Aretha Franklin News

WaterTower Theatre Producing Artistic Director Terry Martin today announced details for the second annual WOMEN IN THEATRE series. The event is presented under the auspices of Women of WaterTower Theatre (WOW!) and it is co-chaired by Karol Omlor and Andrea Redmon. This is the second lecture in the series (the first was held last year and featured female directors), and it will be held on Tuesday, March 22, 2016 from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm (with a post-lecture reception in the lobby with the artists). The event will be held in the Main Space at WaterTower Theatre. The lecture will be moderated by the Dallas Observer's Arts and Culture Editor Lauren Smart, and features Pam Dougherty, Jenny Ledel, Denise Lee, Sarah Elizabeth Smith and Wendy Welch.

With music and lyrics by Charlie Smalls and book by William F. Brown, THE WIZ is an urban retelling of the classic fantasy story based on the children's book The Wonderful Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum. Filled with beloved songs, incredible dance numbers, tornadoes, munchkins, and skateboarding monkeys, the enthusiasm of the cast as directed and choreographed by Chelsea Field and magnificent student rock orchestra conducted by Stephen McDonough under the Musical Direction of Kelci Hahn, will transport you in believing this is a professional company of triple threat actors at the top of their game.

Terri Hatcher D'Onofrio and Diana Rogers shine in this love letter to country music's finest singer.

Four-time Grammy Award-winner, Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, recent Kennedy Center Honoree and the first woman to be awarded The Library of Congress Gershwin Prize for Popular Song, Carole King's (b. February 9, 1942) career as a singer-songwriter is unparalleled.

Symphony siren and Broadway diva N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical and Sondheim and Sondheim) is making her debut appearance at Jacksonville Symphony's Baby Boomers: Music of the 60s show.

?Like a comet that burns far too brightly to last, Janis Joplin exploded onto the music scene in 1967 and, almost overnight, became the queen of rock & roll. The unmistakable voice, filled with raw emotion and tinged with Southern Comfort, made her a must-see headliner from Monterey to Woodstock.

Below, check out new photos from world-renowned tenor Anthony Kearns' performance to honor Pope Francis I during his historic 2015 U.S. trip!

A brilliant cast of dancers from Broadway's biggest hits and some of the most sought-after dance companies will bring to life Pure Motion, an evening of dances by emerging choreographer Ray Mercer. Produced by and benefiting Broadway Cares/Equity Fights AIDS, the evening will feature cast members from Broadway's An American in Paris, The Lion King and Wicked as well as past and current dancers from Ailey II, Company XIV, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Nederlands Dans Theater and more.

Grammy Award-nominated a cappella ensemble Sweet Honey In The Rock -- internationally renowned for seamlessly traversing musical genres through vibrant song, dance, and storytelling -- returns to Carnegie Hall tonight, February 11 at 8:00 p.m. for a performance in Stern Auditorium / Perelman Stage.

Symphony siren and Broadway diva N'Kenge (Motown: The Musical and Sondheim and Sondheim) is making her debut appearance at Jacksonville Symphony's Baby Boomers: Music of the 60s show.

?Two of the jazz world's brightest stars Stanley Clarke and Hiromi are to set London's most famous stage alight as they make their debut UK appearance as a duo for one night only. Longstanding collaborators, mythic bassist Stanley Clarke and Japanese jazz pianist extraordinaire Hiromi released 2009's Jazz in The Garden and 2010's The Stanley Clarke Band featuring Hiromi, the latter winning the 2011 Grammy Award for Best Contemporary Jazz Album. Famed for their virtuoso instrumental command and explosive live performances, this is a one-in-a-lifetime opportunity to see the revered pair at a venue to which all performers aspire.

Below, watch a sneak peek at PBS's CAROLE KING: NATURAL WOMAN, premiering Friday, February 19 at 9/8c.

Broadway's A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (produced by Iconic Entertainment Studios and T&D Productions) will tour to 34 cities across the U.S. and Canada for a total of 70 shows, kicking off today, February 9th, in Toronto. Conceived, written, and directed by Randy Johnson, the rock musical features choreography by Patricia Wilcox and musical direction by Tyler Evans.

Now, King tells her own story in the new documentary American Masters -- CAROLE KING: NATURAL WOMAN, premiering nationwide Friday, February 19 at 9 p.m. on PB

On Friday, February 5, 2016, the 17th Annual NFL Sanctioned Super Bowl Gospel Celebration (SBGC) will kick-off Super Bowl 50 at the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, CA.

/LADY GAGA will sing the National Anthem as part of Super Bowl 50 pregame festivities at Levi's Stadium in the San Francisco Bay Area on Sunday, February 7, the NFL and CBS announced today. The performance will be televised live on CBS prior to kickoff.

Composers Now presents Joe Deninzon & Stratospheerius and friends MazzMuse and Sound Liberation at the Shrine on February 25.

Franklin Performing Arts Company (FPAC) presents Broadway In Franklin: A Weekend with the Stars on February 26-28, featuring Broadway headliners Jenn Colella and Michael James Scott in a Broadway Revue of show-stopping numbers from the Great White Way.

Join the Tiffany Austin Quintet in celebrating Bessie Smith, Billie Holiday and Nina Simone with Bessie, Billie and Nina: Celebrating the Queens of Swing today, January 30 at 7 p.m. at Feinstein's at the Nikko. Tickets for Tiffany Austin range in price from $25-$45 and are available now by calling 866.663.1063 or visiting www.ticketweb.com.

Birdland Jazz Club has announced its schedule for February 8-14, Jane Monheit, Birdland Jazz Party, Barbara Carroll and more!