Aretha Franklin News

Jeffrey Walker's top picks for summer theatre in Washington, DC and the metro area.

Emma White, a pop singer-songwriter from Baltimore, MD will perform at Burning Coal Theatre Company's 2013 MusiCoal Summer Music Series on Sunday, July 28th at 7 pm at the Murphey School, 224 Polk Street, Raleigh.

Broadway veteran Sam Harris has penned a book titled 'Ham: Slices of a Life: Essays and Stories' coming January 2014. Taking on issues as diverse as addiction, fame, and parenting with his hilarious and deeply human voice, Harris's entertaining tales trace an arc of personal triumph that is universally accessible and inspiring. To pre-order, visit: http://SamHamBook.com

The Mirage Hotel & Casino headliner Terry Fator would like to honor our country's brave service men and women and their families with a special Las Vegas weekend sweepstakes. The prize package will include four tickets to see Terry Fator at his namesake theatre, a two-night stay for a family of four at The Mirage and four round-trip tickets provided by American Airlines.

When Sly and The Family Stone hit the scene back in the late '60s, the world - socially, culturally and politically - was in a state of upheaval. And their music perfectly evangelized the moment. Today, we stand dangerously at the edge of a similar precipice - and that message of celebratory potential and jubilant clarity is sorely needed. With that concept squarely implanted in his mind's eye, visionary conceptualist, producer, arranger, composer and keyboard wizard Jason Miles has created the extraordinary Sly Reimagined on the Zoho Roots label. With his groundbreaking, genre-defying borderless mothership Global Noize providing the vehicle, Miles takes on eight classic Sly Stone journeys into the wilds of a reality nearly half a century beyond their point of inception.

This summer, fans across the U.S. will finally get to see this, the most highly sought after Grateful Dead show captured on film, when NCM Fathom Events presents the previously unreleased concert "Sunshine Daydream" as part of "Grateful Dead Meet Up at the Movies 2013*."

Electric Youth (EY), the international touring ensemble of talented singer-dancers trained at the Franklin School for the Performing Arts (FSPA), will take the stage at Showcase Live at Patriot Place in Foxboro on Sunday, June 16 at 6 p.m. FSPA is pleased to offer prospective students a complimentary ticket to the concert as part of the school's new All Access Pass program. (Children ages 14 and younger must be accompanied by an adult at Showcase Live.) The concert provides students with the chance to experience the fun and excitement of the arts and live performance opportunities. Those interested in complimentary tickets should contact FSPA for more information and to schedule a free trial class or tour of the main facility in Franklin or satellite location in downtown Hudson.

Long Wharf Theatre, in conjunction with Supreme Talent International will present Smokey Joe's Cafe: The Songs of Leiber and Stoller, on the Mainstage as part of its summer season. The musical runs from July 10-28 on the Mainstage. Tickets are $55.

A fundraiser for James Allen Smith will take place tonight, June 4 at 8pm at 78 BELOW. Jimmy has been hospitalized and everyone is pulling for his full recovery. In the meantime we want to take some of the stress out of his days.

When Sly and The Family Stone hit the scene back in the late '60s, the world – socially, culturally and politically – was in a state of upheaval. And their music perfectly evangelized the moment. Today, we stand dangerously at the edge of a similar precipice – and that message of celebratory potential and jubilant clarity is sorely needed. With that concept squarely implanted in his mind's eye, visionary conceptualist, producer, arranger, composer and keyboard wizard Jason Miles has created the extraordinary Sly Reimagined on the Zoho Roots label. With his groundbreaking, genre-defying borderless mothership Global Noize providing the vehicle, Miles takes on eight classic Sly Stone journeys into the wilds of a reality nearly half a century beyond their point of inception.

The all-star cast for ZACH Theatre's much-anticipated staging of ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN was announced today. Kacee Clanton, the Los Angeles-based rock and blues singer-songwriter who previously played Janis Joplin in Love, Janis and has toured as lead vocalist with Big Brother & The Holding Company, will star in ONE NIGHT WITH JANIS JOPLIN at ZACH, opening July 10.

