Aretha Franklin News

I WISH YOU LOVE playwright Dominic Taylor riffs on black theatre history and his new Nat King Cole bio-drama pl.

The iconic voices of MICHAEL MCDONALD and BOZ SCAGGS will be heard in concert at PlayhouseSquare's State Theatre Tues., July 26th at 8 pm.

Wolf Trap Showcases GRAMMY Award Winners Lucinda Williams, Michael McDonald, Boz Scaggs, and Emmylou Harris, Rising Star Amos Lee, a One Night Performance of Sondheim's Sweeney Todd by the Wolf Trap Opera Company and National Symphony Orchestra, and the Breathtaking Golden Dragon Acrobats from China

The Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts, opening in downtown Kansas City, Missouri on September 16, 2011, announced today its 2011-2012 season, featuring a diverse array of classical, jazz, and pop music, opera, ballet and contemporary dance, Broadway, comedy, lectures, and more.

The Open Fist Theatre Company presents their third FIRST LOOK FESTIVAL OF NEW PLAYS, with new works written by D. Tucker Smith, Shoshana Bean, Eydie Faye, Laura Richardson, Rebecca Sue Haber, Philip William Brock, Richard Manley, Jesse Bernstein, Jim Bontempo.

Respect La Diva, conceived and directed by Adrian Grant, the creator of hit international show Thriller Live, will arrive at the Garrick Theatre for a strictly limited run from 7 September until 24 September, with press night on 8 September.

Multi-platinum superstar Jennifer Hudson will make her debut Festival performance, joined by R&B/Funk icon Chaka Khan and the reunion of New Edition at the 2011 ESSENCE MUSIC FESTIVAL celebrating the 'Roots of R&B' July 1, 2 and 3 in New Orleans. In addition, Kem, Miguel, Naughty By Nature, Doug E. Fresh, Marsha Ambrosius, Mavis Staples, Eric Benet, Vanessa Bell Armstrong, Trin-i-tee 5:7 and Brian Courtney Wilson have been added to the previously announced line-up, which includes Kanye West, Mary J. Blige, Trey Songz, Jill Scott, Charlie Wilson, Boyz II Men, Fantasia, George Clinton, Macy Gray and more.

July will sizzle and the David Rubenstein Atrium chills out with a celebration of American music ranging from Broadway and pop, to jazz and soul, and some cheers for the red, white and blue with top military brass-the 40-member strong 42nd Infantry Division Band.

'It Ain't Nothin' But The Blues,' directed by Alfred Preisser, is the second production of New Haarlem Arts Theatre, the new professional theater company of CCNY.

The Florida Theatre announces four shows to add to the Fall 2011 line-up.

This summer, Broadway actors Darlene Love, Julia Murney, Anthony Rapp and Matt Dengler star in 'Free to Dream: New Songs for the American Journey,' a concert specially adapted for Colonial Williamsburg. Television personality Willard Scott also lends his recorded voice to the program, which showcases the people and places that make up the fabric of America with musical styles from country, rock and pop to swing and the blues. It is a compilation of pieces by Grammy-winning composer Doug Katsaros and two-time Emmy-nominated lyricist William Schermerhorn. A nine-piece band accompanies the singers.

The original cast recording of the new Broadway musical BABY IT'S YOU! will be released by Universal Music Group's Verve label, and produced by legendary music producer Richard Perry and associated produced by Rahn Coleman in New York City between Sunday, April 17 and Monday, April 25, 2011. BABY IT'S YOU! will be in stores everywhere Tuesday, June 14, 2011. Pre-order available at Amazon. BABY IT'S YOU! began previews Saturday, March 26, at the Broadhurst Theatre (235 West 44th Street), and opens Wednesday, April 27, 2011, at 6:30pm. Inspired by the true story of Florence Greenberg, the woman who in the late 1950's took the male-dominated music industry by storm, BABY IT'S YOU! is conceived by Floyd Mutrux, directed by Floyd Mutrux and Sheldon Epps, and written by Tony nominated book writers Mutrux and Colin Escott, the team behind Broadway's MILLION DOLLAR QUARTET, with musical supervision and arrangements by Rahn Coleman, orchestrations by Don Sebesky and musical direction by Shelton Becton.

Atlantic Records Group, the label where many of the most innovative, ground-breaking soul, R&B, jazz and hip-hop artists have called home for over 60 years, plans to celebrate Black Music with a year long, interactive campaign, dubbed 'I Heart Black Music.'

Vice President Joe Biden will deliver remarks at the Ford's Theatre Annual Gala: 'Lincoln's Legacy and a New Era of Hope' on Sunday, June 5, 2011, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). The evening will include the presentation of the Lincoln Medal to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julie Andrews, whose extraordinary careers and commitment to education, understanding and equality exemplify the character and lasting legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.

Ford's Theatre Society will host its annual gala on Sunday, June 5, 2011, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW) followed by a seated dinner at the National Portrait Gallery and Smithsonian American Art Museum (750 Ninth Street NW).

Vice President Joe Biden will deliver remarks at the Ford's Theatre Annual Gala: 'Lincoln's Legacy and a New Era of Hope' on Sunday, June 5, 2011, at Ford's Theatre (511 10th Street NW). The evening will include the presentation of the Lincoln Medal to Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Julie Andrews, whose extraordinary careers and commitment to education, understanding and equality exemplify the character and lasting legacy of President Abraham Lincoln.

According to published reports, Lady Gaga is the latest musician added to the list of those collaborating with Tony Bennett. For his new album 'Duets II,' Bennett will sing with such artists as Mariah Carey, Aretha Franklin, Amy Winehouse, Michael Bublé and John Mayer.

Governor Haley Barbour and First Lady Marsha Barbour will host the fifth annual Mississippi celebration of its GRAMMY® legacy at 7:30 p.m.

While Vista patrons will undoubtedly be hearing the latest Britney Spears and Katy Perry tunes blasting from speakers in bars and clubs this summer, Trustus Theatre will be opening their doors on a new production that will be inviting entertainment-seekers into a rocking evening that gives them the most extraordinary "night on the town" they can imagine.

The reggae flavored anthem, 'Gay Warrior Song' required 7 years and 2 versions before it felt complete. However all the care and effort paid off at the 7th Annual OUTMusic Awards, when Guyanese singer/songwriter Nhojj won the trophy for OUTStanding R&B/Soul song of the year. It is the first time in the history of the OUTMusic Awards, an African-American artist has had 2 consecutive wins. Last year Nhojj won for his song 'Love' becoming the first Black male to win an OMA, and earning congratulations from BET/Centric's Soul Sessions for being 'a Black history and a gay history first!'