Aretha Franklin News

Producers Michael Harrison, David Ian and John Frost today announced that the Melbourne season of the international award-winning hit musical THE BODYGUARD will play at the Regent Theatre from 24 August. The 2017 Australian tour of THE BODYGUARD will commence at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on 21 April, before playing at the Lyric Theatre, Brisbane from 19 July, then moving to the Regent Theatre, Melbourne.

The Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, with support from the National Endowment for the Arts and the Delaware Division of the Arts, has provided funding to support three performances taking place at The Grand this spring.

The Houston Symphony will celebrate more than 50 years of soul influence Feb. 17-19 with a brand-new show featuring the best of Motown legends as well as today's hottest R&B entertainers.

Always bold, eternally profound, Black Violin transports and entertains in a way that has never been seen on stage before and may never be seen again.

An exciting new chapter begins for Pacific Symphony and the Orange County community, when the orchestra settles into its brand new summer home at the OC Fair & Event Center (located in the heart of Costa Mesa), where the Symphony will be in residence during the 2017 summer season!

An exciting new chapter begins for Pacific Symphony and the Orange County community, when the orchestra settles into its brand new summer home at the OC Fair & Event Center (located in the heart of Costa Mesa), where the Symphony will be in residence during the 2017 summer season!

The McCallum Theatre presents Catskills on Broadway on Friday, February 24, at 8:00pm, starring Freddie Roman, Elayne Boosler and Sarge. The Catskill Mountains of New York, the cradle of American humor, launched the careers of many of our greatest comics. In this all new version of the 1991 Broadway hit, Freddie Roman, Elayne Boosler and Sarge offer a laugh-packed nostalgic salute to the region whose hotels spawned scores of America's performers, writers and directors. Catskills on Broadway will have you howling with laughter with this great evening of good old-fashioned comedy that will take you back to the golden years of the Catskills. 

Soul Rock singer Jessie Galante has signed with Tanzan Music and will make her debut with the Italian Record Label this May with her new Album featuring many amazing guests.

Cage the Elephant will perform at the 2017 MUSICARES PERSON OF THE YEAR tribute in honor of Tom Petty.

International Celebrity Images presents the 23rd Production of THE REEL AWARDS, an entertaining two and a half-hour tongue in cheek parody, spoof, and tribute to the real Academy Awards on Monday, February 20, 2017 at the Golden Nugget Hotel & Casino, 129 East Fremont Street, in Las Vegas, NV  89101.

Rubicon Theatre Company celebrates Black History Month with THE DEVIL'S MUSIC: THE LIFE AND BLUES OF BESSIE SMITH, starring singer and actress Miche Braden of the original Off-Broadway production (named one of the 10 Best Off-Broadway productions of the year by the N.Y. Daily Times). Described by CBC as a, "bawdy, bluesy, boozy rollicking night out at the theatre," the show follows the life, loves and career of blues and jazz singer Bessie Smith, called the "Empress of the Blues."

As groundbreaking music icon Carole King celebrates her 75th birthday, the Broadway sensation based on her remarkable rise to stardom is thrilled to announce its leading lady.

Bob Holz, popular drummer, composer and band leader has returned with his second MVD Records release, Visions and Friends, a further continuation of the contemporary jazz/funk fusion he spearheaded with 2015's acclaimed A Vision Forward album.

Always bold, eternally profound, Black Violin transports and entertains in a way that has never been seen on stage before and may never be seen again.

The Houston Symphony will celebrate more than 50 years of soul influence Feb. 17-19 with a brand-new show featuring the best of Motown legends as well as today's hottest R&B entertainers.

Broadway's Trent Armand Kendall has been touring the country with his new musical LOUIS-AND-ELLA!, and the party continues in 2017 with stops in Dallas, TX, Manasquan, NJ, Sanibel Island, FL, and then back to NYC's The Cutting Room this March (more stops to be announced).

Gold Company and GCII are back and bigger than ever in their new show, Royally Dunn! Come enjoy of some of music royalty's greatest hits, rearranged in true Gold Company style, with a special nod of thanks to retiring Western Michigan University President John Dunn.  Experience the songs of Michael Jackson, Aretha Franklin, Elvis Presley and more, plus some of Gold Company's traditional hits. Gold Company and GCII will be joined by Grammy-nominated GC Alum Jeremy Fox and the WMU University Symphony Orchestra for this Royal Extravaganza!  With the show including some of the greatest music ever produced, plus the comedy, choreography and showmanship that make this WMU award-winning vocal group an audience favorite, it's a must-see at Miller!  Tickets for Gold Company: Royally Dunn are on sale now at the Miller Auditorium Ticket Office, by phone at (269) 387-2300 and online at www.millerauditorium.com.

Tom Petty will be honored as the 2017 MusiCares Person of the Year in celebration of his extraordinary creative accomplishments and significant charitable work. Proceeds from the annual Person of the Year tribute—now in its 27th year—provide essential support for MusiCares, which ensures music people have a place to turn in times of financial, medical, and personal need.

The Tribeca Film Festival, presented by AT&T, will open the 16th edition with the world premiere of the feature length documentary CLIVE DAVIS: THE SOUNDTRACK OF OUR LIVES at Radio City Music Hall

February is jam packed at Blue Note Hawaii, the state's premier venue for the world's most celebrated artists, starting off with a tribute to some of the world's most celebrated artists lost in 2016 by local singer/songwriter Tim Rose. Jazz songstress Karrin Allyson makes her Blue Note Hawaii debut for four nights, followed by soulful GRAMMY® Award-winning songwriter Marc Cohn. Other notable artists include Mike Izon, Tsun Hui Hung, Meleana Brown, Maryanne Ito, Tavana, Donavon Frankenreiter, Max V, Willie K, Blayne Asing, Israel Vibration & Roots Radics, Kaumakaiwa Kanaka'ole and DeAndre Brackensick.