Aretha Franklin News

Reji Woods, a Lancaster area stage and song fixture, has a full plate this summer, with his PORTRAIT OF A LADY series and two summer shows in Philadelphia and Vermont. He talks about producing and performing at the same time.

This summer, the Alley Theatre will produce Agatha Christie's Spider's Web during its popular ExxonMobil Summer Chills Series July 12 - August 14. In addition, the Alley is launching a new Summer Thrills Series inviting audiences to the concert musical - A Night With Janis Joplin - the first rock & roll theatre piece on the new Hubbard stage, August 19 - September 18, 2016. Tickets will go on sale June 1 and will be available online (alleytheatre.org) or by phone (713.220.5700).

Last Saturday night at the Rose Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center presented a celebration on what would have been Ray Charles' 85th Birthday. The program was led by Musical Director and trumpeter Kenny Rampton (who once toured with the Ray Charles band), and included 10 longtime members of the icon's orchestra, along with the most recent “Rayettes” (backup singers Renee Georges, Katrina Harper, and Angela Workman). “Ray Charles Robinson, the genius of soul, his music was beyond genre,” Rampton told the audience. “Anything Mr. C. did from country to blues to the National Anthem was all Ray Charles . . .'

Constellation Theatre's adult puppet musical Avenue Q swept the 32nd annual Helen Hayes Awards honoring professional theater in Washington, D.C., on Monday with seven awards including outstanding musical.

R&B artist, vocalist, rapper on the rise, as well as activist, Michael Blume is ready to bring his fans into his visual world. The single 'Colors' is the second release since Fall 2015.

The Other Side is a compilation of songs that are true stories about overcoming struggles and offer the listener understanding and hope.

National Endowment for the Arts Chairman Jane Chu has approved more than $82 million to fund local arts projects and partnerships in the NEA's second major funding announcement for fiscal year 2016. Included in this announcement is an Art Works award of $14,000 to Ardea Arts for the creation ofBOUNCE The Basketball Opera. The Art Works category supports the creation of work and presentation of both new and existing work, lifelong learning in the arts, and public engagement with the arts through 13 arts disciplines or fields.

The 'nationally regarded' Maine State Music Theatre and Fulton Theatre present the exclusive premiere of the new chamber version of GHOST THE MUSICAL June 8 through June 25.

It Might Make You Feel Good: Brady Rymer and the Little Band That Could will celebrate their album Press Play with an all-ages concert at City Winery on June 12th.

Dallas Theater Center announced today complete details for the award-winning hit musical Dreamgirls. This modern-day classic is led by director and DTC Associate Artistic Director Joel Ferrell. Dreamgirls will begin with a Pay-What-You-Can performance on Friday, June 10 and will run through Sunday, July 24. Press Night will be Friday, June 17 at 8 p.m. Tickets to Dreamgirls are on sale now at www.DallasTheaterCenter.org and by phone at (214) 880-0202.

20 FEET FROM STARDOM will screen at the Boulder Theater on June 3rd, 2016.

Newark Celebration 350 (NC 350) is proud to present Newark's local hometown heroes and International recording artists Faith Evans, Naughty by Nature, Cissy Houston and India who are set to headline the Founders Weekend Festival Celebrating 350 Years of Newark's arts, culture and community as one of America's great historical cities.

ABC announced today a new music series “Greatest Hits.” Each episode will highlight a five-year period celebrating the biggest hits from that time, hosted by Arsenio Hall and Kelsea Ballerini. Each week, iconic music artists, as well as today's music chart-toppers, will take the stage and perform the songs that defined the 1980s, 1990s and 2000s. The six-episode series will feature special solo performances, never-before-seen duets and incredible tributes on “Greatest Hits,” premiering THURSDAY, JUNE 30 (9:00-10:00 p.m. EDT), on the ABC Television Network.

BroadwayWorld is excited to report that the multi award-winning Broadway hit musical Beautiful: The Carole King Musical will make its Australian premiere at a newly refurbished Sydney Lyric Theatre from September 2017.

A music icon, an unending world activist, an unselfish artist who introduced Bob Dylan to the world and focused awareness on the music of Woody Guthrie, Kris Kristofferson, Phil Ochs and others…Joan Baez.

Nearly 900 graduates from 68 countries received degrees today at Berklee's 2016 commencement. Berklee President Roger H. Brown presented honorary doctor of music degrees to music legends Rita Moreno, the Isley Brothers, Lucian Grainge, and Milton Nascimento. Moreno delivered the commencement address to the graduating class and an estimated audience of nearly 7,000 guests at the Agganis Arena. The annual commencement concert, held the previous evening at the Agganis Arena, featured some of the college's most accomplished students paying tribute to the honorees with performances of music associated with their careers.

Sony Classical proudly announces the release of LOVE & FRIENDSHIP (Original Motion Picture Soundtrack) available digitally May 6 and on CD, May 13.

Sony Music Masterworks is pleased to announce a long-term worldwide recording agreement with star trumpeter Till Brnner.

The Houston Chamber Choir's 20th Anniversary season will reach its climactic finish in an evening of jazz with virtuoso bassist and five-time Grammy winner Christian McBride. The Christian McBride Trio including pianist Christian Sands, and drummer Ulysses Owens, Jr., will headline the concert where the centerpiece is a world premiere of McBride's groundbreaking work for jazz ensemble and choir. The concert takes place at the Cullen Theater in The Wortham Center on Sunday, May 22nd at 4:00pm.  

Ardea Arts announces BOUNCE The Basketball Opera, their latest project in development. Showcase performances will take place at Paerdegat Park in East Flatbush, Brooklyn Saturday-Monday June 25-27, 2016 at 6pm.