Aretha Franklin News

Marin Theatre Company, in association with Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, will stage August Wilson's Fences, the 1950s entry into his Century Cycle (also known as his Pittsburgh Cycle) - a decade-by-decade exploration of the black experience in 20th century America. Directed by Derrick Sanders, the Pulitzer Prize and two-time Tony Award-winning play will feature veteran film and television actor Carl Lumbly as Troy Maxson, Steven Anthony Jones, the artistic director of Lorraine Hansberry Theatre, as Jim Bono and award-winning actor, playwright and director Margo Hall as Rose, as well as Oregon Shakespeare Festival's Eddy Ray Jackson as Cory, Adrian Roberts as Gabriel, Tyee Tilghman as Lyons and two Marin City youths - Jade Sweeney, who attends Willow Creek Academy, and Makaelah Bashir, Bayside Martin Luther King, Jr. Academy - splitting the role of Raynell.

Multi-Platinum superstars Toni Braxton and Kenny 'Babyface' Edmonds are the latest Grammy Award-winning artists to join the roster of 'Special Guest Star' vocalists in the smash hit Broadway musical After Midnight. With an impressive 16 Grammy Awards between them, Braxton and Edmonds will play their first performance tonight, March 18, 2014, marking Edmonds' Broadway debut and Braxton's return. The duo will continue performances at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre (256 West 47th Street) through Sunday, March 30, 2014.

A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN will open at New York City's Gramercy Theatre (127 E 23rd St. / 23rd & Lexington Ave) on Thursday, April 10th, giving fans a chance to see Broadway's acclaimed theatrical rock experience in one of New York's most intimate concert venues. An exclusive presale for Citi Cardholders will begin today, March 17th at 10AM followed by Live Nation and Ticketmaster presales beginning at 10AM on Tuesday, March 18th. Tickets will be available to the general public at 10AM on Wednesday, March 19 via Ticketmaster.com and at the Gramercy Theatre box office.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and keyboardist Michael McDonald lends his husky, soulful baritone to Pacific Symphony Pops for a concert featuring hits from his chart-topping career spanning more than four decades. From his 1970s beginnings singing back-up vocals with American rock band Steely Dan on songs including 'Black Friday,' to enhancing the funky R&B sound of The Doobie Brothers, to his award-winning solo career, McDonald has established himself as a timeless yet distinctive artist in pops music. One of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the '70s rock scene, McDonald commands the stage with his distinctive interpretations of classics like 'What a Fool Believes,' 'On My Own,' 'Sweet Freedom,' 'I Keep Forgettin',' 'Minute by Minute' and 'Yah Mo B There.' His more recent album, 'Soul Speak,' has been acclaimed as an 'impeccable' crossover by BBC Radio since its release in 2008, when it also hit three different charts simultaneously.

Smokey Joe's Cafe-The Songs of Leiber and Stoller transports audiences to the golden age of rock, rhythm and blues this spring at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater. Director Randy Johnson returns to Arena Stage following the success of A Night with Janis Joplin (which enjoyed two runs at Arena Stage followed by a subsequent run on Broadway) to helm this Grammy Award-winning tribute to legendary songwriting duo Jerry Leiber and Mike Stoller, which originally opened on Broadway in 1995 and became the longest running musical revue, topping 2,000 performances. Bursting with hit tunes including 'Hound Dog,' 'Jailhouse Rock,' 'Stand by Me,' 'Love Potion #9' and 'On Broadway,' Smokey Joe's Cafe showcases choreography by Parker Esse (Arena Stage's The Music Man, Oklahoma!) and music direction by Victor Simonson (Center Stage's A Civil War Christmas, Arena Stage's 3 Mo' Divas) and runs April 25-June 8, 2014 in the Fichandler Stage.

Explore the powerful role women have played in the world of rock and roll music inside the Women Who Rock: Vision, Passion, Power exhibition at Henry Ford Museum starting May 17 through August 24, 2014. Created by the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, this groundbreaking and provocative exhibition features the firsts, the bests, and the celebrated and sometimes the lesser-knowns whose innovation advanced the progress of rock and roll.

During the program, President Obama quoted Aretha Franklin's iconic song 'Respect', but got a bit confused over the correct spelling of the word

CUSP by Neiman Marcus announced the launch of 'Make Some Noise,' campaign that celebrates the most fearless, bold and fashionable women transforming the pop culture, fashion and music landscapes today. 'Make Some Noise' will kick off in Austin, Texas during SXSW with 'Cusp on Rainey Featuring Music by Atlantic Records.' The three-day experience from March 12 th through 14 th will feature panel discussions and fireside chats with influential women who rock in their respective fields, along with performances from Atlantic artists.

Fresh off the blades of the Winter Olympics, ABC has reached a multi-year agreement with Disson Skating, a leader in family entertainment programming, for the exclusive broadcast of Disson Skating's legendary entertainment specials for the 2014/2015 television season.

As part of their 'In Performance at the White House' series, the President and First Lady will invite music legends and contemporary major female artists to the White House for a celebration of the great 'foremothers' of American music, with songs expressing the struggles and achievements of women. The program will include performances by Tessanne Chin, Melissa Etheridge, Aretha Franklin, Ariana Grande, Patti LaBelle, Janelle Monae and Jill Scott, with Greg Phillinganes as music director.

