night in The Lion King. The Tony Award-winning musical adaptation of Disney's much-loved film transports audiences to a dazzling world of glorious colors, stunning effects and enchanting music to tell the story of Simba and his epic journey from wide-eyed cub to his destined role as King of the Pridelands.

The Hysterical Womxn's Society brought together stars of stage and screen stars to help raise more than $55,000 at their first-ever benefit event 'Voice for Choice' last night at The Cutting Room. Award-winning comedian, writer and activist Judy Gold hosted the one-night-only event in partnership with the ACLU of New York, that assembled strong voices from womxn and allies in the Broadway community and beyond. All proceeds from the event supported the ACLU of New York and the National Network of Abortion Funds.

Create Your Own (CYO) mini-subscriptions for The Philly POPS 2019a?"2020 TOPS of the POPS season are now on sale. CYO packages can save guests up to 15% by bundling any three or more 2019a?"2020 Verizon Hall concerts, including spring shows (spring show single tickets on sale to the public on September 6) and A Philly POPS Christmas. CYO subscribers enjoy advance notice of special events, flexible ticket exchanges, ticket replacements, pre-paid parking, dining discounts, and more. More details about CYO subscriptions are available at www.phillypops.org/yourway

SMTC continues its Cabaret Series with Duet-ish, an evening of jazz, pop, theater and contemporary music performed by Hector Coris and Amy Faithe. Music direction and arrangements by Joni Van Rossum. With songs by Harold Arlen, Jacques Brel, The Seekers, Sara Bareilles, Jason Robert Brown and others, plus original tunes, Duet-ish is an intimate and eclectic evening of song, personal stories and soaring duets.

1969. The year of the moon. But that was far from all; Woodstock, the Stonewall riots, Monty Python's Flying Circus and the Battle of the Bogside were but a snapshot of life in the last year of the sixties - The Beatles' career came to an acrimonious end just as David Bowie's started its ascent to stratospheric heights. Prom 11 commemorated the changes in culture, science and society that occurred 50 years ago, with the BBC Concert Orchestra at the heart of the action.

14-year-old Reyna Negret belted Aretha, tossing her hair and captivating the audience with her girl-power moves. What made Negret's performance so special is that she isn't just any teenager singing the Queen of Soul - Negret is a student at The River Performing and Visual Arts Center, Theatre Under the Stars' arts education program for children with all types and levels of disabilities.

In the 1920s, the Motor City put American on wheels. In the 1940s, Detroit became the a?oeArsenal of Democracy.a??

Amanda Page Cornett has never been one for boundaries. Her latest single, Carolina Coast, proves just that. Released Friday, July 19, Carolina Coast is the first single from her latest album, Front Porch Rebel. Backed by her band the Almost Angels, Cornett brought summertime beach vibes to the WSMV Today in Nashville stage on July 8 in support of the release.

The world première of Alexander Matthews' My One True Friend is today announced with full cast. Antony Law directs Theo Bamber (Gordon), Mensah Bediako (Kapenie), Suzanna Hamilton (Lady L), Lucy Lowe (Oonagh), and Joseph Rowe (George). The production opens on 27 August at Tristan Bates Theatre, with previews from 21 August, and runs until 14 September.

Jim Hirsch, one of Chicago's best known and most beloved advocates for the Chicago music scene, recognized for growing the careers of artists young and old, expanding audiences and creating diverse programming, will step down from the Chicago Sinfonietta after 15 years of service as Executive Director and CEO effective July 1, 2020. Hirsch's career, spanning four decades, also includes serving as Executive Director at the Old Town School of Folk Music for 18 years, and General Manager of the iconic Chicago Theatre for four years.

LaVon Fisher-Wilson and the Vonettes presents THE QUEENS OF FUNK AND SOUL Concert at The Triad.  The Triad Theatre is located at 158 West 72nd Street, New York, NY.

The Emmy-nominated former writer for The Rosie O'Donnell Show will be bringing his one-man comedy show to the FAC tonight. This is Rudetsky's first major appearance in Colorado.

The annual Gala Benefit Evening hosted by Ravinia's Women's Board to support the festival and its Reach Teach Play education programs grossed more than $1.1 million, making it one of the most successful in the 53-year history of the event. Chicago's own Oscar- and Grammy- winning Jennifer Hudson made her Chicago Symphony Orchestra debut, headlining the only concert fundraiser Ravinia puts on for itself. George Hanson, who had served an assistant to Leonard Bernstein, conducted the CSO for the July 14 concert. 

On August 4th audiences are invited to dance the night away 'The Chicago Blues Brothers' - Europe's biggest and best-loved production of the Blues Brothers which comes to the West End London's Savoy Theatre