Aretha Franklin News

Academy Award-winning actor, producer, director and 2014 Image Award nominee, Forest Whitaker is set to receive the NAACP Chairman's Award during the 45th NAACP Image Awards, broadcast live tonight, February 22 (9:00 p.m. ET/PT tape-delayed) on TV One, the civil rights organization announced today.

MOTOWN THE MUSICAL creator and legendary Motown record label founder Berry Gordy will receive the Visionary Award during the 2014 'BET Honors' ceremony broadcast nationwide on Monday, February 24th.

The Marsh announces the extension of THE SCION, a tale of privilege, murder, and sausage performed by award-winning performer Brian Copeland (Not a Genuine Black Man, The Waiting Period, The Jewelry Box). Originally scheduled to run through March 1, it is now held over through April 18 at The Marsh San Francisco. Written by Brian Copeland, developed by Brian Copeland and David Ford, and directed by David Ford, THE SCION plays Thursdays and Fridays at 8pm and Saturdays at 5pm at The Marsh San Francisco, 1062 Valencia Street. For tickets ($25-$60) the public may visit www.themarsh.org or call 415-282-3055 between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm, Monday through Friday.

San Jose Rep, the flagship theatre of San Jose, has just announced its full 2014-15 season, which is set to include two world premieres- Wuthering Heights and The 12. They write: 'Our 2014-2015 season is an extraordinary journey around the world and across centuries featuring two world premieres, larger than life characters with sizzling international flair and spectacularly diverse music -brought to life by daring and award-winning actors, directors and designers.' The full season is as follows:

Provogue Records are pleased to announce the March 24th CD, DVD & Blu-ray release of 'Live In Amsterdam', the debut live recording from Grammy-nominated duo Beth Hart and Joe Bonamassa.

Las Vegas-Brass Transit, a tribute act to classic rock-jazz band Chicago, returns to the Suncoast Showroom on March 8 and 9.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that Oscar-nominated musician Pharrell Williams, coming off of his multi-Grammy Award-winning night, will headline the 'Entertainment Series presented by Sean John at Macy's' during the 63rd NBA All-Star Game tonight, Feb. 16, at New Orleans Arena. The game will air live at 8 p.m. ET on TNT, ESPN Radio, and in 215 countries and territories in more than 47 languages. Recently added performers will include Jason Derulo, Aloe Blacc and Mack Wilds.

World Music Institute presents with The Town Hall the Beninese vocalist, songwriter, and social activist Angélique Kidjo tonight, February 15 at 8:00 p.m. at The Town Hall. Named 'Africa's premier diva' by TIME magazine, Kidjo has cultivated an international following through her uplifting music, which seamlessly integrates her West African heritage with rhythms and textures from around the world.

The Palace Theatre welcomes Divas through the Decades, part of the Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series, an original musical production created by Artistic Director Carl Rajotte, opens Valentine's Day today, February 14th at 7:30 PM and runs through Saturday March 1st at 2:00 PM.

Kingsbury Hall Presents Dance Theatre of Harlem, founded in 1969 by Arthur Mitchell, the first African American to become a principal dancer for New York City Ballet. Dance Theatre of Harlem will perform at Kingsbury Hall on the U of U campus on Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 p.m. Tickets are $29, $39, $49 and $59, with a $5 ticket available for U of U students, and are available at the Kingsbury Hall box office, by phone at 801-581-7100 or online at www.kingtix.com.

Bergen Performing Arts Center located at 30 North Van Brunt Street in Englewood New Jersey presents Travis Tritt with guest Lyndsey Highlander Sunday, March 9th at 7PM. Be sure to reserve tickets at www.ticketmaster.com or bergenPAC's Box Office at 201.227.1030.

Yoshi's San Francisco has announced its upcoming lineup, now through March 9, 2014. Details below!

Oprah Winfrey Network continues to expand its scripted slate announcing today it has acquired the rights to adapt singer Darlene Love's memoir 'My Name is Love: The Darlene Love Story' into the network's first original TV movie.

It seems that jukebox musicals made to appeal to my parents' generation are a dime a dozen these days. However, there is something truly special about Randy Johnson's A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN. His intimate theatrical portrait of the Queen of Rock from Port Arthur, Texas spent three sold-out years on the road before opening to rave reviews and enthusiastic crowds at Broadway's Lyceum Theatre on October 10, 2013. Even though the show just closed on February 9, its magic and energy has been preserved by Broadway Records on A NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN (Original Broadway Cast Recording).

OWN: Oprah Winfrey Network continues to expand its scripted slate announcing today it has acquired the rights to adapt singer Darlene Love's memoir 'My Name is Love: The Darlene Love Story' into the network's first original TV movie. The scripted project will be executive produced by Oprah Winfrey and Academy Award-nominated filmmaker Morgan Neville, with Love to serve as executive producer.

The Palace Theatre welcomes Divas through the Decades, part of the Citizens Bank Performing Arts Series, an original musical production created by Artistic Director Carl Rajotte, opens Valentine's Day February 14th at 7:30 PM and runs through Saturday March 1st at 2:00 PM. Divas is a musical tribute to some of the most influential female vocalists in American pop music, from Gloria Estefan, Tina Turner, Madonna, and many more. This musical performance features professional singers and dancers from New York City. Audiences will enjoy the stunning costumes, lights, show stopping vocals, and amazing visual effects.

The National Basketball Association (NBA) has announced that Oscar-nominated musician Pharrell Williams, coming off of his multi-Grammy Award-winning night, will headline the 'Entertainment Series presented by Sean John at Macy's' during the 63rd NBA All-Star Game

The Broadway production of A Night With Janis Joplin plays its final performance tonight, Sunday, February 9 at 7PM at the Lyceum Theatre. The show has played 22 preview performances and 141 regular performances since beginning previews on Friday, September 20 and opening on Thursday, October 10. A Night With Janis Joplin will move to a new home in New York City this March.

Join the Richmond Symphony tonight, February 8 – 8 p.m. at the Carpenter Theatre at Richmond CenterStage for An Evening of Jazz with Rex Richardson.

The Sony Centre For The Performing Arts is rolling out it's 2013.2014 program with a special Black History Month tribute that includes performances by the DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM, a leading dance institution of unparalleled global acclaim, andSoweto Gospel Choir, South Africa's two-time Grammy and Emmy Award-winning choir.