Aretha Franklin News

Talk show listings for Thursday, April 28.

Negin Farsad, Amy Albert and Beth McGregor present the brand new weekly standup show, Comedy School Dropout. In the grand tradition of East Village ‘alternative' rooms, Comedy School Dropout brings top-notch standup comics, the occasional comedy musical act, subversive duo, or extremely talented threesome, to the stage for the cut-rate price of zero dollars!

According to Monsters&Critics.com, Aretha ranklin, who recently celebrated her 69th birthday, has made a bucket list of things to do before she dies. Having just gone through surgery for an unknown illness, Franklin revealed: 'I'm going to sail the Nile before it's all over. I would like to see the Pyramids and the Sphinx... I want to do Broadway - on my terms.'

In celebration of the Royal nuptials of Prince William of Wales and Catherine Elizabeth 'Kate' Middleton at Buckingham Palace, the hosts of ABC's popular talker 'The View' will observe this special occasion with 'A Royal Wedding - The View,' a live, one-hour special edition, Friday, April 29 (11:00 a.m.-12:00 noon, ET), covering all the pomp and circumstance. This marks the first time 'The View' has broadcast live on Friday since Sept. 12, 2008. Regularly featured co-hosts Joy Behar, Elisabeth Hasselbeck and Sherri Shepherd will be joined in-studio by Hollywood royalty Goldie Hawn, a featured guest co-host for the day. Barbara Walters, on assignment in London for ABC News, will join the program live via satellite.

Hartt celebrates its alumni this spring with two alumni reunion concerts. On Monday, April 21, three alumni of the Vocal Studies Division perform at 7:00 PM in Wilde Auditorium on the University of Hartford's main campus, 200 Bloomfield Avenue, West Hartford.

Last night saw the highly-awaited return of FOX's hit musical comedy/drama series GLEE, featuring performances by this week's InDepth InterView participant tearing up 'All By Myself' - international recording superstar Charice - in addition to the return of Broadway baby Cheyenne Jackson as part of Sue Sylvester's Legion of Doom and Oscar-winner Gwyneth Paltrow returning as Holly Holiday. While the focus was more on the drama and plot developments for once - expectedly enacted to reacquaint us all with what was up lo, two months ago when the last new episode pf Season Two aired - as opposed to the musical content, which dominates the proceedings more often than not. That being said, Charice and Gwyneth delivered in a big Broadway way - and there were more rabbits than a magician's hat in Harry Shum‘s slinky and stylish choreographic tour de force. And, it is clear that the screen chemistry when combining Gwyneth Paltrow, Matt Morrison and Cheyenne Jackson is something to be seen.

One of a kind musical group Black Violin will bring their unique blend of jazz, hip-hop, funk and classical music to the Colonial for a series of events this May. They will work with local area music students in two special workshops on Wednesday, May 11, followed by two school matinee performances on Thursday, May 12.

FEINSTEIN'S AT LOEWS REGENCY, the nightclub proclaimed "Best of New York" by New York Magazine and "an invaluable New York institution" by The New York Post will continue its Spring 2011 season with the debut of six time Grammy Award nominee NNENNA FREELON from May 10 through 14.

The Ailey Extension welcomes dance and theater enthusiasts to participate in a Contemporary dance workshop series with The Lion King cast member, Ray Mercer, on April 11th, 18th and 25th at the Joan Weill Center for Dance, located at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue).

Once upon a time, right here in New York City, storied clubs - swanky hotel supper clubs, zebra-striped celebrity showcases, smoky after-hour boîtes - ruled the night. Places like The Stork Club, Copacabana, Persian Room and Latin Quarter (run by Lou Walters, father of Barbara ) were meccas where songwriters, singers and society mingled and fueled American popular music. Author and Lyrics & LyricistsTM series artistic director Deborah Grace Winer takes the helm as artistic director/writer/host for The Crowd's at El Morocco: The Heyday of the New York Nightclubs, on April 30 and May 1, 2. Joining her are vocalists Debby Boone, La Tanya Hall, James Naughton, Billy Stritch and Karen Ziemba.

Hartt celebrates its Jazz alumni on Monday, April 25, when several alumni of Hartt's Jackie McLean Institute of Jazz join together for a concert and evening of fond reminiscence, followed by a special dessert reception.

Joe's Pub at The Public Theater debuted in October 1998 and has quickly became one of New York City's most celebrated and in-demand showcase venues for live music and performance.

Saxophonist, arranger/composer, educator and bandleader Bob Mintzer has a new website, http://www.bobmintzer.com.

The long overdue London premiere of the Broadway musical The Roar of the Greasepaint - The Smell of the Crowd, directed by acclaimed West End and RSC director Ian Judge, and designed by three time Olivier Award winner Tim Goodchild, opens for a four week limited season at the Finborough Theatre on Tuesday, 7 June 2011 (Press Night: Thursday, 9 June 2011 at 7.30pm).

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.

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.

The Pit Stop Players, a fourteen-member instrumental ensemble composed of veteran Broadway pit musicians, will perform at the recently completed, $37 million DiMenna Center for Classical Music on Tuesday, May 10, at 7:30 pm.

n an age of great division between fundamentalist churches and the gay community on the issue of gay marriage, Guyanese alternative soul singer Nhojj celebrates this Easter holiday with his traditional-gospel inspired 'Amazing Grace' - a groundbreaking gay music video which gives a new interpretation to the time-honored religious hymn. 'Amazing Grace,' arguably the most recognizable of all Christian hymns, was written in 1779 and is a staple in the American landscape. It has been recorded by such diverse artists as Mahalia Jackson, Willie Nelson, Elvis Presley, Judy Collins, Aretha Franklin, Rod Stewart, and Johnny Cash. It has inspired hope in times of tragedy, uplifted African Americans during the era of slavery, rallied anti-war protesters during the Vietnam War, and encouraged countless individuals dealing with issues of alcoholism, drug addiction, illness and death.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park celebrates the fabulous girl groups and female singers of the 1960s as U.S. Bank presents the rafter-raising musical tribute, BEEHIVE.

The Ailey Extension welcomes dance and theater enthusiasts to participate in a Contemporary dance workshop series with The Lion King cast member, Ray Mercer, on April 11th, 18th and 25th at the Joan Weill Center for Dance, located at 405 West 55th Street (at 9th Avenue).