Music Director and Conductor Michael Krajewski, the nationally recognized Pops conductor who performs with orchestras throughout the country, brings back his innovative programming and lighthearted approach with the 2014-2015 concert season of The Philly POPS. Encore Series, Inc, the presenter of The Philly POPS, is pleased to introduce this exciting series of concerts which begins in October, 2014 with the Era of ABBA, followed by Classic Soul. It continues with a salute to the American Songbook Then and Now and a visit to the movies with Epic Hollywood Soundtracks. The season ends with the Legends of Rock.

A Girls Night Musical: Girl Talk is Louise Roche's follow-up fun, fabulous and everything female Girls Night Musical experience. The musical is bound to get ladies on their feet and dancing in the aisles once again when it plays at the City Theatre for 10 performances from Thursday, May 1 through Sunday, May 11.

Girls' night out just got a whole lot sassier now that 50 SHADES! THE MUSICAL has arrived in LA for a month's run at the Kirk Douglas Theatre, and women are coming out in droves to see what a group of comedy writers have done with their not-so-secret obsession. I'll say this - it's got balls alright.

Electric Youth (EY) 2014, the international touring ensemble of talented singer-dancers trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), will debut at Showcase Live, Patriot Place, in Foxboro tonight, February 28 at 7:30 p.m. Backed by the eight-piece Boston Show Band, Electric Youth delivers a fun, energetic evening of high-powered family entertainment. EY's show features an extensive range of contemporary pop and classic rock hits fully choreographed to delight audiences of all ages. Hear the best of Aerosmith, The Beatles, Kelly Clarkson, Michael Jackson, Bruno Mars, Frank Sinatra, Stevie Wonder and more.

In honor of Aretha Franklin's birthday, Untitled Supper Club will pay tribute to the Lady of Soul with a night of live soul music by Chicago's very own Brooke and the Nice Things covering a selection of her greatest hits. Attendees can gather in the Lounge and sip on Bulleit Burbon and Ketel One cocktails featured all evening.

Atlantic Theater Company and Atlantic for Kids is tuning up to present the New York premiere of Mr. Chickee's Funny Money, an all-new, rhythm and blues family musical, featuring music and lyrics that groove to an original score by Motown legend Lamont Dozier (hits include Stop in the Name of Love, Sugar Pie Honey Bun, How Sweet it Is, more;) and his son, Paris Dozier, with a book by David Ingber (Major League Baseball Fan Cave), directed by Jade King Carroll (Ma Rainey's Black Bottom, Portland Stage), and musical supervision by Brian Usifer (Kinky Boots, Book of Mormon).

On Tuesday 25 February 2014 internationally renowned director, BAZ LUHRMANN, who is hard at work in the rehearsal room at Carriageworks, announced the extraordinary composers he and co-writer CRAIG PEARCE have collaborated with in order to bring STRICTLY BALLROOM THE MUSICAL to life on stage.

What do you get when you mash-up an ancient Greek play with the contemporary, meta-sarcasm of Mean Girls, Legally Blonde, and Bring It On? Why, the buoyant musical confection LYSISTRATA JONES, of course! Filled with witty dialogue, amusingly droll characters, and a high-energy pop score, this Tony nominated musical continues its West Coast Premiere performances at Chance Theater's brand-spankin' new theater space in Anaheim Hills through March 9.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and keyboardist Michael McDonald lends his husky, soulful baritone to Pacific Symphony Pops for a concert featuring hits from his chart-topping career spanning more than four decades. From his 1970s beginnings singing back-up vocals with American rock band Steely Dan on songs including "Black Friday," to enhancing the funky R&B sound of The Doobie Brothers, to his award-winning solo career, McDonald has established himself as a timeless yet distinctive artist in pops music. One of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the '70s rock scene, McDonald commands the stage with his distinctive interpretations of classics like "What a Fool Believes," "On My Own," "Sweet Freedom," "I Keep Forgettin'," "Minute by Minute" and "Yah Mo B There." His more recent album, "Soul Speak," has been acclaimed as an "impeccable" crossover by BBC Radio since its release in 2008, when it also hit three different charts simultaneously.

Five-time Grammy Award-winning singer, songwriter and keyboardist Michael McDonald lends his husky, soulful baritone to Pacific Symphony Pops for a concert featuring hits from his chart-topping career spanning more than four decades. From his 1970s beginnings singing back-up vocals with American rock band Steely Dan on songs including “Black Friday,” to enhancing the funky R&B sound of The Doobie Brothers, to his award-winning solo career, McDonald has established himself as a timeless yet distinctive artist in pops music. One of the most popular vocalists to emerge from the '70s rock scene, McDonald commands the stage with his distinctive interpretations of classics like “What a Fool Believes,” “On My Own,” “Sweet Freedom,” “I Keep Forgettin',” “Minute by Minute” and “Yah Mo B There.” His more recent album, “Soul Speak,” has been acclaimed as an “impeccable” crossover by BBC Radio since its release in 2008, when it also hit three different charts simultaneously.