Aretha Franklin News

It may be the final week of Lincoln Center Out of Doors, but the festival isn't winding down when it comes to exciting performances. This week, Lincoln Center celebrates the 40th Anniversary of the landmark Soul at the Center, highlighted by Valerie Simpson's first tribute to her late partner, Nick Ashford, since his passing. The pair that wrote such Motown hits as "Ain't No Mountain High Enough," "Reach Out and Touch (Somebody's Hand)," and "I'm Every Woman," made their performing debut as a duo at Lincoln Center 40 years ago. The Tribute takes place on Friday, August 10 at Damrosch Park.

SG Productions and the Arts Theatre present DRAG DIVAS, opening tonight, 9th August 2012.

Rubicon's Summer Youth Theatre programs continue with the much anticipated Musical Theatre Camp production. Last Summer's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was honored with an Indy Award from the Santa Barbara Independent for Musical Direction by John Enrico Douglas. This Summer, Douglas joins the artistic team again for Once On This Island, a highly original and theatrical Caribbean fairy tale.

There is a love-in going on at the Cleveland Play House's Allen Theatre between Janis Joplin and the audience. Janis Joplin? She's dead. She died in 1970 at the age of 27. You'd never know it from the happenings on the CPH stage. Mary Bridget Davies, who took over the role opening night, doesn't imitate Janis, she is Janis!

TV One has announced its upcoming highlights for August - Q4 2012. See full details below.

The RRazz Room, San Francisco's premier nightclub, presents the return of San Francisco chanteuse Veronica Klaus with an encore of her critically acclaimed show featuring the music of Peggy Lee. The two shows, on August 24 and 25 at 10:00 PM, will help celebrate her new CD "Something Cool."

According to The Hollywood Reporter, AMERICAN IDOL contestant Kimberly Locke wants to be considered for one of the newly vacated judging seats on the upcoming season of the singing competition.

As the competition heats up and with an Atlantic Records recording contract awaiting the winner, The CW will broadcast the final three episodes of its new music competition series THE NEXT live from Los Angeles on Thursday, Sept. 27 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), Tuesday, Oct. 2 (9:00-10:00 p.m. ET), and the special two-hour finale on Thursday, Oct. 4

SG Productions and the Arts Theatre present DRAG DIVAS, opening on 9th August 2012.

According to published reports, Broadway veteran Darlene Love suffered a heart attack last weekend before a performance at Tim McLoone's in Asbury Park, New Jersey. After experiencing stomach pains, the singer took asprin to make it through her performance. It wasn't until the following day when she was taken to the hospital that she learned that she had a heart attack. Love is currently recovering.

Melinda Doolittle: Love 101 will play The Columbia Club in Indianapolis tonight, July 27 and 28 at 8:00 PM.

Rubicon's Summer Youth Theatre programs continue with the much anticipated Musical Theatre Camp production. Last Summer's production of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat was honored with an Indy Award from the Santa Barbara Independent for Musical Direction by John Enrico Douglas. This Summer, Douglas joins the artistic team again for Once On This Island, a highly original and theatrical Caribbean fairy tale.

Melinda Doolittle: Love 101 will play The Columbia Club in Indianapolis on July 27 and 28 at 8:00 PM.

Today, July 24th, award-winning keyboardist/composer/author Kevin Toney releases an inspired project that blends traditional acoustic jazz trio music with the compositional expanse of classical movements. Titled New American Suite, the album introduces the artist's dynamic new group, The Kevin Toney 3 (a.k.a. "KT3" featuring Kevin Toney on piano, Michael Bradford on bass and Chris Coleman on drums).

Talk Show Listings For Monday, July 23

Talk Show Listings For Monday, July 23

THIS TIME, described as 'an unflinching celebration of six diverse artists living on the flip side of the music industry,' will open in New York at the Quad Cinemas, 34 W. 13 St, on August 10 and in Los Angeles at the Laemmle Noho 7, 5240 Lankershim Blvd, North Hollywood, on August 24.

On July 24th, award-winning keyboardist/composer/author Kevin Toney will be releasing an inspired project that blends traditional acoustic jazz trio music with the compositional expanse of classical movements. Titled New American Suite, the album introduces the artist's dynamic new group, The Kevin Toney 3 (a.k.a. "KT3" featuring Kevin Toney on piano, Michael Bradford on bass and Chris Coleman on drums).

According to TVGuide.com, Charlie Sheen has officially put his name up for consideration as the next judge on AMERICAN IDOL's 12th season. The actor told the show's host Ryan Seacrest that he is 'genuinely interested' in the job.

BroadwayWorld.com and Broadway Records are co-sponsoring a liner notes essay contest for the new Jekyll & Hyde studio concept recording. Fans will have the opportunity to submit a 250 to 500 word essay for consideration. Five finalists will be chosen by the staff of BroadwayWorld.com in consultation with Broadway Records. Frank Wildhorn, Constantine Maroulis and Broadway Records will select the Grand Prize Winner who will have his or her liner notes essay will be included in the upcoming recording.