Aretha Franklin News

The Opera Company of Philadelphia is proud to join opera organizations nationwide to celebrate National Opera Week (October 26 - November 4), coordinated by OPERA America, the national service organization for opera, with support of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Fresh off its acclaimed run at the Cleveland Play House, One Night with Janis Joplin will take D.C. audiences on a musical journey into the life and inspirations of one of rock 'n' roll's greatest legends. The production is led by Cleveland native Mary Bridget Davies, who performs with Joplin's original band Big Brother and the Holding Company, and also features Sabrina Elayne Carten as the Blues Singer who pays homage to the artists that influenced Joplin's incomparable blues-rock blend. Created, written and directed by Randy Johnson, the production is produced in partnership with Cleveland Play House in association with Todd Gershwin and Daniel Chilewich of Premiere Media, with support from The Estate of Janis Joplin and Jeff Jampol of JAM, Inc. One Night with Janis Joplin runs September 28 - November 4, 2012 in the Kreeger Theater. Check out photos from the show's opening night party below!

Virtuoso violinists Kev Marcus and Wilner Baptiste - aka Kev and Wil B of BLACK VIOLIN - return to New York with their funky fusion of classical, jazz, hip-hop, blues and R&B. With DJ TK on the turntables, Beatdown on the drums, and Joe Cello rounding out the band, these Apollo Legends, who played to sold-out New Vic houses in 2009, will perform a concert of new compositions, classic favorites and pop cover tunes at The New Victory Theater, 209 West 42nd Street, from November 9 through November 25.

Stoopid Daddy Records will present An Evening of Swing, Stride and Boogie Woogie Piano on October 19, 2012, 9 PM in association with the 12 Grapes Restaurant, 12 North Division St., Peekskill NY. The talents of 5 New York-based pianists will be featured: Dave Keyes, Jon Cobert, Scott Staton, Loren Korevec and Chase Garrett. Also featured will be 5 guest vocalists: The Blues Buddha, Duchess Di, Curtis Winchester, Susan McMahon and a rare NY performance by Denny Leroux.

Black Ensemble Theater announces the World Premiere of One Name Only (A Different Kind of Reality Show), written and directed by Black Ensemble Associate Director Rueben Echoles. One Name Only is presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, now through November 11. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

Black Ensemble Theater announces the World Premiere of One Name Only (A Different Kind of Reality Show), written and directed by Black Ensemble Associate Director Rueben Echoles. One Name Only is presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, now through November 11. BroadwayWorld has a first look at the show below.

Vy Higginsen's Mama Foundation for the Arts presents two musical matinees, Mama I Want To Sing: The Next Generation and Sing, Harlem, Sing!, every Saturday afternoon (performances resume today, October 6th, 2012) at The Dempsey Theater, located at 127 West 127th Street, between Lenox and 7th Avenues. Tickets for both musicals are priced from $20 - $35, and are available via SmartTix.com (212-868-4444) or by calling the Mama Foundation for the Arts at 212-280-1045.

The 1st Annual Bob Stewart Tuba Competition, created by The Duke Ellington Center for the Arts, will be held on Saturday, October 20, 2012 from 12 Noon to 5 PM as part of The 37th Annual 52nd Street Duke Ellington Jazz Festival. The competition has been created to provide enhanced exposure to the many dynamic tuba players who perform in improvisational music ensembles in and around the New York area. The five groups chosen for the competition perform in a wide range of genres from traditional and contemporary Jazz to Blues, hip-hop, funk rock and world music.

Award-winning blues rock star, guitar hero and singer-songwriter Joe Bonamassa will perform at the Fox Theatre on Saturday, November 3 at 8 p.m. Tickets start at $62 and are on sale now through MetroTix. The one-night-only show is in support of his brand new solo album Driving Towards The Daylight, which made its debut at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, the eighth time a Bonamassa album has debuted at #1.

Music legend Aretha Franklin was in attendence at the special launch of Mowtown: The Musical last night at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, and she told BroadwayWorld exclusively that she'd like to make her way to the Great White Way. When asked by Richard Ridge whether she'd like to come to Broadway, the songstress replied: 'I would love to, sure. I would love to.'

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld's Richard Ridge was there for the festivities, where he chatted with the cast and creative team. Check out what they had to say and catch an exclusive interview with music legend Aretha Franklin Below!

MOTOWN: THE MUSICAL, based on the life of legendary Motown founder Berry Gordy, will open on Broadway at The Lunt-Fontanne Theatre (205 West 46 Street) on April 14, 2013. Preview performances will begin March 11, 2013. Last night, the show held a launch event for the anticipated world premiere at Lunt Fontanne Theatre. BroadwayWorld was there for the festivities, and you can check out full photo coverage below!

Black Ensemble Theater announces the World Premiere of One Name Only (A Different Kind of Reality Show), written and directed by Black Ensemble Associate Director Rueben Echoles. One Name Only will be presented at the new Black Ensemble Theater Cultural Center, 4450 N. Clark Street in Chicago, tonight, September 28 - November 11. The official press opening is scheduled for Sunday, October 7, 2012 at 3:00PM.

Multichannel retailer HSN today announced plans for a special primetime homage to the late superstar and music legend, Whitney Houston. HSN Live Presents Whitney Houston's Greatest Hits will premiere on November 5 at 11 p.m. (ET) on HSN, HSN.com and via HSN Mobile. Music industry powerhouse and trusted friend and advisor, Clive Davis will appear on HSN to give his first network interview regarding Whitney since her passing in February. Through his compelling stories and unique insight, HSN will celebrate the life and talent of this amazing artist.

Michael Bellar and the As-Is Ensemble arrive at The Garage on Wednesday, October 10 with a performance at 8:30pm and a free general improvisation workshop at 4pm. This event is part of the 8th annual Pittsfield CityJazz Festival.

Coming up this week, 54 BELOW, the new performance venue located just below the legendary Studio 54 at 254 West 54th Street, presents some of the brightest stars from Broadway, rock-n-roll, the jazz world and the downtown scene, including Ann Hampton Callaway, Darlene Love, Janis Siegel, Barbara Carroll, Nathan Lee Graham and more!

Emmy award-winning pianist, music director, and composer Dick Hyman and his daughter, the Emmy award-winning violinist and composer Judy Hyman, will perform an album-release concert titled "Diversatility" on Tuesday, October 9th at 8 pm at Barnes Hall on the Cornell campus in Ithaca, New York.

Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli, Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, Michael Feinstein, Chris Botti, Maria Friedman, Brian d'Arcy James, Carter Brey, Essential Voices USA, former cast members of A Chorus Line and cast members of The Nutty Professor came together for an invitation only event yesterday, September 18, 2012 to pay tribute to Marvin Hamlisch.

Barbra Streisand, Aretha Franklin, Liza Minnelli, Itzhak Perlman, Lang Lang, Michael Feinstein, Chris Botti, Maria Friedman, Brian d'Arcy James, Carter Brey, Essential Voices USA, former cast members of A Chorus Line and cast members of The Nutty Professor will come together for an invitation only event on Tuesday, September 18, 2012 to pay tribute to Marvin Hamlisch.

Award-winning blues rock star and guitar hero Joe Bonamassa will return to Detroit's Fox Theatre for an intimate "Evening with" performance on Friday, May 3 at 8 p.m. The one-night-only show is in support of his brand new solo album, Driving Towards The Daylight, which made its debut at #1 on the Billboard Blues Chart, the eighth time a Bonamassa album has debuted at #1.