Today we are talking to an inordinately talented triple-threat performer who made his name on Broadway in some landmark productions, such as the original multi-Tony Award-winning HAIRSPRAY and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA, in addition to his peerless work in Lincoln Center's lauded SOUTH PACIFIC revival, who now is best known to audiences around the world for his headlining role on FOX's mega-hit musical dramedy series GLEE - the charismatic Matthew Morrison. Sharing stories from his Broadway days as well as looking ahead to the new season of GLEE airing in September, Morrison paints a vivid picture of his musical theatre career thus far and touches upon his experiences in the aforementioned musicals on the Great White Way as well as THE ROCKY HORROR SHOW, A NAKED GIRL ON THE APPIAN WAY and more, detailing his ascent from chorus boy to superstar. More importantly, Morrison offers us the complete 411 on his new solo album, WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, discussing its conception, recording, production, and, now, its release - as well as elaborating on working with legendary producer Phil Ramone on it and the song selection process itself. Furthermore, Morrison reveals the most influential artists and performers to him and how that inspiration formed the basis for WHERE IT ALL BEGAN, both the album itself as well as his current concert tour in promotion of it - arriving in NYC at 54 Below this weekend, as a matter of fact - and his PBS special, airing this month. Additionally, Morrison candidly comments on some characters he would enjoy essaying in the future (hint: a demon barber of Fleet Street), reflects on his favorite GLEE moments to date, recounts wild ROCKY HORROR antics involving rock star Sebastian Bach - and much, much more!

The Ultimate Celebration For The Ultimate Drummer: John Henry Bonham of Led Zeppelin Marshall See a stellar cast of drummers jump up on stage today, June 1, 2013!

A fundraiser for James Allen Smith will take place on June 4 at 8pm at 78 BELOW. Jimmy has been hospitalized and everyone is pulling for his full recovery. In the meantime we want to take some of the stress out of his days.

What happens when you cram together the star quality of Barbra, the riffs of Beyonce, Whitney, and Mariah, the sass of Stevie, and the deep, emotional soul of Aretha? You get Broadway star and old-school soul revivalist Shoshana Bean. A gifted powerhouse vocalist, Ms. Bean is one of those entertainers you just have to listen to live on a stage. When she sings, it's not just a performance---it's a full-bodied experience. Bean will perform one final free outdoor concert at the Americana at Brand on Sunday, June 2, from 3-6pm.

Brian Thomas Tichy and his partner Joe Sutton have decided to bring their John Bonham celebration, 'Bonzo Bash', to Long Island commemorating the life of rock's ultimate drummer - the drummer for Led Zeppelin, John Bonham. The show has been booked for tonight, May 31st at Revolution 140 Merrick Rd in Amityville to pay tribute to John Henry Bonham on what would have been his 65th birthday.

Hotel Nikko San Francisco and Michael Feinstein are proud to announce the upcoming lineup at the all-new Feinstein's at the Nikko. Located within Hotel Nikko (222 Mason Street, San Francisco), Feinstein's at the Nikko will present a wide range of entertainers - including Nicole Henry, Faith Prince, Emily

Thank you. I have to say that as the podium came out, which meant that was my cue, my mother-in-law said, 'Oh, shoot.' (Laughter.) True story -- she was getting into the music. (Laughter.) Welcome to the White House, everybody.

The Ultimate Celebration For The Ultimate Drummer: John Henry Bonham of Led Zeppelin Marshall See a stellar cast of drummers jump up on stage Saturday June 1, 2013! An All Star tribute to Led Zeppelin's John Bonham featuring the top drummers in rock music today. Guest drummers include: Michael Cartellone (Damn Yankees); Anton Fig (David Letterman Band); Joe Franco (Good Rats); Jonathan Mover (Aretha Franklin); JoJo Mayer (Nerve); AJ Pero (Twisted Sister); Mike Portnoy (Dream Theater); Bobby Rondinelli (Rainbow); Matt Starr (Ace Frehley); Brian Tichy (Whitesnake); Steven Wolf (Alicia Keys) See a stellar cast of drummers jump up on stage with house band The Moby Dicks (featuring Whitesnake's Michael Devin, Brian Tichy, Stephen LeBlanc, Chas West and Brent Woods), with each sticksman playing through a Led Zeppelin track of their choosing on a specially-made by Natal Drums Bonham replica kit.

Following a critically acclaimed run at Arena Stage at the Mead Center for American Theater this past fall, One Night with Janis Joplin returns for a summer run. Leading the production is Mary Bridget Davies. Davies is joined by Sabrina Elayne Carten as the Blues Singer. Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, the production is produced in partnership with The Pasadena Playhouse and Milwaukee Repertory Theater, in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of One Night Productions, The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. One Night with Janis Joplin runs June 21-August 11, 2013 in the Kreeger Theater.