Aretha Franklin News

Fresh from receiving a well-deserved standing ovation at New York's most respected Apollo Theatre - after a mesmerizing performance of 'I Will Always Love You' on the US hit TV show, Showtime at The Apollo - South African singing sensation Belinda Davids will be jetting home to perform for local audiences in Johannesburg later next month.

This June, FEINSTEIN'S/54 BELOW, Broadway's Supper Club & Private Event Destination, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, cabaret, jazz, and beyond.

Mei-Ann Chen, Music Director of Chicago Sinfonietta and Jim Hirsch, CEO of Chicago Sinfonietta, have announced the orchestra's programming for 2018-19---Chicago Sinfonietta's 31st season and Chen's eighth year on the podium.

Soulful Productions presents a sizzling celebration of soul, Motown, funk, show tunes and drag with Sweet Bubbling Nights on Saturday, June 23, 2018 at 8pm at the Vancouver Playhouse. The performance will bring together 23 of the city's most iconic musical talents, female impersonators and dancers in support of the LGBTI Pulse Memorial Scholarship. The scholarship is the first of its kind in the United Nations system presented by International Organization for Migration (IOM), the UN Migration Agency, and is awarded to Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Intersex (and Queer) youth worldwide who are in pursuit of a university or college degree.

The Ivoryton Playhouse will present the 2014 Tony Award-nominated 2013 Broadway Musical A Night With Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, from May 30 to June 24, 2018.

General on sale begins Wednesday, May 30 at Noon for award-winning actor and piano virtuoso Hershey Felder in his wildly acclaimed one-man show, HERSHEY FELDER AS IRVING BERLIN at 59E59 Theaters (Val Day, Artistic Director; Brian Beirne, Managing Director). The production, featuring music and lyrics by the great American songwriter Irving Berlin, book by Hershey Felder and directed by longtime Felder collaborator Trevor Hay, will play from August 24 through October 28, 2018, with opening night scheduled for Wednesday, September 5. Felder returns to 59E59 Theaters, where he recently played a sold out engagement of MAESTRO (Leonard Bernstein) and adapted, directed and designed the sold out THE PIANIST OF WILLESDEN LANE.

The Ivoryton Playhouse will present the 2014 Tony Award-nominated 2013 Broadway Musical A Night With Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, from May 30 to June 24, 2018. Born in Port Arthur, TX in 1943, Janis Lyn Joplin challenged racial and sexual stereotypes and created a sound and a style that has become legendary. She exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock and roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with more than a touch of Southern Comfort made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock Her unique sound, however, was originally created as a result of her love for some of the greatest African-American singers of all time. Now, theatergoers can share an evening with the Queen of Rock and Roll and her musical influences in A Night with Janis Joplin

Atlantic Records and independent music publishing and artist development company Big Yellow Dog Music have joined forces in an exclusive label partnership. Based in Nashville, Tennessee, Big Yellow Dog was founded by Co-owner/CEO Carla Wallace and Co-owner Kerry O'Neil. Over the past two decades, the company's roster has been recognized with numerous accolades, including four GRAMMY® Awards; 34 #1 songs; four Song of the Year awards from ACM, BMI, and ASCAP; five ASCAP/BMI Pop awards; and many more. This marks Big Yellow Dog's first label venture.

An award-winning musical and renowned blues artist highlight the lineup of June events at THE BLACK BOX theater and music venue in downtown Franklin.

Momentum Artists (http://www.momentumartists.com/), a management agency representing contemporary musicians, is proud to present Secret Jazz NYC Cabaret with Mark Berman. Berman, on piano, will feature his original songs as well as his jazz arrangements of pop tunes, standards and new works, and will be joined by David Richards (Hamilton) on bass and Joe Nero (Peter Cincotti) on drums. A special guest for the evening is Darryl Tookes, an accomplished musician and collaborator of such megastars as Michael Jackson, Sting, Paul Simon, and many others.

Experience a musical trip around the globe when Pink Martini with China Forbes comes to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts on Wednesday, October 3 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are now on sale to theatre members and go on sale to the public on Friday, May 25 at 10 a.m.

Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, whose classic song 'Stand By Me' just received worldwide acclaim for its climactic performance at the Royal Wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, will be inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame in Kansas City, MO on Saturday, June 2. Their names will be embedded in a bronze medallion on the sidewalk near the Jazz Museum. Their 1952 song classic '(Going to) Kansas City' is now considered to be the city's anthem.

For one night only the sounds of Philadelphia are coming too Parx Casino, Pennsylvania's #1 casino, this Memorial Day Weekend. The casino's brand-new Xcite Center is set to welcome multiple talented acts with Philadelphia ties coming together for one night only at Xcite Center  The casino welcomes The Sounds of Philadelphia featuring The Stylistics, The Delfonics, and Harold Melvin's Blue Notes. 105.3 WDAS FM radio personality Patty Jackson will co-host the show that also pays tribute to late WDAS FM radio legend Joe “Butterball” Tamburro. Five dollars from every ticket will be donated to the American Diabetes Association. The legends of the classic sound of the City of Brotherly Love take the stage on Saturday, May 26, 2018 at 7:30pm. Tickets cost $35-$75.  All concerts at Parx will be performed at the Xcite Center at Parx located at 2999 Street Rd, Bensalem, PA 19020. Tickets for these and future shows are available now at the box office or by visiting www.Parxcasino.com.

Singer-songwriter Brandon Bonine announced the release of his upcoming debut album WARRANTED WORRIES for Friday, April 27, 2018. The pop-rock artist's highly anticipated debut album is now available for pre-order on iTunes & Amazon beginning today.

I cannot think of a more fitting way to say thank you to Baltimore Center Stage Artistic Director Kwame Kwei-Armah than attending SOUL THE STAX MUSICAL which runs to June 10, 2018.

The Ivoryton Playhouse will present the 2014 Tony Award-nominated 2013 Broadway Musical A Night With Janis Joplin, written and directed by Randy Johnson, from May 30 to June 24, 2018.

Songwriters Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, composers of some of the greatest blues, jazz, R&B, and rock and roll hits of all time, will be inducted into the American Jazz Walk of Fame in Kansas City, MO on Saturday, June 2.  Their names will be embedded in a bronze medallion on the sidewalk near the Jazz Museum. 

The Miss Massachusetts Preliminary Competition and Miss Massachusetts Pageant return to The Hanover Theatre for the Performing Arts on Friday, June 29 at 7 p.m and Saturday, June 30 at 7 p.m. Tickets go on sale Monday, May 21 at 10 a.m. Contestants compete in talent, evening wear, onstage questions and swimsuit. Saturday's top 10 competition culminates with the 2017 Miss Massachusetts, Jillian Zucco, crowning the new 2018 Miss Massachusetts, who goes on to compete for the title of Miss America.

Karamu House, the oldest multicultural performing arts center in the country, closes it's 102nd consecutive season with the Tony Award-winning musical Passing Strange. Karamu House President and CEO, Tony F. Sias notes, 'this is a piece that is important and relevant, and speaks to and engages our millennial and 'genZ' generations.' With book and lyrics written by Tony Award-winning singer-songwriter Stew, and music composed by Stew and Heidi Rodewald, the production opened on May 10 and will run through June 3, 2018 in Karamu's Arena Theatre in Cleveland, Ohio.

Today Underbelly announces a further 82 shows, providing a final dazzling flurry to complete it's 2018 Fringe programme, the most ambitious in the company's 19th year run. Featuring a mix of death-defying circus, contagious music and dance with critically acclaimed theatre makers and unforgettable comedy, this year's programme has something for people of all ages, predispositions and predilections to enjoy.