Aretha Franklin News

Boiler Room Theatre alumna and American Idol Season 6 finalist Melinda Doolittle returns to Franklin for a one-night-only concert event with all proceeds going to the Boiler Room Theatre on Monday, April 12 at 7 p.m. in Liberty Hall at The Factory. Acclaimed contemporary gospel performers Point of Grace will share the stage for the fundraising concert for Williamson County's only professional theatre company.

The Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park announced its 2010-2011 Season today. The season boasts two world premieres and four regional premieres, as well as the return of the Playhouse's most successful Shelterhouse production of all time.

Riverspace will end its run of Neil Berg's THE 12 on March 21st before its World Premiere at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, April 1st (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).

Toph-E & the Pussycats will play the famed Canal Room on March 31st. The band features Clifford Carter on keys, Will Lee on bass and vocal, David Mann on tenor and soprano, Ralph MacDonald on percussion, and Chris Parker on drums.

First came Hair, then, Jesus Christ Superstar -- which led to Rent and Spring Awakening. Now comes "THE 12", an original rock musical written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, ROBERT SCHENKKAN, with Music, Lyrics, and Story concept by award winning composer, NEIL BERG. The World Premiere preview performances will take place at Riverspace in Nyack, NY, March 19 - 21, 2010 before its World Premiere at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, April 1st (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).

At the 33rd Cape May Jazz Festival-April 16-18, 2010-presented by Bank of America and New Jersey Department of State Division of Travel and Tourism, every ballad tells a story you'll want to hear, and the blues takes you from from heartache to joy.

42nd Street's renowned music venue, B. B. KING BLUES CLUB & GRILL, is celebrating a milestone birthday this summer.

Cameron Mackintosh's current touring production of Les Miserables, which is making its way around the U.K., is set to return to a familiar home this fall in celebration of the show's 25th anniversary. The production will run at London's Barbican Theatre, it's English-language birthplace in 1985, for 22 performances, September 14 through October 2, 2010. A Queens Theatre staple for nearly 22 years in the West End, this new run will mark the first time in London that the same musical has run simultaneously.

Three-time Oscar and five-time GRAMMY® Award-winner Michel Legrand will perform a tribute to his 50 years of music and movies at the MGM Grand Garden Arena Saturday, March 27.

First came Hair, then, Jesus Christ Superstar -- which led to Rent and Spring Awakening. Now comes "THE 12", an original rock musical written by Pulitzer Prize winning playwright, ROBERT SCHENKKAN, with Music, Lyrics, and Story concept by award winning composer, NEIL BERG. The World Premiere preview performances will take place at Riverspace in Nyack, NY, March 19 - 21, 2010 before its World Premiere at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts, April 1st (Ft. Lauderdale, FL).

The women were back tonight and ready to perform after last night's last minute switch. The theme was still Billboard Chart Toppers and the night had some songs that were up to Billboard caliber. Others, however, fell flat, as contestants were again plagued by poor song choices. Of all the judges, Randy seemed most frustrated by the multitude of poor choices. Hopefully this is a skill that will come with time and the contestants will get better. Some of the ladies, however, knew exactly where they wanted to be and were spot on in their selection.

Glen Roven, Peter Fitzgerald, and Richard Cohen are pleased to announce the formation of a new CD label, GPR Records, (www.GPRRecords.com) which will record and distribute Broadway, classical, spoken word, and children's music. GPR aims to surprise listeners with recordings that are both unusual and entertaining

Chesapeake Shakespeare Company opens its 2010-2011 season with a clever yet inconsistent adaptation of two plays by Aristophanes.

In a year where 'Idol' is clearly pushing for a female winner, the first performances by the top twelve women was quite a letdown. Even the judges seemed to notice a rather lackluster group of performances from each of the twelve female finalists, with Simon seemingly growing more and more frustrated as the night went on. There were few bright spots in the evening that should have been a step up from the final performance in Hollywood, but none of the contestants progressed, with many of them taking a step backward on the first night.

Versatile jazz pianist Mark Berman, a Broadway veteran known for his lead piano on such hits as The Boy from Oz, Dreamgirls, Hairspray, and the current revival of Hair, and perhaps best known for his iconic montuno piano playing for the theme of HBO's “Sex and the City,' returns by popular demand to NYC's Top of the Rock 67th Floor Weather Room, as part of its popular Starlight Music Series, with The Mark Berman Jazz Trio: Berman on piano and vocals, Frank Canino on bass and Ben Perowsky on drums, Wednesday, February 24, 6 pm to 8 pm. The event is free with a Top of the Rock ticket purchase, and a cash bar is available.

The Marble Community Gospel Choir will be holding a rousing concert during which a special collection will be taken for Haiti relief at 2PM on Sunday, February 21st at Marble Collegiate Church, 1 West 29th Street.

Today, Friday, February 19, Keith Lockhart and the Boston Pops announced details of the orchestra's 125th anniversary season, May 4-June 20, 2010, outlining programs that celebrate the orchestra's rich tradition of performing the great music of this country's past and present, for which the Boston Pops is so well known.

The Hollywood Bowl - one of the premier outdoor music venues in the world and the summer home of the Los Angeles Philharmonic - was honored at the 21st Annual Pollstar Concert Industry Awards on February 17, 2010, as the Best Major Outdoor Concert Venue.

The Marble Community Gospel Choir will be holding a rousing concert during which a special collection will be taken for Haiti relief at 2PM on Sunday, February 21st at Marble Collegiate Church, 1 West 29th Street.

Start your Valentine's Day weekend off like no other this Friday, February 12th as Phil Perry once again transforms the Spirit Of New York into ‘The Love Boat'.